2024
Mary Lou Sanelli is the author of Every Little Thing, a book of essays that was nominated for a 2023 Washington State Book Award. Her previous titles include fiction, non-fiction, and a children’s title, “Bella Likes To Try.” Previous essays have appeared in The Seattle Times and aired on Weekend Edition, NPR. Her columns regularly appear in Seattle’s Pacific Publishing newspapers and in the Kitsap Sun. For more information visit her website at: http://www.marylousanelli.com
Maestro Alan Futterman, is the Music Director and Conductor of the Bremerton WestSound Symphony and the Academy Chamber Orchestra. He shared music that he loves and also related some of the “back-stage shenanigans” that accompanied many of the symphony’s famous orchestral works. He served on the Music Faculty of Central Washington University for 10 years and as Music Director of the Dover Symphony Orchestra, Principal Conductor for the Weierstrass Society Concerts of Contemporary Music (New York), Music Director of the Zaccho Ballet Orchestra (Belgium), and Conductor in Residence for Jeunesse Musicale of Europe. Visit the symphony’s website for more information: https://www.bremertonwestsoundsymphony.org
Paul Bannick, The Owl and the Woodpecker Revisited. Washington’s favorite bird photographer and author Paul Bannick returned to Enl!ghten: Kitsap Community Forum to share his spectacular photographs of owls and woodpeckers. The program was updated to reflect what he has learned in the 17 years since the release of his book: The Owl and The Woodpecker, Encounters with North America’s Most Iconic Birds, including several dozen new photos. Visit Paul’s website for more information and to order books, calendars and prints. https://paulbannick.com/
2023
Josh Farley, award-winning journalist who has written extensively in publications including the Kitsap Sun, part of the USA Today (Gannett) newspaper chain, and editorial writer for the Seattle Times, shared his story of how an overgrown and trashed Forested Park in Bremerton was reinvigorated and restored in 2020 during the pandemic by a group of volunteers. He told the story of this transformation in one Bremerton neighborhood, in the hopes it will inspire others to help rejuvenate their own urban forests, too.
David Fenner, professor at the University of Washington, presented “Afghanistan: The Graveyard of Empires?” During this session he explored the long and contentious history of Afghanistan, a land that has bedeviled both neighbor and far-off imperial powers alike. Reaching as far back as the successful conquest of this mountainous region by Alexander the Great, he brought the discussion right up to today’s tragic headlines. A Resource List was provided and will be posted on our video and resources page for those who would like a deeper dive into the long historical record and who also want to lend a hand.
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Solar System Ambassador Ward Yohe presented up-to-date information and images depicting past, present, and future exploration of our Solar System. For those that have seen the presentation in the past, although the orientation of our Sun and Planets (as well as the fundamental laws of physics) has remained relatively constant for millions of years, the never-ending exploratory efforts of human beings bring new and exciting discoveries on an almost daily basis in this golden age – when we are just now dipping a toe into the vast celestial seas. There are always new and exciting information and images to share. Ward’s presentation can be viewed on our website and also accessed from youtube.
Jake Gillanders presented on Empact International: Local Presence, Global Impact. Jake is a 25-year firefighter currently serving as a captain, medical officer, and Urban Search & Rescue Task Force leader. He is also the executive director of Empact Northwest, a nonprofit dedicated to disaster preparedness and response. This perspective lends valuable insight to the government-nonprofit relationship as well as to disaster preparedness and response. Jake has deployed well over 20 times to locales impacted by disaster around the world, from Oso, Washington to Kathmandu, and all points between! His presentation is available on our Videos and Resources page. You can check out his website for more information or to donate: https://www.empact.ngo/
Stephen Ladd, Adventurer, Memoirist, Small Boat Expert, presented The Ladd Small-Boat Voyages. Stephen recounted his adventures captured in his book, “Three Years in a 12-Foot Boat” and his more recent book, “The Five-Year Voyage: Exploring Latin American Coasts and Rivers.” These are the true stories of rowing and sailing through 19 countries and 18,000 miles. Robbed, arrested, and shipwrecked, Ladd finds humor in people and beauty in nature. His books are available at Kitsap Regional Library and at your favorite book store. Stephen’s presentation is posted on our website.
Nate Daniel, Executive Director of Greater Peninsula Conservancy, discussed the Great Peninsula Conservancy’s conservation initiatives. These provide a framework for preservation of the most significant and threatened landscapes of the Great Peninsula. GPC has already protected over 11,408 acres of ecologically important lands and waters, but there is much left to be done. Future conservation projects will focus on lands and waters with high conservation significance, projects that provide connections to other protected areas, and those which have strong community support. For more information or to become involved, visit their website: https://greatpeninsula.org
Lyanda Lynn Haupt is an award-winning author, naturalist, ecophilosopher, and speaker whose work explores the beautiful, complicated connections between humans and the wild, natural world.
She talked about her newest book is
Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit (Little, Brown Spark 2021).
Her writing is acclaimed for combining scientific knowledge with literary, poetic prose. Previous books include:
Mozart’s Starling,
The Urban Bestiary: Encountering the Everyday Wild,
Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness,
Pilgrim on the Great Bird Continent: The Importance of Everything and Other Lessons from Darwin’s Lost Notebooks, and
Rare Encounters with Ordinary Birds.
Zelda Foxall returned to Enl!ghten to portray Ella Baker, a grassroots leader of the Civil Rights Movement. She had a 50-year career pursuing civil rights and human rights working for such venerable organizations as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) among others. She fiercely believed in the inclusion, participation, and leadership abilities of all people in the freedom movement, including the poor and uneducated, women, and young people. She believed that strong people do not need strong leaders. She once stated: “oppressed people, whatever their level of formal education, have the ability to understand and interpret the world around them, to see the world for what it is, and move to transform it.” Zelda co-founded the performing arts company “Cause It’s Art.” Book recommendations and presentation are posted at the “Zoom Links and Resources” page of this website.
