Winslow will be bustling this holiday season! Kick the season off with the Downtown Holiday Open House on Saturday, November 26, from 10-7. Retailers will be offering a variety of specials. Download the Holiday Open House flyer for details on what your favorite businesses may have planned.

The fun will continue at the Community Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5:30pm that evening on Madrone Lane. Enjoy music by the BHS Band and Ovation! Glee Club. Our special guest, Santa Claus, will be on hand to help light the 2011 Community Tree. Special thanks to Grandma’s Tree Farm for this year’s spectacular tree!

Mark your calendars for the first annual
Jingle ~ Mingle ~ Winslow
December 17 from 12-9pm

This will be a day full of in-store specials where you can finish up that holiday shopping or just spend time strolling and mingling. You can turn it into a date night by taking advantage of KiDiMu’s “Kids’ Night At The Museam” from 5:30-9pm. Visit kidimu.org for more information and reservations.

The Holiday Passport will be back this holiday season. Pick up a complimentary Passport from a participating retailer. Collect a stamp when you spend $10. Collect stamps from 17 businesses in the Passport and enter to win one of four Downtown Shopping Sprees, each values at $850.

Let’s keep our holiday dollars LOCAL and don’t forget to use your coupons from your ShanPak! Bundle up and I’ll see you downtown!

5k and 1 mile runs to benefit Helpline House

Runners and walkers of all ages - start your Thanksgiving Day right with a fun, active community event that supports local families in need. The 1st annual run in 2010 was a rousing success, raising $7400 for Helpline House and drawing participants from miles around on a chilly morning that was filled with smiles and good cheer despite the icy roads.  2011 is sure to be another exciting event!  Don’t miss great prizes and the perfect excuse for just one more slice of pie!  Don’t forget to dress up, there are prizes for creativity!

You can register in person at Island Fitness 190 Madison Avenue Bainbridge Is. Or register on site at 7:30 am at Battle Point Park.  Races begin at 8:30 am for the 1 mile and 9 am for the 5k.

This is a great way to support our community and earn your dinner.  Nothing like getting your workout in before the Tryptophan hits your blood stream! Have a gobblety good time!

Did you know:

A $400,000 house today would have cost $642,650 in September of 2006* a difference of $242,650!

A 30 year mortgage today is 4.13%** and in September of 2006 it was 6.41%**

The monthly payment today would be $1,939.76 and in September of 2006 it would have been $4,024.02 a difference of $2,084.26 per month.

Over the term of the loan the total savings for the house purchased today would be $750,333!

If today’s buyer took out a 30 year loan at current rates but made the same payments as the buyer in 2006 ($4,024.02) the loan would be paid off in 10 years 2 months…the buyer in 2006 would still have almost 15 more years of payments.

This is some pretty interesting perspective on what kind of opportunity exists for buyers right now and what a difference 5 years makes!

Welcome to Beautiful Bainbridge Island!

This video really captures the essence of living here, the attractions and the quality of the life we live.  As a broker, I continually share with people the feeling a commuter gets when leaving the city, Seattle, and heading home.  It really is an escape.  What a treat to sit back and let someone else drive, no traffic, while you chat with friends, check email, knit, enjoy a cup of chowder or glass of wine, take a power nap or just enjoy the view, while heading home.

Living on an island is such a wonderful way of life, but living on Bainbridge Island is a lifestyle that you will treasure!

Did you know that if you are planning a long distance relocation or even a local move across town I can help? As a broker, I work with people every day going through the buying and selling process, so I know how stressful it can be to relocate.  I want to make certain that your next move is a positive, smooth experience, even it it’s just across town.

Whether you are looking for a home just down the street, a second home for vacation or an investment property I can find it for you .  As an affiliate member of the industry’s largest broker-to-broker network, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, and sole Windermere Real Estate/Bainbridge-Relocation Specialist, I can help you, your friends or family find, list and sell, or manage properties in virtually any community worldwide.  Through our affiliation, we work in cooperation with 600 quality brokerage firms to identify buyers and sellers for properties all over the world!

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World only works with the finest firms, and I would love to put you in touch with a top broker in your destination area. We make our relocation services available to you at no extra charge, so the next time you get ready to list or buy, please give me a call.

Because you are a valued client and friend, I look forward to assisting you with all your real estate needs- no matter where they may be!

Our own, small town, flash mob to Thriller.  The costumes were fabulous and the dancing would have made Michael Jackson proud!

Another Halloween and Bainbridge Island did not disappoint! Winslow Way was buzzing with every bit of creative costuming I expect from our artistic, family centric island. There was even a Flash Mob to “Thriller”. I love that our community still focuses on the simple pleasures of life especially under economic strife.

