When the thermometer starts inching into the high 70s around here, people start looking for a place to cool off. While we are surrounded by water, most of the time a day at the beach means pulling on the boots and wool sweaters. For those rare days when we can venture out sans long johns, Kitsap County contains one of the best sandy beaches this side of Hawaii. And it’s far less expensive to get there.
They call it an annual event, but wouldn’t “perennial†be more appropriate? After all, the Bainbridge in Bloom Garden Tour has come back every year for the past 17, and it is back this year healthier than ever.
The 18th annual tour of seven gardens on Bainbridge takes place July 14, 15 and 16, and features the main tour, an art fair, gardening demonstrations, a plant sale and more.
It was the Velveteen Rabbit who learned that it’s love that makes you real, but his quiet message was overshadowed when Disney took on “Beauty and the Beast,†and its similar message.
In the classic fairy tale-turned Disney animated film-turned mega-Broadway hit, the Beast learns that only by loving and being loved will he become real.
What started with an ugly act of hatred has turned into a celebration of achievements. OUTKITSAP, the support organization for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population in Kitsap County, was started by county employee Steve Parsons in response to a cross being burned on the lawn of a gay couple in Bremerton.
POULSBO — Rob Difilippo and Tammy Mattson saw something was missing from downtown Little Norway and with the opening of Tizley’s Euro Pub in May, they believe they’ve found the perfect addition.
“We have both worked on Front Street and it was really, really obvious to us where the gap was in Poulsbo,†Mattson said.
POULSBO — More than 20 years after founding the Helping Hand House in Puyallup, Margie Addington has taken the reins at North Kitsap Fishline as its new executive director.
Addington’s first day on the job was July 5 and she is the first full-time staff member hired by Fishline’s board led by board president Mary Barker.
POULSBO — A continuing downward spiral of state education funding in addition to increasing special education cost mandates matched with ever-rising prices at the pump have put the North Kitsap School District between a financial rock and a hard place.
The district’s Budget Advisory Team recently wrapped up the grueling process of prioritizing the perks the district offers, while facing a $1.7 million budget shortfall for 2006-2007.
Property, excise, use, sales … there are many taxes one must pay over the years, including several decades of meticulously computed and filed tax returns, but there is one last tax some North Kitsap residents must pay after death.
The Washington Estate Tax.
TACOMA — It’s a rare occurrence to find Brenna Gardner-Brown without a smile on her face.
And as Miss Poulsbo, competing in this year’s Miss Washington competition, it was no different as she was all smiles as she won the Miss Congeniality award, voted on by her fellow contestants.
When I went to college, I stopped a few hobbies I had started in my youth, i.e. sleeping and pleasure reading. Once the diploma was in my hot little hand, I was more than happy to pick up sleeping and reading again.
There was one hobby, however, that I didn’t pick up so easily. Surprisingly enough, it was the hobby that helped change my life when I was 14.
POULSBO — When the Poulsbo City Council approved a $500,000 increase in the city’s 2006 budget, it did so with confidence that the Olhava revenue stream would finally flow.
Six months into the new year, monthly sales tax reports have continued showing increases of no less than $33,000, which was in the January report.
It’s been a long, long time coming but the Miss Washington crown has finally made its way back to Kitsap County as Kristen Eddings showed the state just how talented she is. Next year, she’ll be wowing the entire nation.
While Eddings hails from Silverdale, she’s no stranger to North Kitsap and was Miss Poulsbo 2002, then she was crowned Miss Kitsap 2006, then Miss Washington 2006, next up Miss America.
PORT GAMBLE — Dogs of all shapes, sizes, colors and breeds were the stars during a competition created just for them to showcase their skills. They wagged their way to Port Gamble, taking over the town for the weekend and strutting their stuff.
They and their owners came from all over, following behind with leashes, bowls, food, water, kennels, tents, kiddie pools and any other necessary — and not so necessary — supplies. Friday, Saturday and Sunday were all about the dogs.
KINGSTON — With the sounds of family fireworks shows in the background, people gathered at the Kingston Cove Yacht Club Tuesday for the chance to win a lamp that looked very much like a colorful explosion.
The celebration of independence and this country was the backdrop for a small, but important raffle that supported the Kathleen Sutton Inspirational Fund. Though the fund assists fewer than 20 local women, the cause goes beyond numbers.
HOOD CANAL — Budget overruns on Washington State Department of Transportation ongoing structural improvements to the Hood Canal Bridge just aren’t floating with 23rd District Representative Bev Woods (R-Kingston).
And as the ranking Republican on the House Trans-portation Committee, she’s looking to land some of the officials responsible in hot water.
KEYPORT — Amidst a conglomeration of Americans, riding in formation on various modes of transportation, including a kind old man on a stand-up scooter, red, white and blue llamas and Uncle Sam strapped to the back of a golf cart, Nathanyl Behrens stood proudly on Washington Street in Keyport.
KINGSTON — Like a Whistling Pete, Kingston’s Fourth of July celebration started off quietly, gradually getting louder before reaching a near deafening crescendo Tuesday night.
Every park in town was sparkling with various booths, musicians and hordes of people who said they wouldn’t be anywhere else on the holiday.
POULSBO — The State Route 305 Force Main installation has slowed traffic recently, but it hadn’t resulted in any road closures until this week.
The intersection of SR 305 and Liberty Road was closed Wednesday and Thursday night to traffic attempting to cross the highway as crews from Stan Palmer Construction of Port Orchard installed the sewer line through the intersection.
I hate going back to work after those long holiday weekends. It’s not so much that, all of the sudden, I’m forced to wake at 6 a.m. and spend hours on end editing, writing and the like. It’s the fax machine and e-mails — more specifically the tragedies they spew forth like a shopping list for the Grim Reaper.
POULSBO — All four North Kitsap Babe Ruth teams have a shot at winning the state title.
Following last week’s Washington State District 4 tournaments, NK’s 13-, 14-, 15- and 16-year-old All-Star teams have earned berths to their respective state tournaments, which will begin next week.
Last weekend, North Kitsap’s 13-year-old All Stars traveled to Sequim for two days of district action and came away with confidence after two solid wins.