Bainbridge is part of the Rachel Harrington and Rita Hosking Northwest Tour

On March 24, Rachel Harrington and Rita Hosking will co-bill a concert at the Island Music Center as part of their two-week tour throughout the Northwest. The two West Coast natives and country-folk singer/songwriters feel a strong connection to place and to creating music that, at least in part, captures some of the stories and heritage of their home.

Harrington's 2007 debut, The Bootlegger's Daughter, (featuring John Reischman and Danny Barnes) went to No. 1 on the Euro-Americana Chart and was heralded by legendary BBC DJ Bob Harris as one of the best albums of the year. She has spent the past three years touring abroad.

Hosking's accolades include Best Country Album nomination for the 2010 Independent Music Awards, winner of the 2008 Dave Carter Memorial Songwriting Contest at the Sisters Folk Festival in Oregon, and finalist in the 2009 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Troubador Contest.

The concert on March 24 is at Island Music Center, 10598 NE Valley Road, Bainbridge Island, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and are available at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/102854

Ron Templeton, Lisa Stirrett join Kitsap Peninsula VCB, New Officers Also Named

Kitsap Peninsula Visitor and Convention Bureau president, diane Robinson, announced the appointment of Silverdale attorney, Ron Templeton and business owner, Lisa Stirrett to the Board of Directors of the Kitsap Peninsula Visitor & Convention Bureau.

"Ron and Lisa bring professional knowledge, enthusiasm and energy to the organization. We are delighted they have joined the board and want to be part of the KPVCB mission to market the Kitsap Peninsula region and serve our communities," said Robinson. "The KPVCB has been getting tremendous media coverage in the past several weeks and people are starting to pay attention. It is gratifying to see that people like Lisa and Ron recognize that the KPVCB plays an important role in the economic future and success of our communities and the region," Robinson added.

Templeton, who has been active in Silverdale Rotary for 32 years, and strong supporter of the economic and community benefits of tourism, will begin a three year term effectively immediately. Stirrett, a small business owner and nationally known artist and co-organizer of the Kitsap YWCA Arts Alive Auction, also begins her term effective immediately.

The KPVCB Board announced election of its 2010 Executive Board. Officers, elected for one year terms, are president, diane Robinson, CEO, Elandan Gardens; vice presidents Jack Harrington, Labyrinth Hill; Steven Gear, Executive Manager, Oxford Suites; treasurer, Sharon Shrader; form Kitsap County Treasure, secretary, Patti Kirkpatrick, Clerk & Executive Assistant to the Mayor, City of Port Orchard.

Other KPVCB Board members include directors Jack Edwards, Director of Marketing, Comfort Inn & Suites/Convention Center; Jerry Reitan, Visitor Center and Community Liaison; Val Torrens, Cultural Arts Foundation NW.

The Kitsap Peninsula Visitor and Convention Bureau is located at 9481 Silverdale Way NW, Suite 281, in Silverdale, WA. which are open to the public from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. The KPVCB also maintains a visitor information center hosted by Dauntless Books in Port Gamble. The KPVCB answers visitor, relocation, and event planning and editorials requests, and provides a wide range of marketing support services to members and the community to support small businesses and economic development. Kitsap Peninsula region extends from Gig Harbor, North Mason, Union, Kitsap County, and Port Ludow. For more information, please call 800-337-0580 or visit http://www.visitkitsap.com/.

Liberty Bay Books hosts renowned Norwegian author Jo Nesbø

Liberty Bay Books will host internationally acclaimed Norwegian crime novelist Jo Nesbø at a special appearance presentation and booksigning at 12:30 p.m. on March 21 at the Sons of Norway in Poulsbo. He will present his newest novel, "The Devils' Star."

After careers as a journalist and then as a stockbroker, Jo Nesbø now divides his time between singing lead vocals for Norwegian rock band Di Derre and writing. His first novel featuring Detective Harry Hole was an instant hit in Norway, winning the Glass Key Award for Best Nordic Crime Novel — the most prestigious crime-writing award in Northern Europe.

Translated into 30 languages, awarded a whole range of awards and boasting record-breaking sales, Nesbø has been lavishly praised by international critics for broadening the scope of the contemporary crime novel, and is today regarded as one of Europe's most important crime writers. His novel "The Leopard" was the No. 1 bestseller of all fiction titles published in Norway in 2008 and 2009, surpassing Dan Brown and Henning Mankell.