We truly are a “Small Town, Big Heart” place to call home. I found myself again, full of pride, as I watched giddy children run through our downtown, neighbors sharing stories, old friends reconnecting, merchants generously handing out candy and families in the spirit of the holiday. What a beautiful night for an old fashioned Halloween celebration! I’ll see you all, same time next year.

My family decided to have a “city day” this weekend and head to University Village; such a youthful, energy filled destination in the fall.  So we jumped the 12:20 ferry boat with plans of bundling up, grabbing our pumpkin spice latte’s at Starbucks and wandering the stores soaking in the atmosphere.   Of course we had to hit the Apple store and fulfill the families technology dreams, but while doing so we noticed an awful lot of commotion going on in the courtyard just outside the store. To our pleasant surprise  it was the grand opening of the new Microsoft store that day.  To mark the occasion the big M threw the public a party and concert!  We were about to be entertained by none other than, One Republic.

It started to sprinkle just as the band started rockin.  Luck was with us though, because by the third song, the sun came out and we were singing to “Good Life”.  What an unexpected treat we had the pleasure of enjoying just from a spontaneous trip to the city and being at the right place at the right time!  The best news was, we were home in time to watch the World Series.  Ahh the joys of living on an island!

Many people are wondering about the status of the work being done at Lynwood Center on the Pleasant Beach Village development.  Here’s the scoop:

The Manor House, previously known as Edna’s, Pleasant Beach Grill and Oyster House, Ruby’s and The Manor House (back in the 80′s; I worked there in high school as a hostess), is being revived as a community events center.  It will host many occasions like weddings, conferences, parties, etc.  The first floor interior is being completely redone and will have a whole new look, more closely resembling the building’s library.  Exterior improvements will include fireplaces and covered areas.  They are hopeful to start taking reservations in the next few weeks in anticipation of a December opening.  This is Phase one of the project.

Street Level. Phase 2 will encompass buildings 1 through 4 along Lynwood Center drive.  Developer John Jacobi and architect Charlie Wenzlau are partnering on the plan for the exterior finishes, which will be applied over the course of this winter and spring.  I’ve heard rumors of very interesting water features as well.

Inn. They are working with the city on zoning for a small inn on the property.  The city is reportedly, being very supportive and is pushing this paperwork along.  When that is in place, part of building 4 will be converted into an eight or nine room inn.  How perfect that will be for hosting out of town guests for weddings, conferences, etc. or even for out of town family and friends visiting beautiful Bainbridge Island.

Commercial. They are actively seeking commercial tenants for all four buildings, where they have 10,000+ feet to lease.  Currently, they are in discussion with a brew pub, yoga studio, spa and other potential tenants.  They are hoping to assemble a group of tenants to complement and serve the local community.  So if anyone has a dream of being an island merchant, give a ring and look into it.

Residential. By next spring, they hope to be renting 12 residential units ranging from 1,500 sq. ft. to over 2,000 sq. ft. Their goal is to create an option for people who want to downsize, be in a dynamic and active community and who do not want to deal with the challenges of condominiums (and their associations).

Future Plans. Still in the planning phases is a building across from the main structures that will offer an additional tract of rental units (smaller and more affordable than what will be available across the street).  In addition, they have begun to plan for a number of cottages to be built in the northwest quadrant of the project and sold as single family homes.

Lots to look forward to!  As someone who grew up in the south end of the island, I’m thrilled to see all this activity in my old stomping grounds.

It’s my favorite time of year again and that means a visit to the best pumpkin patch on Bainbridge Island…Suyematsu Farm never disappoints and this year we got sun! The hunt for the perfect Halloween pumpkin was on, children were laughing, the tractor was touring, hay maze was crawling, camera’s were clicking and everyone was enjoying!

All shapes and sizes… Princess, ghost, sugar, knuckle head, miniature just to name a few of the pumpkins you’ll have to choose from.  Don’t even get me started on all the squash; butternut, acorn, spaghetti and of course indian corn and gourds for essential harvest decor!

You won’t meet a more friendly crew of characters as they weigh and count up your loot.  I got my annual photo with, BHS alumni andJack Sparrow extraordinaire, Karen Selvar.  She keeps the lines moving with a smile and throws in a “Arrrgghh Mate” if you’re lucky!

As always, we found just the right pumpkins, captured some great memories and caught up with old friends. Whether you live here or just visiting for the day,

Suyematsu Farm is a must see.  Make it a tradition, like my family does, and come every year.  You’ll never be disappointed!