Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Arla Shephard
‘The environment … is where we live’
A New Mexico neighborhood offers a case study in the successes, and failures, of the environmental justice movement Arla Shephard and Ray Ring Feb. 1, 2010 From the print edition Like Tweet Email Print Subscribe Donate Now The neighborhood of Mountain View, just south of Albuquerque. Residents thought they had won a victory when they got the county to shut down this former race track. But the concrete recycling facility that replaced it isn't any better.
Weekend insider: Savor summer's last long weekend
It’s the last long weekend of the summer and, for many families, the last weekend before school starts. Here are a few events taking place in or around Kitsap that you’ll want to check out in between your backyard barbecue plans, no matter where your interest lies. Don’t miss Bremerton’s 29th annual Blackberry Festival, taking place Saturday, Sunday and Monday on the Bremerton boardwalk.
Teacher spotlight: Susan Knell
What inspired you to get into teaching?: "I worked for the airlines for 10 years before going back to school for a teaching certificate. The last thing I did at the airlines was train reservation agents to be airport ticket agents, and it was so much fun that I decided to switch careers." Name a rewarding moment from your career: "When I received an award for Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Education.
Harstine Island art tour open Memorial Day weekend
Once a year, over Memorial Day weekend, Kathy Ross likes to “party.” The reclusive mixed-media sculpture artist is one of several Harstine Island residents who open up their homes and showcase their work during the annual Harstine Island Art Studio Tour, an increasingly popular event that draws in people from around South Sound. “Believe it or not, this is my social life,” said Ross, who held the first event more than five years ago. “It’s like a party to me, at best.
New Belfair clinic opens to immediate demand
BELFAIR - Peninsula Community Health Services has hit the ground running in Belfair. The Bremerton-based health care provider opened a primary and dental health care clinic last month in North Mason. The Belfair clinic opened with a full staff and a built-in caseload. “We’ve been very fortunate to have been able to recruit our full staff of professional providers right away, before we opened,” said Peninsula Community Health CEO Jennifer Kreidler-Moss.
Momentum builds for Shelton YMCA
The community’s dream of opening a YMCA facility in Shelton is one step closer to reality, thanks to a mixture of destiny and momentum. Organizers with the local group Shelton Health and Recreation Center, known as SHARC, have officially partnered with the South Sound YMCA to narrow possible sites for a future facility and begin a capital feasibility study in the coming months.
Zoning changes in Allyn allow multi-family units
Mason County has removed regulations that prevented developers from allowing residences on the ground floor of their buildings in Allyn’s village commercial district. The change came about after years of back and forth at the Planning Advisory Commission over concerns brought forward by Bainbridge Island developer Bill Isley. Isley owns 20 lots in Allyn’s village commercial district, which stretches along both sides of Highway 3 near the waterfront in the town core of Allyn.
Shelton art show accepting entries
Sharon Brocha remembers the first time she ever entered a piece in the Peninsula Art Association’s annual fine art show in Shelton. “That was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” she recalled. “Every artist is their own worst critic. You think, ‘Do I really want people to come judge me?’ It took a long time before I felt comfortable. Last year, I won a first, second and honorable mention.
Pioneer Middle School taking shape
Walking through the halls of the nascent Pioneer Middle School is a surreal experience for teachers and school administrators. The long-awaited new school is still on track and on budget to open this fall, and after construction crews erected the roof last week, everyone can finally imagine what’s to come.
Shelton to the Top inspires many
When Kevin Schmelzlen moved to Shelton nearly two years ago, he often heard the same refrain from different people: “Why the heck would you move from San Diego to here?” Schmelzlen had his reasons, which we’ll get to, but for the most part he didn’t let those questions bother him, at least not at first. One day almost exactly a year ago, he was walking his dog in downtown Shelton in the area behind the apartment he rented, when he came upon a giant pile of garbage.
Shelton voters to see $65 million school bond on ballot
The Shelton School District superintendent has been making the rounds around Mason County to promote the district’s $65 million bond that will appear on ballots due Feb. 14, and he’s hoping his message is clear. “This is my 40th or 41st presentation on this topic,” Apostle told business leaders at an Economic Development Council of Mason County luncheon on Jan. 18 in Shelton. “I dream about Feb.
Cedar Bodywork celebrates grand opening
While Brenda Windom has been an entrepreneur for most of her career, it wasn’t until she found massage therapy that she realized her calling. “I feel like I should have been doing this my whole life,” said Windom, who opened Cedar Bodywork & Massage in Shelton on Dec. 1.
Mason County commissioners elected; park district fails
By Arla Shephard, Special to the Kitsap Sun MASON COUNTY — With turnout at little more than 60 percent, Mason County voters elected to keep Mason County Commissioner Randy Neatherlin, who prefers no political party, in his seat in the race against Independent challenger Kelly McIntosh. Neatherlin pulled in 55.17 percent of the vote, or 11,093 votes, compared with McIntosh's 44.83 percent, or 9,013 votes, to represent the North Mason area in Commissioner District No. 1.
Tahuya man sentenced to 30 days in jail for redirecting river
A Tahuya man was sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay more than $8,000 in fines for redirecting the course of the Tahuya River at his property.Mason County District Court Judge Stephen Greer sentenced William Kenneth Cayo on Friday to 30 days in jail for unlawful hydraulic project activities, unlawful shoreline activity and unlawful water pollution that caused significant harm to the Tahuya River and its habitat in February 2013.Greer also ordered Cayo to pay $8,143 in fines.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Arla
Contact Arla, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack