Celebrate A South KItsap Holiday - Holiday Guide 2011

Celebrate a South Kitsap

HOLIDAY

2011 Inside

A Special Publication of the Port Orchard Independent A new holiday cookbook from local author

Jingle Bell Run livens up holiday event

Bay St. spot offers special holiday meals

Page 7

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Page 9

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This Holiday Season, Shop South Kitsap First … Santa Does!

Ten Good Reasons to shop the Port Orchard community first

By CorEEn hAYDoCK For the Independent

With a little creativity, sleuthing and imagination, you can find many unique stores and unique gift ideas for everyone on your list.

As consumers, we have the power to shape our community.

1) Your dollars spent locally have three times the impact on your community. Because local businesses bank locally, hire local accountants, attorneys and other service providers and pay local taxes.

2) Locally owned businesses build

strong neighborhoods by sustaining communities, linking neighborhoods and by contributing more to local causes.

By shopping locally you simultaneously create jobs, fund more city and county services through sales taxes, invest in neighborhood improvement and promote community development.

3) Supporting local businesses helps maintain the unique and distinctive flavor of Port Orchard and South Kitsap.

4) Shopping local reduces environmental impact. Local businesses make more local purchases requiring less transportation and are usually grouped together location-wise.

5) Local ownership means that important decisions are made locally by people who live in the community and who will feel the impacts of those decisions.

Ready To Make The Change?

We have a different philosophy. We’re a local not-for-profit financial cooperative and we make decisions that are based on what’s best for our members.

KCU’s free checking includes a debit card with no monthly fees, free mobile banking and a lot more!

If you’re ready to make a change, we’re ready to help.

Visit any of our branches or open your account online at kitsapcu.org.

Jerry Richardson

Regional Manager, Solution Ace, Competitive Runner

Here are a few ideas for shopping in our community for those on your list this holiday season: How about movie or play tickets?

Know a golfer? Greens fees, equipment or lessons from local golf courses are widely available.

Our community has a great selection of antique, collectible and vintage stores with all kinds of meaningful and quirky items.

If you have a gardener, farmer or animal lover on your list, we have many

nurseries, hardware, landscape and garden supply stores and pet stores and groomers.

And if you are shopping for a seamstress or crafter, there are fabric stores, bead shops and craft/hobby shops. We have sporting goods stores, wine shops, candy and chocolate shops, gift and drug stores for one of a kind gifts, knickknacks and collectibles.

Clothing, accessories and jewelry is available at area stores and boutiques.

Buy a gift certificate to frame art or photos or buy art at one of several galleries. Or coffee for a month at one of our espresso stands.

Someone on your list may appreciate services for their automobile or a punch card for car washes.

A gift certificate for housecleaning services, a massage or a pedicure, manicure or hair styling. Consider treating someone to a family portrait or lessons for music, dance, karate, and gymnastics. And everyone appreciates a gift certificate for dinner out.

The Port Orchard Chamber coordinates a Shop SK First program that rewards consumers at more than 50 businesses who participate in the program. When you have your Shop SK First Rewards card marked at a participating business you might win $100 in merchandise or services from sEE shop sk fiRst, pAGE 5

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6) More businesses mean more choice. Often local businesses carry more specialized lines or products and complement the larger chain stores.

7) Local businesses understand the importance of customer service. They often work harder at retaining your support and your recommendation.

8) Local businesses are owned by people and have employees who live in this community. This is their home and they have a personal vested interest Coreen Haydock in the community.

9) Prepare to be surprised! South Kitsap and Port Orchard offer a diversity of products and services.

10) Make a Difference. Make the commitment to a strong, vibrant local economy by shopping South Kitsap first!

and make a difference!

• We have wild caught Seafood, and all natural hormone free beef • We buy locally sourced products • Voted 1st place for “Best Steak” & “Best Seafood” 4 Consecutive years • Menu offers gluten-free options Reserve your Christmas party with us today!

