Dr. Marty Cavalluzzi, President of Olympic College, will tell us of the many ways OC interacts with Bremerton, Kitsap County and beyond. For example, with a philosophy of elevating people one by one, OC has increased the number of health care courses, has helped change the trajectory of persons without homes, and has expanded evening class offerings. Adapting for the future is always a challenge!
Dr. Cavalluzzi holds a Doctor of Philosophy, and a Master of Arts in Marine Science from The College of William and Mary in Virginia, and a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries from Humboldt State University in California. He obtained his Associate in Arts at Orange Coast College in California.
Vic Ulsh and Jim Aho will speak about The Illahee Preserve, a Kitsap County Heritage Park.
Jim Aho is originally from South Dakota and came to Kitsap in 1968 to work as an engineer for the US Navy. Jim spent over 33 years serving both Puget Sound Naval Shipyard as a project engineer and PERA-CV modernizing aircraft carriers. After retirement in 2001 he fully immersed himself in service to the greater Illahee community. He has been an Illahee Port Commissioner since 2012. He was a leader in transitioning the care of Illahee Preserve to volunteers which has been the case since 2004. Jim also started the Illahee Forest Preserve 501(c)(3) non-profit for the purpose of independently pursuing acquisitions of land adjacent to the Preserve. Thru Jim’s relentless efforts seeking grants, raising funds in the community, and negotiating for purchase from property owners, Jim has been the catalyst for expanding Illahee Preserve from the initial 352 acres up to the current 600 acres. His efforts to expand continues today.
Vic Ulsh spent 38 years working with commercial real estate in Kitsap County. Since 2004 he has served in a volunteer capacity as chair of stewardship for Illahee Preserve. It is fair to say that over these past two decades 97% of the maintenance and management of Illahee Preserve has been accomplished by volunteers. It’s a pretty remarkable success story for community engagement.
(Below is from the Illahee Preserve Website)
Native Americans called Illahee “a place to rest,” and treasured the forest abundant with wildlife, Douglas Fir, Red Alder, Maple and Western Red Cedar. In approximately 1732 a fire of unknown origin opened the canopy, allowing Western White Pine and Western Hemlock to sprout up among the more established species. Time passed, the forest recovered, and the natives returned to rest. Soon immigrants came and homesteads were established. A 640-acre piece of this land became the Illahee Trust Land by federal decree. Timber companies clear cut most of the trees in the 1930’s. Some of the Douglas Fir and Western White Pine were spared, however, and they stand majestically as 275-year-old specimens today. Over the years various efforts were undertaken to clear cut this forest again and develop it for commercial uses. A 25-year local campaign convinced farsighted government leaders and agencies to designate the land as park and preserve. Today, the all volunteer Illahee Preserve Stewardship Committee works hand in hand with Kitsap County Parks and Recreation and the Illahee Forest Preserve non-profit to manage this precious urban reserve.
570 acres of preserve lands.
Approximately five miles of trails in the active use area of the Preserve.
Wildlife – including over 55 species of birds sighted by the Kitsap Audubon Society.
Portions of Illahee Creek, a fish-bearing stream containing coho, chum, cutthroat and steelhead.
Major parts of a nearly self-contained, undeveloped watershed draining into Puget Sound.
Ms. Hazel Scott, the captivating and brilliant jazz and classical pianist, singer and actress during the 1940’s and 50’s will be the featured speaker at the ENL!GHTEN meeting in March. She will talk about how she, as a performer, was targeted during the McCarthy era for her involvement in civil rights activities which included refusing to play in venues where Black and White audiences were separated. She was quoted in Time Magazine saying, “Why would anyone come to hear me, a Negro, and refuse to sit beside someone just like me?”
She will also share how she put her career on the line by boldly standing up to a Columbia movie producer and in 1950, being the first African American to host her own national music and variety television show, The Hazel Scott Show!
She was married to the Rev Adam Clayton Powell. They were known as a “Power Couple” in their day.
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.”
From Antarctica to Iceland, come see the world through the lens of Photographer and Documentary Filmmaker, Brooke Juhala. With an emphasis in cultural and natural history exploration, we’ll learn about some of these remote regions through photos, stories and lessons. Brooke will also discuss her work as a Documentary Filmmaker, sharing a trailer for her 3-part series Inseparable, and discuss how her career journey has led her to becoming a Certified Photography Instructor with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic.
Brooke Juhala (she/her) is an international Documentary Filmmaker and Photographer based in Bremerton, WA. Specializing in exploring the intersection of land use and culture, her work has taken her around the globe documenting the vast spectrum of outdoor enthusiasts found within diverse backgrounds. Brooke shares her passions working as a Certified Photo Instructor aboard Lindblad Expeditions in partnership with National Geographic. Outside of her creative endeavors, she uses her technical skills to give back to her community by volunteering as a Rescue Team Member with Olympic Mountain Rescue.
