Get fit on Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid the Key Pen, Vaughn, WA 98394 PAGE 11 Happy Permit No. 2 BOX HOLDER The voice of the Halloween Key Peninsula Vol. 32 Issue 10 From The Key Peninsula Civic Center Circulation 8,200 OCTOBER 2005 In this issue Signs of the times Illegal signs litter the Key Peninsula By Irene Torres ▼ ▼ Multitalented artist Jan KP News Buday, Page 33 ▼Mississippi family moves As cars zoomed by Key Center one day in September, a passenger exited a to Key Pen after Hurricane vehicle stopped at the intersection. He Katrina, Page 10 Photo courtesy of David Ahola was intent on removing a yard sale sign Former Key Pen resident Michelle Ahola sifts through the remains of her cruiser that had blocked his driver’s vision. He home after the Gig Harbor Marina fire. cleared the view for the next driver, but left the sign on the ground to blow away with the next gust of wind from Marina fire destroys home oncoming traffic. The proliferation of various signs has of former Key Pen resident turned the drive along the Key Peninsula into an eyesore. Signs ranging from By Danna Webster shouting, “Fire!” woke Michelle Ahola garage sales to day care openings, fore- KP News on Wednesday morning, Aug. 31. She closure help and tree cutting abound on could see a ball of fire between her trees, light poles and road markers. Most The difference between the destruc- boat-home and the landing. She News tion of homes in New Orleans and reached her cell phone and called her (See SIGNS, Page 29) PenLight turns 80 years . .3 those destroyed by fire at Harborview husband, David. “Get on John’s boat,” KPCS changes leaders . .6 Marina, of course, is magnitude, with he instructed. It would be three hours Election results . .8 an exponent of about 200,000. But the before the husband and wife would be Angels are moving . .11 stages of motions and emotions are the in contact again. All the things that Saloon has new owner . .13 same: the alarm and fear, escape, help “only happen to other people” began to and rescue, the miracles, loss and grief, happen to Michelle Ahola, who lived in Honoring our soldiers . .20 supporters and recovery, celebration Lake Holiday before she moved on From pioneer stock . .22 and gratitude, bills and blame, accept- board the boat. Profile of a captain . .23 ance and moving on. Builder goes on reality TV . .24 A loud “POP” and a woman’s voice (See FIRE, Page 14) Marching with Clan Gordon .26 Celebrating Oktoberfest . .31 ‘Bully!’ comes to LIC . .32 Herring pens remain in operation Out & About . .36 By William C. Dietz some local residents see the contain- Sections KP News ments as a problem and others view the Peninsula Views . .4 pens as part of life on the peninsula. Elections . .8 The herring pens in Mayo Cove The whole thing came to a head Business . .11 remain in operation. For the moment when the county served Hostetler with a Schools . .15 anyway. That’s the word from Mark cease and desist order. Then, in the Luppino, a code enforcement officer words of Jill Guernsey, deputy prose- Community Works . .18 for Pierce County. The pens, which cutor for Pierce County, “he Photo by Mindi LaRose People & Lifestyles . .20 belong to Lakebay Marina owner (Hostetler) appealed that, and the This sight at the intersection of State History . .27 Derwin Hostetler, have been the subject Route 302 and Danforth Street is typical Arts & Recreation . .31 of controversy in a community where (See HERRING, Page 30) of signs scattered around the Key Pen. 2 www.keypennews.com • Key Peninsula News KP volunteers help hurricane victims By Hugh McMillan hoped for the best.” KP News The two Saturdays netted $1,300, with “every penny raised” to go to the A crew of self-starting Key Peninsula American Red Cross. volunteers set up a car wash in the parking “My husband, Robert, came home from lot of the KC Coral in Key Center in work and said his employer, CenturyTel, September to raise funds in support of the had agreed to match everything we bring victims of Hurricane Katrina. in. They wrote it up in their employee Photo by Hugh McMillan “This all started when I was on the newsletter,” Hand said. That brought the A swarm of Key Peninsula volunteers washed cars at the KC Coral in Key Center in phone with my daughter, Hillary,” said the fund to a total of $2,600. September to raise funds in support of victims of hurricane Katrina. Seen here finishing group’s organizer, Mindy Hand. “Both of “We are a tired bunch, but feel better up on a pickup owned by Joe Myrick (not in photo) are Ericka Arnold, Robert Hand, Pete us (were) feeling so helpless and horror- than we have in a week,” Hand said after Arnold, Gary Richardson, Mindy Hand and, holding the sign, Hillary