100 Harrison Avenue Port Orchard, WA (360) 876-1445 • www.amysonthebay.com

Adding some extra jingle First Jingle Bell Run in Port Orchard being held as part of Chimes & Lights

By TIM KELLY Editor

The new twist on Port Orchard’s holiday season kickoff has been in the works since before Santa’s last trip to town.

The Jingle Bell Run/Walk will liven up the atmosphere downtown on Dec. 3.

The Jingle Bell Run/Walk is a fundraising event for the Arthritis Foundation, which sponsors the runs in cities across the country, with one of the biggest in Seattle.

Sheila Cline, whose daughter has juvenile arthritis, convinced the Arthritis Foundation she could organize, promote and pull off a successful event here in Port Orchard.

Before Halloween, she’d met

Courtesy photo

JB the Elf has been showing up all over town, like this recent appearance at Carter’s Chocolates, to promote the Jingle Bell Run/Walk on Dec. 3 in Port Orchard.

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Jingle Bell Run • Dec. 3, starting at 1 p.m. in front of City Hall • 5K Fun Run/Walk: $20 • 1K Run with the Elves: $10 with event T-shirt, or free for ages 8 and under without T-shirt.

• Sign up at: portorchard jinglebellrun.kintera.org/ her goal of 300 participants signed up, and she hopes to attract a couple hundred more.

By early November, fundraising for the event was about to top $18,000. Cline’s goal for the inaugural Port Orchard event is to raise $30,000, from entry fees, fundraising by participating teams, and the Jingle Bell Boutique, a holiday gift fair that will be set up the day of the run in the Port Orchard Pavilion on Bay Street.

Besides the fundraising, she also is determined to make it “a

fun, festive event for the whole family,” as she notes on her website for the event.

The 5K run/walk starts at 2 p.m., with participants starting at City Hall and going east on Bay Street to the Annapolis dock and back.

Before that, there will be a costume contest with judging at 1 p.m., and at 1:30 there’s a 1K children’s run with the elves.

A unique feature of the first Jingle Bell Run in Port Orchard is Cline’s creation of a mascot, JB the Elf, to promote the event. Anyone who’s been at a community festival or event in South Kitsap this year likely has seen JB. “We needed to draw attention to our efforts, and it just made sense to have an elf,” Cline said. “The arthritis Foundation just thinks that’s great.”

Participants can still sign up online at portorchardjinglebellrun.kintera.org/, and there will be last-minute registration starting at noon on Dec. 3.

Catch the Christmas Spirit!

Shop Downtown Port Orchard for unique shops, services, eateries and spirits.

The Downtown Port Orchard Merchants wish you and yours a safe and Happy Holiday!

Port Orchard Bay Street Association

Your downtown merchants are SK Helpline drop off sites

Salvation Army’s red kettles, bellringers a holiday tradition As perennial as Christmas lights, the red kettles of the Salvation Army will soon be manned by bellringers at shopping locations around the community.

Starting today and continuing through Christmas Eve — though not on Thanksgiving Day or on Sundays — the bellringers will be stationed at these locations in the Port Orchard area: • Fred Meyer at Sedgwick Road and Bethel Avenue

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$10 OFF Tooth Care Products Sonicare Flexcare Plus & Sonicare for Kids Offer Good Until 12-31-2011

Celebrating the Season Kitsap Bank is pleased to sponsor the Festival of Chimes and Lights on December 3rd. Join us as we kick off the holiday season with this free, family-friendly event.

Warm yourself at Kitsap Bank’s Bay Street Branch with hot apple cider and popcorn from 4-6 pm!

