In the wee hours of a summer morning in 2009, three teenagers broke into Arnold’s Home Furnishings on Kitsap Way in Bremerton and set the landmark store ablaze. The devastating fire dashed the dreams of Betty Arnold, who started the store with her late husband, Wendell, in 1951, along with longtime general manager Ralph Erickson, […]
People & Places
West Sound has an incredible number of talented artists, interesting people, fascinating places and popular destinations. We love to share their stories with our readers. These articles are only a sample of what we have in West Sound Magazine each issue — subscribe to the print version to see all of what we have to offer!
Abby VanSchaick, Lachic Lash Studio
Abby VanSchaick is the owner and master technician at Lachic Lash Studio of Poulsbo. She opened the studio in November 2019 after moving back to Washington from Portland, where she received her lash technician training. VanSchaick loves meeting new people and always looks forward to customizing her extensions and other lash techniques to create a […]
Downtown Kingston — Where East and West Meet
When the townsite of Kingston was first platted in 1890, the local people envisioned the waterfront community as a resort town for vacationers from Seattle. Little did they know that 120 years later, Kingston would become a ferry transportation hub connecting people from the Seattle area to the Kitsap Peninsula and west to the Olympic […]
The Curious Workshop Beneath the Cedars
Stepping into Diane Haddon’s studio is a tumble down a rabbit hole. The walls, countertops and dozens of small and large drawers spill over with vintage bits of this and that: an assortment of sieves and strainers, metal stamped hands, suns and moons, Japanese umbrellas, rusted roller skates, wooden cobbler’s lasts, baby dolls and their […]
Fun on the Local Waters
Some people say the two happiest days of boat owners’ lives are the day they buy and the day they sell. But for boaters looking forward to what will hopefully be a warm, sunny summer on the water, boating on Puget Sound is some of the most fun that can be had, and where lifetime […]
The Great American Road Trip
Finding your travel comfort zone is different for each person, as everyone navigates a new, partially vaccinated country still reeling from the pandemic. As in 2020, close-to-home staycations continue to dominate, but some people are venturing farther, even internationally, in this brave new world. If you find yourself torn between staying put and jumping on […]
5 Tips for Better iPhone Photography
1. Find the right light. Photography is all about light but not all light is created equal. Catch the magic light a couple of hours after sunrise or before sunset, or shoot when some clouds are out to filter the sunlight. Avoid direct sunlight on faces, which can cause unflattering shadows and squinting. 2. Get […]
Historic Downtown Gig Harbor
Any discussion of downtowns on the Kitsap Peninsula has to include the Gig Harbor historic downtown waterfront district. Centered around the famous Harborside Avenue, Gig Harbor’s downtown has many shops and restaurants, along with stunning views of Puget Sound and Mount Rainier. On any given day, the waterfront district is full of walkers and tourists […]
Local Donut Business Creates Devoted Fans
Located in Port Orchard, family business Dude’s Donuts has people traveling from all over the state to devour simply amazing, gluten-free and vegan donuts. The husband-and-wife team of Easton and Amanda Shepard opened Dude’s Donuts shortly after deciding they were going to start a family. “We had been playing with the idea of starting a […]
