Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid The voice of the Vaughn, WA 98394 Key Peninsula Permit No. 2 BOX HOLDER Vol. 31 Issue 7 From The Key Peninsula Civic Center Circulation 8,000 JULY 2004 In this issue Celebrating our veterans, freedom A day in Heads are bowed at a reading of the names of the life 207 veterans whose burial flags flew over a of a brightly sunlit Vaughn Cemetery this Memorial ferry Day.The annual event, sponsored by the Key Peninsula Veterans Institution, is a moving captain testimonial to those whose service embraced the page 19 several branches of the U.S. military all the way back to the U.S. Revolution, and played host as well to Canadian, United Kingdom, Scotland and Belgian veterans’ flags. KPVI president Cy Young shared the program with, among others, Art Brown and Bill Micenko in full highland Scot regalia on the bagpipes, Dean Draeger, Kawn Schaefer, Chris Draeger, Greg Dorries, and Troy Nary who harmoniously sang the National First Anthem and other patriotic tunes, and Pacific GED Lutheran University student Tyler Nugent and ‘class’ University of Washington student Matthew Henriksen who ended the ceremony with a graduates beautiful rendition of taps. As we celebrate our page 6 Independence Day, the Key Peninsula News would like to extend our thanks to all the men and women who are serving and have served our country to keep it free. Photo and story by Hugh McMillan doors, it was stripped clean. Auto thefts on the rise “It appeared to me that whoever chopped it knew what they were doing News By Rodika Tollefson discovery the Tacoma resident found on and had experience,” he said. Wauna Town meeting . .3 KP News his Rocky Bay land within the last year. The vehicle, an ’88 Honda Prelude, Museum expansion plans . .5 On closer inspection, the retired was stolen from a Gig Harbor resident, Farewell to two principals .13 On a recent Saturday afternoon, Roy welder discovered one more thing: The and according to the police report, “it In search of Lake Kathryn .18 Lampson discovered something that vehicle condition appeared to be the appeared to have been on the property From pioneer stock . .22 didn’t belong on his property: the work of a professional. There wasn’t Kitesurfing at Purdy Spit . .24 carcass of a car. It was the second such much left of it, either—no engine, no (See THEFTS, Page 20) The Genuine ARTicle . .26 Fair is a-comin’ . .27 John Parker: A big heart . .28 Coolican addresses Promise to Youth Out & About . .32 By Hugh McMillan district to a ‘great’ school district, we KP News must have the mindset of no excuses Sections regarding students achieving their full Peninsula Views . .4 In early June, more than 30 community potential.” Business . .7 members including a good number from “Education reform has taken the the Key Peninsula met at Peninsula High nation from universal access to universal Schools . .8 School to hear school district proficiency,” he said, stressing the Community Works . .16 Superintendent Jim Coolican discuss the district’s commitment to student People & Lifestyles . .18 importance of “Developmental Assets” achievement. Photo by Hugh McMillan Arts & Recreation . .24 and community and educational Coolican highlighted student survey Superintendent Jim Coolican addresses the History . .29 partnerships. He emphasized that, “as results cited in the Promise to Youth Promise to Youth Community Leadership the district moves from a ‘good’ school (See PROMISE, Page 10) forum in June at Peninsula High. 2 Key Peninsula News characteristics of the Home planned valuation of the property.” This will lower There’s no place like Home community, and produce a design manual property taxes for 10 years. to guide remodeling, new construction Property owners must apply for the and building additions. special tax valuation within two years of By Irene Torres The purpose of these activities is to beginning the construction activity. KP News To find out more maintain the significant historical Construction-related expenses, including For information and application character of the community. fees for architects and permits, qualify for Eighty-five years after the Mutual Home forms, contact Airyang Julia Park in the Two workshops to benefit homeowners this special valuation tax relief. Certain Colony was dissolved by a judge’s order, Planning and Land Services are planned for public input. Home restrictions apply to the qualifications for the Home community is receiving Department, Pierce County. Another residents can take advantage of financial tax incentives. The property must either attention once again. This time, the public workshop will be scheduled in incentives designed to encourage be visible from a public right-of-way, or be attention is favorable, with formal the upcoming weeks. Call 798-2783. compatible rehabilitation of existing made available for public viewing once a recognition of the area as the first