Main Branch 619 Bay Street Port Orchard, WA 98366 360-876-7800

Bethel & Lund South Park Village 3324 Bethel Rd SE 1700 Village Lane SE Port Orchard, WA 98366 Port Orchard, WA 98366 360-874-1063 360-876-7822

www.kitsapbank.com • 800-283-5537

• Safeway on Lund Avenue • the Albertsons stores on Olney Avenue and Sedgwick Road • Walmart on Bethel Avenue • the Port Orchard post office on Bethel Avenue • the QFC grocery store on Mile Hill Drive • the two state liquor stores, one on Lund Avenue and one in the same retail center as QFC See red kettles, page 7

shop sk first CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

the Shop SK participants. For a reward card and list of participating Shop SK businesses, and list of Chamber members, go to www. portorchard.com or call 360-8763505.

So this Holiday season, bring your Santa to shop locally in the Port Orchard community. For more information, go online to wwww. portorchard.com or contact the Port Orchard Chamber at 360-876-3505.

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Major James Baker of the Salvation Army’s office in Bremerton said this year’s fundraising goal is $280,000, the same as last year, when the red kettle campaign came “pretty close” to reaching the goal.

Donations to the Salvation Army’s red kettle campaign, according to the website for the church and social services group, “provide Christmas dinners, clothing, and toys for families in need.

Financial assistance also helps with basic necessities, along with seasonal aid. Families of prisoners often are included.

Volunteers distribute gifts to shut-ins in hospitals and nursing homes, and shelters are open for sitdown dinners.”

The charity relies mostly on paid bellringers to man the kettles, although service groups such as Rotary, Kiwanis and Soroptomist clubs provide volunteers every year.

Shifts covered by volunteers cover about 8 percent of the 7,000 hours worked during the annual campaign, Baker said.

The paid bellringers earn minimum wage, and this year the Salvation Army is contracting with Labor Ready Inc. in Bremerton to handle the hiring of seasonal workers. Anyone interested in a job needs to apply in person at the Labor Ready office, 1500 NE Riddell Road.

Any individuals who are not service club members but are interested in being a volunteer bellringer should contact the Salvation Army office at (360) 373-5550.

“We could certainly use a lot more volunteers; that would really lower my overhead,” Baker said.

The hours are flexible, and most volunteers sign up for Saturdays.

“If we could get more volunteers during weekdays, that would be wonderful,” Baker said.

Cedar Cove creator shares her holiday recipes, traditions

Macomber movie to be shown during Festival of Chimes & Lights The Hallmark Channel movie “Trading Christmas,” based on Debbie Macomber’s novel of holiday travel plans that take surprising twists, will be shown for free at Dragonfly Cinema during Port Orchard’s annual Festival of Chimes & Lights. “Trading Christmas” will be shown at 6:30 p.m. That afternoon, Dragonfly will offer free showings of “Home Alone” at 12:10, 2:15 and 4:20 p.m.

Christmas card features local photographer’s scene

This year, Macomber is selecting a local artist’s photo or art for her Christmas card that is sent to booksellers and other publishing people. Photographer John Bushnell’s shot of the Port Orchard marina with the Olympic Mountains in the background will be featured. The author hopes to start a collection of cards with local artists’ work.

Bestselling author Debbie Macomber of Port Orchard has a new book out, and this one isn’t set in the fictional town of Cedar Cove.

It’s even closer to home than that.

“Debbie Macomber’s Christmas Cookbook” has printed on the cover: “Favorite recipes and holiday traditions from my home to yours.”

• Brown Sugar Toasted Pecan Pie • White Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake The book contains 50 color photographs and illustrations, and it also offers Macomber’s tips on how to: • Set a beautiful holiday table • Decorate your house in 10 minutes

According to a news release announcing the book’s release, “The enjoyment of food and entertaining is an essential element in her stories and her readers are always asking for recipes.”

In her book, Macomber “offers everything you need to make the holiday sparkle, filled with her favorite holiday recipes, entertaining essentials, decorating tips, and creative gift-giving ideas.”

The author’s recipes include: • Butternut Squash Bisque with Jarlsberg Toast • Winter Pear, Walnut and Baby Romaine Salad with Creamy Maple Vinaigrette • Cider-Glazed Roast Turkey • Classic Bread Stuffing with Leeks and Bacon

• Make Christmas crafts with kids • Bake edible gifts, from cookies and candies to delectable cranberry chocolate bars The book is published by Harlequin and retails for $29.95.

