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Huge resort proposed for Brinnon
By ALLISON ARTHUR
Port Townsend and
Jefferson County Leader
Supporters tout economic ben-
efits and opponents question en-
vironmental issues with the pro-
posed Brinnon Master Planned
Resort, a $300-million project that
now is moving from talk and plan-
ning to the forefront of public scru-
tiny.
The proposal would create a re-
sort and conference center along
Hood Canarjust south of Brinnon
theit would rival Port Ludlow, cur-
rently the largest such facility in
Jefferson County.
A series of information meet-
ings on the project began Septem-
ber 11, and a public hearing is set
for 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 3,
before the Jefferson County Plan-
ning Commission. The planning
commission got its first look at the
proposal September 5 at its week-
ly meeting.
There have been a number of it-
erations of the proposal in the past
two years, according to A1 Scalf,
director of the Jefferson County
Department of Community Devel-
opment (DCD).
The current proposal by States-
man Group of Companies Limited
and Black Point Properties LLC is
to create a master planned resort
(MPR) that encompasses roughly
250 acres in the Pleasant Har-
bor/Black Point area. Statesman
estimates the construction and
development costs at $300 million,
according to Stacie Hoskins, DCD
planning manager.
Dubbed the Pleasant Harbor
Marina and Golf Resort, the plan
is to build a resort hotel and up to
890 rental units, expand the ma-
rine village facilities at Pleasant
Harbor and build an 18-hole golf
course at Black Point.
Ultimately, proponents envi-
sion a 290-slip marina served by a
10,000-square-foot commercial vil-
lage, a conference center and units
that could accommodate more
than 1,000 people.
To some, that vision is of eco-
nomic growth and prosperity in a
neck of Jefferson County's woods
that's been tMled by bad times
since the lumber industry's de-
cline 15 years ago.
To others, the MPR vision rais-
es questions of potential environ-
mental degradation in an area of
Hood Canal that is thcing new en-
vironmental challenges and ques-
tions.
The economy
"The project is probably the big-
gest economic development project
going on in the county right now.
It's really major," said Inn McFall,
executive director of the Economic
Development Council of Jefferson
County and resident of the Brin-
non area.
In particular, McFall said the
project could bring much needed
revenue to the Brinnon School
District. While enrollment might
not increase because resort resi-
dents would be only part-time
residents, McFall says the added
property-tax revenue would help
buoy the grade K-8 school district
financially.
Employmentopportunitiescould
double with a need for groundskee-
pers, maintenance workers and
others, and shops could open once
the commercial area is developed,
Pioneer School:
New teachers, students
begin a brand-new year
By KAREN EVERETT
It has been a great opening to
another year of learning at Pio-
neer School. Along with some new
students there are several new
staff members this year.
The intermediate and middle
school has a new leader with Prin-
cipal Heidi Bunker coming on
board. After spending nine years
in Selah teaching science and
health, she is happy to be on the
west side of the mountains.
Mrs. Bunker grew up in Che-
halls and her husband is an art
teacher at Chehalis High School.
Besides her work at school, spend-
ing time with her husband and
their two sons, aged 7 and 3, is a
high priority for her. One of their
favorite family activities is camp-
ing.
"I am excited about being a part
of the Pioneer School District team
and I am looking forward to hav-
ing a great school year," enthused
Mrs. Bunker.
REALIZING THE importance
of early childhood education, Pio-
neer has invested in sending all
kindergarten children to school
all day, every day. Traditionally,
kindergarten is a half-time pro-
gram in most school districts as
half time is what is funded by our
state.
There are two new kindergar-
ten teachers, Jennifer Ojala and
Cheri Norman, to meet the young
children's needs. Ms. Ojala comes
to the district from the Lake Wash-
ington School District. She lives
in Olympia where she is enjoying
being with Sugar Bear, her brand-
new golden retriever puppy. She
enjoys hiking, biking, gardening
and spending time with friends.
