Gig Harbor Photo Contest
"Your Summer - Your Gig Harbor"
Gig Harbor is a photographers paradise any day of the year, but particularly during the summer when boats bob in the harbor, kids beach comb, flowers bloom and lovers stroll. Our community loves the outdoors, and the outdoors loves photography. I well know that there are lots of amateur photographers taking exceptional pictures of our community. So we have decided to have a fun little summer photo contest!
YOUR SUMMER - YOUR GIG HARBOR, Photography Contest starts today. Start submitting your photos of Gig Harbor in the summer. Email your images to gigharborguide@gmail.com. Deadline to receive photos is October 1st.
Through out the summer, watch our website to see if your photo is featured (www.gigharborguide.com). We will also feature photos randomly on our Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/gigharborguidecom/132049134029). And at the end of the summer, we will award a first, second and third prize to some lucky winners. We will feature the three top winners in our October Gig a Byte newsletter and small prizes donated by local merchants will be distributed.
If you want to share your photos, we need them emailed in a hi-res format (preferably 300dpi). Photos must be digital and arrive to us via email. All photos become the property of the Gig Harbor Marketing Office to be used in future tourism promotion.
What kind of photos are we looking for? Well just about anything will do, but we love shots of people doing what people do in Gig Harbor! We love scenery, recreation, events - you name it!
We can't wait to see what you have out there Gig Harbor! So shutterbugs GET BUSY!!
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Celebrate Community Every Day
Do Something!
Another darling little Gig Harbor business closed its doors this week. The Amateur Garden Club, a coffee and lunch spot, was really cute and yummy, but just never was able to get the customer base it needed to make a go of it. It's always such a shame to see this happen, especially when, with a shop like this, you get to personally know the owner/proprietor who is both CEO and Janitor.
The saddest part of all is that these kinds of businesses are exactly what the locals claim they love about Gig Harbor; the friendly, locally owned, small town, charming shops that dot the waterfront. But the dots are disapearing...slowly. Wanna reconnect the dots? There is only one way to make that happen. Commit to making it happen.
I hear shop owners and residents alike grumble about how "somebody" needs to do something. Or "the city" needs to do something. Or "they" need to do something. Who needs to do something? Each of us.
You've heard me talk about the importance of engaging in your own community. What does the word community mean? I googled it and got this:
" a group of people with a common background or with shared interests within society"
Read more → Comments (0)Community Theater Alive and Well in Gig Harbor
Enjoy a fantastic line up of shows this summer
July brings a flood of opportunities in Gig Harbor to get out of the house. From a barbeque in your own back yard to taking a tour on the bay with Destiny Harbor Tours, Gig Harbor has a multitude of fun, inexpensive summer time activities.
One particular activity that is inexpensive and should not be forgotten, is Gig Harbor’s two community theaters. Two hidden gems snuggled here in our community providing wonderful local theater with local actors, directors and talent!
Community theater is struggling right along with small business and non-profits right now. I for one think it would be a real shame to lose our community theaters here in Gig Harbor – theater which we have had the privilege of enjoying for more than 30 years.
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It's Time to Garden
Gig Harbor Garden Tour June 26 & 27
I love this time of year, despite our unseasonably chilly spring, the garden is coming alive. I love walking around my yard, in my robe and slippers, coffee in hand each morning. My neighbors probably think I'm a bit loony, but I do go outside nearly every morning. Some times I even am compelled to grab the pruners and cut back blooms, pull a few weeds, deadhead. Ohhhh I love the smell of slug bait in the morning!
Yes I love to garden, and if you are a gardener you know what I am talking about. It is so satisfying to watch your garden come alive in the spring. Sweet peas starting to bloom this week, strawberries are ready, roses are peaking and slugs are having a party with all the rain! This is what gardening in the Pacific Northwest is!
Gardeners love to share - gathering ideas from each other, sharing plant cuttings or bouquets or all that extra zucchini! Gardening is a labor of love that is meant to be shared. This weekend at the Gig Harbor Garden Tour, seven local gardeners do the ultimate sharing by opening up their home gardens to over 1000 strangers.
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Summer Family Activities
It's a beautiful day! Go outside! Do something!
by Guest Blogger Jeanie Cullip
When boredom hits (usually about two days into summer vacation), fun and interesting activities can be hard to find. So be prepared: Here are 25 TV-Free Summer Family Activities. Even if you decide not to do any of these activities, reading through them will likely get your own creative juices flowing to wash away that boredom in no time!
