We’ve Almost Got the Ante Together!
Our Forest Fund’s budget request from the legislature has cleared the state Senate, and has been included in the budget sent up to Governor Ferguson! This means that, unless the governor decides to axe it with the line item veto, $748,000 has been allocated for buying timber rights in the Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park!
When you add that to the more than $256,000 Our Forest Fund already had raised with your help, plus the $7,550 in spring local business pledges which were more than matched by your donations of $11,305, it looks as though we will have blasted past our 1 million dollar goal by about $23,000. Stupendous!!
This $1,000,000 is the ante for Kitsap County to trigger negotiation on behalf of Kitsap County Parks for the remaining 680 acres of timber rights. We hope to get a moratorium on more logging put in place first, to stop forest loss in the park. We will continue to fundraise, while waiting for a price tag to be worked out between Rayonier and the county.
Remember, it’s not a done deal yet. Governor Ferguson could decide he needs to put this money to another use. But keep your fingers crossed, close your eyes and send lots of good forest vibes to the governor’s office.
(We haven’t updated the main donation meter on the website yet, because some donations are part of the matching campaign, while some are eligible for the Kitsap Great Give boost, some are eligible for both the match and the boost. Some business pledges have yet to be fulfilled, as they were waiting for the public to match it. So we are waiting for all the different pots/sources of money to coalesce into Our Forest Fund’s account at Kitsap Community Foundation.)
You are the Evergreen State!
We are so grateful to you, Our Forest Fund supporters and tree-lovers, green-minded local businesses and the Washington State Legislature!! You understand the crucial importance of forest to the well-being of Washingtonians, wildlife, and the environment. YOU ALL ROCK!! You are the Evergreen State!
If you would like to say thanks to your members of the legislature, pop them a quick email. They’d love to hear from happy citizens for a change!
- North Kitsap’s Representative: Greg.Nance@leg.wa.gov
- Central Kitsap’s Representative: Tarra.Simmons@leg.wa.gov
- Kitsap’s Senator: Drew.Hansen@leg.wa.gov
- Chair of Senate Ways & Means: June.Robinson@leg.wa.gov
- Vice Chair of Ways & Means, Capital: Yasmin.Trudeau@leg.wa.gov
- Ranking Member, Capital: Mark.Schoesler@leg.wa.gov
- Assistant Ranking Member, Capital: Perry.Dozier@leg.wa.gov
And don’t forget to show your appreciation to the following local businesses. Just stop in, tell them you saw they gave to Our Forest Fund’s Local Business Matching Fund. They deserve our patronage!
- The Yard Fitness Club
- Town & Country Markets
- Companion Animal Wellness Center
- Richard Eatinger at Edward Jones
- AMC Electric/Solectrix.com
- Henery Hardware
- Pat Osler at John L Scott
- The Artful Ewe
- Kitsap Tire Center
- Nordiska
- Oxalis Kitchen
- The NW Dog
- Red Plantation Marketplace
- Sweet & Savories
