Miscellaneous Items - 12/6/09

What Happened to the Updates?  We have had inquiring about why there have not been any recent Illahee Community Updates, especially in light of the frequency of past reports and the Timbers Edge appeal, that was reported in the Kitsap Sun.  The short answer is we have been impacted by a combination of travel, visitors, internet and router problems, and a relocation to put in an oak floor.  This Update is being written from a temporary location in the garage.

Bear Report in Gilberton?  We are very late on getting the following email report out.  It came in on Nov 25th.

We didn't see him but are sure a bear attacked our bird feeders last nite.  Stole the suet --broke a bolt tearing a rebar down to get it.  We are on Sandy rd. in Gilberton.

Missing Great Dane?  We had a call about the possibility of the missing Great Dane being in Illahee.  We called and relayed the message and didn't heard anything back.  

White Trash Bags Along Illahee Road.  We noticed lots of white trash bags along Illahee Road and are wondering what group did the trash pick up all the way to Brownsville.  It appears they did a great job as there are lots a bags along the road.  If anyone knows please let us know so we can thank them.

Christmas Ships Coming on December 18th.  We heard the Christmas ships from Brownsville will be coming along the Illahee shoreline on December 18th.  More on that later as we get more information. 

Timbers Edge.  We were out of town when the Kitsap Sun reported about the Illahee Community Club (ICC) appealing the Commissioner's Timbers Edge decision.  The link to the article is attached below.

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/nov/23/illahee-community-challenges-approval-of-timbers/

Appeals Dependent on Community Funding.  As we understand it the ICC filed the appeal when it appeared the pledges to fund the appeal began to come in.  The appeals are costly and we have been asked to remind residents that funds can be sent in to the Illahee Community Club, P.O. Box 2563, Bremerton, WA 98310.

Court Date.  We spoke briefly with the ICC lawyer before the Thanksgiving holiday and remember the first appearance before the Superior Court as being on January 10, 2010.

Shorelines Hearings Board Appeal.  We also understand the ICC has also filed an appeal of the Timbers Edge project with the Shorelines Hearings Board (SHB).   We will see if we can pass on these appeals in a future Update.

Illahee Dock Outfall Appeal.  It was approximately a year ago that the ICC filed the Illahee Outfall appeal with the SHB, which was eventually resolved to most every ones satisfaction, and possibly with less construction cost to the Canadian developer.  We think this was as close to a win - win situation for most parties as we could get, and a great win for Puget Sound waters.  The finishing touch to that project, which is not the developers responsibility, would be to install a rain garden on Fern Street and an infiltration pit at the second cell of the Illahee North detention pond, and that would nearly fully protect the Sound for that drainage area.

Community & Developer Agreement?  We were provided a copy of a letter addressed to Mr. James, the developer, and Mr. Kuhlman, his engineer, stating that the Community would like to see if an agreement could be reached, similar to the Outfall settlement, rather than going forward with appeals and litigation.  Since the letter was also sent to the press we felt we should pass it on to the community, so it is attached at the end of the Update.

Rain Garden Response.  We had a number of people volunteer to help with the Native Plant  Demonstration Rain Garden project being proposed at the new Illahee Preserve parking lot at Almira.  We will keep you apprised of how this project is progressing. 

Jim Aho

Illahee Community Club

P.O. Box 2563

Bremerton, WA 98310

November 18, 2009

Mr. James, Beach Drive Development

3538 Beach Road East

Port Orchard, WA  98366

Mr. Kuhlman, Team 4 Engineering

5819 NE Minder Rd 

Poulsbo, WA 98370

Mr. James and Mr. Kuhlman:

The Illahee Community Club appreciates the response of September 16, 2009 to the Community’s proposal request of August 5 and August 31, 2009.  We hoped to respond to Mr. Kuhlman’s email earlier, but wanted to wait until the appeal to BOCC was decided and disseminated, which happened on or about October 29, 2009. 

