They aren’t walking

Regarding the issue surrounding the proposed new hotel downtown at the Sanderling Building site and the lack of parking, together with the so-called parking assessment stating that most of this hotel’s guests will be walking over on the ferry, and after recently looking at our data, we have to say this: between May 1 and Sept. 30 of this year our hotel had 4,652 guests, and of those 4,652 guests only seven — yes, seven — either walked or bicycled over on the Coupeville ferry. That’s a mere 0.001%. We suspect that the other hotels in town would show similar numbers.

Front Desk Staff

The Tides Inn Hotel

Vote for Carol

I’ve known Carol Hasse for more than twenty years and have had the chance to observe her in the roles of consummate sailmaker, Wooden Boat Festival founder, and now, port commissioner, where her skills in collaboration and positivity continue to shine. Her record as commissioner speaks to the three pillars of environmental protection, historic preservation, and economic growth. Since January 2022 alone, her team accomplishments include replacement of the Point Hudson jetty and rebuilding the only public launch ramp in Discovery Bay, restoration of historic Coast Guard buildings, a long-awaited stormwater system at the Boat Haven boatyard, new Travelifts, liaising with committees on Climate Action, Marine Resources and North Olympic Development, and serving as our port’s trustee to the Washington Public Ports Association as well as WPPA’s own representative to the Washington Maritime Historical Trust. She also works with an Intergovernmental Collaborative Group composed of city, county, and PUD elected officials, to make sure agencies are mutually informed and acting in concert with each other. If you’ve lived here for any length of time you know it wasn’t always collaborative like that. Hasse, as her friends call her, is a genuine “connector” who bridges divides, facilitates relationships, creates opportunities, and sees herself as part of a larger web where everyone is linked. In an era where building a sense of community is going to be a most needed characteristic, Carol Hasse has what it takes. I’m voting for her re-election and hope you will, too. 

Karen Sullivan

Port Townsend

Love the library

National Friends of Libraries Week is coming up, Oct. 19 to 25. If you love libraries, please consider a warm thank you to the amazing Friends of the Port Townsend Library. Without the organization’s hours of volunteer work, book sales throughout the year, and program and project financial support to the Port Townsend Public Library, we wouldn’t have the library we know and love. Friends supports Port Townsend’s annual Community Read, the Summer Reading Program, book club kits, spice and recipe kits, author talks, and events for all—babies, toddlers, teens and grownups. Whether you love pumpkins or poetry, or you are inspired to try creating a gingerbread house, it’s here at the Port Townsend Library.  Speaking of inspiration, we would love it if you are motivated to donate or perhaps volunteer.  Please visit Friends’ website at friendsofptlibrary.org. And if you would like further information about National Friends of Libraries Week, go to ala.org/united/nfolw.

Finally, please stop by our next big book sale, October 18 at the Port Townsend Community Center.  This fall, we are excited to try something new.  The night before the big sale, there will be a special one-hour sale from 6 to 7 p.m. for current Friends members at the Community Center.  Enjoy the best selection of used books, CDs and DVDs, just as our volunteers finish the sale set up. Hope to see you there.  

Fran Post 

Friends of the Port Townsend Library board member

Continuing Success

The success and stability of the Port Townsend School District are not an accident. The students, their families, the staff, the administration, and the Board all work together to keep the focus on instruction, good management, and what’s best for kids.

Let’s continue that success by electing Amanda Grace (formerly Funaro) to the school board. She was encouraged to run by Jennifer James-Wilson, who is leaving the board after a remarkable tenure. We owe much to James-Wilson’s competent and steady leadership. Amanda Grace is qualified and prepared to continue Wilson’s legacy.

People who know Amanda know her heartfelt commitment to serving the community, a value passed on by her Native American grandparents. Over the years, Amanda has shown up again and again and provided leadership on many boards. She currently serves with the Jefferson Community Foundation and as Chair of the Jefferson County Board of Health.

Amanda Grace is a graduate of Port Townsend schools and has been engaged with schools through her three children, all recent Port Townsend graduates. She has a long history of attendance at school board meetings.

We are lucky to have such a candidate for this open position and have no doubt that she will win broad support. We are concerned about what her opponent represents. When he ran for school board in 2023,, his voters’ pamphlet statement did not mention the views he publicly embraces on his Facebook page.

This time around, we hope that voters will be better informed about what he represents, and will not give him 43% of the vote, as they did in 2023.

Let’s turn out for Amanda and send a strong message to her culture warrior opponent. We wouldn’t want him to become a perennial candidate.

Bruce Cowan and Deborah Pedersen

Port Townsend

Flags please

I recently attended a Q&A that was sponsored by the Jefferson County Democrats, featuring Rep. Emily Randall, whom is our federal representative. I have never attended a speech in a public forum such as this and something surprised me. As I approached the community center where the event was taking place, the pathway was adorned with flags from Palestine, not American flags. There were also not flags at the podium, nor was there time taken for the Pledge of Allegiance, national anthem, or even “America the Beautiful.” Maybe this is common, maybe it was because she was already 18 minutes late for the event. Even though it seems a large portion of this town disagrees with the current federal government, I would think a representative would have more respect for the country and the flag. You can hate the current regime all you want, but many veterans, like myself, sacrificed a lot to afford folks the opportunity to have such events. At the very least, show some respect for that. See you at the protests.

Curtis Vieke

Port Townsend

Some blame for unhoused

Port Townsend residents, as you close a homeless encampment, be advised that a judge ordered the property owner of the encampment behind the Walmart in Bellingham to pay over $126,000 for the cleanup of the site. Over 17 tons of trash was removed. If you allow an encampment on your property, expect to pay. Being homeless is not a crime, but the way many of them live is. Let me ask you some questions. Would you drink water from a creek downstream from a homeless encampment? Would you be willing to clean up the tons of refuse created by an encampment? Would you pay for the environmental cleanup? Allowing people to live this way is not compassionate. I have respect for the people cleaning the porta-potties, more than for people that wear suits to work. They gave up. You cannot give enough to make homeless people respect what you have given them. Of course I am speaking generally, but you know it’s true for most. They need a home, but they need to work for it. Without some skin in the game, people won’t rebuild their lives.

Mark A. White

Port Angeles