A Generational Opportunity: Lend Your Voice To COBI's Winslow Subarea Plan Update

Housing, transportation, infrastructure, public space are all elements under discussion within the the Winslow Subarea plan - due this year for it's first substantive update since 2006.

Consider it the overview of the way Winslow should be for the next 20 years and this your chance to voice your thoughts about the future of Bainbridge.

Engage with council members and city staff in a series of public meetings design to inform and listen to residents over the next couple of weeks:

Environmental Impact Statement Public Meeting:

Wed Feb 8: 7pm-9pm @ City Hall

Project Workshop - open to all in person

Mon Feb 13 6pm-8pm @ BHS Commons

Project Workshop - open to all online

Thu February 16 6pm-7:30pm on Zoom

Starting winter of 2023, there will be three public meetings for this planning effort which will share information on the project and where the public can give feedback.

In addition to these public meetings, the team will engage with a number of stakeholders, elected officials, and public boards and commissions throughout the process.

Sign up to receive text or email notifications regarding the Winslow Subarea Plan.

City Council: Emergency Moratorium Means No More Rooms at The Inn

What Is Happening?

An LLC related to the owners of Pleasant Beach Village began working with city planning officials almost a year ago, bringing forward plans to develop one of two parcels on Pleasant Beach Drive NE

Why Are We Talking About This?

This issue brings into focus what Bainbridge wants of it's neighborhood centers, and whether Bainbridge businesses should be encouraged to meet increasing demand for local hotel rooms on the island.

What’s Next?

Without any large-scale expression of public sentiment, the moratorium stays in place across all Island Neighborhood Centers, and the proposed Pleasant Beach Village project at Lynwood Center is on hold

Major Expansion Proposed for Bainbridge Senior Center

At tomorrow's Annual Membership Meeting (February 8, 10:30am@the Senior Center), BI Senior Center Executive Director Reed Price will discuss doubling the size of their 6,500 square foot facility by potentially adding a second story and/or affordable housing units for seniors.

Expansion talk was originally triggered by:

• Senior Center membership surging from 770 to 1,810 since Price took the organization’s reins in 2017
• The Island's 65+ population increasing in size, now making up 26.4% of Bainbridge's 25,000 residents

Many alternatives for creating space and adding services have been considered, crystalized via a set of conceptual drawings created by local architect Charlie Wenzlau, triggering a discussion of “what we might want to put here,”

Vote BI as Best Western Small Town Today Until Feb 20

The island has been nominated as among the Best Western Small Towns as part of USA Today’s 2023 10 Best Readers’ Choice travel awards!

Learn more about USA Today's 10 Best Awards For 2023

With 2 weeks to go, Bainbridge is currently sitting in 2nd place, behind only Gig Harbor, but ahead of other incredible destinations like Cannon Beach, OR, Golden, CO; Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA; Ketchum, ID; Sitka, AL; and Moab, UT.

The rules allow for a daily vote from each individual through Feb. 20, so please consider taking a minute to vote for the island and bring that award home to Bainbridge.

Valentine's Special

Chamber After Hours at Bainbridge Senior Living

Thu Feb 9, 5:30-7:30 pm

RSVP today - there are less than 10 spots left at our Valentine's themed chamber After Hours at Bainbridge Senior Living - Madison House on Thursday February 9 at 5:30 pm.

A special thanks and 'much love' to Eleven Winery this month for the complementary wine, to our hosts for delicious treats, and Bainbridge Event Rentals for a fun Valentine photo booth!

Tickets are always free for Chamber members, and available to non-member guests for $20.

Bainbridge Business Awards Tickets On Sale For Members

Sat April 29, 5:00-9:00 pm

The Chamber is delighted to bring back the Bainbridge Business Awards on April 29 at The Manor House - Pleasant Beach.

This casual, fun event night out is an upbeat celebration of the island's dynamic and diverse business community.

Schedule of events:

5pm - Reception Hour/Apps/Drinks

6pm - Award Show/Heavy hors d'oeuvres

7pm - After Party/Dancing/Drinks

Tickets go on sale today for Chamber members and their guests and include event entry, variety of food choices, beer/wine open bar - if you are not a member but would like to join us, please email Jessica.

Chamber Members should also watch their inboxes for the 2023 Award Nomination Forms will be emailed out on Friday Feb. 10

Highside Distilling Releases Initial Batch of American Single Malt Whiskey

On Saturday, Highside proved that good things come to those that wait - after a 3-year aging process, their first batch of American Single Malt Whiskey is ready.

