Legislative District In Person Town Hall

Sat Mar 11, 1:30 - 3pm, Bainbridge City Hall

Lawmakers from the 23rd Legislative District (Sen. Rolfes, Rep. Hansen, & Rep. Simmons) will provide a brief update on budget priorities and be ready to discuss affordable housing, public safety, police pursuits, education, clean air and water, local jobs and infrastructure, health care, and more.

No RSVP's are necessary, just head on down to Council Chambers...

Local Crime Returns to Pre-Pandemic Levels, Key to Prevention Is Awareness

Feel like Bainbridge Island crime rates have risen lately?

The latest statistics from the BIPD’s report to city council show that 2021 and 2022's numbers have rebounded to, but in most cases not beyond that historic averages seen pre-pandemic in 2018 and 2019.

Residents, businesses, and organizations should be aware, take precautions, and take steps to avoid making themselves or their property a target.

Be Aware: New Scams Aimed at Bainbridge Businesses

Business owners beware: Scam artists have been calling local businesses pretending to be the police tracing reports of counterfeit cash, then demanding all cash be removed from the premises, including tips.

The scammers target young employees working front of house and learn specific information about the business, employees, and management to make the call seem convincing.

This would be a great time to reiterate best practices with your staff: If calls come in that a staff member has any concerns about, hang up and then call your shift manager, and/or the police (at their non-emergency line 1-206-842-5211) and carefully confirm any requests made over the phone before taking any action.

Meet Zach Burnham - Bainbridge Island's Community Resource Officer

The Chamber is delighted to introduce you to the Island's Community Resource/K-9 Officer Zach Burnham (who moved to Bainbridge from Roswell, GA in 2019).

His duties include providing personalized assistance to community members and business owners around matters of public safety and business security.

March 9 Is National Slam the Scam Day

It is not just local businesses being targeting more in recent months, and the US Government is warning all citizens to exercise more care on Slam the Scam Day and throughout the year.

The Social Security administration provides tools to both recognize Social Security-related scams and stop scammers stealing your money and personal information.

Begin by recognizing the 4 basic signs of a scam:

1. Scammers pretend to be from a familiar organization or agency, like the Social Security Administration. They may email attachments with official-looking logos, seals, signatures, or pictures of employee credentials.
2. Scammers mention a problem or a prize. They may say your Social Security number was involved in a crime or ask for personal information to process a benefit increase.
3. Scammers pressure you to act immediately. They may threaten you with arrest or legal action.
4. Scammers tell you to pay using a gift card, prepaid debit card, cryptocurrency, wire or money transfer, or by mailing cash. They may also tell you to transfer your money to a “safe” account.

WA Retail Crime Task Force to Convene in Tacoma on Mar 29

With a brief to reduce crime against businesses across Washington, Attorney General Bob Ferguson is convening an Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Task Force meeting on Tuesday March 29 in Tacoma.

The task force will focus on the sophisticated, organized crime rings that account for almost $70 billion in retail losses across the country, with almost $3 billion of that in Washington State.

In-person and virtual attendance by local business owners is encouraged by the WA Retail Association, but please note that registration is required to do so.

New State Grants For Lodging & Hospitality Businesses Set To Open March 14

The Washington State Department of Commerce announced a new $100M grant opportunity to be made available to any 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.

An informational webinar is scheduled before the grants open on Monday, March 13 at 2pm.

PSE Grants 10-Acre Manzanita Property To BI Land Trust

As part of PSE's commitment to providing safe, reliable, and efficient electric service on Bainbridge, it is working on better connecting power across the Island.

The Winslow Tap transmission line rebuild project includes upgrading and replacing aging infrastructure and managing vegetation to improve reliability and reduce the frequency/duration of power outages for about 3,900 customers on the south end of the island.

This project has necessary impacts to wetlands where buffers are unavoidable, so PSE is also required to provide compensatory mitigation.

To help satisfy these requirements, PSE recently announced the grant of a 10-acre forested and wetland parcel on the North Fork Manzanita Creek to the Bainbridge Island Land Trust.

On The Agenda: City Planning Commission Meeting

Thu March 9 at 6pm

New Business

• Nishi Gardens Short Subdivision Public Participation
• WSDOT Noise Variance - Burden Creek Barrier Removal
• Review of Housing Action Plan Overview Including Principles, Strategies, and Actions

Nominees Announced, Voting Underway, Tickets On Sale For 2023 Business Awards

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

During the month of February, more than 200 nominations were received from Chamber members based on business impact, success, reputation, and contribution to our community.

From those suggestions, the Bainbridge Chamber is delighted to present the 35 nominees across 7 award categories.

Members – check your email inbox for your official ballot to vote for a winner in each of the seven categories between now and March 31…

The awards will be presented at a special event on April 29 at The Manor House - all-inclusive tickets (priced at $70) are on sale now for Chamber members and their guests.

March After Hours Update - Standby List Now Open

The Chamber's March After Hours at Sisters' Cider House has become so oversubscribed that the Chamber team is currently talking to neighboring business to try and expand the event.

