WestSound Magazine is produced by Wet Apple Media. Our dedicated staff of writers, graphic and web designers, photographers and industry experts offer the finest content and creative design in West Sound.
Sandra Andrews-Strasko
Specializing in working with clients with ADHD, paperwork overwhelm and chronic disorganization, Sandra Andrews-Strasko is a member of NAPO, as well as the Institute for Challenging Disorganization, where she is in the process of becoming a Certified Professional Organizer (CPO-CD). emptyyournest.com 206-818-6472
(see all articles and blog posts by Sandra Andrews-Strasko)
Saffronia Baldwin
Saffronia Baldwin launched her interior design business 16 years ago because of the thrill of creating 3-D spaces. For her clients, her goal is to make the happiest and most inspiring environment where they can thrive and live fully. She has added online design coaching to her list of services, helping homeowners who want to do their own interior design but need a vision and some ideas to kick start their projects. Her business is centered around Bainbridge Island, North Kitsap and Seattle. To forever change the way you look at your home, read her lively informative weekly blog.
(see all articles and blog posts by Saffronia Baldwin)
Mary Beth Barrett
Mary Beth Barrett is an undergraduate student at Northwest University in Kirkland, studying English. When not in class, she can be found working in Student Services or reading a good book. She is currently an editorial intern with WestSound Magazine.
(see all articles and blog posts by Mary Beth Barrett)
Barb Bourscheidt
A Gig Harbor artist potter and community activist, Barb Bourscheidt is a freelance writer who writes on subjects of personal interest, usually the arts, gardening, cooking and the environment. A working artist, she creates pottery that reflects her love of nature, incorporating leaf motifs on surfaces of functional kitchen, garden and decorative ware. Although posts are infrequent, Barb has a personal blog at clayladybarb.blogspot.com.
(see all articles and blog posts by Barb Bourscheidt)
Cary Bozeman
Currently the president of The Bozeman Group, Cary Bozeman consults to help cities revitalize their downtowns. He is the former executive officer with the Port of Bremerton, and the former mayor of Bellevue and Bremerton. He and his wife. Kerri, reside in Manette.
(see all articles and blog posts by Cary Bozeman)
Stephen Browning
Stephen Browning is a retired senior nonprofit executive, writer, blogger, voiceover announcer, singer and community advocate and promoter for the performing arts. He served as vice president for the American Cancer Society and president and CEO for Pet Partners, has produced major fundraising events and revues and has performed in numerous events and commercials.
(see all articles and blog posts by Stephen Browning)
Amy Burnett, A.A.,B.A., B.A.ed., M.A.
Educated at Olympic College, Central University and LA Art Center College of Design. An artist who is a fourth-generation Bremertonian, she currently lives in Bremerton, is married to Earl Sande and owns and operates the Amy Burnett Fine Art Gallery. Amy also produces films and documentaries, is a columnist and author of several books.
(see all articles and blog posts by Amy Burnett, A.A.,B.A., B.A.ed., M.A.)
Bruce Caldwell
A lifelong car enthusiast, Bruce Caldwell has an English degree from the University of Washington. In 1975 he joined CAR CRAFT as associate editor. He was a feature editor at HOT ROD and editor of Chevy High Performance, Muscle Car Review, Mustangs and Fords, Chevy Action, Corvette Milestones, Street Rod Quarterly, Mopar Milestones, Mustang Milestones, and Muscle Car Milestones. He has authored several best-selling automotive how-to books and written for numerous national magazines. He has tested over 2,000 new vehicles. He restores collector cars in a well-equipped home shop. Bruce is married with three children.
(see all articles and blog posts by Bruce Caldwell)
Teri Cole, (in memoriam)
Teri Cole is a 63-year resident of Bainbridge Island. She is a landscape designer known for her containers, arbors and floral decorations. She loves butterflies, birds, dogs, birdhouses and paintings.
(see all articles and blog posts by Teri Cole, (in memoriam))
Lary Coppola, (in memoriam)
Having been a gearhead since he was a pre-teen, Lary's been a hot rodder, drag racer, customizer, restorer, and mechanic — as well as a nationally published automotive writer for over 25 years. In addition to appearing here, his automotive reviews are accessible at WestSound Magazine Magazine and appear in 14 city/lifestyle magazines around the country, and are accessible through the Auto Reviewers Facebook page. He is a member of the Northwest Automotive Press Association and served two terms as its President and two as its Treasurer. He is also a member of the Motor Press Guild. Follow him on Twitter at @LaryCoppola. #Larythecarguy
(see all articles and blog posts by Lary Coppola, (in memoriam))
Tim Davis
Tim Davis is an award-winning photographer who lives with his wife in Kingston. Since their retirement to the area in 2018, they have been scouring Kitsap County, searching for the best dining choices, as well as the Pacific Northwest for worthy travel destinations.