Pancake breakfast Tree-cutting with Santa on tap permits available The Sunnyslope Improvement Association will host a pancake breakfast with Santa from 9 a.m. to noon on Dec. 10 at 5830 Old Clifton Road.

Youngsters will be able to make crafts, and there will also be a craft bazaar at the event.

Bring your camera to take pictures with Santa.

For more information, call 710-8587.

Begin a new family tradition this year, or continue an old one, by cutting your own Christmas tree this holiday season.

Olympic National Forest Christmas tree permits are available at offices throughout the Olympic Peninsula. The permits cost $5 each (cash or check only) and can be purchased during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, with weekend

hours at some locations.

The permits are valid in specified areas of the Olympic National Forest. Maps and information about cutting locations will be provided.

Contact your local office for hours and details: • Olympic National Forest Headquarters Olympia (360-9562300) • Hood Canal Ranger District Office in Quilcene (360-7652200) • Pacific Ranger District Office in Quinault (360-288-2525)

• Hoodsport Visitor Information Center • Forks Visitor Information Center Mail-order permits are available from the Olympia, Quilcene, and Quinault offices; visit our website for additional information.

Please contact your nearest office for current road and weather conditions.

Note that all offices will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday on Nov. 25.

MoonDogs Too Lighted ships parade set for South Kitsap shore

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Come enjoy all the festivities with us this season we even have that perfect Christmas Gift.

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WWW.MOONDOGSTOO.COM 714 BAY STREET, PORT ORCHARD ~ (360)895-2300

The Port Orchard Yacht Club will hold its annual parade of lighted ships Dec. 17, starting at 5 p.m. at the Southworth ferry dock.

The ships will follow the shoreline around to the public marina on the Port Orchard waterfront, and the parade ends at the club.

The yacht club will continue its long tradition of taking requests for Christmas wishes called out from the Santa ship as it passes homes and locations along the shoreline. Requests may be mailed to the Port Orchard Yacht Club, P.O. Box 3, Port Orchard WA 98366, or call Donna Printz at 876-3781.

Similar events will be held at other Kitsap ports. The Poulsbo Yacht Club

and Historic Downtown Poulsbo Association present a lighted boat parade Dec. 16 and 17, starting at dusk. The boats cruise Liberty Bay. Spirit of Seattle Argosy cruises will be offered Dec. 14, departing from Poulsbo at 7 p.m., arriving in Keyport at 7:45 and Lemolo at 8:20.

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A real deal: community feast at MoonDogs

By Brett Cihon Staff writer

The popular downtown Port Orchard restaurant MoonDogs, Too will provide $1 holiday dinners on Thanksgiving and Christmas between 11a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

This year’s aptly-named Holiday Dinner for a Dollar events mark the fifth year MoonDogs will offer the holiday meals. Though the dinners are priced at $1 for all, patrons are encouraged to donate more when they can. Proceeds from the holiday dinners will go to the South Kitsap Helpline Food Bank.

Dinners will include turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, dessert and a drink. And all the food, according to restaurant owner Darryl Baldwin, is homemade and tasty.

“Coming here for the holiday dinner is like going to a true holiday meal,” Baldwin said. “Everything your grandmother would make will be here.”

MoonDogs is preparing to feed around 550 people at each holiday dinner this year. This is up from the 300-400 people who have showed up over the past four years. More are expected to attend this year because of the down economy, Baldwin said.

“Food banks have been busier and people are still hurting,” Baldwin said.

“We’re expecting more people to show up this year.”

The holiday dinner events were started to help people in need find a tasty holiday meal, he said. Because local food banks are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas day, Baldwin and others wanted to provide a warm place for people to eat good food.

“We wanted to show that even on the holidays people can get a good meal,” Baldwin said.“People often arrive as strangers and leave as friends.”

