Monthly Archives: September 2014

A bike ride around Bremerton, in pictures

I love a good bike ride around Bremerton, a dynamic city where change is constant. Recently, I trekked all the way to the Oyster Bay Chevron station — you remember the story — from downtown. I made sure to fill my trip with lots of interesting stops. Here’s my photographic journey.

After the hard climb past Callow Avenue, you come to this beautiful house flying the colors. I’ve always found the home very charming.

Nearby is Forest Ridge Park, with what I am presuming to be an old fire station. Anyone know its history?

My original destination: this mural on the back of the Chevron Station, where I met young artist Lue Brentwood. He painted this lovely scene after vandalizing the wall. I plan to check back soon to find out what will happen to the charges he faces.

Just up Kitsap Way, the old Dunes Motel is changing hands. Motel 6 will take it over soon.

I stopped by Bremerton City Nursery, on Adele Avenue, to check out their new moss-lined “potstickers.” These innovative pots were invented by the nursery. But more on that in a later feature.

Have you been to Spiro’s on Kitsap Way yet? I’ve heard nothing but good things so far.

The famous Callow Avenue mural, at Pied Piper’s Emporium. I’d love to know more about how it got there and the artist.

I was sad to see the Pour House pub on Naval Avenue closed at the end of August. Sorry that I didn’t get a chance to write a story about the place, too.

Yes, the Bremerton Evergreen-Rotary Park Accessible Playground has been getting (much deserved) ink in the Kitsap Sun of late. But have you seen the other side of the park? The grass has grown in nicely at the 9/11 Memorial, over the top of the old Chevron site. Next, the road you see here will be removed and the park will ultimately be connected together — an sizeable expansion of Bremerton’s busiest park.

Wrapped up my trek on the east side, where a number of roads in Manette have been chip sealed, using funds from the car tab increase.

Are you a bike rider? Even a walker? Ever want to go for a ride or a walk around town? Drop me a note, I’d love to join you sometime.

Tweet This Post

Video Q&A with Marvin Williams

josh farley

Atop a little hill at Eighth Street and Park Avenue Friday afternoon, Marvin Williams helped heave some ceremonial dirt that marks the beginning of what’s thought to be a transformational project for an area once referred to as “the hood.”

Williams, who grew up in West Bremerton, has gone onto become one of the area’s most celebrated sons, having spent a decade in the NBA. He finished up his college degree from the University of North Carolina this summer, his father, Marvin Williams, Sr., told those gathered Friday. He’ll play for the Charlotte Hornets this year as well.

But because the NBA season starts up in November, Williams won’t be around at that time to mark the official groundbreaking of the center that will bear his name. The Marvin Williams Community Center, combined with the C. Keith Birkenfeld economic empowerment center, is a $7.1 million project spearheaded by the New Life Community Development Association, a wing of Bremerton’s Emmanuel Apostolic Church. Organizers already have almost $5 million in donations and government grants; the Williams-named recreation center, complete with basketball court, will be built by summer 2015.

Speeches Friday by politicians, donors and Williams himself were upbeat with promise about the future of the area (even a speech by Kitsap Community Foundation Executive Director Kol Medina, in which he referred to county residents perceiving West Bremerton as “the armpit of Kitsap County,” didn’t spoil the mood).

“Bremerton has stepped up and embraced this project in a very special way,” Congressman Derek Kilmer told those gathered. “You have an extraordinary coalition here in Bremerton embracing this project.”

“This building is going to be for everyone,” added Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent, noting the City Council’s recent renaming of nearby Seventh Street for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Watching this project go forward is in some ways witnessing Williams’ legacy unfolding before our eyes. And, I must say, he’s got some serious style — I snuck a photo of his shoes and socks during the interview. See below.

Tweet This Post

Your favorite Manette Bridge pics

josh farley

Saturday’s Manette Fest was a lot of fun. As a challenge, on the day of the 11th annual event, I asked Facebook readers to show us their favorite photos of Manette’s most iconic landmark — the bridge that has long connected it to downtown Bremerton. We got a few of the new bridge and a few of the old, some night and day and some sunny and stormy.

Here’s the results! Thanks to everyone who contributed.