YOU COULDN’T ASK for a more peaceful place to put a fortress Fort Ward on Bainbridge Island is a haven of daisy-covered lawns quietly lapping water and seabirds having a constant klatch on crumbling wooden structures just offshore But the site was long a place of vital activity ghostly barracks that look out at one of the island’s many breathtaking views of the water This ideally located area has held many names over the centuries It was originally home to the Suquamish people led by the eponymous Chief Kitsap in the late 1700s/early 1800s when they were visited by equally eponymous explorer George Vancouver who took the liberty of naming the entire island “Restoration Point.” The spot where Fort Ward Park now sits later came to be known as “Bean’s Point” or “Bean Point” or “Beans Point,” named after one of the island’s first white settlers murdered and found “some forty yards from his cabin Army seacoast fort in 1903 and renamed Fort Ward The fort was one of several built to guard Puget Sound from potential attacks from the sea and protect the nearby Bremerton Naval shipyard a Massachusetts-born Union officer in the Civil War who died a war hero from his wounds at Gettysburg and who very likely never set foot in Washington state Outfitted with four batteries with pillar-mounted guns a strait that runs the current path of the Seattle-Bremerton ferry Navy discovered that the fort’s location (and its glorious quiet) made it an ideal place to catch radio transmissions from Japan The Navy took over Fort Ward for radio surveillance and it became a top-secret military listening post for Japanese naval communications known as “Station S” during the second half of World War II the Navy invented a story (that The Seattle Times covered) that it was a Naval Reserve Radio School The fort was abandoned by the military in 1958 and in 1960 it became Fort Ward State Park In 2011 it was transferred to Bainbridge Island and is now called Fort Ward Park you can reach Fort Ward Park by driving through the idyll that is Bainbridge Island so much like a quaint English village you’d expect it to have a high murder rate (beginning with Bean straight path along the water suitable for jogging or stroller-pushing venture into the labyrinth of scrubby vegetation next to the water to discover overlooks and hidden benches both eerie and peaceful you’ll come across ruins of the aforementioned barracks boarded up but seeming to be sleeping rather than dead like a summer camp snoozing the cold months away moss-covered structures of stairs to nowhere can be seen once home to the artillery that pointed out to sea And at the end of the public part of the beach some poetic soul has placed a lonely bench staring out at the sea The bench has become encrusted with marine vegetation and seems the perfect spot for a ghostly widow to stare out at the water waiting place or event tied to particular spot in the Seattle area And we might feature it in a future A Sense of Place story thing or event set in a particular neighborhood or area Share your A Sense of Place idea in the form below, or email it to Tantri at asop@seattletimes.com We’ll reach out to you if we have follow-up questions and you might just see your suggestion highlighted in an upcoming story The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser North Mason softball player Sydnnie Imlay and Bainbridge boys soccer player Magnus Hauge are the Kitsap Sun athletes of the week for April 21-26, selected by readers in an online poll Athletes are nominated by their respective coaches and the top vote-getters for both girls and boys sports are declared the winners Imlay helped the Bulldogs win two of three games by hitting .364 with two doubles and two home runs Other nominees for girls sports were Central Kitsap's Aaliyah Gaulden (750 votes) and Eva Thompson (212 votes) North Kitsap's Reyna Blackwood (95 votes) and Central Kitsap's Courtney Yee (50 votes) Hauge led the Olympic League champion Spartans defensively in two shutout victories Other nominees for boys sports were North Mason's Calvin Rice (140 votes) and Xavier Powell (74 votes) South Kitsap's Raymond Jennings (35 votes) Central Kitsap's Tristan Short (34 votes) and Bainbridge's Will Rohrbacher (19 votes The next Kitsap Sun athlete of the week poll will appear online May 7 March 17-22: Alex Berg March 24-29: Yzanah Smith March 31-April 5: Savvy Paulson April 14-19: Brooklyn Webb It has been a busy year for Bainbridge Township Fire Department and as summer approaches firefighters are gearing up for even more calls Forgot password? Click here. To access our complete online news coverage Copyright Geauga County Maple Leaf. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use Website Designed & Developed by Company 119 and many Kitsap candidates have already submitted their names for the numerous local seats… the BI Metro Park and Recreation District and the BI Parks &… One of Washington’s largest skill-building centers saw a massive funding increase this legislative session A 17-year-old is dead following a fatal car crash in Chenango County New York State Police at Sidney were dispatched by the Chenango County 911 Center at about 8:24 a.m April 20 for a report of a one-vehicle crash on East Afton Road in the Town of Bainbridge an investigation revealed an SUV with a 17-year-old female occupant went off the roadway into an embankment struck several trees and came to rest on the opposite side of the creek More: Binghamton's role in U.S. immigration policy stirs conflict, debate. What to know Troopers did not say whether there was anyone else in the SUV at the time of the crash When Scott Orness resigned as North Kitsap's boys basketball coach in 2024 It turns out that Orness' one-season hiatus was sufficient enough time away Orness is returning to the high school coaching ranks for his second stint as Bainbridge's boys basketball coach who'll be moving to the Seattle area after two seasons coaching the Spartans finished third in the Olympic League behind eventual 2A champion Bremerton and Sequim and qualified for the regional round of the state playoffs "I love the talent that Bainbridge has right now," Orness said "I think we'll have a chance to make some waves in the league and hopefully beyond." Orness, who'll be inducted into the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame this summer stepped away from coaching at North Kitsap in 2024 in order to spend time following his son Cade's first season as a walk-on player at Gonzaga University He travelled to Spokane frequently over the winter but the pull of high school hoops remained Orness believes he can balance both endeavors: being a supportive father while coaching it's right up there with something I really love," said Orness who discussed his possible return to coaching with Cade "I think I can still go support him and be his dad and follow him Orness is rejoining a program where he spent 11 seasons He compiled a record of 143-117 at Bainbridge before stepping down in 2015 The Spartans' top season under Orness came in 2007 when the team placed second in the 3A state tournament One of the main reasons Orness left Bainbridge was due to the Spartans Road trips meant long hours spent travelling by ferry and time away from home Orness joined North Kitsap's staff and led the Vikings for nine seasons He guided the Vikings to the 2A championship in 2020 claimed six other top-six state trophies and won the Olympic League title in each of his nine seasons At one point the Vikings won 65 consecutive games at home "It was a blessing to be able to coach at North," Orness said Now Orness is eager to start his second go-round with the Spartans "I've taught out on Bainbridge for 23 years "The administration out here is incredibly supportive and I'm thankful for that OUR CORNER OF the world is rich in peninsulas Washington’s ferry system connects the Seattle area to a handful of them — and that’s just the highlight reel of the independent land masses scattered throughout our waterways Some islands are close enough for daily commutes; others are true getaways that involve WSDOT reservations drive times and the blissful feeling that you have escaped to the restorative edge of civilization boarding a ferry is a statement that you are ready to surround yourself with nature That mindset also applies to building a home on the other end of that route These two island homes are designed to keep you close to the outdoors even if you’re just doing the dishes (or taking a bath) They offer inspiration on stashing a host of houseguests in close quarters or folding the less-than-scenic aspects of daily life into an open design that’s full of windows but they share a common lesson: When in doubt NOT MANY HOUSES can trace their origin story back to eBay she happened to notice the buyer lived on Bainbridge Island Mary was in the process of coaxing her husband to consider a move north — someplace with seasons and nature and ample coastline Mary messaged the woman to ask if she liked living on Bainbridge The sweater’s new owner responded that she loved it and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else who would say such a thing?’ ” Mary recalls Maybe not so extreme if you live in the Northwest who asked that their last name not be used had visited the region occasionally over the years had an established legal career in California Moving would have meant rebuilding clients and contacts But with retirement on the long-range horizon THE COUPLE HEADED north just to look at houses on Bainbridge; Mary’s new eBay friend even invited them for breakfast They liked the combination of rural lifestyle and proximity to the city Three months after that sweater relocated to Bainbridge They closed on a parcel of 3 secluded woodland acres that included a meadow sloping gently to the south they would build one: a place to immerse themselves in all this newfound nature It was a few years after buying the property and Mary and Terry made the move from California Nils Finne of FINNE Architects delivered a striking design: an entry flanked by a bedroom wing to the west and a space to the east he dubbed the living pavilion Plus enough windows to make every trip for a glass of water feel like a meditative stroll in the forest His knack for bringing the outdoors in was the reason Mary had sought him out “it took me a long time to process the idea of living in such an open space,” she says Mary’s hesitation wasn’t about the walls of glass that stretch 11 feet high in the primary bedroom or privacy concerns that come with a bathroom full of windows Finne’s design brought the kitchen and living and dining areas into a single open space After a lifetime in older homes with segmented rooms Mary had unsettling visions of dirty pots and pans piling up in plain sight “I’m not the