(see all articles and blog posts by Tim Davis)
Kevin Dwyer
A Bainbridge Island freelance writer, Kevin Dwyer was a business editor with the Kitsap Sun and was previously involved in the startup and management of the Puget Sound Business Journal in Seattle and Washington CEO Magazine. He also spent nearly 20 years as a chamber of commerce executive in Washington and Oregon.
(see all articles and blog posts by Kevin Dwyer)
Leatrice Eiseman
Eiseman is a color specialist who has been called "America's color guru." In fact, her color expertise is recognized worldwide, especially as a prime consultant to Pantone, Inc. She has helped many companies, from small one person start-ups to large corporations make the best and most educated choice of color for product development, logos and identification, brand imaging, web sites, packaging, point of purchase, interior/exterior design or any other application where color choice is critical to the success of the product or environment.
(see all articles and blog posts by Leatrice Eiseman)
Maia Eisen
A freelance writer and professional garden designer who lives in Poulsbo, Maia is a member of the Garden Writers Association. She writes about gardening, travel, people and living well and wisely on the planet. As a garden designer, she specializes in container gardens.
(see all articles and blog posts by Maia Eisen)
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.
(see all articles and blog posts by Charlee Glock-Jackson)
Sue Goetz
Sue Goetz is an award-winning garden designer, writer and speaker. Through her business, Creative Gardener, she works with clients to personalize outdoor spaces, from garden coaching to full landscape design. Writing and speaking are other ways she shares her love of the garden. Her motto, “inspiring gardeners to create,” defines her talks and hands-on workshops. Goetz is the author of “A Taste for Herbs” and “The Herb Lover’s Spa Book.”
(see all articles and blog posts by Sue Goetz)
Jacqueline Goodwill
Raised on the Peninsula and returning to Gig Harbor in 2000, Jacqueline Goodwill has been active throughout the Peninsula community ever since. West Sound's people and places inspire her to put pen to paper whenever she has an opportunity. Jacquie is a marketing and communication professional and principal of Peninsula Strategic Communications.
(see all articles and blog posts by Jacqueline Goodwill)
Tess Bolosan Haddon
A freelance editor and writer, Tess Bolosan Haddon has helped authors with varied projects, including three bestselling novels, over 15 years. A registered nurse, she has drawn on her medical career in her short fiction. She has authored and presented training programs on diversity and inclusion and is on the board of the Filipino American Association of Kitsap County.
(see all articles and blog posts by Tess Bolosan Haddon)
Maura Kate Hallam
A Kitsap-based writer who has been writing professionally for more than 15 years on topics ranging from technology to health and wellness. Owner of Hallam Creative Services, she has a long history of working with words. Maura first became seriously interested in writing as a career when she won the prestigious New England Council of Teachers of English Excellence Award in Writing in 1988. She went on earn a BA in English Literature at Boston College, and spent a year studying creative writing at Emerson College. 360-620-2807
(see all articles and blog posts by Maura Kate Hallam)
Ric Hallock
A freelance writer who currently contracts with the Kitsap Sun to produce Gig Harbor Life, Ric Hallock has worked as features editor for the Kitsap Sun and as editor of The Peninsula Gateway. He lives with his wife, two sons and a cat in Gig Harbor and in his spare time, he coaches JV baseball at Peninsula High School, hosts a radio show on KGHP, and takes long motorcycle rides.
(see all articles and blog posts by Ric Hallock)
Kathy Haskin
Beginning her work in environmental education in 1986, Kathy has taught and designed outdoor learning experiences for students of all ages at centers throughout the United States. Kathy has written and published three environmental education curriculum guides focused on sustainable development and watershed topics. She, her husband John, and their three teenagers came to the Island from Jackson, WY, where Kathy coordinated the Jackson Campus of Teton Science Schools, a residential environmental education and conference facility. In addition to being the education and communications manager for Bainbridge Island Arts & Humanities Council, Kathy devotes her time to her family, community work and writing.
