KingstonCommunityNews.com Vol. 28 No. 8 • August 2011

Kingston • Hansville • Indianola • Port Gamble • Little Boston • Eglon

COMMUNITY NEWSKingston Community News19351 8th Ave. NE, Ste. 106Poulsbo, WA 98370

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDKINGSTON WAPERMIT No. 22

ECRWSSPOSTAL CUSTOMER

IT’S SLUG SEASONA sluggish hunt is scheduled for Aug. 20 in Kingston. Prepare yourself with

a � eld guide on page 17.

Tad Sooter/staff photo

The Port Gamble S’Klallam canoe Kloomachin crests a wave off Point Jefferson July 23, as Canoe Journey crews pulled from Suquamish to Tulalip. After stops at Port Gamble Bay and Suquamish, the 2011 journey culminated with a week-long celebration in Swinomish. See two pages of color photos inside, pages 14-15.

Journeying on

By KIPP ROBERTSONSTAFF WRITER

KINGSTON — When it comes to priorities for the Port of Kingston, the three candidates for port commissioner all take their own stand.

Incumbent Tom Coultas said stormwater treatment and boost-ing SoundRunner’s ridership are of greatest concern.

Challenger Jerry Kirschner said one issue is parking, but the most pressing issue is stra-tegically planning for economic development and attracting small businesses.

Challenger Walt Elliott said the biggest issues are creating a thriving downtown, making SoundRunner work for everyone,

and ensuring the health of the marina and Appletree Cove.

On July 26, the three candi-dates for Kingston port commis-sioner answered questions from the public in a forum sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and held in the Kingston Cove Yacht Club. The top two vote-getters in the Aug. 16 primary will advance to the Nov. 8 general election. The discussion ranged from economic development to the port’s role with Arness Park.

When it comes to understand-ing taxpayers’ concerns, the two challengers think more commu-nity involvement is needed.

Coultas said it’s a challenge. “Go back to SoundRunner,”

Coultas said. “I kept referring to the silent majority, but the only

time I heard from people is when I crossed paths with them in the store.”

Coultas is serving his fourth term as port commissioner and describes himself as fiscally con-servative. He noted the down-trodden state the port was in when he joined the board; it is now debt free and has financial resources available for develop-ment.

Though the two challengers agreed on the position of trans-parency — supporting electronic notification and website posting of Port District information — it was Elliott who stood alone when it came to discussing the Port’s responsibilities.

Three visions for port

KINGSTON — About 500 peo-ple participated in the first Seattle Echelon Gran Fondo in Kingston Saturday morning.

The crowd was smaller than originally estimated, but organizer David Cochran said the event was still a success. Amidst cheers dur-ing the morning ceremony, it was announced the Fondo raised more than $90,000 for LIVESTRONG and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. According to the Fondo website, a total of $94,673 was raised.

“We’ll definitely be doing this again,” Cochran said. “We want (the Fondo) to be an annual event.

The Gran Fondo — which means “big ride” — is the first bicy-cle ride by the nonprofit PlanetZ/Echelon to hit the streets of Kitsap. Other Fondo rides include Fort Collins, Colo., Palo Alto, Calif., Hood River, Ore., Napa, Calif., and Tucson, Ariz.

— Kipp Robertson

Ride for a cureFirst Gran Fondo bicycle ride through Kitsap

raises $90,000 for cancer charities.

SEE PORT FORUM > PAGE 2