NEWS K EY P ENINSULA

Photo by Danna WebsterPostmaster Steven Jorgensen began clean-up duties aftera Dodge pickup rolled from the Shell station in Home,crossed the highway and hit the front of the LakebayPost Office.

Non-Profit Org. U.S.Postage Paid

Vaughn, WA 98394Permit No. 2

BOX HOLDER

Happy Thanksgiving

PHS wins Fish Bowl, page 18

INSIDE ONLINENOVEMBER 2009

SectionsPeninsula Views . . . . . .4-7 Business . . . . . . . . . . . .8Off the Key . . . . . . . . . .8Features . . . . . . . . . . . .11Community Works . . . .14Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

NewsCandidate forum ..................2Flu op-ed ............................7Local shopping ....................9Genuine Article ....................15Out & About ........................28

◗ Fiber Arts show a success◗ Sound Credit merger◗ Historic gathering at

Sipple Boat House◗ Photo gallery and more

Ghost stories on Key Pen

www.keypennews.com

The voice of the Key Peninsula

K E Y P E N I N S U L A

NEWSCirculation 9,000Vol. 37 Issue 11 •

Firefighters campaign for levy By Ted Olinger, KP News

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series ofsix stories on Fire District 16.

Firefighters, commissioners and volun-teers of Fire District 16 have been

campaigning for the upcoming levy lidlift vote, Proposition 1, which voters willdecide Nov. 3. At town halls, home-owners association and fire commissionmeetings, the public has been seekinganswers.

“You folks haven’t put much information

out about the levy or budget cuts,” said KeyPen resident Dave Grandier at the Oct. 13Fire Commissioners meeting, echoing asentiment heard at many meetings. “If Ivote for Prop. 1, the current rate of collec-

By Danna Webster, KPNews

Editor’s note: This story appeared on keypennews.com on Oct. 19.

A white Dodge pick-up slammed into the front window of the LakebayPost Office in Home late in the afternoon on Oct. 11. LakebayPostmaster Steven Jorgensen thought the driver must have forgotten toset the brake when he pulled in for gasoline across the street at the Shellstation. Jorgensen swept up glass and declined help from one postalcarrier and her daughter who drove over when they heard the news.

At the same time, neighbors were phoning Shell employee, WayneCecchino, to offer help because they learned that Cecchino’s 1984Mazda pickup was damaged in the same accident. Cecchino reportedthat a full sized white Dodge pickup pulled in for gas at the station.When the driver got out, the truck began to roll. “He started to walkinto the store,” Cecchino said, “and when he walked into the store,the truck left.”

The Dodge truck headed straight for Cecchino’s Mazda pickup, whichwas parked between the station and the Home Store. It hit the Mazda’sleft rear wheel well causing the Mazda to spin around and plow throughthe Shell station split-rail fence. The Dodge careened off the Mazda,crossed the Key Pen Highway, and smashed into the front of theLakebay post office building bursting the frame and siding, shatteringthe front window, and demolishing concrete flower pots.

Pierce County Sheriff’s department reports the 1998 white Dodgepickup belongs to Rodney Burden of Lakebay. According to thereport, the accident occurred about 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. Burdenwas traveling north on Key Peninsula Highway and pulled in topump gas with the vehicle pointing north at a pump near thehighway. As Burden walked toward the store, another patron yelled

Truck rolls, slamsLakebay Post Office

(See CRASH, Page 26)

(See LEVY, Page 22)

2 www.keypennews.com • Key Peninsula News

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Key Peninsula News17010 S. Vaughn Rd.

P.O. Box 3, Vaughn, WA 98394Phone (253) 884-4699Fax: (253) 884-4053

Email [email protected]

Executive editor: Marsha HartAssistant editor: Danna WebsterAd sales: Lori Boll, Laura Mosley Community pages editor:Connie RenzProduction: September Hyde, Chip ButzkoInterim web master: Rodika Tollefson Staff: William C. Dietz, Hugh McMillan,

Colleen Slater, Frank Slater, Irene

Torres, Karina Whitmarsh, Sharon

Hicks, PJ Kezele, Kevin Reed, Ted

Olinger

Distribution: Vic Renz, Phil Bauer

Contributors: Jeanette Brown, Jerry

Libstaff, Rick Sorrels, Ron Cameron,

Jud Morris, Angelique Knapp

Key Peninsula News is published monthly by the Key Peninsula Civic Center Association at the Key Peninsula Civic Center in Vaughn, Washington. Copyright 2009 with all rights reserved. Reproduction of editorial or graphiccontents in any manner without permission is prohibited. Annual subscriptions (12 issues) are available for $25.00 and are mailed first class. Copies are mailed presort standard to residents and post office box holders of the KeyPeninsula. Single copies are available at the newspaper office in the basement of the Civic Center annex and at various distribution points located on the Key Peninsula. Approximately 18,000 people live in the distribution area.STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, AND OPERATION OF THE KEY PENINSULA NEWS1. THE KEY PENINSULA NEWS is a community newspaper, owned and published by the KEY PENINSULA CIVIC CENTER ASSOCIATION, a nonprofit, 501-C3, corporation with main offices in Vaughn, Washington. Thename, goodwill and any copyright assets that may exist pertaining to the NEWS are among the financial assets of the KEY PENINSULA CIVIC CENTER ASSOCIATION.2. The objective of Key Peninsula News is to support and create community by reporting news and features and providing a forum for local information. News and editorial coverage focuses on the Key Peninsula and immedi-ately adjacent areas within Fire District 16.OUR GRATEFUL THANKS TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE KEY PENINSULA NEWS!The opinions expressed herein are the opinions of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers or staff. All letters to the editor must be signed and include a daytime phone number for verification. Noanonymous letters will be published. Submissions are used on a space available basis and may be edited if used. THE KEY PENINSULA NEWS reserves the right to edit all submissions for length and content. Mail letters to: P.O.Box 3, Vaughn, WA 98394, or email to [email protected]

K E Y P E N I N S U L A

NEWSwww.keypennews.com

Unsolicited submissions deadline including press releases:15th of each month

By Marsha Hart, KP News

The Key Peninsula BusinessAssociation and the Key PeninsulaCommunity Council hosted a candidateforum at the Key Peninsula Civic CenterOct. 15. About 50 people listened to thefour candidates running for Key PenParks Board of Commissioner positions,and three of the four candidates runningfor Fire District 16 Board ofCommissioners. Jim Bosch was not inattendance.

Jonathan Bill moderated the event, andthe audience submitted written questionsthroughout the forum, which he thencategorized and chose for each group ofcandidates to answer.

Each candidate was given threeminutes for an introduction of the issuesand platform of their candidacy and laterwas given the chance to answer questions.Sylvia Tinio and Bill Trandum arerunning for position 2 on the Key PenParks Board of Commissioners. Tiniosaid she wants to see the parks utilized byall people, including elderly and handi-capped people, with immediate improve-ments that are low-cost, such as trails.Trandum, who currently serves as acommissioner, emphasized the impor-tance for continued fiscal responsibility.The potential for development of therecently acquired 360 property was ques-tioned, and Trandum responded, “Wedon’t want to put in a fair grounds, etc.because we don’t want to be in a positionwhere the state could take it. We won’t bemaking any big improvements until weown it.”

Ed Robison and Mike Hays are runningfor position 4, and Robison said he hasdonated about $100,000 of design andengineering work for the parks,including the design of Home Park.

“We need to get active volunteers todevelop the parks,” he said. “We need tolook at what makes the most sense at eachlocation.”

Hays is interested in land zoning andsaid he would personally like to see an

emphasis on developing the parks withwater access. He said the current boardhas shown that they do with what theyhave and currently take about half of thetaxes they could. “If I’m elected I’ll bejoining a winning team.”

Sheila Hunt is running against RichardHanna for position 4 on the fire commis-sion board. Hunt was appointed to theposition last year, and outlined what shehas accomplished while on the board,including the implementation of a trans-parent department, open to the publicfor questions and information about thedepartment.

Hanna insisted that the departmentneeds drug testing and said his experi-ence as a firefighter in Nebraskaincluded drug testing. “Responsibilityfirst” was his stance.

Claudia Jones is running for position2 on the fire commission, and heropponent Jim Bosch was not present.Jones cited her experience as a volun-teer firefighter, and emphasized theimportance for the levy to pass. “Thepublic will give 29 cents to the parks,but won’t give 14 cents to public safety.Vote wisely,” she said.

All of the candidates were given timefor a closing statement. Parks boardcandidate Robison said, “I want to tellyou a story.”

He proceeded to recount an incidenta few years ago on the Key Peninsulawhere he applied pressure to a girl’sarm who was cut and bleeding whilethey waited about 45 minutes for themedic unit to arrive. “Is that an accept-able level of service?” he asked. “Voteyes on the fire levy.”

Candidates square off

Photo courtesy of Chuck WestThe morning after the candidate forum,campaign signs for Sheila Hunt andClaudia Jones were strewn, damagedalong SR 302.

