At the height of her career as a world-renowned miniaturist, Brooke Tucker traveled constantly around the country and the world to teach classes. In between, she spent as many as 17 hours in her studio, creating scale-model rooms that have earned her the reputation of a pioneer in the field. That was another world, a […]
Rodika Tollefson
An award-winning writer who lives on the Key Peninsula with her husband and three sons. She is a contributing editor and blog manager for WSHG, and also writes for several local publications and produces videos. Her work has been published in regional and national publications; she also writes for companies and organizations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Alaska Anchorage, where she received the Outstanding Journalism Graduate of the Year award; she is also a graduate from the University of Washington’s Master of Communications in Digital Media program. (See WSH&G Contributed Videos)
Posted inGarden
Moss Master Plus — Eco-Friendly Roof Cleaning and More
The sight of moss on a roof is as common in the Puget Sound region as the sight of a Starbucks coffee shop. It’s the inevitability of the wet weather and shady environment — sooner or later, you’ll likely spot those telltale green spots on your roof, especially on the north side. Unfortunately, two common […]
Posted inAround West Sound
Things to Do Around West Sound in April to Celebrate Earth Day
If you lead an environmentally conscious lifestyle, every day is as good as any to celebrate our planet. But Earth Day is especially meaningful because it’s an occasion to celebrate Mother Earth as well as spread awareness. Did you know that Earth Day was founded by Gaylord Nelson, who was a governor and senator from […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Worldwide Movement Spreads to West Sound
Josh Rosenberg is only in sixth grade, but he’s already decided on his dream job: He wants to work for Pixar, creating animations or effects for films like Toy Story. Which is why every chance he gets, the Hyla Middle School student spends his free time learning programming and animation. “I’ve liked computer-related stuff for […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Good for Body and for Planet — Clean and Green
There isn’t much that Laura Kneib can’t make by hand. Clothes. Butter. Wood boxes. Pottery. Growing up in a family that made anything from their own clothes to herbal remedies has taught her two things: You make everything you use, and then you reuse. She recalls her parents going “senging” — harvesting ginseng — on […]
Posted inPeople & Places
The Artist as the Architect
It may be tough to put a finger on why one of Wanda Garrity’s pottery pieces calls to you. It’s the sort of beauty that just “feels right.” But listen to the Wauna artist explain it, and it becomes clear that her work is not about giving art meaning — but rather about making a […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Preserving Gig Harbor’s Boatbuilding Heritage
Dotted by net sheds and home to a small commercial fishing fleet, Gig Harbor’s downtown has preserved its designation as a working waterfront. This is where third- and fourth-generation Croatian families still continue their ancestors’ fishing trade that was once a booming part of the city’s economy. But fishing is not the only part of […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Artist Interprets Color Through Polymer Clay
It’s easy to get distracted when first encountering Susan Hyde’s work. The Bremerton artist — who’s quick to say she’s really just a designer — has a signature way of creating an explosion of color in three dimensions. Your eyes may dart from one small piece of her work to the next, appreciating their vibrancy […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Grass-Roots Community Efforts Make Sure No Child Goes Hungry
Every week during the school year, dozens of volunteers are working in small teams to sort, pack and make food deliveries throughout West Sound. They do it on different days and as part of different organizations, but these small volunteer armies have one goal: to make sure that kids from Gig Harbor to Belfair to […]