(see all articles and blog posts by Kathy Haskin)
Laureen Haydock-Lund
Laureen Lund is a Silverdale native who has spent the past 25 years living in Gig Harbor. Retired from a career in marketing, media and public relations, Laureen and her husband, Arne, are on a multiyear world tour that will take them to all corners of the globe in search of adventure in their fabulous 50s. Laureen is a freelance writer and manager of the popular blog:
(see all articles and blog posts by Laureen Haydock-Lund)
Cynthia Herrick
Passionate for gardening since moving to Bainbridge Island in 1972, Cynthia Herrick is a designer who enjoys taking the artistic spirit into the garden. She worked at Bainbridge Gardens for 10 years and also coordinated Bainbridge in Boom. She has had her gardens featured on HGTV.
(see all articles and blog posts by Cynthia Herrick)
Brooke Huffman
Brooke Huffman is owner of The Social Sip, a social media marketing agency for wineries. She has an MBA and also holds a wine fundamentals certificate from the International Sommelier Guild and is a Level 2 WSET. She is also the Executive Director of the Winery Alliance of Bainbridge Island and until recently, was a winery owner. In all her free time (joking) she loves to write about wine!
(see all articles and blog posts by Brooke Huffman)
Tim Kelly
Tim Kelly is the editor of the Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal. He joined Wet Apple Media in April 2012 after a stint as editor of the Port Orchard Independent. He has worked in journalism since 1986, at a variety of newspapers in Washington and Oregon and for the Associated Press. Tim is a transplanted Midwesterner originally from Kansas City, Mo., but he has called the Pacific Northwest home for more than two decades. He and his family live in the Port Orchard area.
(see all articles and blog posts by Tim Kelly)
Randall King, KBA Executive Officer
Randall King is the Executive Director of the Kitsap Building Association (KBA). He oversees KBA's operations, Advocacy, Education, and the Builder Grant Program. He has been with KBA since 2021 and advanced the KBA and its programs with effective marketing and operations programs. A Michigan native, King holds a B.S. in Business from Western Michigan University.
(see all articles and blog posts by Randall King, KBA Executive Officer)
Kelle Kitchel-Cooper, The Content Scout
Kelle Kitchel-Cooper is the chief exploration officer (CEO) of The Content Scout. She founded The RockFish Group/RFG Creative in 2007, one of the largest and most successful branding, marketing and public relations firms in the West Sound. The Content Scout team brings unique behind-the-scene expertise to the world of content.
(see all articles and blog posts by Kelle Kitchel-Cooper, The Content Scout)
Millie Lindell, ED
A retired elementary school teacher and K-12 principal, Millie Lindell earned a doctorate in education administration and taught graduate classes in colleges and universities. She has been president of three different state reading associations including Washington and presented at local, state and international reading associations plus the World Congress of Reading in various places around the world. Her latest endeavor was authoring a book together with her grandchildren. "Cooking Around the World With Grandma" can be found at amazon.com. The proceeds of the book are going to the grandchildren's college fund.
(see all articles and blog posts by Millie Lindell, ED)
Abigail Lovell
Owner of Abigail's Concierge Services in Gig Harbor, Abigail spent 16 years in the telecom industry and exited corporate America to start a niche business catering to homeowners and visitors in the area. Abigail's passion for homes, and savvy marketing experience, make growing and running her business a natural segue to a better quality of life in quaint and bucolic Gig Harbor. As a member of AWOB-Alliance or Women Owned Business, Waterfront Alliance, and the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Abigail has created a network of partners and strong relationships within the business community and with her clientele. Writing about, and for, homeowners is what she does as a natural extension of the services she offers to the community at large.
(see all articles and blog posts by Abigail Lovell)
Molly Erin McCabe, AKBD, CLIPP, CGP, CAPS
Molly Erin McCabe, an award-winning designer, writer, presenter, community volunteer and principal designer of McCabe by Design LLC (formerly A Kitchen That Works LLC), a full-service residential design firm serving Kitsap County and beyond. Her professional certifications include Associate Kitchen and Bath Designer (AKBD), Certified Living in Place Professional (CLIPP), Certified Green Professional (CGP), and Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS).
(see all articles and blog posts by Molly Erin McCabe, AKBD, CLIPP, CGP, CAPS)
Patti McFerran
A garden writer and tour director from Boulder, Colorado and an Emeritus Master Gardener, she is actively involved in many local gardening organizations including the Gig Harbor Northwest Perennial Alliance, the South Sound unit of the Washington Park Arboretum Foundation, and Horsehead Bay Garden Club. She is on the Master Gardeners' speakers list; her programs include shade and herb gardening as well as garden travelogues. She has worked with the Gig Harbor Garden Tour for 7 years and has been the garden selection chair for the last four years. She and her husband, John, retired to the Northwest in 2003 to be closer to their daughter, Molly, and their three wonderful grandchildren, Sarah, Jasper and Rosemary.
