"Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong
."
- WR Purche
Harbor Hounds is September 9th
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And that's a wrap! It's hard to believe that another summer has already come and gone. Although I must confess, we look forward to Tuesday mornings drinking coffee in the office instead of hanging signs and making aisles at the park, we've loved every moment of these crazy summer days.
Maybe it's the smoke finally clearing, my beverage orders shifting from iced to hot, or maybe I'm just sentimental, but the end of summer seems to mark just that-the end of something, and not just a season. Summers in Gig Harbor have always been a time where Gig Harbor seems to come to life.
Though going back to the sentimental thing, more than the "small town feel", the Beatniks, or the Tides, it is the community that makes summers in Gig Harbor special and gives the town life. The community that is made up of all of you and we are thankful for each of you.
So as we once again shift our lives and prepare for Fall, remember to cherish both this place and these people who make this town the special place it is.
As always keep tabs about all things Gig Harbor by reading this month's GigaByte, visiting our
website, following us on
Facebook, and
Twitter plus see beautiful photography by visiting
Instagram.
Special submission by Alyssa Hoffman, City of Gig Harbor summer Tourism & Communications Assistant.
Good luck back at Whitworth, Alyssa. Thank you for all your hard work. We will miss you!
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Thanks a bundle to our 2017 Summer Sounds Sponsors
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Cruise Against Hunger is September 8th
Enjoy a captivating sunset cruise through the calm waters and intimate passages among the South Sound islands and exclusive bays, under bridges grand and small.
There will be a variety of food, wine, beer and soft drinks to enjoy on our trip. Two beverages of choice are included in ticket price. All proceeds benefit the
#Community Harvest project, which provides support to Food Backpack 4Kids and the Gig Harbor Thanksgiving Basket Brigade. Bring your jacket... and a camera!
Cruise departs from the Maritime Pier at 3003 Harborview Drive (near Tides Tavern). Please arrive by
4:45 to board.
When:
Friday, September 8th
Time:
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Place: Maritime Pier, 3003 Harborview Drive
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Winners of Photo Contest
Thanks so much for all who submitted photos, we loved looking at them!
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"I took this photo, "Fall in the Harbor" is one I took while participating in the 2016 Worldwide Photo Shoot (10/01/2016)."
-Gerald Reed
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"I took this photo from the deck of the Green Turtle Restaurant on July 25, 2017. We spent the evening enjoying a great meal while watching the boats go by the lighthouse. The views of the water and Mt. Rainier made it an unforgettable occasion."
-John Becic
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Make Waves Annual Benefit Event September 14th
This September 14th 6pm-8:30pm at the Club at The Boatyard, join Harbor WildWatch for the 3rd Annual Make Waves event to benefit environmental education in the greater Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula communities.
Donate through the Silent Auction and 'Raise the Paddle' to support over 600 interactive education programs in your community in 2018. Proceeds further educating the next generation of scientists and help us to foster a sense of curiosity, place and wise stewardship.
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Race for a Soldier 1/2 Marathon & 5K Sept. 24th
The longest journey many of our soldiers face is not the plane ride home from distant battle fields, but rather the struggle they face upon returning. The statistics are staggering regarding the numbers of service men and women suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), many of whom are unaware of or unable to access the resources and support they need.
"Race For A Soldier" created a new meaning for PTSD: "Permission To Start Dreaming." We want this phrase to be planted on all soldiers' hearts and minds when they return. Our mission is to raise awareness and funds to support programs that enrich the lives of soldiers and their families in a tangible way.
PULL FOR A SOLDIER SEPTEMBER 8th
Trap Shoot tournament that benefits the Permission to Start Dreaming Foundation. Shooters will compete in team format to break the most trap targets. Registration costs $150 per person or $500 for a team of five and includes shells, clay, BBQ lunch and prizes. Please bring your own hearing protection if possible. For more information, visit
here.
Link to Registration and More Information
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Fill The FISH Tank Food Drive A Success
The "Fill the FISH Tank Food Drive" was a huge success this summer! Thanks to the generosity of our neighbors, Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH Food Bank and Community Services received over $1000 in food items and cash. Although filling the shelves at the food bank was the primary goal, having the opportunity to visit with folks at the Beatniks concert, the Waterfront Farmers Market and Friday Family Fun Movie Night was a great way to share our story and build public awareness because most people only think of us as a food bank. GHP FISH is so much more than a food bank!
Connecting with the public during the events was great, but connecting with local businesses was another bonus. To create an incentive for donating, we partnered with local businesses to obtain items to be raffled off each evening. Thanks to the cooperation of the Downtown Waterfront Alliance and the tireless efforts of volunteers, four raffle prizes were awarded, which was a fun way to create hype and goodwill. We are grateful for the positive response from the business owners and look forward to future partnerships.
None of this would have been possible without the support from the City of Gig Harbor and the sponsors of the events during GHP FISH Week. Please share our appreciation with CHI Franciscan and Harbor Hill, the sponsors of the Summer Sounds at Skansie, as well as the Beatniks for allowing us to participate during one of the summer's most popular events. Please extend our sincere thanks to Taylor Thomason Insurance and MultiCare Gig Harbor Medical Park, sponsors of Family Fun Movie Night and Waterfront Farmers Market for their support during our evenings with them. CarrotStick Marketing also played a big part with creating the marketing material for this awesome event.
Finally, we cannot express our gratitude for the support of Karen Scott, and all the folks at city hall. Without the support and encouragement from our community, Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH would not be able to assist our neighbors with food and other services, especially during the summer when food and monetary donations are low. Thank you! Thank you, to everyone!
All the best,
The "Fill the FISH Tank Food Drive" Committee
Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH Food Bank & Community Services
Food donations are still in great need. Visit GHP FISH website to find out how you can contribute.
