On Jan. 25, City Council approved authorizing City Manager Blair King to begin procuring construction bids for the previously-purchased 8804 Madison Avenue N property as the future site of a joint Police and Municipal Court facility.

The motion passed with 6 council members in favor and one abstention.

Council also authorized an evaluation of the agreed price for 8804 Madison Avenue N by a Seattle appraiser to see if there are lessons to be learned from the land purchase process.

Following swift action by the House and Senate, Governor Inslee formally signed two bills last Thursday to delay and modify the new payroll tax - lawmakers now have until July 2023 to improve or reform the program.

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is asking for a review of the Hearing Examiner's approval of the Wintergreen Townhomes Project to the County Superior Court.

While VMFH "strongly supports the affordable housing to be provided within the Project", concerns over a lack of adequate parking for residents, guests, and patients have prompted their petition.

No other appeals of the decision were submitted before the January 18 deadline.

A reminder that emergency utility work continues 9pm to 6am each weeknight from until Friday, Feb. 11.

In addition, annual bridge cleaning is scheduled from 9am to 2pm each day from Monday, 2/14 to Sunday, 2/20.

Delays of up to 30 minutes are estimated by WSDOT.

From a core set of values based on the island’s community, history, and future needs, the Sustainable Transportation Committee created an original list of more than 300 potential projects meant to fill gaps in bicycling, walking and transit on Bainbridge.

Seven values were set for these projects:

Ultimately, the list has been whittled down to 100 ranked projects (with cost estimates) and will be presented to the City Council Feb. 15.

Ready to help change the world?

COBI is asking residents to help inform their next steps on achieving goals outlined in the Bainbridge Island Climate Action Plan.

Climate Action Workshops will specifically garner feedback, ideas, and opinions from residents on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare our island for the impacts of climate change.

To participate, fill out the application form by 8 PM on Feb. 15.

The next scheduled council business meeting is Tuesday Feb. 8 at 6pm.

Bainbridge Island Rotary Club is moving forward with hopeful plans for their annual extravaganza to be in person on July 2, 2022, following all public health protocols.

Vehicle donations are being accepted starting right now.

Available by reservation only, and just in time for Valentine's Day, tickets are good for one flight plus chocolates at each winery...

February 11-14: Tickets and info 

Bainbridge Youth Services, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Association, invites the whole community to join in a special uplifting event.

Winslow Way will be closed the evening of Friday, February 11, for Hope Glows, a community luminaria walk focusing on mental health and connection with each other.

Thanks to the event sponsor, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, the event is free to the public.

This will be a completely outdoor event and masks are encouraged.

All ages are invited to join in this community event by decorating a bag with messages of hope that will become a luminaria when lit with a candle. Bags can be picked up from BYS (8533 Madison Ave N, across from the Aquatic Center), and turned in decorated by Monday, February 7.

The Bainbridge Island Senior/ Community Center is looking for an energetic and collaborative Manager of Fundraising and Marketing

If interested, please email your resume and cover letter.

Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor, shares some creative merchandising ideas emerging during the pandemic, featured in the recent National Retail Federation trade show.

He also offers a free in-store retail merchandising plan on his website.

Featured speaker is Jennifer Filzen, owner of Rock Star Marketing in Monterey, CA

The SharedWork program provides a way for businesses to restart and bring their employees back from unemployment with reduced hours.

Businesses gradually build back their team with qualified workers receiving partial unemployment benefits to replace a portion of their lost wages.

Unvaccinated visitors must present rapid antigen test results within the past 72 hours.

Free tests from the new federal website are being distributed by the million:

Free tests from Washington State are being depleted and restocked - get in line for yours online:

Millions of free N95 masks are being distributed to pharmacy and supermarket chains across America, including Safeway, Rite Aid, Walgreens on Bainbridge (limit 3 per person).

In today's latest Kitsap County numbers, 1,014 cases per 100,000 residents are recorded (down 10% from last week).

Island numbers are down slightly, and are today at 451 cases per 100k.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have now been 1,561 total cases recorded on Bainbridge, 11 of them new over the past week.

Vaccination rates on Bainbridge continuing to lead the county - more than 99% of Islanders aged 12 and above are vaccinated, alongside 72% of 5 to 11-yr-olds.

Drive-through testing is offered 6 days a week in Kitsap County, with the Rolling Bay testing site on Bainbridge open Mondays and Wednesdays 9am-1pm

To help explain Bainbridge's new restrictions on single-use plastic to consumers, COBI has begun to send out free table-tents to our local eating and drinking establishments.

If you have not yet received yours, or need some more, please come pick them up for free at the Chamber office.

With the support of the City, County, and Bainbridge's own Breath Café, the Chamber has fresh supplies of N95 masks, disposable masks, and hand sanitizer available for free to all public-facing Island business and nonprofit organizations.

We also have free posters available to help businesses make it clear to all customers that masks are required for entry at their location.

To grab yours, give us a call, stop by our offices, or email us - we are here to help...