If you would like to join the sold-out party, we have opened up a standby list to join us at Hildebrand on Tuesday March 21 - and hope to have another update next week!

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

First Fed Steps Up To Sponsor

The 2023 Grand Old 4th Hometown Parade!

Today marks the kick off of Grand Old 4th Preparation Season, as the Chamber is delighted to announce First Fed as the sponsor of the Hometown Parade - a move made official when Stefan Goldby & Jessica Perkins from the Chamber recently stopped by the First Fed branch on High School Road to accept an oversized check from First Fed's Connor Freke & Andrea Robertson.

First Fed's much-appreciated act of community support means that it is officially time to start thinking about the theme for your organization's parade float, street fair booth, and ponder if you might be able to join in the GO4 fun as a member of the volunteer crew - stay tuned - applications for everything will open later this month.

Visit First Fed at 323 High School Road to learn more about all they do

Congratulations! Visit Bainbridge GSBA Nomination

A big "Hip Hip Hooray' to Visit Bainbridge Island for being a nominated finalist for Nonprofit of the Year at the recent GSBA Impact Awards. (Photo of VBI's Chantelle Lusebrink & Chris Mueller well representing the Island at the award show in Seattle)

Learn more at VisitBainbridgeIsland.org

Welcome The New Owners of Amelia Wynn Bistro

Cheers to Erika Johannsen, Nick Van den Bosch, and Chef Gulsidel Velazquez Ayala for stepping up from being staff members to become the new owners of the Amelia Wynn Bistro on Winslow Way.

New and returning customers can expect a continuation of the warm service and fine cuisine that has made the Bistro a go-to restaurant on Bainbridge Island. 

The name will remain the same and Amelia Wynn wines will continue to be centrally featured at the Bistro. 

Dine with them Wed - Sun at 390 Winslow Way

Modern Collision Adds New Electric Car Charger

Level 2 electric car charger is now in Fletcher Bay at Modern Collision - check out their newly remodeled pump - taking an old pump and 'modern'izing it.

Modern Collision Rebuild & Service has been providing general automotive service and repair to Bainbridge Island, WA and the North Kitsap area since they opened for business in 1974.

Over the past forty years, Modern Collision Repair & Service has remained up-to-date on various vehicle makes and models to overcome the obstacles that come with the ever-evolving mechanical needs of Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap’s many different vehicles.

See it at 9270 Miller Rd; Mon - Fri, 8 am- 5pm

Scrappy Art Lab Partners with Kids Discovery Museum & Wardwell Farm

As part of it's recent transfornmation, the team at Scrappy Art Lab is now working with 2 local non-profits to create anew slate of fun kid's activities!

At KiDiMu: "Art & Build Afternoons" after school classes (Kinder to 3rd grade) -

10-week sessions run Monday: April 10- June 19; 1:30-3:30 pm or Wednesday: April 12- June 14; 3-5PM

At Wardwell Farm: "Scrappy on the Farm!" after school (Kinder to 5th grade - April 13 - June 15)

Register & learn more

Wellness & Environment Issue of Tideland Magazine Out Now

The Tideland Magazine Spring issue has arrived!

With Earth Month around the corner, they celebrate Mother Earth throughout this issue.

Look for it in the next few days in mailboxes throughout Bainbridge Island and parts of Poulsbo and Kingston. Or pick it up free in local cafes, galleries, groceries, libraries, bookstores and visitors centers including the Chamber offices.

Read the stories or browse the digital edition

Anne Reichard - Compass Real Estate, Fitzpatrick & Co.

Real Estate allows Anne to marry her love for homes, design, and people with years of experience in sales, marketing, and world-class customer service. She brings white-glove service, strong negotiating skills and the ability to think creatively when challenges arise.

Anne's reputation for compassion, patience, honesty, and understanding is highly valued by both clients and industry professionals. 

Learn more from Anne Reichard - Compass Real Estate

Chamber Workshop: BIPD Public Safety For Business Owners

Wed April 5, 9 - 10am

Business owners – come get 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 a special Chamber workshop led by Police Chief Joe Clark and Community Resource Officer Zach Burnham.

Register & click here for more info

KEDA 2023 Annual Meeting & Economic Forecast Luncheon

Thu Mar 30, 11:30am - 1:00pm

KEDA's Board of Directors invites you to join us March 30th from11:00am- 1:00pm for our Annual Meeting and Economic Forecast Luncheon at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort & Conference Center.

Featuring economists Hart Hodges and James McCafferty, co-directors of the Western Washington University Center for Economic & Business Research who will present an economic forecast.

Register & click here for more info

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

Q: How often do you shop at local stores (not including grocery stores)?

Greg Abell Workshop at Leadership Kitsap

Thu March 16

Join Leadership Kitsap and Greg Abell, Principal at Sound Options Group, for a full day of communication training. Participants will learn how to design, implement, and facilitate conversations of shared learning in our community.

The idea behind this workshop is using public discourse (where individuals can come together to freely discuss and identify societal problems, and through that discussion influence political action), to our advantage, learning how to guide those discussions into productive and successful actions.

Register here & learn more