Environment

Gig Harborites love the natural surroundings in which they live, and Gig Harbor Now staff members keep them apprised of opportunities to enjoy and preserve their forests, waters and creatures.

Artondale, Evergreen elementaries earn federal recognition as ‘Green Ribbon’ schools

May 06, 2024 | By:

Two elementary schools in Peninsula School District are the only schools in Washington state to earn recognition this year as green leaders under the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools program. Artondale Elementary School in Gig Harbor and Evergreen Elementary School in Lakebay were among 41 schools, 10 districts, three postsecondary institutions and one

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Developer, Department of Ecology agree to lower fine for water quality violations at Gig Harbor site

May 03, 2024 | By:

The Washington Department of Ecology announced that Puyallup-based RMHomes agreed to pay a reduced $40,000 penalty for water quality violations at a construction site in Gig Harbor. The settlement agreement reduces the original penalty of $56,000. According to Ecology, state and local inspectors noted 15 water quality violations at the Edwards Drive construction site in

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Russell Foundation grants go to Harbor WildWatch, Great Peninsula Conservancy, others

Apr 26, 2024 | By:

The Gig Harbor-based Russell Family Foundation this week awarded 27 grants worth $819,000 to several organizations serving youth and young adults in Pierce, Kitsap, Thurston, Jefferson, Mason and South King Counties. The grants are part of the foundation’s Environmental Education portfolio and provide focus on organizations that provide outdoor environmental learning experiences. “We recognize the

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Purdy paving to begin Sunday night

Apr 11, 2024 | By:

Drivers leaving and entering Purdy will be detoured via the Highway 16-Burnham Drive interchange for a couple weeks. The work will occur at night.

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Harbor Farms shutters Rosedale Street venue, buys larger North Rosedale site

Apr 03, 2024 | By:

A farm-oriented amusement venue that made a splash when it operated for a few weekends last fall has closed its doors (or rather, farmyard gates) for good at its Rosedale Street location. For sale signs popped up along its split-rail fence earlier this month, surprising passersby. Harbor Farms, the creation of Gig Harbor pizzeria and

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City council asks planning commission to review proposed zoning change

Mar 28, 2024 | By:

The Gig Harbor City Council voted Monday to ask the city Planning Commission to review a proposal to change the land use designation for a 23-acre parcel west of Highway 16. A group called Henderson Burnham LLC requested the zoning change so the company can build an unspecified number of single-family homes on the site.

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Commercial fishing fleet still waiting for its homeport

Mar 25, 2024 | By:

Members of Gig Harbor’s fishing fleet have waited more than a decade for the city to build a Commercial Fishing Homeport, which has been part of the plan for Ancich Park since 2013. It looks like they will have to wait at least another year. Negotiations between the city and the National Marine Fisheries Service

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Two In Tow & On The Go | A South Creek Mystery

Mar 22, 2024 | By:

Remember that time I wigged out after learning Gig Harbor’s famous Donkey Creek isn’t its real name, and that it’s not even a creek? And then I vowed to find out the origins of that naming catastrophe? Well, two months after I wrote about the so-called “North Creek” stream, we did a thing. But first,

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Lift at Gig Harbor Marina and Boatyard put to the test

Mar 21, 2024 | By: Chapin Day

On the Gig Harbor waterfront Thursday morning, what looked like an unseasonal champion pumpkin weigh-in proved to be just a recently mandated test of boat yard travel lifts. While a gaggle of yard workers, state officials and marine industry representatives looked on, a crane inspection company sucked a total of 133,332 pounds of harbor water

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Feasibility studies recommend contiguous recreation, senior, aquatics centers

Mar 21, 2024 | By:

PenMet also advanced a master plan for Tacoma DeMolay Sandspit Nature Preserve to the final design phase.

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