planned homes and businesses. Airyang Julia Park, year, according to the Pierce County community in Pierce County. for their actions, no matter how much Pierce County historical preservation Planning and Land Services. Growing to more than 200 acres with those actions deviated from the officer, cited an example: “If a property Once described as a “dilapidated over 200 inhabitants, it was platted in established custom of the era. owner invests more than 25 percent of the community” by J.C. Harrison in his 1901. Populated by householders who These days, residents of Home have a assessed value of improvements publication Solidarity, Home now has the shared a utopian vision, Home displayed unique opportunity. With a grant, the (buildings) on his or her property, in a means and the motivation to flourish and “an absence of all laws, rules, and Pierce County Historical Landmarks manner consistent with keeping or to disprove the words of radical author regulations,” wrote founder Elmer Verity Commission will undertake a historic restoring important historic elements of Emma Goldman describing Home as an in 1897. They all agreed not to condemn survey, conduct an inventory of sites to the building, the invested dollar amount “anarchists’ graveyard” in her any of their neighbors or ostracize them enhance information on the physical will be subtracted from the assessed autobiography, “Living my Life.” New park district to select officers Your chance to be heard The Community Council elections By Rodika Tollefson business. The MPD board is also working “We have agreed it’s a strictly voluntary were approaching at press time, and the KP News with KPPRD on transfer of assets and position,” she said. The district will, first elected Key Peninsula Community inter-local agreement before the KPPRD however, hire a part-time, seasonal Council was set to start work in July. But The newly created Key Peninsula can be dissolved. employee to work on weekends and as as organizers were rounding up their Metropolitan Park District has been “We are holding over some of the needed, and anyone age 18 and older work, they had several jobs unfinished. meeting concurrently with the Key Pen existing committees like Friends of Rocky interested in a summer job is One of the biggest was to compile a Parks and Recreation District since its Creek and Friends of Home Park. We are encouraged to call Commissioner Jerry survey, which gives residents a chance to creation in May, but the new taking baby steps,” Clinton said, adding Schick at 884-1560. identify their priorities and concerns. commissioners were planning their first that some felt no need for a big Several MPD representatives were also The sub-committee that developed the independent meeting at the end of June ceremony and instead were eager to “get planning to visit the Si View MPD in extensive survey was planning to compile to select officers and launch into other down to business.” Gig Harbor’s MPD North Bend, created more than a year the results that would give the new business discussions. An estimated had one such ceremony in June, with ago, to discuss their experience. council a starting point. payment of $10,000 for the month of May Pierce County Councilman Terry Lee “We’re putting together projects that “We are all ears, if you have something was expected to be received from the and others present for the celebration. begin with the re-invigoration of good or bad to say about the Key county, based on the month’s collected Clinton said the first big expense would Volunteer Park and will expand outward Peninsula, this is your chance,” said zoo/trek taxes. probably involve the much-needed to develop other recreational projects,” Denise Carron who helped design the The MPD has started practically from replacement of the tractor mower, a said Commissioner Caril Ridley, adding survey that has been improved several scratch, and Commissioner Kip Clinton, hand-me-down from years ago from that KPMPD will look for grants and times and now includes categories from who is also on the KPPRD board, said by- another park jurisdiction. One decision volunteer help to continue in the same police and land use to activities for kids laws, a mission statement and a priority was firm so far: The commissioners will “good old barn raising enthusiasm” as has and economic development. “The goal is budget would be the first order of not request a per diem stipend, she said. been the tradition on the Key Peninsula. to give the new directors an idea of what’s important to the community.” Although the surveys were previously To subscribe, please write, Executive editor: Rodika Tollefson Contributors: L. Brudvik Lindner, distributed at the Livable Community call or fax: Ad sales: Karen Hale Dana Shaw Fair, locations such as the library and at Key Peninsula News Staff writers and contributors: Publishing Committee chairman: group presentations, Carron said the William C.