Community Cafe Bainbridge

GirlUp is a chapter of the global United Nations Foundation which gives girls the resources they need to impact change in the world. Listen here as Bainbridge high school student Merrill Keating explains why she started a GirlUp club at the high school and what activities they're pursuing.

Although the global foundation identifies key impact areas including health and safety, chapter clubs are encouraged to focus their efforts in a concentrated impact category. Speaking with BCB host Jo Jenkins, Merrill describes the work her local club is doing to identify the needs of girls, raise money, and brainstorm solutions. 

The Bainbridge Island GirlUp club focuses on education by encouraging girls to pursue studies in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (“STEM”) fields to counteract the historical gender imbalance in these areas of study. Although the club is relatively new to the island, they’ve hit the ground running by partnering with many local businesses. This podcast is for anyone looking for a bit of good news in their day.

To learn more about GirlUp, visit www.girlup/org

Credits: BCB host: Jo Jenkins; audio editor: Jacque Knapp; publisher: Diane Walker.

Our Fire Department's Community Risk Reduction program is not just about preventing fires; it's also about preventing falls. Listen here to learn what you can do to reduce the risk of falling.

In this podcast, Fire Chief Hank Teran and Janine Courtemanche, Community Risk Reduction Coordinator for the Bainbridge Island Fire Department explain what is meant by Community Risk Reduction.

Listeners will learn how a particular community's risk challenges are evaluated, what the fire department is doing in partnership with other island organizations to help reduce risk, and, more specifically, what WE can do to prevent unnecessary falls.

For more information and some very useful tips and brochures, visit the BIFD website at www.bifd.org.

Credits: BCB host, audio editor and publisher: Diane Walker.

What will the future of island parks and recreation hold for you? The BI Metro Parks & Recreation District is currently updating their Comprehensive Plan, which will forecast trends and identify priorities from 2020 to 2026. You can contribute your own ideas by answering their online survey before June 30th.

If you love visiting island parks or have participated in any of the hundreds of recreational activities offered by the Parks & Recreation District, be sure to listen here as Parks & Recreation Senior Planner Perry Barrett explains the process currently underway to update the Park District's Comprehensive Plan.

Using the department's online forum, you can submit input on a variety of park-related issues, including trails, recreation programs, the development of the Sakai property, the proposed swimming pool expansion, and more.

To learn more about the Comprehensive Plan, log onto www.biparks.org and click on the survey link at www.bainbridgeparksplan.participate.online.

This episode references other BCB podcasts focused on island parks. For more about the Fort Ward restoration project, visit https://www.bestofbcb.org/cafe-062-fort-ward-restoration/. And for more information about the proposed renovations to Battle Point's KidsUp playground, click here:https://www.bestofbcb.org/cafe-084-kidsup-playground/

This podcast is the first in what will be a recurring series with the Parks & Recreation District offering in depth descriptions of specific topics, so be sure to keep listening in for more information about our island parks. 

Credits: BCB host: Jo Jenkins; audio editor and publisher: Diane Walker.

What progress is being made on the new sign regulations? What actions are being taken in response to the Affordable Housing Task Force report? These are just two of the topics considered in this month's interview with City Manager Morgan Smith and Bainbridge Island's new Code Compliance Officer, Aaron Pool.

Join us as the City of Bainbridge and BCB continue their regular podcast series to share information about what’s happening at City Hall. In this, our second episode, we'll hear about the many pros and cons our council is weighing as they evaluate proposed solutions to the proliferation of sandwich boards and other signs around town. Note: City Council will hold a study session on this issue on June 18th at 6pm at City Hall, so if you have thoughts on this subject be sure to send in your feedback. A note to [email protected] will send a blanket email to all Council members .

Listeners will also get an update on the Affordable Housing Task Force recommendations that were issued last year. You'll learn what the City is working on, how the Suzuki affordable housing project is going, and how the state's new ADU regulations may help alleviate some affordable housing issues.

Other topics of interest include the Council retreat being held this Friday, May 31, at BIMA (open to the public); the newly expanded service hours for planning and building appointments; and the upcoming Cultural Funding Grants.

These podcasts are intended to help us as a community be informed and involved in city activities. If you would like to submit a question or topic for a future podcast, please email the city’s Communications Coordinator, Kristen Drew, at: [email protected].

Credits: BCB host and audio tech: Christina Hulet; audio editor and publisher: Diane Walker.

Have you ever wanted a quick and easy way to contribute to your community's wellbeing?  Open from May 15-June 16, the Bainbridge Community Foundation's online Giving Page provides the perfect opportunity for you to help support the agencies and organizations that help so many on our island. With just a few clicks you can give $10 or up to $10,000 to the cause or project nearest and dearest to your heart.