Since her grown daughter,
Kristy, and son, Kelly, both live
out of state, Ojala also enjoys trav-
eling. Reflecting on her first weeks
at Pioneer, she said her welcome
has been a warm one and that she
is happy to be a part of the staff.
Cheri Norman is a brand-Snew
teacher, having graduated from
Central Washington University in
the spring of this year. However,
teaching kindergarten is not her
first teaching experience as she
began teaching when she was 14
years old at the Just tbr Kicks
School of Dance in her hometown
of Port Orchard.
IT WAS THIS experience that
made Ms. Norman realize that
she loved working with children
and led her to teaching as a career
choice. Dancing is truly a love for
her and she has a college endorse-
ment to teach dance. In her spare
time, she loves to read, paint,
draw, go camping and spend time
with family and friends.
"I am looking forward to an
outstanding year with the chil-
dren and staff at Pioneer Primary
School," she said.
New middle-school math teacher
Amy Sewell hails from Minnesota
where she attended Carelton Col-
lege. Majoring in marine biology
led her to an off-campus program
at the San Juan Island Marine Bi-
ology Lab on Friday Harbor. With
some graduate degree work in San
Diego under her belt, she landed a
job with the Washington State De-
partment of Natural Resources.
After a while, Ms. Sewell got
tired of working with numbers and
decided that she wanted to share
her knowledge with people. She
received her teaching degree at
Saint Martin's University. After
working at Centralia High School
as a math and science teacher, she
jumped at the chance to work with
her favorite students, those at-
tending middle school. Sewell and
her five-year-old son live in Olym-
pia where she enjoys gardening
and art.
NURSING MUST be in the
blood of Linda Johnson's family as
,both of her daughters, Rachel and
Michelle, are nurses and she is too.
Born and raised in Tacoma, she re-
ceived her nursing degree ti'om the
University of Washington. With 30
years of nursing experience in the
school setting, Ms. Johnson is well
prepared to meet the needs of the
children. She wants to be an ad-
vocate for children's health needs
and is looking forward to working
with the families.
She lives in Olympia with her
husband Keith. Both are employed
in Mason County, as Keith works
for the Stretch Island Fruit Leath-
er Company in Allyn. Quilting,
gardening, camping and spending
time with thmily are her hobbies.
Summarizing her experience at
Pioneer thus far, she said: "The
staff is wonderful, helpful and
friendly. It is delightful getting to
know the children."
SEARCHING FOR GREAT
INSURANCE RATES.ft. ?
JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY ........
A'S'I
Arnold & Smith Insurance Agency, Inc.
1535 Olympic Hwy N. Sheitol|, WA 9"d54
(360) 426-3317
u ... lamd "Since 1970" I
V Visit us at our wcbsite at Amoldsmithins.com
I I I
Page 8 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, September 13, 2007
McFall said. The Brinnon area
employment base now is about 60
to 90 people, McFall said, many of
them now self-employed.
McFall noted that the propo-
nent has promised to employ local
people as much as possible during
construction.
And while some opponents have
decried the project's effect on the
area's rural character, McFall be-
lieves it actually will have a posi-
tive impact.
"Poverty and crime and drugs.
This end of the county has those
issues in part because people can't
make a living ... Take away pov-
erty and some of those issues go
away," McFall said.
McFall also recognizes that
there are environmental issues.
The draft environmental-im-
pact statement addresses nine is-
sues and impacts concerning the
environment - shellfish, water
quality, transportation, public ser-
vices, shoreline, fish and wildlife,
rural character, archeological, and
cultural and critical areas.
Water is one of the biggest is-
sues, McFall said. Most people in
the area rely on wells, he said. A
concern is that if the project drills
into the aquifer for water to keep
the golf course green, it could also
draw down the aquifer, and some
wells could suffer saltwater intru-
sion, McFall noted.
