Letter from the Publisher
Welcome to the New Neighbors Guide!
On behalf of the local community, we welcome you to Kitsap County. Whether you’re here temporarily or to make this a permanent home, we know you’re going to love our region. With our natural beauty, lakes, streams and forested trails, this is the perfect location for outdoor fun. With some of the best coffee in the world and a vibrant food and entertainment scene, Kitsap County has something for everyone.
Let’s face it, moving to a new city can be costly and time consuming—but it’s also exciting! This guide is written by a mix of perspectives from native Kitsap Countians to people who moved here from out of the area. Our group reminisced about what we wished people had told us when we first moved here.
This resource guide offers tips and reminders to get you settled and to get the nuts and bolts of your new home well underway. This resource will also help you get connected to your local community, schools and health care; and help you put down roots in your daily life here. From great ideas for your home and events to engage in the community, we have you covered.
As we put together this issue, we look forward to providing you with information and education about all the “best things” in Kitsap County and we hope to give you a sense of place where you belong and feel connected. We welcome you, our “new neighbor” to Kitsap County.
Kindest regards,
Robin Lucas, Publisher
This Issue’s Content
When it comes to health, focus on progress, not perfection
If you want to live a healthier life, you’ve probably heard a lot of advice. Friends, family, social media – everyone has tips. It can feel overwhelming sifting through the amount of information that is out there, but turning to trusted sources is one way to streamline the noise. Enter the American Heart Association’s Life’s…
Peninsula Credit Union Celebrates 90 Years
Peninsula Credit Union brought together more than 200 community members, business leaders, and families on September 17 to celebrate three milestones: the credit union’s 90th anniversary, the launch of Hispanic Heritage Month, and its official designation as a Juntos Avanzamos (“Together We Advance”) credit union. The outdoor community celebration featured live music from Las Vozess…
Life in Kitsap County
Kitsap County is known for its deep indigenous roots and its military and timber industries. The area provides a wide array of activities to keep you and your family active and engaged in your surroundings. History Kitsap County was originally named Slaughter County in 1857, but only six months later became Kitsap County, named after…
Kitsap Transit: Did You Know?
Since your family is new to the Kitsap community, you may not know there are some pretty neat things to discover about Kitsap Transit. Did you know these things? Kitsap Sunday Bus Service Across Kitsap County Kitsap Transit now offers fixed-route and on-demand bus service in each of Kitsap County’s cities. Ride FREE through the…
KPUD Gold Mountain Communications Zone
How KPUD improved the efficiency and redundancy for the emergency communications towers on Gold Mountain ridge, the highest peak in Kitsap County. The project started on August 17, 2022 and was completed last April with construction taking a full year to complete. Due to the rugged and challenging terrain of the project location, it took…
Youth for Christ Teen Centers: Bringing Hope to Every Young Person
The last bell of the day rings and school is over. In Kitsap and North Mason Counties, there are nearly 30,000 youth ages 11-19 that are in sixth grade to seniors in high school . . . many without plans for the rest of the afternoon. Through a partnership with three local churches in Bremerton…
Enrolling in School in Kitsap County
A move can be a traumatic event for our kids—a new school being one of the most daunting challenges for both them and for you as parents. There are 78 public schools in Kitsap County that serve over 34,000 students as well as 32 private schools that meet the needs of nearly 2,400 students.The biggest…
West Sound Academy: An International Baccalaureate School
Preparing your child for successful adulthood is a journey where West Sound Academy shines as an educational partner. The International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum begins at sixth grade and continues through twelfth. Small class sizes of up to 15 youth and low student-to-teacher ratios (8:1) allow students to dive deeply intellectually and discover the joys of…
Giving Back in Kitsap County
Our communities thrive through the input and inspiration of those members in it. We grow, improve, and succeed by working together. As you begin to explore the Kitsap communities, take a moment to look around and discover what is important to you and your family. Then take that next step to make a difference in…
Making Your House a Home
Tips to transform a house into a home with decor and furniture from the heart Design tips provided by Sage Interiors in Tacoma Your entry is the initial introduction to your home and sets the stage for you and your guests. Place a cozy rug or floor mat inside the door to define the entry…
Getting Settled into a New Home
After the last box is moved into your new home, you might think the hardest part of moving is over. And you’re right, but there are still things to take care of before you can relax completely. Get Your Utilities Set Up You don’t want to arrive at your new place late at night and…
Peninsula Subaru Grand Re-Opening
Locally, Peninsula Subaru is known for its unusual policy of being closed on Sunday for “Family Day.” According to General Manager Steven Taylor, “The policy started more than 15 years ago when we realized our employees, most of whom were religious, would benefit from being closed on Sunday.” For the team at Peninsula Subaru, in…
B & B Auto Repair: From One Family to the Next
For the past four decades, B & B Auto Repair has been providing service and repair to Olympic Peninsula customers. Founded by Brothers Nathan and Joel Baxter, giving back to the community they serve was a cornerstone of their business model. Now with retirement on the horizon for the brothers, they are passing the torch…
Happy 25th Anniversary to Great Peninsula Conservancy
Recreation Opportunities for Families, Friends and Dogs You, your children, and future generations are the beneficiaries of the ongoing preservation work of the Great Peninsula Conservancy (GPC). To date, over 11,800 acres of forests, salmon streams, shorelines, working farms, and community parks have been saved from disappearing. The GPC, along with its partners, is dedicated…
Family Fun at the Kids Discovery Museum
The Kids Discovery Museum on Bainbridge Island is Kitsap County’s premier children’s museum and serves over 35,000 visitors annually. KiDiMu has been dedicated to fulfilling the early developmental needs of the children in the community. The exhibits are designed to stimulate and challenge young minds, promoting learning, growth, and discovery in a fun and interactive…
Harbor Hill Dentistry and Airway Center: Whole Body Dentistry
At Harbor Hill Dentistry and Airway Center in Gig Harbor, their approach to dental care goes beyond traditional dentistry and embraces the philosophy of “Treating the Cause, Not the Symptom.” Led by Dr. Keith Gressell, a Temple University School of Dentistry graduate, this approach incorporates an overall health method he acquired while stationed in Europe…
Kitsap Tennis and Athletic Center: So Much More than a Gym
Kitsap Tennis and Athletic Center is a nonprofit organization located in Bremerton where for more than 50 years it has been the fitness home for Kitsap residents. With access to a heated, indoor saltwater pool, members can enjoy a luxurious 85-degree non-chlorinated pool year-round with swimming, aquatic fitness, water safety, and fun for all ages.…
Washington State’s First Hybrid ED/Urgent Care Opens in Bremerton
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) opened Washington state’s first hybrid emergency department (ED) and urgent care facility in collaboration with Intuitive Health. VMFH Emergency and Urgent Care – Bremerton this past March. “The opening of our new hybrid ED/urgent care center in Bremerton marks a significant step forward in our commitment to providing accessible, high-quality…
A Place of Learning and Community
Parents and educators have a new tutoring resource in Kitsap County. Viking Education Academy opened in June of 2024 with the goal of building a high-quality tutoring hub at their facility in Poulsbo. Owned by Ingemar Anderson and Barbara Heitman, Viking Education Academy offers a wide range of services, including K-12 tutoring, adult education, summer…
The Doctors Clinic Urgent Care Expands Scheduling Capacity
Meeting surging demand for urgent care services, The Doctors Clinic Urgent Care has announced major updates to its Silverdale location: expanded capacity and the rollout of same-day and next-day appointment scheduling. Urgent care centers nationwide have seen a sustained rise in patient volume, with daily visits averaging around 40 per center in 2022. Patients increasingly…