It's Farmers Market Time Again

Today, as I write, I have enjoyed an interesting mix of weather outside the window; rain, snow, sun, sleet, dark, sun, snow, rain. All day long it has been curious weather and all I keep thinking is - definitely spring in the Pacific Northwest.

So, just like that Pemco Ad with "socks and sandles guy" you gotta be ready for anything around here...or you'll never leave the house. And there is too much good stuff coming up to not get outside, especially since it is almost Farmers Market time in Gig Harbor.

I really lover our Farmers Market, which has come so very far since it began about a decade ago. And, according to market director Dale Schultz, this upcoming market season is going to be event better. Dale has spent the winter recruiting new farmers and new vendors including Gradwohl grass fed organic beef farmer and Last Bite Bakery as well as Ike's Fish and Seafood.

The Saturday Gig Harbor Farmers Market opens April 3rd at the new location on Kimball Drive. Take the Wollochet City Center exit off of Hwy 16 and follow the signs.

Thanks to a sponsorship by Columbia Bank, every Saturday the market will have live music including Billy Farmer, Steve Stefanowicz and Dave Calhoun - all local favorites.

The Farmers Market has a brand new website www.gigharborfarmersmarket.com and will also be selling new Farmers Market logo wear this year! It's all new and exciting for the Saturday market.

And additional good news, the Wednesday Green Market at Skansie Brothers Park is also expanding with more vendor, more activities and longer hours - open until 7pm. The Wednesday Green Market begins June 2nd. Stay tuned for more details on the Wednesday market coming to this Blog!

And see you on Saturday April 3rd for the opening of the Gig Harbor Farmers Market!!
www.gigharborguide.com

Gig Harbor Nominated for Best of the Northwest Escape

It's time to vote Gig Harbor! We have been nominated in the 2010 Best of the Northwest Escapse contest. Voting begins on MONDAY MARCH 15TH and runs through FRIDAY APRIL 18TH., so login today and get ready to help us win!

Why do we want to win? Tourism is a "clean" industry for our community during difficult economic times. Visitors bring dollars to our community and help our local businesses stay alive and thrive. Sales tax revenue is generated which in turn pays for services you need like roads, and sidewalk and water. We all benefit from a healthy local economy, and tourism is an easy way to make that happen, while also provding for the amenties that we as residents also like.

Please help Gig Harbor rise to the top in this contest, so we can show the rest of Western Washington what makes Gig Harbor such a great place to live and to visit!

Vote on line at http://best.king5.com/gig-harbor-wa/biz/180104

City of Gig Harbor Bond Rating Increase

City of Gig Harbor Receives Standard and Poor’s AA- Rating
Bond rating increase reflects professional and conservative city finances


Gig Harbor, Wash. – March 3, 2010 – Today the City of Gig Harbor received word it has been upgraded to AA- long term rating by Standard and Poor’s. The rating increase will mean a significant saving over the years to the City and its rate payers – about $92,000 in interest savings over the life of the bonds.

The Standard and Poor’s Report justifies the rating upgrade on;
• Location in the economically diverse Pierce County service area with above –average income levels
• Track record of maintaining adequate debt service coverage (DSC) and good liquidity
• Implementation of rate increases
The reports says the foregoing strengths are partially offset by the city’s additional debt needs to fund its current capital improvement plan and near-term need to expand capacity in both its water and sewer system.
The stable outlook reflects Standard and Poor’s expectation that the city will maintain sufficient system net revenues to ensure good DSC and cash on hand; and the stability of the rating will depend on the city’s ability to pass along future rate increases and remain in line with its forecast.

“I would like to thank Finance Director Dave Rodenbach” said City Administrator Rob Karlinsey, “as well as City Engineer Steve Misiurak, and all their staff for their outstanding work in demonstrating professionally and conservatively run city finances and a well-planned capital program in order to make the case for a higher bond rating.”

The report from Standard and Poor’s is available at www.cityofgigharbor.net

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Welcome Spring in Gig Harbor with "get out of the house" Events

(Sigh)
Spring.
Ahhhhh....
Can't express enough how much I am looking forward to daylight saving time, light, warm, birds, blooms, and mostly reacquainting with all of you who have been hibernating!!! Time to get out and about. So here are some suggestions to get your motor running over the next few weeks;

Paradise Theatre continues its run of DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS. This is a great show! Check it out at www.paradisetheatre.org

Encore! Theater opens ANGRY HOUSEWIVES (returning by popular demand) March 12th. Don't miss it. www.encoretheater.org

Gig Harbor Civic Orchestra presents its spring concert "Morning, Noon, and Night" at the Milt Boyd Theater, Peninsula High School on March 13th at 7pm

Get Running! Two charity runs this month include Chapel Hill's annual RUN FOR BURMA on March 14th at 1pm and KING OF THE HILL, on the Cushman Trail, March 20th at 8:00am Learn more about both of these on our calendar of events at www.gigharborguide.com.

This is just a taste of what is coming up this spring. Get ready, get set, GET GIG!!

Cushman Trail Gap Project Complete, and Under Budget!

At the end of February the City of Gig Harbor completed a multi-month project known as the Cushman Trail Gap Project, connecting a section of the Cushman Trail between Cushman Trail Park and Soundview. This project was completed under budget!

Following a request from the State of WA DOT to improve bike facilities and trails, the City of Gig Harbor was awarded a $145K Grant from WSDOT to improve the facilitied in the area for pedestrian and bicycle safety and access. The project was designed, managed and inspected in house by City Staff Jeff Langhelm, Jeff Olsen, Amy Londgren, Marcos McGraw and Terri Reed. City crews completed the detailed work removing all existing 5 foot sidewalks, realignment of the roadway centerline on Hollycroft Street and construction of approximately 1000 lf of new 10 foot wide sidewalk, curb, gutter and electrical conduit for future street light installation.

The city's work was made significantly easier by the patience of partnership of local businesses in particular the owners of the 76 Gas Station and the Harvester Restaurant. Hats off to all who helped this project come to completion.

Construction on Harborview Drive Underway

The City of Gig Harbor is replacing 330 LF of existing asbestos cement water main with 8-inch ductile water main. Construction is now underway on Harborview Drive between Soundview and Pioneer for the next three weeks weather permitting. Construction takes place from 11pm-10am daily.
Preliminary design work (locating and saw cutting the road0 will be ongoing.This work will be performed in the mornings during low traffic volumes.
The City public works crews are working hard to create as little inconvenience as possible to the public and local businesses and appreciate your patience. If you have questions, please contact the Operations Department at the City of Gig Harbor at (253) 851-6170.

Be An Apprentice For a Day!

Gig Harbor Boat Shop is offering "Apprentice for a Day" Thunderbird #2 Restoration. Initiated in February 2010, participants in the ongoing program sign up for a single day and work under the guidance of the instructor on the restoration task of the day. The historic 26" Thunderbird Hull #2 (built in 1958 at Eddon Boatyard, now the home of Gig Harbor Boat Shop) is the initial focus of this program. In the first phase, participants are working under the guidance of Thunderbird sailboat specialist Jamie Storkman and Historic Preservationist Matthew Meachem to learn how to properly remove and document boat hardware, accessories and structural pieces using the "U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Vessel Preservation Projects" as a guide.
Would you like to be an Apprentice For the Day? Call (253) 857- 9344 to sign up for one or all six sessions. Each session runs 10am - 2pm and costs $30 for members and $40 for non members.