McFall said it's his understand-
ing that proponents will be col-
lecting rainwater to water the golf
course and that only drinking wa-
ter would come from wells.
"To me, that's a reasonable way
to approach it, to mitigate the is-
sues," McFall said.
The environment
Donna Simmons, a
ber of the Hood Canal Ea.,
mental Council, says she [
going to the meetings to rai/.
cerns about the projects po
environmental impacts. , I
"It's a huge developmen_t
there's more and more conceit I
the time about developing in
that have been natural," sai
mons, who lives in HoodsporIBi
Simmons understands th
nomic-benefit argument..
"However, I would say
ronmental consequences
any economic benefit to
she said.
An environmental
the 1970s who was
mer Governor John
serve on a state ecological
sion, Simmons said her
for the area's character
for the environmental
wildlife and stor
rounding
into Hood Canal.
runoff
"It's all connected," Si
said of the watershed.
Peter Bahls, executive /
tor of the Port Townsend
(Please turn to page 11
.OO g
Taylor Towne Store
& Subway
70 SE Lynch Rd. *
If you have had or are
problems with a well drilli
business in Mason County,/
please contact me to share R
experiences and informatiovl00l
00i:i
Scott • 360-790-3582
on
I i 360-426-71 67
• 1-800-675-71 67
We
have
fishing
supplies/
Skokomish Indian Tribal
Enterprises (S.I.T.E.)
19390 North U.S. Hwy. I 01
Skokomish Nation, WA 98584
At the intersection of Hwy. I01 & Hwy. 106
minutes north of Shelton on the Skokomish Indian Reservation
Located next to the Lucky Dog Casino • 427-9099
Red Bull
12 oz. 2/S4
reg. $2.79 each
Sunkist
Welch's
A&W
7-Up
12-packs
FREE 16
coffee
with purchase of 10
or more gallons of ga
& Skoal
S4Q99
10-pack
Marlboro
Complete
s224s
$1.59/BAG
Cigarette Smoke Contains
Monoxide.
Huge resort proposed for Brinnon
By ALLISON ARTHUR
Port Townsend and
Jefferson County Leader
Supporters tout economic ben-
efits and opponents question en-
vironmental issues with the pro-
posed Brinnon Master Planned
Resort, a $300-million project that
now is moving from talk and plan-
ning to the forefront of public scru-
tiny.
The proposal would create a re-
sort and conference center along
Hood Canarjust south of Brinnon
theit would rival Port Ludlow, cur-
rently the largest such facility in
Jefferson County.
A series of information meet-
ings on the project began Septem-
ber 11, and a public hearing is set
for 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 3,
before the Jefferson County Plan-
ning Commission. The planning
commission got its first look at the
proposal September 5 at its week-
ly meeting.
There have been a number of it-
erations of the proposal in the past
two years, according to A1 Scalf,
director of the Jefferson County
Department of Community Devel-
opment (DCD).
The current proposal by States-
man Group of Companies Limited
and Black Point Properties LLC is
to create a master planned resort
(MPR) that encompasses roughly
250 acres in the Pleasant Har-
bor/Black Point area. Statesman
estimates the construction and
development costs at $300 million,
according to Stacie Hoskins, DCD
planning manager.
Dubbed the Pleasant Harbor
Marina and Golf Resort, the plan
is to build a resort hotel and up to
890 rental units, expand the ma-
rine village facilities at Pleasant
Harbor and build an 18-hole golf
course at Black Point.
Ultimately, proponents envi-
sion a 290-slip marina served by a
10,000-square-foot commercial vil-
lage, a conference center and units
that could accommodate more
than 1,000 people.
To some, that vision is of eco-
nomic growth and prosperity in a
neck of Jefferson County's woods
that's been tMled by bad times
since the lumber industry's de-
cline 15 years ago.
To others, the MPR vision rais-
es questions of potential environ-
mental degradation in an area of
Hood Canal that is thcing new en-
vironmental challenges and ques-
tions.
