Elections

Re-elect Delaney to NKSD school board

As a parent of four North Kitsap students and a member of the North Kitsap community, I strongly support Dan Delaney to retain his position as a member of the North Kitsap School Board.

Dan is a great board member who is not afraid of looking at the “Big Picture.”

I fully support Dan in his belief of stopping the visual pollution yard signs and encourage you all not to judge a candidates passion for job by the amount of road side clutter they and their supporters are willing to generate.

I urge you to retain Dan Delaney as a North Kitsap School Board member and keep our schools moving forward in excellence.

Jonathan Hibbs

Silverdale

Arcement best bet for school board

Renee Arcement is running for North Kitsap School Director, District 2 and I encourage North Kitsap voters to cast their vote for her.

I have worked with Renee on issues affecting our schools and have found her to be an excellent listener and articulate spokesperson.

Renee is a strong advocate for the educational choices for all students. She will work with the secondary student programs to increase the scope of curriculum offered, preparing our students for both post secondary and work force roles. Renee will work to increase the opportunities needed to meet all our students’ education, emotional and social needs.

In an era of decreased school funding, Renee is dedicated in continuing to find methods to enhance ways our North Kitsap youth are educated and is committed to involving the community in helping shape future budgets.

Renee Arcement is a hardworking, dedicated individual who cares deeply about the quality of education in our schools. We are fortunate that such a talented leader has stepped forward to serve our community. Please join me in supporting Renee Arcement for school board.

LAEL STOCK

Poulsbo

Berry-Maraist great choice for Poulsbo

I am writing to encourage voters to consider Linda Berry-Maraist for Poulsbo City Council Position No. 1.

I met Linda 14 years ago when our older children participated in a school program that required parental involvement. There were parents there with very strong, often opposing, viewpoints.

In our parent meetings, Linda was always the voice of reason stating the facts calmly, without bias. When there were jobs that required so much work that no one would volunteer — Linda did. She delved into her responsibilities with enthusiasm and the outcome of her work was always beyond what was expected. I was always amazed she could put so much time and energy into a volunteer position. But she’s the type of person who when making a commitment gives it her all. Most importantly, she was a person I trusted. When Linda said she was going to do something, you could count on it being done.

Since that time, Linda has been involved in many committees and task forces that have greatly benefited our community. I think Linda would be an asset to our city council for all the obvious reasons but most of all because she cares about Poulsbo and all the people who live here.

Debi Abston

Poulsbo

Thank You

NKHS homecoming was a huge success

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the community of Poulsbo, including the Poulsbo City Council and Mayor Kathryn Quade, as well as the merchants, residents and families who took part, and helped to create a most memorable and wonderful 50th anniversary homecoming celebration at NKHS last weekend.

Tremendous participation from local businesses (including sponsors Arby’s, ShopLocalBiz.com, and WestSound Bank) allowed us to fund fireworks (generously approved by the city council), which were greeted with great appreciation during halftime of last Friday’s football game.

In addition, Dairy Queen assisted in providing (with Arby’s) free pompons, the NKHS ASB donated many thousands of spirit beads which were all enjoyed by fans, and NKHS PTA offered traditional football mums for returning alums and special attendees.

We were also delighted to have the opportunity to welcome home many NKHS alumni, including former NKHS football players Roger Bird and Steve Maddocks (both Class of 1960), and Park and Charlie Johnson (Classes of 1955 and 1957, respectively), among others. We also enjoyed the decorations all over Poulsbo (courtesy of NKHS Cheer) and the parade around NKHS’ block, which was truly the culmination of several years’ work. While we recognize that there will always be things we could have done better, we doubt very sincerely there is anything that Poulsbo could have done better for us.

We are blessed to live in such a wonderful and supportive community, and thank you all for your strong and constant willingness to do whatever it takes to show your support of North Kitsap kids.

Kathy Prasch,

Principal, NKHS

Doris Ahrens,

ASB Advisor, NKHS

Marcy Salo,

NKHS PTA

Rick West,

NKHS Athletic Boosters

Backpacks at Kingston Middle School are a weighty topic indeed

My 12-year-old daughter Annie is being punished for the crime of going to Kingston Middle School.

She is being forced against her will to carry a backpack easily weighing 25 pounds, or more, to and from school, to each class, lunchroom, wherever. She is learning to play saxophone in band class, so that too is added to her punishment. Obviously, lockers cannot be allowed at school because people might hide things in them. (Although she tells me that the band room does, in fact, have lockers. For instruments only. Not the kind we had in my high school, good old Mt. Si, back in the day, but ones you can see into, with a metal grate — maybe too small to get your hand into. Now there’s an idea! Of course, it would be far too expensive to provide lockers for the whole student population that you could see into.)

I told her to buck up, quit whining, but it seems her body is not yet up to the task. So she’s at home today with a sore back. (The perfect excuse.) Next summer in the off-season we’ll have her wear her backpack everywhere with something at least as heavy as textbooks, of course, but I’m at a loss as to what to do now. Any helpful input from the community at large would be greatly appreciated.

Kris Sorensen

Kingston