Robert Horton, film critic and member of the Humanities Speakers Bureau presented, “This Is the End: How the Movies Prepared Us for the Pandemic.” In this talk illustrated with clips, Robert Horton looked at the eerie imagery of apocalyptic movies, and how these films foreshadowed our responses during the pandemic: the extremes of divisiveness and community-building, the loneliness of isolation, and the tantalizing possibility of starting over again—but maybe doing it better this time. Book and movie recommendations are posted on “Zoom Links and Resources” page.
Dr. Eric Rasmussen presented “Applied Hope: From the Marshall Islands to Ukraine to Kitsap: a Strategy to Mitigate Climate Harms.” Humanity faces many problems, but there is no shortage of people working to address them. In this presentation Eric Rasmussen, MD, MDM, FACP, CEO Infinitum Humanitarian Systems and the research director for the Kwajalein Atoll Sustainability Laboratory in the remote Pacific, described the broad range of ideas available for self-help in climate adaptation using engineering, culture, and societal change. Some of his team’s ideas have recently been adapted for use by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. He illustrated how good ideas can be adopted and shaped to meet local needs, even in very low resourced environments as different as tropical Pacific islands and snow-covered Ukrainian villages. Book recommendations are posted on “Zoom Links and Resources” page. Zoom presentation is posted there as well.
2022
Steve Edmiston from Humanities Washington presented, “Whiskey and Wire Taps.” He explored why the youngest lieutenant in Seattle Police Department history formed a secret gang to take over Prohibition bootlegging in the Northwest. Included was “The Good Bootlegger’s” story of whiskey-driven politics, culture wars, criminalization of popular social behavior, illegal surveillance, spies, sensational trials, and Constitution-bending trips to the Supreme Court! Visit the “Zoom Links and Resources” page soon for book recommendations.
Maggie Christofferson, Community Outreach Manager for the Washington Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association presented on How to Optimize Brain Health. Maggie has been a caregiver since 1996. She has a bachelors in social work, has taught caregiving classes for the State of Washington for almost eight years, and has been with the Alzheimer’s Association for four years. Her presentation will be posted to the “Zoom Links and Resources” page soon.
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Solar System Ambassador Ward Yohe shared up-to-date information and images depicting past, present, and future exploration of our Solar System in his presentation, “Take a Hike… through our Solar System (and beyond)!” Exploring space takes teamwork, attention to detail, respecting everyone’s vital contribution, and more. He discussed how a small fraction of our tax dollars are being spent on robotic and human space endeavors, and what we are learning from those efforts. His presentation is posted on the “Zoom Videos and Resources” page on our website.
Larry Chin, Legal Services Director of KIAC (Kitsap Immigration Assistance Center) presented the Ins and Outs of Immigration Law. Mr. Chin provided a brief history and overview of United States immigration law and processes and offered insights into how past events inform and impact patterns of immigration with a particular focus on new immigrant groups to Kitsap County and Washington State. His presentation is posted on the “Zoom Videos and Resources” page on our website.
Stephanie Raymond, a lifelong resident of the Salish Sea watershed, presented an overview of whale related issues in the Salish Sea, including the challenges faced by the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales, boating regulations, current research, and how to report whale sightings. She talked about the good, the bad and what needs to be done for the whales including boating etiquette. Formerly People for Puget Sound’s education coordinator, Stephanie has been a marine naturalist and deckhand on board the San Juan Clipper for the past eleven years, and is certified in basic keelboat by US Sailing. She is currently the Education Program Manager for Orca Network, a non-profit organization connecting whales and people in the Pacific Northwest. Her presentation is posted on the “Zoom Videos and Resources” page on our website. Visit their website at https://www.orcanetwork.org
We honored Pride Month with Ann Lovejoy and Eve Palay in their presentation, The Weird of Gender Queer. Ann, known as a garden designer and writer, is the founder of the Transfriending support group for family and friends of people in gender transition and exploration. Ann is the mother of a trans daughter and a cis-gender
son and a delighted grandmother. Eve Palay is a tall, stylish Transwoman of a certain age, a writer, a mediator and trainer at the Kitsap Dispute Resolution Center, on the board of the Washington Mediation Association, part of a number of Trans and Pride groups on this side of the water. Eve does Trans trainings for organizations and businesses, and believes we are all in Transition. “What does my very public Transition say about your perhaps quieter one? Let’s talk!” Their presentation is posted on the “Zoom Videos and Resources” page on our website.
Gary, Janice, Kelsey and Tyler McFarland presented an entertaining account of their World Bicycling Adventure and how that experience has influenced other adventures on bikes and afoot. What was life like traveling Around the World for one year on bicycles with two teenagers? Visit their website at: http://cyclingfar-lands.com for their itinerary and photos.
Holly Hughes presented on “Turning to Poetry in Hard Times.” Poetry often flourishes in times of crisis, whether a pandemic or war. The last two years brought us both—and the reading of poetry is up 30%. It’s not surprising; from our earliest days, humans have turned to poetry to sustain our spirits. Poet, essayist and teacher Holly J. Hughes explored how poems offer solace and wisdom in challenging times. She discussed how poetry can heal and she shared examples of poems that can sustain us, focusing on poems by a diverse selection of contemporary poets. Visit the “Zoom Videos and Resources” page for book and resource recommendations. Her presentation will be posted there soon.
Adrienne Hampton, the Climate Policy and Engagement Manager for the Duwamish River Community Coalition, presented on “Advancing Climate Justice to Promote Health Equity.” Why do adverse climate changes and environmental disasters disproportionately affect the low income population and people of color? She addressed how this came about and what can be done to promote fairness and justice in climate and public health policies. Adrienne works at the nexus of collaborative governance and climate justice to promote public health equity. She earned her Master of Public Administration degree from the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington and her Certificate in Climate Change and Health from Yale School of Public Health. Her background and career are based on ocean climate action, equity and racial justice in policy. She serves as the Climate Policy and Engagement Manager at the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition. Her presentation is posted on our “Zoom Videos and Resources” page.
