The Christmas miracle so many have always believed in is happening before our very eyes.
The goal of $25,000 for the North Kitsap Bellringer fund that seemed nearly impossible just a few weeks ago is now in sight. With less than a week until Christmas, we have already received more than $21,000.
KINGSTON — The looks of Pine Cone Gifts are somewhat deceiving.
The well laid out shop appears to have been an integral part of the Kingston Kountry Korners shopping center since it first opened along Highway 104.
Instead, Paula Erickson’s small business “fell off the tree” less than 20 days ago and has already grown dramatically.
HANSVILLE — LeAnna Whisperinghorse’s hands broadly stroke Wyeth’s golden coat. They then pinpoint muscles looking for anything that might indicate a problem.
Whisperinghorse has combined her career as a conventional massage therapist with her love for horses. She has practiced human massage and holistic healing for the past 13 years. Her relationship with horses began about 16 years ago.
POULSBO — Maybe both teams got what they needed Friday night.
The North Kitsap boys’ basketball team charged into its game with South Kitsap and claimed a win over the unbeaten Wolves, loudly warning the rest of the Narrows League that the Vikings — who won 15 in a row last season — are a team to be reckoned with.
POULSBO — The Finn is in… well most of it.
Kitsap County Commissioners Monday morning unanimously agreed with the majority of recommendations from Poulsbo City Council and opted to keep Finn Hill’s northern reaches in the finalized Urban Growth Area.
In the compromise decision, the commissioners removed about 65 acres south of Finn Hill Road, including the Rude Road neighborhood, from the proposed UGA as well as a small parcel on Little Valley Road.
PORT ORCHARD — Playing with no players over 5’ 9”, the South Kitsap High School girls basketball team scrapped their way to a 56-43 win against a bigger North Kitsap team Friday night in a Narrows League Bridge Division matchup.
SK guards Sarah Groves (10 rebounds) and Olivia Bui (nine rebounds) were forced to be the rebounding machines with the absence of posts Kristin Myles (knees) and Jamae Feddock (flu). Senior post Carly Riggs played limited minutes because of the flu.
POULSBO — Brad Camp’s term on the North Kitsap School Board got off to a positive, if somewhat belated, start on Thursday.
Camp, who is a public affairs manager for Sprint, spent Saturday morning and afternoon in Bellevue during a Sprint product launch, answering questions from such high-profile newspapers as The New York Times and USA Today.
When he drove out of Bellevue to make the 5:20 ferry back to the peninsula, he ran into a wall of traffic.
Another 12.5 percent hike in ferry fares is in the works for May, to raise an additional $7 million per year and bring farebox recovery to two-thirds of the system’s operating costs.
But for the North Kitsap’s army of daily commuters, the fares could actually decline. Monthly passes will cost $61.20, down from the present $66.20.
KINGSTON — North Kitsap School Board meetings are not usually filled with spontaneous celebration, especially when they are reaching their fourth hour.
But after the school board approved the final item on the agenda of Dec. 13, the 15 members of the audience still in the room filled it with clapping and cheers.
POULSBO — After the North Kitsap girls’ basketball team lost 65-29 to the Central Kitsap Cougars Wednesday night, Vikings head coach Dan Weedin suggested — half jokingly, half not — that a switch had been made.
“That wasn’t the team in white that we rolled out last week,” Weedin said.
Old friends and new friends have been extra generous this holiday season and the North Kitsap Bellringer Fund continues to grow daily. Now at more than $15,000 we are making steady progress toward the fund’s goal of $25,000.
If you haven’t yet stopped by the North Kitsap Herald office, or Kitsap Bank with a donation—please be sure to do so early next week.
For many, this is a holiday where it is difficult to find meaning or joy. If you find yourself less than jolly this year, try these suggestions.
HANSVILLE — This week those passing by the Hansville Community Church may have noticed it looked a little different. This Sunday it will sound different too.
At about 10 a.m. the Sunday before Christmas the community will hear the inaugural ringing of the new church bell.
KINGSTON — Evans Matan knows all about being downright “board.”
Being bored, though, is something the 28-year-old Kingstonite doesn’t have much experience with.
That’s because Matan stays busy and in shape by riding the asphalt, surf, snow and pretty much every other terrain this planet has to offer in the endless pursuit of fun. So, when it came to his working life and career, it isn’t surprising that he wasn’t really into the typical 9-5 job.
So, Matan created his own.
POULSBO — When NKHS girls’ basketball coach Dan Weedin watched the Olympia Bears Friday night, he knew he wasn’t looking into a mirror image of the Vikings.
But he hopes he was looking into their future.
POULSBO — Some Fishline clients could be facing a not-so-happy new year if the donations from the community don’t increase soon.
With less than two weeks to go before Christmas, the Poulsbo food bank is practically swimming in requests from families who are still seeking donated holiday baskets. And, as the clock winds down, officials at Fishline are facing the prospect of having to dig into the organization’s coffers to put food on the tables of needy families throughout North Kitsap.
The need is ever so great this Christmas season in North Kitsap. But, the generosity of North Kitsap families and businesses always seems to increase to meet the need. A steady stream of donations has brought the Bellringer Fund to nearly the halfway point of our $25,000 goal.
KINGSTON — Seventeen days before Christmas and all through the streets Kingstonites were a stirrin’ and eager to meet — guess who?
Santa Claus, the jolly old elf, made several appearances at the Kingston Country Christmas celebration held Saturday. If you didn’t catch him posing for pictures and taking down wishes at the Kingston Community Center, then you might have seen him atop a red fire engine as he arrived to light the tree at the marina. He could also be seen later at the Kingston Cove Yacht Club greeting the boaters and enjoying some homemade chili.
Kitsap remembers what happened the last time a group of people were singled out because of their racial or national origin. In our eagerness to protect ourselves against terrorism are we making the same mistake again?
KINGSTON — Jared Prince had 32 points and the Kingston Junior High Cavaliers took advantage of a 19-0 run to defeat Marcus Whitman Junior High Monday, 88-45.
The Cavaliers (4-1) used suffocating first-quarter defense to key several turnovers and build an early 19-0 lead on the Trailblazers (1-3).
