Washington State Ferries

That’s where that scratch came from

On April 9, I rode the ferry to Edmonds in the morning and back to Kingston in the afternoon. On the way back, I saw crew members intentionally damage my vehicle, along with at least 30 and possibly 120 others. Some owners of those vehicles may read this newspaper. Here’s the story in a nutshell.

After boarding, I stayed in my truck to rest. Suddenly, the truck shook and I heard banging and scraping. The cause of this commotion was two rather bulky crew members running down the line of parked vehicles. One ran between the two rows, the other ran between the vehicles and the inner bulkhead. They wore emergency outfits and carried long white cylinders.

As they ran, they banged and scraped vehicles they passed. The noise was considerable, even in a closed truck from a distance.

With no idea what to do, I sat and did nothing. A few minutes later, two people — probably the same ones — came running back the way they had gone, banging and scraping vehicles as they went.

I forgot about the incident until a few days ago. When the weather cleared up, I noticed odd scrapes and scratches on my truck that didn’t look like parking lot damage.

Then I remembered the ferry incident. Almost everyone goes upstairs during the crossing, so they would have no idea that their vehicles were damaged, much less how it happened.

But I saw it happen. As Paul Harvey says, “Now you know the rest of the story.”

S. Jon King,

Sequim

PTA

Volunteers needed

Now is the time to step up and consider a leadership position in your local PTA. Every school in the North Kitsap School District has one and every PTA board could use your help. PTAs provide immeasurable service to our local schools. The PTAs earn funds and sponsor assemblies, art programs, music programs, field trips, school supplies and the list goes on and on. We are advocates for children and have improved safety, fields and playgrounds throughout the district. It takes many people to get these jobs done and fresh faces and ideas are needed. PTAs are just as important in high school and middle school as they are in elementary.

You don’t have to be a parent to help. Every adult in our community is needed. Even if you cannot commit to a leadership position, please contact your school’s PTA and find out how an hour or two of your time could provide exponential benefits to the kids. If your PTA meets at an inconvenient time for you, let them know. They will work with you so that you can be involved in your local schools.

Carmen Gale,

Port Gamble

NKSD

Thanks, teach

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. On behalf of the North Kitsap School District Board of Directors, administrative team, classified staff, students, PTSAs and families, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for the significant contribution our teachers are making daily to students and their learning in the North Kitsap School District and thank them for choosing to be teachers.

As teachers, they touch many lives, particularly those of our children, in very special ways. To us and our children, they will always be our teacher, the special person who cared deeply about our learning and future. We owe them so much for choosing the teaching path and the challenges it presents.

Daily, our teachers help students develop essential academic and life skills, provide ways to explore new and exciting learning adventures and stretch their thinking. Whether they are adapting instruction and programs to meet a child’s unique needs, creating new learning challenges, reinforcing the communication connection between the classroom and parents or simply being there for them, they have a profound influence on children and their families. Reaching beyond their personal and family commitments, they provide a very special form of community service. They help make North Kitsap a very special place to live and grow.

Their journey of improving student learning is challenging and complex. It is fraught with anxieties, risks and obstacles. Yet, they readily accept the challenges, take the risks and work tenaciously to improve their instructional practices and give students their best. Such work calls for a special commitment and dedication, a personal decision to commit their professional life to their students and making the world a better place.

Their caring, commitment, tenacity and dedication make it all possible. Please take this opportunity to reach out and thank our teachers for all they give and do for you, your families and community.

We are extremely fortunate that they have chosen to practice their profession in North Kitsap.

Eugene Medina,

Superintendent

North Kitsap School District

Presidential election

That’s ageism, buddy

I generally enjoy reading the NKH and its in-depth reporting of local news and events. It was to my great dismay that I happened to read Charles Bickel’s letter to the editor. He clearly suffers from ageism (look it up Charles, since I doubt you will know or understand its meaning). John McCain not a hero? It was not the length of time spent as a POW, but the single fact that when given the opportunity to “cut and run” from his fellow POW’s he choose not to leave, that alone is heroic in itself. John McCain is not only up to the task of being President, but fully understands the threat from Islamic fascism better than his two