19th Annual BlackBerry Festival

Event:

19TH ANNUAL BLACKBERRY FESTIVAL

Event Date: August 30, 2008 Event Time: 10:00am – 8:00pm

Festival Hours:

Saturday, Aug. 30th-10 AM to 8 PM

Sunday, Aug. 31st-10 AM to 7 PM

Monday, Sept. 1st-10 AM to 6 PM

You want to know where the action will be this weekend in Bremerton? DOWNTOWN – HARBORSIDE! This is the weekend for the 19^th Annual Blackberry Festival held down on the Bremerton Boardwalk. There will be over 100 booths with everything from arts & crafts to you guessed it “FOOD”! You know what kind of food I am talking about! Hamburgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, chicken burgers, BBQ ribs, chicken and beef brisket, corn on the cob and oh man dare I say more!? You will also find tons of amazing ethnic foods like teriyaki, shrimp on a stick, spring rolls, gyros, crepes and tacos!

Don’t forget the Blackberry delights!! Blackberry slugs, scones, pie and that amazing Blackberry shortcake!! After all it is the Blackberry Festival.

I don’t know why I love it so – I sure hate those pesky bushes creeping up in my flower beds!! But on this weekend they are my friend!!

Of course you know it its down at the Boardwalk there is going to be music and lots of it! Here is the line up for this year:

Saturday, August 30th

10:00-11:30 Smilin’ Scandinavians

11:30-12:00 Opening Ceremony

12:00- 1:45 Mark Lewis Quartet

2:00- 3:45 Everyday Jones

4:00- 5:45 T.J. Casey

6:00- 8:00 Kelly Thibodeaux & Etouffee

Sunday, August 31st

10:00-11:45 Forget Me Nots

12:00- 2:00 HD Fusion

2:30-4:30 Soul Purpose

5:00-7:00 Ron Thompson

Monday, September 1st

11:00 – 1:00 Scott Cossu

1:30 – 3:30 Clave Con Jazz

4:00 – 6:00 Ron Thompson

Make sure to make it out this weekend to support the local area and the amazing artists and musicians. There will be reduced admission tours of the USS Turner Joy and if you haven’t seen the new Bremerton Marina you are in for a treat!

If you see me down there –be sure to say hi – I might not be able to shake your hand because I am a cotton candy nut!!

West Bremerton | Was Your Home Built Prior to 1978?

Did you receive a pamphlet in the mail from the Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority about the Lead Hazard Control Program? I did. My house was built in 1941. I don’t qualify for the program but would really like to make sure the information reaches as many households as possible. Lead poisoning is a tragedy.

If you are eligible you may receive up to $7,000.00 in free repairs to correct the lead hazards in your home. This program is in partnership with Washington State Community Trade and Economic Development in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency.

This program has a Maximum Income Limit.

Click for Pamphlet Here.

Lead poisoning is a very serious concern and can cause severe health problems in all ages. If you or anyone in your home suffers from headaches, stomachaches, nausea or irritability it could be a sign of lead poisoning. Only a doctor’s exam can be conclusive.

See the pamphlet or Contact Mary Barton at 360-535-6131

Main Sources of Lead in Homes

Pealing or chipping paint (if lead based)

Dust from sanding old paint

Contaminated soil

Washington State Ferry System :: Largest in the Nation :: More than Transportation

Can you WiFi on your commute? Can you read a book or knit a scarf on your commute? Many people that live in the Bremerton / Silverdale area of the West Sound do. How do they do that you ask? They work in Seattle and commute on the ferry. The Washington State Ferry System is the largest in the United States and the 3^rd largest in the world! Of the 24 million annual ferry riders in the Puget Sound area 50% of those are commuters. Why commute you ask? The housing in Bremerton / Silverdale area on the Kitsap Peninsula has been more affordable than the housing in the Seattle and surrounding areas of Puget Sound for several years. People realized that you could commute an hour into Seattle from many directions but not one that offered a slower pace of life and more home for your housing dollar as the Bremerton / Silverdale area.

The Ferry is also a huge tourist attraction in Washington State, so even if you don’t commute on the ferry you will enjoy the beauty of Puget Sound on a ferry ride from Bremerton to Seattle. The first time I rode a ferry was while on vacation to the west side of the state from eastern Washington. Once I relocated to Bremerton the ferry became a great weekend “out & about”. We would pack a picnic and off we would go. Yes, I have ridden the ferry just to ride the ferry. The sights and sounds of the Puget Sound are amazing.

Bremerton WA :: Downtown :: Ferry Watching from Jo Soss on Vimeo.

Bremerton / Seattle :: Summer 2008 Schedule

This schedule is effective June 22 through September 27, 2008 The approximately crossing time is 60 minutes. You don’t need a reservation.