kind of neat freak that can always keep it looking good.” Mary decided to embrace her new Northwest environs and go with the more open design One tweak that helped ease her mind: a pantry hidden behind the kitchen’s back wall It parallels the kitchen with a second sink and refrigerator — guaranteed privacy for mess Mary and Terry let Finne and project architect/manager Christopher Graesser run with the design because the couple were still living in California Finne inserted various tactile details intended to keep the modern architecture from feeling overly minimal like a laser-cut steel pattern on the stair railing A folded steel door hides the TV lurking next to the fireplace while a sculptural curve of vertical wood slats in the entry camouflages the coat closet with style “There’s no reason modern architecture can’t embrace craft,” he says Finne envisioned the pavilion with a flat roof of exposed wood beams laid close together He inserted a row of “light monitors,” the geeky architect term for any raised window that exists to bring natural light in since it’s too high to let people look out A nonarchitect might refer to these as a row of tiny dormers Terry’s first reaction was to compare them to gun turrets though the original design called for seven) insert soft north-facing light into that thicket of wood beams Each monitor shifts a little farther from the ceiling’s precise right angles “It’s kind of an abstract idea,” Finne allows But also another tool in the battle between minimalist and barren or impersonal Playing with natural light adds life to such an open space “It actually has a sense of animation to it.” The pavilion that worried Mary has become her favorite part of the house, with its 13-foot ceilings and windows looking out in three directions. Builder Steven Fradkin of Fradkin Fine Construction fretted extensively (and shot plenty of laser measurements) to make sure the geometry of all the doors mullions and clerestory windows lined up precisely Even small discrepancies in the angles of such a linear design would strike the eye as wonky And wonkiness would distract from such sights as deer bounding past a large owl who likes to hang out nearby — and sometimes even a stray river otter making its way up the long driveway from the nearby water taken with the Northwest’s gardening potential boysenberries and salmonberries along one side of the house as the deer try to infiltrate the wire fence around his plantings “I can’t imagine going back to something more closed,” Mary says like you’re camping without any inconveniences.” LEAH MARTIN, THE co-founder of Allied8 a studio of architects and land use planners had visited San Juan Island plenty over the years her travels never took her to Orcas Island University of Washington architecture professor Vikram Prakash rented a house on Orcas for a family vacation in 2019 17 and 15 — plus Martin’s father and his wife Martin and Prakash had considered building a second home grandparents and the generation in between could all decompress together they had a Redfin search set up for property on Orcas a price drop on one property put it within their budget The couple traveled to Orcas Island the next week Martin describes the parcel they ended up buying as “a perfect ridge,” with 150-foot cliffs on either side of the summit Access involves a road full of switchbacks each turn adding another layer of distance between her family and the busyness of regular life the views sweep from Mount Rainier and Eastsound to the south B.C. The 6-acre tract was full of massive old-growth trees and paths formed by the daily comings and goings of island deer Martin’s clients often experience an adjustment between the square footage they desire at first and the size of home that ultimately gets built. “Square footage is so impactful on construction costs,” she says Reducing it is “the best way we can take money out of the project and bring something into budget.” she walked the walk: To keep costs manageable her Orcas home is a mere 17 feet by 76 feet She also included the sort of ingenious space-maximizers only an architect can dream up This slip of a home can sleep as many as 13 people Each of its two levels harbors a double dose of double beds The setup shrinks multiple bedrooms into one minuscule footprint It also ensures houseguests will know one another very well by the time their stay is over The arrangement leaves everyone with enough personal space that nobody feels like the grandparents in the book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” sardined into a single bed Because Orcas gatherings often include actual grandparents Martin’s family has a system: The eldest family members get dibs on the primary bedroom The stairway to the loft is another idea that sprang from her architect brain. It fits ladderlike against the wall but requires only a gentle nudge to extend outward on casters so it’s easy to ascend. At the top you’ll find a small office space and an open area that can sleep more people, with help from some special beanbags (made by a company called cordaroys) that convert into beds Once the stairs get tucked back upright against the wall a single pin bolts the system safely in place Martin suggested this approach to clients in the past only to have them shy away from such an unconventional solution with a lot of money.” But investing in a bespoke retractable ladder rather than building a traditional staircase saved her hundreds of thousands of dollars “It is the difference between us having this house and not having this house,” she says she’s packed 12 people in for Thanksgiving and filled the home for extended family gatherings and weekends with friends (though its size also suits solo visits Its interior doubles as a display space for drawings and paintings by Prakash’s father the late artist and architect Aditya Prakash A SERIES OF pocket doors lets the home’s second bathroom do double duty Sometimes it’s a private en suite space for the primary bedroom; slide a few doors and it becomes a shared bath when the house is full of guests A wall of closets has the same flexibility; Martin has more storage in this 1,300-square-foot house than she does in her full-size home back in Seattle most stable place to build was also the most scenic: The home sits cantilevered off a bit of exposed bedrock at the top of the ridge Reed and his team didn’t even disturb any trees during the building process A standard window installed right next to the French doors offers massive views without the price tag of picture windows the cinematography of stars in the sky just before sunrise or stone-like islands in glassy water surpassed expectations she and her daughter arrived to find a buck with massive antlers resting in the shade beneath the cantilevered portion of the house It was an affirmation that the home harmonizes with all the life that was here before it For all the attention her design has received POULSBO -- It was the type of goal Bainbridge's boys soccer team has come to expect from junior forward Cruz Piland And it couldn't have come at a better time Piland's side-footed strike four minutes into overtime Thursday provided the winning score for the Spartans in a 4-3 road triumph over rival North Kitsap Bainbridge junior Blake Moyer avoided a defender on the left edge of the goal box and found Piland unmarked near the penalty spot He converted for his team-leading 23rd goal of the season Bainbridge coach Mark Nowak wasn't surprised to see the back-and-forth game end with Piland's quick-reaction winner at the right place at the right time," Nowak said I want to say 90% of them are one-touch in the back of the net." Piland's golden goal not only helped Bainbridge clinch the Olympic League 2A title 12-0 in league) unblemished with the start of the postseason less than two weeks away who reached the 3A state quarterfinals last season conclude their regular season slate of games May 6 at home against North Mason Peter) and I were talking about how this is great for both of our teams," Nowak said 10-2) players walked off the field disappointed at the defeat The Vikings scored the game's first goal and held a 2-1 advantage with under 10 minutes remaining before the Spartans rallied When North Kitsap faced Bainbridge on the road two weeks ago the Spartans used four first-half goals to notch a one-sided 4-1 win "The guys responded really well from last time It wasn't that long ago when we played them More prep sports: Scott Orness returning to Bainbridge as boys basketball coach It was North Kitsap senior Harper Sabari who opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with the first of his two goals Senior Aaron Lopez got on the end of a free kick heading across Bainbridge's goal mouth to Sabari Bainbridge leveled the score in the 37th minute when senior Oliver Morrison buried a shot inside the left post North Kitsap regained the lead in the 63rd minute after Lopez earned a foul inside Bainbridge's goal area Sabari scored the ensuing penalty kick for his 11th tally of the season If the Spartans were worried in the game's later stages Senior August Peterson scored twice within a span of 60 seconds to put Bainbridge in front Then came an equalizer from Lopez in the 77th minute following a free kick by junior Sebastian Moran The game was headed to a shootout if neither the Spartans or Vikings could find a winning goal in one of the two five-minute overtime periods Nowak felt convinced penalty kicks wouldn't be needed based on the contest's first 80 minutes — and Piland proved the first-year head coach correct "This game is getting decided," Nowak said "There's too much emotion from both teams for this to get decided in pens." Bainbridge continues to look like a contender for the 2A state title The Spartans are averaging seven goals per contest and haven't scored fewer than four goals in a game this season "We're a team with immense quality and immense depth," Piland said which placed second in the state in 2023 and third last year also feels optimistic about its chances heading into the postseason No other team has come close to knocking off Bainbridge this was a good performance for us heading into the playoffs," St "We just tip our caps to Bainbridge and hopefully we see them again." North Kitsap baseball coach Jeff Weible joined some select company Tuesday after the Vikings shut out Sequim 14-0 on the road Junior Dawsyn Anderson's pitching gem helped Weible earn his 300th career victory is now a member of an elite group of West Sound baseball coaches to reach the 300-win plateau one that includes former South Kitsap coach Elton Goodwin (491 wins) former North Kitsap coach Virg Taylor (382 wins) and former North Mason coach Jay Hultberg (324 wins) All three are members of the Washington State Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Weible's