2004 — The Year in Review

Bremerton saw its share of skyline changing and headline making events this year as the Kitsap Conference Center opened for business and Dana and Tara Kirk became Olympians, to name a few. While 2004 is behind us, let us not forget the people and stories that made the year unforgettable.

Rebirth of the Boat Shed

The year began on a dark note when in January fire claimed the Boat Shed restaurant’s kitchen. Although the fire was contained in the kitchen, black smoke spread throughout the restaurant, causing its owner Beverly Hayfield to throw away all the furniture. The restaurant, which opened in 1979, was remodeled and opened for business in June.

About $500,000 was spent on new floors, walls, windows and ceilings. The business’ bathrooms were made ADA accessible and sprinklers were put inside and out.

Washington State Ferries feel the squeeze

Passengers on the Washington state ferries felt the budget squeeze when food service was cut from all runs. The food service system failed because the enterprise cannot make money said WSF spokesperson Pat Patterson. A compromise could not be reached between the vendor Sodexho and WSF officials.

“This is a sad day for everyone,” Patterson said. “We’re trying to be flexible, but we cannot fall into a trap where taxpayers end up supporting food service on the ferries.”

The rise and fall of CATT

On Feb. 11, a group called Citizens against the Tunnel (CATT), gave city council representatives a petition of 2,394 signatures of city residents who favor the surface alternative versus a tunnel, and also requested that the issue be placed on a ballot for city residents to vote on. Del Knauss, a representative of the group, read a statement to the council.

“CATT request the council select a sensible surface alternative, which (could) include passenger overpasses with elevators and or escalators, synchronization of traffic lights to coincide with ferry arrivals (especially on Warren Avenue), and minimal disruption of current businesses and buildings.”

Two days later Citizens for a Pedestrian Friendly Bremerton formed to bolster support for the project. Mayor Cary Bozeman voiced his frustration at the meeting about the current state of downtown, referring to it as a “parking lot,” wondering why waterfront land was being squandered.

Former Bremerton Mayor Lynn Horton said “If we miss this window of opportunity in five years from now we’re looking for support and we are not going to have the people in the right positions to make it happen.”

In July opposition to the proposed Bremerton tunnel submitted more

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