West Sound, known as the Kitsap Peninsula and the Great Peninsula, has a rich agricultural and horticultural history. The glaciers left rich earthen deposits behind; the forest duff provided rich tilth and the two combined to make wonderful soils. Just the right amount of rainfall and mild summers added even more positives to what could […]
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Posted inFeatured, People & Places
Ole and Ellen Kvinsland Had a Farm…
Ole and Ellen Kvinsland would bust their buttons if they could see their homestead now. If they climbed into a time machine and dropped by for a visit, they’d find lots of changes to the old farmhouse, but they’d also find the important things have stayed the same. They’d recognize the architecture, the layout, the […]
Posted inFeatured, People & Places
A Graceful Rebirth of a Historic Town
A sleepy fishing village until the 1980s, the scenic town of Gig Harbor occupies the southernmost tip of the Kitsap Peninsula and commands a majestic view of Mount Rainier. Nearly 150 years after the first settlers arrived and 68 years after incorporation, the historic waterfront downtown of Gig Harbor continues to be the heart of […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
The Wild Turkey: Our Real National Bird
According to Benjamin Franklin, the wild turkey would have been a more fitting symbol for our young country than the bald eagle. Franklin thought the eagle a “good-for-nothing” scavenger. The wild turkey, on the other hand, was intelligent, a formidable opponent and able to survive on its own labors. The rest of Congress didn’t see […]
Posted inFeatured, People & Places
From Old Schoolhouse to Community Center
At just a little over 5 square miles, Fox Island is the second-most populated island on the Greater Kitsap Peninsula and ninth in the state. What many consider as a suburb of Gig Harbor is more than a bedroom community, however. Several local nonprofits and year-round community events give islanders opportunities to get involved in […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Celebrating a Rich History of Outreach Education
On many a sunny, misty or downright rainy day in Kitsap County, you can see a group of kindred spirits bent over a Master Gardener (MG) demonstration garden — planting, weeding, irrigating and harvesting. They are carrying on a rich tradition of outreach education and service that are hallmarks of the Extension Service in the […]
Posted inAround West Sound, Blog
Bremerton Did-You-Knows
Bremerton is a city of surprises. Here are a few things about its history that you may not know. Oldtimers see Bremerton as a quiet but somewhat roughneck old city, pulling up its tattered bootstraps. Newcomers seem to see a newer, kitschy version.
Posted inAround West Sound, Blog
Gig Harbor Opens Brand New Visitor Center in Historic Waterfront Home
In 2002, following the death of Gig Harbor pioneers Antone and Vincent Skansie, the city of Gig Harbor acquired the historic waterfront Skansie Brothers home and property located in the heart of downtown. For 12 years, the park surrounding the house was improved but the house sat empty. Last month, following extensive renovation to bring […]
Posted inAround West Sound, Blog
Bremerton’s Unnoticed Wonder: 150-Foot Life-Like Mural
Bremerton’s world wonder, yet to be noticed: On the concrete back wall of the 7-11 store at 6th Street and Park Avenue is a 50-foot, life-like forest mural. Across the alley, the mural continues on the back wall of another concrete wall that spans 100 feet. Unfortunately, few realize that the impressive art exists. It […]