Thank you

Another successful

Earth Day

Braving the rain, 75 students from Marie Crumb’s and Gail Danner’s Central Kitsap High School classes hiked to the Clear Creek Trail for their annual Earth Day community event. They were joined by more than 20 Navy sailors, spouses and civilian workers from the Bangor Intermediate Maintenance Facility. This year, they put in more than 500 feet of trail and took out Scotch broom and blackberries to complete the new portion of the trail in the north valley.

The trail was made possible by the generous access provided by the Calvary Church of Silverdale and the county, which own the properties. Roy Christopherson, of ACE Paving, made herculean efforts to get the rock spotted for the event. Taco Bell provided lunch for all those hungry kids as they have since the beginning of all our work on the trail. Albertsons and Costco provided apples and oranges. Lori Raymaker of Kitsap County Parks, Charlie Munoz of Public Works and the Brownsville Marina provided tools. Tom Hunter and Sid Williams from Silverdale Water District also brought tools and helped direct the effort (both have helped before). Roy Meyers from the Kiwanis club, Nadean Ross and Steve Fabry (also a Rotarian) returned again this year to point the eager kids in the right direction. Whaling Days and Dee and Roy Vernal provided financial support.

In spite of the rain, the kids hit the ground running and within a couple hours of hard work, had the job well in hand and were eager for more. It is so much fun to be around them.

If you note the support provided by our friends in the Navy, the county and the business community you can see this is a shared community, effort. Our Clear Creek Task Force members point all year to this event and each one steps up and pitches in. That’s what makes this entire project so neat. “Like peas and carrots,” as Forest used to say.

For all of you who made this such a successful event — thanks a million.

TEX LEWIS

Clear Creek Task Force

Silverdale