Roosevelt Smith presented on the State of the Union in Black and White: The Roosevelt Smith Collection of Black Americana, an exhibit currently at the Kitsap History Museum. His collection spans the era of enslaved Africans to current day and highlights slavery, denigration and abuse of black people, the KKK, sundowning laws and redlining, the Black Panther movement, to name a few. Memorabilia reflecting contributions to science, art, politics and music by people of color are also included. Mr. Smith has lived in Kitsap County for over 40 years, is a retired Mental Health Counselor, Vietnam era Air Force Veteran, antique dealer and appraiser, former Commander of Kitsap NABVETS, sensitivity trainer focusing on The African American Experience, and a Member of the Kitsap County Art Board. He was interviewed by Lisa Hope, Marketing Director for the Kitsap History Museum. This recorded event is posted on our “Zoom Videos and Resources” page.
Kirk Hanson, Director of Forestry for Northwest Natural Resource Group (NNRG): This Ain’t Your Grandfather’s Forestry: Forest Management in a Changing Climate. Kirk discussed principles of Ecological Forestry that his organization has been developing to help forests in the Pacific Northwest adapt to a changing climate. By highlighting the myriad forests NNRG manages across the region, Kirk shared examples of forest management strategies that provide alternatives to conventional industrial plantation forestry that has been the standard in the Northwest for decades. To learn more, visit http://www.nnrg.org. Link to this recorded event is posted at our “Zoom Videos and Resources” page.
2021
Kate Larson, new owner of Ballast Books in downtown Bremerton, gave recommendations for books to read
and books to give for the holidays. She was joined by Suzanne Selfors, owner of Liberty Bay Books in Poulsbo. Librarian Sarah Jaffa, Adult FictionSelector at the Kitsap Regional
Library, discussed library and bookstore roles in building community around reading and she shared some of her favorite genre picks as well. Book recommendations and a link to the recorded event are posted at our “Zoom Videos and Resources” page.
Merritt Long shared stories of growing up in the South during the Jim Crow era and how his childhood, segregation and the Civil Rights movement shaped his life. After attending Morehouse College in Atlanta, he moved to Seattle where he began his 37-year career with the State of Washington – serving as Executive Director or Chair of four agencies; serving on community boards; and mentoring youth. He was interviewed by Gloria Colvin-Jackson who earlier presented to the Enl!ghten community on The Great Migration and the history of Black settlement in Bremerton. His presentation, book, My View from the Back of the Bus, and other resources are available at our “Zoom Videos and Resources” page.
Tom Rogers and Shelley Douglass of Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action presented on the history and mission of Ground Zero, the story of the Peace Pagoda, and the current state of nuclear weapons in the United States and the world. Tom served in the Navy for 32 years as a submarine officer, on both ballistic missile and attack submarines. He developed opposition to a national security policy based on nuclear weapons late in his Navy career after the end of the Cold War. After retirement from the Navy, he joined Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action and has worked for nuclear weapons abolition for the last 18 years. Shelley Douglass holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin and an MTS from Spring Hill College. She has been active in movements for peace and justice since the early 1960s and was a founding member of the Pacific Life community and then of Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action. She moved withJim Douglass, her husband, to Birmingham, AL to continue tracking the Nuclear Train to Kings Bay, GA. After the Nuclear Train had been stopped, they remained in Birmingham and founded Mary’s House Catholic Worker, a home for families experiencing homelessness, and a base for peace and justice activities. Book and film recommendations are posted on the “Zoom Videos and Resources” page as is the video of their presentation.
USAF Lt Col (ret) Jacqueline Chang, discussed the alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States and how they worked together over the years to address the dictators of North Korea. She was an aircraft and munitions maintenance officer and later was awarded her secondary specialty as a Northeast Asia Foreign Area Officer. She earned recognition from the Air Force Academy Institute of National Security Studies for her master’s thesis on “Politics of North Korean Refugees and Regional Security Implications.” She served in the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission as an Exercise and Plans Officer, Senior Analyst, and served on the U.S. Embassy team in Seoul, Korea, as the Chief of the Security Cooperation Operations Division of the Joint U.S. Military Affairs Group, where she oversaw the foreign military sales and scientist exchange programs for the Korean Government. While in Korea, she developed a passion for Korean film and how North Korean refugees portrayed in Korean films increased awareness of social issues and increased compassion towards the North Korean people. She became fascinated by the power of storytelling in building bridges between communities and is now pursuing writing and screenwriting full time as her passion. Book and film recommendations are posted at the “Zoom Videos and Resources” page.
Janine Schutt took us on a virtual road trip in her presentation “Birds of the Badlands and Beyond; Road Trip to North Dakota.” In July 2021, award-winning wildlife photographer Janine Schutt took a 6-state, 2-week, 4,000-mile birding trip to western North Dakota—the perfect place for social distancing. She shared stories and photos of scenery, birds, and critters large and small from her solo adventure through Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The colorful slideshow was highlighted by Theodore Roosevelt National Park, multiple national wildlife refuges and other birding hotspots.
Zelda Foxall returned to Enl!ghten to portray Dr. Mae Jemison, the first black woman to travel into space where she served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Zelda has been doing in-character vignettes of historically significant African American Women since 2008, when she co-founded the performing arts company “Cause It’s Art.” Through Zelda, these women step forward to tell their own stories of how they overcame the tremendous odds of poverty, racism, sexism and ignorance to climb to the top of their respective fields or just to step up boldly to change the way things were. Her presentation can be viewed at our “Zoom Videos and Resources” page.
Madagascar is the fourth largest island on earth and world-renowned for its plant and animal diversity, including its lemurs. Its people are known for their unique and complex culture, and the land produces vanilla, rosewood, and sapphires. Yet many of its iconic species are endangered, while many of its people face the challenges of deep poverty. What are some of the stories that can help us understand this fascinating country? Former Peace Corps volunteer, Rowan Braybrook, took us on a virtual trip to the other side of the world, and discussed the history, culture, and ecology of the country that had been called ‘the eighth continent.’ Her presentation, book and video recommendations will be posted soon on our “Zoom Videos and Resources” page.
