Jerome Hicks sweeping the Treehouse Café while earning a little something.

I met Jerome about 20 years ago when he lived at Serenity House across the street and played checkers with the regulars at the old Walt’s Market, where the Treehouse stands today.  When Serenity House closed in 2009, Jerome was relocated to an adult home in Bremerton but takes the Kitsap Transit Access bus most days to Lynwood Center, his old neighborhood where he is something of an icon. And I just learned that Jerome and Jimi Hendrix are cousins and saw each other often when hey were kids. I think I see a family resemblance?

—  Joel Sackett