In this podcast Debbie Kuffel, Program and Finance Officer for BCF, and Lynn Agnew, current co-chair of the grants committee and board trustee, explain the organization's mission to meet community needs through their annual grants cycle. Grant monies support projects and programs in animal welfare, education, environment, health, housing and human services, public and societal benefit, and recreation.

The online giving page, www.BainbridgeGives.org, will be open May 15th through June 16th in conjunction with their annual grants cycle. For more information you can call Bainbridge Community Foundation at 206-842-0433, or check out their website: www.bainbridgecf.org

Credits: BCB host and audio tech: Sandy Schubach; audio editor and publisher: Diane Walker.

In this, his second in a series of podcasts with BCB, Interim Police Chief Jeff Horn invites us to a swearing-in ceremony for local officers May 14, discusses safe practices for pedestrians and bikers, and shares thoughts on recent events.

National Police Week, which  begins on May 12th, honors policemen nationwide who have died in the line of duty. This year there will be a swearing-in ceremony for local officers -- including Officer Whitney, the station's new bloodhound -- at City Hall on Tuesday, May 14 at 6pm. This event is open to the public.

In addition, Chief Horn reminds bikers they're expected to follow the same rules as cars, and he pays homage to the concerted community effort expended in the recent search for a missing community member with dementia.

Chief Horn has been with the department since 2014 as deputy chief and is now serving as interim chief. If you would like to send in a question for him and the department to respond to in his next podcast, please visit BIPD’s facebook page or contact Carla Sias, Community Resource Officer, at [email protected].

And if you're interested in joining the Bainbridge Island Police, BIPD is hiring new officers. For more information, visit BIPD’s website at: http://www.bainbridgewa.gov/849/Police-Employment.

Credits: BCB host and audio tech: Christina Hulet; audio editor and publisher: Diane Walker.

Join us as the City of Bainbridge and BCB kick off a regular podcast series to share information about what’s happening at City Hall. In this first episode, City Manager Morgan Smith and Public Works Director Barry Loveless discuss the new police station and various transportation projects.

In March, the City Council approved the purchase of the Harrison Medical Center building to co-locate our police station and municipal court. Listen here to learn why this was a priority, how the project will be financed, and some of the lessons learned through the process.

We also learn more about the construction project at the ferry dock, the new roundabouts planned by the state for 305, and the city’s new sustainable transportation initiative, being considered in response to last year's failed Safe Mobility Levy.

These podcasts are intended to help us as a community be informed and involved in city activities. If you would like to submit a question or topic for a future podcast, please email the city’s Communication Coordinator, Kristen Drew, at: [email protected].

Credits: BCB host: Christina Hulet; audio editor and publisher: Diane Walker.

Due to an unusually dry March, there have already been over 50 wildfires in Western Washington; several in Kitsap County. So how do we here on Bainbridge Island protect our homes and neighborhoods?

As we move into the dry season, wildfires become an increasing concern. Listen here as Fire Chief Hank Teran and Fire Marshal Jared Moravec tell us how we can help protect against wildfires.

The Bainbridge Island Fire Department has put a number of measures in place to encourage wildfire prevention, legislation, mitigation and education. Learn more by listening here, and be sure to visit BIFD.org to learn more about FireSafe, the Community Wildfire Protection Plan, and what you can do as an individual to help keep your property safe.

From traffic and homelessness to recruiting challenges and the new police station, interim Police Chief Jeff Horn has a lot on his plate. Learn more about Chief Horn and his background here.

In this first in a regular series of podcasts, Chief Horn tells BCB host Christina Hulet how he came to end up on Bainbridge and shares his thoughts on some of the issues and opportunities currently facing the island's police force.

In addition, the Bainbridge Island Police Department (BIPD) is hiring new officers. If interested, please visit BIPD’s website at: http://www.bainbridgewa.gov/849/Police-Employment

Chief Horn will be returning to BCB periodically. If you would like to send in a question for him and the department to respond to, please go to BIPD’s facebook page or contact Carla Sias, Community Resource Officer, at [email protected].

Credits: BCB host: Christina Hulet; audio editor and publisher: Diane Walker.

Fascinated by fire trucks? BHS students get firsthand experience in fire fighting and emergency medical services from the Bainbridge Island Fire Department thanks to the BHS Career In program: Learn more here!

In this podcast BIFD Fire Chief Hank Teran, BIFD Volunteer Program Coordinator Jay Rosenberg, and BHS grad Finn Mander share their observations about this exciting program.

You'll learn what it takes to become a cadet, what equipment they'll use, what activities they'll be participating in, and about the benefits to the students and the community.

You'll also hear from former cadet Finn Mander -- now a BIFD volunteer -- about why he loved the program and why he elected to pursue EMT training after graduation.