Our stormwater and sewer utility workers were also on the job, making sure the sewage treatment plants and stormwater systems were functioning correctly in sub-freezing temperatures.ĭuring the February snow events in Kitsap, our Public Works crews: While the rest of us were home enjoying time with our families, shoveling driveways, or wondering when it might be safe to head out, our crews were plowing roads all day and night. The Roads division personnel were put on mandatory 12-hour shifts starting on Super Bowl Sunday and running through February 15. I want to give special recognition to our Public Works department. Our facilities staff came in to check on the many buildings on our Port Orchard campus and clear sidewalks and parking lots so staff could get to their offices. Our elections staff in the Auditor’s Office braved the weather on days our county offices were closed to process returned ballots from the February 11 election and ensure ballot drop boxes were emptied and votes counted. Staff in our Department of Human Services helped coordinate volunteers to staff our Severe Weather Shelters. These include our Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office deputies and jail staff, whose services are called upon 24/7/365, no matter the weather. Many of our public servants couldn’t stay home with their families during the snow days as they serve in essential roles to protect the safety of citizens. We did manage to have some playtime in the snow! I was thankful to be safe at home with my wife, even though we lost power for two days. Josh says he is open to other ideas, especially if he can find a Kitsap connection.Anyone in Western Washington last February will likely share their own stories of “Snowmaggedon” for years to come. I would tell you more about his video concept, but I’d better not steal his thunder. ![]() If you drive past the Bangor installation - part of Naval Base Kitsap and home to the Trident nuclear submarines - you will be in vicinity of the largest deployment of nuclear weapons in the U.S., Josh told me. He is especially looking forward to telling the story of the Navy’s ballistic missile submarines. Future videos, he said, may focus on the Suquamish Tribe, its past and present, and the historical mosquito fleet ferry system. Josh is nothing if not enthusiastic, and that’s one thing I love about him. I was pleasantly surprised and happy to hear that my stories and blog posts provided some direction for Josh when it came to figuring out which experts hold the secrets to the salmon and should be included in his video. ![]() “As you know, we work under crazy deadlines,” Josh noted, “but it is nice to be able to do something like this on the side.” The amount of work that goes into these productions is fairly remarkable for a full-time newspaper reporter plus a part-time videographer. Josh and Jon have drawn upon revealing aerial footage from Kitsap Sky View LLC to help tell these stories. He actually went out and found the so-called “tin mine” that I have heard about for many years but never realized that the mine was more like an unrealized fantasy. These state-owned lands are great for short hikes, as Josh explains in a story that accompanies the first video. The first video provides a geological lesson featuring the worn-down and rounded-over peaks of Green and Gold Mountains near my own home. The goal, Josh says, is to create a series of videos that will remain relevant and informative over time. “Secrets of the Salmon” is actually the second video in “Tales of the Sound,” a partnership between Josh, the writer and moderator, and producer Jon Kozak, who shared the filming and did all the editing. Along the way, he interviews some of the interesting people involved in habitat restoration projects. His video “Secrets of the Salmon” (first on this page) features some of the important salmon locations in Puget Sound, including the Big Beef Creek Research Station, a so-called “index stream” used for estimating the number of chum and coho salmon returning to all of Hood Canal. ![]() Now, with a goal of going much deeper into regional topics, he has launched a new series he is calling “Tales of the Sound.” Especially popular was his weekly video “Bremerton Beat Blast,” in which he counted down the top stories of the week in Kitsap County. Like many print journalists who have expanded into multimedia, Josh became recognized for his quick-hit news reports. For newcomers to the Puget Sound region - or anyone who wishes to learn about salmon - check out the new video by my friend and former colleague Josh Farley of the Kitsap Sun.
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