Everything Bremerton celebrated its first anniversary Feb. 5, the first time the column was published in these pages. For an entire year I have had the very unique pleasure and privilege of writing about myself, my family, my community and at times about many of you. I am having a great time doing it. In fact I really hesitate to call it a labor of love because rarely is it a labor at all. It is mainly my passion for this community that pours out of me and somehow gets committed to print on a weekly basis.
The No. 1 question I get asked when people either find out what I do or recognize me because of my picture or something they read is, “How did I get this sweet gig?” Well, several years ago I started blogging. One of the blogs that I frequently commented on was also all about Bremerton and the host was a young reporter named Andrew Binion. Andrew was more than willing to frequently engage many of us via comments on his stories or on the blog. We all had a few laughs and a few loggerhead moments of debate as well, but it was all good times.
The fun times ended when Andrew was let go from his position because of cut backs and I lost contact with him for a time. A few years ago I noticed he returned to Kitsap as a reporter for the North Kitsap Herald. I was very excited to see him reporting on Kitsap again and I started to comment on some of his stories here and there. Much to my surprise in January 2010, Andrew called me out of the blue one day with some very exciting news. He was the new editor of the Bremerton Patriot and Central Kitsap Reporter and wanted to know if I would be willing to write a weekly community column that would appear in print. Are you kidding? Of course I was willing. So we brainstormed and “Everything Bremerton” was born.
People assume I am a member of the press and an employee of the publishing company that owns the Patriot. I am not. My columns are strictly my own ideas, thoughts and opinions. Andrew lets me write about whatever I want as long as it is not going to get him or the company sued. I am also not paid for my work as a community columnist. I happily do it all for free and for the simple fun of it. I already have a full-time job in the private sector that is my livelihood. My column is something I do in my spare time on the side. I look at it as just another way for me to give back to my community by being an average person and resident that writes and shares my experiences and opinions.
In appreciation for a wonderful year of writing, I would like to take a moment to thank Sound Publishing and most especially Bremerton Patriot Editor Andrew Binion for remembering me and some of our wonderful debates and conversations from the past and for handing me, on a silver platter, this unique opportunity that benefits us both. Thank you, guys!
