Happy Presidents Day

Please note that the Chamber offices and Licensing Desk will all be closed in observation of the Federal Holiday on Monday February 19.

We will reopen for business as usual at 9am on Tuesday 2/20.

Traffic Delays on SR 305 Throughout February

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) crews continue installing storm drainage and utilities at the Northeast Port Madison Rd. and Northeast Adas Will Lane intersections of SR 305 for the roundabout projects. Alternating road closures are underway from Feb. 12-15 between 8pm-6am.

Next week, expect more delays, as daytime Agate Pass Bridge work is scheduled February 20-23 between 9am and 2pm as part of WSDOT's annual cleaning project. Between those times, there will be one-way alternating traffic on the bridge.

Traffic Calming Construction On Grow Ave This Spring

The City’s Public Works Department has prepared a preliminary plan for traffic calming measures on Grow Avenue between High School Road and Wyatt Way, including the installation of traffic circles and “pinch points.”. 

The measures will address safety conditions on Grow Avenue for folks walking and biking, and will also serve to mitigate any spillover traffic during the Madison Avenue Bundled Project construction.

The City Council included $94K for the installation in the 2024 Capital Improvement Plan & work is anticipated to begin in early spring.

Winslow Subarea Plan Update

The City held a series of in-person and virtual workshops in the fall of 2023 to get public feedback on Draft Alternatives for Updating the Winslow Subarea Plan.

Information on the Alternatives have been combined into a summary document, and the feedback received has been incorporated into an Outreach and Engagement Summary.

Next steps include work on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that combines review with complementary alternatives for the Comprehensive Plan and expects to be complete in late Spring, and a comment period will be widely announced.

Sign up here to be notified via text or email notifications about the progress on the Winslow Subarea Plan.

Closing Credits Roll for Sam Granato (1936-2024)

The curtain has closed on the life of Sam Granato, Bainbridge Island entrepreneur and President of Bainbridge Entertainment Enterprises (parent company of the Historic Lynwood Theatre and Bainbridge Cinemas). Sam passed away on January 24 at the age of 87 (having long liked to note that both he and the Lynwood were born in 1936).

Sam was the first mayor of Bainbridge Island (elected in 1990) and prior to that had purchased the Lynwood in 1982 from Glen & Lucille Nolta. In 1997 he and business partner Jeff Brein developed the Pavilion on Madison Avenue and opened Bainbridge Cinemas. He was a board member of the Bainbridge Chamber, and remained active in the business community until he passed away last month.

The Chamber offers its sincere condolences to Sam's wife Sharon Osborne, 6 children, 5 grandchildren and great granddaughter. A celebration of life event, along with a screening of Sam’s favorite movie, is being planned for late March at the Historic Lynwood Theatre.

Layline Design + Build

Matt and Alison MacGregor have been finding neglected homes in great locations and reinventing them for more than 20 years.

125+ homes later, the MacGregors are currently building here on Bainbridge Island (where they reside and Matt grew up). Although their main focus is residential they have also created commercial and mixed-use properties with the collaboration of talented architects, subs and tradesmen, as well as their own skilled crew.

Unlike true spec builders Layline Design+Build only crafts a few great projects per year and can occasionally can be convinced to build custom homes or offer Interior Design and furnishings selections to select clients.  

OfficeXpats Offers Private Office For Rent

A "low-commitment" private office is available at OfficeXpats Coworking in the Bainbridge Pavilion (403 Madison Ave).

The best of both worlds, privacy and community, view it 8:30-5pm weekdays.

Comes with all amenities including utilities, high-speed Wi-Fi, free coffee/tea, a front desk welcome, and no long term lease with $750/month, 3-month commitment, then month-to-month.

Volunteer for Chilly Hilly

Join the fun without bike riding the 33-mile course of the Chilly Hilly on Sunday Feb 25!

There are various Volunteer Shifts at different Island locations between 7:30am - 3pm and help out with the 5,000+ riders.

Awards Given to Eleven Winery's 2021 Reds

Drumroll, please! Eleven Winery is over the moon to share some stellar news – their wines rocked the 2024 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Awards! 

This prestigious competition featured over 50 judges from various North American wine regions, who evaluated more than 5,500 wines from nearly 1,000 wineries.

The 2021 La Ronde was awarded double gold, 2021 Lemma received a shiny gold, and 2021 Petit Verdot also achieved double gold glory.

Want to be A Star? BPA is Accepting Auditions for A Midsummer Night's Dream

Submit a video of your 1-2 minute Shakespeare monologue. If you enjoy singing and would like to include a short song in your video, please feel free.

Purchase your tickets for the June 28-July 14 performances.

Submissions Sought for 2024 Poetry Corners

The Bainbridge Island Poet Laureate Program seeks poetry submissions for the 2024 Poetry Corners exhibition. This year’s theme is “ecopoetry,” submit work by Feb 29.

Selected poems adorn the windows of Winslow businesses and community spaces from April 1st to 30th (National Poetry Month) for enjoyment by the both the community and visitors.

Poets whose works are selected will have the opportunity to present their poems at Poetry Corners LIVE on May 4th at BIMA.

Poetry Corners is sponsored by the Bainbridge Island Poet Laureate Program, with funding from the City of Bainbridge Island and support from BARN.

KHS Asking for Donations to Support World Spay Day

Kitsap Humane Society will be dedicating 5 days (Feb 21-23, 26-27th) towards spaying/neutering cats in Kitsap County, in celebration of World Spay Day.

With a goal of over 300 cats altered, they're asking for the public’s help in donating towards the cost associated with the procedure.

Low-cost spay/neuter services are crucial towards the prevention of unwanted and homeless pets, but financial barriers can make the procedure difficult to afford for many pet owners.

With donations raised by the public, KHS hopes to offer the procedure to qualifying owners at a reduced cost.

Advertise Your Business on the Big Screen

Advertising on movie screens before the movie starts is a highly effective way to engage with a captive audience, target your message to the right demographic, reach a large and engaged audience, and do so in a cost effective way.

89% of adults take their seats before the start of the trailers. Your ad would play before every movie and would play an average of 28 times per week at the Historic Lynwood Theatre.

Plus Looking Glass Media will create an ad for you...for :15 second ad is $799 or for a :30 second ad is $899 for 12 months.

AG Ferguson Sues Labor Law Poster Service for Defrauding Small Businesses

If you own a Washington small business, there’s a good chance you have been targeted by a series of fraudulent schemes orchestrated by three brothers in Michigan.

The details of their schemes vary, but they all involve deceptive solicitations giving the false impression that they are mandatory from a government agency and charging businesses for posters and other products.

Employers can download FREE digital copies of these posters from many regulators and state agencies, such as the Washington Department of Labor and Industries, Washington Employment Security Department and the U.S. Department of Labor.