Topping treesunhealthy

By Chuck Turley Special to the KP News

As trees prepare for the winter stagesof their growth cycles, it’s a good time tothink about whether to trim trees onyour property. The Washington StateDepartment of Natural Resources has abig investment in trees, and so do you.To protect your investment, DNRcautions against ‘topping’ a tree.Topping is cutting major branches backto stubs, or removing more than half ofthe leafy crown of a tree.

Even if you live on a small lot, yourtrees probably add value to your prop-erty-from 7 to 25 percent, say manyarborists and insurance appraisers.‘Topping’ can reduce a tree’s visualappeal as well its value and health.

Topping stresses trees. Removing halfor more of a tree’s leaf-bearingbranches temporarily starves the tree.The tree tries to make up for a sudden,large loss of leaves by sprouting shootsbelow each major cut. The treebecomes vulnerable to damaginginsects and disease.

Topping causes decay. Whacking offbranches indiscriminately leaves longstubs where branches once grew. Thesestubs are wounds that the tree cannotclose, giving decay organisms a routeinto the remaining branches.

Topping is a hazard. When large partsof a tree are removed, the tree will grownew shoots as quickly as possible. Thesenew shoots grow fast but are never assturdy as the original branches. After afew years, these spindly sprouts growlonger but are still fragile and easilybroken in the wind. The result is moredanger to people, vehicles and structuresthan if the tree had been left alone.

Topping costs more in the long run.A topped tree will likely need pruningmuch sooner than if the job had beendone correctly in the first place. Themoney you save by topping a tree isspent several times over on additionaltrimming.

For more information call 1-800-532-TREE or visit[http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ResearchScience/Topics/UrbanForestry/Pages/rp_urb

Chuck Turley is a Washington StateDepartment of Natural Resources forester.

November 2009 • www.keypennews.com 3


Eventually, the Key Peninsula will haveunderground electrical lines, makingpower outages during winter wind-storms less likely. Currently the area ofSouth Vaughn Road is under construc-tion for the project. Crews from ActiveConstruction, a company contracted byPeninsula Light Company to do thedigging and placing the conduit, aredigging along South Vaughn Road.Once that work is finished the crewsfrom Peninsula Light will pull morethan 15,000 feet of cable through andlater take out the overhead lines, saidSteve Marvick, project engineer forPeninsula Light Company.

“This is part of the reliability programthe board came up with eight or 10 yearsago,” Marvick said. “We concentrate onthe worst lines first and get the biggestbang for your buck. South Vaughn Roadalways has problems when the windblows so it is a prime candidate for it. It’sa long process.”

Once the work is completed, home-

owners have the option of changing to anunderground service. This will be availablein three to four months. The cost involvedcan be up to $1,000, depending on theelectrician the homeowner hires to do thework to convert the overhead meter to anunderground meter base, he said.

“If you choose to stay overhead, theneverything stays the same,” he said. “Ifyou choose to go underground, thelight company will give you the conduitand line.”

Even if a homeowner wants to wait afew years, until they can afford to havethe conversion of the meter, Marvicksaid Pen Light will still provide theconduit.

“We prefer to have it happen duringthe job process, because it’s cleaner.When we pull the pole, we can pullthem all,” he said.

Residents along S. Vaughn Road havebeen excited, he said, because it meansthere will be no direct tree exposure tothe line.

“It takes outages out of the picture forthem,” he said.

Rouse Road is next on the list, he said,to go underground.

“We start at the source, the substation,and work out from there,” he said.

Electrical lines go underground

Photo by Karrina WhitmarshForeman Randy Hagen works withcrewmembers in a trench to install anunderground vault for the cables that willprovide better storm protection for elec-trical customers.

Enrollment open for federalmeal assistance program

Staff Report

Eligible children and adults can benefitfrom a federal meal assistance program,and all eligible care centers and institu-tions are encouraged to participate.

The Child and Adult Care FoodProgram reimburses some costs associ-ated with serving meals to children andqualifying adults. The program is admin-istered by the Office of Superintendentof Public Instruction’s Child NutritionalServices section.

The following care centers and institu-tions may participate in the program:

Nonprofit, licensed, tax-exempt child-care institutions; for-profit childcare insti-tutions in which at least 25 percent of chil-dren served are low income based on thecenters licensed capacity or enrolledcapacity, whichever is less; childcarecenters that serve at-risk children; non-profit homeless shelters that providetemporary residential facilities to children.

Some public nonprofit adult centers,or for-profit adult centers that receivecompensation under Title XIX of theSocial Security Act for at least 25 percentof their enrolled adults, also are eligiblefor CADFP reimbursement.

Meals are reimbursed at established ratesbased on family income of the childrenand adults served. Meals served to eligiblehomeless and at-risk children are reim-bursed at the free rate. The federal fundshelp institutions offset some of the costs ofproviding well-balanced, nutritional mealsand snacks to enrolled participants.

For information about income guide-lines, or to enroll in the program,contact Carol Griffith, Child NutritionalServices at 360-725-6200, or email her [email protected], or visit the Website at k12.wa.us.

Communityis about sharing

November brings Thanksgiving andthe traditions of family gathered arounda table heaped with food. Some viewthis holiday as a way of giving thanks totheir God, whom they believe blessedthem with gifts throughout the year, andspend the day with loved ones and

friends. Others look forward toThanksgiving as a day of traditionalfoods and football on the television.Some clear the table, bring out the salepapers and plan their attack for the offi-cial first day of the Christmas shoppingseason.

In all of these scenarios, the assump-tion is that there is a home, with arefrigerator and cupboards filled withfoods ready for preparation; that the

home is warm, heated by a furnace orfireplace, and that the people there arecomfortable.

Though the economy has rippedsome lives apart, there are families thathave gone relatively unscathed.

Having more can be a blessing, whenthe more comes in the form of thingswe need or want. Some of our neighborshave been given more bills, more healthproblems, more loneliness, hurts andworries in the past year.

The season of thanks and giving isapproaching. There are ways to sharewith Key Peninsula neighbors who havebeen plagued with more of the thingsthat make life harder.

The Key Peninsula CommunityServices Food Bank and Senior Centeris in need of food to stock the shelves.Key Peninsula Lutheran Church acceptsfood donations for its food bank onTuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 3:30p.m. each week, and LakebayCommunity Church accepts food andclothing donations for its Harvest Shareon Wednesdays at 1 p.m. in the parkinglot. KP Veterans Institute helps ourlocal veterans.

If everyone commits to giving whatthey can, even if it is time, the wholecommunity thrives. Reach out and makeThanksgiving a great day for everyoneon the Key Peninsula.


The opinions expressed on this page are not necessarily those of the KP News. We neither endorse nor oppose issues or proposals discussed on this page and present these views for public information only.

Peninsula Views

Intersection improvementneeded

My wife and I became residents of theKey Peninsula 3 years ago. We do asmuch shopping on Key Peninsula as wecan as well as using the medical facilitiesand banking available here.

Prior to retirement, I was a land useplanner on both the city and countylevel for 33 years. I have participated inmany thousands of hours of publicmeetings regarding growth and whateffects it will have on a community.Many of those hours were a completewaste of time for everyone involvedbecause many people makingcomments, although well meaning, hadno understanding of the realities ofdealing intelligently with populationgrowth.

It is a fact that more growth will cometo Key Peninsula. The Key Center areais presently dangerous for both vehic-ular and pedestrian traffic. It is criticalthat the improvements to the intersec-tion in Key Peninsula, and the frontageadjacent to the Peninsula Market, be ascomprehensive as possible with thefunds available.

Dwight Hartman

Lid lift levy neededA community without emergency serv-

ices is no place to live!I am a lifelong resident of the Key

Peninsula and a 23-year volunteer withFire District 16. As the last VolunteerChief, I have experienced many kinds ofemergencies in our community. It iscomforting to know that my family andneighbors are only minutes away fromprofessional help.

I have talked with my neighbors andwe strongly agree that there is a seriousproblem with two of our commissioners.They have sullied the good reputationof our fire department. It is time forthem to be replaced or step down.

If you can guarantee that your lovedones will never experience a medicalemergency, never be involved in a lifethreatening accident, never have yourhome catch fire, then you don’t needthe fire service. However, the respon-sible thing to do is to support continuedfunding for a levy lid lift of $.14 per$1,000 of value and not gamble with lifeand property. This is not a new tax, buta replacement that has been reducedover time. It brings the rate to $1.09 per$1,000.

Feeling safe in our community requiresus to support the fire district with ourmoney and to choose commissioners withthe best interest of the district at heart.Please vote for commissioners without ahidden agenda and YES for the lid lift

levy in the November election.Don Mills, Vaughn

R-71

In your October edition you ran anarticle by Rick Sorrels on the 2009Ballot Issues. I found his comments onR-71 quite limiting and not very repre-sentative of the whole issue. As soon ashe inserted the comments “likemarriage” individual prejudices beginto surface. This law is about more thanproviding domestic partners (be it samesex or unmarried seniors) access tohealth care and benefits, child custodyand support, hospital visitation rights,and insurance rights. For a morebalanced look at what the law is reallyabout please read the Oct. 4 Editorial inthe Seattle Times.