Jane Cornman, RN, PhD presented on NEAR (Neuroscience, Epigenetics, ACEs & Resilience) Science — How to support our families and community to be WELL. She discussed the most recent research on ACEs — Adverse Childhood Experiences, the potential long-term effects in each category of mind, body and spirit — and how each one of us can be an active participant in helping reduce the frequency of these events, reduce retraumatization across the lifespan, and support healing and resilience long term. Book recommendations are on the “Zoom Videos and Resources” page as is her presentation.
Douglas Soule has been diving for more than 50 years. He took us on a pictorial journey to some of the many places on the planet he has visited with a major emphasis on SE Asia, Indonesia and the Philippines. In, Through the Lens, he portrays the amazing life, beauty, fragility and biologically diverse understanding of the unique inhabitants of the underwater world. He now focuses his underwater adventures by diving his bucket list of the top 50 dive locations in the world thereby preserving a historical record, educating people by sharing his knowledge and images and creating lasting memories of the planet’s greatest natural treasure. Doug also shared his personal observations and research of the impending demise of the oceans and underwater inhabitants.
In March of 1942, 227 Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes on Bainbridge Island by the US Army. Starting with this small community, a national strategy began, with more than 120,000 Japanese American men, women, and children forcibly removed and incarcerated during World War II. Clarence Moriwaki shared the story of Bainbridge Island—the origin point of the Japanese American exclusion—to provide a human, historical account of this national tragedy, and to ask the question: Are there parallels to what’s happening in America now? Clarence used historical images, including historical and current propaganda, to explore the fear, racism, and failure of political leadership that led to these unconstitutional actions during World War II, and why we must not let it happen again. His presentation was recorded and is posted on our “Zoom Videos and Resources” page.
2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has infected more than 60 million and killed more than 1.4 million people worldwide, and the numbers continue to rise. The impact on individual countries and regions has varied widely, largely as a result of differences in public health measures. Using the most recent and data-driven information, Dr. Fang provided an overview of the epidemiology and clinical features of COVID-19 and guidance on how you can minimize your risk of infection until the pandemic can be brought to an end. His presentation is available on YouTube, accessed from our “Zoom Videos and Resources” page.
Barbara Stark of MWEEP (Masaai Women’s Education and Empowerment Program), spoke of this program based in Kitsap County, WA, that seeks to educate Maasai girls and women in Kenya through cost-sharing scholarships and training programs. MWEEP supports women who are working to start their own businesses and/or becoming community leaders. Whether a student or a budding entrepreneur, these determined ladies become independent, successful women. For more information along with how you can help, visit their website at: https://maasaiwomen.org. You can also view her presentation at YouTube with a link from our “Zoom Videos and Resources” page.
Niran Al-Agba, MD, presented on how women have been envisioned by men throughout history and why the persistence of gender bias in the workplace matters. She is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Medicine, is an independent pediatrician, and op-ed columnist for the Kitsap Sun. She has practiced medicine for 17 years and is affiliated with multiple area hospitals, including St. Michael’s Medical Center and MultiCare Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Health Center. Her power point and a recording of her presentation is posted at our “Zoom Videos and Resources” page.
David Nelson, Kitsap Sun Editor and community member, discussed, “Why local matters: Community journalism and why it’s important to maintain our democracy.” How we get our news and what news we get has even greater importance in these times of heightened political division, disinformation and isolation due to COVID-19. He spoke about the Kitsap (Bremerton) Sun’s 85-year history and its future in the digital age, and why supporting local news matters to everyone.
Gloria Colvin-Jackson presented on The Great Migration and the history of Black settlement in Bremerton. The Great Migration, beginning in 1916 and lasting until 1970, was the movement of 6 million African Americans from the rural South to the urban Northeast, Midwest and West. A member of one of Bremerton’s notable African American families, Gloria spoke of Black settlement in Kitsap County between 1940 to 1970 and of families who populated our community. She was joined by John Hughes, author of “Lillian Walker: Washington Civil Rights Pioneer.” He shared memories of this extraordinary leader of our community.
In this year that marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps, Matthew Erlich of the Holocaust Center for Humanity, presented to Enl!ghten. He spoke of his mother’s, Felicia’s, remarkable story of strength and survival during the Nazi occupation of Poland and of her years imprisoned at Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. In audio clips, Felicia spoke of her life in the concentration camps. Her tenacity, kindness from a German nurse, and support from her cousin when she was stricken with typhus, were factors that contributed to her survival. January 27 is designated by the United Nations General Assembly as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Since 2005, the UN and its member states have held commemoration ceremonies to mark the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. On this annual day of commemoration, the UN urges every member state to honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism and to develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides.
2019
Po and Christine Karczewski, co-founders of The Healing Field and Mt. Tahoma Sanctuary, introduced the documentary, CRAZYWISE, followed by a discussion centered around its impact and the re-thinking of mental health crises. Po worked as a Critical Care RN and an
RN manager for eight years at Western State Hospital. He worked for 15 years as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and prescribing team leader at Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare, a Pierce County community mental health agency, seeing adults, adolescents and children. He is currently providing psychiatric services for an inpatient drug and alcohol treatment facility. Po has always been an advocate for more cautious and judicious use of psychiatric medication. Christine is an Energy Healer, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Massage Therapist, and Family Constellations Facilitator with 18 years experience in mind/body/heart/spirit centered approaches to emotional and spiritual healing. She envisions a new mental health paradigm that embraces a spiritual, mind/body connecting, heart-centered, relational approach for individuals and their families who are suffering and in crisis. Visit our Links and Resources page.
Martha Burke and Janet Stegemeyer from the League of Women Voters Water Committee presented A Practical Guide to Kitsap Water, an exhaustive resource that addresses Kitsap County’s water sources, drinking water, waste water and storm water, and our role in protecting our water supply. Martha, having a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a focus on Environmental Management, has worked with the EPA, implemented the Puget Sound Estuary Program’s Urban Bay Approach to toxic cleanup, developed
Seattle’s Environmental Action Agenda, King County’s Local Hazardous Waste Plan, and Chaired the Executive Council for the Washington State Ferry Advisory Council. Janet is a retired North Mason High School Teacher with an MAT in English. She is active in the League of Women Voters and has had a passion for exploring and protecting the environment since early childhood. Water is Life!
Rich Renner was a pediatrician in Kitsap County with Group Health prior to moving in 2015 to Las Cruces, New Mexico, to work at La Clinica de Familia, a community health clinic serving primarily low income Mexican-American families. After retiring he has volunteered at various hospitality centers for released refugees at the U.S. Mexican border – in El Paso, TX, and Las Cruces. These centers provide short term shelter, meals, medical care, and assistance in arranging travel of immigrants to their sponsors around the U.S. He shared reflections on volunteering with the border hospitality centers that address the needs of recently released refugees, primarily from Central America. These centers serve parents and children. Options for helping address the humanitarian crisis created by our government were addressed. See our links and resources page for Richard’s power point presentation.
Mike Etgen and Bart Kale, volunteers with the Westsound Wildlife Shelter, presented to Enl!ghten. This wild animal medical facility is able to rescue, diagnose, treat, and release injured and orphaned wildlife. The Shelter treats more than 1,700 injured, orphaned and sick wildlife and gives them a second chance at life. They promote the well-being of wildlife and their habitats through outreach and education. Mike and Bart brought three birds: a Western Screech Owl, Peregrine Falcon, and Barred Owl undergoing rehabilitation. Please visit their website: www.westsoundwildlife.org to see how you can help. Donations of produce, meat, sheets, towels, among other items are welcomed. Call first! 206-855-9057.
Sail Like A Girl! Jeanne Assael Goussev, Captain of the first all-women crew to win the race from Port Townsend to Victoria to Ketchikan presented to Enl!ghten. They arrived under bicycle power — two bike stations dangled off the stern that powered propellers — for a competition with the cornerstone motto “no motor, no support, all the way to Alaska.” They completed the race in 6 days, 13 hours, 17 minutes. Gousseve’s crew, whose average age is about 41, also consists of Aimee Fulwell, Allison Dvaladze, Kelly Adamson Danielson and Haley King Lhamon, of Bainbridge Island; and Anna Stevens, Kate Hearsey McKay and Morgana Buell, of Seattle. The team donated funds to the Pink Boat Regatta in support of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The crew carried the names of people they know who have been affected by breast cancer. “It helped us to dig deep to think about them,” Gousseve said. “It was a wonderful way we could make this about something bigger than our own selves that was important to all of us.”
Bill Sams was literally at “ground zero” of the beginning years of the computer revolution when he began his career in the early 1970s at Fairchild Semiconductor. He was involved in several start-ups and chalked up 25 years in senior management positions in Silicon Valley. Following an early “retirement,” he and his wife Janet sailed the South Pacific before returning to his alma mater Ohio University for an additional 10-year career in academia. Among many positions, he served as Associate Provost for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer of the university and was an “executive in residence” at its business school. He is a founding member of the Ohio Tech Angel Fund, now one of the largest angel investment groups in America. He brings both a depth of background and keen current attention to possible future tech development. He shared his impressions of the future of robotics and artificial intelligence. Please go to “Links and Resources” for a wealth of information that Bill created for our use on these topics.
Janine Schutt, past president of the Kitsap Audubon Society and bird columnist for West Sound Home and Garden magazine, presented on landscaping for backyard bird habitats. She plants her gardens with two things in mind: birds and beauty. In this presentation, Janine discussed the importance of planting native vegetation and plant species that attract the most birds. She covered topics such as providing natural cover from predators, access to water, nesting cavities, and other ways to make our yards more wildlife friendly. An expert on hummingbird gardens, Janine shared her knowledge of perennials that serve as easy to maintain hummingbird magnets. She specializes in hardy fuchsias and shared which varieties are most appealing to our nectar loving friends. Go to Links and Resources to view her entire power point presentation and visit her website at: http://janineschuttnaturephotography.com
Zelda Foxall has been doing in-character vignettes of historically significant African American Women since 2008, when she co-founded the performing arts company “Cause It’s Art.” Through Zelda, these women step forward to tell their own stories of how they overcame the tremendous odds of poverty, racism, sexism and ignorance to climb to the top of their respective fields or just to step up boldly to change the way things were. Tonight she portrayed Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl who was arrested nine months before Rosa Parks for refusing to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Zelda’s 38-year career focused on civil rights in multiple capacities. She now volunteers for RESULTS, an anti-poverty organization, and AARP, where she advocates for Medicaid, economic security, housing, hunger, fraud, health care, and safety net programs that support older adults.
Mary Lou Slaughter is the great-granddaughter of Chief Sealth, the Native American chief after whom the city of Seattle was named. She spoke of growing up in Manette and of her people, the Duwamish, who today have no land base or federal recognition. Her people helped the Denny party survive their first winter in Puget Sound. She embraced her heritage as an adult and is now a renowned master basket weaver. In 2000, she entered her first Native American “Indian Art Northwest” show in Portland, Oregon, winning first, second and third places. She teaches classes from her home. Her work is available for purchase in the Burke Museum gift shop at the University of Washington and directly from her. Her work can also be seen at the Log House Museum in West Seattle for the 150-year celebration of the founding of Seattle.
Paul Bannick, award-winning author, and wildlife photographer presented his latest photos from his most recent book, Owl: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls. He has documented rare images as the owls move through each stage of their life: courtship, mating, and nesting in spring; feeding of young and fledging in summer; dispersal and gaining independence in fall; and finally, winter’s migrations and competitions for food. The book shows how owls use the unique resources available to them in each habitat to overcome the challenges of each season. Visit his website at www.paulbannick.com
2018
Suzanne Droppert, owner of Liberty Bay Books, brought and talked about her favorite books across all age groups for Holiday Reading and Giving. Liberty Bay Books started as Shotwell’s Bookstore in 1977 and was purchased in 1996 by Suzanne, who decided to leave the corporate rat race to create what she calls a “third place” to converse with friends besides home and work. Liberty Bay and Suzanne are proud to be a local, independent bookstore serving the community in which they live. They offer books, e-books, cards, gifts, game nights, book clubs, and events with favorite authors. Visit their Poulsbo store at 18881 Front Street and their new downtown Bremerton store managed by Nathan Hattrick at 409 Pacific Ave. Visit our “links and resources” page for reading recommendations and be sure to visit her website at: https://www.libertybaybooks.com.
