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Good morning, Kitsap County! In today’s edition: USS Nimitz decommissioning, tidal flow restoration and a new bridge, an adults-only winter carnival, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Restoring tidal flow: Kitsap County awarded a $9.3 million contract to replace Harper Estuary’s culvert with a bridge. Work will begin June 2026 and finish January 2027, adding pedestrian access and stormwater upgrades — see what’s planned and when.
End of a naval icon: USS Nimitz is set for decommissioning in May 2026 after returning to Bremerton. HII will handle defueling under a contract modification, with a final voyage to Norfolk ahead — read the full story.
Local giving meets rising needs: Poulsbo Lions Club reflected on a challenging year and praised community support. As of December 22, its Bellringer Fund had not reached $20,000, with every dollar going to local service organizations — read the full story.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Local arts group perseveres: Western Washington Center for the Arts in Port Orchard lost its downtown theater and moved in 2024 to a temporary spot near 624 Bay Street. It has stayed active with events and is working with the city on permits for a temporary stage while its permanent home takes shape. See what’s planned next.
Small humans, big curiosity: If your living room’s become a physics lab, redirect that energy to KiDiMu, a playful STEAM hub with hands-on exhibits, art-making, and rotating programs that turn questions into real learning… and reliable nap-time. Perfect for rainy days or cabin fever.
Burrito fix, solved: Craving something hefty and fun? Taqueros – Taste of Mexico rolls satisfying, no-nonsense burritos, from carnitas and carne asada to the California Hot Cheetos number, plus a make-it-yours salsa bar so you can dial the heat up or down to match your mood.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this weekend
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👶 Toddler Tunes ‘n Tales @ Manchester Library | Friday (1/9) at 10:15 AM – Consider this your sanctioned wiggle hour for the two-to-three crowd. They’ll sing, dance, and chase a story, siblings welcome, then roll right into playtime while you trade knowing looks with other grownups and sip lukewarm coffee. Naptime odds improve dramatically.
🎤 Stephen ‘Doc’ Patt @ Pegasus Coffee House | Friday (1/9) at 4:00 PM – Second Fridays, Pegasus turns into the living room we wish we had, with Stephen ‘Doc’ Patt curating a no-cover, all-acoustic folk, jazz, and blues hang. Two hours, no breaks, West Coast ringers, bring your A-game. Buy a drink, tip the staff, ask to sit in.
❄ The VK Frostival @ Bainbridge Performing Arts | Friday (1/9) at 5:00 PM – Take a break from doomscrolling and bundle up for an adults-only winter carnival supporting Vitalize Kitsap. Expect games, drinks, and just enough mischief to feel young without regretting it tomorrow. Community magic, familiar faces, and bragging rights you can text about later.
🤖 Full Steam Ahead: Robotics @ Puget Sound Navy Museum | Saturday (1/10) at 10:00 AM – Second Saturday is going full STEAM ahead with kid-friendly robotics you can drop into, poke at, and call learning. It’s free, self-directed, and surprisingly engaging even for grown-ups who like tinkering, sarcasm, and coffee. Street parking nearby, garages if you must.
📚 Poulsbo Friends of the Library Book Sale @ Poulsbo Library | Saturday (1/10) at 10:00 AM – If your to-be-read stack could use a few more bad decisions, hit the Poulsbo Friends of the Library Book Sale. Fiction, hardbacks, and paperbacks priced to travel, all benefiting our library. Bring a tote, a sense of restraint, and leave room on the nightstand.
♻ Tree Recycle @ Bainbridge Island | Sunday (1/11) at 8:00 AM – Retire that crispy spruce with style, and let the Bainbridge Scouts haul it away. Troops 1564 and 1804 make the rounds islandwide, turning Christmas trees into compost, sparing your trunk from sap, and your conscience from guilt; book a pickup at treerecycle.net.
🧶 Chunky Beginner & Cable Knitted Blanket Workshop @ Western Red Brewing | Sunday (1/11) at 1:00 PM – Make a 40×60 chunky cable knit throw at Western Red, beginner friendly. Brenda takes you from finger knitting to a proper cable stitch, and you pick the color. Small class, sips, and the rare craft you can wrap around yourself before you head home.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Kitsap County report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 43°F – Low: 38°F – Precip: 68%
Rain and snow showers likely before 4pm, then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy. Low around 38, with temperatures rising to around 40 overnight. South southwest wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
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Tomorrow – High: 46°F – Low: 35°F – Precip: 27%
A chance of rain before 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. South southwest wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. South southwest wind 2 to 6 mph.
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