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Harbor Hounds Walk the Town on September 9th
Harbor Hounds is a dog-friendly community fair held in downtown Gig Harbor along the spectacular waterfront. Event sponsors set up booths to display and/or sell their products and services in Skansie
Park. Registered Dog Walkers walk with their best friend
(s)
along the Gig Harbor waterfront, visiting booths, making friends and getting Raffle Cards stamped by the participating sponsors for a chance to win spectacular Harbor Hounds prize packages (to be announced soon).
Food vendors and entertainment are provided throughout the day.
And, we have plenty of sponsor provided watering holes along the way.
The day ends with a number of fun contests for you to show off your dog. Categories include: Best Tricks, Best Kisser (the dog), Best Tail Wagger
, Best Dressed, and our fun musical Sit and Stay contest.
Link to More Information
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Harbor WildWatch Events for September
Wetland Walking Tours: September 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th
This family friendly and free event meets at the pavilion across from the ball fields at Sehmel. Learn about the value of wetland habitats and the role they play in our local ecology.
10 am-11 am @ Sehmel Homestead Park: 10123 78th Ave. NW
Beach Clean-up: September 16th
Join Harbor WildWatch's fabulous teen volunteers, who are coordinating this beach clean-up for International Coastal Clean-up Day. Bring a bucket, gloves and shoes that can get wet and muddy.
10 am-12 pm @ the Purdy Sandspit: runs along
WA-302
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History Rocks! September 23rd
Harbor History Museum is putting on a "Masquerade for the Museum" for this year's History Rocks! 2017 marks the 16th year of History Rocks, Gig Harbor's premier philanthropic and social event.
What better way to celebrate this milestone than with a glamorous gala. Join them to celebrate our local heritage and raise much needed funds to support the Harbor History Museum's operational and programming needs.
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Meaningful Movies presents "Rachel Carson" September 8th
MEANINGFUL MOVIES in GIG HARBOR presents documentary films on the 2nd Friday evening of every month, along with a forum for open community discussions. Our purpose is to engage, gather, educate, advocate, build meaningful and sustainable community, and work for peace. We are an all-volunteer, community-owned organization, and are not religiously or politically affiliated.
Featuring the voice of Mary-Louise Parker as the influential writer and scientist, Rachel Carson is an intimate portrait of the woman whose groundbreaking books revolutionized our relationship to the natural world. Drawn from Carson's own writings, letters and recent scholarship, this film illuminates both the public and private life of the woman who launched the modern environmental movement and revolutionized how we understand our relationship with the natural world
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Greater Gig Harbor Open Studio Tour Sept. 15th-17th
The Open Studio Tour continues the tradition established
in 1993 of juried, select Greater Gig Harbor
area
artists opening their working studios to the
public. This year there are 27 artists dispersed in 18 different studios. The tour is dedicated to providing the rare
opportunity of seeing the artists in their studio
environment and offering explanations and
demonstrations of their materials and art processes.
Open Studio Tour is also a once a year opportunity to admire and acquire fine and functional works of art directly from the people who create them.
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Volunteer at the Skansie House
The City of Gig Harbor's Visitor & Interpretive Center at the Skansie House is currently recruiting volunteer ambassadors for our welcome center. The center is run in partnership with Harbor WildWatch and is home to the Harbor WildWatch Laboratory too. Volunteer shifts consist of regularly scheduled weekly, monthly or on a fill in basis. Please contact
Karen Scott at the City Tourism & Communications Office by
email for more details on how to sign up.
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Senior Resource Fair September 30th
Senior Health & Resource Fair that will take place from
10am - 2pm on
Saturday Sept 30th at Harbor Covenant Church.
This event features:
* Free HealthCare Screenings
* There will be 20 professionals on hand with important topics like housing, healthcare, financial, legal & leisure
* We'll be doing Door Prizes - everyone that attends can enter their name in the drawing and we'll be pulling 4-8 winners during the course of the 4 hours (must be present to win)
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City of Gig Harbor News
Welcome to Claire Bunker, the new Tourism & Communications Assistant.
Welcome to Melissa Hartwig, the new Planning & Building Clerk.
Harbor Hill Drive Extension
Construction of Harbor Hill Drive to Burnham Drive. Construction is currently underway and is expected to be completed in December of 2018.
Ancich Park Upland Development
Stay tuned for ground breaking in October.
New Pilot Program - Expedited Civil Permit Review Process
Expedited Civil Permit Review is designed to complete civil permit review in 2 review cycles, each exactly 6 weeks long.
Olympic Drive / Point Fosdick Right Turn Lane
A new right turn lane will be constructed beginning July 10th. The majority of this work will take place at night and completion should be in September.
2017 Transportation Update, "Connect the Gig"
Please join us for a workshop on active transportation on September 9th from 9am - noon at the Gig Harbor Civic Center.
Peninsula Light Fields ribbon cutting
Please join us at the fields for a ribbon cutting on
September 25th at 10am. Under new ownership of the city, this property will be an important part of the future Gig Harbor Sports Complex.
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City Construction Updates
You can find information on the following projects at the link below:
Burnham/Borgen Roundabout Traffic Modifications
Harbor Hill Drive Extension
Olympic Drive/Point Fosdick Drive Right Turn Lane Intersection Improvements
Well No. 11
One Harbor Point
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Ongoing Events
First Saturday Art Walk
Gig Harbor Farmers Market
Super Business Group
Meaningful Movies in GH
Toastmasters
AARP Smart Driver Class
The Journey of Grief
Freedom From Tobacco Weekly Support Group
Paradise Theatre's September performances
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Coming Next Month
Scarecrow Fest
Autumn Sip & Stroll
Glass Pumpkin Patch
Trick or Treat in the Harbor
Trick of Treat at Uptown
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