Community Update 4.18.2024 – A lot going on!

Community Updates

Thursday, April 18th, 2024

These updates are produced by the KP Partnership with input from numerous other local organizations

 Timely News

The Gig Harbor/Key Peninsula Housing and Homeless Coalition regular virtual meeting is today, April 18th, at 10:00 am.  To access it, go to:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89793763452?pwd=vzanfoylFQzqm7fa8wCeqrvWFd9f5Q.1

Meeting ID: 897 9376 3452
Passcode: housing

The Key Free Clinic will be today, Thursday April 18th, starting at 4:30 pm at the Community Office in the Key Center Corral.  The next clinic date will be Thursday May 2nd.

The KP Emergency Prep group will be holding a CPR training tonight, Thursday, April 18th from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at the KP Civic Center. Training is free unless you want a certificate/CPR card, in which case it will be $40 (cash) at the door.

Key Pen Parks and Red Barn Youth Center are hosting a movie night tonight, Thursday, April 18th, at 6:00 pm at Red Barn.  The movie will be, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” – Free!

There will be a 420 Food Fest and Art Fair at Lake Katherine Village this Saturday, April 20th from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Tickets are still available for this weekend’s 4-20 Comedy Night hosted by Food Backpacks 4 Kids at the KP Civic Center.  Doors open at 6:30 and tickets are available in person (cash only) at Gnosh Food Truck or CostLess Pharmacy or online at: https://fb4k420funny.brownpapertickets.com/

Next week the 302 Spur in Purdy will be subject to night closures in order to finish the on-going work.  For more information go to:  https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/search-projects/sr-16-and-sr-302-spur-purdy-creek-remove-fish-barriers-and-paving

KP Business & Organization Info

The KP Partnership Relatives Raising Kids group is changing their meeting days and locations starting this month.  The new meeting day will be the 4th Thursday of every month (April 25th is the next) at 6:00 pm and the new meeting place will be the KP Lutheran Church. Contact Lori at childcare@kphealthycommunity.org for more information.

Backpack Food 4 Kids is changing its Family Pantry opening times starting May 1st.  Please note, new days/hours will be: Tues, Wed, Thurs open from noon to 6:00 pm, closed on Mondays and Fridays.

Key Pen Parks is hosting a “May the 4th Fun Run” on Saturday, May 4th. Costumes on theme can enter for prizes, prizes will be available along the paths. Find out more and register at: https://www.keypenparks.com/fun-run.html

Communities In Schools is looking for volunteers to be reading/math tutors at local schools.  It doesn’t take much – some time each week or as able.  For more information, contact Myka Cranford at: (253) 509-9397 or at myka@cisofpeninsula.org

Reminders:

Robyn Denson will be holding a “Smoothie with Robyn” at SERVE  (business in Key Center) on Thursday, April 25, from 9 to 10 a.m.

KeyPen it Clean group will be hosting a community-wide clean-up day on May 4th starting at 9:00 am.  Dumpsters will be available in 3 places, Lake Katheryn Village, Longbranch Improvement Club, and at 64th ST NW and KP Hwy.  To find out more and see what will be accepted, go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/825189772285221/

The KP Lutheran Church is planning a “Blooming Dessert Dash” for Saturday, May 11th.  To find out how to take part in this community fund-raiser, go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/77178748438462/?ref=newsfeed

Other

Gig Harbor now has a great piece about different boundaries of our area that affect services and tax rates.  Find it at: https://www.gigharbornow.org/news/government/varying-boundaries-influence-how-we-live-what-taxes-we-pay/

The Tacoma Pierce County Health Dept. Communities of Focus meeting will be next Tuesday, April 23rd at 10:30.  This virtual meeting will include updates and speakers on Climate Justice opportunities.  To attend the meeting: https://zoom.us/j/95846614973?pwd=MGFsdjg0KytWK0JjTm1iMUpUaW9Odz09

Pierce County has a new litter vacuum truck and is asking the community to help name it.  To find out how to submit possible names and then vote, go to: https://www.piercecountywa.gov/8279/Litter-Vacuum-Truck

FAQ’s

What are some of the boundaries for Gig Harbor proper compared to Key Peninsula?

  • A much more complicated question than it seems! Most of us think the “boundary” between Gig Harbor and the Key is the Purdy Spit.  And, in reality, that is a very real physical and mental boundary.
  • However, it does not count as much of a boundary government wise.
    • All of the area is part of the Peninsula School District, Pierce County District 7, and the state representative districts.
    • Many people on the north end of the Key Peninsula have Gig Harbor addresses, even though they do not live in the incorporated town of the same name.
  • Ed Friedrich of Gig Harbor Now published a story earlier this week complete with maps and explanations of all the various lines and what they mean.