1-on-1 Chamber Community Conversations with Kirsten Hytopoulos & Dick Haugan

As part of the Chamber's ongoing efforts to help inform the Bainbridge community, the Chamber is conducting in-depth interviews with each of the candidates in the upcoming City Council elections.

The same 12 questions are asked of each candidate, with up to 45 minutes for full and unabridged answers. Both text transcripts and the original unedited videos are available in each case.

Head on over to the Chamber website to see and hear what both this year's District 1 (at-large) candidates Dick Haugan and Kirsten Hytopoulos have to say about the challenges and potential solutions for the future of Bainbridge Island.

Election Ballots will be on their way to you soon

Chamber Helps Bring New Crosswalk to Winslow Ravine

On October 10, City Council unanimously approved funding for a new crosswalk on Winslow Way just west of the Ravine and about 250 feet East of its intersection with Bjune Dr. SE.

On behalf of its members, the Chamber has been delighted to work with City Manager Blair King and City Staff over the past few months to create an additional way to cross the road in the middle of what was previously the longest stretch of Winslow without a crosswalk. It will also make access to the businesses at the Ravine and Island Gateway easy for visitors to access on foot.

"The City is glad to be able to accommodate requests like the ravine crosswalk that will help people make safe crossings in Winslow, and also provide more flexibility for residents and visitors getting around town.”

Chris Wierzbicki, COBI Public Works Director

Look for work to begin later this year to construct cement concrete curb ramps, install traffic signage and add thermoplastic striping.

Add Your Local Location To The State Film Location Scouting Directory

Local film fans may have noticed a distinct uptick in the number of productions filming on the Island in recent year - as recently in Ingress (part of the Bainbridge Island Film Festival) and back to 1994's Disclosure and beyond.

In partnership with the Chamber and Visit Bainbridge, the state's WA Filmworks agency has recently updated its image database with more than 100 new photos from Bainbridge to help attract more film fun to our beautiful island.

If you are a Chamber member who is interested in having your spot/location available for film and television shoots, reach out to the Chamber and we will help get you added you to the official Washington State location database.

Home Compostable Product List Open For Business Owner Feedback Until Oct. 29

On September 12, 2023, the City Council passed Ordinance No. 2023-24, to amend regulations around disposable food service ware items and waste reduction, while repealing the 25c Cup Fee.

The ordinance required the City to establish a list of home compostable disposable food service ware items to be used by local retail food establishments based on availability, cost and performance.

Impacted businesss owners should expect a visit from the Chamber's Business Ambassadors in the next few days, and are encouraged to give feedback to the the City on an initial list of 16 proposed products before 10/29 through the online feedback form linked to below.

Vote for Best of Kitsap

It just takes a minute to vote for your favorite local Best of Kitsap entries - including many Chamber members - as well as our very own Grand Old 4th celebration (in Annual Event of the Year). So please head on over and support the island!

You can vote once per day in each category until Sunday October 22, so you have lots of potential boosts to give to the Bainbridge community!

Results will be announced on Dec. 15.

RSVP Now For Chamber's Halloween After Hours Party at John L. Scott

Thu Oct 26, 5:30pm

Ready for a spooktactular Chamber member mixer? As of today, 10/17, less than 10 spaces remain on the guest list so act quickly!

Come join Randi, Caron & the John L Scott Team for a haunting After Hours at their Winslow Way offices on Thursday, October 26 at 5:30pm.

For those willing to get in the spirit and don a costume, there will be prizes and universal acclaim...

Complimentary wine will be provided by our event partners and sponsors at Eleven Winery.

Tickets are always free for Chamber members and available to a limited number of non-member guests for $20.

Celebrate Fall & Halloween, Bainbridge Island Style

Bainbridge Islanders love their holidays and celebrating Fall and Halloween!

There’s a lot going on throughout the month and Island Wanderer Blog has compiled a list of what’s happening: from costume swap at KidiMu to Pumpkin Walk at Bainbridge Gardens and the annual Trick or Treating event on Winslow Way.

Don your costume and get ready to celebrate cooler nights, falling leaves, pumpkin picking, haunted hayrides, Dia de Los Muertos, & ghost stories.

Brunch for Breast Cancer

Fri Oct 20, 10:30am - 12:30pm

Raise awareness and support the local community by attending Brunch for Breast Cancer at Port Gamble Hood Canal Vista Pavilion!

Our designated speakers will touch on Fairway Cares and feature Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Cancer Center speakers on awareness, treatment, recovery, and more ways you can help.

All profits from this brunch will benefit Fairway Cares and contribute to local women currently undergoing chemotherapy.

Can You Find Me... & My 8 Friends at Johnson Farm

Nine (9) Scarecrows, created by teens at BARN and donated to Friends of the Farms, are hiding somewhere at Johnson Farm, located off Miller Road on Twin Ponds Road. 

Find them Tues Oct 11 through Sat Oct 28th 

Scarecrows are enjoying activities: picking flowers, reading books, fishing, playing baseball, eating apples, admiring gardens, sipping coffee with friends & climbing trees. 

Once you find them, take YOUR picture with one or all and then post photos on either Facebook or Instagram page and use #friendsofthefarmscarecrows or tag @friendsofthefarms on Insta. 

Tell others to enjoy and please, do not move or disrupt the Scarecrows. Their creators will be coming to claim them over the weekend of 10/28 and take home, so we want to make sure they’re treated well.

Volunteers Needed:

Haunted Hayride

Did you miss out on Haunted Hayride tickets? Snag your seat as a volunteer instead!

The Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District’s annual Haunted Hayride is entirely sold out but still has a variety of volunteer needs.

From set-up to tear-down, from craft hosts to ghost hosts, from registration to selfie station, consider lending a hand next week, Oct 17-19.

Introducing PSE's Bill Discount Program

Income-eligible customers can now reduce their Puget Sound Energy (PSE) bills by up to 45% a month through the Bill Discount program.

Applying for the program is easy and only takes a few minutes to fill out the online application (no income documentation or social security number is required).

To see if you are eligible before applying, just go to pse.com/discount. By answering three questions, using the program’s widget - household size, county of residency and household income - you will instantly learn if you are eligible for an energy discount.

Bainbridge Workshops & Assistance Application:

• Helpline House: Oct 18, 2-4:30pm & Oct 25, 11am - 2pm
• BI Library: Oct 24, 4:30-5pm presentation & 5-7:30pm application assistance

The Great WA Shake Out

Oct 19, 10:19am