Many of us know people who are either struggling to stay in their current homes or hoping to find an affordable place on Bainbridge. Housing Resources Bainbridge is here to help: listen here as HRB's Phedra Elliot and Penny Lamping describe the services this vital group provides.

Housing Resources Bainbridge (HRB) is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides and advocates for affordable rental housing and homeownership options on the island. HRB also helps elderly and disabled individuals stay in their homes by providing home improvements such as accessible walkways and kitchen/bathroom modifications.

Phedra Elliot is HRB's executive director, and Penny Lamping is a long-time Bainbridge resident who serves as fundraising and Communications Manager. Together they explain the growing need in our community for a broader range of housing options and some of the ways HRB is working to achieve that goal.

Phedra also served on the City’s Affordable Housing Task Force (AHTF), which released its recommendations in July 2018. You can listen to a related podcast on that subject here.

To learn more about Housing Resources Bainbridge, please visit their website at: http://housingresourcesbi.org/.

Credits: BCB host: Christina Hulet; audio editor: Chris Walker; publisher: Diane Walker; social media: Jen St. Louis.

Bring your friends and family to the island's beaches on Sunday, September 9, and help keep our beaches clean and free of materials that can both damage wildlife and adversely affect our own food chain.

The annual beach cleanup is not just happening on Bainbridge; volunteers from states across the U.S. and more than 100 countries come together each year as part of the International Coastal Cleanup.

In this podcast Sustainable Bainbridge president Christine Perkins talks with Deb Rudnick, an environmental scientist and chair of the Bainbridge Island Watershed Council, about the many local, national, and international organizations involved in the cleanup, and what we as concerned citizens can do -- not just on Beach Cleanup Day, but every day -- to improve the health and beauty of our environment.

Beach cleanup volunteers are encouraged to register in advance of the Sunday event at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0944a8ab2aa75-2018.  The main effort is focused from 10am to 2pm on Sunday, September 9th, but your help is appreciated anytime.

More information can be found at the Sustainable Bainbridge web page for the event. There’s also a Facebook page.

Credits: BCB host, Christina Hulet; audio editor and publisher, Diane Walker; social media Jen St. Louis.

How do we go about creating a community where people who want to live here can afford to do so?

In June 2017, the Bainbridge Island City Council appointed a fifteen member, all citizen volunteer group to  answer that question. The Affordable Housing Task Force (AHTF) was charged with developing recommendations to improve access to affordable housing across the economic spectrum. This month, the AHTF released its final report, including proposals for our collective consideration.   In this podcast, we hear from several community members involved in the process. Althea Paulson is a long-time Bainbridge resident and Chair of the task force; Phedra Elliot is Executive Director of Housing Resources Bainbridge and a fellow AHTF member; and Jennifer Sutton is a Senior Planner for the City of Bainbridge.   Together, they help us understand why affordable housing has become an issue, why it matters, and what some possible solutions might be, including zoning changes, building on public lands, encouraging ADU's, incentivizing innovative solutions, and more.   Listen to this podcast as we explore these recommendations, and the inherent tensions and trade-offs that we as a community will need to weigh as we respond.   To get involved or learn more, you can attend the City Council’s study session on the AHTF report on August 21 at 6pm at City Hall. More information is also available on the City’s website at www.bainbridgewa.gov (type in “Affordable Housing Task Force” in the search box). Credits: BCB host: Christina Hulet; publisher: Diane Walker; social media Jen St. Louis.

"What's happening to our world?," she said. Who is speaking? It's Finch, the bird-woman, who lives on a treeless island. She wants to build a boat as the water is rising.

Bainbridge Islander Stefani Galaday's new book, Finch, sets the issues of climate change and the human condition into a charming mythological format as she explores hat is happening to our world and what can we do as individuals and organizations to steer our planet boat in a life affirming direction.

Stefani will be reading, taking questions and leading a discussion on Saturday, August 18th, from 2 to 4 PM at the Bainbridge Island Library.  Everyone is invited!  If you’d like a copy of the book, or to contact Stefani, email her at finchbirdwoman@gmail.com.

Credits: BCB host: Betsy Lydle Smith; audio tech Chris Walker; audio editor and publisher: Diane Walker; social media: Jen St. Louis.

High winds, strong currents, dense fog and fierce competition: listen here as Bainbridge Islanders Jeanne Goussev, Haley Lhamon and Kelly Adamson share the amazing story of Team Sail Like a Girl's successful bid to win the 2018 Race to Alaska, North America's longest human and wind powered race. 

After sailing round the clock for 6 days, 13 hours, and 17 minutes with no outside support along a route that traces 750 miles of the famed Inside Passage, these intrepid women biked and sailed their single hull day-sailer to the Ketchikan finish line just after midnight on Sunday, June 24th, almost two hours ahead of the second place winners and beating out 35 other teams.

Though not the first all female team to enter the race, they are the first all-female team to win, thanks to extensive planning, devoted teamwork, and exceptional physical and mental endurance.. not to mention the encouragement of a magical pod of Orcas who showed up just when the women needed it most!

Thank you, Aimee Fulwell, Jeanne Assael Goussev, Allison Dvaladze, Anna Stevens, Haley King Lhamon, Kate Hearsey McKay, Kelly Adamson Danielson, and Morgana  Buell for encouraging women around the world to share the world of adventure and celebrate possibility. Listen here and be inspired!

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

On September 7th, 8th, and 9th, at the Bainbridge Island Library, local artists and art organizations will be sharing arts and information galore. Don't miss it!

Listen here as artist and library associate Patrick Gulke talks about the art happening planned for the September show at the Bainbridge Island Library. The following artists will be featured in the group show for all of the month of September.

• Jamie Brouwer  
• Karen Chaussabel 
• Karen Cornell 
• Chris Demarest 
• Marilyn Gottlieb
• Mary Guterson 
• Curtis Hughes 
• Kelly Johnston
• Drew Kunz 
• Michael Pontieri 
• Nicole Schluter

And -- for the Art Walk on September 7th, participants will also include:

• Erica Applewhite 
• Susanne Bardelson  
• Allison Garrison 
• Patrick Gulke
• Diane Walker 
• and more

Don't miss this exciting extravaganza!

Credits: BCB Host: John Fossett; BCB audio editor and publisher: Diane Walker; social media: Jen St. Louis.