Child reunification
The Bainbridge Prepares partnership – in conjunction with child-centric organizations – has developed a child reunification plan in the event of an emergency while children are in school or care.
There will be a Town Hall to go over the plan and there will be a panel discussion and Q&A March 24 from 4:30-6 p.m. at the Bainbridge High School Theatre, 9330 High School Road.
A mock child reunification center will be set up in the 100 building at the high school during the event. Kids can hang out with a team of volunteers (all background checked and registered with the city). Space is limited so reserve your spot. The entire event is free, but to RSVP to help in planning look up the program at eventbrite.com.
Middle East fundraiser
Kitsap Palestine Solidarity Group invites the public to a fundraiser for those affected by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Palestine.
The local organization will host a multicultural afternoon of sharing and understanding March 30 from 1-4 p.m. at the Suquamish United Church of Christ, 18732 Division St. NE.
The free event will include sale of Palestinian and Jewish sweet and savory foods, artwork and poetry prints, along with arts and crafts for children and adults.
At 2 p.m. a brief program will feature film clips to shed some light on the conflict and talks by local residents of Palestinian and Jewish heritage who are actively involved in seeking a ceasefire in the war on Gaza. It will include poetry and community songs of peace and reconciliation.
Funds raised will be donated to Anera, a relief organization providing aid to Gaza. For details email kitsapforgazaevent@gmail.com
BIMA events
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art has two events coming up.
“Kathy Ross: Serious Fun” will take place at 3 p.m. March 24. A tin artist, Ross will share her whimsies and worries, followed by a question and answer session and a reception.
“Omoiyari: A Song Film by Kishi Bashi” will take place at 3 p.m. March 30. “Omoiyari” is a Japanese word that means to have sympathy and compassion toward another person. The event commemorates the anniversary of the Executive Order 9066.
Songwriter Kaoru Ishibashi embarks on a personal quest by creating his music in locations relevant to the Japanese American Incarceration during WWII. It is on this journey in which Kishi Bashi comes to terms with his own identity, and uncovers a myriad of social issues that have gripping modern relevance. ‘Omoiyari’ is a genre-breaking, artistic exploration that fuses history, music, and the complexities of the human condition.
Easter services
Cross Sound Church will celebrate Easter week with three services and an Easter Egg Hunt.
Palm Sunday kicks it off at 10 a.m. March 24 at the high school theater. Good Friday service at the high school will be at 7 p.m. March 29.
The annual egg dash will be March 30 at 10 a.m. at Woodward School.
Easter service itself will be at 10 a.m. at the high school.
Egg hunt
An Easter Egg for the Fort Ward neighborhood will take place March 31 at 11 a.m.
The event will be at the Parade Grounds. There’s no parking so participants need to walk or bike.
New bus stop
The Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce and Kitsap Transit have worked together to add a bus stop at Coppertop Park on Sportsman Club Road.
The stop will allow workers and customers access to businesses such as: Fletcher Bay Winery, Bainbridge Brewery & Taproom, Bainbridge Distilling, Sweet Dahlia Bakery and other tenants.
Riders can reduce their carbon footprint by catching BI Ridge on Winslow Way or Route 93 at the ferry terminal to get to Coppertop Mondays through Saturdays.
For more go to bainbridgechamber.com
Fam Jam
The free 3rd annual Fam Jam will take place March 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kids Discovery Museum on Bainbridge Island.
Activities include: Touch a truck, Johnny Bregar musical performance, The Reptile Man interactive show, BI Rope Skippers performance and food carts.
Concert on BI
The Dusty 45’s, the Pacific Northwest’s favorite Americana group will perform at 7:30 p.m. March 23 at the Treehouse Cafe.
Bill Joe Huels’ bang blends rock, blues, honky-tonk and jazz, and they’ve shared the stage with music legends like Brandi Carlile, Wanda Jackson, Lyle Lovett and Leann Rhymes. Huels also portrayed Buddy Holly at Seattle 5th Avenue Theatre. They have released seven recordings.
Cost is $25 general admission.
Upcoming concerts are: Helene Smart, 6:30 p.m., April 7, free; and The Hipocrats, 7:30 p.m., June 1, $25.
Library audit
The state auditor’s office recently announced findings against the Kitsap Regional Library system.
Although just recently released, it was for the time period from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2022.
The system provided sale proceeds to its foundation, which was an unallowable gift of public funds. The foundation used the funds to pay for renovation costs of the building owned by the Central Kitsap School District.
The audit recommends KRL improve internal controls to ensure it maintains adequate supporting documentation for agreements made with other entities, and it recommends the district recover funds from the foundation. KRL responded it would do both things.
The system serves residents through nine library branches located in Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo, Kingston, Port Orchard, Bremerton, Silverdale, Manchester and Little Boston.
Police academy
Applications are being accepted for the Bainbridge Island Policy Academy.
Class size is limited to 20. It will begin April 11 and go for eight weeks from 6-8 p.m.
The academy helps locals understand the functions of the department—from traffic, patrol and criminal law, to use of force, de-escalation and investigations.
For details go to bainbridgewa.gov
Affordable housing
An affordable housing advocacy workshop will take place at the Bainbridge Island Library from 6-8 p.m. March 28.
Housing Resources Bainbridge is putting it on.
Free tickets are at eventbrite.com
Doll author
Kenneth D. King, author of Doll Couture, will be at Esther’s Fabrics on Bainbridge Island from 5-7 p.m. March 24.
The book is 192 pages of instructions for designs you can sew yourself for dolls like Barbie and Ken. The book-signing event is at 181 Winslow Way E.
Poetry readings
Bainbridge Open Mics take place the third Thursday of each month from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Bainbridge library.
Signup starts at 6:45 p.m. Poets are asked to keep their readings to four minutes or less. Wine, tea and cookies are served.
The free events are hosted by BI Poet Laureate Michele Bombardier. The event is sponsored by that program and the Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network with funding from the Bainbridge Community Foundation and the city.
For details go to www.bainbridgeislandpoetlaureate.org.
Generations concert
The free Music for All Generations concert will take place March 27 at 6:30 p.m. at Woodward Middle School.
The Bainbridge Island Senior/Community Center’s Evergreen Singers, and the WMS choir and WMS Jazz Band will be performing.
Nude attack
A 28-year-old man was booked into the Kitsap County jail on multiple charges after a “chaotic and hysterical” scene in which police say the nude man assaulted his sister-in-law, tried to flee with her child and even “attempted to eat” a Good Samaritan neighbor.
Deputies arrived around 7:35 p.m. March 16 on SW Lake Flora Road in South Kitsap. The sister-in-law told police the suspect was standing naked next to a fire in her backyard when he assaulted her, “snatching” her 3-year-old girl and attempting to flee into the woods nearby.
Officials say a neighbor fired a warning shot to interrupt the assault. Giving chase after the suspect and the child, more shots were fired and hit the suspect in the arm and leg. The child managed to run away, but the suspect caught up and began assaulting the neighbor. Officials say the suspect was “biting on his leg and then on his stomach” before the neighbor hit the suspect with his gun and put him in a chokehold. The neighbor escaped.
The suspect was eventually taken into custody. He was last known to be undergoing treatments at a local trauma center.