Scott Freeman, PhD, lecturer at the University of Washington, and recipient of a UW Distinguished Teaching Award, discussed his book Saving Tarboo Creek, One Family’s Quest to Heal the Land. His wife, Susan illustrated the book and shared stories of her upbringing in Wisconsin and the legacy of her grandfather, Aldo Leopold, ecologist, conservationist, and author of the classic, A Sand County Almanac. The Freemans discussed their tireless efforts of transforming Tarboo Creek on the Olympic Peninsula from a broken drainage ditch into its once productive salmon habitat. Their book “artfully blends the story of the family’s efforts with profound lessons about how we can live more constructive, fulfilling, and natural lives by engaging with the land rather than exploiting it.” Be sure to see Scott’s power point presentation at our “links and resources” tab.
Judge Anna Laurie discussed her career as a Superior Court Judge in Kitsap County and her particular interest – Mental Health jurisprudence. She explained the complexities in working with individuals having mental health challenges and shared examples from her career presiding over these cases. Judge Laurie graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Washington, then later returned to UW where she earned her Juris Doctorate. She practiced law in Bremerton from 1982 to 2001 when she was elected to the Superior Court and addressed issues that included civil suits, felonies, juvenile cases, child custody, and adoptions. In her capacity as a Superior Court Judge, she was able to fulfill her great interest and desire to work closely with people.
Laura Daugereau was the first woman from Washington to run and finish the Iditarod and is now a long time Iditarod competitor. She shared her passion about this race of endurance and fortitude, and brought Buttercup, one of her canine companions. When not racing, she works for her family’s construction business. At the end of each summer, she packs “life” up in her truck and trailer, heads to Montana to set up base camp for training and racing. What began as a hobby progressed to a passion and way of life. “There is not a thing in the world that compares to running through the cold dark night and seeing the sun rise and shine off the backs of sixteen of your best friends while silently moving down the trail the same way their ancestors have done for hundreds of years!”
Eugenie Jones shared her journey from a coal miner’s daughter from West Virginia to post graduate degree, MBA, business owner, consultant, and marketing specialist. She was known as the Fitness Guru with a weekly column in the Kitsap Sun, and has a reputation as a challenging trainer. Her days are now filled with jazz. Eugenie was the Jazz winner in 2013 for NW Recording of the Year and in 2015 NW Vocalist of the Year. She sings and scats her way vivaciously through mainstream jazz, but also draws listeners inside contemporary story lines, sharing original tunes that have earned her recognition as a cleverly gifted lyricist. She sang an original composition, “A Good Day” and the well known ballad, “Summertime,” A Capella. Her power point can be viewed from a link at our “Links and Resources” tab. Please visit her website: eugeniejones.com.
Melody Sky Eisler, Port Townsend Public Library Director and former manager of the Silverdale branch of the Kitsap Regional Library, has a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Washington, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She previously worked as a public arts professional in Boise, Idaho, where she was also a librarian. In Idaho, she was awarded the prestigious Idaho Woman Making History award for her activist artwork. She was honored as one of Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal’s 40 Under Forty in 2012 for her work with community building in her position at the library, involvement with Leadership Kitsap as a 2013 graduate, and work as the chairwoman of the Kitsap County Arts Board. Melody shared her passion for reading, book recommendations, and the science behind why reading fiction is good for us! Visit the “Links and Resources” page on this website for recommendations.
Janine Schutt, past president of Kitsap Aududon Society and avid wildlife photographer, presented on the eruption of Mount St. Helens and the years since. She has taken more than 30 trips into the Blast Zone over the last fourteen years while photographing the scenery and wildlife. She has observed 100 species of birds within the devastated area from the catastrophic eruption of 1980. Some of these species are seldom found in western Washington, but have taken a liking to the open country of the Blast Zone. Janine posts her data to ebird.org and (according to ebird) is the foremost birder of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Janine is the new bird columnist for the West Sound Home & Garden magazine. Visit her website at: http://janineschuttnaturephotography.com and see recommended birding resources at our Links and Resources page.
Seattle attorney Carol Arnold presented her late husband, Jim Compton’s book, “Spirit in the Rock: The fierce Battle for Modoc Homelands.” Fought amid lava beds, the 1873 Modoc War was fierce, bloody, and unjust. This riveting narrative captured the conflict’s dramatic battles, betrayals, and devastating end. It also delved into underlying causes and secret schemes by the Applegate family and others to seize Modoc ancestral territory along what is now the California-Oregon border. The story of “Captain Jack” Kintpuash did not end with his execution in 1873. Author Jim Compton followed this fascinating historical figure through the trials, victories, defeats, and ongoing controversies that define him in Spirit in the Rock.
Dr. Oanh Truong, with The Doctors Clinic, shared her journey from war torn Vietnam in 1979, after the Communists took over, to America. At age 12, with a few of her siblings, she made the harrowing six-day passage across the China Sea in an open wooden boat to a refugee camp in Malaysia. After one year, she immigrated to Washington State to pursue the life her mother wished for her, never seeing her again. She learned English, attended the University of Washington, and fulfilled her dream of becoming a doctor. Dr. Truong’s experience of growing up without clean water or plumbing in her village has led her to WaterAid, an international NGO working to improve access to clean drinking water throughout the world www.wateraidamerica.org, which she plans to devote more time to after retirement.
