Most people know that Washington became formally recognized as a state in 1889 and members of the Puyallup, Skokomish and Suquamish tribes had thriving communities in and around the Kitsap Peninsula for thousands of years prior to immigrant settlement. Yet, how many people think about what places like Port Orchard, Poulsbo or Olalla were like […]
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Posted inPeople & Places
History Exhibit at Olalla Bay Market & Landing
At Olalla Bay Market & Landing, the I Love Olalla Group presented a new historical exhibit titled Beautiful Downtown Olalla and stories showcasing the history of the property — from its early days as a general store and post office to its current role as a café, artisan shop and community gathering space.
Posted inAround West Sound
West Sound Crime Con Brings a Weekend of True Crime Events Aug. 1-3
Get ready for a captivating weekend of true crime. West Sound Crime, in collaboration with the Admiral Theatre, Liberty Bay Books, Bainbridge Performing Arts and the Harbor History Museum, presents its inaugural event series, August 1-3, 2025. The schedule includes: For tickets and details, go to WestSoundCrime.com.
Posted inPeople & Places
Olalla Lavender Festival
The new Olalla Lavender Festival, which took place in July, concluded with overwhelming success, drawing more than 1,300 visitors to the picturesque community of Olalla. The festival brought together local artisans, farmers, families and lavender enthusiasts for a memorable celebration of nature’s beauty. The festival spanned seven venues and featured a diverse array of activities, […]
Posted inGarden
Papa Paul’s Dahlia Farm
About 20 years ago while living in Sandpoint, Idaho, Paul Kusche got bit by the dahlia bug. A food industry executive by profession, and the son of a landscape architect, he’s always viewed gardening as an important hobby and source of relaxation away from the world of business. Kusche’s first attempt at growing dahlias ended […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Capturing the Captivating Human Figure
Among the dozens of paintings that hang in Carla O’Connor’s Olalla studio is a tiny, framed crayon drawing of a purple cow. It’s the very first picture O’Connor ever drew — when she was just 3 years old. Another small, framed drawing of a kitty looking at the moon hangs nearby, done around that same […]
Posted inHome
Solar Energy Enhances Northwest Gardening
Did you know that in Washington state, owners of solar panels get paid extra for the electricity their systems generate? To make the deal even sweeter, they can save by not needing electricity from the power company in the first place. The Northwest has a great deal of sunlight for about seven months of the […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Historic Waterfront Mercantiles — The Heart of Their Communities
It’s the kind of business where the same regulars hold court each morning over coffee — a place where you can drop by to pick up a carton of milk and check out the community bulletin board, and find a water bowl pit stop for neighborhood dogs. The area’s small, historical general stores were built […]
Posted inGarden
A Gardener’s Tapestry
Perched at the rise of a hill, near a dead-end road in Olalla, a small home is surrounded by artfully designed floral and shrub borders. Birds swoop downward into the small canyon on the far side of the property, then return to the hanging feeders and birdbaths scattered throughout the garden. “I see my garden […]