team faltered in Wednesday's rematch against Sequim at home The Vikings led 4-2 before Sequim rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh inning and three runs in the top of the eighth It was a costly defeat for North Kitsap in the race for the Olympic League 2A title Bainbridge (14-4) heads into the final week of the regular season in first place with a 12-0 record while North Kitsap (12-5) is in second place at 10-2 The Spartans and Vikings play back-to-back games May 6 (Poulsbo) and May 7 (Bainbridge) Bainbridge and North Kitsap are the only two Olympic League squads with winning records in league play Port Angeles (7-10) sits in third place with a 6-6 league mark while Central Kitsap is in third place in the Puget Sound League 3A Narrows Division with a 10-9 overall record and 9-7 mark in league play Klahowya (14-2) is in second place in the Nisqually League 1A with an 8-2 record 4-1) is in second place in the Sea-Tac League 1B Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWALB is working to produce a video for this story (WALB) - Two new retail stores will be opening in Bainbridge later this month According to a post by the city of Bainbridge Aldi and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet will be opening on Shotwell Street in mid-April The stores will not only bring a “a fresh shopping experience to our community but also valuable job opportunities and will brighten the entrance into town,” according to the city The stores will take over vacant buildings and help revitalize the area and contribute to the positive growth of the corridor Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message By: 8:00 am on April 7 Permits list a total construction cost of $300,000 which lends an average of $172 per interior square foot Credit: Heta Designs via the City of Philadelphia Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates Like YIMBY on Facebook Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews I’ve seen developments like this throughout the city where apartments are added above other food establishments This is a much nicer looking neighborhood than the previous development published however; I have noticed no parking for this retrofit because it is located at the corner of Bainbridge and Clarion Streets (which means you will be walking no matter what (rain The proximity to the Lombard-South station (Broad Street Line) as well as the 45 bus along 12th and 11th streets is nice Just under on mile from City Hall is very nice This is for certain people who don’t drive ADVERTISEMENT Follow on Instagram © COPYRIGHT New York YIMBY LLC Peninsula Community Health Services could open a new medical clinic on Bainbridge Island early next year agency CEO Jennifer Kreidler-Moss told the Kitsap Sun this week assuming they get funding through the state’s capital budget a federally qualified health center providing primary care and other services in Kitsap purchased a former optometrists office on Winslow Way using just over $1 million in reserve funds They plan to convert the mixed-use retail complex into a primary care clinic with two primary care providers two behavioral health staff serving about 2,500 people per year Permits for the project have already been approved The opening of the project now hinges on state funds The agency has asked for about $556,000 to complete renovations Those funds have been earmarked in the Senate’s capital budget That leaves the project up in the air at a time when money is tight Washington is facing a roughly $14 billion budget deficit over the next four years and it remains uncertain how legislators plan to address that gap A final budget is expected at some point this week before the last day of the state’s regular legislative session on April 27 If state funding for the clinic is not included Kreidler-Moss said the facility will remain vacant and they will try again next year Bainbridge residents have been asking PCHS to build a clinic on the Island for years after a series of providers consolidated or left the community the agency had been unable to afford a space there “We have been asked fairly regularly since 2021 to show up on the island,” she said “We are excited that we finally found something that was within our price range.”  Bainbridge Island Mayor Ashley Matthews said the city lost a few providers around the start of the pandemic, including a Swedish-owned primary care clinic that closed in 2021 There is a  Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Clinic on the Island at 1344 Wintergreen Lane NE The city does not have enough providers needed to meet the need forcing residents to travel to Poulsbo or take the ferry into Seattle At least 1,000 people living in Bainbridge go to the PCHS clinics in Poulsbo or Kingston Peninsula Community Health Services typically provides care for patients who are under or uninsured the number of patients with commercial insurance has grown to about a third of its payors “At this point there’s just such an access gap for all that we don’t really care what insurance you have,” she said “The access is limited in our county so even if it is a matter of serving more commercial patients out there that will free up more spots at other places.” reporting for the Kitsap Sun and Gig Harbor Now through a program managed by Washington State University Although the nation's music and television regularly tops international charts and is a popular choice on streaming platforms an upcoming showcase on Bainbridge Island is dedicated to empowering diversity through a multi-faceted celebration of Korean culture Choi was inspired to create her own event due to limited Korean representation at the time The series of Asian cultural celebration events put on by Bainbridge Island Museum of Art and Arts Humanities Bainbridge are taking place throughout the month of May in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Related: Bainbridge Island' hosts new annual Asian Arts and Heritage Festival "The event is symbolic for providing a space for people to belong step up in their leadership and shine their own cultural heritage," Choi said Choi is the founder of SolJoy a nonprofit offering leadership training centered around mindfulness and wellness as well as a frequent cultural event planner organizing monthly Korean potlucks in the community She was among eight local artists who won a grant from Arts Humanities Bainbridge through which her vision of a performance that celebrates her Korean heritage while also emphasizing the importance of mental health with mediums ranging from dance to martial arts and poetry The event also includes a fashion show featuring "hanboks," which are traditional Korean clothing BIMA featured artist Bella Kim will help coordinate stage design and Choi is planning to give a performance of her own as well All ages are welcome to join the evening's activities, and Choi encourages those interested in participating in one of the night's planned surprises to attend the upcoming potluck on April 27 "It's supposed to educate people who don't know anything about Korean culture to be like 'Whoa!'," Choi said in reference to the cultural phenomenon of Korean pop culture rising in international popularity which is Chinese for 'Korean Wave' has had and (KPop Idol BTS) going to the White House and the UN to visit The event will also serve as a fundraiser for SolJoy's scholarships for their wellness training geared toward underserved leaders donations will be accepted to benefit the cause All performances will reiterate this year's theme of "finding peace," as a nod to May also being recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month The intersection of these topics is indicative of Choi's passion for educating the community about both subjects as Choi hopes everyone leaves the showcase not only feeling at peace but inspired to take action with prioritizing mental health in their daily lives Choi also hopes her event creates a space in Kitsap's community to gather together under a common purpose of celebrating the importance of diversity especially among the current controversy surrounding the concept people are scared to use the word or any form of it," Choi said we're going to keep using it.' We're going to be bold about it to continue to keep boldly celebrating Korean heritage even in the face of fear and suppression of DEI or other federally cut programs." "Finding Peace: 1st Annual Korean Heritage Night" will take place at Woodward Middle School on Thursday, May 8, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Those interested in attending can register online as well as learn about volunteer opportunities with the festival I'm your neighborhood news reporter for Bainbridge Bainbridge is setting its sights on the future with a comprehensive plan designed to guide infrastructure and community development for the next 25 years many residents remain unaware of the city’s long-term planning efforts Despite a series of public input sessions that began as early as August 29 the plan—called Bainbridge of Tomorrow—remains largely under the radar for locals “I have not [heard about it],” said Bainbridge resident Mona Musgrove when asked about the planning efforts The city has seen steady growth in recent years with new businesses sprouting up and more amenities becoming available to residents "I'm glad we have some more grocery stores coming in," Musgrove said "And we've added a lot of new facilities out here that are good to get the public out and moving." The Bainbridge of Tomorrow plan aims to do much more Among its key priorities are affordable housing and creating more residential options downtown and near schools and the Flint River For those interested in diving into the specifics city officials recommend checking out Chapters 7 through 12 of the official Comprehensive Plan When asked what she hopes to see in Bainbridge’s future “I feel that we need things like a dog park,” she said “I'd like to see us have another public golf course I'd also like to see another public swimming pool I think the kids really liked that when we had that.” the plan must be reviewed by the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs it will be up to Bainbridge’s City Council to give final approval For a closer look at the full Bainbridge of Tomorrow plan and its proposed initiatives, visit HERE Want to see more local news? Visit the WTXL ABC 27 Website. Like us on Facebook Follow us onInstagramand X. Report a typo We cover stories making an impact in Bainbridge. This is your home to stay on top of what is changing in Bainbridge and why it matters to you and your family. We want to hear from you! Click here and tell us what we should be covering in your neighborhood Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBAINBRIDGE (WALB) -Safer Human Medicine (SHM) has announced the acquisition of an existing quarantine facility in Labelle to support its ongoing operations at the Bainbridge site “This investment provides a unique opportunity to accelerate our holding and quarantine operations for non-human primates (NHPs) while advancing the development of our larger husbandry facility in Bainbridge.” Bainbridge residents have continued to oppose the monkey facility in Bainbridge that would eventually house 30,000 monkeys the Bainbridge project is on hold as the Appellate Court decides whether or not to uphold the Court of Appeals’ decision to allow SHM to move forward with project incentives from the city SHM released a new statement addressing concerns: “PETA has made a number of falsehoods that need to be fact-checked there is nothing wrong with creating an LLC for real estate holdings it is a common financial practice for companies to create a separate LLC for this exact purpose Equally false is the assertion that SHM will be expanding this facility to hold 20,000 animals We do not have any update on a start date for Labelle The Labelle site will be operational and staffed before the Bainbridge facility opens allowing SHM to provide hands-on training for new Bainbridge employees and ensure operational readiness and efficiency Having another facility focused on quarantine gives SHM a head start in establishing operational processes that uphold the highest standards of safety These processes and experience will be invaluable for the team when it opens the facility in Bainbridge We do not have any further legal updates regarding our facility in Bainbridge we fully expect that the Georgia Supreme Court will let the Appellate Court’s decision stand allowing us to advance this project and bring good-paying jobs and investment to Bainbridge.” a PETA spokesperson sent WALB a statement that reads in part: “PETA stands with the citizens of Bainbridge and will continue to support their fight for transparency and a future free from the dangers and deception of this reckless proposal." WALB continues to follow developments on the Bainbridge monkey facility since its initial announcement in 2023 Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message may want to take note—big changes could be coming to Bainbridge the City of Bainbridge introduced a proposed ordinance that would regulate build-to-rent communities This move signals a significant shift in how housing developments could be managed and built moving forward I've tracked the steady growth in Bainbridge city leaders are responding to that growth by considering new rules designed to create more structured The ordinance outlines several requirements for build-to-rent communities: a respected local broker with decades of experience That the ordinance might make smaller build-to-rent projects financially unavailable after discussing the issue with City Manager O'Neal "I feel like everybody got what they wanted on this," said Miller." My worry was that a developer would want to come to town and build two or ten or twenty [units] And they would be subject to these regulations that would not make it financially feasible to do the project." The revised ordinance clarifies that these rules would only apply to residential single-family subdivisions with 80 or more dwellings As the proposal moves through further city review these regulations could set the tone for how Bainbridge manages rental housing development in the years to come The city council plans to hear the amended proposal during a public hearing at the next city council meeting on May 20th Want to see more local news? Visit the WTXL ABC 27 Website. Like us on Facebook Follow us onInstagramand X. We cover stories making an impact in Bainbridge. This is your home to stay on top of what is changing in Bainbridge and why it matters to you and your family. We want to hear from you! Click here and tell us what we should be covering in your neighborhood The Bainbridge Island School District and Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Parks and Recreation District both approved an agreement Thursday night to sell nearly 39 acres of school-owned land adjacent to the island's Grand Forest to the parks district for $2.2 million The forested area has long been used by the community as a recreational space that accesses Grand Forest and the pending sale ensures the land remains available for public use the Bainbridge Parks & Trails Foundation and Bainbridge Island Land Trust both facilitating fundraising for the purchase price from community donors The Land Trust agreed with the parks district to covenants and deed restrictions that will in perpetuity prevent residential or commercial development logging or other actions to alter the landscape is contiguous to the Grand Forest East block one of three Grand Forest parcels that provide an environmental wildlife and recreation corridor across the island executive director of the Bainbridge Island Land Trust Brady called the school district property a key piece to "ensure even further protection and keeping (the forest) intact." The move was approved unanimously by the school district's board on Thursday night according to a statement from the school district followed by a parks board meeting where the agreement was also approved The sale is anticipated to close within 45 days "This is about public lands remaining public and the community coming together to make it happen," Mary Meier executive director of the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation A purchase of 67 acres along Sportsman Club Road the same year allowed construction of Woodward Middle School in 1994 and Sakai Intermediate School in 1998 There is no plan to build a new high school in the future “This is a win-win moment for the school district and the Bainbridge Island community,” BISD Superintendent Amii Thompson said in a statement “The money from the sale will allow BISD to make crucial seismic retrofits and improvements at the district’s two oldest schools — Ordway Elementary and Commodore Options.” Brady echoed Meier in crediting a broad effort to reach an agreement and raise the money to make it happen though a total amount raised has yet to be announced The initial acquisition of Grand Forest land was made in 1989 and part of a Land Trust initiative and the park now is made up by 240 acres of forests and trails for recreation with connections to larger recreational land like Battle Point Park The east block has parking available on Mandus Olson Road for access "I think what's important is that this was a community effort," Brady said and committed to step up and project something they cared about." Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct Mary Meier's title with the Bainbridge Parks & Trails Foundation and to clarify that both the Parks Foundation and Bainbridge Island Land Trust were involved in fundraising (WCTV) - Today’s something good was an egg-cellent treat at Bainbridge High School The Anchor Club “egged” the school with kindness They left inspirational messages in eggs throughout the school for students to discover ahead of Easter weekend Some of the eggs even had certificates inside which meant the students could claim a small prize The Anchor Club’s director said the students had fun with the egging and they hope the messages inside inspire students to finish the school year strong To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and X (Twitter) Have a news tip or see an error that needs attention? Write to us here Please include the article’s headline in your message Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here to get started …IFP’s premier event is the Bainbridge Cup tournament The Bainbridge Cup’s format features pickleball teams representing different continents competing against one another WorkBoat+ Membership – Free to Join You may unsubscribe from our mailing list at any time Diversified Communications | 121 Free Street NEWS: Long-Delayed USCG Polar Icebreaker Moves Into Full Production Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District has begun work on replacing a deteriorating seawall at Puget Sound’s Wyckoff/Eagle Harbor Superfund site a key step in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) long-term cleanup of contaminated groundwater Construction of the new perimeter wall began April 18 and is scheduled for completion in April 2028 The project supports the EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment while opening the door for future public use of the waterfront property The $63.2 million contract was awarded Sept Work is being led by the Seattle District of the Army Corps which it noted has a decades-long partnership with the EPA on remediation efforts at the site “Environmental stewardship is a large component of the Corps’ mission,” said Maj “We’ve supported EPA with their cleanup mission for decades.” Located on the east side of Bainbridge Island the site includes the former Wyckoff Company wood treatment facility and adjacent subtidal and intertidal sediments in Eagle Harbor Long-term exposure to the elements has led to deterioration in portions of the existing steel sheet pile wall The new barrier will be constructed with reinforced concrete using soil mixed in-situ with a cement-bentonite grout A USACE press release noted most of the work will occur on the inland side of the existing structure and will remain out of sight until the original wall is removed this project will expand public access on Bainbridge Island and protect critical habitat,” said EPA Regional Administrator Emma Pokon “We appreciate the Army Corps’ partnership in ensuring clean air water and land for our communities.” The City of Bainbridge Island plans to convert the remediated site into a public park with beach access fulfilling a long-term vision for community use and environmental restoration “Seattle District remains committed to lend our technical expertise to the cleanup improve the environmental health of Puget Sound and convert this site into a beautiful park the community can enjoy for many years to come,” O’Donnell said Become a WorkBoat+ Member A new class at Bainbridge High School is giving students more than just academic credits—it's helping them build a path to their future careers while addressing a critical shortage in public safety roles “It was something that I wanted to do,” said Jacalin Padron reflecting on her decision to enroll in the school's criminal justice course “[I could] maybe try to become an officer or something one day,” she said The course is part of a broader initiative to inspire young people to explore careers in law enforcement and emergency services—fields currently experiencing a hiring crunch across Georgia the school's resource officer