1. Plant a garden
If you don't have space for a large garden, you can use a large pot (or 1/2 barrel) filled with soil. Flower gardens are great, but so are vegetable gardens. Three things that seem to be the best for young children to plant are fast-growing radishes, tall sunflowers, and pumpkins for carving or mini ones for enjoying.
2. Go to the park
Bring bread to feed the ducks, if there are any to feed!
3. Pick up litter in your neighborhood or at a park
Wear thick gloves.
4. Play an old-fashioned game
Duck, Duck Goose, Ring Around the Rosies, London Bridge, etc. Your local library probably has a book or two that lists various games and their rules. Invite the neighbors over to play.
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Gig Harbor's Skansie Netshed Wins!
$100,000 Preservation Grant
With every individual vote, Gig Harbor’s historic Skansie Netshed moved closer to the finish-line in a race that began in May. Today, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced the winners who will receive a portion of $1 million Historic Preservation Grant.
This was an entirely grassroots effort by the people of Gig Harbor, and the credit goes out to all of you.
The iconic Skansie Netshed tied in 3rd place with Point No Point Lighthouse -- both will receive $100K in restoration funds. 7 other projects out of the original 25 candidates will receive an award ranging from $50,000 to $90,000.
Go to http://www.preservationnation.org/about-us/press-center/press-releases/2010/eleven-seattle-puget-sound.html for more details or www.preservationnation.org and search "Seattle News Release".
If you would like more information, contact Lita Dawn Stanton, Gig Harbor Historic Preservation Officer at (253) 853-7609. See more about the Gig Harbor Skansie Netshed at www.cityofgigharbor.net
Read more → Comments (1)Time to Golf
ATTENTION GOLFERS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS!
It's all about Golf in the region right now, and Gig Harbor welcomes golfers to our area. We are gearing up to greet golfers for the 2010 Amateur in August at Chambers Bay. In the meantime, check out this great tournament next week at the beautiful McCormich Woods Golf Course. And if you want to learn more about Golfing in and around Gig Harbor go to www.gigharborguide.com
Don’t Miss Golf Today Magazine’s McCormick Woods Classic Golf "Fun Event/Tournament" Coming To Port Orchard Tuesday, June 22.
No Handicaps Required, No Scorecards Turned In! The McCormick Woods Classic Golf Tournament Is Just For Fun!
Get Out on the Water with Destiny Harbor
Gig Harbor's own Capt. Tom is back again this summer offering tours in Gig Harbor, Tacoma and South Puget Sound aboard "Destiny".
Exciting tours leaving from Gig Harbor depart from Anthony's and glide out into Gig Harbor revealing the sights, sounds and feel of the harbor. Explore beyond into the narrows passage, past Point Evans and under the two magnificent Narrows Bridges. Pay homage to Galloping Gertie, the 1940's span that lays on the sea floor below.
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It's June - time for free fun events!
concerts and movies start this month
The City of Gig Harbor is thrilled to bring to you once again, the hottest ticket in town, the Summer Sounds at Skansie, Tuesday evening outdoor concert series and the CinemaGig outdoor movie series for 2010.
In partnership with our wonderful sponsors - CenturytLink, St. Anthony Hospital and MultiCare Gig Harbor Medical Park Summer Sounds at Skansie and CinemaGig Outdoors should be the best ever! Here it is, mark your calendar now so you don't miss a thing, because after all, IT'S FREE!!
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SalmonChanted Harbor Returns
Heron Debut in Historic Downtown Gig Harbor
Gig Harbor welcomes the return of SalmonChanted Harbor! But this year there is a new twist…those salmon look suspiciously like heron and they are now on display at 15 locations around historic downtown Gig Harbor.
Organizers of the third annual art event decided to shake it up in 2010, with heron sculptures instead of salmon. The heron is a bird frequently seen in and around the waters of Gig Harbor bay and other bays and estuaries in the area.
Each artist has created a different themed heron (see list below) and each piece of art is displayed at a different location throughout historic Gig Harbor now through early September. The heron will then be auctioned at the SalmonChanted Evening event, scheduled for September 18th at the Gig Harbor Yacht Club.
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