Gig Harbor Undressed

Narrows Bridge Tolls will increase

When people contact me about living in Gig Harbor, there are 2 main concerns that I frequently hear: 1. Is there any affordable housing (yes)  and 2. How bad is the commute?  In July of ‘07, the 2nd (well 3rd if you count the one that fell into the Sound) Tacoma Narrows Bridge opened and the commute time has been drastically reduced. 

Getting from Gig Harbor across the Narrows Bridge and back again used to pose some definite problems at various times of the day.  Now, since the opening of our new bridge, I have yet to experience any significant slow downs in either direction at any time of day.  If you’re looking to take a job in Seattle or Tacoma, and have considered moving to Gig Harbor, don’t let the drive stop you. 

I posted a blog a while back with some public transportation options from Gig Harbor to Tacoma and Seattle.  Driving (if you discount the odd way that Washington drivers drive–no turn signals, left lane goes slower than right, etc) isn’t much of an issue, either. 

So what about the tolls on the Narrows Bridge?  Currently, if you pay cash it’s $3 round trip, and if you have a “Good-to-Go” pass it’s $1.75 round trip (you only pay heading east).  It looks as though both of those numbers will jump by $1 here in the near future for the next year.  Still not a bad deal compared with many other toll roads across the nation (I remember driving from Chicago to Kenosha, WI, and it felt like we stopped every 2 miles to pay another $.85 toll).  For my money, the lifestyle and beauty of Gig Harbor, Wa, combined with the ease of commuting now, is well worth the money!

Police K-9 Foster Program

Officer Dennis of the Gig Harbor Police Department is unveiling a new K-9 program that is beneficial for multiple people.  The Gig Harbor community is going to have the opportunity to help Officer Dennis raise police service K-9’s! 

It doesn’t take much time being around Officer Dennis before you understand his passion for dogs.  He dreamt and developed this program and is taking it to Gig Harbor, looking for your help.  His goal is to strengthen the community participation in understanding and raising police service dogs.  This program will benefit the Jaycox Gig Harbor Police Benevolent Fund which supports youth and families in Gig Harbor during their times of need. 

Officer Dennis is donating 3 puppies from his dog Tabor’s litter to begin this program.  He is looking for volunteers from the Gig Harbor community to raise these German Shepherd puppies from 8 weeks until they are 14-16 months old.  Volunteers will work closely with Officer Dennis in providing these pups with a loving environment in which they’ll grow and learn and become socialized. 

Through various donations and his own provisions, Officer Dennis will provide the volunteer families with everything they’ll need to raise these pups.  Multiple crates, a kennel with covering, toys, leashes, food bowls will all be provided to the families.  Diet is a raw, natural diet that will be provided by a local company  at no cost to the foster families.   All veterinary care will be provided by the Purdy Animal Hospital.  This is truly a community project!  Those who are selected to raise the pups will join Officer Dennis frequently for training and socialization exercises. 

Volunteers don’t necessarily need a great deal of experience raising dogs.  Officer Dennis will work with you closely to ensure that you have everything that you need.  He is remarkably flexible and wants to work with families to make sure that the dog and the family is as comfortable as possible.  This program is about the dogs and about the Jaycox Fund, so Officer Dennis will do anything possible to make sure that this is a success.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent for a police service dog, you are encouraged to attend an informational meeting on April 8th at 6pm at Gig Harbor’s Civic Center.  You can also view the Jaycox Fund Foster Program’s website for more information.  Downloadable brochures and applications are available on that site, as well as Officer Dennis’ contact information. 

This first year two puppies will be raised by foster families, one by Officer Dennis.  He hopes that this will become an annual program, benefiting the Gig Harbor community, other police departments in need of K-9 dogs, and The Jaycox Fund.  If (my wife says “when”) Sebastian passes away, this is a program I’d love to participate in.

The pups’ mom, Tabor, sniffing the grounds.

How could you not want to foster one of these guys?

Pierce County, Here’s Your Sign

Have you ever heard Bill Engvall’s “Here’s Your Sign” routine?  It’s a very funny take on people doing and saying things that Bill Engvall feels warrants that they should wear a warning sign around their necks so the rest of us can be alerted to their lack of intelligence.  Well,  Pierce County gets a sign from me.

You may have noticed that there are far fewer “For Sale” signs around the Gig Harbor area now than there were a few days ago.  It’s not that our housing market has picked up significantly and hundreds of homes magically sold this past weekend, but rather Pierce County has confiscated hundreds of real estate signs, small business signs, and other signs posted around the area.