Marty Bishop, a retired Dental Hygienist, has devoted her time as an activist for climate change since 2006. She is a group leader of the Port Orchard Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby and a member of the Tri-County Climate Action. Marty presented on “What Can We Do About Climate Change.” She discussed steps we can all take to mitigate global warming through political, technological, personal, and cultural approaches while focusing on hope over despair. We can work together to transition to a fossil fuel free future. View Marty’s power point and videos at “Links and Resources” on our website.
Cheryl Stumbo was critically injured during the 2006 mass shooting at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. Now she is an advocate for preventing gun violence nationwide. Cheryl uses her personal perspective to help bring about change in preventing gun violence. She is an advocate for social justice and civic engagement. Cheryl has had to face this tragedy and make adaptations in her life. She hopes greater visibility of survivors and victims of gun violence will accelerate social/political change – change towards more responsible gun ownership in our country. Cheryl is dedicated to finding a pragmatic middle ground on the issue of gun control as she works as a Survivors Organizing Manager for the non-profit Everytown for Gun Safety. See her power point and list of resources posted on our website under “Links and Resources.
2017
Susan Marie Andersson, of the Orca Network’s Bainbridge speakers’ bureau, is an expert naturalist and veteran of many years’ experience and study of Salish Sea orcas. Orca Network is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization registered in Washington State, dedicated to raising awareness about the whales of the Pacific Northwest, and the importance of providing them healthy and safe habitats. A community is emerging that is increasingly attuned to the orca population, that cares about and tries to understand the needs of the resident and transient orcas that inhabit the Salish Sea. http://www.orcanetwork.org
Alan Bauer, a professional photographer specializing in the natural history of the Pacific Northwest and coverage of local history, presented his photograph collection. With the Mountaineers, he co-authored the Day Hiking series. His work has been published in Backpacker, Odyssey, MotorHome, Northwest Runner, CityDog, Northwest Outdoors, Northwest Magazine, Oregon Coast, and Northwest Travel magazines as well as the Getaways weekly outdoor recreation magazine insert for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Visit his website: https://www.alanbauer.com
Stan Stumbo, chief naval architect for WSF and hobbiest, shared his passion and expertise on 3D printers. Stan printed a 3D object during his presentation and discussed the myriad uses of this technology including the manufacturing of medical prostheses, dental crowns, NASA space station applications, fixing things around the house, studying a piece of ancient history – he printed a replica of the arm bone of 3.5 million year old Lucy. In retirement, Stan currently serves as the studio lead for the machine shop at BARN (Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network), a result of decades of pursuing machine shop work as a hobby.
Dean Tingey, Executive Director of the Kitsap County Historical Society (www.kitsaphistoricalsociety.org), spoke about “Connecting Through History” and how learning about the past helps people to connect with themselves, their families, and their communities. The Kitsap County Historical Society owns and operates the Kitsap History Museum in downtown Bremerton and the Rural Heritage Building on the Kitsap County Fairgrounds. The society provides educational outreach though programs such as ‘Eat Your Way through Kitsap History’ and the First Friday Speaker Program. It also hosts the annual Heritage Family Celebration. Volunteers maintain the Kitsap County Register of Historic Sites and perform research services. They also prepare the weekly Time Capsule published each Sunday in the Kitsap Sun and on the Society’s Facebook page. Visit our Links and Resources tab for recommended reference material.
Denise Frey, Executive Director of YWCA Kitsap County, discussed the intersection of domestic violence and homelessness and the collaboration of YWCA and the Poulsbo Rotary Club to develop Morrow Manor – a long term supportive housing project In Poulsbo. A supportive, safe place to call home allows survivors and their children the opportunity to establish and accomplish goals, and achieve an economically and emotionally secure life. While emergency services such as the ALIVE Shelter address the immediate need for safe housing with average stays of 65 days, long term housing like Morrow Manor (www.supportmorrowmanor.org) allows survivors and their family to receive housing and supportive services up to six years, if needed. Denise’s power point presentation will be posted on our website under “Links and Resources.” See her entire presentation, thanks to Bremerton Kitsap Access Television, at https://vimeo.com/209614206
Alan Searle, MD, discussed why he became interested in climate change, presented a brief history of the topic, changes in climate so far, and the medical consequences of climate change. He was trained as a Climate Reality Leader by The Climate Reality Project in 2015. Dr. Searle is a member of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, received his medical degree from the University of Cambridge and moved to the United States in 1979. He has lived in Kitsap County since 1984 and worked as a family practitioner in Port Orchard until his recent retirement. His power point presentation as well as list of recommended websites and books will be posted on this website under “Links and Resources.”
Carol J. Williams is former senior international affairs writer for the Los Angeles Times. She presented on “Why the US and Russia Find Themselves in a New Cold War.” She discussed the evolution of Soviet/US relations over the last several decades and the events that have set the tone for current relations. As a correspondent for the Associated Press in Moscow in the mid-1980s, she covered the last months of the Kremlin Old Guard, the emergence of Mikhail S. Gorbachev as Soviet leader, glasnost, perestroika, the Chernobyl disaster and the economic experiments and political loosening that led to the Soviet breakup. After joining the LA Times in 1990, she covered the breakups of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, the Eastern European pro-democracy revolutions and post- communist transformations, independent Russia’s Wild East, and wars in the Balkans, Chechnya, Afghanistan, Iraq and Ukraine.
2016
Jim Brennan, MS in Marine Science, presented on the substantial degradation of our estuaries due to coastal development and to the poorly regulated shellfish aquaculture industry. His presentation provided an overview of aquaculture practices, environmental impacts, critical data gaps for informed management decision making, and a review of coastal management regulations relevant to shellfish aquaculture expansion. His presentation’s focus was to engage and inform the public on how the shellfish industry is affecting publicly owned resources, and what needs to be done to protect those resources. His power point presentation is featured “Links and Resources” at this website.
