The Washington State Legislature passed and Gov. Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 5615 to make pickleball the official sport of Washington. I am excited and pleased to hear the pride that people have when they point out that pickleball is “homegrown” right here on Bainbridge Island.  

As the official sport of Washington, pickleball is, by logical extension, the number-one sport on Bainbridge Island. It is embraced by the community. Just for fun, I thought we could ask a question: If pickleball is the premier sport on Bainbridge Island, what is number two? The list can go on and on. Vote below.

We’re looking for volunteers to serve on our City Advisory Groups to assist and advise the City Council on topics that range from climate change and ethics to land use and utility-related policies. Our boards and committees do important work and add value to topics under Council consideration.

The workload varies for each committee; some meet just once a month and others more often. Most committees require a three-year commitment.

For a full list of openings and to learn about the committee responsibilities, please visit bainbridgewa.gov/CAG. You can apply online or pick up a paper copy of the application at the City Hall front counter.

 The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. April 27. Interviews will be held in May.

The Bainbridge Island community gathered this week for a special event recognizing the 80th anniversary of Japanese Americans being forced to leave their homes for incarceration camps during World War II. 

Speakers at the event included survivors, community leaders and Governor Jay Inslee.  

 

Councilmember Clarence Moriwakai presented a proclamation on behalf of the City declaring March 30 as "Nidoto Nai Yoni - Let it Not Happen Again Day" to mark 80 years of healing.

In 1942, the Japanese Americans of Bainbridge Island were the first group to be evacuated to concentration camps. 

Survivor Frances Kitamoto Ikegami was just 5 years old when her family was forced to leave their Bainbridge Island home. At the commemoration event, she shared her family’s story and the support they received that was vital to their survival. She also described her family’s return to Bainbridge Island. 

The event ended with a reading of all 276 names on the Exclusion Memorial wall.  

 

The commemoration recognized a significant civil rights event that occurred on Bainbridge Island. The Exclusion Memorial serves as an important reminder to “let it not happen again”. 

The Bainbridge Island Japanese Exclusion Memorial Facebook page shared a livestream of the event. Watch here.

Gov. Jay Inslee this week signed Senate Bill 5615 designating pickleball as the official Washington state sport. The signing was held at the original pickleball court where the game was invented, on the south end of Bainbridge Island.

Governor Inslee was surrounded by family members of the game’s founders, pickleball fans, bill sponsors and the CEO of USA Pickleball.

The three creators and founders of pickleball—Bill Bell, Barney McCallum and Joel Pritchard—repurposed a badminton court in 1965 to create the game.

After the bill signing, a community celebration was held at the Founders Courts at Battle Point Park. The Bainbridge Island pickleball community hosted the event with support from the BI Metro Park and Recreation District.

Watch the bill signing.

Our Climate Action Plan has a short-term goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on Bainbridge Island 25% by 2025. To achieve that goal, we need to be willing to take significant action on the most impactful changes. As you celebrate Earth Day (now Earth Month!) this April, commit to take action to reduce your climate impact. 

Impactful ways to take climate action:

Learn more about actions you can take to reduce climate pollution, save money, and protect both human and environmental health at ClimateSmartBainbridge.org.  

Climate change is solvable, we know the solutions and we’re in this together. Together, we can create a Climate Smart Bainbridge! 

The next Council meeting is scheduled for April 12.

The public is invited to contact members of the City Council to express concerns, questions and praise. Some council members are holding virtual office hours and others are available to meet upon request. Please visit the City Council page for more information on individual City Council members.

Washington State Ferries is taking the Kaleetan out of service for one sailing tomorrow morning (Saturday, April 2) to refuel and canceled the 7:55 trip from Bainbridge Island. 

The boat will resume its regularly scheduled departures after it refuels. Customers affected by the cancellation have the option to take the 7:05 or 8:45 a.m. sailings from Bainbridge. 

Join Master Gardeners from the Washington State University Kitsap Extension for a series of free webinars to learn how to take your yard to the next level and how to use products that are safer for kids, pets and Puget Sound.  

Tired of mowing? Spending too much on weed and feed? Discover eco-friendly ideas to keep your yard healthy and attractive.

Learn tips on maintaining your yard to protect our beautiful Northwest habitat and keep your family healthy.

The Student Conservation Corps (SCoCo), a paid Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District employment opportunity, is seeking volunteers for its summer work program.

SCoCo members work to control invasive plant species in our island’s parks and protected open spaces to achieve goals outlined in the Park District’s Invasive Plant Management Plan. 

The summer sessions will be held:

During the summer sessions, local educational speakers provide conservation education and career advice to SCoCo members during the lunch hour.

Interested applicants must attend an application work party at Sakai Park, located at 1560 Madison Ave N, and preregister by emailing morganhouk@biparks.org.

Application work party dates: