Charlee Glock-Jackson

Freelance writer Charlee Glock-Jackson was the primary reporter for the weekly Gig Harbor Life until it folded in 2018. She is the founder of the Olalla Bluegrass & Beyond Festival and the caretaker of an enchanted Olalla forest that's been in her family nearly 70 years.

City parks administrator takes new job with PenMet

Aug 08, 2022

Gig Harbor Parks Manager Matt Keough resigned July 29 to take a job with PenMet Parks. Keough was hired by the city in December 2021 and led the city’s efforts to update its Parks & Recreation Open Spaces (PROS) plan. He had also done extensive work preparing the Parks Commission’s 2023-24 work plan, according Public

Local grads benefit from bevy of local scholarships

Jul 28, 2022

It’s hard to say for sure how many scholarships are awarded to Peninsula School District seniors every year. The total number is certainly in the hundreds, maybe thousands. Peninsula High School alone awarded $350,000 in scholarships this year, according to PHS teacher Jonathan Bill, who emcees an awards ceremony for the school. Awards went to

Gig Harbor is about to get a sister city

Jul 26, 2022

Gig Harbor is a step closer to establishing a sister city relationship with Bodø, Norway. Bodø (pronounced “boo-duh”) is the capital of Nordland County and lies just north of the Arctic Circle. The City Council approved a resolution on July 25 allowing Mayor Tracie Markley to sign an agreement with Bodø to “enrich cultural understanding,

City administrator Knutson makes mark by encouraging engagement

Jul 26, 2022

When Katrina Knutson was confirmed as Gig Harbor’s new city administrator last month, it was the fulfillment of a goal she set years ago. It just didn’t happen exactly how she’d planned. Knutson had a 10-year career objective to land a position in city administration. She wanted to “be part of what makes a city

FISH Food Bank celebrates opening of new building

Jul 18, 2022

When Jan Coen and a small group of friends got together in 1976 to brainstorm ways to help their less-fortunate neighbors, they couldn’t have imagined their efforts would lead to a spacious, inviting, 11,500-square-foot building stocked with food, clothing, small appliances and other items for people in need. On July 12, the ribbon was cut

Summer Art Festival returns this weekend

Jul 15, 2022

After a two-year absence, the Summer Art Festival returns to Judson Street in downtown Gig Harbor this weekend. Sponsored by the Peninsula Art League, the festival hosts more than 100 artists and craftspeople from throughout the Northwest. They will show and sell their paintings, yard art, photography, ceramics, glass, leather, wood and other offerings. Literature,

Gig Harbor Council marks Sportsman’s Club’s 75th anniversary

Jul 13, 2022

The Gig Harbor Sportsman’s Club, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this month. Mayor Tracie Markley read a proclamation at the July 11 City Council meeting acknowledging the club’s history and importance to the community. The proclamation praises the club for its firearms training, safety training and hunter education program. The club also sponsors several events

Open house offers first look at Olalla Bay Landing

Jul 07, 2022

Olalla celebrated a new community gathering space and museum July 2-3, as Gregg and Claudia Olsen hosted an open house at Olalla Bay Landing. The Olsens purchased the waterfront building and the nearby grocery store in 2021 and are slowly bringing “beautiful downtown Olalla” back to life, 2022-style. The building the Olsens have renovated and

Public weighs in on sports complex designs at open house

Jul 02, 2022

Options were presented for Phase 1B’s playgrounds, performance stage and pickleball courts.

Gig Harbor bans fireworks within city beginning next year

Jun 28, 2022

This will be the last Fourth of July that fireworks can be lit off, and it’s allowed on Monday only from 9 a.m. to midnight. The City Council was optimistic that a city-sponsored display could take place in the future.