H. M. Bowker‘s discussed her novel, I Can’t Breathe! Libby, Montana 1958. Libby was the site of one of the worst environmental disasters in US history. The town was dominated for much of the twentieth century by an asbestos mine. The material from the mine infiltrated the entire town, and hundreds, if not thousands, of people became sick from their exposure to the asbestos. Bowker provides a heartbreaking tableaux of life in Libby, such as the Hardin children playing with asbestos dust that litters their home. She builds on this history to craft a plot that explores both child abuse and corporate exploitation of human life. http://icantbreathenovel.com
Are you prepared for the Big One? Chuck Corey discussed steps involved in creating a neighborhood disaster response team. This begins with personal preparedness, expanding to family preparedness, neighborhood, then community. He is a leader in the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in Issaquah, WA and a facilitator in the Map Your Neighborhood (MYN) program. He has collected a great deal of information regarding surviving disasters. You can view his entire power point presentation under “Links and Resources” on this website. Detailed lists of supplies to have on hand, recommended readings and websites are presented there.
Beth Wilson and “RESULTS.” RESULTS began thirty-five years ago as a grassroots movement comprised of passionate, committed volunteers to end global hunger. They soon expanded their focus to stop preventable child and maternal deaths, reduce child malnutrition, and provide universal access to primary education. Their advocacy helped pass the Self-Sufficiency for the Poor Act, a $50 million initiative to provide small loans to the world’s poorest families; and later micro-enterprise funding. Their advocacy has led to expanded funding to fight tuberculosis, AIDS, and malaria among a host of related causes. RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund use the powerful voices of citizen advocates with research and oversight of U.S. anti-poverty efforts at home to change government priorities and people’s lives. http://results.org. See Beth’s Power Point presentation under “Links and Resources” on this website.
Eric Rasmussen, MD, MDM, FACP. Dr. Rasmussen has worked decades around the world to alleviate the effects of natural and industrial catastrophic events from becoming life-changing disasters. He is the CEO for Infinitum Humanitarian Systems (IHS), a Washington State company specializing in vulnerability reduction for systems and populations, http://www.ihs-i.com. His organization also leads the Global Disaster Response Team for the Roddenberry Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Star Trek franchise. Dr. Rasmussen serves as a Permanent Advisor to the UN Secretary-General’s High Level Expert Panel on Water Disasters. He spoke on Abundance, Can We Provide for All? Click on our “Links and Resources” tab for reading recommendations and website links for this upbeat, informative, and optimistic outlook of our future world.
Mary Preus, veteran gardener, ardent herbalist, and NW native presented on the Edible Sustainable Home Garden. Mary has shared her love and knowledge of herbs at garden centers, Master Gardener meetings, libraries and garden clubs. She is the former owner the Silver Bay Herb Farm in Bremerton which she tended for nearly twenty years. She is the author of The Northwest Herb Lover’s Handbook, Growing Herbs, A Little Book of Herbs for Cooking, and The Leek Cookbook, which have sold more than 20,000 copies. Recommended readings and seed sources can be found under “Links and Resources” on this website.
Etta Projects was created in 2003 to honor the life and humanitarian concerns of Etta Turner and carry on her legacy of inspiration and caring in Montero, Bolivia. Pennye Nixon, mother of Etta, discussed Etta Projects and its work to facilitate and help communities find pathways to sustainable and realistic answers to have their designated needs met. Donated dollars and energy go straight to improve health and support projects that provide clean water, nutritious food, education and income generation. http://www.ettaprojects.org
In honor of Women’s History Month and during this important election year, Connie Waddington and Catherine Ahl from the League of Women Voters, presented a lively discussion on how women fought for 72 years for the right to vote, why it is so important that we remember the struggle and the importance of using our vote. http://www.lwv-kitsap.org
Vicki Collins, Founder and Vice President of OurGEMS helps public school students achieve educational excellence. Her eight year tenure on the Bremerton School Board is a part of Vicki’s lifelong pattern of community service. She talked about the importance of creating motherhood/sisterhood communities and her work with Our Girls Empowered through Mentoring and Service (OurGEMS); improving life for girls in our community by empowering them to be leaders in their community through mentorship, character development, and asset building; helping girls discover what their individual skills and passions are, and working with them to develop those interests to their fullest potential. Vicki also serves as the Executive Director for Bremerton African American Ministerial Alliance. http://www.our-gems.org
Carol Cassella is a practicing physician and the national bestselling author of three novels, Gemini, Healer, and Oxygen. Ms. Cassella discussed her recent research trip to Turkey and Jordon for her upcoming novel. She visited with Syrian doctors who were working within Syrian borders, refugees, and a Doctor’s Without Border Hospital. She shared her feelings as to why she and so many other physicians are also authors in her presentation, “Words at the heart of health care. How fiction reflects one doctor’s reality.” http://www.carolcassella.com
2015
Kriss Kevorkian, Ph.D., MSW, discussed environmental grief®, the grief reaction stemming from the environmental loss of ecosystems caused by natural or man-made events. She provides educational workshops, and writes on the subjects of dying/death, caregiving, grief/loss, animal companion loss, and grief related to environmental loss. She hosts Death Cafés and has a private practice helping clients sail through the sometimes stormy seas at the end of life and through their grief. http://drkkevorkian.com
Kevin Koski presented a slide show and talk on his most recent adventure of hiking the entire length of the 2,668 mile long Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. He is also passionate about his work on the Board of Kitsap County Food Co-op working hard to open a much needed grocery store in downtown Bremerton. http://www.trailjournals.com/about.cfm?trailname=14279
Jill E. Clarridge, III, presented on Epigenetics: ” ‘The next big thing’ for understanding the weird and wonderful variations in our health and behaviors.” Epigenetics is the study, in the field of genetics, of cellular and physiological phenotypic trait variations that are caused by external or environmental factors that switch genes on and off and affect how cells read genes instead of being caused by changes in the DNA sequence. Google “Epigenetics” and see what you have been missing!
Jeannette Franks, PhD, is a passionate gerontologist and for over 20 years has taught ethics, grief and loss, and courses on geriatrics and gerontology for the University of Washington. She discussed her most recent book, To Move or To Stay Put: A Guide for Your Last Decade www.jeannettefranks.org Links to recommended websites can be found at “Links and Resources” on this website.