The stately, wrought-iron gate at the top of the driveway gives the first clue to what lies beyond: “Wurlitzer Manor.” Wurlitzer Manor, the Gig Harbor home of Barbara Hammerman and Raymond Lavine since 2002, sits atop a bluff overlooking the Tacoma Narrows, with a straight-on view of Mount Rainier. The house was built in the […]
Charlee Glock-Jackson
Freelance writer Charlee Glock-Jackson is the founder of the Olalla Bluegrass & Beyond Festival and the caretaker of an enchanted Olalla forest that's been in her family nearly 70 years.
Posted inPeople & Places
Bringing Images to Life through Yarn
When you see Cecilia Blomberg’s work from a distance, you think it’s a painting. Look closer and you see that the “paints” she uses are actually yarn. Blomberg is a tapestry weaver, known the world over for her creativity and skill. Her tapestries adorn walls in the U.S. Air Force Academy, numerous public buildings in […]
Posted inPeople & Places
A Journey Back through Kitsap Time
To really understand a place, take a look at its past. Knowing what things were like a century or two ago gives us clues to how we got to where we are today. A trip to the Kitsap History Museum in downtown Bremerton can teach us a lot about Kitsap County’s rich history. According to […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Rockin’ Art
Linda McWhirter’s art rocks. Literally. McWhirter paints lovely images — some whimsical, some very detailed and realistic — on small, smooth stones she finds here and there. She’s been doing her little rock paintings since she retired from 20-plus years of teaching — mostly social studies — at Key Peninsula Middle School. Her husband, Larry, […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Capturing the Captivating Human Figure
Among the dozens of paintings that hang in Carla O’Connor’s Olalla studio is a tiny, framed crayon drawing of a purple cow. It’s the very first picture O’Connor ever drew — when she was just 3 years old. Another small, framed drawing of a kitty looking at the moon hangs nearby, done around that same […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Naval Undersea Museum an Undiscovered Gem
It’s one of Kitsap County’s best-kept secrets — a treasure hidden in plain view. The Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport is a trove of artifacts, history and hands-on experiences that tell the stories of the U. S. Navy’s undersea operations. And it’s all free. According to operations director Olivia Wilson, the museum is one of […]
Posted inPeople & Places
WSSEF — Inspiring Future Scientists and Engineers
Science project. For some students, those words conjure up nightmares. For others, it’s an opportunity for revving up their creativity and designing a project that might win them an award in the Washington State Science & Engineering Fair — and beyond. WSSEF (“Wussef,” as its 600-plus volunteers call it) has drawn students from across the […]
Posted inHome
Capturing the Beauty of Life in Art
When you arrive at the home of Bainbridge Island artist Claudia McKinstry, you immediately notice the gardens. They cover most of the 2-acre-plus waterfront property where McKinstry and her husband have lived for more than four decades. Then you see the red caboose that’s one of McKinstry two art studios — and you hear the […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
Olalla’s Magical Strings Family Celebrates 40 Years of Celtic Yuletide Concerts
For many West Sound families, the holiday season officially begins with Magical Strings’ annual Celtic Yuletide concert. Magical Strings is an internationally known musical family centered on the Celtic harp and hammered dulcimer of Olalla residents Philip and Pam Boulding. During the holidays and other special times, the ensemble also includes their five children and, […]