(see all articles and blog posts by Patti McFerran)
Colleen Miko, CPH
A Certified Professional Horticulturist, freelance garden writer and speaker, Colleen Miko has over 20 years of experience in landscape design, having designed award-winning gardens for the Point Defiance and NW Flower & Garden shows. Her television debut as winning designer on the HGTV show “Landscaper’s Challenge” aired in 2007. Colleen is the horticulture educator for Washington State University Kitsap Extension, where she oversees the Master Gardener Program and Rain Garden Mentor Program.
(see all articles and blog posts by Colleen Miko, CPH)
Suzanne O'Clair
Gardening in Poulsbo, Suzanne O'Clair is a freelance writer and columnist for Kitsap Week Magazine. She was an ASID interior designer for many years in Denver. She holds a master's degree in applied communication. Semi-retired, she owns and operates O Stars Above and delights in creating beaded and embroidered jewelry.
(see all articles and blog posts by Suzanne O'Clair)
Katya Pak
Katya Pak is a real estate broker with John L. Scott and lifetime resident of Washington State. After receiving her bachelor’s in journalism and geology from Western Washington University, she worked in marketing and video production. Katya loves to travel and is published in the Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air magazines. She’s also passionate about connecting with community members over their love of pets and wildlife.
(see all articles and blog posts by Katya Pak)
Alison Pride
Alison Pride is a Washington native who grew up east of the mountains and always longed for green. She moved west the first chance she got to attend college at Seattle Pacific University, where she majored in English and edited her college newspaper. Since then she’s lived as far south as Davis, Calif., and as far east as Bozeman, Mont., where she reported for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and first started poking through people’s houses in order to write about them. Happy to be back in Washington at last (and on the right side of the mountains), Alison lives in Gig Harbor, where she does freelance writing when she isn’t out exploring one of the area’s great beaches with her son and dog in tow.
(see all articles and blog posts by Alison Pride)
Ann Randall
A well-traveled international election observer and independent traveler, Ann Randall spends at least two months annually venturing to out-of-the-way locales, from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe. She has recently taken up travel sketching as a way to savor the journey in an attempt to see if pictures really do speak a thousand words. A former educator, she observes international elections and does NGO volunteer work in India. Her articles have appeared in online and print publications and she maintains two blogs. PeregrineWoman.com is about her adventures as she travels the world from festivals in Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico to German Christmas markets in Canada and Easter in New Orleans. ExplorationKitsap.com covers her wanderings and wonderings about her home turf, the beautiful Kitsap Peninsula.
(see all articles and blog posts by Ann Randall)
Janine Schutt
A self-proclaimed "bird nerd," Janine Schutt is an avid birder and a nationally recognized and award-winning wildlife photographer. Her photos have appeared in Cornell Lab of Ornithology publications. An expert on the birds of Washington, Janine enjoys birding in all 39 counties. She is a past president of Kitsap Audubon Society, current board member and data compiler for the annual Christmas Bird Count. Janine works for the Central Kitsap School District and is a part-time contract chaplain with the Department of Corrections.
(see all articles and blog posts by Janine Schutt)
Haley Shapley
A freelance writer and editor, Haley Shapley has written about lifestyle, travel, health, home, and more for outlets such as American Way, WeightWatchers.com, and AOL. In 2009, she blogged about the Vancouver Olympics for The Kitsap Sun. A native Bremertonian, she moved back to Washington after spending eight years away and appreciates the beauty of the area more than ever. Haley graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia with a bachelor's in communication.
(see all articles and blog posts by Haley Shapley)
Lee Springgate
After retiring from 22 years as Director of Parks and Community Services for the City of Bellevue, Lee Springgate founded the Point Wilson consulting group, focusing on parks, conservation and public spaces. He recently authored a book on Bellevue’s Lake to Lake Greenway and has lectured and written about a variety of park, recreation, and conservation issues. He currently resides in Port Ludlow.