Let’s not feed on fear and misinfor-mation - the Key Pen News owes itsreaders more than that.

Thank you,Susan Quigley

Thank you to Cornucopia volunteers

The planning committee wants to thankEVERYONE who supported our recentCornucopia Dinner Dance and SilentAuction, from the many volunteers whoput the event together, to the the localfood producers for the delicious ingredi-

ents, to the numerous and generous SilentAuction donors, to the 200 plus folks whoattended. It was a wonderful success, andwe are indebted to the incredible peoplewho made the event possible throughtheir combined efforts. At this point it istruly impossible to name everyone, but wemust publicly thank the inimitable SilentAuction Team, especially Kristin Bottiger,Betty Kelly, Merrilee Kennedy and BarbSchoos, the strong, loyal and helpful BoyScout Troop 220 and their fine adult lead-ership, and our fantastic, generous chef,Oliver Coldeen, and his truly amazingkitchen crew. We also thank Cathy andKurt Gerhard and their wonderfulneighbor, Trish, who worked diligentlyfrom the very early beginning of the daythrough the clean up at the very end ofthe night. We thank Julie Boardman andher kitchen elves who did all those dishes!And at the end of the night, we were sohappy to see Dan and Joanna Baldwin,who took on clean up and made ithappen. We are so grateful to theDOZENS of generous and willing neigh-bors and friends who helped with everyaspect of this event and made it possible.Thank you all, you know who you are.Together, we have experienced the kind oftrue community event that is a signature ofthis Key Peninsula we all love. The over-flowing cornucopia of community bless-ings includes each of you!

On behalf of the Cornucopia Committee,Edie Morgan & Claudia Loy

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

EDITORIAL Marsha HartFROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Peninsula ViewsNovember 2009 • www.keypennews.com 5

Are you ready for the upcoming holi-days? Although Nov. 27 is the traditionalkick off of the holiday season, decora-tions of all kinds are already flooding theretail stores and catalogs of gift ideas arebeing delivered by the truckload to ourmailboxes encouraging us to get in the“spending mood” earlier and earlierevery year. That means you have tobudget your holiday spending earlier too.

Here are some handy tips to help youwith your holiday budget planning this year:

First, set up a holiday spending planthat will help you get through the holi-days intact. List those people you wish togive a gift, the item you want to give themand the amount you plan to spend. Addup the total amount you plan to spendand be certain the amount is realistic.You may need to revise your holidayspending plan to make it affordable. Ofcourse, stick to your spending plan!

Avoid using credit, especially if youcannot pay off the balance immediately.

As a general rule, if you cannot pay for itin cash then you really cannot afford theitem. Before making any credit cardpurchases consider how much it will costyou.

Plan your shopping trips. Knowingwhere you are going and what you intendto buy when you get there will save youtime, avoid traffic, conserve fuel, andleave more time for the things you wouldrather be doing during the holidays.

Do your research! If you know youwant to buy a particular product, checkthe Internet to find out if anyone has iton sale. Find out when the retailers nearyou are having their largest sales. Checkthe paper for coupons that give a big

discount as well!If you are hosting a holiday feast, turn

it into a potluck. This way the financialand food preparation burden is light-ened for the host and everyone can enjoyeach person’s favorite dishes.

If you find your budget really tight,focus more on spending time with familyand friends. People don’t usuallyremember what gifts they received, butthey do remember time spent with family.Homemade goodies like cookies andfudge are always a good idea instead oftraditional wrapped gifts. They can alsobe delivered early and be enjoyedthroughout the holiday season.

In my home we keep our family gather-ings during the holidays very casual.Rather than focusing on expensive gifts,we are all about comfort, being together,good food and of course, sharing a lovefor football.

Have a happy holiday season KeyPeninsula!


Put a bright bow on your budgetANGELIQUE

KNAPPWRITING FOR CHANGE

Peninsula Views6 www.keypennews.com • Key Peninsula News

This fire levy thing sure is a bigdeal, isn’t it? Wow. Everyone’sgot an opinion on the fire

department. We vote on two commis-sioners and the fire levy. The pasttheatrical dramas and performance ofthe existing commissioners make thatvote a pretty easy one for me. Some folkswon’t vote for the levy because of thecommissioners. I don’t get that, becauseif the levy’s not approved, then the onlypeople who lose are the ones waitingaround for a first responder after a carcrash, or watching their house burndown waiting for trained firefighters toarrive. But for some reason the levy isstill this super-charged item. We see twosigns: “Responsibility First! No NewTaxes!” on the one hand and “Fire, Yes!”on the other. “Responsibility First!”Hmmm. That sounds important. Is thedistrict acting irresponsibly, then askingfor more taxpayer money? This seems totie back to the notion held by a few very

vocal people that our firefighters aredrunk and fat. I mean, seriously, thatseems to be what it’s all about. Oneperson allegedly had alcohol at a firetraining conference someplace, andsome personnel are said to be over-weight. Let’s suppose, just for a rip-roaring good time, that’s it’s all true.The individual was disciplined, andwasn’t in an emergency situation with anactual patient in the first place. That’sthe tipper for me. A training conferencewith a fake patient ain’t the same thingas an emergency situation with a realpatient, plain and simple, and it’s falseto mislead people into thinking it is. SoI crossed that one off. Instead, I look atthe district’s great record responding to

emergencies. That seems like the impor-tant part to me, and their drug andalcohol policy is the same as all firedepartments. Now, the out of shapefolks. I know the department is consid-ering an exercise area as part of capitalimprovement spending, so with that anda little prodding from higher-ups, thesefolks can get in line with the depart-ment’s physical fitness standard, which isthe International Association of FireFighters’ standard. Easy fix there. ThenI hear people asking “why do we needthe levy when they’re spending $200,000to renovate the Key Center station?” Butcapital spending comes from a differentpot of money, and you can’t use moneyfor capital projects to hire personnel orrun operations. So that’s not really appli-cable to the situation of the levy, which ismoney for operations only. Afterthinking about it, I have to ask: What’s“responsible” about bringing up thingsthat don’t matter into a discussion that

directly impacts our safety on the Key?Answer? Nada!

The district has cut all it can, isclinging to its ability to respond now,and needs the funds to keep operatingat its current state. In addition,programs are on the chopping block,like the one where firefighters go toschools and teach kids about water andfire safety or first aid. Another programthat teaches babysitters how to respondto emergencies is also at risk. Whywould we not want something asamazing as trained babysitters? Heck,sitters make money while parents findtime to stay sane – a win/win for thenation! All this, for a 14-cent increaseover the current rate. For the averagehome of $300,000 here, that’s anincrease of $66/year – less, obviously, ifyour house is worth less. For me, there’snot much to argue about anymore. I’llbe supporting our firefighters, and thelift lid levy.

Fire levy money, it’s in a different pot


KEVIN REEDHERE’S SOMETHING


H1N1 influenza 2009. Novel InfluenzaA. Swine flu. Whatever its name, it is allover the headlines. Some experts haveproclaimed it a global epidemic, apandemic.

All this hype bothers me. I’m relieved toknow I’m not theonly one. An urgentlawsuit was filed byAttorney Jim Turnerin Washington D.C.to stop distributionof the swine fluvaccine in America.On behalf of Dr. Gary Null and other NewYork licensed healthcare workers as plain-tiffs, the suit claims the Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) violated federal lawby failure to prove scientifically that theH1N1 and three other swine flu vaccinesare either safe or effective. The suit calledfor an injunction to prohibit mandatoryvaccinations. At press time, I’m uncertainof the outcome of that suit.

Now the questions begin.What is the motive of our government

to mandate vaccinations?Could it be the projected $5 billion

that the vaccine-makers stand to profit if200 million Americans receive theirproduct?

What makes this vaccine different thanthe 1976 version that paralyzed or killedhundreds of people?

The Monovalent Vaccine (andFluvirin) package insert (vial and syringeleaflet text) lists the side effects, whichinclude Guillain-Barre syndrome,vasculitis, paralysis, anaphylactic shock,and death. Are they serious?

Other side effects range fromheadache to chest pain, fever, cough,vomiting and diarrhea. Doesn’t thissound like the flu?

In Feb. 2009 a 6-month old girl inMexico was the first to be diagnosed.With several cases reported in Mexico,and one recognized in California byApril, the United States declared a publichealth emergency. Was that declarationpremature?

At the end of April, Mexican officialsreported a single month total 2155 caseswith severe pneumonia and 100 deaths.In June, Dr. Margaret Chan, DirectorGeneral of the World HealthOrganization (WHO) declared a phase 6pandemic, the highest level. By July 1,

H1N1 was said to be present in all stateswith an estimated 1 million infected.Hype?