The Illahee Community Club had met earlier this year with community members to determine what the community wanted with Timbers Edge.  It was a long process to get everyone to agree with what was eventually decided upon, and was forwarded to you on August 5, 2009. As stated in the proposal, the majority of the community is not against development, but is desirous of a development that conforms to its existing neighborhoods and without negative impacts to existing roadways, streams and aquifers.

The Illahee Community Club Board left the decision of whether to appeal the BOCC ruling or not with the community.  We are informing you that the community, with the ICC Board’s concurrence, has decided to appeal the BOCC decision to Superior Court and to the Shorelines Hearings Board and expect those appeals to be filed soon.

While those appeals go forward, we would like to continue to seek a settlement and would like to begin by responding to Mr. Kuhlman’s email of September 16, 2009.  We also want to thank Mr. James for looking at diminishing the impact on Illahee Creek through infiltration attempts, and fault the Commissioner’s for allowing the use of ambiguous language in the new conditions. 

However, in addition to infiltration, a major issue for the greater community and specifically those around the development is that of sewers.  Mr. Kuhlman implies in his email response that sewers are required by the Health District while the opposite is the case as county code and the Health District allows for septic systems in this area, albeit with the current zoning designation. 

The community feels that the change to septics will result in such a reduction in the infrastructure costs that the profit margin will be similar.  Our estimates are based on the new sewer line installation going under Illahee Creek, rather than in the roadway above the creek, along with the elimination for roadway requirements and modifications, and possibly the elimination of a shoreline outfall.  Also eliminated are the costs of further studies and much of the infrastructure engineering charges.

The community has asked that we convey to you that they hope we can come to an agreement.

                                                                                                                Barney Bernhard, President

                                                                                                                Illahee Community Club

Copies:  Ryan Vancil, Ron Templeton, DCD, Kitsap Sun

Miscellaneous Items - 11/9/09

Illahee Community Meeting on Saturday.  The Illahee Community Club's annual meeting will be held Satuday, November 14, 2009, at the Sylvan Way Library from 1:30 - 3 pm.  All Illahee residents are invited to attend.  We just noticed the announcement also appears at the community website illaheecommunity.com that we hear is in the process of being re-engaged, and possibly looking for people to help keep it up.

 

Preserve Wood Thieves Caught.  We heard that thieves were taking wood from the log pile in the Almira parking lot of the Illahee Preserve, and that last night they were cutting wood in the dark and were caught.  Evidently the sheriff had them dump the wood in the parking lot and the Parks Department was notified.  The wood from the log pile is supposed to be used by Kitsap Community Resources for helping those needing wood to heat their homes.

 

Fern Street Vandalism.  We received a report on Sunday of some minor vandalism taking place in the evening among cars along Fern Street.

 

Furniture Dumping.  As long as we are on the subject, we need to be on the alert for people dumping furniture in Illahee.  Because we have areas that have less urbanization, we evidently are looked upon as a place where people can dump things without being seen or caught.  Let the sheriff and us know if you see any dumping activity going on. 

 

Illahee Preserve Demonstration Rain Garden?  We understand there are efforts underway to propose a Native Plant Demonstration Rain Garden at the Almira parking lot of the Illahee Preserve.  Rain gardens are a natural way of cleaning and decreasing the impact of storm water on Illahee Creek and Puget Sound.  It is also the finding of a major study of the Illahee Creek watershed.  Additionally, rain gardens replenish aquifers which was another finding of the report, and it is especially needed in the Illahee Creek watershed.  We would support the proposal and are asking that this be an agenda item for the Illahee Community meeting on Saturday.

 

Seattle Aquarium Family Day.  We just received the following notice and wanted to pass it on.

 

What a great opportunity to spend a free day at the Aquarium. Really, who wouldn't want to see Orca poop?! Don't know if they'll get into the chocolate lab trained to find orca poo from the bow of a boat... maybe that's a different story. Free lunch at the Aquarium Cafe is a score too. Just a foot ferry ride away from Kitsap. It's this coming weekend, and RSVP is by Thursday. Cheers! JEff
---------------------------------------------------
Jeff Adams - jaws@uw.edu - (m) 360-229-9398
Washington Sea Grant - Kitsap - www.wsg.washington.edu

Please join COSEE-OLC for a fun-filled day of hands-on marine science for the whole family!

