As always, if you have a sustainability issue that inspires or interests you, please let us know. Sharing our ideas strengthens relationships, weaves a community together and becomes the heart of sustainability. You can contact us by email or by phone at 206/842-4439. We look forward to hearing from you!

Get the free BCB App!

It's now available ... your free BCB App, which makes it even easier to listen to the latest podcasts from Bainbridge Community Broadcasting.

Whether you use an iPhone or iPad, or an Android phone or tablet, you'll find free BCB app from your App Store. Search for "BCB Bainbridge" and then click on "Free" next to the BCB icon. For further instructions, click here.

Once you have the app, you can choose among BCB's Bainbridge shows like "What's Up" or shows on local food or community issues or local people or outdoor island destinations or perspectives from high school teens. Once one or more BCB shows are selected as your favorites, new episodes of those shows arrive in your app automatically when you're on wifi. You can later listen on your BCB app to any of those automatically downloaded episodes whether you've then got internet access or not.

Weed Warriors target blackberries at Strawberry Hill

Weed Warriors' next event is Sunday October 19 from 1 pm to 3 pm at the new dog park at Strawberry Hill, north side of High School Road. Drive all the way to the end of the road through the park and then park. BRING: gloves, if you have them (we have extras) and pruning shears (we also have extras) AND a refillable water bottle with water.

Join this child-friendly, dog-friendly community service project removing blackberries (which are small and have just started to re-emerge) at the new and lovely Strawberry Hill Dog Park. If we get these weeds now, the dog park will be weed-free for years! For more information: Jeannette Franks or 206-755-8461.

Weed Rant: Blackberries! Sure, we like to eat the berries, but the bushes will take over a roadside, a park, a farm, or your yard if they are not kept at bay. Don't worry-there will always be blackberries around! But like a cute puppy, they must be controlled.

"Be Seen, Be Safe!" is motto for dark winter days

At the end of September, GO! Bainbridge led a lively conversation about road safety with representatives from the City and Police Department, BI School Distric

t, Kitsap Transit, and Squeaky Wheels. The group identified the challenges of making island roads safe for drivers, cyclists, and walkers, and then explored a number of ways to work together to find solutions.

One campaign that GO! will promote again this year is "

Be Seen Be Safe!" In the dark days of December, volunteers will share some ways for pedestrians and cyclists to be more visible with a nod to St. Lucia, patron saint of light! If you have any questions or would like to help, please contact Dana Berg.

Join the hunt for the wily Scotch Broom

Let's Pull Together's work party season is underway! Meigs Park, Johnson Farm and Ordway Elementary have or will receive much needed maintenance or preventative work in the weeks to come (Before and After photos of Meigs Pa

Before: LPT's Barb Trafton surveys the Scotch Broom at Meig's Park

After: No more Scotch Broom, thanks to LPT volunteers!

rk below). The BIHS Marching Band and BIHS Cross Country Team have already made amazing contributions to the stewardship of public space.

Drop-in volunteers are always welcome and if you'd like to see the Scotch broom controlled in an area nearer or dearer to your heart, consider signing up for the Weed Walkers Program. A low key volunteer opportunity, Weed Walkers asks you to 1) keep an eye onthe Scotch broom on your regular walking route, 2) pull seedlings on the Right of Way, and 3) update LPT if your route is clear or if your route needs some extra help. Click here for more information on Weed Walkers and to sign up.

Make your voice heard in the Comp Plan Update

The updating of our Comprehensive Plan and crafting the attendant regulations that govern growth and development in our city are excellent opportunities to integrate concepts of sustainability

into these important documents. Sustainable Bainbridge strongly encourages islanders to participate in the many ways that will be available for you to add your ideas and concerns to the discussion. The City has designated this process "Navigate Bainbridge" and here is a link to the website. On the left side of this page is a place to sign up to be kept informed about this process. Please take advantage of the opportunities to help improve our community's plan.

This month on the Discussion Circle blog

Jon Quitslund participated in the Planning Commission meeting on October 1, at which the Public Participation Program for the Comprehensive Plan review and update was discussed and sent forward to the City Council for their review and action later in the month. His next post on the Discussion Circle blog will report on the meeting and provide specifics on the scope and design of the update process. There will be many opportunities for public participation, and in fact the project can't succeed without the generous involvement of all sorts of citizens.

Jon is also working on a review of the immensely important new book by Naomi Klein, This Changes Everything; Capitalism vs. the Climate: look for that later in October.

From the Sustainable Bainbridge Board

Please include us in your giving through One Call for All. Responding to the red envelope is a great way to support our community organizations.

We'd love to talk with you about our programs and plans.