The Harper Pier in Manchester was once a booming Mosquito Fleet destination. In the automobile era, the maritime traffic has dwindled, but the pier continued to be popular with boaters and outdoor enthusiasts alike. The historic pier had to be demolished last year because it became unsafe — but soon, the community will get its […]
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 inAround West Sound, Blog
Get Ready for West Sound’s Festival Season
The sunshine is finally here to stay — and just in time for the launch of West Sound’s lineup of community festivals. Gig Harbor’s Maritime Gig and Poulsbo’s Viking Fest are behind us. But there are still plenty of celebrations left on the schedule as the summer is about to officially begin. First up is […]
Posted inFeatured, People & Places
Rebuilding to Suit Lifestyle on Hood Canal
When Kathy and Bill Cole bought their Seabeck home more than a decade ago, they knew they would need to remodel sooner rather than later. Built in the 1980s, the home still sported the signature look of the era — shag carpeting, lots of gold and brown colors and the like. “We bought the house […]
Posted inFeatured, Home
Remodeling for the Dream Kitchen
Jerry and Dolly Coss have lived in their Silverdale home since 1997, undertaking a few remodels to update various areas. And while they’ve already remodeled their kitchen once, last year they decided to gut it out and start over. “I like to entertain but the living room got tight when you tried to put a […]
Posted inHome
Family Brings ‘Extreme Makeover’ Home Back to Life
When Kevin and Adele LaCombe first saw their Burley home on the market, they couldn’t help but feel sad. Just a few years prior to that, thousands of people rallied to have it built, in a nearly impossible feat — in five days, often in pouring rain and freezing temperatures. The home had been built […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
Music To The Ears — The Piano Man
To the discriminating musician, the sound of a well-tuned piano is, well, music to the ears. And behind every well-tuned piano is a gifted tuner who uses part art and part skill to understand the instrument’s idiosyncrasies and make it sound its best. In Kitsap and Mason counties, that behind-the-scenes virtuoso is often Erren Barnhard, […]
Posted inHome
House Fire Gives Dreams A Clean Slate
Denise Hegge was nearly done with a remodel of her Olalla home in 2011 when she woke up one night to a fire. It was a warm August, and some staining rags left in the garage bay ignited, sending a chain reaction through the attic into the entire home. The 2,600-square-foot rambler was a forever […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Designer Alinda Morris
When interior designer Alinda Morris creates work for a client, the most disappointing feedback to her is that the result is exactly what the client expected. It’s because when she’s done with a home, she wants to see the clients completely wowed. “If a client says, ‘It’s exactly what I wanted,’ I feel like I’ve […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Elegantly Yours
At first glance, Red Cedar Farm in Poulsbo seems like a typical remnant of country life of the yesteryear — complete with rustic barns, old wagon-wheel décor and farm animals. But the elegant atmosphere and the lush landscaping are a tell-tale sign that this is much more than a farm. In fact, the animals — […]