and criminal justice instructor the program was launched after a local needs assessment showed a growing demand for public safety personnel in Decatur County That was a need in our community,” Akins said State and local agencies across Georgia are facing staffing shortages due to a range of factors The Bainbridge High School program is a grassroots solution aimed at bridging that gap “students get to meet different professionals from our community—people already working in corrections They gain tools and knowledge that can help them apply for jobs after graduation.” the class is just the beginning of a bigger journey McConnell is already thinking about taking her future career to a different state when asked about her post-graduation plans are planning to bring their skills back home she hopes to pursue a career in immigration law right in Bainbridge “I want to [pursue] immigration law here,” Padron said Officer Akins sees the value of the program on both a personal and community level “Having this program here gives kids the opportunity to make better decisions once they go out into the real world,” he said And there's more than just practical experience on the line Students who complete the criminal justice course at Bainbridge High School are eligible to earn college credits—adding even more value to an already impactful program As the need for public safety professionals continues to grow Bainbridge High is proving that the solution may just be sitting in a classroom—learning A new development has emerged in the ongoing effort to stop the proposed Safer Human Medicine (SHM) primate facility from setting up in Bainbridge residents of Decatur County have raised serious concerns about local leaders’ decision to partner with a company that could potentially bring up to 30,000 primates into the community That concern has now escalated into a legal standoff four citizens who previously filed a legal complaint against county officials took further action by submitting a temporary restraining order (TRO) against SHM and the Bainbridge-Decatur County Development Authority Their goal: to halt any construction activity tied to the facility the Decatur County Board of Commissioners appears to be aligning with the opposition filed an additional TRO on behalf of the commissioners effectively co-signing the effort to stop SHM from moving forward According to residents opposing the project the commissioner's decision to join the legal action is a sign that local leadership may be rethinking its position “This is the first time we’ve felt like the county is truly listening,” one opponent told me Three other court cases involving Safer Human Medicine remain open indicating that this legal battle is far from over WTXL will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as they become available has filed for bankruptcy three years after opening in South Georgia According to the Decatur County Development Authority executive director he was notified by Danimer officials that they have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy McCaskill also said the company had a series of layoffs leading up to the bankruptcy The closure of the corporation is expected to affect 82 employees “We hope somebody comes in and buys those assets and creates jobs,” McCaskill said Danimer Scientific is a manufacturer of biodegradable materials Back in November 2021, the company broke ground and expanded to Bainbridge after Governor Brian Kemp invested $700 million the company brought 400 jobs to Decatur County WALB has reached out to Danimer Scientific for comment but is waiting to hear back This is a developing story and will be updated as we learn more Follow Jenna on Instagram: @bainbridgejenna Follow the pod on Instagram: @ohmypoduguys © Broadway Podcast Network A Bainbridge tattoo shop is making a permanent mark in the community—this time the Bainbridge Tattoo Company is teaming up with the Bainbridge-Decatur County Humane Society for a special fundraiser aimed at supporting animals in need the shop will donate 50% of all sales from select tattoo and piercing services to the Humane Society “Fundraisers are extremely important to the Humane Society It provides the funds we need for our organization to carry out its mission We want to help the helpless,” said Tiffany Singleton coordinator at the Bainbridge-Decatur County Humane Society The collaboration came to life when Singleton reached out to shop owner Josh Brailey with the idea—he agreed almost instantly The event promises to be more than just tattoos and piercings complete with snow cones and bounce houses All services will be available on a walk-in basis only emphasized the importance of community support We rely on word of mouth—friends recommending friends we wouldn't be where we are,” said Strickland Funds raised will go directly toward essential services for the animals including urgent medical care and neutering procedures So if you're looking to show off your love for animals in a permanent way—or just want to support a good cause—stop by the Bainbridge Tattoo Company this Saturday Your ink could help save the life of a animal in need This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Unexpectedly high construction bids have thrown a wrench into the Bainbridge Township Town Hall project Forgot 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Click here. By: 8:00 am on February 18 The photos show the area as it was before August 2022 The Philadelphia Horticultural Society maintained open tract is now occupied by a three and four story multifamily structure 1315 Bainbridge Street currently represents the lowest density parcel on the block Paulie Gee’s Soul City Slice Shop is nearby at 412 S 13th St. presented potential designs for Bainbridge Township’s town hall during the Jan “The tearing down of the building (gym) and the remodeling of the office space is estimated around $600,000,” Bainbridge Service Director Jim Stanek said in a follow-up phone call Trustees have not yet voted on the proposed renovations nor on whether they will tear down the gymnasium Myers and Thompson proposed a new set up for the town hall meeting room and trustee chambers that would allow attendees to come into the room before meetings trustees hold their executive session in the town hall meeting room prior to regular meetings forcing a cluster of people to wait in the foyer “We think it’s going to go a long way in refreshing the space and making it feel a lot more open,” Thompson said He and Myers proposed lowering the currently-heightened stage area to make it easier for people to get to “This obviously helps with the accessibility issues that currently hamper the space,” he said The new setup would also allow attendees to view the trustees and presentations at the same time Myers and Thompson recommended a white wall color and dark carpeting for the town hall renovations but trustees recommended a darker color due to scuffing Trustees also asked to change the lock and key door hardware They expressed concern for security and preferred an electronic option that gives them the ability to turn key access on and off and tracking software to see who’s coming and going from the building “This building holds both zoning and fiscal both of which should be more secure than the common open space,” Trustee Jeff Markley said 24 trustees meeting to seek approval for bidding “We are planning on wrapping up drawings in two weeks We originally were planning on presenting that to you and asking for approval to solicit advertisement (bidding),” Myers said “We met with our engineers today and they are a little behind so we’ll probably end up pushing that out another two weeks.” family members flooded the room to witness the swearing-in of full-time firefighter Greg Savel to the Bainbridge Township Fire Department Savel was made a part-time firefighter for Bainbridge in Spring 2020 trustees have made progress on their plan to livestream trustees meetings Trustee Michael Bates created a YouTube channel for the township meetings adding they have all of the required hardware “ADP recommended that we have somebody monitor any meeting whether it’s recorded or live,” Bates said He said they are aiming to start live-streaming by late February or early March Thomas Henshaw's first career victory as head coach of Bainbridge's baseball team wasn't a nail-biter by any stretch the Spartans erupted for nine runs in the second inning in a 14-0 win Bainbridge (1-2) strung together four consecutive doubles during a stretch that saw eight consecutive batters reach base against Olympic (1-1) The offensive eruption was a welcomed change for the Spartans who opened the season with a 7-1 loss to Peninsula and a 6-3 defeat against Lake Washington last week "Hitting is going to come around," Henshaw said One of five new head baseball coaches in West Sound this spring Henshaw has worn a Spartans uniform before The 2000 Bainbridge graduate earned all-league honors three seasons as a player and helped the program reach state his final two years in 1999 and 2000 Named to the 3A all-state team as a senior Henshaw played collegiately at Southern Idaho and Western Washington Having coached baseball at the youth level Henshaw said he and former Bainbridge teammate Taylor Childress always talked about potentially coaching at the high school level When are we going to get back into it?'" Henshaw said Bainbridge's job opened up after former head coach Geoff Brown resigned following the 2024 season I couldn't get it out of my head," Henshaw said I'll put my name in the hat and see what happens." Henshaw landed the job in the fall and brought Childress aboard as the team's pitching coach The Spartans reached the 3A state tournament in 2022 while posting a 19-4 record The team lost to Mercer Island in the first round The Spartans improved to 20-3 in 2023 and qualified for state again but were eliminated with a first-round defeat to Liberty of Renton Bainbridge finished 15-7 overall and saw its postseason run conclude in district tournament play said the Spartans struggled to hit consistently as a team last spring which was why the Seattle University commit was encouraged by Tuesday's performance against Olympic "Our hitting has gotten better over the three games," Bos said Bainbridge's pitching staff is expecting to thrive this spring with the Spartans making the move from 3A to 2A in the offseason tossed three shutout innings against the Trojans while senior right-hander Parker Kruglik has signed with D-III St When asked about his team's goal for the season Henshaw said it's similar to the goal he and his Bainbridge teammates strived for as players more than two decades ago "We've never won a state championship for baseball," Henshaw said daffodils burst into bloom all over Bainbridge Island Though