It seems as if summer passed us by this year and in Port Gamble we can tell that fall is upon us as the trees are turning colors and leaves are falling.

According to weather outlooks it looks like it could be a white Christmas.

A fun fall is in store

Our October Business of the Month is the Port Gamble General Store and Café.

General Store proprietors are Kim Campbell and Erik Kleiva both have deep roots to Kitsap County. Kleiva has lived in Washington his entire life. He was born in Tacoma and moved to Kitsap County in the early 1990s. Campbell was also raised in Kitsap County. She graduated from Central Kitsap High School and has lived in Hansville since 1996.

Cambell seems to be a fan of old haunted buildings. She has owned businesses in the Old Kingston Hotel and the New York House in Port Gamble, and now the General Store — all supposedly haunted.

It makes sense that Campbell’s favorite holiday is Halloween. The store is full of fall and Halloween gifts and housewares. Christmas merchandise is arriving daily and will be on display in November.

Campbell and Kleiva’s vision for the store received an astounding response and they had an exceptional summer with both visitors and local clientele. More locals are discovering the store daily. Campbell and Kleiva attribute much of their success to their staff and the support of the other businesses in Port Gamble.

The store is buying from many local farms including Fernwoods Apiary for Honey, Persephone Farms, Wildwood Farm, Hood Canal Brewery, Eagle Harbor and Rolling Bay winery, CB’s Nuts and Sweeney’s Meats. The store features a wine selection of Washington wines, and can be purchased in the café or store at retail, not restaurant, prices.

The Port Gamble General Store is open seven days a week.

We hope that everyone enjoys the last of our Sunday Market in September and Old Mill Days with the Forest Festival. Join all of us in Port Gamble for the upcoming October events and other events throughout the rest of 2010.

We want to thank all of you who visit Port Gamble and are patronages of our businesses.

Fall festival

Port Gamble will host its second annual Fall Festival on Oct. 2. This year’s event will include a chili cook-off with cash prizes and points for the national chili cook-off.

We have also added an apple pie bake-off to accomodate some friendly culinary competition.

Both cookoffs will be judged. See www.portgamble.com for downloadable flyers.

Ghost conference

We are very excited for our inaugural Ghost Conference to be held Oct. 29 and 30 in Port Gamble. With our Ghost Walks filling up and many questions coming in regarding the paranormal, we worked with four paranormal groups to offer a conference.

We are pleased to announce our three keynote speakers:

Ankhasha Amenti is a professional psychic medium and has appeared on radio and television programs including KKNW 1150 AM and Q13 Fox News in Seattle. Amenti will also be offering private readings during the conference.

Margaret Read MacDonald is a “grand dame of storytelling” and she the author of “Ghost Stories of the Pacific Northwest.” Margaret has authored more than 55 books and audio recordings on storytelling and folklore topics.

Gregg Olsen is an award-winning author and has been on dozens of national and local television shows. Olsen and Darren Thompson will be speaking about “Starvation Heights,” a true story of murder and malice in the woods of the Pacific Northwest and the paranormal that surrounds Starvation Heights.

We are also excited that we have seven other paranormal experts to lead classes and discussions throughout the conference. Attendees will be able to participate in all the classes, hear speakers and join ghost walks.

There is an additional charge and limited space for the investigations on Saturday night. MacDonald and Olsen will be signing their books at the Dauntless Bookstore.

You can find the registration form, agenda and more information on our website at www.portgamble.com.

October events:

Miketoberfest

Dates: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thurs-Sat, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through October.

Experience handmade sausages and sides at Mike’s Four Star BBQ. Call (360) 297-4227 for details.

Fall Stash Dash

Dates: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 1,2; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 3

Enjoy fall on the North Olympic and North Kitsap Peninsulas as you dash to seven shops — including Port Gamble’s Quilted Strait — to collect “passport” stamps and get your free fat quarter. You must visit all seven shops to be eligible for the prizes being drawn.

Turn in your completed passport as the last shop you visit and you will be entered in the prize drawing. Details can be found at www.stashdash.com.

Fall Festival

Date: Oct. 2

Enjoy pumpkin flings, a cider press, carnival games, music, hayrides and the first chili cook-off and Great American Apple Pie Bake-off. (See details on page 20).

Ghost Walks

Dates: Saturdays

All Saturday ghost walks scheduled for October in Port Gamble are already full.

Walking History Tour

Dates: 3-5 p.m., Oct. 9; 3-5 p.m. Nov. 6

Have you ever wanted to see inside the building that is always locked or know what the old theater projection booth looked like? You’ll get the chance on a historic walking tour of Port Gamble. The guided tours begin at the Port Gamble Historic Museum, located on the east side of the General Store building. Tickets include a museum entry and walking brochure. Cost is $25.

Adventures in Acrylic

Dates: 1-4 p.m., Wednesdays, Oct. 27-Nov. 17

Impressionist artist Beverly Hooks will teach beginner and intermediate acrylic art classes. Lessons consist of composition, perspective in spatial relationships, color mixing, tonal values, landscape, and still life. All classes will be held in St. Paul’s Church. Session fee is $125. Material fee is $25. Sign up through Poulsbo Parks and Recreation. See www.beverlyhooks.com and www.cityofpoulsbo.com.

Ghost Conference

Dates: Oct. 29 and 30

Join us for this inaugural conference with classes, speakers and investigation. (See page 20 for details).

Victorian House of Horrors

Dates: 7:30 p.m., Oct.30 and 31

Floors will creak in the Tea Room at Port Gamble and candles will flicker during the Halloween Evening Dessert Tea. Visitors will be entertained by theatrical presentations of stories of horrors from the past. This is the perfect event for a group activity or date night. It is recommended that children not be brought to this event. Cost is $23.95 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations required, call (360) 297-4225.

Halloween Celebration

Dates: 1-5 p.m., Oct. 31

Pick up your Port Gamble Halloween Celebration Passport at the Dauntless Bookstore and let the fun begin. Activities will be hosted at various shops around town. Cost for this event is one can of food for the local food bank per child. Contact The Dauntless Bookstore at (360) 297-4043 for details.

For a full listing of upcoming Port Gamble events see www.portgamble.com.