In mid-July WHO reported almost95,000 virologically confirmed cases, with429 deaths, then made the decision tostop counting cases. Do you wonder why?

Late in July Chile reported the pres-ence of H1N1 in turkeys, leading some tosuggest this may mean the virus mixedwith avian genes. Is this a real problem?

In August the President’s Council ofAdvisors anticipated half of the US popu-lation may become infected with H1N1,requiring 1.8 million hospitalizations,and that up to 90,000 might die. Morehype?

In September, the European Centersfor Disease Prevention and Control(ECDC) released its interim risk assess-ment of the Pandemic H1N1 2009. Ofnote is this excerpt from that document,“There are no reports of unusual trans-mission routes for this influenzacompared with normal seasonalinfluenza viruses...” and “...at this stage, itcannot be predicted when the transmis-sion will start in individual countries orhow intense the peaks of transmissionwill be...” and “...There should be nospecial strain on the essential servicesoutside the health sector...” Do theEuropeans know something we don’t?

The week of Sept. 7-12, deaths frompneumonia and influenza accounted for6 percent of all US deaths—below theEpidemic Threshhold of 6.3 percent. Isthere a problem?

In early October, The Centers forDisease Control and Prevention (CDC)in Atlanta announced that 76 childrenhad died from H1N1, and that cases werereported in 37 states. Their reportssuggest that more than 600 have diedworldwide, and that 900 have been hospi-talized. Nowhere is an indication howmany of these hospitalizations resultedfrom complications of a pre-existingcondition like asthma or chronic heart orrespiratory complications, or seriousunderlying health issues. The CDC hasno exact count. Shouldn’t they track this?

In late September, Washington StateSecretary of Health Mary Seleckytemporarily suspended limits on mercury(thimerosal) allowed in the vaccine for

Flu, pandemic or hysteria

IreneTorresIn So Many

Words

The opinions expressed on this page are not necessarily those of the KP News. We neither endorse nor oppose issues or proposalsdiscussed on this page and present these views for public information only.

(See FLU, Page 26)

Off the Key8 www.keypennews.com • Key Peninsula News


It’s the first craft brewery in the area,and just in time for the dreary rainyseason, 7 Seas Brewery opened itstaproom Oct. 15, complete with a hand-crafted bar to go along with its hand-crafted beer. The intimate tasting roompub is cozy, with a bar that overlooks thebrewery, so visitors can watch the brewersin action and take in the aroma of freshlybrewed beer. The natural wood of the barand the stools blends an added warmthand atmosphere to go with the conversa-tion and beverage.

7 Seas Brewing, located beside the Innat Gig Harbor, delivered its first sale July9. Owners Travis Guterson, the brewmaster, and Mike Runion, the CEE orchief executive everything as he refers tohimself, are dedicated to providing theultimate proper pint.

In the 7 Seas taproom, beer connois-seurs will find Cutts NW dry hoppedAmber Ale, British Pale Ale and BallzDeep double IPA. A fourth beer is slated

for release in late November or earlyDecember.

Instead of a beer that is mostly fillers,watered down, and is designed to get youdrunk, the two said a beer should bemade from malted barley, water, yeastand hops. 7 Seas is starting small andkeeping the focus on quality, they said.

“We’ve been approached (by distribu-tors), but we want to make sure there is aface to the company, and that the beer isgetting stored and distributed in the bestpossible conditions,” Guterson said.

7 Seas is already on tap at local pubsand taverns, including Tides Tavern inGig Harbor, the Hy Iu Hee Hee, and theBlazing Onion in uptown Gig Harbor.

The combination at first seems a bitunlikely. Guterson sports long braids, anda goatee; Runion is clean-shaven, has shortblonde hair and is all about business.

And the two make a successful combi-nation.

Guterson and Runion met whileworking at Silver City Brewing inSilverdale. Runion was interested in

breaking into the business, and Gutersonwas working as an assistant in thebrewery. Runion had a couple of years atWSU. He studied entrepreneurship, hesaid.

“Our passions matched,” Runion said.“We’ve been working on 7 Seas for 2 ½years.”

When a microbrewery in Seattle wentout of business, Runion and Gutersonsaid they swooped in to buy the equip-ment. They set up a business in down-town Gig Harbor and were six weeksfrom opening when the building

burned. That was in January.“We had put so much work in that

place, and thanks to Mike getting on theball with the insurance,” Guterson said.

Though they lost everything except thestainless, the two immediately startedrebuilding the business.

They moved to the location beside theInn at Gig Harbor and both said it is abetter location.

For more information on 7 SeasBrewing, visit 7seasbrewing.com, or callRunion at 253-686-3703, or Guterson at206-851-5586.

Cutline: TravisGuterson andMike Runiondelivered the firstorder of 7 SeasBrewing hand-crafted beer thissummer. The firstcraft brewery inGig Harbor, 7Seas now has atap room at thebrewery.

Long time coming

Photo by Scott Turner

By Colleen Slater, KP news

“Shopping local” is easier than ever thisyear, with over 90 businesses located onthe Key Peninsula and a variety of specialevents. Most businesses offer gift certifi-cates if browsing these stores and eventsdoesn’t fill your list.

KPCC Winter Warm-up, Nov. 14, 10a.m. – 4 p.m. at the KP Civic Center.

Booths include a variety of woodcraftslike birdhouses, whistles and pens, as wellas jewelry, photos and artwork, Christmasdecorations, quilts, candles, soaps, andbooks. The new KP News book, Celebratethe Key Peninsula, makes its debut andwill be for sale. 884-3456

Sunnycrest Nursery & Floral HolidayOpen House Nov. 21 – 22.Demonstrations by some of the artistsfeatured in the gift shop are planned.

“Unique and local,” says owner ClaudiaLoy, noting the addition of artist RobinPeterson’s felted hats, and some specialmetal angels from Turkey.

The gift shop carries items created by

KP artists, including jewelry, pottery,paintings, crafts, baskets, books, andmore.

Mon – Sat, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.– 4 p.m. 884-3937

KP Farmers Market in the WhitmoreRoom at the KP Civic Center Nov 21,noon to 2 p.m. Food appropriate forThanksgiving or other holiday meals, buta few farmers with their own gift shopsmay have special items for sale.

Local farms to visit for specialty giftsinclude Barefoot Boys south of KeyCenter, 884-2293, Fairview Farms inLakebay, 884-3107, and Lavender Park onCramer Rd, just below Key Center, 884-3297.

Winterfest, the annual arts and craftssales event at Peninsula High School thatbenefits the students, Nov. 28, 9 a.m. – 5p.m. and Nov. 29, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. $3entry. Three locations for 200 vendors,featuring several Key Peninsula artists,including Gary Anderson’s pottery,Elaine Lefler’s fiber baskets, and DeannaRussell’s specialty dishes and décor.

There are many new vendors, includingone who recycles treadle sewingmachines into custom drawers andshelves.

Hand-crafted items, including soaps,lotions, candles, jewelry, embroidery andother needlework items, garden decora-tions and other moderately priced giftitems. Some commercial food vendorsalso. Organizer Sandy Malich is lookingfor one or two more unique craftvendors. [email protected] or858-8674.

Key Peninsula Lutheran Church Heartand Hand Holiday Bazaar Dec. 5, 9:30a.m. – 3 p.m. at the church on thecorner of Key Peninsula Highway andLackey Road. Affordable, hand-crafteditems to delight young and old,including teddy bears, quilts,Scandinavian baked goods, lefse, freshevergreens, table décor, tree ornaments,linens, jewelry, aprons and more. Adrawing for a child’s butterfly quilt willbe held, and a free Kid’s Shoppe is avail-able for children to select and wrap agift for a parent. Proceeds benefit theCommunity Meals Program. 884-3312.

SAVE Thrift Store Christmas OpenHouse Dec. 5, when all holiday items areout and decorations up. All proceeds gotoward Peninsula High School scholar-ships. A newsletter with a monthly calendarlisting special and regular bag sales can beemailed. Sign up in the store or call 857-2800. Mon. – Sat., 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Angel Guild sets out special itemscollected all year for the holiday season.Beautiful glass globes, ornaments anddecorations, including items for the yard,new lights, Christmas cards, gift wrap, oldfashioned collectible décor, stuffed

animals and other neat toys for kids,Christmas tree stands, and holidayclothing, already showing up, are amongthe finds here.

Wed. – Sat., 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 884-9333.The Friends of the Key Peninsula

Library save all used donations ofChristmas/Holiday books, CDs,DVDs/VHS tapes, records, audiotapesand magazines to put in the library lobbyto sell in December. Hardbacks & DVDsare a dollar and the rest of the items area quarter. Donations of any of the aboveare always welcome. The money raised isused to support the K/C Library and puton programs there.

Mon. – Wed., 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., Thurs.,Fri, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sat., 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.884-2242.

