The skies may be gray this time of year, but the cities and towns around the Kitsap Peninsula region are glowing with bright-colored lights, festive window displays and lots of holiday cheer to share with visiting family and friends. November events kick off the holiday shopping season with annual art-studio tours, hay-wagon and carriage rides, […]
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Posted inPeople & Places
Brad Stave — Artist in Wood
Brad Stave was perhaps born to be a woodworker. First off, there’s his name, “stave,” which means a vertical wooden plank that’s attached side-by-side to similar planks to make a barrel, bucket or other container. Then there’s the fact that he received his first toolbox when he was just 5 years old. He scrounged wood […]
Posted inGarden
The Aquatic Songbird that Makes a Splash
Songbirds are not just frequent visitors to gardens and birdhouses. They are everywhere. Some species, like the dark-eyed junco, are ubiquitous, adapting to various environments. But others have special habitat requirements. For example, marsh wrens need marshes and sagebrush sparrows need sagebrush. A songbird splashing in shallow water is a common sight. But is it […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Elixir Fixer — Celebrating Community and Good Times
From its clever, seasonal storefront window displays (a local newspaper Readers’ Choice winner) to its vibrant wallpapered walls and curated shelves, the Manette building’s stark, white-and-black exterior belies the retail artistry and “party in a bottle” happening inside. “It has a nostalgic, speakeasy vibe with modern touches.” That’s how owner Jim Higgins described the interior […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Unsung Hero — Brenda Prickett
The Turkey Trot is a 5k and 1-mile fun run on Thanksgiving morning that benefits Helpline House on Bainbridge Island. The run has raised more than $130,000 for Helpline House since its inception in 2010. Islanders Ann Browning and Jenny Campbell started the event nine years ago and passed the baton two years ago to […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Unsung Hero — Vickie Lawrence
Every year since 2004, Pacific Northwest Title has been hosting a holiday food drive benefitting all Kitsap County food banks. The drive begins the last week in October and runs for three weeks, and the company involves all its employees at both the Silverdale and Bainbridge Island locations, as well local real estate offices, lending […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Unsung Hero — Doug Clark
Blanket a Senior in Love is a program of The HUB (formerly Faith In Action) that started in Belfair in 2007 to give gifts to local seniors who would otherwise spend the holidays alone. The HUB collects winter items including gloves, socks, scarves and blankets, which are packaged up with other holiday items, a handwritten […]
Posted inAround West Sound
Life-Care Communities are Going Green
As senior living communities aim to provide healthier environments for residents, more environmentally friendly design initiatives are launched throughout the country. New life-care communities that emphasize sustainability establish the foundation for quality care, while also being aesthetically pleasing, healthy and cost-sensitive. These communities use green construction method, recycling programs, energy- conservation programs and alternative fuel […]
Posted inAt Home
Stay Safe while Using a Portable Generator During Inclement Weather
For many people, inclement weather can be frightening — especially when the wind is blowing hard, the rain is pouring and the trees are rustling. To weather a storm safely, it’s important to remember certain safety tips and proper use of tools. Portable generators can serve many purposes after severe weather strikes, including providing power […]