Viking Fest
Well, here we go again …
Dear Editor,
Just when I thought I had escaped the throngs descending on the Viking Fest carnival that shut my Front Street business down for three days a year for six years, I find out it may be following me up the hill to my new business.
Let’s see … road construction for a year and a half, building construction in my own parking lot, a flood that put my business underwater for a week, and now this.
And before anyone reading this gets all up in arms, think of how many extra hours you would have to work at your job to make up for $1,000, $3,000 or $5,000 worth of lost business revenue.
What I don’t understand is, if most business owners dislike the carnival, why is it here every year?
So a carnival owner can make a bunch of money and take it back to Idaho?
And don’t tell me about the scholarship it provides. One hundred businesses could donate $10 each, and there’s your scholarship. And what does a carnival possibly have to do with Viking heritage?
I Googled other Viking festivals across the country, and did not see one single carnival listed anywhere.
How about concentrating on actual Norwegian ethnic activities?
I noticed that Olhava was considered as a possible location for the carnival.
Since it apparently does not need to be located that close to the rest of the activities, why not have it in the KMart parking lot on Wheaton Way?
I would venture to guess that at least half (or more) of the carnival-goers are not from Poulsbo anyway.
Jeff Benson,
Poulsbo
Ferry repairs
There’s an easier way to do things
Dear Editor,
I was building plywood boats during the 1960s and covered them with fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin to secure the cloth onto the hulls and decks — many are still in very good condition today. I’m sure that fiberglass applied correctly with proper surface preparation and using it thick enough would save the old eight boats and they would not have to be scraped and painted again, saving thousands of maintenance hours and dollars.
Think about the possibility of this program.
Doran Kennedy,
Keyport
City Hall plans
What will future generations think?
As the Poulsbo Historical Society (PHS) has put together an enchanting look into the past 100 years of Poulsbo it makes me reflect on what the next centennial celebration may look like.
I wonder if PHS will showcase their push for a downtown City Hall that has cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars (if not more!) and forced city council to accept building on a lot barely big enough for a drive through espresso stand. I can hear it now, the future PHS members saying “What were they thinking?”
Matt Stanford,
Poulsbo
Breiland family
Family appreciated support, comfort
Dear Editor,
To our family, friends and neighbors, our sincere thank you for your words of comfort, telephone calls, gifts of flowers and food. They were greatly appreciated at this time of the loss of our son, brother, uncle and father, Gary. We sincerely appreciate all of your prayers and kind thoughts.
The Breiland Family,
Poulsbo
Drug Court
Priorities are askew
Dear Editor,
The Herald reports on Jan. 16 that the county missed a deadline and lost funding for a $60,000 per year probation officer’s position. This position is described as “key,” “very important” and “essential” by court officials quoted in the Herald article. The county has refused to support the position from the general fund.
The Herald reported on Dec. 22, 2007, that county elected officials passed a resolution granting themselves a 6.8 percent pay raise (Jan Angel was the only dissenting vote). We paid these nine elected officials salaries that totaled $906,606.60 in 2007 according to information received from Elizabeth Watkins (county public records officer). A 6.8 percent pay increase would amount to an additional $61,649. It seems to be a matter of priorities.
William Marsh,
Poulsbo
