Hip, Hip, Hooray: July 4 Season Starts Now

With exactly three months to go - another rite of spring is here! The countdown is now on to when we will all be celebrating the Island's largest and longest-running island tradition - The Grand Old 4th!

As your hosts, the Chamber is delighted to today officially open up registration for the Street Fair (all vendors, including food) & Hometown Parade, as well as to humbly ask for Community Volunteers to consider signing up to be part of the fun.

Last year, the event only happened thanks to over 100 volunteers who stepped up to make this community party a success - THANK YOU!

Important Upcoming Dates:

• June 2 - Street Fair Vendor Deadline
• June 16 - Parade Deadline

Chamber Workshop: BIPD Public Safety For Business Owners

Wed April 5, 9 - 10am

Bainbridge Business owners – come get free guidance on best practices when it comes to securing your location, and understand what the Police can and cannot do in response to property crime on Bainbridge - in this special Chamber workshop in the BIMA Auditorium led by Police Chief Joe Clark and Community Resource Officer Zach Burnham.

800 Islanders Share Their Thoughts About Bainbridge in National Community Survey

A recent survey by Polco/National Research Center was sent out to 2,800 Island residents covering topics including: Government, Economy, Mobility, Community Design, Utilities, Safety, National Environment, Parks & Recreation, & Health.

More than 800 Islanders (73% of which were aged 55 or older) responded - and the results were recently presented to City Council.

Highlights:

• Top two areas of needed focus are utilities (91%) & transportation (83%)
• 66% approve of Bainbridge's local government
• 94% feel safe on the Island
• 90% think Bainbridge is a good place to visit
• 90% enjoy the quality of island businesses
• Cost of living received a 'deplorable' 13% approval rating

Bainbridge Remembers Japanese Americans Who Were Incarcerated

The Bainbridge Island community gathered at the Japanese American Exclusion Memorial, which reads “Nidoto Nai Yoni” (translates to “Let It Not Happen Again") on March 30 to remember the 227 residents who were forcibly removed 81 years ago.

BI Japanese American Community president Carol Reitz said the theme for this year’s event is, “We remember them,” asking the crowd gathered, “Who are you remembering?”

Local Government 101 - County Commissioners

After 12 years of service as the Kitsap County Board Commissioner for District 1, Robert Gelder, will step aside May 23 to take a position within Thurston County.

This provides a timely opportunity to answer some questions: What does a commissioner do? Why they are important within the function of our county? How will a replacement be selected to fulfill the remainder of the term? How will this impact Bainbridge Island and our surrounding North Kitsap communities?

On The Agenda:

City Council Study Session

Tue April 4 at 6pm

Key Items:

Item 3A: Receive recommendations from Public Works regarding sewer and water rates. The capital investments required will be critical elements for the Winslow Subarea and islandwide Comprehensive Plan updates. 

Item 3B: Review Madison Avenue Bundled Project (package of non-motorized, street, and utility

improvements between Winslow Way and 305)

Bonus: Welcome To A Rock Called Bainbridge Island

As a final nod to the fun of April Fool's Day (well played team Bainbridge Airport, well played), please enjoy Alan Blackford and Dan Osborn's hyper-local remake of an Eagles classic...

You can check out any time, but you can never leave...

Last Chance to Apply for $100M In State Grants For Lodging/Hospitality Businesses

The Washington State Department of Commerce is now accepting applications for $100M in grants available to local businesses in the hospitality and lodging industry that suffered direct losses due to the pandemic.

The grants are targeted primarily at small businesses with $5 million or less in annual gross receipts or sales within designated NAICS codes.

This is a final heads up that the application deadline is 5pm on Thursday April 6.

Purchase Your Tickets Now for the Business Awards Party

Sat Apr 29, 5 - 9pm

Less than a month to go to the big night, and with less than 30 tickets left to purchase - it's time to get your tickets for our 2023 Business Awards Show/After Party at The Manor House!