Seattle Aquarium’s Family Science Weekend

Choose to come either November 14 or 15; 9:30am-5:00pm

FREE admission tickets and lunch vouchers for the Aquarium Café provided for up to 4 people per family.

Registration by November 12 is required. Online registration at...

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=wrfXU2E01UE_2bR4_2fdOJupag_3d_3d

Experiments and displays will be set up throughout the Seattle Aquarium for a fabulous, hands-on marine science experience. Here are just a few of the many hands-on activities:

ü  Be a Poopologist! Check out Orca poop and learn about Killer Whale genetics.
ü Explore the world of plankton with a microscope.
ü  Find out about plastics in the marine environment. How long will it last?
ü Track storm water pollution and salmon impacts.
ü Play with polymers and learn about materials research.
ü Be a Fur Seal researcher!
Questions?  Contact Janice Mathisen at (206) 386-4365 or janice.mathisen@seattle.gov

 

Beach Nourishment Formal Appeal.  This is an interesting subject that puts the community arguing with the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW).  The previously mentioned studies that were done, appear to have had no influence on DFW, and so the Port of Illahee and the Illahee Community Club are filing a formal appeal of the Illahee Beach Nourishment project.  It is sad that a community has to fight an agency like DFW that is supposed to be more in protecting fish than a community.

 

Bear Still in Illahee?  We would like to know if the bear that was seen a few weeks ago is still in Illahee.  Please let us know if you have any information.

 

Illahee Community Dock.  The Illahee Community dock is a popular place during the winter months in the evening for area squid fisherman.  Attached is a Greg Price photo of the dock in the evening.

 

Jim Aho

Miscellaneous Items - 11-1-09

Illahee Bear. After our last update we haven't had anyone else contact us regarding seeing the bear that has been reported in the Kitsap Sun. Please let us know if it is still around so we can let residents know where it might be. We normally do routine water quality checks well inside the Preserve and those collecting samples would like to know if the bear is still around. We have attached the links to the recent articles that have appeared in the Sun.

http://kitsapsun.com/news/2009/oct/28/bears-spotted-near-illahee-bremertons-west-hills/

http://kitsapsun.com/news/2009/oct/31/whats-bringing-bears-to-kitsaps-neighborhoods/

Illahee Shores Fire. We were sad to hear of the fire Saturday morning and the fact that a person died, and even more tragic is they think it was a homicide. The story was on the front page of Sunday's Kitsap Sun which is linked below, with an update on the possible homicide to appear in Monday's paper, also linked below.

http://kitsapsun.com/news/2009/oct/31/much-loved-country-musician-feared-dead-in-fire/

http://kitsapsun.com/news/2009/nov/01/breaking-news-illahee-fire-believed-to-be/

Illahee Pictures. We received some nice digital pictures of Illahee from Greg Price and we will include them in this and future updates.

Jim Aho

Wildlife & Miscellaneous - 10-26-09

Turtles. We received the following photos with the note below:

Turtle found by my grand daughter in Illahee Creek about 1/4 mile upstream from the culvert. Is this a western painted turtle? Native or someones lost pet? Of course the turtle was returned to where it was found, but made for interesting discussion.

Young Spike. The young deer are maturing as shown in the attached photo and accompanying note below:

This little spike was in our yard on Fir Dr last Sunday. He sampled everything in our yard and wandered off after about an hour.

Port of Illahee Commissioner Position. We just heard that Don Deitch has resigned his Port of Illahee Commissioner position due to health issues, and that the Port is looking to fill the position at their November 12th meeting. Anyone interested in being a candidate for completing Don's term until the next Port Commissioner election in 2011 needs to get their information to the Port ASAP. The Port point of contact is Dennis Sheeran. Dennis can be contacted by email docsmsret@msn.com or phone 692-6971.