Now let me be really clear on this point: I am actually GLAD, and I applaud Pierce County for taking the initiative to clean up our city and remove the multiple signs from around town.  Tuesday morning as I drove to a meeting in Gig Harbor, there was a gated development with 9–yes, 9–For Sale signs in front of the gates.  That wouldn’t be terrible, except there were only 4 homes for sale in this neighborhood.  One agent had 4 signs for 2 listings.  It looks trashy.  The neighborhood looks undesirable with all those “For Sale” signs out front.  Good for you, Pierce County, for cleaning them up and getting all those signs, and the small directional arrow signs, and other small advertising signs, off of our streets.

Here’s where I have the issue, and grant Pierce County their “sign.”  This was done with no warning to anybody.  Pierce County tax payers have had their money go to cover the costs to pick up literally hundreds of signs.  I know that one phone call, one email, one letter to ANY of the real estate offices in Gig Harbor would have been enough to alert ALL of Gig Harbor’s Realtors.  We would have gladly picked up our own signs at no cost to the tax payers. 

And the biggest problem?  All of these signs were dumped directly into the landfill.  Thousands of pounds of re-usable and recyclable posts, signs, flyer boxes, and fliers dumped into our landfills.  Agents weren’t given a chance to pick up our own signs (which would have saved us and Pierce County tax payers money), and we were not given the chance to come pick up our signs after they had been removed (which would have saved us money and saved our environment lots of needless waste). 

Again, kudos to the County for taking the initiative to clean up Gig Harbor.  The agents and businesses and sign installation companies should have known the long-standing sign ordinance and abided by it.  But good grief, Pierce County, a little communication and we could have saved money, waste, and hard feelings.

Here’s your sign.

Public Transportation in Gig Harbor

Many folks moving to Gig Harbor, or thinking of moving to Gig Harbor, often have questions about our transportation system.  Many who are considering buying a home in Gig Harbor will be working in Seattle or Tacoma, and want to know what the commute will be like. 

I’ve never ridden the public transit system in Gig Harbor, so I’d love to hear from those of you who have.  I know that there are several options, ranging from Park and Rides to Van Pools to buses to trains to ferries.  I’m just not sure which is the easiest and cheapest.  I know that Pierce Transit runs several buses from Gig Harbor to Tacoma, and I know that Sound Transit has buses and trains from Tacoma to Seattle, and I think they both have some version of the van pool, but I can’t tell you much about them.

I have ridden the ferry from Port Orchard and from Bainbridge Island to Seattle, but those were sight seeing trips for me, not commutes.

Any input from those of you who make the commute frequently would be welcome.  I know that the drive isn’t as bad now with the opening of the second Tacoma Narrows Bridge, but ride sharing can be easier and more eco-friendly.

Calling all Gig Harbor Historians!

Monkey see, monkey do…Monkey Tree, what’s the story with you?  Anybody walking along the downtown waterfront area of Gig Harbor is sure to have seen our very fun and very unusual Monkey Tree.  The tree sits right along the sidewalk of Gig Harbor’s downtown,  and is like no other tree I’ve ever seen in Gig Harbor.  If any of you have lived here longer than I, or somehow else know the story of this tree, I’d love to hear about it’s history.  How old is it?  How long has it been here?  Where are Monkey Trees usually found?  Are they really called Monkey Trees or have I always been calling it by a false name?  Any thoughts or knowledge?

Looking for a great private school in Gig Harbor?

The Peninsula School District is commonly known as one of  Washington’s best public school districts.  Even with the great schools that Peninsula offers, many Gig Harbor families still opt for the private school route.  One of Gig Harbor’s finest private schools, Lighthouse Christian School, is having a public open house tomorrow (Feb 12) from 9am-11am and again on Thursday, March 13th from 5-7pm.  Tomorrow’s open house will allow families to see the school in full swing, with students present, while the open house in March may be more accommodating for families that need an evening schedule.

I have a special interest in LCS, having worked there myself part time for one year, my wife taught there for a year prior to having our first child, I have sold homes for four LCS teachers, and just generally really enjoy the school!  If you are looking for private schools in Gig Harbor, LCS offers K-11th (with 12th coming).  It’s well worth checking out!

Helping Love, INC in Pierce County

Later this month, a group of folks from Believer’s Fellowship church here in Gig Harbor will be setting out to renovate a barn at Love, INC’s headquarters in Puyallup, WA.  Love, INC’s mission is to “mobilize the Church to transform lives and communities In the Name of Christ.” 