Purdy Costless at Lake Kathryn carriesa wide variety of holiday items, includingdecorations, gift wrap, candles, holidaydishes, Key Peninsula T-shirts, sweatshirts,hats and mugs, as well as a variety ofbooks, toys, and other gift items. JimShore’s knick-knacks and holidaycollectibles are always a big seller, as wellas Annalee ornaments. New this year isMarie Osmond’s purse collection.

Santa will be there for photos onSaturday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Mon. – Fri., 9 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sat., 9 a.m.– 7 p.m., Sun., 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Two Crazy Cousins emphasizenostalgia and collectibles, but they have alarge variety of special items.

“We have lots of stuff for $5 and under,”says co-owner Becky Olsen, “and a 50%off table.” Nostalgic signs, jewelry,specialty coffee and other local products,antiques, gift cards, and much more.

Wed. – Sat., 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sun., 11a.m. – 4 p.m.

The store will be Nov. 1-11 for remod-eling. 884-3210.

Key Peninsula Historical SocietyMuseum at the KP Civic Center sells localhistory books, maps, historical photos,post cards, and T-shirts and mugs with theKPHS logo. Memberships are also avail-able as gift items.

Regular hours, Thurs. and Sat, 1-4p.m., or by appointment. 884-3702.

BusinessNovember 2009 • www.keypennews.com 9

Local shops offer unique gifts for holidays

FeaturesNovember 2009 • www.keypennews.com 11


Patty and Dan Cusick noticed theirfarm was losing chickens. In the pastraccoons had been the culprit, but Pattysaid they saw no signs of raccoons.

Then on Oct. 12, Cusick was in the haybarn and turned to see a bobcat on thedriveway of their home near Wright Blissand Elgin Clifton Roads.

“I was fit to be tied,” she said. “I comeback in the front (of the house) and itwalks past me again.”

It wandered off and slept on theembankment near their home in the after-noon. Later that night they heard theirpig, 10-year-old Piggy Sue, going crazy.

“We thought the pig was attacking oneof the ducks,” Cusick said, “but it wastrying to bite at the bobcat and it ran outof the pen.”

In the meantime, the family startedtrying to contact wildlife officials to have ittrapped and taken back into the wild.Cusick said she was given the numbers oflocal trappers, which the family would haveto pay to take the bobcat, and when she

contacted the one that had a workingphone number was told the animal wouldbe euthanized.

“That upset me and I was discouraged,”she said. “I thought there was no way Icould relocate an animal and have itdestroyed.”

Some of the neighbors also offered toput the animal down, but the family hadnot made a decision of what to do. Oct. 13the bobcat was back, and the Cusick’slooked out to see it with one of thechickens. They decided not to scare thecat in case they needed to trap it later. Butit didn’t take the chicken either, she said,just left it for dead. It injured a duck sobadly it had to be put down also.

“The thought that she wasn’t leaving,she was just hanging around, I thought itwas kind of strange,” Cusick said.

When the family returned fromrunning an errand Oct. 14, Cusick saidthe kids saw that the goose was injured,but the bobcat was dead.

“I first thought someone came over andtook care of it for us, but the pig would getreally agitated and bite at it,” she said. “The

only thing we could surmise is that the pigkilled it because there is no other logicalexplanation, and the pig is the one thatalarmed us that we were having problems.”

In all, the farm lost about 30 chickens,two geese and three ducks, Cusick said.Piggy Sue has lived with the Cusick’s for 9years.

Sharon Hicks contributed to this story.

Move over Wilbur, Piggy Sue saves the day

Photo courtesy of Patty CusickPiggy Sue, the guard pig is 10 years old.She has been part of the Cusick family fornine years, and when no one else couldfigure out a way to get rid of a wild bobcaton the property, Piggy Sue stepped in.

Sharon Hicks, KP News

The youth group at Lakebay ChristianAssembly will be hosting its fourth annualspaghetti feed Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. To top offthe evening there will be a pie auctionalong with a dozen home baked muffinsto be delivered to the winner once amonth. This is an all- you- can-eat eventand adult tickets will be $6 with children12 and under $4.

Justin and Faith Carr, assisted by Sarahand Bryan Hacker, are the leaders of thisteenage youth group starting at age 13through high school, meeting everyWednesday and Sunday evenings. Thegroup currently consists of eight to 10teens who get together where they canfeel safe, have a sense of belonging andgive back to society. They have beentogether for six years “with kids comingand going at all ages so it is a constantflow” said Sarah. Justin says “Theproceeds from the spaghetti feed helpsprovide teens a place to hang out and bea part of something bigger than theyare.” It also helps fund a trip to Portland

in February for a three-day conferencewith Christian youth from all over.

One of the teens, Julia Olson says, “Iget a sense of belonging and friendshipand learn from God’s word.”

For this huge “feed” Sarah preparessauce for 200 people, doing one batchthe day before and the other the day of

the event taking her five to six hours eachincluding the simmering. The feed willrequire 15 to 20 loaves of garlic bread,and gallons of salad will accompany thespaghetti.

Justin’s goal is to plan a monthly BBQ,outing, etc. for this “wanting to learn andserve” group of Christian youth.


Final caregiver classes By Colleen Slater, KP News

The last two sessions of the freeCaregiver University classes will be held onNov. 5 and 12 in McColley Hall at the KeyPeninsula Lutheran Church (KPLC)starting at 10 a.m. The pilot programbegan on Oct. 8 with 16 inattendance. People who have not attendedprevious sessions are welcome to come tothese final classes.

Donna Chapman, Elsie Vezzani andMyvanway Shirley, KP residents, have offeredtips and resources for people who are or maysome day be caregivers. These last classsessions deal with 1) Communication andFamily Dynamics and 2) Finances, Directivesand Leaving a Legacy.

Program Coordinator Patricia Witt,who returned to the area to be caregiverfor family members, came up with theprogram and worked with the sponsors,Aging in Community Initiative ofThrivent Financial for LutheransFoundation and Lutheran Services inAmerica. Witt, a caregiver herself, recog-nizes the need of resources to assist inthe challenges one faces.

Key Peninsula Lutheran Church is oneof four participating congregations in theSouth Puget Sound area. The congrega-tion-based program designed to reach outto the greater community is a program thatfits well with KPLC, a church that providesseveral community services already.

A local Advisory Council, made up ofLCS staff, representatives from partici-pating congregations, Thrivent, TacomaLutheran Home, Parish Nurse Association,and other local agencies helps steer theprogram. Edie Morgan from The MustardSeed Project serves on this council.

A goal of both the Aging in PlaceInitiative and The Mustard Seed Projectis to help people stay safely in theirhomes and communities as they age.Another goal is to ensure that caregiversreceive the support they need.

Chapman and Vezzani emphasize thisis a pilot program, and if successful, canbe expanded to other areas. Vezzani saysone goal “is to renew (the information)every so often and eventually establish a(local) support group for caregivers.”

For information, call Donna Chapman,884-9992, or Key Peninsula LutheranChurch, 884-3312. For additional infor-mation on Caregiver University, callPatricia Witt, 272-8433 or visitwww.lcsnw.org/tacoma/caregiveruniver-sity.html

Photo by Sharon Hicks, KP NewsJustin and Faith Carr with the Lakebay Christian Assembly youth group.

Youth group to host spaghetti feed


COMMUNITY WORKSSubmit calendar items to [email protected] • Deadline 15th of the month

Nov. 1 - Travel Club

The new KP Travel Club meets at 7p.m. in the Brones Room, KC Library,with guest speakers Ron and LouiseTalley, who have traveled to China manytimes and helped provide improvementsto a special village there. This club has noofficers or dues, just exchanges of infor-mation and special programs. 884-3937or 884-4697

Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30-Tolle group

Eckhart Tolle Silent Group meets from2-4 p.m. at the Huppert residence inLake Holiday. Contact AnnmarieHuppert, 253-313-0147 [email protected]

Nov. 3-Voting today

Vote in the General Election today.