Bear Questions? There are a number of people who are wondering if the large black bear that has been seen in the greater Central Kitsap area, and evidently passed through the heart of the Illahee Preserve, will possibly end up staying in the Preserve, since it is a rather large un-inhabited forested area. We think it would be good to know if the bear has been sighted leaving the area, or if it may still be in the area. Let us know if you have any further information that we can pass on.

The Same Bear? One person is wondering if this is the same bear that was reported early last week. See the note they sent to us:

On Oct 19, midday, a bear was sighted crossing Central Valley Parkway, somewhere around Fairview Jr High. All the students were apprised of the situation. I feel sorry for the bear who encountered the jr high students! (LOL) but we used it as a teachable moment and encouraged them to ALWAYS WALK HOME WITH A FRIEND. You can never been too careful!

Another Sighting. Just after writing the above paragraph we received the following information:

Bear at Fraizer's Fairfield Orchards - Chris Fraizer owns the yellow house farm (once owned by Al Kurkoski) on Sylvan Way just west of Illahee State Park. Today he told me he had a big black bear in his yard eating the fruit on his apple trees. He called animal control and they said if he wanted to get rid of the bear then he should get the apples off his trees. Animal control wouldn't come and do anything.

Illahee Community Meeting on November 14th. We have been asked to remind residents that the annual Illahee Community Club meeting is scheduled for 1:30 pm on Saturday, November 14th at the Kitsap Library on Sylvan Way.

Jim Aho

Wildlife Update - 10/25/09

Black Bear Sightings.  A large black bear was sighted at 2:30 am Sunday morning in back of a Helena Drive residence along a green belt, and presumably the same bear in back of Nobles Lane residences at 7:50 am.  We assume other reports have gone into the Department of Fish & Wildlife and hopefully something will be published in the paper as it seems this might be more of a transient bear rather than a local bear.

 

Eagle Picture.  The attached photo was taken along the South Fork of Illahee Creek.

 

Jack just saw this Eagle swoop into our American Elm- which incidentally, according to Jim Trainer, is the 8th oldest in the state.  I've attached the photos.

 

Our Shih Tzu was attacked several years ago, but either shook it off or she was too heavy.  Dr. Relling confirmed it was an eagle by the claw punctures around her neck- one just missing her airway.  Later on we discovered the scratches on her ID tags which may have been why she wasn't killed immediately.

 

Side Note.  A few years ago we heard about an eagle nest that fell out of a tree near the Illahee Preserve and in the nest there were a number of pet collars from animals evidently carried to the nest by the eagles.

 

Illahee Beach Watchers.  We were happy to see that at least three Illahee residents are taking the Beach Watchers Class being offered by UW Sea Grant and WSU Extension.  There were over 50 who attended the first class that is being held at the Norm Dicks Center.  We will let you know more about the program as it becomes available.

 

Squirrel Report.  We received the following squirrel report.

 

Yesterday while backing out our lawn mower I was momentarily starred down by a small brown squirrel.  At first it appeared she had a large nut or some kind of food in her mouth.  But, we quickly realized it was a baby!  She scurried away, but later we got a better look when she came out from under the VW.  The baby wasn't in her mouth, but hanging on with his tiny feet wrapped up and around momma's neck.  Way kewl!  (sorry no picture she was too quick)

 

White Black Tail Buck.  We had a report of a very white (albino markings) black tail buck and are hoping that someone will be able to get a picture of it and forward the picture so we can pass it on.

 

Beach Nourishment Informal Appeal Denied.  The informal appeal of the Illahee Beach Nourishment project was denied by the Dept of Fish & Wildlife.  Both the Port of Illahee and the Illahee Community Club are deciding what to do next.  A formal appeal needs to be filed within 30 days which would be by November 13, 2009.

 

Send Info In and We Will Pass It On.  Please send us info such as the bear sighting reports and we will pass them on to the community.  We have roughly about 400 who receive the updates (blind copies) and we hear it is the wildlife updates they most like to get, so please help us with any reports you think your neighbors would like to hear about.

 

Jim Aho