News around town: Rentals, accidents, small world news

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Whether playing Crazy 8’s or Cards Against Humanity, never deal without a full deck, unless you are shuffling along with Port Townsend Observation Deck News Around Town.

T-SHIRT SAYING OF THE WEEK: “Don’t undo all you’ve undone.”

RENTAL NEWS: As happy as we can be for people who have sold or bought their homes in East Jefferson County, it’s pure hell for people of most income brackets looking for a basic place to rent. “It’s really hard to hire people because there is nowhere to live,” says the boss of a marine trades outfit with 25 employees. And this, from the city manager: “The greatest demand we have right now is straight-up rental property.” A building contractor with more than 20 years experience in Jefferson County says, “We’ve got immediate openings for painters and carpenters, but there’s nowhere to live, so either they are already here, or need to commute.”

ACCIDENT NEWS: On Tuesday, an aircraft pilot with an apparent fuel problem ditched his vintage plane on Discovery Bay, and escaped unscathed. On Thursday, about 2 miles away, a driver crossed the centerline and into oncoming traffic; critical injuries resulted. Tell the people you love that you love them when you can, for any single moment of any day can change your life.

SCANNER CALL OF THE WEEK: An employee at a store on Sims Way at 3:44 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30 reported a male and female had been inside store who were visibly intoxicated and smelling of alcohol, and both were now sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot.

SMALL WORLD NEWS: Last Saturday, grandson Benson and I were exploring Battery Kinzie at Fort Worden State Park. First-grader Benson knows the gun battery’s layout rooms and corridors. He heard some people in the corridors, and flashlight in hand, wanted to investigate. The young adults we met were camping at Fort Worden while in town for Strange Brewfest. The 20-something female of the group engaged Benson in small talk and let him know she was a first-grade teacher. A day later, we heard from our niece in Wenatchee (born and raised in Port Townsend), who happens to be friends with that visitor from Issaquah. The visitor had texted about this great boy she met at Fort Worden who was there with his grandpa. My niece has a grandfather who volunteers at Fort Worden. The visitor asked, “Do you know a boy named Benson?” My niece said, “That’s my cousin, who was with my Uncle Pat.” It is a small world after all.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “It’s nice to have people move into the neighborhood who aren’t dead.” (Really, a person said this the other day, and I think they were serious.)

(Patrick J. Sullivan of The Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader lives near the funeral home, which is a dead-quiet neighborhood.)