Nov. 5- Fuchsia clubmeets

The Lakebay Fuchsia Society meets at 7p.m. at the Key Center Library. Myvanwy,884-2283

Nov. 7-Coffee sampling

Learn about free trade coffees fromdifferent countries, distinguish theirvarying characteristics and enjoy carefullychosen paired pastries from 10 a.m.-noonin the community room of the Key CenterFire Station. This fundraiser, forCompassionate Travel Foundation, ispresented by Joe Sanchez of Jake’s BrewCompany, a new coffee shop openingsoon on the KP. Cost is $20; space islimited. Register at 884-5241 [email protected]

Nov. 14-Chili and crafts

The Key Peninsula Civic Center willjump-start the holiday shopping seasonwith the 2nd Annual Winter Warm-UpCraft Fair and Chili Cook-Off from 10a.m. to 4 p.m., at the civic center. The

event will feature handmade and one-of-a-kind local crafts and creations, a Kids’Crafts Corner sponsored by Two WatersArts Alliance, entertainment, a giantraffle and chili cook-off. The kitchen willsell and serve chili, nachos, hotdogs,chilidogs and cornbread, as well as hotand cold beverages. All proceeds benefitthe Key Peninsula Civic Center. For moreinformation, call 884-3456 orwww.kpciviccenter.org

Nov. 14- Tribal song anddance

The Friends of the Key Center Libraryand the Longbranch Improvement Clubco-present a free progam, “Kuteeyaa,” amultigenerational group performingTlingit, Tsimpshian, and Haida songs anddances, at 2 p.m. at the LongbranchImprovement Club. The Aleut Children’sTheater Players will perform a short tale,“How Raven Brought Fire,”beforehand. Donations to the KeyPeninsula Food Bank encouraged. 884-2242 or 884-9157

Nov. 14 & 22-Scout fooddrive

Boy Scout Troop 220 does their annualfood drive to benefit the Key PeninsulaFood Bank. Empty grocery bags will bedelivered to KP communities onSaturday, Nov. 14. Bags filled with dona-tions will be collected on Sunday, Nov.22. Other non-perishable donations canbe dropped off at the weekly meetings atthe KP Civic Center on Tuesdays inNovember from 6:30 - 8 pm. For generalScouting questions, contact John Odell,Scoutmaster, at 265-6205.

Nov. 16 – Health and help

The United Way of Pierce County, theUnited States Census Bureau, the State ofWashington Department of Social andHealth Services and special guestRepresentative Larry Seaquist, give animportant presentation from 6-8 p.m. at theKP Civic Center. Learn about the health ofour community in the current economicclimate, how participating in the 2010

census can help our community, and howDSHS can help our individual families.

Nov. 18- Shop in Bellevue

Key Pen Parks hosts a holiday shoppingtrip to Bellevue Square, with over 200stores, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Meet at theVolunteer Park parking lot, bring $30 forthe transportation and some lunchmoney, and be ready for a good time.There is only room for 5-7 people,register early. [email protected] or884-9240

Nov. 19-Community forum

The Mustard Seed Project’s ThirdThursday Community Forum will focuson 2010 Medicare Options 10 a.m.-noonat the Brones Room, Key Center Library.Medicare’s annual Part D open enroll-ment begins Nov. 15-Dec. 31. SandyRuffo, R.N. and longtime volunteer forStatewide Health Insurance BenefitsAdvisors will present. 884-9814 [email protected]

Lion’s Club

The Key Peninsula Lions Club whichhas sponsored the Key Peninsula Citizensof the Year Annual Awards dinner since1984 will again host the event for the26th time this year at the Key PeninsulaCivic Center in Vaughn, WA, in March2010. The program is dedicated to themerits of volunteerism.

Please submit the names, telephonenumbers and (optional) mailingaddresses of your nominee(s) as early aspossible. Nominees may be of any age,should be residents of, work on, or ownproperty on the Key Peninsula. Personsnominated should be considered forhaving rendered volunteer service onbehalf of the Key Peninsula communitywhether for a single outstanding contri-bution or for sustained contributionsover many years. No member of the LionsClub may be nominated.

Send nominees’ names, telephonenumbers, (mailing addresses), and abrief description of why you feel theydeserve to be recognized to KP Lions, PO

Box 63, Vaughn, WA 98394, or via emailto [email protected] or<[email protected]>.

For information, call: 253-853-2721 or253-884-3319.

KP Lions have scheduled a series offorums with community leaders:

Nov. 4 Dr. Sumner Schoenike, ProjectAccess Pierce County; and Nov. 18 StateRepresentative Larry Seaquist

Nov. 20 – Free movie

The Gig Harbor Welcome Club invitesthe adult public to view “O Brother, WhereArt Thou” at 10 a.m. at the Galaxy Theatre.The movie is free. Buy a beverage of choiceafter the movie and meet in the party roomfor a discussion and some friendship.

Nov. 21-Eat local

The Key Peninsula Farmers Market ishosting a special opportunity to buy freshlocally grown food in the Whitmore Roomof the KP Civic Center from 12-2 p.m. “EatLocal for Thanksgiving” is the theme withthe goal of everyone having one local treatincluded in their Thanksgiving dinner.Fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables,pork, poultry, salmon, bread and more willbe available. EBT/SNAP redemption isavailable. www.kpfarmersmarket.org

Dec. 5-Holiday bazaar

The Heart and Hand Holiday Bazaarwill be from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the KeyPeninsula Lutheran Church. This eventoffers affordable hand-crafted items.884-3312.

Dec. 21-Day camp

Key Pen Parks is hosting Last MinuteShopping Day Camp for children ages 6-12 for $45/child. The camp will be heldin the Key Center Fire StationCommunity Room from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.Mad Science will present a WinterWeather Wonderland session from 9a.m.-noon, which will include mini-tornadoes, clouds, rainbows, and instantsnow. Register early. 884-9240 [email protected]


Nov. 7- Alzheimer’s group

The Alzheimer’s AssociationCaregiver Support Group-Gig Harbormeets from 10- 11:30 a.m. at the GigHarbor United Methodist Church, 7400Pioneer Way. The group provides aconsistent and caring place for peopleto learn, share and gain emotionalsupport from others who are also on aunique journey of providing care to aperson with dementia. This free infor-mation and support group is for carepartners, family members and friends ofindividuals with dementia. Contact

group facilitator Whitney Farr-Pilz at206-229-1540.

Nov. 7- Class offered

Carol Wissmann is offering “Profitingfrom Periodicals” from 9 a.m. to noon atthe Gig Harbor campus of TacomaCommunity College. Call Carol, 851-5101 or TCC, 253-460-2424 [email protected]

Nov. 20-“Oliver”

“Oliver” will be performed on Fridays

and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and onSundays at 2 p.m. through Dec. 6. Thiscrowd pleaser will be performed at thenewly outfitted theater space located at6615 38th Avenue Northwest in GigHarbor. Tickets can be obtained on lineat www.encoretheater.org or paid for bycash or check at the door prior to theperformance. Reservations are recom-mended. Call 858-2282.

Nov. 21- Fox Island bazaar

The Fox Island Holiday Gift Bazaarwill be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. atNichols Community Center, 690 9thAvenue, Fox Island. Free admission andfree parking provided. Lise, 253-549-2701 or ficra(at)foxisland.net

OFF THE KEY NOVEMBERPUBLIC MEETINGSn Civic Center Board, Nov. 12, 7 p.m.in Whitmore Room, KP Civic Center

n KP Metro Parks, Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m.at Volunteer Park Annex

n Fire District 16, Nov. 10 & 24, 3p.m. at meeting room, Key Center FireStation

n Key Peninsula Community Council,Nov. 11, 6:30 p.m.–business meeting

n Peninsula School District Board,Nov. 4, regular meeting; Nov. 18,study session meeting; both at 6 p.m.at district office

Community Works

By Jerry Libstaff

Adria Hanson, a gifted and respectedartist from the Key Peninsula, has experi-enced a fluctuation in events this pastyear. Her passagethrough major lifechanges has notstopped hercreativity as shecontinues to delighther public.

Hanson’s workhas the quality andappeal of the Italianmasters. She says,“Portraits are myspecialty.” She paints in oil on canvasfrom both photographs and privatesittings. She also presents landscapes inacrylic on canvas and has recently beendrawn to work with watercolors.

A former gallery owner in Kansas,Hanson relocated to the Key Peninsula in2004. She and her husband designed astudio here where she continues toproduce amazing life like portraits andclassical works. Her portraits have such aliteral quality, one admirer said, “It’s asthough you’re looking into the eyes of aperson rather than a face on canvas.”

Hanson also offers art instruction ather studio. She is extremely versed as anart teacher and worked at HarborMontessori for four years. While there,she donated several pieces for auction as

an extremely successful fundraiser for theschool. She left the school as a result ofone of her major changes; her daughterSophia was born.

Last year her father joined her here onthe Key Peninsula to be with her for thebirth of her daughter. He secretlypurchased some of her work to decoratehis apartment. Shortly before the birth ofSophia, he passed away and Hanson

found the paintings during the after-math. His unwavering support touchedher heart.

When asked how she has sustainedduring this past year, she says, “Severaltimes I put down the brush. A little voiceinside questioned my future as an artist.”She hesitated a moment, reflected andcontinued, “I felt like I was missing a partof myself when I stopped. I had no choice

but to get into my art again. It’s a part ofme.”

Hanson’s work was awarded 2nd placeand Honorable Mention in juried showsat the Peninsula Art League. Her piecefor “SalmonChanted Harbor,” a salmonadorned with Native American art andframed with scenes of art history, drew ahuge reward at auction. She has beenincluded in exhibits throughout ourregion and has presented paintings tothe Governor of Washington, ChristineGregoire and the Chief of the ChoctawNation, Gregory Pyle. Hanson earned aBachelor of Fine Arts degree in paintingfrom the University of Oklahoma andstudied the masters throughout Europeand for a while, she trained in theVirgin Islands. Her paintings arecurrently on display at the HarborGallery in Gig Harbor. Hanson hasrecently been commissioned by PacificBiometrics Research Institute to paintthe founders of the company for corpo-rate display.

