Yes the rumors are true, fabulous and exciting development with the potential of 7 Seas Brewing applying for permits for partial occupation of the downtown QFC building.  Having a locally owned destination business in downtown would be a win for everyone.  The City of Gig Harbor is working closely with the owners of 7 Seas to make this a success. www.7seasbrewing.com  

More Good News!

Although we are sad to see Harbor Monsoon go away, we are thrilled to be able to announce that Moctezuma's will take possession of that building and within three months re-open the Gig Harbor Moctezumas! 

www.moctezumas.com  

Harbor Fibers is now open on Pioneer next door to the Bead Shop.

Devoted Kiss a new restaurant in the Finholm neighborhood will open the first week of November in the former location of The Harbor Kitchen.  Visit them on Facebook

Funky Diva a new "jeans" store in downtown Gig Harbor will open in November.  Read more on Facebook 

Blend Wine Shop is now open in Key Center.  Visit them in person and on Facebook

 Check out the growing "food truck" scene at the Purdy Shopping Center including Hot Diggety Dogz - YUM!

Aloha Cab is now available for all your taxi needs in Gig Harbor.  Read our blog we wrote about this fun, new business

IN THE KNOW 

Pioneer Detour Nov 2nd - The City of Gig Harbor in conjunction with Wm. Dickson Co. will be asphalt paving all day tomorrow, Wednesday, November 2. Work will begin early in the morning at 7:00 AM until 5:00 PM on the uphill portion of Pioneer Way.  The uphill portion of Pioneer Way will be closed to thru traffic and vehicles will be detoured to Judson Street and uphill on Soundview Drive. The downhill lane on Pioneer Way will be open to downhill traffic only. Traffic control, flaggers and a signed detour will be in place while this work is being performed.  Please plan ahead!!

Pedestrian improvements along Stanich Lane and Judson Street near the Post Office and the Visitor Center continues. This work will include roadway repaving,  new sidewalk, a rain garden at the Visitor Center and more.  When complete this project will reduce congestion on Stanich Lane, provide designated facilities for pedestrians, create a designated path for postal employees to access the outside secure mail drop box and make preparations for future street lighting.  This work is scheduled to be complete by the first week of December.  Although there will be periodic temporary traffic control, all area businesses will remain open and accessible during construction.

SAFEWAY - on track for a mid-December opening.  Announcement will be made shortly when a firm date is determined.

How easily we forget that LAST NOVEMBER we had a big snowstorm!!  Are you prepared? 

Help prevent flooding by cleaning up fallen leaves.  Learn more

Construction continues on the Maritime Pier Parking Lot, next to The Tides Tavern.  The Tides has told us the expect to close down for a few days in November due to this on-going construction.  Dates will be announced when we know them.

Pierce County Alert

Sign up for emergency alert information on up to 10 devices such as cell phones, home phones, email and more.  www.piercecountywa.org

GIG HARBOR BOAT SHOP NEWS

Boatbuilder Half Hull Modeling Class - learn how to build a 1/8th scale half full model.  You will learn everything you need to know from choosing a design and materials, to milling lumber, carving to shape and finishing.  Two sessions to choose from; December 10th and January 14th.  Class size is limited so call today (253) 857-9344 

WHAT'S HAPPENING

 9/11 Memorial Artifact is now on display in the lobby of the Harbor History Museum. Don't miss it!

Annual Veterans Day Ceremony

11/11/11 at 11am. Skansie Brothers Park.  Public is invited.  The event put on by the Boy Scout Troop 282 will include music, speakers, 21-gun salute and a flag retirement ceremony.

Harbor Quilt has a great line-up of quilt classes this month, as well as a wonderful collection of holiday fabrics.

 Tides Tavern celebrates BLACK FRIDAY November 25th with specials on Tides apparel and merchandise.

Vin En Chocolat Annual Awards Dinner for the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce.  Sat Dec. 3rd 6-10pm at Canterwood Golf and Country Club.  Black tie.  Reservations call (253) 851-6865

Kit Kuhn Jewelry will have special demonstrations of hand made jewelry processes November 4-5th, 11&12th and 18-19th 9am-5:30pm (253) 851-5546

Poetry reading by Carolyne Wright, Sunday November 6th at 2pm at the Gig Harbor Library

Stephanie Kallow book signing at Chapel on Echo Bay, November 15th 7-9pm.  (253) 549-7039.  Purchase your book ahead of time at Mostly Books.

Key Peninsula Warm Up Craft Fair and Chili Cook-off is November 12th at the KP Civic Center (253) 884-3456

Peace of the Earth Farm presents a fiber spinning workshop on November 13th from 2-4pm. Call (253) 514-3114

Paradise Theatre opens Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" November 25th-Dec 11th. www.paradisetheatre.org

Morso presents Elizabeth Cook in concert November 19th at 8pm. (253) 530-3463

Festival of Hope at Chapel Hill November 11-13th 11am-3pm. (253) 851-0233

MULTICARE GIG HARBOR NEWS

HARBOR HISTORY MUSEUM NEWS

Showing both historic and contemporary works "The Artistry of Quilts" includes quilts selected for display by the museum and the Gig Harbor Quilters Guild. Five members of the guild recently had their quilts chosen for display at the Association of Pacific West Quilters international juried show in Tacoma. They were Kathy Arroyo, Ken Berg, Lynn Burkhardt, Delaine Gately, and Andrea Outryve. Acclaimed quilter Delaine Gately will be sharing stories of her passion for quilts on November 19th, 1:00pm, at the museum. A self proclaimed "quilt-a-holic" Delaine Gately said of the exhibit, "When you visit the Artistry of Quilts exhibit, we want you to feel the same excitement that these quilt makers have today. We have so much available to work with, the styles and the colors...so much to tempt our imagination. This is not a dead hobby, it's alive and well. It is a true folk art."