Click Here for Schedule ==>

You will be sailing on the M/V Kitsap or the M/V Kaleetan. The State of Washington runs the largest ferry system in the United States and has an amazing website with more information than you will ever need.

Go here ==>

Did you know that you can purchase your ferry tickets online? You can purchase and print very similar to an online airline check in. You just want to make sure you have at least 30 minutes prior to heading to the ferry terminal in downtown Bremerton because the email verification can take up to 30 minutes.

So make sure to check out the “Wave 2 Go” section. Go here ==>

If you are using the ferry system to commute to employment in Seattle you can purchase a monthly passenger use only pass for the Seattle/Bremerton run for $85.80 which will save you approximately $48.00 per month.

Here are some interesting facts about the Washington State Ferry System

• Carries 24 million riders annually.
• 11 million vehicles ride the 200 miles of marine highway
• Commuters comprise 50% of the rider ship
• There are 10 ferry routes with almost 500 sailings per day.
• Very critical link between the urban areas of the east Puget Sound area to the growing communities on the Kitsap Peninsula
• For the last 50 years West Sound residents have used the ferries to commute to the Seattle area
• Critical link for the more affordable housing on the West Sound with key employment centers on the east side of Puget Sound.
• There are 28 vessels and 20 Ferry terminals in the Puget Sound System

Bremerton People Trivia

Ever just search around the net for interesting facts about the places you have lived? I always like reading the articles from Forbes or Money magazines of the “Top” whatever lists. I love to find out about the history of a city, from all types of perspectives. I love to talk to those that have lived in an area there entire life. My neighbor has lived in her home since the early 50’s and I am fascinated by the stories she tells and the people she knew. On one of my searches I found a little tid bit about “notable” people that lived here, were born here or for some reason have a connection to the City of Bremerton.

• Mike Enzi, Senior U.S. Senator (R-WY)
• Jazz legend Quincy Jonesmoved to Bremerton at age 10. As a teenager, he first met up with Ray Charles after traveling to clubs in Seattle.
• The punk/rock band MxPxwas started in Bremerton and all three members still reside there.
• The indie rocker Ben Gibbard, known for his work in The Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie, and All-Time Quarterback, was also born in Bremerton, Washington.
• Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbardattended Union High School and wrote his early works while living in Bremerton during the late 1930s and early 1940s.
• Bill Gates Sr, father of the Microsoft billionaire, was born in Bremerton and began his law career with the local firm of Merrill Wallace. The elder Gates’ father operated a furniture store and ice cream parlor in downtown Bremerton.
• Fifteen-term U.S. Congressman Norm Dickswas born and raised in Bremerton, the son of a Puget Sound Naval Shipyard worker. Dicks serves as a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and also sits on the Select Committee on Homeland Security.
• Long-time KJRradio disk jockey and general manager Pat O’Day (nee Paul Berg) is a 1953 graduate of Bremerton High School. He began his concert-promotion empire by holding teen dances at Bremerton’s Sheridan Park Recreation Center and the Spanish Castle in Seattle. He would later go on to promote such noted acts as Merilee Rush, Heart, The Wailers and Jimi Hendrix.
• Actor Howard Duff, best known as the radio voice of Sam Spadeand later as Det. Sgt. Sam Stone in the late-’60s NBC television series Felony Squad, was born in Charleston, Washington, now part of Bremerton.
• Seattle Marinersutilityman Willie Bloomquistwas born in Bremerton and grew up in nearby Port Orchard.
• Dana Kirk and Tara Kirk attended Bremerton High School and received scholarships in swimming to attend Stanford University. They have competed multiple times in collegiate and non-collegiate swimming, including the 2004 Olympic games – the first sisters to be members of a U.S. Olympic Swim team.
• Marvin Williams, a graduate of Bremerton High School, signed to the NBA team Atlanta Hawksin 2005. As a senior at Bremerton High School, Williams averaged 28.7 points, 15.5 rebounds, five blocks and five assists and earned McDonald’s and Parade All-America honors. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and helped lead them to the 2005 NCAA Championship.
• Geologic, the lead rapper for the Blue Scholarswho has also performed as a spoken word poet, is from Bremerton. The Blue Scholars have opened for and shared stages with such artists as De La Soul, Slick Rick, Kanye West, Immortal Technique, Masta Ace, Mos Def and Little Brother.
• Benji Olson, offensive guard for the NFL franchise Tennessee Titans, was born in Bremerton and attended nearby South Kitsap High School.
• Avram Davidson, author and literary critic, spent the end of his life in Bremerton, dying there on May 8, 1993.
• Architect Steven Hollwas born in Bremerton on December 9, 1947.
• Alex Smith, Quarterback of the San Francisco 49erswas born in Bremerton.
• Elizabeth George (Christian author)