Hanson and her husband have anotherarrival, literally on the horizon; they’vepurchased a 20-acre parcel on KeyPeninsula and are building a home.Hanson plans to create a detached studioand offer artist’s retreats, workshops andplien air painting opportunities.

To view Hanson’s work, or to contacther for commission, visit her Web site athttp://www.thestudiogallery.us/

The GenuineARTicle

KP artist works on display in Gig Harbor

Photo courtesy of Derek HansonAdria Hanson in her Key Peninsula home.

By Ted Olinger, KP News

If only one could have floated on thescented air of that crisp fall evening nowso distant, riding the smells of bakingsalmon and burning popcorn throughclouds of green and bluehairspray. There were the last rays ofsunlight streaming through theuprights at Roy Anderson Field. A bigharvest moon pushed its way throughthe trees at the far end, where the score-board counted down time tokickoff. Below were the grandstandspacked with parents, alumni, and chil-dren too small to join the thousands ofbarely dressed, desperately textingteenagers roaming the venue.The combustive, carnival atmospheregenerated by those swarmingstudents would’ve made Mardi Graslook like a Quaker’s wake. Thoughevery inch of their exposed skin waspainted green and gold or blue andyellow, the young fans seemed not tofear or even notice the cold. They werewarmed perhaps by the open stares ofparents and teachers and principals

gazing on their charges with ill-concealed admiration, and even envy.Yet all were connected by the sameanxious fusion of hope and dreadsurrounding this game, a feeling intan-gible but real to anyone who remembersthe incommunicable experience of

youth. Seeing all that, then one wouldknow something about Fish Bowl 31.

Gig Harbor has won 17 Fish Bowlssince the first game in 1979 andPeninsula 13, including nine straightwins in the 1990s. Gig Harbor won sixof the last eight games this decade,including the last two years, shuttingout Peninsula 33-0 in 2008. Punditspredicted a close game this year, onlyreluctantly allowing the Seahawks asmall advantage because of a supposeddesire for payback, not their 3-1 record.Left out of this equation was the factthat 3A South Puget Sound LeaguePeninsula beat 4A Narrows LeagueOlympia and South Kitsap in summerscrimmages, the same teams that laterbeat 4A NL Gig Harbor this season (2-2pre-bowl).

There is also the matter of Peninsula’squarterback. J.R. Grosshans came intothe game leading the 3A SPSL inpassing and with 330 rushing yards foreight TDs on 27 attempts. That wasmore than his own Darrian Creamer(265/46 attempts), the best runningback in the league.

Facing them was what KGHP gamecommentator Alex Benzegala called theTides’ “three headed monster”: BarrettSchmidtke (QB), Troy Castle (WR), andAustin Seferian-Jenkins (LB/WR), oneof the best wide receivers on the WestCoast.

From the start, Grosshans had to clawhis way up the field, sometimesconnecting with a short diagonal blastthat would knock a train off its track,but mostly outrunning the defense forlittle gain. He found Creamer for hisfirst TD reception of the year. That wasfollowed later by a three-point field goalfrom sophomore Cole Madden (WR).Tides QB Schmidtke threw a floater toSeferian-Jenkins in the second quarterthat the 6’7” wide receiver pulled downfor the Tides’ single TD on a 14-yardreception. Schmidtke took a hard hit inthe third quarter by Creamer andlimped off the field, but came back toconnect with Desmond Ary (WR)despite double coverage and a blitz.Schmidtke finally left the game oncrutches, putting Troy Castle at QB forthe first time this season. Castle threwsimple and effective screen passes toSeferian-Jenkins in a relentless drivethat brought the Tides to Peninsula’stwo yard line at the top of the fourthquarter, where they were stopped by ahard-hit fumble.

And then there was the 175-poundcolossus, Seahawk Geoff Grant(WR/DB), whose performance turnedeven the righteous into pillars of salt.When he stepped onto the field, Granthad one TD in four games. At FishBowl, he scored twice, made a divinginterception and recovered a fumble fortwo of four turnovers. Colossus.

Parsimonious observers attributedPeninsula’s “rout” to Gig Harbor’smistakes, as if the Tides were not thequality team they are. The truth is simpler:mistakes were made because it was a toughgame, not an easy one. Neither teamposted the 60 or 90-yard runs they did intheir wins the week before.

Ripping off his headset to storm thefield in the final seconds of the game,after Peninsula scored its fifth TD,KGHP’s Benzegala rightly said, “TheSeahawks are making a statementhere.”

Peninsula will be graduating 23 ofthose Seahawks this spring, those seniorswho finally won a Fish Bowl. We must letthem go but keep our hairspray closeand intone the sports fans’ double-edgedoath: “Wait till next year.”

Sports18 www.keypennews.com • Key Peninsula News

Fishbowl 31: Seahawks crush Tides 38-7

Photo by Mindi LaRoseSeahawks quarterback J.R. Grosshanscompletes a hand-off during Fishbowl 31.

Schools

By Danna Webster, KPNews

A school-bus-yellow 1800 cc HondaGold Wing pulled into a parking space atKey Peninsula Middle School about 8:00a.m. on September 24. NASA astronautDigger Carey and his wife, Cheryl,stashed their helmets and headed insideto salute the student body and faculty.Once again KPMS was being recognizedfor outstanding programs dedicated toSTEM (science, technology, engineeringand math) and most notably theirsustained aerospace engagement as aNASA Explorer School.

In 2004, KPMS was honored as one of50 schools nationwide selected for theNASA program. This year, KPMS was thefirst place runner-up for the NationalMiddle School Association’s “Teams thatMake a Difference Award.”

Carey got the full attention of studentsand staff with his opening remark admit-ting he never liked school. He told theaudience, “I would be looking forward tothis kind of activity (the assembly) as anopportunity to screw up and causetrouble,” and confessed, “I failed ninthgrade science class and had to go tosummer school.” The only thing he reallyliked was riding a motorcycle and, whenhe was 18, went to work to buy one. It wasa long and interesting journey from hisjob as a typewriter repairman tobecoming a pilot aboard the 2002 spaceshuttle Columbia with a mission to repairthe Hubble Telescope.

Carey soon decided he’d rather be afighter pilot than a typewriter repairman,but it seemed the door was closed on that

idea because a college degree wasrequired and he didn’t like school. Hisdesire won out, and in the process, hediscovered the wonders of physics, chem-istry and biology. “These courses teachyou the really, really cool things in life,”he said. He told the students that a lot oftimes what the world has to offer islocked behind a closed door, but educa-tion has the key to that door. “An educa-tion heavy in math and science will giveyou the master key,” he said.

Carey continued his education andearned a master’s degree and all the keyshe needed to become everything hedreamed to be. About 30 years later, hewas part of a team sent to fix the Hubblespace telescope which is an object threemiles high in the sky, about the size of aschool bus, traveling at 18,000 miles perhour. Carey narrated a video presenta-tion of the adventure showing his dreamcome true.

The KPMS students also produced avideo show introducing their work in theExplorer Program and sharing theirdreams of becoming astronauts, aeronau-tical engineers, scientists and pilots.

State Superintendent of Schools,Randy Dorn, congratulated the KPMSstudents and staff on a program that hashelped students realize that STEM(science, technology, engineering andmath) might be part of their future. Hesaid the KPMS program is needed in allschools across the state. Dorn said, “Wetook a giant leap with the moon landing.It is time to take another giant leap.”

Carey assured the students that there ismuch work to do for future astronauts—first go back to the moon and then go onto Mars. And when a student asked if hehad a dream of his own for one morespace mission, he answered, “I’d like toride an electronic motorcycle acrossMars.”

That same evening, Digger and CherylCarey rode their Honda Gold Wing toUptown Gig Harbor where a district widecelebration of the NASA ExplorerProgram was held at the Galaxy Theater.For more information about the KPMSExplorer Program contact the scienceteacher who made it happen, KareenBorders, [email protected],253.530.4257.


KPMS launches sixth yearas NASA Explorer School

Schools20 www.keypennews.com • Key Peninsula News

Vaughn wins fitness awardVaughn Elementary School won the

Washington State Championship onPhysical Fitness from the PresidentialCouncil for the fourth year in a row.Vaughn had the highest percentage ofPresidential Award winners with 50students, or 15.1 percent of the studentbody. An awards ceremony will be heldNov. 25 at 11 a.m.

Free flu shots for studentsStudents in the Peninsula School District

can receive free H1N1 flu vaccine. Theservice is provided through a grant. Thedistrict will provide the space andFranciscan Healthcare nurses will give thevaccine. Students can get the flu vaccineNov. 18 at Peninsula High School from2:15 to 5:15 p.m. Reports of absences dueto flu like symptoms have increasedrecently in the district, according to districtofficials. The staff will focus on preventionstrategies and parents are encouraged tokeep ill students home.