Acclaimed author and widely recognized American Folk art expert Robert Shaw writes of quilters, "Whether they tell stories, paint pictures or combine color and pattern, the best of their quilts can capture our imaginations and touch our feelings in the same way all good art does."

Join the Harbor History Museum and the Gig Harbor Quilters Guild for this wonderful exhibit of art and history, celebrating the stories quilts tell of the fabric of our lives. Learn more at www.harborhistorymuseum.org  

This month's Family Fun Time at the Harbor History Museum- November 4th Create quilt squares and hear a story. 10:30am-Noon

This month's Kids Corner at the Harbor History Museum - November 26th Kids can hang with Shipwright Nate Slater and learn about the restoration of the Shenandoah. 1-3pm

This month's Tea and Tour - November 17th - the third Thursday of each month as we go back in time! We will have an in-depth discussion about a person, place or thing in history relating to Gig Harbor and the Museum exhibits. Afterward, enjoy tea and cookies along with good conversation. The talks will be led by one of our knowledgeable docents. Time: 2:00pm-3:00pm, Admission: Members - Free Non-Members: Admission plus $1.00

Opening December 4th at the Harbor History Museum "Through the Artist's Eye: The Holmaas Collection of Historic Renderings"

November 18th and 19th the museum Gift Shop presents "Traditional Scandinavian/Croatian Christmas" from 11am-5pm.  Enjoy holiday treats and beverages made from traditional recipes of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Croatia in tribute to Gig Harbor settlers.  Great gift ideas and stocking stuffers. 

Healthy is Delicious - Eating a Mediterranean Diet to reduce your cancer risk

Thursday, November 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Smalling Family Education Center, St. Anthony Hospital

Featuring: Tricia Sinek, RD/CD

The traditional foods eaten in Mediterranean countries like Greece and Italy are studied extensively because of the longevity of people living in this region. Learn from our Franciscan Cancer Care experts why foods such as olive oil, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and fish can improve your health. Enjoy a live cooking demonstration with a chef from the St. Anthony Café, showing you how to prepare these foods to enhance their health benefits in our new series, "Healthy is Delicious", to help you learn simple ways to eat your way healthy. Cost is $10 per person and includes many appetizers and a delicious dessert.  Space is limited, so register early!

To register for any of these health talks, Call 1 (888) 825-3227 or visit www.gigharborhospital.org/healthtalks

GREAT OVERNIGHT DEALS IN GIG HARBOR

Take time to enjoy our local lodging properties in November and December with these wonderful packages designed just for you!

GIRLS NIGHT OUT SPECIALS FOR NOVEMBER

LOCAL HOTELS OFFER SPECIAL EVENTS

November 9th from 11:30am-2pm the INN at Gig Harbor is offering a special seminar on "Harassment and Discrimination Law".  This training seminar helps participants to quickly learn and apply the important elements of careful and correct handling of sexual harassment issues and complaints.  The interactive seminar covers a detailed overview of what harassment is, explains legal definitions, discusses harassment prevention, and shows how to handle harassment complaints and maintain a positive work environment.  The seminar will be taught by Valarie Zeeck, a partner at Gordon Thomas Honeywell who specializes in Employment Law and Litigation.

This workshop is open to anyone interested.  Cost is $50 which includes lunch.  Please contact Kati Wright at the INN at Gig Harbor (253) 858-111 to make your reservation. 

The Wesley Inn will hold its annual Local Foster Kids Christmas Party on Friday December 2nd. Each year the Wesley staff partners with the Pierce County Alliance to help give their foster children a wonderful holiday season.

Help is needed from the community in the way of donations and volunteers to make sure these extraordinary children have an extraordinary holiday.  If you can help contact Kathy or Sue at (253) 858-9690.

SKANSIE HOUSE & NETSHED NAMED TO NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES 

City of Gig Harbor has received word that the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation has listed the Andrew & Bertha Skansie Net Shed and House on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation said "the Skansie Net shed and House are historically significant as a direct link to the Gig Harbor's fishing industry, and for its connection to the city's Croatian heritage of many of its earliest settlers." The house and net shed join other state properties that exemplify the rich cultural heritage of Washington.

Peter Skansie immigrated to Gig Harbor from Croatia in 1886. He established a homestead and then convinced his family to join him, specifically his brothers Mitchell, Joseph and Andrew. Andrew was born in 1876, was a stone mason in Croatia, and arrived in Tacoma in 1907. He built the Skansie home in 1908, then the net shed in 1910. Wife Bertha joined Andrew in Gig harbor in 1909. Together, the Skansie brothers developed a shipyard. "The Skansie Shipyard was begun in the late 1880s and evolved into a major boat building establishment for the Puget Sound purse seine fishing fleet...The Skansie family would fish in the spring and summer and build boats in the winter."1 The Skansie family owned and maintained their original property from the late 1880s to its purchase by the City of Gig Harbor in 2002. Sons of Andrew and Bertha, Anton and Vince, maintained the property from the 1960s until its sale. The City of Gig Harbor is currently in the process of developing the net shed and surrounding property as a historic attraction, Skansie Brothers Park. Next month the net shed will undergo a restoration of the pilings and underpinnings thanks to a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation during an American Express sponsored competition that took place throughout Western Washington in 2010. The non-profit Coastal Heritage Alliance will work with the city to provide public program and education once the net shed is stabilized for public access in 2012.

Learn more about the Skansie Net Shed here