Musicians wanted
The Bainbridge Island Studio Tour will open its summer venues to regional musicians who want to share their music during the art event Aug. 8-10. Both amateurs and professionals are welcome and can sign up for one-hour time slots throughout the weekend at any of the six studios.
Celebrating their 25th year, the Studio Tour is a grass-roots art event held in island studios and gardens. With space in the artist’s gardens, musicians can perform live music with patrons who visit the studios over the 3-day weekend.
For details and to sign up, visit bistudiotour.com/music-sign-up/. Pick hourly times at any or all of the six venues this summer. Many musicians perform at several venues on the same day.
Crime Con
West Sound Crime Con’s inaugural event takes place Aug. 1 at 7 p.m. at Bainbridge Performing Arts.
The event was spearheaded by its founder and Olalla author Gregg Olsen, who is a New York Times bestseller. Crime Con will celebrate Olsen’s newest book Out of the Woods, based on the notorious Idaho murder and kidnapping case of Shasta and Dylan Groene, per a news release.
Olsen will be in conversation with Seattle author Andrea Dunlop, who hosts the true crime podcast Nobody Should Believe Me.
“I’m thrilled to be talking with Andrea,” Olsen said. “We both share a deep concern for the impact of true crime stories on those we write about, but also we respect the importance of standing back, taking a look and trying to understand. How can we stop the worst things people do if we don’t know what to look for?”
The event is cohosted by Liberty Bay Books and tickets can be purchased at LibertyBayBooks.com. A ticket includes a copy of Out of the Woods and supports BPA.
Community concerts
The Concert Truck will be performing twice on Bainbridge Island July 2, first at 12:30 p.m. at Waterfront Park and then at 6 p.m. at Town Square.
Each concert-hall-on-wheels performance is about an hour long, per a news release. People are encouraged to bring a chair and a picnic at the concerts.
Toastmasters anniversary
U Speak Easy Toastmasters will celebrate its 22nd anniversary June 25 at 7 p.m. at Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network’s Great Room.
Founded in 2003, the Bainbridge-based Toastmasters club is part of Toastmasters International, a global nonprofit organization that offers a pathway for adults to improve communication. The club meets twice a month and welcomes visitors of all experience levels, from nervous first-time speakers to seasoned presenters.
As part of the anniversary celebration, the club will hold an officer installation ceremony led by a visiting Toastmasters dignitary. Guests will also hear remarks from one of the club’s founding members, sharing reflections on the club’s beginnings and its continued role in the community. Light refreshments will be served, and guests are welcome.
“U Speak Easy has given so many community members the tools and confidence to share their voices,” said Elena Brenna, charter member of the club. “It’s more than just public speaking—it’s personal growth in a supportive community.”
U Speak Easy meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 7-8:15 p.m. at the BARN. Meetings are open to the public, and anyone over the age of 18 is welcome to attend.
For more information, visit www.uspeakeasy.com, or learn more about Toastmasters International at www.toastmasters.org/membership/why-toastmasters.
BYS hikes
Join Bainbridge Youth Services for mindful hikes that support mental wellness and connection with nature this summer. The hikes are open to all high school students (including incoming freshmen).
These gentle to moderate hikes on island trails offer a supportive, judgment-free community with space to reflect and connect, per a news release. The hikes are guided by BYS counselors.
Scheduled hikes include Forest to Sky and Battle Point (July 16) and Gazzam Lake to Island Cool at Lynwood Center (Aug. 8). Hikes are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with picnic lunch provided.
Weed-pulling event
Friends of the Farms is seeking help weeding the edible hedge row at the Native Food Forest from 10 a.m. to noon June 29.
Enter the site off NE Lovgreen Road; turn onto Charles Place NE and follow to the end. The parking lot can accommodate about six cars.
Bring a pair of gloves and your choice of tool. Contact Marit Krueger at marit.krueger@friendsofthefarms.org or 206-484-4953 with questions.
All ages welcome with adult supervision.
Injury collision
A 67-year-old Port Angeles man was transported to St. Michael Medical Center with injuries June 19 after suffering a medical emergency while driving on Highway 3 that resulted in him crossing the center lane and striking another vehicle, per the Washington State Patrol.
The driver of the other vehicle was not injured.
Quincy Jones tribute
To celebrate the upcoming opening of Quincy Square in downtown Bremerton, World Theater Foundation is organizing a special show “For the Love of Quincy!” at 6:30 p.m. June 28 at the Roxy Theatre.
The show will be a musical tribute to the late Quincy Jones with a variety of performances, and the Jones family will be in attendance, per a news release.
For tickets, visit roxytheatrebremerton.thundertix.com/events/247769
Bike fundraiser
72-year-old Jay Rosapepe will be riding his bike from Seattle to Portland July 12 in efforts to raise funds for South Kitsap Helpline.
Total donations will be matched dollar for dollar up to $2,000 by an anonymous donor, per a news release. Pledges or checks (please make out to SK Helpline) can be given by July 10 at noon. Folks can donate online to South Kitsap Helpline at skhelpline.org/give, but put “Jay 2025 STP” in the comments so donations can be tracked.
“Since I rode my first STP in 1991 in two days and then over the intervening years riding my next 10 STPs in one day, I’ve been blessed to raise over $40,000 for South Kitsap Helpline, Food Lifeline and Navy Relief,” Rosapepe says in the release. “I cannot overemphasize how your support of South Kitsap Helpline benefits those in need, especially children during the summer when schools are closed.”