BRIEFSschools

tion goes from 86 cents per thousand to1.09 per thousand. I’m voting for a 25percent increase in the levy.”

“As your property values go down, thecollection rate goes up,” saidCommissioner Sheila Hunt. “With theproperty values, it’s actually 180 millionthat we’ve decreased out here. Thatbumped our collection rate from 86 centsto 95 cents. So instead of the 22-centincrease you see on the ballot for this levy,it’s going to be a 14-cent increase.”

However, an increase is imminent for2010, said commissioner Jim Bosch.

“Your rate per thousand is going up to95 cents whether you like it or not nextyear [regardless of the levy],” Bosch said.“Your property taxes are going to go upnine cents and we won’t get one pennymore from you. So the increase we’reasking for is 14 cents more per thousanddollars.”

Grandier had more questions, andasked, “What services have you cut sincethe levy failed four years ago?”

“We have tried very hard not to cut serv-ices in the last four years,” said Fire ChiefTom Lique. “We’ve cut internal programs,we’ve adjusted training budgets, we’veadjusted the supplies we’re buying, themoney we’re spending on facility mainte-nance.” One recently hired temporaryfirefighter was let go and that positionmay remain vacant, said Lique.

“The projected deficit for 2010 is now$151,000,” said Lique. “With the levy,we’ll see about $341,000.”

Bosch said, “If the levy should fail,we’re going to have to face reality as aboard and say there is a resulting cut inservice. You can’t keep balancing thebudget by nitpicking here and there.We’ll run one ambulance, minimum staffof three, if there’s layoffs, so be it.”

Lieutenant Eddie Swanson was thetemporary firefighter/EMT hired for thenow vacant position. “I was told there wasthe possibility that it wouldn’t last sixmonths if the levy didn’t pass, but thatthere was also the possibility that if I didwell they would extend to a permanentposition. Again, if the levy passed lastsummer,” said Swanson.

Swanson grew up on the Key, attendedEvergreen Elementary, Key PeninsulaMiddle School, Peninsula High, and nowlives in Lakebay with his wife. “I love itout here and I love the people and I lovethe community, and I’d love to work forthe fire department full-time perma-nently but, you know.”


(From LEVY, Page 1) The Fire Commissioners submitted aballot measure last summer to lift the“lid” on levy collection for the firedepartment to $1.09 per $1,000 ofassessed property value, or 22 centsover the maximum 1 percent lid onannual increases allowed by law, whichwas then 87 cents per $1,000. Thatlid lift vote failed in August.

The Pierce County Assessor’s Officehas since lowered property values onthe Key Peninsula. To maintain the 1percent annual increase, the countyraised the tax assessment rate from87 to 95 cents per $1,000 in October.Because of that, the same lid lift levyasking for an increase to $1.09 per$1,000 now amounts to a 14-centincrease over what property ownerswould pay instead of 22 cents.

The rate of 95 cents per $1,000 invalue for a property worth $200,000equals $190 a year, or 1 percent ofthe assessed value. If the levy isapproved and the rate is raised to$1.09 per $1,000, the same$200,000 property would owe $218.That’s $28 more and 14.74 percenthigher than $190, but amounts to 1.1percent of the assessed value.


By Hugh McMillan, KP News

The Key Peninsula and Gig HarborFire Departments teamed up for a surveyto check that children were properlysecured in vehicles.

Each elementary school in thePeninsula district was included in thesurvey.

“Our survey found that 16.5 percent ofkids were riding unsafely and illegally,”said GHFD’s Prevention SpecialistNanette Tatom. “Most parents were veryappreciative of the information weprovided and were simply not aware ofthe law.

“Our two departments have done agood job getting the message out aboutkeeping kids rear-facing as infants.Although the slogan, ‘4 foot 9, boostthem every time,’ has also been wellpublicized, the age 13 part of the law hasnot.”

Children under the age of 13 arerequired to ride in the back seat when-ever it is practical to do so.

At each school, a flurry of brightorange reflective safety vests calling atten-tion to fire and safety personnel was anindication of the seriousness with whichthe operation was conducted. As vehiclespulled up to the school, drivers werewide-eyed with, “what’s goin’ on here”looks on their faces.

“With the help of the Peninsula SchoolDistrict, its Parent Councils, Mary BridgeChildren’s Hospital’s Center forChildhood Safety, the Gig Harbor Policeand other volunteers,” said Tatom, “wewere able to go to all eight elementaryschools and make the surveys.”

The fire departments were able toreport that PSD kids are riding safer thanthe national average.

“But,” Tatom added, “we still haveroom for improvement. I would love tosee 100 percent of kids riding safely invehicles. One child injured or killed in amotor vehicle crash is one too many,especially when properly used car seatsand properly worn seat belts can makethe difference.”

Among things not commonly known:Adults have a myelin (fat) layer to protecttheir brain and internal organs frominjury - children do not. Adults havehigher bone density and a more maturepelvic structure - which is better able tospread and withstand crash forces than achild’s. Size is not the issue - even “adult-size” children do not have “adult-strong”bodies. Front passenger airbags can causeserious or fatal injuries to children. Evenwhen there are no airbags, riding in theback seat reduces the risk of seriousinjury by 40 percent.

Seat belts are designed to fit adults. Soremember, until kids are 4 feet 9 inches,boost them every time and in the backseat until they are 13 years old.

The cost of a ticket when your childrenare not properly restrained in the car is$124.

For more information on how toprotect your child in a car, call the MaryBridge Car Seat Help Line at 253-403-1417 or Key Peninsula Fire & Medic

One at 253-884-2222.

Some kids not riding safe on KP

Photo by Hugh McMillan, KP NewsFD 16 and Gig Harbor Fire surveyed PSDschools to gather data on car seat safety.

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KUPKAElmer E. Kupka, age 85 of Lakebay

passed away Sept. 27 at Tacoma GeneralHospital after a battle with multipleillnesses.

Elmer was born Feb.15, 1924 in Libby,Mont. to John andHattie Kupka, a fewyears later moving toVaughn where he wasraised.

After graduationfrom Vaughn UnionHigh School he found the U.S. NavalService in June 1943. While in the servicehe was awarded with the American AreaCampaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific

Campaign Medal and WWII VictoryMedal.

In 1946 he moved to the Lakebay area.Elmer retired in 1981 after working 25

years as a custodian and bus driver atEvergreen Elementary School. Afterretirement he and Muriel enjoyed manyyears in the summertime going to Omakto pick baby’s breath. They made manybeautiful bouquets. He also liked to go totheir lot at Ocean Shores, as he loved thebeach.

He was preceded in death by his wife of63 years, Muriel, his grandson Timothy,two brothers Merle and John, and twosisters Alvera and Ruby.

He is survived by his three childrenLarry of Lakebay, Don of Fife and Dianeof Bremerton, grandchildren Scott,Shawn and Misty, and two sisters Beatriceand Odie.

Graveside services and interment willbe held at Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. at theLongbranch Cemetery.

OBITUARY

KUPKA

pregnant women and children under 3years of age. This suspension ofWashington law is allowed when there isa shortage of vaccine or during a diseaseoutbreak.

Isn’t mercury a heavy metal?

By mid-October the first doses of H1N1nasal spray vaccine began to arrive inWashington State, with the injectablevaccines scheduled for delivery later.

VAERS is the Vaccine AdverseReporting System. VAERS website is:www.vaers.hhs.gov Toll free: 1-800-822-7967.

that his truck was rolling. He lookedback and saw his truck roll backwards,hit Cecchino’s Mazda pickup andcontinue to roll across the highway,over the planter in front of the postoffice and strike the front side of thepost office. Burden’s vehicle was unoc-cupied. There was no arrest and bothof the vehicles involved were drivenaway from the scene.

(From CRASH, Page 1)

(From FLU, Page 7)

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Photo by Karina WhitmarshSean Whittemore and Stephen Wolverton collect funds at Key Center as a part of FD-16’s Northwest Burn Foundation Annual “Give Burns the Boot” campaign.”

Photo by Karina WhitmarshDiana Nole stands waits in line to see a documentary film called “Dive,” one of themany films shown at the Galaxy Theatre, Uptown in Gig Harbor for the Gig Harbor FilmFestival.


To see more Out & About photos, visit our Website at www.keypennews.com and follow the Photo Gallery link. See more of your neighbors out and about, Key Peninsula scenes

and happenings. The online gallery features only Website exclusive photos!

Out & About

Photos courtesy of Glen Ehrhardt View from Cliff Avenue in Longbranch of morning break over the Sound.

Excavation of theVaughn Bridge (circa1966) began Aug. 10

and closed a portion ofSouth Vaughn Road.

From the four-way stopat the Vaughn intersec-

tion near the CivicCenter, traffic must

detour over two miles,onto 92nd Street , to

access Lackey andCrescent Roads.

Photo by Danna Webster

Students show theirschool spirit duringFishbowl 31.

Photo courtesy of Mindi LaRose

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