"
Parks are works of art just as a painting or sculpture is."
Thomas Hoving
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Welcome to May in Gig Harbor! May 2017
May is a big month in Gig Harbor. We officially kick off summer with the always popular Street Scramble. This year the event will take place at Donkey Creek Park. The Street Scramble is a wonderful way to get out, get moving, and learn more about our town. Find out how to register in the article below.
In addition this month, Gig Harbor's new Welcome Plaza will be finished! The beautiful new plaza, at Skansie Brothers Park, comes complete two public restrooms, two public family restrooms with showers, a viewing platform and other facilities to support the boating community that utilizes Jerisich Dock. Mark your calendar now for the ribbon cutting taking place at the
Waterfront Farmer's Market on June 1st at 4pm.
Keep tabs about all things by reading this month's GigaByte, visiting our website, following us on
Facebook,
Twitter and see beautiful photography by visiting
Instagram.
I look forward to seeing you in the sunshine. Enjoy!
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Play BINGO all May and WIN!
Pick up your BINGO card at the Skansie Visitor & Interpretive Center and play the most fun game in town. Complete your card and enter to win an amazing Gig Harbor staycation. Completed cards can be returned back to the Skansie Visitor & Interpretive Center. Please help support our downtown merchants and businesses by playing!
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First Saturday Art Walk is this weekend!
Indulge your love of art at the First Saturday Art Walk every month along Gig Harbor's Downtown Waterfront. This free event allows art enthusiasts to stroll through 9 galleries featuring artist demonstrations, refreshments, and displays reflecting a diverse selection of mediums and styles. Visit them all and enter to win a $50 gift certificate!
Link to Additional Resource
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Greater Gig Harbor Foundation's #Community Myxer
Celebrate the second annual #Community Myxer - ¡Myxo' de Mayo May 5th! Honor
extraordinary people, share
transformative projects, and reflect on works of building, bridging and enriching our greater peninsula community while enjoying music by Budapest West, South of the Border inspired foods, fine wine, local brews and signature Ritas sponsored by Heritage Distilling Co.
Link to Additional Resource
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Heron's Key Resource Fair May 6th
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Invite a friend and join Heron's Key on Saturday, May 6th for a 2nd Annual Resource Fair - an opportunity for you to discover the resources, community organizations and volunteer opportunities awaiting you in Gig Harbor. Doors open at 9:45. The event runs from 10-1pm and includes free LeMay Mobile Document Shredding from 10-12pm
Browse 50+ exhibitor displays for a wide variety of services designed to help retirees thrive in Gig Harbor: Coin Collectors, Home Audio Systems, Re-Sale Providers, Personal Services, Volunteer Organizations, Pet Care and more. Between 10:30 - 1:30pm there will be short Informational Seminars on preparing for a move, volunteering and settling in to Gig Harbor, with our special guest Mayor Jill Guernsey. Event is being held at Harbor Covenant Church at 5601 Gustafson Dr NW from 10am - 2pm.Brought to you by Heron's Key, a unique Continuing Care Retirement Community opening in Gig Harbor in summer of 2017. For more information call Sarah at 253.292.4118 or visit us at Facebook.com/heronskey.
Link to Additional Resource
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Rain Barrel Workshop on May 9th
Spring showers not only bring flowers, but also the chance to collect, store, and use the abundant (!) Washington rainfall for your personal irrigation needs. Rain barrels are one way home owners can harvest the rain and you can learn how at this workshop - Tuesday, May 9th at Gig Harbor Civic Center. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. There is a limit of one free rain barrel per household - must live in city limits to receive free rain barrel.
Link to Additional Resource
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Peninsula Community Chorus Spring Concert May 21st
Join us for an afternoon of tender, poetic songs and rousing opera choruses on Saturday May 21st at 2pm at Fox Island United Church of Christ. Wonderful works from Mozart, Lauridsen, Stroope, Offenbach and Sullivan will fill your afternoon with song and community inspiration. We hope to see you there! Admission to our concerts is always free, though donations are appreciated. Light refreshments are served immediately following the performance.