Brocenos. Also stricken by the news coming from New the carwash. helping but not in the photo: Nathan Brocenos and Virginia Bryant, Mindy Hand’s mother. Orleans. We knew we wanted to do some- And she didn’t stop there. Her next thing to make a difference, but what? We project is “a drive for clothing and supplies to a drop-off place in Seattle,” she said. “We whelming. And CenturyTel’s offer to decided to hold a car wash the next two such as soap, shampoo, diapers, etc.” give our heartfelt thanks to everyone who match our funds made all the difference in Saturdays in the parking lot of the KC “People will be invited to drop off things helped make this car wash such a success. the world! Your donations will go a long Coral, where my shop is located. We put at my barber shop, CutterBug, in Key The kindness and generosity shown by the way to help ease the suffering of thousands out a half a dozen flyers around town and Center and my daughter will take the items people of the Key Peninsula was over- of people affected by Hurricane Katrina.” CISP holds successful picnic dinner fund-raiser By Hugh McMillan that “100 percent of all individual dona- Equipment, and Dennis Montgomery Bar KP News tions go towards programs and services of Tending Services, each of which helped CISP within the Peninsula School District.” make possible the evening’s successful The most widely heard comment at the CISP board President Dexter Reuhl raising of about $10,000 in CISP support recent Communities in Schools of explained what CISP is all about and how funds. Peninsula fund-raising picnic dinner, its involvement with students with learning Speer said, “CISP is now heavily called Denim to Diamonds, was, “Can you problems has resulted in improved grades recruiting volunteer adults to work with believe this incredible weather?” It and test scores. The successful CISP children who need additional assistance in couldn’t have been better for the organiza- programs have worked well at Evergreen reading or math for one hour a week after tion’s first-ever fund-raiser. The location, and Vaughn Elementary schools. school. No prior teaching experience is the lawn at the home of Peninsula School Speer spoke of organizational goals for necessary; we have excellent, brief training Photo by Hugh McMillan District School Board President Jill the upcoming year, thanked everyone for programs for our volunteers.” She was Three Key Pen principals who enjoyed the Johnson and husband Clif, played host to attending, and expressed special gratitude pleased to note that five of those attending Communities in Schools of Peninsula an array of delightfully arranged linen to the event’s sponsors, Columbia Bank, the event volunteered for the program that fund-raising picnic dinner: Peninsula covered tables-for-eight, each for Tides Tavern, Alaska Distributors, Le evening. High’s Patricia Scott, KPMS’ Sharon contributing guests. Garmache Catering, Benchmark Event For more information, call Colleen Shaffer, and Evergreen Elementary’s “Its purpose was to raise awareness of Equipment, Peninsula School District, AV Speer at 884-5733. Jacque Crisman. CISP and create new friends to support our work,” said CISP Executive Director To subscribe, please write, Executive editor: Rodika Tollefson Distribution: Phil Bauer Colleen Speer. “Board members were call or fax: Assistant editor: Danna Webster Production: September Hyde committed to inviting people who were Key Peninsula News Ad sales: Karen Hale Web master: Paul Pattee Staff writers and contributors: not familiar with CISP — and they did.” 17010 S. Vaughn Rd. P.O. Box 3, Vaughn, WA 98394 William C. Dietz, Karen Hale, Unsolicited submissions deadline The 94 guests enjoyed dinner by Phone (253) 884-4699 Hugh McMillan, Christina Moore, including press releases: 17th of LeGarmache Catering, which is owned by Fax: (253) 884-4053 Colleen Slater, Frank Slater, Irene each month Email [email protected] Torres, Mindi LaRose, Connie graduates of Peninsula High School. Renz, Paula Moore www.keypennews.com Socializing and dinner were accompanied Key Peninsula News is published monthly by the Key Peninsula Civic Center Association at the Key Peninsula Civic Center in Vaughn, Washington. Copyright 2004 with all rights reserved. Reproduction of editorial or graphic contents in any manner without permission is prohibited. Annual subscriptions (12 issues) are available for $20.00 and are mailed first class. Copies are mailed presort standard to residents and post office box holders of the Key by excellent, subtle jazz music provided by Peninsula. Single copies are available at the newspaper office in the basement of the Civic Center annex and at various distribution points located on the Key Peninsula.