The economy
"The project is probably the big-
gest economic development project
going on in the county right now.
It's really major," said Inn McFall,
executive director of the Economic
Development Council of Jefferson
County and resident of the Brin-
non area.
In particular, McFall said the
project could bring much needed
revenue to the Brinnon School
District. While enrollment might
not increase because resort resi-
dents would be only part-time
residents, McFall says the added
property-tax revenue would help
buoy the grade K-8 school district
financially.
Employmentopportunitiescould
double with a need for groundskee-
pers, maintenance workers and
others, and shops could open once
the commercial area is developed,
Pioneer School:
New teachers, students
begin a brand-new year
By KAREN EVERETT
It has been a great opening to
another year of learning at Pio-
neer School. Along with some new
students there are several new
staff members this year.
The intermediate and middle
school has a new leader with Prin-
cipal Heidi Bunker coming on
board. After spending nine years
in Selah teaching science and
health, she is happy to be on the
west side of the mountains.
Mrs. Bunker grew up in Che-
halls and her husband is an art
teacher at Chehalis High School.
Besides her work at school, spend-
ing time with her husband and
their two sons, aged 7 and 3, is a
high priority for her. One of their
favorite family activities is camp-
ing.
"I am excited about being a part
of the Pioneer School District team
and I am looking forward to hav-
ing a great school year," enthused
Mrs. Bunker.
REALIZING THE importance
of early childhood education, Pio-
neer has invested in sending all
kindergarten children to school
all day, every day. Traditionally,
kindergarten is a half-time pro-
gram in most school districts as
half time is what is funded by our
state.
There are two new kindergar-
ten teachers, Jennifer Ojala and
Cheri Norman, to meet the young
children's needs. Ms. Ojala comes
to the district from the Lake Wash-
ington School District. She lives
in Olympia where she is enjoying
being with Sugar Bear, her brand-
new golden retriever puppy. She
enjoys hiking, biking, gardening
and spending time with friends.
Since her grown daughter,
Kristy, and son, Kelly, both live
out of state, Ojala also enjoys trav-
eling. Reflecting on her first weeks
at Pioneer, she said her welcome
has been a warm one and that she
is happy to be a part of the staff.
Cheri Norman is a brand-Snew
teacher, having graduated from
Central Washington University in
the spring of this year. However,
teaching kindergarten is not her
first teaching experience as she
began teaching when she was 14
years old at the Just tbr Kicks
School of Dance in her hometown
of Port Orchard.
IT WAS THIS experience that
made Ms. Norman realize that
she loved working with children
and led her to teaching as a career
choice. Dancing is truly a love for
her and she has a college endorse-
ment to teach dance. In her spare
time, she loves to read, paint,
draw, go camping and spend time
with family and friends.
"I am looking forward to an
outstanding year with the chil-
dren and staff at Pioneer Primary
School," she said.
New middle-school math teacher
Amy Sewell hails from Minnesota
where she attended Carelton Col-
lege. Majoring in marine biology
led her to an off-campus program
at the San Juan Island Marine Bi-
ology Lab on Friday Harbor. With
some graduate degree work in San
Diego under her belt, she landed a
job with the Washington State De-
partment of Natural Resources.
After a while, Ms. Sewell got
tired of working with numbers and
decided that she wanted to share
her knowledge with people. She
received her teaching degree at
Saint Martin's University. After
working at Centralia High School
as a math and science teacher, she
jumped at the chance to work with
her favorite students, those at-
tending middle school. Sewell and
her five-year-old son live in Olym-
pia where she enjoys gardening
and art.
NURSING MUST be in the
blood of Linda Johnson's family as
,both of her daughters, Rachel and
Michelle, are nurses and she is too.
Born and raised in Tacoma, she re-
ceived her nursing degree ti'om the
University of Washington. With 30
years of nursing experience in the
school setting, Ms. Johnson is well
prepared to meet the needs of the
children. She wants to be an ad-
vocate for children's health needs
and is looking forward to working
with the families.
