Model Tested: 2017 Jeep Compass Trailhawk 4×4 Engine: 2.4-liter I-4, 180 horsepower 175 lb-ft torque Transmission: 9-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel-drive EPA Rating: 22-mpg city/30-mpg highway/25-mpg combined Base Price: $28,595 As Tested: $33,565 Performance: Very pleasant highway ride Smooth engine Transmission has to downshift … read more

The small, hand-lettered sign on Peacock Hill Avenue near Gig Harbor says, simply, “Butler’s Farm. Apples. Self serve.” It’s the first hint that at the end of the dirt driveway, there’s a 7.5-acre orchard where more than 1,200 apple trees — with upward … read more

Model Tested: 2017 VW Tiguan 2.0T SEL 4Motion Engine: 2.0-liter I-4 turbocharged, 200 horsepower 201 lb-ft torque Transmission: 6-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel-drive EPA Rating: 20-mpg city/24-mpg highway/21-mpg combined Base Price: $36,475 As Tested: $37,870 Performance: Peppy four-cylinder engine Good, but not spectacular fuel … read more

As a kid in the 1970s, I remember all my neighbors having those cheesy, metal sheds with a barn-style roof in the backyard. Yes, one of those where they kept all the Christmas stuff, the lawnmower — you name it. They were patently … read more

Surrounded by large windows facing out to Henderson Bay and sitting near a warm fire blazing on the stone hearth, Massimo and Cindy Terracciano tell the story of their lives. Their love, marriage, family and restaurant — no one part of it more … read more

During a recent visit to Fletcher Bay Winery on Bainbridge Island, owner and winemaker Jim Wilford and marketing director Brook Huffman talked about many things, since the winery was growing a lot and things were changing. For example, they have upped their overall … read more

Americans love their tuna. Indeed, United States is the largest market for canned tuna in the world. But according to experts, much of the nation’s canned tuna is not produced sustainably or ethically. “Many of the nation’s largest tuna producers continue to talk … read more

Once summer settles in, bird activity throughout the West Sound region changes. The young of most species have left the nest and are exploring their world. The adults that worked to feed and raise their families are no longer guarding territories. The bird … read more

Model Tested: 2017 Nissan Rogue Sport SL AWD Engine: 2.0-liter I-4, 141 horsepower 147 lb-ft torque Transmission: CVT automatic transmission, all-wheel-drive EPA Rating: 24-mpg city/30-mpg highway/27-mpg combined Base Price: $27,420 As Tested: $31,240 Performance: Smooth highway ride Quite agile off-road AWD lock Eco … read more