Trust. Nothing is More Important.

Finding trust in all parts of your life is more important than anything else I can think of.  Helping determine how to make that come about in your life is Richard Himmer, and this upcoming workshop in Gig Harbor.

A non-traditional class on the skills of interviewing and communicating is coming to Gig Harbor and is open to the first 50 people to register.

The Currency of Trust Workshop will be presented by Richard Himmer, owner of PyrBlu, Inc. (www.pyrblu.com) an innovative coaching company. If you want to increase your sales, eliminate sales resistance, handle an overbearing boss, or eliminate contention at home or constant frustration at work, this workshop will teach you how.

 The Currency of Trust Workshop is a hands-on experience that will teach you communications skills that can be used in every aspect of life; career and business, family and parenting, social and marriage. Stop trying to get others to like you and use trust as your currency of success. Trust is more powerful than love. Trust is the only currency that can buy happiness. 

Join us for two days of intensive learning on the Currency of Trust.  Register today at www.CurrencyOfTrust.com.

For lodging information visit www.wesleyinn.com

Criminal Justice Summit Comes to Gig Harbor

Unusual Opportunity for the Public to Interact with Policy Makers

The City of Gig Harbor and local volunteers and sponsors have worked really hard to put together an incredible event coming in February that I think the local public interested in our State's ability to provide justice should take a look at.

The 2011 Gig Harbor Criminal Justice Summit is scheduled for February 28^th – March 2^nd at the Inn at Gig Harbor.  The conference is now open to individuals who would like to attend one day session, two or all three.  “We want to invite the public to interact with their policy makers,” said Paul Nelson conference coordinator.  “It’s a great opportunity for individuals to discuss important issues of the day with our leaders.” 

 The three day conference is $175 dollars.  However, individuals wishing to attend can register for each of the first two days for $55 a day and the third day (half day) for $30.  An additional cost of $35 will be charged for the Tuesday evening dinner with Keynote Speaker John Batiste, Chief of the Washington State Patrol.

You Knock My Socks Off

Valentines Themed 4 mile Run Benefits Food Bank and Healthy Communities

The second annual YOU KNOCK MY SOCKS OFF Valentines Four Mile Run and Kids Dash is coming to Gig Harbor on Sunday February 13th at 8:30am.  Early bird registration ends February 1st!  So get to it!

I did this run last year, and it was fun but tough.  The course begins at 6565 Kimball Drive near the Medical Center and goes North on the Cushman Trail, including all those hills!!!  It's a tough but scenic course with great views of the harbor. 

You can registr as a solo or a 2-person team.  Register before February 1st and cost is $15 and 2 cans of food for solo or $25 and 4 cans of food for team.  Entry fee goes up $10 on February 1st.

If you are really procrastinating, day of registration is $30 and $40.  And don't forget the food!!

Dark and dreary February can have a little light shine on it on February 13th.  Grab your sweetie and come on out for YOU KNOCK MY SOCKS OFF run!

In person register at www.databarevents.com/knockmysocksoff.asp  or jog on into Route 16 Running on Kimball (www.route16runwalk.com).

I'll see you there!!

Thank You from Water to Wine

From Guest Blogger Steve Lynn, Water to Wine

American Heart Month

Guest Blogger, MultiCare

February is American Heart Month and even if red isn’t your color, it’s a good time to think about heart health.  Heart disease is the number one cause of death among men and women.  A quarter of those who die suddenly from heart disease had no previous symptoms.  Diet, exercise, lifestyle choices and genetics, all play a role in the health of your heart.  Another part of keeping your heart healthy is “knowing your numbers”-  cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose, and body mass index (BMI).  Go to multicare.org/heartrisk to take heart disease risk assessment, or, to truly understand your risk for heart disease, schedule a Heart Check screening with MultiCare.  A Heart Check screening (costs start at $55) gives you a comprehensive look at your personal risk for heart disease.  For more information on “knowing your numbers” or a Heart Check screening, call us at 253-403-1726 or visit our website at multicare.org/heart.

New Year, New Digs, New Partnership

I'm looking forward to this year and the work we have ahead of us.  My new motto is BE ADAPTABLE (or die).  Seriously.  If you want to succeed in this economy you have to be adaptable.

This is not as easy as it sounds.  But I'm learning!!  So you can teach an old dog new tricks! :)

Being adaptable for the Gig Harbor Marketing office means moving from our location on Judson Street where we have operated the Gig Harbor Visitor Information Center for the past five years, back up to City Hall on Grandview.  Our phone number and emails have stayed the same (253-853-3554 and lundl@cityofgigharbor.net) but our mailing address is now 3510 Grandview, Gig Harbor, 98335.

The Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce, under a new partnership agreement with the City of Gig Harbor will now operate out of the Visitor Center building.  Their phone number and email will also stay the same (253- 851-6865 and officemanager@gigharborchamber.com) but their new physical address will be 3125 Judson Street, Gig Harbor 98335.  The Chamber will run the Gig Harbor Visitor Information Center six days a week in the winter and seven days a week in the summer, continuing to provide first class service to our visitors and residents with information!

The Gig Harbor Historic Waterfront Association, which was sharing space with the marketing department at the Visitor Center, has moved to the former location of the Chamber of Commerce (yes it is a game of musical chairs), located below the Harbor Peddler.  They are still in transition and will open the first week of February as well.  There phone number remains the same (253-514-0071 and executivedirector@ghhwa.org).

Now that we are settled in to City Hall, the marketing department is fully focused on the marketing of our community as a destination for visitors, meetings and conventions.  Although my hours have been cut to 32 a week, I feel confident that tasks can be accomplished with our refocused approach to marketing now in place.  I am looking forward to the challenges and triumphs that undoubtably lie ahead.

Let me know if we can assist you in anyway with meetings, conventions, or visitor information.  We are still here - and working hard to shout out to all what a great place Gig Harbor is to live, work and play! 

lundl@cityofgigharbor.net

www.gigharborguide.com

The Art of Chocolate

February 5th in Gig Harbor

When I was a kid, I didn’t like chocolate.  I know it’s a little weird.  If I was standing in front of a candy counter, I would always choose peanuts or candy with nuts or if given the opportunity, some kind of chips.  Take at look at me – those carbs continue to be my nemesis!

As I grew older, and stepped away from the penny candy counter, I learned about real chocolate.  Like the kind I paid $12 an ounce for in Paris.  Or the hot chocolate I had at a Chocolate Bistro on the Miracle Mile in Chicago, or the Chocolate and Red Pepper Truffle I ate just recently in Seattle.  I have learned that there is chocolate, and then there is Chocolate!

I still don’t crave chocolate, but I appreciate it, like wine.  So I am looking forward to an event coming up this weekend in Gig Harbor that, whether you crave or appreciate, chocolate is where it’s at.

Bella Kitchen - Shop, Cook, EAT!!

If you haven’t been to Bella Kitchen Essentials at Uptown lately, then you haven’t been to Bella Kitchen.

This beautiful little kitchen shop next door to the Green House Restaurant in Uptown opened last year.  And now they have expanded to include a wonderful variety of classes in their gourmet cooking kitchen.  You can sign up as an individual or they also will do group cooking events for you for parties, retreats or reunions.  Sounds fun!

Steppin Up Womens Conference

January 22-23, in Gig Harbor

It's that time of year again in Gig Harbor!  Do you want to be inspired, educated and empowered?  Then you want to be at the annual Steppin Up Women's Confernence January 22nd and 23rd at the Wesley Inn.

This years theme "Listen with your Heart" brings a variety of speakers sharing their inspiring stories of strength and perserverance.  Workshops will focus on healthy lifestyle choices with topics including: Love your Life, Find the Balance, Simplify Your Day, Wholesome Cooking as well as youga and Zumba classes and much more.

It's not too late to register - special overnight room rates are also available.  Make it a Girl's Getaway and enjoy Gig Harbor and the conference!  Sign up today at www.steppinupconference.com

Harbor History Museum New Exhibit Coming

Still time to see "Stars & Stripes" with "An Excellent Little Bay" Opening end of January

 I’m a little surprised and perplexed at how many local people I talk to who still have not visited the new Harbor History Museum.  Really?  You just don’t know what you are missing.  If you have it in your head that it is anything like the former museum you are in for a surprise.  Well actually a shock.  This gorgeous, first class, educational, interesting, beautiful, interactive and outstanding addition to our community is unlike anything Gig Harbor has ever seen.

One reason it is so fantastic is due to the efforts of Curator of Exhibits and Collections, Vicki Blackwell. Vicki has been with the museum for eleven years and has been directly involved in the day to day work that took place to make this museum a reality. I’m fascinated with how the current permanent and temporary exhibits are developed and come to life, so I sat down with Vicki and she explained the rather complicated process to me.

Currently in the 1000 square foot temporary gallery, the exhibit Stars & Stripes (closes January 16^th) features hundreds of historic items from the personal collection of Kit Hinrichs American flag memorabilia. This type of exhibit is called a “custom” exhibit and is provided for a fee to the museum for a temporary show.  Another type of exhibit is the “travelling” exhibit, which is reserved by the museum far in advance and then exhibited during the show’s national tour. Through-out any given year the museum will host traveling, custom and “in-house” exhibits.  Vicki and her volunteers are currently working very hard on “An Excellent Little Bay” which will be the first “in-house” exhibit to occupy the temporary space.  “An Excellent Little Bay” opens to the public on January 29^th.