Morning Side Bakery of Port Orchard, Minder Meats of Bremerton and Valley Center Produce of Bremerton will donate much of the food needed for the

Everyone’s welcome at MoonDogs, Too on Bay Street for the establishment’s community meals on Thanksgiving and Christmas, which always draw a big turnout. The meal is served for $1 per person, but those who have the means are asked to contribute more.

All proceeds benefit South Kitsap Helpline Food Bank.

Courtesy photo

events, Baldwin said. MoonDogs is also teaming up with First Lutheran Community Church of Port Orchard to provide free shuttle service to and from the dinners.

Shuttles will leave from Safeway on Bethel Avenue, Fred Meyer on Sedgwick Road and the QFC store on Mile High Drive at different times during the days of the events, said Baldwin.

MoonDogs will also host a Breakfast with Santa event Dec. 10 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Kids’ meals of pancakes, bacon and eggs will be served for $5. Children can take pictures with Santa and enjoy a festive holiday atmosphere.

“We wanted give the kids another

Adult breakfasts on Dec. 10 will be regularly priced.

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South Kitsap High School’s band will be traveling to Hawaii to perform in the 70th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Attack Commemoration on Dec. 7, but the final month of the year is filled with plenty of local performances by musical groups throughout the school district.

There are multiple elementary schools holding band performances. Bob Cooper, district director of visual and performing arts, said those generally begin at 6:30 p.m.

The first is Dec. 8 at Hidden Creek Elementary, where that school’s fourth- and fifth-graders will hold a performance. Cooper said that one will incorporate both vocal and drumming elements. He said it also might include recorders, a Renaissance instrument similar to a clarinet.

South Kitsap High’s band also will host a performance at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 in the school’s theater. Because of the quick turnaround from performing in Hawaii, Cooper said it will be more of a vocal performance that also combines some instruments.

South Colby Elementary School also will hold a performance by its fourththrough sixth-graders that night.

“It will be more of a celebration of their learnings during the fall,” Cooper said. “Students will be doing both singing and playing with instruments.”

Also during that night, there will be a kindergarten and first-grade performance at Sunnyslope Elementary. While those students are often just are learning music, Cooper said those events are some of the most well-attended in the district.

“You come to a concert, it is filled to the rafters,” he said. “Parents love to come.”

Sixth-graders throughout the district will perform Dec. 19 at the high

• Nov. 25-26, Dec. 2-3: Madrigal Feaste, Adventure of Faith Church • Dec. 8: Winter Concert at Hidden Creek Elementary School • Dec. 13: Christmas Concert, South Kitsap High School Theater • Dec. 13: K-1 Holiday Concert, Sunnyslope Elementary School • Dec. 13: Intermediate Winter Concerts • Dec. 15: Grades 2-3 Holiday Concert, Sunnyslope Elementary School • Dec. 19: District Sixth-Grade Band Concert, SK High School Theater • Dec. 20: Winter Concert, John Sedgwick Junior High School

school. While many districts have cut band programs in elementary schools, Cooper said fifth- and sixth-graders in the district now are being driven by their parents to John Sedgwick Junior High School to take a class with junior high students. In addition to reducing costs, Cooper said integrating those students has been beneficial.

“It’s a great program and the kids love it,” Cooper said. “We’re trying to break down the barriers from elementary to junior high. We’ve found it to be very successful.”

Sedgwick students also have their winter concert Dec. 20. There will be performances by the school’s band, choir and instrumental jazz group.

All those events are free to the public.

South Kitsap High’s choir also will stage its annual “Madrigal Feaste” on Nov. 25-26 and Dec. 2-3 at the Adventure of Faith Church at the corner of Jackson and Sedgwick. It is a medieval theme and the choir dresses in customs accordingly. There also is a Germanthemed meal served without flatware.

Tickets for that event event are $25 and can be purchased through the high school.

