a weekly digest for bainbridge business owners and our island community
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY NEWS
GO4 Volunteer parade marshaling in action
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO MAKE GRAND OLD 4TH ... GRAND!
(AKA: Bainbridge Needs You!)
The Grand Old 4th not only pulls Islanders together, but it also takes a active community to make the magic happen...

Signups are open for a wide variety of volunteer shifts on the 4th:
  • Info Booth/Parade check-in
  • Hydration stations
  • Recycle stations
  • Parade/Barricade marshals
  • Beer Garden (w/MAST permit)
  • General Set-up/Tear-down

**All volunteers receive an exclusive GO4 '22 team T-Shirt courtesy of Via Rosa 11**


Dear local sports teams, nonprofits, or other community organizations: Thanks to donations from event partners Bainbridge Disposal, COBI and Chris Ugles, the Chamber is happy to donate to your program in exchange for groups of volunteers at the Grand Old 4th!


Image courtesy of COBI
AFFORDABLE HOUSING MOVING AHEAD ON THE ISLAND 
At last week's study session, City Councilmembers unanimously agreed to draft an ordinance to update the city’s local land use code to comply with the state law that requires that local governments provide a density bonus for affordable housing located on property owned or controlled by religious organizations.


That decision will directly impact the Affordable Housing Project being proposed by Bethany Lutheran to provide 21 units of affordable housing on the 8 acres of land the church holds between Sportsman Club Road NE and Finch Road.


At tonight’s city council meeting, council members are expected to formally complete the $2 million grant to Housing Resources Bainbridge for 13 Affordable Housing Units in the Wyatt & Madison project (funded by COBI's $6M windfall from the American Rescue Plan)

HOMETOWN HERO: SNL ALUM CHRIS KATTAN COMES BACK TO BAINBRIDGE FOR ONE NIGHT AT THE LYNWOOD
As a cherry on top of the Celebrate Bainbridge weekend, the Lynwood Theatre and Pleasant Beach Village today announced a once-in-a-lifetime special event that sees 1989 BHS graduate and class clown return to the island for a stellar comedic performance! 

Kattan grew up on Bainbridge Island, and this special 'Coming Home' stand-up performance is a part of the campaign to help renovate the historic Lynwood Theatre.

VIP ticket holders are also invited to an exclusive post-show Meet and Greet with Chris at the Marketplace at Pleasant Beach Village right across from the Lynwood Theatre.

Image courtesy of COBI
ROAD WORK AT NEW BROOKLYN & SPORTSMAN CLUB 
June 22 through ?August?
Starting on June 22, this project will increase safety for school children, pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-motorized users before the start of the new school year.

The work will:
  • Reconfigure lanes
  • Add sidewalks
  • Add approaching roadway shoulders 

Traffic control detours and signage will be reduced around the Rotary Auction and Rummage Sale, but after that expect the entirety of NE New Brooklyn Road from Sportsman Club Road NE to Grizdale Lane to be closed in both directions.

Image courtesy of VBI
SCHOOL IS OUT, NO MORE SCHOOL-A-PALOOZA IS BACK
Thursday June 16, After School
Back by popular demand, multiple island organizations led by BYS have teamed up to bring another island tradition back to celebratory life.

All island middle and high schoolers are invited to join in the fun - which includes a mobile skate park, game and art booths, taco truck, live music, and more... an obvious photo op must be the drench-your-teacher booth!

No More School-A-Palooza is free at the Aquatic Center campus on the last day of school

ON TONIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
Tuesday June 14, 6pm
  • Public hearing on adoption of proposed Stormwater Plan

  • Approve Appointments to City’s Climate, Ethics, Planning Commission and Race Equity advisory boards or committees

  • Proclamations for Ride Transit Month, Sexual Assault Awareness, LGBTQI+ Month and Juneteenth

NEWS IN BRIEF
CELEBRATE BAINBRIDGE
Mark Your calendars NOW, so you don't miss a minute of this time-honored island tradition - click the poster for more information on all the community events - including new ones being announced and added this week!
YOUR INPUT REQUESTED
KITSAP BUSINESS SURVEY
Q: Would A Foot Ferry Between Bremerton & Bainbridge Island Help Your Business?
(please chose a single answer)
Yes, to attract more staff
Yes, to attract more customers
Yes, to attract more staff and customers
Only a little
No, it would not
Not as much as more ferries to Seattle
Recent Results:

Q: How Many More Employees Does Your Business Need To Be Able To Serve Your Current Customer Demand?

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
KITSAP COUNTY
126 Total Responses
CHAMBER UPDATES & EVENTS
Image courtesy of Brittany Kelly Photo
EVENT RECAP: AFTER HOURS AT VIA ROSA 11
On Tuesday June 7, the Bainbridge business community came together to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of a beloved Rolling Bay Italian Market & Kitchen. 


After Hours will take its traditional July break in favor of a certain, intimate party for a few thousand of our closest friends on July 4th... stay tuned for details of the August event, post GO4!
NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
MEDICARE OPTIMIZED
Insurance Broker: Eric Suhadolc
Confused about the intricacies of Medicare?

Eric is a Medicare insurance broker who especially enjoys explaining this unbelievably confusing system so that his clients clearly understand their options and then can make sound decisions for themselves. His services are free to his clients.

Serving Bainbridge and Kitsap County, Eric represents seven carriers, and seeks to find the best policy for the lowest price for everyone, as "None of us have enough money these days..." 