various stories are told about them the true version is getting lost from our collective memory islander Dick Krutch and his family started planting daffodils along the roadsides near their own home Soon the Krutches began organizing community bulb planting events eventually inviting me to help find volunteer planters they supplied the bulbs and we did the planting “When we came to Bainbridge about 45 years ago Phelps Road and Ellingsen were dusty and unpaved.” Back then he and his family noticed daffodils blooming along the roadsides in the spring explained that the bulbs were planted long ago by Mary Sam includes a life sketch of Mary Sam (1830-1923) Mary Sam was captured as a youngster by Suquamish warriors and raised in the Suquamish traditions She married a Slovakian sailor who jumped ship in Port Madison and because Mary was so locally connected Their son was named Sam Wilson in honor of a family friend and Sam became a well known regional baseball player More flowers: Volunteer effort pivots to pull together Silverdale's new daffodil festival and teaching local women to dry berries and smoke salmon and clams The Sam’s cabin was in the woods behind Ellingsen Road along what was then known as the "Welfare wagon road." For years the foundations of the long-gone log cabin were lined with daffodil bulbs that Mary received in trade from local gardeners The Krutch family decided that “if Mary Sam could take the time to try and beautify the old road we ought to emulate her efforts,” Dick explained After planting daffodils along the backroads of the north end of the island they decided to create a legacy planting program dedicated to Mary Sam Dick Krutch donated well over 100,000 King Alfred daffodils and several places host some of the original bulbs from Mary Sam’s cabin moved some of those old bulbs to the old historic society building at Strawberry Hill Park When the history museum was moved into Winslow we moved some of the bulbs to the the shady fern garden on the library grounds a spot much like the woods around Mary's cabin Several dozen more of the old bulbs were planted in the Waypoint Park by the ferry a letter was published in the local newspaper decrying the proliferation of “non-native since while certainly non-native and definitely persistent the Krutch family donated 700 daffodils to the Friday Tidy to plant at the library The island’s High School Road roundabout was under construction just then and somehow several hundred daffodils accidentally got planted in the roundabout bed the late Junkoh Harui of Bainbridge Gardens donated 2,000 daffodils to plant in the High School Road roundabout The goal for these sturdy bulbs remains to recall the friendly relationship between the original local people and newcomers and honor the island's traditional generosity of spirit and community connections Contact Ann Lovejoy at 413 Madrona Way NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 or visit Ann’s blog at http://www.loghouseplants.com/blogs/greengardening/ and leave a question/comment Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission In the second act of Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway When she learns that their father has died and left Nessa as mayor If her sister will speak to her constituents and defend her against false accusations that she uses her powers for evil I’ve depended on you and this hideous chair with wheels,” she sings reminding her sister that she is risking her life to save the animals of Oz but has never once used magic to help Nessa walk That line has likely flown past many audience members over the past 21 years as Nessa blames her disability for her circumstances It’s arguably the most ableist scene in a show that calls Nessa a “tragically beautiful” and dependent villain (eventually known as the Wicked Witch of the East) Jenna Bainbridge becomes the first authentically disabled actor to play Nessarose on Broadway She’s an ambulatory wheelchair user — that is played the part onscreen last year.) Although Bainbridge says nothing in the script has changed since she joined Wicked her lived experience brings an honesty to Nessa that makes her desire to walk easier to understand We asked her about her experiences that inform the part How did you get cast as Nessarose?I was doing Suffs Is this show going to run forever?” So I reached out to my manager and was like here are some roles that are [casting] and some projects that are doing workshops that I think are open to casting a disabled actor especially with the movie coming out — it was so moving and exciting for me to watch Marissa Bode as Nessa Have you talked to Marissa since you got the role?Yeah we’ve chatted a little bit on social media I am just so honored to be in this club with her You must have a lot of thoughts about being the first onstage you have so much intimacy with the audience When someone makes history as the first person to do something in a community there’s always that bit of excitement about history being made And what I hope is that little kids with disabilities and grownups with disabilities can come and see the show and really feel included I just hope that people are excited to see and include disabled bodies in a story that they know and love we’ll see a change to Nessa’s story to skirt the ableist undertones especially the scene where Elphaba gives Nessa the ruby slippers and the ability to walk Did your casting result in any changes within the play script We are doing the same show that has been done for 20 years A little exciting moment is that I will use my own personal wheelchair during curtain call for bows So to use my wheelchair is great for me physically It saves my body at a time when I’m already exhausted after the show what’s it like to perform the scene where Nessa walks has to feel less than ideal.It’s a hard scene was originally performed by non-disabled people there is some language in there that we both know What I focus on is — for my own lived experience; I can’t speak for anybody else — there have absolutely been times when I have wished my life were different or that my abilities were different or that my disability were different And times where I’ve thought my life would just be easier Nessa’s disability isn’t the problem — that’s proven in the show the story can be looked at as a celebration of the fact that your disability can just be one wonderful part of you What else do you bring to Nessa that a non-disabled actor can’t?Nessa is described as tragically beautiful and she’s like her father’s favorite.” I know what it feels like to enter a room and have everybody stare and think that what’s wrong with her?” I know that feeling and that is something that is deeply a part of her character arc And even just little things like that — a boy asked her to dance I still remember the first time that I danced in my wheelchair with a boy And also the feelings of you live in this magical world and you are being prevented from interacting with it because of ableism That’s something that I don’t think a non-disabled person can even imagine And so to play a character who has a more complicated relationship with her wheelchair is really interesting how is Nessa’s villain origin story often misunderstood?Oftentimes non-disabled writers put disabled characters into two categories There’s the character that needs to be saved and overcome their disability and they do it through somebody else loving them And the other trope is that their disability is something that they resent and it makes them evil What I love about Nessa is that she has a little bit of both but she also has a hell of a lot of her own issues that aren’t related to disability — her relationship with her parents I think there’s just been systems and people that have failed her She’s had all of the privilege and therefore was also never told no and she never learned how to be a better person regardless of her disability There are moments where she’s really sweet and moments where she’s really sour She’s a deceptively difficult character to play Do you foresee casting opening up further for actors with disabilities?There are so many ambulatory wheelchair users out there like me I think about the Dream Ballet in Oklahoma the actor playing Laurie during the Dream Ballet was always replaced by a dancer And then a dancer danced the role of Laurie for the number and then it returned the actor at the end It’s a gorgeous moment and it’s the original staging Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York One of the first purchases Mark Nowak made after being named Bainbridge boys soccer coach saw him bring 10 new soccer balls into the program These weren't just any balls someone could snag at the local sporting goods store They are the same premium ones the Spartans would use in competition should they qualify for the Class 2A state semifinals or championship game two months from now at Federal Way Memorial Stadium I went out and bought the state balls," Nowak said Bainbridge is making Nowak's ball acquisition look like a smart decision The Spartans have outscored opponents 43-3 while building a 6-0 overall record and 4-0 mark in Olympic League play Bainbridge has hit the 10-goal mark in a game twice including last Friday's 10-1 road win at Bremerton Seven different players found the back of the net for goals "We're aggressive," Piland said when asked about his team's attacking philosophy There's a reason the Spartans didn't panic after Bremerton's Franco Ramirez put his team ahead 1-0 with a bending free kick from 35 yards out 10 minutes into the game It was the first time Bainbridge has trailed all season "I think these boys know the offensive firepower that we have," Nowak said The second half saw Bremerton become overwhelmed with Bainbridge's ability to win possession and get up and down the field quickly to generate high-quality chances "We've not seen a team that is better than us in transition," Nowak said it takes two or three guys to just bury it in the back of the net." Nowak moved to Washington in 2021 and spent three seasons coaching Central Kitsap's junior varsity squad to a 36-3-3 record Taking over Bainbridge's high school program felt like a sensible move considering Nowak also coaches youth soccer coach for Bainbridge Island FC Guiding a team that reached the quarterfinals of the 3A state tournament last season Nowak believes the Spartans have the ability to challenge for the 2A championship this spring It's a roster that includes four players who compete at the highest select soccer level in the state: the Elite Clubs National League who leads all West Sound players in points with 12 goals and 6 assists through six games who has committed to the University of California at Berkeley sophomore midfielder/defender Magnus Hauge and sophomore midfielder/forward Howard Howlett "I told them from the get-go that this is a group that can do it," Nowak said It'll be about creating the passion and the culture for it." From how players handle themselves at practice to all three Bainbridge teams (C-team Nowak said it's the "little details" that can make a difference between a team thinking it's championship-caliber and a team performing like one "It's going to take a village to get us all the way there," Nowak said Scoring goals at such a high rate through six games has earned Bainbridge rave reviews from opposing Olympic League coaches but Nowak wants to remind his players that the playoffs are more than a month away and no titles are handed out for wins in March and April If the Spartans want to play with state-quality balls in the final four in Federal Way "Try to be humble about the process and keep their toes on the ground," Nowak said "and realize it's more of process and it's not going to happen overnight." Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Maryland passed away peacefully surrounded by family on March 26 Donna is survived by her husband Ross Bainbridge Doug and his wife Lisa and Diana and her husband Roger and was predeceased in death by her first husband Don Bradshaw and sister Mary-Jean Litchfield daughter of Mary (Mollie) and Clarence Koons in North Henderson she graduated from Alexis High School and enrolled in Western University for 2 ½ years Lukes Hospital in Chicago - graduating with RN and B.S degree in nursing from University of Illinois Lukes for one year and then moved on to different places of work She worked at Culver Military Academy one summer before moving to Denver Colorado to work in infant surgery at Children’s Hospital for two years and Diana while residing in Homewood - suburb of Chicago Donna worked in a doctor’s office in Bethesda Donna took a job at Shady Grove Hospital working in the recovery room head nurse and laser center and endoscopy suite and Donna continued working at Shady Grove Hospital until her retirement in 1997 Ross and Donna moved to a retirement facility called Homewood at Crumland Farms in Frederick Maryland and finally settled at Country Meadows Music was a large part of Donna’s life - she started performing at the age of 8 She grew up singing in the church choir and being active in music all throughout high school and college She was a member of the Rockville Music theater and the National Christian Choir for 8 years she sang for the Bruton Episcopal Church Choir she sang in chorus called Encore and the Notables The family will receive friends from 11 a.m with a celebration of Donna's life to begin at 12 p.m memorial donations may be made to a charity of one's choice Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the family at StaufferFuneralHome.com Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Bainbridge residents can expect several new businesses to open their doors soon bringing more shopping and dining options to the growing community.Looking back on 2024 many recall the presidential election results and extreme weather events the year also marked a wave of business expansion with multiple companies announcing projects set to enhance the local economy Local residents have expressed excitement about the city’s growth “I love it,” said Bainbridge native Robert Barber Several major construction projects are underway transforming vacant lots into thriving businesses One of the most anticipated arrivals is a Publix grocery store which will meet the community’s increasing demand for high-quality grocery options an ALDI grocery store is set to open in a familiar location on Shotwell Street “I’m excited about ALDI; it’s a unique grocery store,” Pearson said “I like Publix also because they have great customer service and a great deli.” Bainbridge’s median household income from 2019-2023 was $41,531 raising concerns that new businesses may be out of reach for some locals many see the expansion as an opportunity to bring variety and convenience to their shopping experience but they have items that the other grocery stores don’t have,” Pearson noted The Development Authority of Bainbridge and Decatur County has confirmed timelines for these projects Executive Director Rick McCaskill shared that ALDI is scheduled to open next month and the Marriott’s Element hotel will welcome guests in February 2026 Long-time residents appreciate the positive changes and this little town had been stagnant forever,” Pearson said “We’re getting better places to shop and things to do but I like the fact that you don’t have to go out of town just to enjoy yourself.” Other businesses are also setting their sights on Bainbridge Anovion is scheduled to begin construction in July and Penny Newman Grain Company is set to start operations in October Bainbridge is on track to become a more dynamic and business-friendly community while still maintaining its small-town charm Stay tuned for more updates on local business growth Meijer has announced plans to open a superstore as early as Spring 2026 on the former Geauga Lake site "Meijer is planning to start construction on the Bainbridge Township site next month," a Meijer spokesperson said in an email Monday to The Record-Courier stores open 12-18 months after construction begins." According to Geauga County property records Michigan-based Meijer Stores Limited Partnership purchased the 16.45-acre parcel for $4.9 million in October 2023 a news partner of Northern Ohio's Gannett newspapers reported Monday that the parcel includes part of the former amusement park's parking lot followed by the Wildwater Kingdom water park in 2016 Meijer has considered building a store on the site before a Meijer spokesperson would only say in an email to The Record-Courier that its contract to purchase property had expired but the company was still interested in possibly adding a store to the "Bainbridge area" at some point the company has one store in Portage County Aurora and Bainbridge formed a joint economic development district in 2020 for the Geauga Lake area to fascilitate sharing of income tax between the communities with Aurora providing water and sewer service Funds from the JEDD will help spur residential and commercial development on the Bainbridge side of the lake Aurora completed a $5.3 million purchase of the 53-acre lake and 47 adjacent acres in Aurora In her Feb. 26 State of the City address Aurora Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin said the city plans to create a public park on the site with infrastructure and amenities expected to include "a pool Womer Benjamin said the project would require multiple phases over a number of years Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com Melissa Super-Greene has been selected as the next principal of South Kitsap High School A new walk-in healthcare clinic has opened in Bainbridge providing residents with a low-cost option for medical care Family nurse practitioner Henry Intili is leading the effort offering services at a flat rate to ensure more people can access the healthcare they need Henry Intili said he has been practicing for the past 25 years He knew he would ultimately live in Bainbridge because his wife is a native who moved to Bainbridge because of his wife’s ties to the area recognized the need for accessible healthcare in the community “This area does not have what we offer here which is a low-cost way to seek medical treatment,” he added The Bainbridge walk-in clinic will provide services such as physical examinations and DUI training at a set price eliminating the complexities of insurance-based billing The Rural Health Information Hub reports that rural working adults are more likely than urban residents to delay medical care due to cost concerns Memorial Hospital and Manor in Bainbridge is also working to connect residents with financial assistance programs highlighted that many eligible patients are not completing the paperwork needed to receive aid through Medicare or Medicaid “The hospital provides care to patients no matter what insurance they have or may not have,” Williamson stated the hospital absorbs unpaid medical costs as indigent care Williamson encourages patients to take an active role in securing financial assistance “They can continue getting assistance and medical care We're hoping that they will take responsibility for their portion by completing the application process,” she said Intili said he believes that providing affordable healthcare benefits the entire community “Let’s keep the population as healthy as possible I think we can do that if we have places where you can go for healthcare at a reasonable price,” he said In a finish befitting of International Women’s Day Belgium’s Emilie Conter stormed to a win in the $500,000 Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Grand Prix during Winter Equestrian Festival’s (WEF) ‘Saturday Night Lights’ on March 8 Highlighted by 12 weeks of consecutive FEI competition and four five-stars WEF continues at Wellington International through March 30 in Wellington In the irons of Portobella van de Fruitkorf Conter bested a seven-horse jump-off over the Alan Wade (IRL) built course From a field that included six of the world’s top ten ranked riders the 24-year-old claimed the first five-star victory of her career “It hasn't sunk in yet; I'm super happy with my horse and my team for making this happen,” said a beaming Conter at the evening’s press conference “I saw a really long [distance] to the last oxer and I heard Helena [Stormanns] scream ‘go get it!’ I didn’t think it was going to be enough to beat these other riders but I looked up and saw that I was in first.” Stopping the clock a second off the winning pace Olympic team gold medalist Harry Charles (GBR) settled for runner-up aboard Sherlock a 2013 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Bisquet Balou C x Malito de Reve) owned by Peter Charles & Stall Zet 1 and reigning FEI World Cup™ Champion Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) took third on his Olympic partner King Edward a 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Edward 28 x FEO) owned by Dufour Stables AG Conter has had the ride on Portobella van de Fruitkorf (Bamako de Muze x Nabab De Reve)—a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood—since the mare was seven “We've come a long way,” she said about the mare owned by Stephex Stables and Paul Swinnen “We took it very slow in the beginning because I always knew she was special she was a bit colder but always had massive scope she was not so impressed with the small jumps but now the bigger the fences With several previous connections of Portobella van de Fruitkorf watching along with Conter’s visiting grandparents from a sold-out crowd the victory was made extra sweet for Conter her groom Lisa Sorg earned the Double H Farm Grooms Award and $500 prize for her care and preparation of Portobella van de Fruitkorf Charles noted how the up-and-coming mount impressed in the Wellington International atmosphere “It's nearly as good an atmosphere as anywhere in the world,” said Charles who came to Wellington for the first time in 2024 and spent the season there this year “I didn't plan on jumping Sherlock in too many of the bigger classes under the lights; he's still quite green at night but tonight he jumped better than I could have hoped I thought the course builder did a great job—you saw the perfect amount in the jump-off Von Eckermann is focused on building back some lost confidence with his famed mount King Edward “He jumped fantastic,” exclaimed Von Eckermann “He jumped a very good indoor season but in the jump-offs that were full speed I’m a guy who wants to win and pushed a little too much and we lost a little confidence He feels good and is jumping better and better with every show These Saturday nights are fantastic and I'm looking forward to the [Rolex Finale] WEF 12.” Von Eckermann himself suffered a hand injury from a fall earlier in the WEF season and wore a brace on Saturday night as he continues to recover “It's always the same; in the ring adrenaline is going and you want to do it and then afterwards you feel it but it could have been worse and I’m happy that I’m able to continue riding Emilie did a fantastic job tonight and I’m very happy for her.” Top Five Results: $500,000 Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Grand Prix 3400 Equestrian Club Drive Wellington, FL, 33414Directions News Weekly Wire Press Releases Contact Us Payment Portal  Directions  Privacy Policy Cookies ShowGrounds Live Become A Sponsor Events Hospitality Meet Our Vendors The City of Bainbridge Island is grappling with its long-range plan as the bedroom community and popular tourist destination continues to become increasingly unaffordable for lower-income residents With a mandate to add nearly 2,000 homes through 2044 the city’s commercial centers could see major changes including significant growth within Winslow The City’s ultimate goal is to make housing in Bainbridge Island more affordable but the idea of adding more residents to an island city is receiving a fair amount of pushback from existing residents the 1.5 square mile City of Winslow annexed the rest of the island making it one of the most spread-out municipalities in Washington the nearly 28-square-mile Bainbridge has approximately the same population as Kenmore The 1991 annexation vote was originally intended as a way to manage anticipated growth and treat the island as one community rather than let Kitsap County government manage the island’s periphery the City of Bainbridge Island refers to the single-family zones that dominate the island as the “conservation area.” With some of the highest housing costs in Kitsap County Bainbridge is increasingly becoming a city for older the median age of Bainbridge Island residents increased from 43 to 50 with 35% of current residents aged 60 or older as of 2020 The share of family households with children declined from 49% to 35% over the same timeframe Many employees at the businesses frequented by tourists hopping on ferries from Seattle have been pushed out of the city and many commute from elsewhere in Kitsap County with a clear goal of producing more diverse types of housing and increasing the supply of housing available to people with low and moderate incomes While the city has seen some multifamily development in and around Winslow in recent years new single-family development still vastly outpaces denser development the city saw around 125 new multifamily units permitted compared to close to 350 single-family permits Department of Housing and Urban Development Bainbridge Island has space to accommodate its county-mandated housing growth target — of 1,977 units — with room to spare a law the state legislature passed in 2021 that requires cities to specifically plan for the expected income levels of future residents Bainbridge will have to rezone more of the island to accommodate denser housing that’s more attainable Given the higher incomes of existing residents over 1,400 of those 1,977 units have to be targeted toward people making relatively modest incomes or below Now it’s up to the Bainbridge City Council to decide exactly how to densify to comply with state law the City released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) looking at two potential growth scenarios: one labelled the “dense centers” options and the other “distributed density.” Under the dense centers scenario Winslow would see the most significant zoning changes to accommodate new development with modest changes to Bainbridge’s satellite urban centers of Lynwood those satellite centers would see more substantial changes Currently Lynwood Center on the island’s south end is a small commercial hub and a few restaurants and other service-related businesses Increasing housing and amenities near the commercial nodes throughout Bainbridge aligns with the strategy that the city adopted in its 2022 Sustainable Transportation Plan, which prioritizes creating multimodal connections to the same centers making it easier to meet one’s daily needs without a car height increases under the distributed density option would be less intense and the overall neighborhood’s boundaries would shift further into the so-called conservation area a framework that would encourage the neighborhood to grow out rather than up That would put new residents further away from services and make trips more likely to be made by car Many Bainbridge Island residents are pushing for a third no zoning changes would occur and the city would continue on its current trajectory with capacity for 592 units within Winslow and only 128 units in the other neighborhood centers But city planners call that action infeasible given the state direction coming in the form of HB 1220 to say nothing of the city’s Housing Action Plan Comments pushing back on more density on Bainbridge were plentiful during the city’s long comment period on the DEIS which stretched from late July to early October “We don’t want to lose the funky having escaped from the big city life,” Bainbridge residents Jane and Steve Hannuksela wrote during the comment period the need for more affordable housing is a very real concern We urge the City to approve increased affordable housing units within the current zoning parameters.” Those comments were far from the overwhelming majority “Although we support an increase in density around Winslow we also believe that more affordable housing around the island would make the island a better place to live It would made our neighborhoods more diverse and attract young couples who are more likely to have children which in turn will help increase school enrollment and lower the average age of those who live here,” David Danielson our business model of necessity limits us to seek employees that can afford to work at or near the minimum wage level yet the island has almost no housing that those potential employees can afford.” As Bainbridge’s main commercial district and a portal to the rest of the region via the 35-minute ferry to Seattle Winslow would see significant changes to its zoning under either alternative Winslow has capacity for 592 units of housing an amount that would increase to 2,386 under the distributed density alternative and 2,868 under the dense centers option — an increase of 303% to 384% Focusing development capacity under the dense centers option would mean height limits near the state ferry terminal would rise from 45 feet to 65 feet the same area where the city is developing a 100 units of affordable housing on the site of a former police station Another 65-foot zone would take shape further inland Along Bainbridge’s “main street” and major tourist draw of Winslow Way height limits would be increased but only to 55 feet with a “transition zone” (paired with a 45-foot height limit) filling in the area in between the Bainbridge City Council is set to select a preferred growth alternative almost certainly some sort of blend of all the options studied several councilmembers have signaled that their north star isn’t a growth plan that will meet the city’s own goals around making the city more affordable but what will check the boxes to comply with state housing mandates “I believe — I don’t know if we’re all there and I think the community is — we want to comply with [HB] 1220 with the minimum amount of increased capacity possible or know we can create the infrastructure in the right time period,” Councilmember Kristin Kirsten Hytopoulos said at an early October study session on the topic “And we don’t want a plan that doesn’t do that I believe that’s our number one goal.” Bainbridge Island City Manager Blair King reiterated this point “One suggestion that we heard is that the Council should direct the Planning Commission to work with [the growth targets] at the legal minimum and that the legal minimum should be addressed and the focus should be on the legal minimum,” King said Bainbridge Island’s own Race Equity Advisory Committee pushed back on settling for a minimum “Given the current median income and cost of housing on Bainbridge we should be ashamed that our leaders would seek the bare minimum in capacity to theoretically meet affordable housing goals as required by the State of Washington,” the committee wrote “Demanding the minimum amount of capacity would not yield the number of affordable housing units needed to meet your established goals we are left with the troubling impression that the Council may not fully support equity on the Island.” the status quo doesn’t look to be an option for Bainbridge Island The question set to be answered in the coming months is whether the city’s leaders will rise to meet the moment or whether they’ll go along begrudgingly a move that likely won’t fully set the city up for success in the coming decades and may not be enough to stem the tide against housing unaffordability Ryan Packer has been writing for The Urbanist since 2015 and currently reports full-time as Contributing Editor Packer has also reported for other regional outlets including Capitol Hill Seattle They live in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle The Urbanist hosts social hour meetups every month. In April, we’re hosting four social events and kicking off our urbanism-themed walking tours starting in Kirkland on April 26 we’ll be hosting a booth at the opening celebration at Downtown Redmond Station Check our urbanist events calendar to see everything happening this month, including events hosted by partner organizations. You can submit your event for inclusion