I know the Bainbridge Island Ropeskippers as those friendly servers of chili and baked potatoes at the midway on the Chilly Hilly bike ride.

Turns out they really do skip ropes, and do it quite well.

The team is competing in the U.S. National Jump Rope Championship in Galveston, Texas next month. They’ll perform in several categories, from speed jumping to freestyle.

Check out Joseph Lyon’s story here and the video above.

A Bainbridge Island Downtown Association campaign encouraging islanders to buy from local merchants was recently recognized for an “outstanding achievement in promotion” by a state trade organization.

BIDA’s recent “Think Bainbridge/Buy Local” campaign was among eight projects honored by the Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development at an annual training event late last month.

The campaign featured an array of marketing materials, including magnets, window signs, t-shirts and a series of 10 posters promoting the economic impacts of shopping locally. The campaign was linked to Christmas and Valentine’s Day shopping promotions to encourage local spending during gift-giving holidays.

“The buy local campaign capitalizes on (residents’) values of sustainability and independence and speaks to the importance of unique local businesses as part of Bainbridge Island’s economy, culture and social fabric,” BIDA Executive Director Ashley Armstrong said in a statement. “It has also helped strengthen local businesses, preserve jobs and keep dollars circulating in the community.”

The Bainbridge Island School Board unanimously passed a resolution Thursday evening to cut 12 teachers and six other certified positions.

The district is trying to offset an expected $2.2 million budget shortfall for the 2009-2010 school year.

Reductions include seven teachers in kindergarten through sixth grades and the equivalent of four teachers in seventh through 12th grades. An additional teaching position devoted to curriculum development will also be lost.

Other positions will be trimmed from the administrative, counseling, nursing, special education, home school support and multicultural education rosters.

The staffing reduction is likely the largest in the district’s history, Bainbridge Superintendent Faith Chapel said.

Bainbridge isn’t alone. Bremerton and North Kitsap school districts joined Bainbridge last week in issuing laying off notices for about three dozen teachers.

Read our story on the county-wide school cuts here.