She lives in Olympia with her
husband Keith. Both are employed
in Mason County, as Keith works
for the Stretch Island Fruit Leath-
er Company in Allyn. Quilting,
gardening, camping and spending
time with thmily are her hobbies.
Summarizing her experience at
Pioneer thus far, she said: "The
staff is wonderful, helpful and
friendly. It is delightful getting to
know the children."
SEARCHING FOR GREAT
INSURANCE RATES.ft. ?
JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY ........
A'S'I
Arnold & Smith Insurance Agency, Inc.
1535 Olympic Hwy N. Sheitol|, WA 9"d54
(360) 426-3317
u ... lamd "Since 1970" I
V Visit us at our wcbsite at Amoldsmithins.com
I I I
Page 8 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, September 13, 2007
McFall said. The Brinnon area
employment base now is about 60
to 90 people, McFall said, many of
them now self-employed.
McFall noted that the propo-
nent has promised to employ local
people as much as possible during
construction.
And while some opponents have
decried the project's effect on the
area's rural character, McFall be-
lieves it actually will have a posi-
tive impact.
"Poverty and crime and drugs.
This end of the county has those
issues in part because people can't
make a living ... Take away pov-
erty and some of those issues go
away," McFall said.
McFall also recognizes that
there are environmental issues.
The draft environmental-im-
pact statement addresses nine is-
sues and impacts concerning the
environment - shellfish, water
quality, transportation, public ser-
vices, shoreline, fish and wildlife,
rural character, archeological, and
cultural and critical areas.
Water is one of the biggest is-
sues, McFall said. Most people in
the area rely on wells, he said. A
concern is that if the project drills
into the aquifer for water to keep
the golf course green, it could also
draw down the aquifer, and some
wells could suffer saltwater intru-
sion, McFall noted.
McFall said it's his understand-
ing that proponents will be col-
lecting rainwater to water the golf
course and that only drinking wa-
ter would come from wells.
"To me, that's a reasonable way
to approach it, to mitigate the is-
sues," McFall said.
The environment
Donna Simmons, a
ber of the Hood Canal Ea.,
mental Council, says she [
going to the meetings to rai/.
cerns about the projects po
environmental impacts. , I
"It's a huge developmen_t
there's more and more conceit I
the time about developing in
that have been natural," sai
mons, who lives in HoodsporIBi
Simmons understands th
nomic-benefit argument..
"However, I would say
ronmental consequences
any economic benefit to
she said.
An environmental
the 1970s who was
mer Governor John
serve on a state ecological
sion, Simmons said her
for the area's character
for the environmental
wildlife and stor
rounding
into Hood Canal.
runoff
"It's all connected," Si
said of the watershed.
Peter Bahls, executive /
tor of the Port Townsend
(Please turn to page 11
.OO g
Taylor Towne Store
& Subway
70 SE Lynch Rd. *
If you have had or are
problems with a well drilli
business in Mason County,/
please contact me to share R
experiences and informatiovl00l
00i:i
Scott • 360-790-3582
on
I i 360-426-71 67
• 1-800-675-71 67
We
have
fishing
supplies/
Skokomish Indian Tribal
Enterprises (S.I.T.E.)
19390 North U.S. Hwy. I 01
Skokomish Nation, WA 98584
At the intersection of Hwy. I01 & Hwy. 106
minutes north of Shelton on the Skokomish Indian Reservation
Located next to the Lucky Dog Casino • 427-9099
Red Bull
12 oz. 2/S4
reg. $2.79 each
Sunkist
Welch's
A&W
7-Up
12-packs
FREE 16
coffee
with purchase of 10
or more gallons of ga
& Skoal
S4Q99
10-pack
Marlboro
Complete
s224s
$1.59/BAG
Cigarette Smoke Contains
Monoxide.