The all-inclusive tickets are priced at $70 for members and their guests.

Thank you to Bainbridge Events Rental for bringing their "The Lightning Booth" photo fun, Eleven Winery for donating wine and Town & Country Markets for supplying desserts.

Chamber staff is currently busy tallying up all the votes and checking for hanging chads - and we can't wait to present the beautiful awards to this year's winners.

Rockin' Ruby's Records

Rockin' Ruby’s is Poulsbo’s first-ever record store, but more than just records are on the menu.

1200 sq feet of new and preowned vinyl, CDs, and cassettes await, alongside an extensive selection of LEGO for kids and collectors alike.

Retro music gifts, clothing, and one-of-a-kind artwork is available, as is fresh drip from Pegasus Coffee (with all beverage profits donated to local animal rescues). Coming soon: LIVE in-store performances from touring and local musicians.

Rockin' Ruby's is located at located at 279 Lindvig Way, Suite A in Poulsbo (near Liberty Bay Auto)

Come celebrate their Grand Opening on Saturday April 8 at 12:30pm in Poulsbo, with the Chambers and Mayors of both Poulsbo and Bainbridge

Public Input Welcomed for Sound to Olympic Trail

April 14 deadline

On March 29, the community provided input to City staff for the Sound to Olympic (STO) trail project on the 20% design for the trail extension from the Sakai Pond Connector to Madison Avenue, and the route planning along State Route 305 to Agate Pass Bridge. 

Your online input will be used to help refine the trail segment planning to be completed this summer. The plan will assist the City and other community partners in applying for grants to support the final design and construction of the trail segments. 

Submit STO Feedback Until April 14

New Name Selected for Wilkes Elementary

On March 30 BISD's Board of Directors voted unanimously to change the name of Captain Charles Wilkes Elementary to x̌alilc (Halilts) Elementary.

“We deeply appreciate the name that the Suquamish Nation has gifted our community,” said BISD Superintendent Peter Bang-Knudsen. “This is not only an opportunity to right past injustices and honor our neighbors and original inhabitants of Bainbridge and the surrounding area, but it is also an opportunity to educate our children about the Suquamish Tribe’s historic and ongoing contributions.”

Listen to the Pronunciation of x̌alilc (Halilts)

Construction at Port Madison Substation Starts in Late April

In the coming years, PSE will upgrade their three substations on Bainbridge Island to improve electric reliability and capacity.

Starting this spring, they will replace aging equipment and complete some upgrades at the Port Madison Substation.

This work will start as soon as late April and continue through this fall.

Learn more about the PSE Grid Modernization

State Transportation Commission Asks for Your Input

The Washington State Transportation Commission & Washington State Ferries would like your input regarding recent Washington State Ferries performance.

Take the 10 Minute Survey

BI Farmers Market is Back

Ignore the weather reports - spring on Bainbridge Island is officially here, beginning with the moment Mayor Brenda Fantroy-Johnson officially opened the Farmers Market Season on Saturday April 1.

Dozens of returning and newcomer farmers, crafters, processors, and concessionaires helped kick things off in style - and will now be present in Winslow's Town Square on Saturday's from now until the end of November.

Check out the 2023 vendors in the new updated interactive market map

Four Free Online Programs on Finances & Investing

Mar 30, Apr 6, Apr 13 &

Apr 20, at 4:30pm

Financial literacy is empowering—yet good, practical education about financial management is too often out of reach for people, especially those with limited incomes.

On behalf of BCF, every year Paul Merriman organizes free virtual events with speakers who are nationally renowned experts in their fields in order to help educate our community on how to better plan for our futures.

This year, each event is targeting a specific age group on topics relevant to their stage in life.

Learn More & Register for These Free Events

Each month the Chambers of Commerce ask a single question to gather information on our communities and our county...

Q: How many times a month do you use Kitsap Transit's Scheduled Bus Routes or BI Ride?