By STEPHEN L. SWANN
The port was buzzing June 8 during the first annual Marina Day Celebration, organized by our new port manager, Brad Miller.
Boaters from as far away as LaConner came to Poulsbo for the event and enjoyed themselves immensely. Different things brought different people. Some came for the two-for-one moorage, while some came to hear the bluegrass music.
Others came with their families and took part in the various activities for kids, generously provided by the Viking Fest girls.
Special thanks go out to the U.S. Power Squadron, which donated its time and effort conducting free vessel safety inspections. These folks always do a great job educating the boating public!
But not everyone who attended Marina Day was a boater. About halfway through the event, it was learned that many people were here just to see what boating is all about. They were the ones who took advantage of the free boat rides being offered by Northwest Electric Boat Rentals and the free kayak demos by Olympic Outdoor Center. Approximately 65 people participated in the on-water activities that day. Surprisingly, one family even came all the way from Spokane!
By the end, it was estimated that over one hundred people took part in the festivities. The marina’s occupancy was nearly double what it has been for that same weekend in years past.
Thank you to everyone who helped to make the first annual Marina Day Celebration happen.
We couldn’t have done it without you.
You’ve probably noticed it: the summer boating season is in full swing. This last weekend, just before the holiday fireworks, guest moorage occupancy was almost 100 percent.
Signature Yachts scheduled its annual rendezvous for friends and customers, and brought into Poulsbo some really nice vessels at E Dock. Come take a look tomorrow and Sunday at your neighborhood family marina.
NEWEST PROJECT: The Port Commissioners and staff are investigating the question whether the Port District boundaries should be expanded to include the entire city limits of Poulsbo. Presently the Port District represents fewer than half the residents of Poulsbo. When city limits were expanded several years ago, the District retained its current footprint. Some consider this unfortunate for the entire community the Port serves a larger population than just waterfront merchants and Liberty Bay homeowners. Now only half of the city’s commercial and residential property owners contribute to support a Port District that benefits the entire city.
Readers of North Kitsap Herald editorials have on several occasions been presented with solid reasons supporting expansion, including the following:
— All Poulsbo residents would have a voice in Port matters.
— Voters in Poulsbo would be able to vote for port commissioners, who are currently elected only by residents of the Port District.
— An enlarged Port District would generate increased tax revenue, needed for maintenance and repair of an aging, creosoted breakwater.
— Increased revenue would work to fund D Dock expansion to accommodate passenger cruise ships and additional seaplane traffic, and prevention of Anderson Parkway erosion.
— Larger Port District boundaries would empower the Commissioners to look beyond the waterfront for economic development opportunities, and the needed economic revitalization in Poulsbo through acquisition of property for commercial, ecotourism and recreational uses.
Poulsbo’s Port has been for many years a major engine for our community’s financial success. In calendar year 2011, for example, the Port of Poulsbo contributed more than $2.2 million to the Poulsbo community at large.
COAST GUARD EVENT: A special opportunity to visit a U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat is planned for Thursday and Friday, July 25 and 26. The crew of the USCGC Sea Devil, a Bangor-stationed 87-foot patrol boat, will arrive at the Port’s Marina mid-afternoon on Thursday.
Tours aboard will be offered. On Friday morning at 1100 (11 a.m. for some folks), there will be a formal Change of Command Ceremony at Waterfront Park.
Bring your family and friends down, and show your support for our nation’s oldest, continuous seagoing service, first established as the Revenue Cutter Service in 1790.
MEET THE PORT. Weekend visitors to the Port will usually see Charles Rob Schmidt supervising other marina attendants along the guest moorage at E and F docks, and working the fuel dock. Rob is a retired Navy master chief petty officer, and has served the Port for more than four years. He lives with his family in Suquamish. We are most fortunate to have Rob, who always has a sunny disposition and a friendly greeting for our visiting boaters.
PORT QUIZ: Last month’s “binnacle list” question was correctly answered by Linda Schwind and Bob Jungst. Thanks for reading The Scuttlebutt.
OK, how about this one? Nineteenth century seafarers started the expression “chewing the fat.” What’s the history of this expression?
Send your best guess to commissioner.swann@portofpoulsbo.com. The first responder with the correct answer will be acknowledged in The Scuttlebutt August issue.
The commissioners, employees, tenants and guests of the Port of Poulsbo (www.portofpoulsbo.com), one of 75 Washington state ports, wish you a safe visit to Poulsbo’s spectacular Waterfront Park, and a safe transit on Liberty Bay. Bring your friends and families down to the Port’s marina and greet our staff and visiting boaters on E and F docks.
(Watch us by webcam at www.siteground315.com/~longship/.)
— Stephen L. Swann is a Port of Poulsbo commissioner. Contact him at commissioner.swann@portofpoulsbo.com.