Co-owners Matt, Jeff, & Helen Glenn celebrated release day in style with tunes from DJ Sidecar, and oysters, as an accompaniment to samples of that new Whiskey goodness (which is a blend of 2 different barrels finished in a stainless steel tank and proofed to 100 proof/50% ABV prior to bottling). 

Pick up a bottle (nose of vanilla, fresh sawn oak, honey) at Highside Distillery at 8895 Three Tree Lane NE, open from Friday - Sunday.

Click to purchase online or learn more

The Chamber is grateful for the support of each and every member, and we would like to recognize and thank all those that joined or renewed their memberships in January.

Special recognition is gratefully given to the Bainbridge Public Library, Bainbridge Thai Cuisine, Bay Hay and Feed, Boyer Towing, Inc., Carter Dotson - Windermere Real Estate, Eagle Harbor Book Company, Eagle Harbor Congregational Church, Island Center Automotive, Kitsap Bank, Madrona School, Quality Inn & Suites (Bainbridge Island), Seabold Cottage, Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort, and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - all of whom have now been Chamber members for more than 20 years. 

Extra-special recognition goes to Columbia Bank, who first joined the Bainbridge Chamber no less than 75 years ago (as American Marine Bank), and will soon metamorpihize again into Umpqua Bank!

TruBridge Dental

Founded by Dr. Helena Soomer Lincoln, TruBridge Dental™ is the creator and U.S. patent-pending innovator behind the TruRidge Preservation System℠, the world's first, teeth-only, dental bridge and implant restoration to preserve the natural gums and jawline through computer-aided modeling and atraumatic tooth replacement.

A fraction of the cost, weight and bulk of conventional bridges and dentures,TruBridge patients reclaim the look, feel, and smile of their original teeth. 

All treatment and lab work happens under one roof on Bainbridge Island inside the company’s sister location at Fairy Tale Dental. 

Learn about their work & visit their site

Meet Jason Driver from Kitsap Regional Library

Wed Feb 8, 1:30 - 2:30 pm

Meet the (relatively) new Kitsap Regional Library director - Jason Driver joins Bainbridge Senior Center to update the community with activities at KRL.

The new director has been focused on looking at how the library will grow and change in the years ahead.

Click here for the Zoom link

BI Read for Justice: Let's Learn About Race & Education

Sun Feb 12, 1:30 - 3 pm at BIMA

Join BI Reads for Justice and BIMA in watching the Roosevelt High School documentary, Beyond Black and White, about 50 years of race reform in Seattle.

The film will be followed by a panel, hosted by Chasity Malatesta and Brandi Bispham, discussing where we are now in race and education on Bainbridge Island—and how all this relates to the themes in Stamped.

Space is limited, register here

Annual Agate Pass Bridge Work Starts Next Week

Mon Feb 13 until Thu Mar 2

Annual work on the Agate Pass Bridge on State Route 305 is coming up soon, starting on February 13.

Work is planned to happen 8:45am. to 2pm each weekday and 7:15am to 2pm Saturday and Sunday.

Full details from WSDOT

You're Invited: Community Chats on Waste Regulations

Tue Feb 21, 3 - 4 pm, at BIDA

The City is continuing its series of monthly “COBI Chats on Waste Regulations” to connect with local businesses impacted by the 2023 waste reduction regulations. These are open house sessions that any local business owner can come talk to city staff in person...

When: Tues., Feb. 21, from 3 - 4 p.m.

Where: Bainbridge Island Downtown Association (147 Madrone Ln. N)

Learn more and view dates for future “COBI Chat” sessions on the website.

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

Q: How often do you eat at local eateries (by buying a meal via dine-in, take-out or delivery out)?

Instagram Live Shopping:

Best Practices for Ecommerce Businesses

Instagram live shopping allows consumers to purchase your products directly from one of their favorite social commerce platforms.

Live shopping enables you to sell your products directly from the app, instantly interact with viewers, and engage with potential customers in real time.

From browsing to searching to buying, Instagram is a top destination where consumers go to shop and seek inspiration.

Dive into what you need to know with live shopping on Instagram

COVID Cases per 100,000

Jan 16 - Jan 23, 2023

• Kitsap County: 47 cases
• WA State: 65 cases

Washington State County External Resources:

• Department of Health Summary
• Testing Clinics
• Vaccine Clinics County-wide