While a good portion of Gig Harbor residents enjoy playing on the water whether boating, sailing, kayaking, fishing, paddle boarding or swimming, there are many who also enjoy going all the way to the bottom for their recreation. Many assume that scuba diving is something done only while vacationing in warm water places like the Caribbean, Australia or Hawaii, but locals know that some of the most amazing waters in the world can be found right here in the South Sound. “It’s l

The Paradise Theatre company has resembled a band of gypsies since it first presented the musical “West Side Story” with a live orchestra in the open-air amphitheater on Peacock Hill in 2000. After staging musicals, comedies and dramas for almost two decades, the nonprofit theater company could have its final encore this summer—and as of press time, event sooner—despite their continuous efforts to find a permanent location to call home. The current fate of Paradise Theatre is

Bravery is a response to fear, not the absence of it. It’s shining a light in dark corners or opening doors to see what’s on the other side. Bravery is knocking down walls and jumping over fences. Bravery is facing pain, even when it’s on your knees. Bravery is holding the hand of the one you love, and then letting go. Bravery is a choice, but not one I think anyone should have to make. Regardless, I’m going to ask you to be brave. I’m going to ask you to look into a dark cor

The Gig Harbor area has had several years of above average economic and home price growth, as well as local employment growth due to expansion in our area. However, we have also had low home inventory during this time. As I write this article during the fourth quarter of 2019, we are still experiencing a seller’s market, multiple-offer situations, high buyer demand and low mortgage rates. Year in Review 2019 mid-fourth quarter housing statistics for Gig Harbor, Fox Island and

It was her turn, and she had forgotten her lines. She was in sixth grade, and she had practiced every day for weeks. Not just on the stage with her teachers and peers; but everywhere else. In front of the mirror. On the bus. The words were in her head as she went about her classes and in front of her eyes as she drifted to sleep. When the day came for her first performance, she felt confident that she knew her lines backward and forward; the only thing left to do was to get u

As she has done so many times before, Nevin Harrison paddled her way to past the finish line and held up one finger to signify her victory. Only this triumph had a much larger significance. Her win in the women’s 200-meter individual event last month at the world championships in Szeged, Hungary, propelled Harrison to earn her a spot on the US Olympic team to represent her country next summer in the newest Olympic sport in Tokyo. Her journey to Japan began years ago on the ca

I’d just returned to Gig Harbor after living in Tacoma for the past 16 years when I was asked to write about its art scene. I gladly accepted the assignment, as I was curious what the differences were, if any, since moving away. Years prior, I’d shown my work in the city’s galleries and remembered that the community had been quite inviting and supportive. After chatting with a handful of local artists, I’m happy to report that the art community is thriving! See for yourself d

For decades, visitors and locals alike have been fascinated by what they find when entering the Harbor History Museum. Inside is a fully restored school house from the late 1890s alongside hundreds of artifacts that preserve the maritime history of the area. Roughly 1,500 Peninsula School District children visit the museum on field trips—a chance for them to see and experience what life was like when the first European settlers were coming to the area. Just about everyone’s f

Greater Seattle is a busy and bustling place. It’s one of the fastest growing regions in the country with thousands coming into the area for the promise of higher wages, a hip, fun and young city, and more laid-back vibe when compared to the East Coast and Midwest. Most of the people in this part of the country are active; they enjoy jogging, biking, paddling on the water and just being in motion. While the metropolitan area seems to go on endlessly, once you get outside the

For the past six months, residents of Gig Harbor have been without an indoor recreation center. But the Peninsula Metropolitan Park District is working to change that and is in the midst of determining the feasibility of a 190,000-square-foot indoor recreation facility that would replace the Performance Golf Center on 14th Avenue Northwest. If the project is given the green light after the feasibility study’s expected conclusion in mid-September, the new facility would contai

The neighborhood pub and kid-friendly brewery is not a new concept—something that might be surprising to many. In the days before prohibition, communities big and small and all across the country would have places for all in the community to gather. These neighborhood “pubs” weren’t just a place for the working class to go after work for a drink but, in many cases, became the focal point for gatherings, events, political discourse and bringing neighbors together. Many brewed

When you think of after-school activities, most likely you’re visualizing, sports, music or speech and debate. Kids and teens today have dozens of choices in all three categories but also have other very fun and unique opportunities to bond with others. One such opportunity is working with horses at the Pierce County 4-H Horse department. “Our goal is to assist in the development of responsible, well-rounded young adults,” said program Superintendent Jill McNally. “Youth leav

Imagine if the Super Bowl, NBA Finals or World Series were only held once every four years. Now imagine those household names and sports icons weren’t paid to play and instead went to work each day like you and me, and spent their evenings and down time training and competing for a once-in-a-lifetime chance at a championship. This is the reality that most of our Olympic hopefuls face. No mega contracts, multi-million dollar endorsements, private charters or personal chefs, ju

Each flag has its own story of patriotism. Each banner tells an intimate tale of dedication and sacrifice by a cherish individual. As a group, the display of flags long the waterfront in Gig Harbor expresses the admiration local residents hold for those who have left the community to defend the freedom that binds all Americans. The display of flags currently flying along the waterfront in Gig Harbor was designed to be an opportunity for families to honor sons and daughters, m

Each flag has its own story of patriotism. Each banner tells an intimate tale of dedication and sacrifice by a cherish individual. As a group, the display of flags long the waterfront in Gig Harbor expresses the admiration local residents hold for those who have left the community to defend the freedom that binds all Americans. The display of flags currently flying along the waterfront in Gig Harbor was designed to be an opportunity for families to honor sons and daughters, m

Peninsula Subaru owner John Dionas knows that despite living in an affluent and beautiful place, you don’t have to look very far to find people struggling day to day. “If you drive just 10 minutes from our community, you will see some of the poorest neighborhoods around where kids are suffering every day,” said John. As a father of four and a local business leader, John has decided the focus of his personal and business charitable contributions will go to programs that encour

In 2000, people in Gig Harbor were introduced to the Paradise Theatre, an idea many years in the making. For 19 seasons, locals have been entertained with a wide range of shows both familiar and unconventional. The early days the theatre was located in the old Peacock family house. “We turned it into a Cabaret Dinner Theatre presenting indoor dinner shows from September through May as welchard’sl as an annual haunted house in October. There was also an outdoor amphitheatre fo

Killer whales and canaries have a lot in common. Canaries have been used since the early days of underground mining to detect toxic vapors for miners as they chipped away at bedrock in pursuit of valuable commodities from coal and diamonds to veins of precious gold. The majestic orca that has become symbolic of the pristine waters of the Puget Sound has become the canary of the waters of what is known as the South Salish Sea. The health of the mammals has been used to indicat

The challenge for a maritime resident of Arabella’s Landing Marina will be how to explain to himself why in the world he chose to row his custom-made row boat across the 9,150 nautical miles from Neah Bay in Northwest Washington to Perth in Western Australia. Air Force veteran Jacob Hendrickson knows a thing or two about adventure. He has first-hand experience with G-forces over the past 10 years flying combat missions over Afghanistan. He has pushed his reconnaissance jets t

Q. How would you best describe your experience as mayor at this point in your term? A. Very positive. I jumped right in having studied the city and what it takes. I was ready to give it everything I had, but I need to eat and get sleep and I have put that on the back burner, which I realize I can’t anymore. Stressful is another good word. Each day is a 70-page chapter. I don’t have the luxury of looking back, just stay positive and look forward and be solution oriented. Q. Wh