Churches host community worship service on Thanksgiving Eve

A group of South Kitsap churches are holding the sixth annual Thanksgiving Eve Community Worship Service on Nov. 23.

This year’s service will be at 7 p.m. at Elim Lutheran Church, 5911 E. Hillcrest Drive.

Other area churches involved in holding the service are St. Bede Episcopal Church, Spirit of Life Lutheran and First Lutheran Community Church. Everyone in the community is welcome to attend.

There will be singing, a special message and a performance by a children’s group, and afterwards there will be dessert and an auction.

All proceeds will benefit South Kitsap Helpline, Lifecare Foodbank and Heifer International.

Those attending are asked to donate a cake, pie or other dessert for the event.

There will also be a collection of nonperishable food items for the South Kitsap Helpline Food Bank.

Through SK Helpline, community sends some cheer to those in need The South Kitsap Helpline Food Bank is requesting donations of food to help feed the hungry this holiday season.

Helpline will be providing Thanksgiving and Christmas meal baskets to more than 2,000 local low-income families — in addition to the more than 4,000 children, adults and seniors served monthly throughout the year.

Nonperishable foods most needed by the food bank during November and December include: •corn and green beans •stuffing •cranberries •yams •gravy •broth •condensed milk Donations are accepted Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m at South Kitsap Helpline, located at 1012 Mitchell Ave. Along with nonperishable food, the food bank is also asking for donations of fresh fruit and vegetables. Donations of carrots, apples, onions and other fresh produce can be made on Dec. 16 between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., as well

13th Annual

Dec. 17 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Personal care items such as toilet paper and baby diapers to include in regular food baskets are always welcome.

Donating Gifts/ Stocking Stuffer Tree

Jingle All The Way

If your school, church or business would like to participate in Helpline’s Stocking Stuffer Tree program to provide Christmas gifts for local children in need, call (360) 876-4089.

Stocking Stuffer Trees go out after Thanksgiving. Helpline places gift tags on the trees providing basic information (age, gender) about children for whom gifts are needed.

These are children who, without the help the help of the community, might not otherwise receive gifts this holiday season.

Community members can choose gift tags from one of the trees, purchase age-appropriate gifts and bring them unwrapped to the Stocking Stuffer Tree for pickup and distribution by Helpline.

Contact South Kitsap Helpline at (360) 876-4089.

Saturday, December 3, 2011 12:00 - 8:00 pm City Hall & Downtown Port Orchard

Celebrate the season!

Please join us for FREE, family-fun events: • At the Dragonfly Cinema Debbie Macomber’s Trading Christmas at 6:30 pm & Home Alone a Holiday classic, at 12:10, 2:15 & 4:20 pm • Pooch and Purrs on Parade Costume Contest • Christmas Lane Decorated Boat Contest • Choirs and Community Sing-Along • Jingle Bell Boutique – Gift Fair • Holiday Tree Lighting & Clock Tower Chimes • Arrival of Santa & Mrs. Claus • Mary Shaver’s Marionettes performing Shoemaker and the Elves, 4pm at the Library • Free Hayrides, Crafts, and Refreshments Courtesy photo

Christmas gifts donated for area children in the 2010 collection drive await distribution at the Port Orchard armory. South Kitsap Helpline is providing Stocking Stuffer Trees at participating businesses, churches and schools to collect gift donations again this year. Anyone who would like to donate may take a gift tag off one of the trees and return it with an age-appropriate gift.

Presented by the City of Port Orchard and these generous sponsors: Olympic Peninsula Antique Tractor Club, Fathom’s O’Fun, Del’s Feed and Farm Supply, Yachtfish Marine, Port of Bremerton – Port Orchard Marina, Jones Tree Farm, Dennis and Michele Simpson – Santa and Mrs. Claus, Cedar Cove Association, Arthritis Foundation - Pacific Northwest Chapter, Wave Broadband, Saints Car Club, Sinclair Inlet Yacht Club, Port Orchard Independent

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