There is a pivotal moment in each of our lives that can define our career or the outcome of our future. That moment was in 1978 for Alphonse de Klerk, winemaker, founder and owner of Rolling Bay Winery on Bainbridge Island. He was on an extended bicycle trip that started in Los Angeles and ended […]
northwest
Posted inPeople & Places
A Safe, Welcoming Space for Youth
“A coffee shop is one place where everyone knows they belong; they are welcome.” That’s the view of David Frederick, The Coffee Oasis executive director. This is certainly true for The Coffee Oasis, located in Port Orchard, Bremerton, Kingston, Poulsbo and, most recently, Tacoma — and Frederick exudes that welcome to all who visit one […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Planting Perennials in the Fall
Fall may be a better time to plant perennials than spring. Like spring, fall has cooler, rainier weather that is more conducive to helping plants establish. Unlike spring, fall doesn’t subject freshly planted perennials to the stress of summer heat and the dry spells this can cause. Here are a few other points to consider […]
Posted inThe Garden
Supporting the Natural Ecosystem with Native Plants
Specialty nurseries are a magnet for serious gardeners — and Woodbrook Native Plant Nursery, located in Gig Harbor’s backyard, is a favorite. With a timely message for gardeners concerned about garden resiliency for climate change, Ingrid Wachtler and her staff are ready to help. “Native plants are not necessarily low-water-use plants because many are wetland […]
Posted inAround West Sound
Help Keep Washington (and Kitsap) Litter Free
Even though 75% of Washington residents never litter, a new statewide study commissioned by the Washington Department of Ecology finds that more than 26 million pounds (13,096 tons) of waste accumulates along Washington roads every year. And despite our state spending approximately $12 million annually on cleanup efforts, only a small fraction ever gets picked […]
Posted inThe Home
A Northwest Tiki Getaway
Wendy and Carl Tonge were locked down, isolated and staring into an evergreen forest in March 2020 on their tiny side porch. They sat in two reed chairs under a sign from Disneyland’s Enchanted Tiki Bar that says Trader Sam’s, reminiscing about another favorite tiki bar they visit whenever on Kauai. Clearly, they were not […]
Posted inAt Home
Fall-Planted Cover Crops Provide Many Benefits to Gardens
Put your garden to work over winter by planting a cover crop this fall. Covering the soil with plants that are turned into the soil or smothered and allowed to decompose in spring provides many benefits. Fall-planted cover crops protect the soil from erosion over winter and reduce stormwater runoff into nearby waterways and storm […]
Posted inAt Home
Tips for the Fall Family Yard
Fall is a great time to be in your family yard. “Our yards are giving us ways to keep living,” says Kris Kiser, president of the TurfMutt Foundation. “Your backyard can help you stay active and thrive. It’s where you might throw a ball with the kids or the dog. You might grill dinner, sit […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Remembering Helen Langer Smith
Longtime West Sound community and business leader Helen Langer Smith died on July 23, 2023, at age 94. Her 70-year tenure on Kitsap Bank’s Olympic Bancorp Board of Directors until her death makes her one of the longest-ever serving bank directors in the country. A Port Orchard native, Langer Smith entered banking in 1953 after […]
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