Cup Fee Repeal/Waste Ordinance Update At City Council Tonight

The wheels turned s-l-o-w-l-y at the City, but a draft revised version of the Waste Reduction ordinance will be discussed at the Council's Regular Business Meeting tonight (Tuesday 08/08/23, starting at 6pm).

Through months of work by city staff, local business owners, and our island partners through the Business Ambassador program, it has been the Chamber's pleasure to help bring our community together and to work to bring about significant change to the original ordinance.

The headline may be the repeal of the 25c fee on to-go cups, but many more improvements are being proposed tonight to better serve our island's small business owners and our community in general - see you there!

Annual Founders Pickleball Tournament Is Here

With more than 400 players registered, the courts of Battle Point will surely be alive with the sound of Pickleball this week.

The 4th Annual Bainbridge Island Pickleball Founders Tournament is coming to the island to celebrate the viral sport right here where the world's fastest-growing sport was invented!

Presented by Bainbridge Island Historical Museum, the USAPA-sanctioned Pickleball tournament play starts at 8:00 am daily.

Spectators can watch for free—from the first serve to the last matches in the Pickledome - AKA the founders courts at Battle Point Park.

Meet The Artist Leading The Bainbridge Troll Project

On Wednesday August 16 from 6-8pm, Thomas Dambo, the artist behind the six-site, multi-state Way of the Bird King installation, will be at BIMA to discuss the Bainbridge edition of the project and sign copies of his limited-edition book Trash Trolls & Treasure Hunts.

Tickets for this, the Friends of The Bainbridge Troll project's major fundraiser, are $75 and selling quickly...

The completed troll itself is scheduled to be revealed to the world on Friday, August 18 at its currently undisclosed Bainbridge location...

You're Invited: COBI's Winslow Subarea Plan Public Online Workshop

Wed Aug 9, 6 - 7:30pm

This is the community's next chance to provide their thoughts and guidance with regard to the future of the entire Winslow Area.

Learn more about the importance of updating the Subarea Plan from the Chamber's recent online article.

This is session is the make-up date from a previous zoom call that was cancelled and rescheduled due to some unfortunate Zoombombing...

Longtime Kitsap Bank Board Chair Dies At 94

Helen Langer Smith, who served as Kitsap Bank's board chair for 25 years (1986-2011) and as part the bank's board for more than 70 years, passed away July 28, the bank announced in a statement. She was 94.

“Helen was a remarkable leader, business person, banker and human being," Kitsap Bank's CEO Steve Politakis said. "She genuinely cared about Kitsap Bank’s employees and their families and got to know as many as she could through the years. She also cared about her community and set the tone in Kitsap Bank’s ongoing commitment to giving back, both in donations and through active volunteerism.”

Kitsap Bank's family ownership continues under the leadership of chairwoman Cydly Langer Smith and director Melinda Pigors, Langer Smith's daughters.

The Chamber extends our deepest condolences to Helen's family and friends.

Chamber In Action: Bainbridge Business Roundtable with Congressman Derek Kilmer

Rep. Kilmer came to the Chamber on Tuesday August 8th to talk with and listen to local business leaders across sectors including hospitality, manufacturing, real estate, retail, nonprofits, professional services and more.

While on Bainbridge, Rep. Kilmer is also visiting a couple of local projects for which he recently helped find federal funding. Learn more at the Congressman's website

If your business would like the chance to connect directly with our community's elected officials at the city, county, state, and national level, the Chamber is here to help...

Chamber's Monthly After Hours Member Mixer Returns

After a month's break (due to the tiny community gathering that it is the Grand Old 4th), the Chamber's popular series of member mixers resumes at the end of this month.

Supported by our sponsors Eleven Winery, this month's event showcases an important sector of business on Bainbridge with a garden party visit to one of the island's premier Airbnb locations, courtesy of Dahlia Bluff Cottage and Studio Margo Photography.

One note: This waterfront Rolling-Bay adjacent property has very limited parking, so guests will be asked to park in the lots at Rolling Bay and then take a 2-minute summer stroll to Dahlia Bluff...

Admission is always free to Chamber members and a guest, and a very limited number of non-member tickets are also available each month for $20 each.

Chamber Seeks Friendly Island Ambassadors

Ready to share some local knowledge and help visitors and locals alike? Come volunteer at one of the island's most dynamic hubs - the Chamber front desk on Winslow Way!

Each weekly 4-hour volunteer slot helps welcome visitors (with local guidance & information), assist locals with auto/vessel/fish/wildlife/parks licensing pickups, and generally supporting Chamber events and members.

Please help us fill 4 currently available slots:

• Monday afternoon, 1pm-5pm
• Tuesday all day, 9am-1pm and 1pm-5pm
• Friday afternoon 1pm-5pm

(or consider signing up to be an alternate if you cannot make a regular weekly commitment)

For Lease: New Commercial Space on Madison Avenue

After years of work (primarily due to entering the Voluntary Cleanup Program with the Department of Ecology to mitigate the aftermath of the dry cleaning business previously in this location), local developer Doug Nelson of American Property is now offering 2,800 sq ft of renovated commercial space, right across from the Madison Diner at 290 Madison Ave.

Also of note is that above that ground floor commercial opportunity, the project has also created 4 new downtown 1 bedroom residential rental units...

BPA Remodel Almost Ready For Grand Opening

There’s been a lot of activity at Town Center where the new Buxton Center is taking shape.

“We’re in the last phases of construction,” said Matt Longmire, the communication and development coordinator for the Bainbridge Performing Arts Center near City Hall.

"Things are coming together just in time for the grand opening on Sept. 30", he added. Shows in the new facility will begin in October.

Wine Around the Rock About To Set Sail

Each year the Winery Alliance of Bainbridge Island sponsors a Winemakers Cruise via Argosy around the island - mark your calendar for August 19 at 5:00pm.

Set sail on a sunset wine cruise with five Bainbridge Island winemakers – Eagle Harbor Wine Co., Eleven Winery, Fletcher Bay Winery, Rolling Bay Winery and Perennial Vintners.

Seattle Magazine Showcases the Island as a Unique Gem

A beachcomber’s paradise — sifting sand to reveal sea glass or flipping wet rocks to find sea creatures — Bainbridge Island is filled with hidden treasures worth exploring.

Seattle Magazine showcases Bainbridge in their first series featuring Pacific Northwest experiences that shouldn't be missed.