Arts & Entertainment Community

Harbor Happenings | Volunteers sought for Parks Appreciation Day

Posted on April 30th, 2024 By:

Volunteers are needed at six local parks on Saturday, May 4, to clear trails, remove invasive vegetation and plant new trees and shrubs as part of Parks Appreciation Day.

Parks Appreciation Day is an annual partnership between the city of Gig Harbor and PenMet Parks to tidy up local parks. This year, the focus will be on Grandview Forest Park, Harbor Family Park, Sehmel Homestead Park, Soundview Forest Park, Wilkinson Farm Park and the Tacoma DeMolay Sandspit Nature Preserve on Fox Island.

To lend a hand, just show up from 9 a.m. to noon at any of those parks. Some tools will be provided, but volunteers should bring gloves, and also if possible their own pruning shears, loppers, rakes or shovels. (Be sure to label your tools.) Water will be available at all locations.

PenMet will host a tree planting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Sehmel Park to honor the organization’s 20th anniversary.

For more information, click here.

Volunteers pull weeds during a previous Parks Appreciation Day.

Volunteers pull weeds during a previous Parks Appreciation Day. City of Gig Harbor

Art Walk

Works by 50 local artists are on display at galleries in downtown Gig Harbor, and featured artists will discuss and demonstrate their craft during May Art Walk on Saturday, May 4.

  • Abstract painter Laurie Barmore will be at Mavi, 3126 Harborview Dr.
  • Lori Feole Kalodimos, watercolors, at Harbornest, 3311 Harborview Dr.
  • Fused glass yard art by Katie Niles at Woodstock,  3120½ Harborview Dr.
  • Mola-inspired paintings by Sue Kopps Casillas at Harbor History Museum, 4121 Harborview Dr.
  • Lea Basile-Lazarus abstract prints at Ebb Tide, 7809 Pioneer Way.

Galleries will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ebb Tide Gallery celebrates 40 years

Ebb Tide Gallery will celebrate 40 years of bringing art to the community with door prizes, drawings and refreshments from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 5.

Ebb Tide is Gig Harbor’s oldest gallery. Thirteen members currently work in China ink and watercolor; oil and acrylic; ceramics; scratchboard, printmaking and wood. Ebb Tide is at 7809 Pioneer Way.

Job fair at TCC

Tacoma Community College-Gig Harbor will host a free job fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, May 3. The fair will provide information on more than 300 available jobs with salaries ranging from $17 per hour to $126,585 annually. Some positions are remote and/or hybrid.

Featured employers include Kitsap 911, Kitsap County, Peninsula School District, WestSound Work Force, SAFE Boats International, Korean Women’s Association and several health care providers. Bring your resume. TCC is located at 3993 Hunt St.

Book group meets Tuesday

The Literary Society Book Group will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, at Harbor History Museum to discuss “What Comes After” by JoAnne Tompkins.

The death of two teenage boys tears apart a community in the Pacific Northwest, when a mysterious pregnant girl emerges out of the woods and into the lives of those same boys’ families. It’s a moving and hopeful novel about forgiveness and human connection – of strangers and friends not only helping each other move forward after tragedy, but inspiring a new kind of family.

Everyone is welcome at book group discussions, whether or not you’ve finished reading the book.

Free legal advice

Tacomaprobono and Pierce County Human Services’ Eviction Prevention division will provide free legal assistance at a drop-in event from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday, May 6, at the Gig Harbor Library, 4424 Point Fosdick Dr. Volunteers will provide assistance on landlord-tenant issues; divorce, custody and child support and other family law issues.

Live music

Internationally acclaimed guitar player Claude Bourbon brings his interpretation of blues, jazz, folk, classical and Spanish music to Olalla Winery’s loft at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 3. Bourbon has headlined at the Isle of Wight Festival and other major events. Tickets are $20. Order tickets here.

Tacoma’s glam-folk duo Champagne Sunday is back on the Kimball Coffeehouse stage Friday, May 3. Doors open at 6 p.m. Music starts at 7. Free; all ages are welcome.

At the movies

The Flashback Cinema movie at the Galaxy Theatres on Wednesday, May 1, isThe Matrix 25th Anniversary” playing at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday’a flashback movie is “Dial M for Murder,” Alfred Hitchcock’s classic spellbinder. Showtimes are at noon and 6 p.m. Flashback movies are just $5. 

Juntos Unidos

The Gig Harbor Police Department will host Juntos Unidos (Together United), a family-friendly community outreach event Monday, May 6 at the Civic Center on Grandview Street. The city is partnering with Tacomaprobono community lawyers, Food Backpacks 4 Kids, Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH Food Bank, Mi Centro, TCC and other organizations that support recent immigrants from Mexico and other Latin American countries. Translators will be available. The event is from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Civic Center, 3510 Grandview St.