(see all articles and blog posts by Lee Springgate)
Darren Strenge
With a B.S. in horticulture, and an M.S. in botany, Darren Strenge is the plant health manager for the beautiful, 150-acre Bloedel Reserve garden on Bainbridge Island. He oversees irrigation, deals with pest and disease issues, and manages their compost program. He lives in north Kitsap County with his family and various animals.
(see all articles and blog posts by Darren Strenge)
Margaret Sweeney
Margaret Sweeney is an avid gardener with a love for natural, practical and comfortable garden settings, favoring the Pacific Northwest style. She has a Bachelor of Science in environmental science. A Master Gardener since 2019, Margaret also has a YouTube channel, "Margaret's Garden School," featuring short videos of varied plant and garden interest. She has three adult children (who garden) and lives in Poulsbo with her husband.
(see all articles and blog posts by Margaret Sweeney)
Debbie Teashon
A garden writer, author, garden speaker, and award-winning photographer, Debbie Teashon's career spans many decades. Her speaking engagements include the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival, Tacoma Home & Garden Show, and at garden clubs across the Northwest. She's been a guest on Garden Time television show in Oregon, and radio programs such as Gardening with Ciscoe on 97.3 FM KIRO radio, and Poppy Tucker's Louisiana Eats on NPR. Online since 1998, Teashon's web site Rainy Side Gardeners (rainyside.com) focuses on regional gardening west of the Cascades. Her articles and photographs appear in local, national, and international magazines, and newspapers. Gardening most of her adult life, she is always on the hunt for new varieties of plant material, or creating new container designs using beautiful pottery or repurposed items.
(see all articles and blog posts by Debbie Teashon)
Peg Tillery
Peg Tillery is a retired WSU Extension horticulture and water quality educator. Her columns appeared in the Kitsap Sun and Kitsap News Group. She wrote articles for WestSound Magazine for a decade and also served as garden editor. She has also produced and appeared in several gardening shows on BKAT (Bremerton Kitsap Access Television). She volunteers as a WSU Master Gardener.
(see all articles and blog posts by Peg Tillery)
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)
(see all articles and blog posts by Rodika Tollefson)
Nick Tomassi, (in memoriam)
Having made his home in the Pacific Northwest in 1950, Nick Tomassi was trained as an engineer, receiving a bachelor's degree from the University of Portland, Oregon, and a master's degree from the University of Southern California. He retired in Kitsap County as a civilian test engineer for the Navy in 1988. His passion for wine led to teaching wine appreciation classes in Kitsap County in 1992. In 1994, he began writing a wine and beer column for the Kitsap Sun newspaper and later wine and beer articles for Wine Press Northwest Magazine.
(see all articles and blog posts by Nick Tomassi, (in memoriam))
Chelsea Travaglio
Chelsea Travaglio is the principal interior designer for The Grey Door Design & Build, Inc., a full-service design and remodel company developed by her and her husband, Chris. Travaglio focuses on creative projects for luxury interiors from Bellevue to Port Ludlow. She is a Washington native, passionate designer and gardener, and proud mom.
(see all articles and blog posts by Chelsea Travaglio)
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.
(see all articles and blog posts by Josie Emmons Turner)
Wendy Tweten
Co-author of the how-to guide Gardening for the Homebrewer: Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More, Wendy Tweten's work has been featured in many national and regional publications including Organic Gardening. In addition to speaking and covering home and garden topics she pens a humor column for the Kingston Community News.
(see all articles and blog posts by Wendy Tweten)
Jim Ullrich
The president of Wild Birds Unlimited in Gig Harbor, and the current president of the Kitsap Audubon Society. He serves on the Kitsap Audubon board of directors, and was past president in 2005. He has been a guest on the radio programs of Ciscoe Morris, Ed Hume and Scott Conner. He received the "Friend to the Environment" award from Wild Birds Unlimited of Indianapolis, the "Franchisee of the Year" for Wild Birds Unlimited of Indianapolis, the Silver Beaver award from the Boy Scouts of America, the Kingfisher Award from the Kitsap Audubon Society, and the Tahoma Audubon Society Distinguished Service Award. Jim is a retired Naval officer, and holds a Master's degree in business administration from the University of Puget Sound. 1-800-851-2575
(see all articles and blog posts by Jim Ullrich)
Richard Walker
Richard Walker is a journalist and mariner. He is the author of "Point No Point" (2019, Arcadia Publishing) and author, co-author or editor of four other books. He and his wife, Molly, share a Craftsman-style home with their black Lab, Mowita, and two cats.
(see all articles and blog posts by Richard Walker)