Link to Additional Resource
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Gig Harbor Beer Fest May 20th
Get ready, here come the craft brewers! May 20th marks the 6th year of this festival at the Uptown Gig Harbor Pavilion. Enjoy live music as Gig Harbor will, once again, be home to some of the finest craft brewers in the Northwest during the Annual Gig Harbor Beer Festival.
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Step Into Style - Auxiliary of St. Anthony Hospital Benefit May 20th
Join the Auxiliary of St. Anthony Hospital at for a "Step Into Style", a benefit for our community's hospital, on Saturday, May 20th from 11:30am - 2:30pm. Proceeds go to the Anthony's Closet program, and other needs of the hospital. Elegantly sited at the Canterwood Golf & Country Club, this exciting, colorful event will feature a luncheon, no host bar, music, raffle, and a sunsplashed, summery fashion show by Chico's and Soma of Gig Harbor's Uptown Shopping Center. Tickets are $50. Call the Franciscan Foundation: 253-428-8411.
Link to Additional Resource
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Gigging Up the Harbor May 20th
Come join the community and show your Gig Harbor Pride as you take part in the annual downtown waterfront clean up day! Bring your own tools and meet at Donkey Creek park on May 20th at 9am. A volunteer lunch will be provided by the Downtown Waterfront Alliance afterwards.
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Tides Tavern Classic Boat Show May 20th
Come enjoy the brightly varnished mahogany and glistening chrome that highlights these classics from a former era of yachting on May 20th and 21st. It will be a fun (and free) event featuring boats from the 1920's to 1960's. All Ages
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Street Scramble is May 27th
The largest Street Scramble in North America and the only free Street Scramble in the greater Puget Sound region takes place here in Gig Harbor on May 27th! The Gig Harbor Street Scramble is a "treasure hunt" through-out the community directing participants to 30 locations on a map. This free, family event marks the official kick-off for summer and outdoor fun in Gig Harbor!
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Travel + Tourism
Maritime Gig Festival & Blessing of the Fleet is right around the corner! June 3rd and 4th is a weekend packed full of fun for the whole family! Start off Saturday with the U.S. Bank Family Fun Run through beautiful downtown Gig Harbor and attend the Yo' Ho' Harbor Grande Parade immediately following. Pay tribute to the city's heritage Sunday at the Blessing of the Fleet.
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Natural Yard Care Workshops Ongoing This Month
May 3 - The Right Plant in the Right Space. The Tacoma Pierce County Health Department and City of Gig Harbor are offering free tips on how you can protect the environment while displaying a beautiful yard and garden.
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Community Garden Looking for Volunteers
Would you like to garden in Gig Harbor in a place that gets full sun all day long? Harbor Covenant Church opens up their Community Garden for the second year. Open to all in the community - you do not need to be a church member, all are welcome to garden. Monthly bbq's in the garden open to family, friends...all! Email
here to reserve your bed.
Link to Additional Resource
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Sips for School Fundraiser May 11th
Sips for Schools wine tasting, desserts & shopping. Join us in tasting OneHope wines from Napa Valley, produced by Rob Mindavi Jr. Taste desserts by THE ART OF CRUNCH and shop designer clothing & accessories at Sharon's Spa & Resale Boutique on May 11th. 15% of sales at this event go to Communities in Schools Peninsula. Help us as we rally to raise funds for this amazing local program.
Link to Additional Resource
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Music at Chapel on Echo Bay on May 18th
Free member concerts series continues on May 18th with Elijah Bosenbroek. A potluck will take place at 6 pm with music at 7 pm. To mix it up a bit this year, some concerts will be on Wednesdays and others on Thursday. We hope this will make the concerts available to more people.
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Greta Matassa Quartet featured May 20th
Seattle native Greta Matassa is one of the countries most talented and popular jazz singers will play at MORSO on Saturday, May 20th. With hints of Ella, Sarah, Billie and Carmen, Greta is increasingly recognized as a unique voice in jazz. Her rapport with an audience, lively, spontaneous and humorous one moment and touchingly introspective the next, consistently wins praise from fans and critics alike.
