We here in this beautiful Kitsap Peninsula live in such a beautiful place, with green trees, walking trails and even some groomed paths that all of us can share.

However, recently it came to my attention that all these beaches along the Hood Canal and the Puget Sound side are not public. Oh, you might be walking on them, but they are not for picnics nor are the lawn chairs on the lawns for sitting for passersby.

The owners of the properties that have waterfront own all the property down to the mean low tide line, but pretty much all of them don’t care if you, the walker of the grandchildren or the  dog walk on by (but don’t forget to clean up after you dog).

This bit of news made me think of all the other things that we the public sort of take for granted. Take as an example, if you are walking your dog down the road and the dog decides to bark all the way, well, I guess that shows a happy dog, but what about that thing called disturbing the peace?

Or what about the people who ignore the speed limit on our roads? Hood Canal, one of the main streets in Hansville, has a speed limit of 35 mph, but it’s hard to find people who adhere to this rule.

Or what about those thoughtless people who throw their fast food wrappers and sacks out of the car along Bond Road?  And then there are those that throw out their cigarette butts as they travel the highways, do they have any thoughts about fires or even about littering?

And let me tell you about the wonderful things people do, just because.  There is a lady in Hansville that plants bulbs along the pathways at Buck Lake, just because she enjoys the beauty of flowers. She does this anonymously. Did you know about her?

How about the guy that mows the lawns for our older senior citizens and doesn’t charge them? Did you know about him?

Do you know about the helping hands of the Ladies Aid, like taking people to doctor’s appointments or to Fishline to get groceries? Or the neighbor that will help you with your electronic gadgets because he understands them and takes pity on those of us who don’t?

Luckily there are more of these giving and nice people than those thoughtless ones.

Well, these are my rants and raves for today.

Don’t forget about the Eglon Thanksgiving Potluck and Holiday Fair on Nov. 9, or the Wine Tasting and Auction at the Hansville Community Center on Nov. 15.

Check the Hansville Community Center’s website at www.hansville.org for times, and I’ll see you there.

— Donna Lee Anderson  writes Hansville Happenings for KCN. Contact her at WellToldTales@aol.com