Editorials

Fox Island open house planned to discuss wildfire risk

Sep 13, 2023 | By: James M. Braden

Fox Island asks the question: Could a Lahaina type of wildfire happen here? Fox Island has but one way for emergency vehicles to arrive to help their Fire Station 53 crew on the island in a major conflagration — the Fox Island Bridge.  The island also is heavily wooded, providing fuel for a wildfire.  And

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Dolly Parton wants your kids to read, and we’re here to help

Aug 31, 2023 | By:

Hello Dolly! Dolly Parton came and conquered the State of Washington. By proclamation from Governor Jay Inslee, August 15 is now Dolly Parton Imagination Library Day. This program had delivered over 200 million books to children worldwide since it began in 1995 and gives over 2 million books each month! Dolly Parton dazzled an invitation-only

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In the Margins: Local author’s work picked for lunar library

Jun 21, 2023 | By: Leland Smith

We all have dreams and goals. And so often we hear the time-honored advice to just go for it. Shoot for the moon! Someday soon, C.J. Booth’s literary dream will land on the moon … literally. Introducing the Lunar Codex Project. NASA plans to put humans back on the moon sometime in 2026. Along with

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As fire season approaches, Gig Harbor mom says “Enough!”

Jun 14, 2023 | By: Heather Maher

We all know it’s coming: fire season. All year long, Gig Harbor-ites look forward to the summer months, when we can be outside and relish the beauty of living in the PNW. When summer arrives, I find myself sighing with relief: finally, my children can play outside! But it has come to be an unofficial

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The Brown lady who rang a doorbell in Gig Harbor

May 31, 2023 | By: Thelma Brown

My name is Thelma Brown.  My husband and I are retired educators from Los Angeles and moved to Gig Harbor seven years ago. We have developed many wonderful friendships and have become very involved in several community activities. We bought a home in the Bellesara development where we had wonderful neighbors, but in October 2022

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Guest editorial: YMCA helps foster open and honest dialogue

May 23, 2023 | By: Lew Napolitano

The YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties Bridge of Hope initiative sponsored two community dialogues on the topic of “Exploring the Complexity of Homelessness in the Gig Harbor Key Peninsula Community.” The Bridge of Hope‘s purpose is to “gather people within Pierce and Kitsap Counties who desire to increase civility, understanding, hope, and trust by

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Guest editorial: Midday Rotary delivers $4,000 worth of goods to Food Backpacks 4 Kids

May 01, 2023 | By: Jill Dabbs

Gig Harbor Midday Rotary initiated a project to provide extra food for Food Backpacks 4 Kids, a local food bank that provides essential food items for families with food insecurity on the Key Peninsula. The project’s objective was to mitigate food insecurity in the region, particularly during the months of March and April, which are

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Guest column: Can you be your own general contractor?

Apr 26, 2023 | By: Marlene Druker

Recently, when discussing budgeting for a residential addition and renovation project, I casually mentioned that general contractor profit and overhead is around 20 percent. My client asked the obvious follow-up: “If we are the general contractors, and do some of the work ourselves, can we save 20 percent?” Unfortunately, the math is not that simple.

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Guest editorial: Adding context about Arts Commission deliberations

Apr 03, 2023 | By: Lynn Stevenson

Submit guest editorials or emails to Gig Harbor Now by emailing to [email protected]. In response to “Spring Market planned for mid-May near Civic Center” (March 28, 2023): Your article proclaimed that the Gig Harbor Arts Commission “granted nothing” to the Local Makers Festival and I’d like to help explain why that was the case. I

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Guest editorial: Bridge of Hope offers honest, respectful dialogue

Mar 30, 2023 | By: Lew Napolitano

Editor’s Note: Lew Napolitano of Tacoma is involved in the YMCA’s Bridge of Hope initiative. He provided this report on the initiative’s progress and plans. Click here for our earlier story about Bridge of Hope. The YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties, in response to the community wide disruption of effective and respectful dialogue over

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