Link to Additional Resource
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Junior Sail Camp Registration Open
Registration is now open for Gig Harbor Yacht Club Junior Sail Camp 2017. Our learn-to-sail camp is held in the harbor throughout the summer for youth ages 6-18. Choose from five-day sessions running June 26 through August 25th. No sailing experience is necessary. Junior Sail Camp is taught by US Sailing certified instructors out of West Shore Marina in Gig Harbor.
Link to Additional Resource
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PenMet Dragon Boat Registration Open
Come Paddle with us!
Looking for a fun workout on the water?
Join a group of friendly paddlers who like the Harbor as much as you do. All skill levels are welcome!
Practices include skill building, endurance, and camaraderie. Enjoy any or all of 3 weekly practice options. Tuesday-6:30 AM, Thursday-6 PM, Saturday-8:00 AM. Work toward competing in races, or simply enjoy recreational paddling in the harbor.
For more information email or
visit our site
or call 253-208-4353 to book a trial paddle.
Registration information here:
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Harbor Institute Provides Learning Opportunities
Tacoma Community College Gig Harbor Campus presents Harbor Institute, a non-credit program for adults who want the fun and challenge of a college class without the papers, tests, and grades. With affordable prices, Harbor Institute makes it easy to learn local history, immerse yourself in art, or keep up on some of the most exciting and important trends unfolding in the world at large.
Link to Additional Resource
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Harbor WildWatch Home to New Laboratory
Harbor WildWatch offers an array of activities throughout the town such as beach walks, walking tours, and interactive Science Saturdays! In addition, you will find a new interactive sandbox, a year-round touch tank with various invertebrates from Puget Sound, and an underwater camera with live feed at the Skansie Visitor & Interpretive Center, located at 3207 Harborview Drive and open Wednesday through Sunday 10-4 beginning April 5th.
Link to Additional Resource
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Gig Harbor BoatShop Offers Family Programing
The Gig Harbor BoatShop, birthplace of the Thunderbird Sailboat, engages in the essential activities of a boatyard, such as boatbuilding, boat repair, vessel restoration, boat use, community launching events, and documentation of historically significant boats. You will also find events including Family Boat Building, mentorship programs, and Music at the BoatShop.
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Anthony's has Rhubarb
Fresh, local rhubarb from Richter Farms in Puyallup, Washington has arrived at Anthony's Restaurants! Our team of chefs have developed a myriad of combinations to showcase this local delicacy in a variety of different recipes. Take your pick from Rhubarb-inspired cocktails and seafood items and make sure not to miss our famous Rhubarb Slump! Please check our website for full details and availability:
www.anthonys.com.
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JW at the Boatyard is Open
JW Boatyard, South Sound Magazine's "Best Food Truck in the South Sound 2017", is open for the season! Stop on down from 11:30 am to dusk, weather permitting.
JW restaurant is offering their 3 course prix fix menu every Sunday, Tuesday & Wednesday from 4pm until close. 3 courses for $30! Visit their website for more information.
Link to Additional Resource
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City of Gig Harbor News
Kimball Drive
Thermoplastic markings are needed will complete the project on Kimball Drive and Hunt Street from Pioneer Way to Soundview Drive. This road work will take place, tentatively, the week of May 1st. Please watch for directional signage.
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City Construction Updates
You can find information on the following projects at the link below:
Ancich Park
Skansie Park / Welcome Plaza / Lift Station 4
Year of Transportation
Stormwater Low Impact Development and 2017
Public Works Standards Update
Planning Projects
Public Works Projects
One Harbor Point
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Ongoing Events
First Saturday Art Walk
Super Business Group
Meaningful Movies in Gig Harbor
Toastmasters
AARP Smart Driver Class
The Journey of Grief
Freedom From Tobacco Weekly Support Group
Our calendar is jam-packed! Find more events at activities at:
www.gigharborguide.com
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