Do LEFEV Parking Signs Help?

Posted on August 5, 2011 | 2 comments

Sorry, trucks don't qualify


On a sunny morning earlier this week, the parking lot at the new YMCA in Silverdale was perhaps one-third full. The occupancy rate in the spots reserved for low emitting and fuel efficient vehicles (LEFEV) was far higher. Only a couple of the thirty or so LEFEV spaces (see photo) were empty. I parked at the far corner of the lot, ate my Burger King breakfast sandwich, and pondered my cynicism.
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Canoe at High Tide

Posted on August 3, 2011 | 3 comments

Tied up at high tide


Last night was a perfect summer evening at Treasure Island. Perfect for everything but canoeing. Due to its minimal keel, my 15-foot Coleman Outfitter gets blown sideways by any wind exceeding about 5 knots. So after a brief battle against a stiff breeze, I brought the canoe back in and settled for a picture of a moored canoe instead (see photo). At 15.5 feet, the tide was one of the higher tides for August. The picture was taken a few minutes before high tide.

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A Three-Word “Awesome”

Posted on July 29, 2011 | 2 comments

To offset a world that gets more bad news every year, The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha describes dozens of simple things that can make us happy and should be celebrated. For example, “When cashiers open up new checkout lanes at grocery stores.” The book’s entries are a mix of author originals and suggestions sent in from all over. One of them is the idea behind my favorite greeting card of all time.
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Posted in Books & Movies

Our Gray Swam Away

Posted on July 28, 2011 | 1 comment

An emaciated juvenile gray whale died this week on a beach at Erlands Point in Dyes Inlet. The sad story was reported in the Kitsap Sun, which mentioned that the dead whale was examined by several marine biologists. In contrast a full-grown gray whale that spent part of a summer off the north end of Treasure Island about 15 years ago failed to attract any attention from the scientific community or the media.
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Cleaning Up the Canyon

Posted on July 22, 2011 | 1 comment

South Fork Skokomish River from High Steel Bridge


The canyon spanned by the High Steel Bridge in the southeast portion of the Olympic National Forest is a regional scenic treasure. The bridge itself became a national historic place in 1982. Sadly, over the years the no littering signs have been ignored by enough thoughtless visitors to make the canyon a scenic dump. The most recent eyesore—a couple of traffic signs are visible in the shallow water of the South Fork of the Skokomish River just downstream of the bridge (see photo).

This is a short initial post to identify what will be a difficult problem to solve: cleaning up the canyon. It’s more than 400 feet from the bridge deck to the bottom and the canyon walls are too steep and slippery for ordinary climbing. I’m also pledging to do whatever I can to assist in removing the rubbish. So far that consists of writing this post and contacting the Hood Canal Ranger District to urge them to get involved. At this point we are at the phone call and email stage. More from them later, I hope.

There’s one more photo after the jump as evidence that something needs to be done.
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Cows and Mattresses

Posted on July 21, 2011 | 2 comments

Sleeping like a cow?


The Mattress Ranch, which has two stores in Kitsap County, has been around for years. Until today though I didn’t know that the company is doing mobile marketing. That’s when I spotted their mascot, complete with the chain’s domain name, loaded on a trailer (see photo) at the south end of Silverdale. Although I can’t resist giant animal statues, the big bovine didn’t make me want to buy a mattress.
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Posted in Business Beat

Elks Care

Posted on July 19, 2011 | 2 comments

In case it rains


“Elks care, Elks share.” It’s a wonderful slogan and one that the Bremerton Elks lodge strives to live up to. Clearly some Elks also care strongly about their collector cars (see photo). Last Saturday at the 23rd annual Elks car show in Bremerton, a couple of owners pampered their entries by bringing along Quik Shade instant canopies. Given the off-and-on showers all weekend, the shelters weren’t there to keep the cars out of the sun.
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Posted in Cars

Must Be a Great Job

Posted on July 11, 2011 | 3 comments

A sweet ride


I’m not sure of the exact duties assigned to the driver of a Hostess Twinkies van (see photo). Even so, I would consider coming out of retirement if offered the job. The vehicle doesn’t look big enough to keep up with regular deliveries of the delicious snack cakes. Perhaps the job is just to spread good will and respond quickly to random spot shortages. I wonder if anyone flags the van down for a roadside purchase like it’s a Good Humor truck.

I took a quick look at the Hostess Cakes web site before posting this photo. They recommend trying Twinkies deep fried.

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Posted in Business Beat

Silverdale Needs a Tower

Posted on June 28, 2011 | 2 comments

View of Silverdale from the east


Silverdale added a Trader Joe’s this month and recently dedicated the new Haselwood Family YMCA. If the Citizens United for Silverdale gathers enough signatures, there will be a vote on cityhood next year. But even with all the progress there’s something the undisputed retail center of Kitsap County lacks that would really put it on the map. Silverdale needs a tower.
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Long Cars in Shelton

Posted on June 26, 2011 | Leave a comment

A lot of car to wash


A rare 1959 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron highlighted the Antique and Classic Car Show today in Shelton. There was no award at the show for overall length, but if there had been one, the beautiful blue four-door hardtop (see photo) would have won. Not counting limousines, it is one of the longest production cars ever made in the United States.
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Posted in Cars