Chris and Debbie Clark founded Children of the Nations (COTN) in 1995. A fifth-generation missionary born in Japan and raised in Liberia and the United States, Chris had worked for Youth for Christ for 10 years. Debbie, who grew up in Edmonds, worked as a special education teacher for eight years. After traveling to Sierra […]
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Posted inPeople & Places
Harbor Family Park — Land Saved for Future Generations
Through efforts led by Gig Harbor citizen-activist Vern Young and a few other community visionaries, a 19-acre forested site was saved from becoming a housing development so that the community, as well as future generations, will have a wonderful park. Young, who died in 2014, was taking a walk in the wooded area in 2005 […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
A ‘Forever’ Home and Garden
Lana and Bob Decker live on a secluded hilltop above Wildcat Lake. They’ve created their “forever” home and garden on an idyllic 5-acre piece of land. Bob Decker was a lifelong Alaskan and Lana moved to Alaska in 1981. They married in 1989, bought a fixer-upper and further honed their gardening skills since both were […]
Posted inBest of West Sound Results, Featured
Best of West Sound Results 2016
WestSound Magazine magazine is excited to present the annual Best of West Sound results — from Bainbridge Island all the way to Gig Harbor, we’ve found the businesses and places you love. Enjoy! Best Restaurant Silver City Restaurant & Ale House A very popular local hangout, Silver City offers both great food and beer, and […]
Posted inAround West Sound, Blog, Featured
Open Studio potters support Empty Bowls event
Hungry kids? In Gig Harbor? Most people would find the idea almost unthinkable in this community of lovely homes and a glistening harbor lined with pleasure-boat marinas. The reality is a much different story, as 25 percent of the students in the Peninsula School District receive free or subsidized lunch support. Without a summer lunch […]
Posted inAround West Sound, Blog
Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra’s ‘Legends’ Pays Tribute to Folktales and Stories
I have a brother, Joshua, who is two and half years older than me. Like many mischievous older siblings, he was prone to dupe his younger brother (me) into doing silly things or believing tall tales. One time, my mom threw away some Batman and Robin themed rubber placemats. We pulled them out of the […]
Posted inFeatured, Home
Jewelry For Your Walls
Entering the SJW Studios production workroom is like peeking into Santa’s workshop — seeing the wonderment of projects in all stages of completion, samples, paints, glazes, and moulding pastes, Venetian plaster, multiple hanging samples and job orders. Alluring wallcoverings. SJW Studios was founded by Steve Jensen and John Williams in 1981 in Seattle on Capitol […]
Posted inFeatured, People & Places
Expressing Native Tradition Through Contemporary Art
While many artists excel in a variety of mediums, it’s rare to meet a master who is equally talented as a woodcarver, jewelry maker, painter, glassblower, printmaker and sculptor. For Larry “Ulaaq” Ahvakana, that’s not even a complete list. Known nationally for his sculptures — especially animals and Inupiaq figures — the Suquamish artist has […]
Posted inFeatured
Unsung Hero — Julie Ann Gustanski
Julie Ann Gustanski is a founding member (together with Vernon Young, Eric Guenther and Mike Paul, Jr.) of the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation. All of her work for the foundation — including, currently, as the CEO — has been volunteer service. Prior to her current role, Gustanski served as the first treasurer, then as president […]