One thing that Love, INC does is provide families who have lost everything to a flood or a fire, or someone who abandoned all they had to flee an abusive relationship, with new furniture for their home.  The furniture is not really new, but to someone who has literally nothing, gently used furniture can be an amazing gift.

Currently, Love, INC doesn’t have the space to store the donated furniture that they distribute to folks in need.  That’s where we come in, and where we can use your help.  On Saturday the 16th, we will begin by clearing junk out of a barn currently on Love, INC’s property.  Then on the 17th, we’ll pressure wash the inside of the barn and begin painting the lumber.  The following Saturday (the 23rd), we will begin building the structures that will transform the old barn into an adequate storehouse for furniture.  Then, on Saturday March 1, will will need to fill the re-habbed barn with furniture.  IF YOU HAVE ANY FURNITURE THAT YOU’RE WILLING TO DONATE, please bring it to Believer’s Fellowship on March 1st.

 If you have the desire to serve the community, we would love your help at any of these stages.  You don’t have to be a member of our church (well, I guess there are no members of our church as we don’t have membership…if you join us you’re as much a member as anyone!) to help out.  This is just a group of Pierce County residents, most of whom happen to go to church here in Gig Harbor, who have decided to help out a great organization in need. 

If you’d like to help with any of the construction phases or by donating furniture, please contact me so we can plan for any necessary transportation and tools.  Caring about our communities is what makes us a community.

Remembering Joshua Oberhansli

I hesitated on whether or not to include this post.  I don’t want this in any way to come across as self promotion or promoting my office.  I decided that this is a community blog, and Joshua was a part of our community, and his story shows the greatness of our community.  So with permission from Dina Vodopich, I’ll simply cut and paste her version of Joshua Oberhansli’s story:

Hello All Fellow Agents, Friends & Family,

Wanted to pass along how wonderful our community is and how strong we all are together!  Yesterday I had the privilege of attending Joshua Francis Oberhansli’s funeral at Chapel Hill Church.  There wasn’t much for dry eyes during the slide show of his life and family. It was wonderful to be there in support of all the family and friends who attended.

The reason for my email is also to share the power of people sharing and caring when they get together.  On Tuesday January 15th I had to take a document up to Haven of Rest so that a large chunk of the funeral home costs were taken care of.  While I was there I met a few of the hospital ladies and their husbands who think that we, Keller Williams are such a great firm to do all that we have done together to help out the family.  Kim Osterman asked me specifically what the family would have to pay after the plot contribution.  I spoke with George Nelson from Haven of Rest and he said that the balance would be $800.31, I recalled the special Urn they wanted in their home for Joshua and George said that was paid in full by an  anonymous person.  The “anonymous” donations has been very strong from so many of you, and I just want to THANK YOU for all that you have done!  We were able to pay $500 that evening towards the funeral costs, which left a balance of $300.31.  Between the three couples there the balance was paid in full and they did it with such Joy.  It was truly a moving experience.  Then the question was asked of me “What do the Oberhansli’s owe for the service at Chapel Hill?”  I got into my secret squirrel mode and called around to get that answer, $2,800 or so.  I shared that answer with the ladies that evening.  Bringing you to the end of this story is that between 23 +/- Tacoma General, friends and family from that group collected in one day $2,800 to pay the fee in full!  After the service I was asked to speak with Kim and her group about a fund raiser they are holding at Joeseppi’s this coming Wednesday for the Oberhansli family to help with all the other mounding bills they have.  This is when they told me about the gift for the funeral service.  If you still would like to donate to the Oberhansli fund, I am making more than happy to do so for you at Columbia Bank.  I will be making a run today for our agents who have written checks to Columbia Bank with Oberhansli in the memo of the check.

I Thank You all for everything you have contributed to this family in a time of need.  We are an awesome company and I have heard this time and time again from the nurses, family members and friends who I have spoken with in these past few days.   

Joshua Francis Oberhansli Joshua Francis Oberhansli died peacefully at his home on Fox Island on January 9, 2008 surrounded by family and friends. Joshua celebrated his 2nd birthday just three days prior; he was born January 6, 2006 in Tacoma, WA. Joshua battled a rare childhood cancer for 17 months leading up to his passing. He was a vivacious boy who was always found smiling despite cancer treatments and side effects. Joshua defined love and togetherness; his spirit will forever bring people together in the face of love. His nurse at Children’s was quoted as saying, “let us base Josh(y)’s life not on how old he was, but by how much he was loved and how much he loved life. To me, that makes him a very old man.” Beloved son of Ron and Dawn Oberhansli, Jr and cherished little brother of Zachary and Lauren, Joshua adored playing with his family and having fun. He especially delighted in dancing, vacuuming, and playing on the beach. To forever cherish his memory, he also leaves grandparents Ron and Autumn Oberhansli, Jan Barker, Darrel and Arlynn Gunderson; great grandmothers Virginia Purkey, and Linda Armour. He is further survived by many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. 

 www.caringbridge.org/visit/joshuao .