MEMBER NEWS & EVENTS
Image courtesy Paper & Leaf
PAPER & LEAF CELEBRATES SEVEN YEARS
Congratulations to the team at Paper & Leaf: Your reputation for an impeccable experience has put you on the map, both locally and globally... 

Join the P&L team from June 17th to 19th as they celebrate with special storewide deals and giveaways.

Cheers to reaching number 7, and to here's to many more to come!

Image courtesy of COBI
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND CELEBRATES JUNETEENTH
Sunday June 19, 1-3pm
Enjoy local speakers, music, art and West African food from Aunt Dolly’s (for purchase) at Bainbridge Island’s very first Juneteenth Community Celebration at the Bainbridge island Senior Center and Waterfront Park

The event is hosted by the city’s Race Equity Advisory Committee in collaboration with Bainbridge Black, BI Senior Center and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union 3000

2022 is the first year that Juneteenth is an official Federal and Washington State holiday. The day commemorates and celebrates the liberation of Black people from slavery. 

NOTE: City Hall will be closed Monday, June 20 in observance of Juneteenth as will the Chamber offices.
BPA DEBUTS SHAKESPEARE’S THE COMEDY OF ERRORS LIVE AT BLOEDEL 
June 16 through July 3, 7pm
Join BPA in the meadowlands of Bloedel Reserve for the fantastic romp that is Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors

One of Shakespeare's early plays, The Comedy of Errors is his shortest and most farcical comedy, with a major part of the humor coming from slapstick and mistaken identity involving 2 sets of identical twins, in addition to puns and word play. 

Image courtesy of BPA
PEGASUS COFFEE SUMMER SUNDAY CONCERT SERIES 
Select Summer Sundays, 2-4pm 
Join Pegasus Coffee House as they bring the music back for a new Summer Sunday Concert Series! 

  • June 19 – Steve Nagle
  • July 10 – Thys Wallwork (Skinny Blue)
  • July 24 – Nina Davis
  • August 7 – Jed Crisologo
  • August 21 – Julianne Thomas

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
LEADERSHIP POSITION AT ZIMPLE MONEY UP FOR GRABS
Fancy a career shift into financial entrepreneurialism?

Steve Rabago is looking for a scrappy banking/payments executive to take over the leadership of ZimpleMoney.com.

The site makes it easy to send bills, process payments, apply payments to interest fees and distributes the money into your checking account. 

Equity and performance incentives plus benefits are on offer...

Image courtesy of PSBJ
NOMINATE HARDWORKING BUSINESS LEADERS FOR PSBJs 40 UNDER 40
Puget Sound Business Journal is looking for bright entrepreneurial stars throughout the region to include in their coveted 40 Under 40 Awards. 

To be eligible, nominees must by 39 or younger through Sept. 30 and reside in Washington state, however, they don’t need to work for a Washington state company.

The deadline for entries is June 17. 

BAINBRIDGE BUSINESS ACADEMY
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY OUTLOOK 
Thursday June 16, 10am
The Washington State Hospitality Association hosts an informative review of where the restaurant, services and hotel industries are heading in 2022 and 2023. 

Topics include:
  • State of the economy and impacts of inflation
  • Local hotel performance against the national trends
  • Restaurant data and upcoming trends reshaping the industry

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
WOMEN-OWNED BIZ PITCH CONTEST NOW OPEN
Have a big idea? It might just score you $20,000

KeyBank’s Key4Women program is hosting a pitch contest for women-owned businesses in Seattle and the Greater Puget Sound. Opportunities for start-ups and existing businesses are offered.

To be eligible, for-profit businesses must be 51% owned, controlled, operated, and managed by a woman or women. They must also be headquartered in King, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, or Kitsap counties. 

Important Dates:
  • June 1 - Online portal opens for submissions 
  • July 31 - Application deadline at 11:59pm
  • Aug.15th - Ten finalists will be chosen by a diverse panel of UW judges
  • Sept. 15 - Live pitch event at UW Foster School of Business from 10am-1pm
  • Sept. 16 - Formal announcement of winners

JOB & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
CITY HIRING MULTIPLE POSITIONS
WSF NEEDS WORKERS FOR VARIETY OF POSITIONS
KITSAP TRANSIT SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR SEVERAL POSITIONS
PARKS DISTRICT NEEDS SEASONAL & FULL-TIME POSITIONS FILLED 
WSF Ferries
FERRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE NEEDS VOLUNTEER
LOCAL COVID UPDATES
BY THE NUMBERS: COVID RATES
Current Cases per 100,000
  • Bainbridge Island: 223 (down from 227)
  • Kitsap County: 192 (up from 188)

Bainbridge Cumulative Total Cases
  • 2,322 (56 new since last week)

As of June 9, 2022

Kitsap County External Resources:
FREE CHAMBER MEMBER RESOURCES
BAINBRIDGE FILMWORKS:
Make your home or business available to film/tv productions via a new WA Filmworks partnership


VIA ROSA CONFERENCE ROOM:
Seating for 10 people, a 50” video screen + giant whiteboard wall – Avail. for 60 or 120-min sessions


PSE POP-UP SPACE:
6' x 6' space with display stand, power, internet + 43" monitor -
Avail. for 1-week-or-2-week slots.


BROCHURE RACKS:
Newly-expanded capacity for 4x9" promo cards in our indoor and outdoor racks at both Ferry Info Kiosk + Winslow Way Info Desk.