Most people cannot remember a time when doctors made house calls and prescriptions were delivered for a sick child or grandparent. It kinda goes back to the day when there was a thing called a “party line;” a child could pick up the phone in the kitchen to hear Mrs. So and So gossiping with […]
Josie Emmons Turner
Josie Emmons Turner lives on a beautiful estuary feeding into Gig Harbor where an abundance of wildlife greets her. She is an avid gardener, amateur French cook, writer, poet and former Tacoma Poet Laureate. She has been an educator, has worked in the arts and has served on panels for the Washington State Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Posted inPeople & Places
For the Love of Dogs
From Gig Harbor to Kingston, the residents of our area love their dogs. All you have to do is take a walk along one of the lovely sidewalks along the water or trails in the woods. Within seconds, you’ll discover that dogs — with their wagging tails, sniffing right to left and left to right […]
Posted inGarden
Gig Harbor Garden Tour Marks 25 Years of Supporting Literacy
For a quarter of a century, the Gig Harbor Garden Tour has inspired master gardeners as well as the weekend weed puller with stunning ideas for their own gardens while fostering literacy efforts in the Gig Harbor community. The 2024 event marks the 25-year anniversary of this endeavor. “We began with this idea to increase […]
Posted inGarden
A Master Gardener’s Paradise for a Smaller Lot
Sometimes moving into a planned community poses challenges for a gardener. There are homeowner association (HOA) rules, smaller lots and restrictions for fences, and if the lot happens to be on a golf course, that just adds to the puzzle. Master Gardener Linda Broun embraced these constraints, even celebrated them, as she created a garden […]
Posted inPeople & Places
A Boat as a Muse
Close your eyes. Think of rowing, alone, across the Tacoma Narrows, maybe to Vashon, maybe to Commencement Bay. The currents are strong, wind fierce and, well, it is midwinter and sleeting. This was life before the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Yes, there were the Skansie Brothers’ ferries, but they just went from Tahlequah to Point Defiance. […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Fight Back Against Parkinson’s with Rock Steady Boxing
It’s 3 p.m. on a Thursday and upstairs at Gig Harbor’s Tom Taylor YMCA, a group of about 23 men and women are gathering, pulling up chairs to face mirrors, laughing and checking in on each other while the music of Fleetwood Mac plays in the background. Assistant Rock Steady Boxing coach Jennifer “Taz” Vazquez […]
Posted inPeople & Places
A Safe, Welcoming Space for Youth
“A coffee shop is one place where everyone knows they belong; they are welcome.” That’s the view of David Frederick, The Coffee Oasis executive director. This is certainly true for The Coffee Oasis, located in Port Orchard, Bremerton, Kingston, Poulsbo and, most recently, Tacoma — and Frederick exudes that welcome to all who visit one […]
Posted inGarden
A ‘Real Garden’ Thrives with Natural Habitat and Stunning Plants
Tucked away on Eagle Harbor’s south side, in the Eagledale neighborhood on Bainbridge Island, is a charming, private garden offering its owners year-round beauty and joy. Designed by Bainbridge Island garden designer Teri Cole, the garden makes best use of its natural habitat, as well as perennials, hydrangeas, annuals and a plethora of shrubbery. Not […]