Thank You,

Dina Vodopich

Enjoying Gig Harbor’s Beaches

Recently, one of this blog’s readers lamented losing access to the Gig Harbor Lighthouse, and mentioned that there isn’t much waterfront access left to those of us without a boat.  He’s right.  Being surrounded by the Puget Sound is one of the things that draws people to Gig Harbor, but getting in and enjoying the water can be tricky.  There are three beaches that I like to visit with my family…any others that you’ve visited?

Narrows Beach Park

The Narrows Park is located on the south east side of Gig Harbor, and was recently upgraded to provide a place for residents to observe the construction of the 2nd Narrows Bridge.  Parking is fairly limited, maybe 20 spaces or so, but the beach and the view are spectacular.  It is very common to find fishermen lining the beach, as well as dog owners and their dogs.  There is a telescope to view the bridge, and a small grassy area as well.  Check the tides before you go.  At a low tide, you can walk seemingly forever (including walking under the bridges).  When the tide comes back, it can come in quickly and the entire beach disappears.

Kopachuck State Park

Kopachuck State Park is located on the west side of Gig Harbor, and offers a fantastic view of the Olympic Mountains.  Being a state park, Kopachuck offers camping, picnic sites, multiple trails, and beach access.  Not only are you able to be at the beach, but Kopachuck Park is a beautiful forest with huge trees and ferns everywhere.  The only drawback that I can think of for Kopachuck is that it is a fairly long, steep walk down to the beach (which in turn creates a long, steep walk back to your car). 

Purdy Spit

Located on the north side of Gig Harbor, the Purdy Spit offers a fun place for kids to play, dogs to run, and people to boat, kayak, and occasionally wind surf.  The Purdy Spit is the smallest of the three beaches, and probably the least accommodating as well.  Parking is a bit treacherous, as you park on the side of a heavily trafficked highway.  This also means that you better keep a close eye on kids and animals at all times.  The Purdy Spit does have some great shells and sea creatures. 

So if you don’t have a boat and you don’t live on the water, these three beaches may be a good option for some recreation.  Keep in mind that the waters near Gig Harbor tend to be cold, so there’s not a lot of swimming going on.  In the summer months, however, a dip in the Puget Sound can feel pretty nice (it does get up to 90 in Gig Harbor on occasion). 

Gig Harbor’s Friendly Residents

I used to walk my dog along the Gig Harbor waterfront nearly every morning.  A local resident, Mike, would walk the waterfront each morning as well, with a pocket full of dog treats (I know I’m not the only one who has met Mike in the mornings!).  He doesn’t have a dog with him, but he loves to give the dogs a treat (or in Sebastian’s case, multiple treats…the beggar). 

When my family and I moved to North Gig Harbor in July, I started walking Seb through Canterwood rather than the waterfront, since it was closer and just as nice in its own way.  Well, this morning I decided to take Seb walking on the waterfront again just for a change of pace.  Sure enough, not more than 4 minutes into our walk, we see Mike coming towards us with his familiar gait.

Seb started wiggling and whining when Mike was still 100 feet away.  Keep in mind Mike and I only know each other from our walks.  I’ve never seen him anywhere other than the waterfront on our morning walks.  Also keep in mind it’s been about 5 months since I’ve seen him.

While giving Seb a treat or two (or three), Mike asked if my wife had delivered our child yet, was she going back to teaching, etc.  I was impressed and honored that he even remembered my name (I was thankful I remembered his) much less all the details about my life.  Mike’s a great example of the friendliness of the folks in the Harbor.

When people are moving to Gig Harbor, or anywhere I suppose, they always want to know, “What are the people like?”  I know you can’t generalize, and Gig Harbor has its share of sour apples who aren’t the kindest, but for the most part, if you were to take a pulse of the Gig Harbor community, I think you’d have to agree that the majority of our residents are like Mike.  Genuine, sincere, and friendly.

I’d love to hear other stories of the folks you’ve met along the way in Gig Harbor.