Sons of Norway is located at 18891 Front Street in Poulsbo. For more about the event, contact host Liberty Bay Books at 360.779.5909, libertybaybooks@embarqmail.com, www.libertybaybooks.com

Children's authors George Shannon & Lynn Brunelle at Eagle Harbor Book Co.

Eagle Harbor Book Company presents story time for children 3 and up with Bainbridge Island authors George Shannon and Lynn Brunelle on Saturday, March 13, at 11 a.m. The event, which is free and open to the public, will last about half an hour and will include refreshments.

Shannon and Brunelle will read from their new collaboration: "Chicken Scratches: Poultry Poetry" and "Rooster Rhymes." This delightful volume include a flock of smile-inducing poems, introducing such characters at Hula Zelda; Henny Penny,a penny pincher; and Chickie Teriyaki, a sumo superstar.

Eagle Harbor Book Company is located at 157 Winslow Way East, Bainbridge Island, a short walk from the Seattle ferry. With advance notice, sign language interpretation can be arranged for this and other events at Eagle Harbor Books. For more information, please call (206) 842-5332 or (360) 692-2375 or visit www.eagleharborbooks.com.

Rick Steves visits Kitsap County

Noted television traveler and author Rick Steves will come to Kitsap County March 15 to discuss Travel as a Political Act, specifically his visit to Iran and the resulting documentary about travel to one of the world's hot spots.

He will be at the North Kitsap Community Auditorium at 7 p.m., 1881 NE Host Mark Street in Poulsbo.

Steves, an Edmonds resident, is one of the rare people who can talk first-hand about conditions in Iran and the mood of Iranians toward the United States. He is an engaging speaker who will force you to think through your perceptions and your misconceptions about a country that gives the United States one of its most difficult foreign relations challenges.

Steves is an advocate of independent travel. Through his books and television series, he encourages Americans to become what he calls "temporary locals" and to discover destinations away from popular tourist routes.

Steves' presentation is a fundraiser for the Kitsap Regional Library Foundation. Tickets ($25) each are available online. Free Admission to Active Duty Military and High School Students with ID.

Click here to purchase tickets.

‘Gospel from the Land’ photo exhibit on Bainbridge Island

Josh Anderson's photography exhibit, “Gospel from the Land,” is displayed at Bainbridge Performing Arts in March. A reception with the artist is Wednesday, March 10, 5-7 p.m.

Anderson’s work ranges from commercial ski photography in alpine playgrounds to the "inexplicably satisfying" visual elements that comprise more thoughtful fine artwork. He finds his subjects anywhere adventure may take him, most often where culture meets nature. The exhibit at the BPA Gallery in March showcases work guided by institutional education as well as by the skiing community and industry.

He received his B.A. in Visual Art from the University of British Columbia. His work was recently included in the Collective Visions Gallery 2010 Competition exhibit and has appeared in online and print publications including newschoolers.com, skinet.com, eXpn.com, and Powder Magazine. Visit him online at www.japhotog.com.

The BPA Gallery showcases regional artists in monthly rotating exhibits in the C. Keith Birkenfeld Lobby at BPA, 200 Madison Avenue North, Bainbridge Island. Admission is free, and gallery hours are 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday - Friday, plus one hour prior to each performance. For additional information, contact Steven Fogell at 206.842.1163 or sfogell@bainbridgeperformingarts.org.

Find out more about BPA at www.bainbridgeperformingarts.org.

Make a sock puppet at Liberty Bay Boks

Bestselling children's author Sandra Boynton has joined forces with the legendary King of the Blues, B.B. King, and a supporting cast of exuberant sock puppets, to deliver "One Shoe Blues," a storybook complete with music video DVD. This new storybook is a creative, original, and delightful collaboration of words, song, and crafts.

Liberty Bay Books will bring the "One Shoe Blues" cast to life at a special sock-puppet event just for kids, and just in time for a fun Valentine's Day weekend. Liberty Bay Books will supply the socks and decorating materials for kids to make sock puppets. The "One Shoe Blues" DVD will be playing in the store for inspiration. There also will be other storybook-based activities and refreshments.

What: Make Your Own Sock Puppet (and other activities from the "One Shoe Blues" storybook)
Who: Kids age 3 and older
When: Saturday, Feb. 13; 1 pm
Where: Liberty Bay Books, 18881-D Front St., downtown Poulsbo
Details: The bookstore will provide colorful socks (or bring your own favorite) & decorating materials; kid-friendly refreshments will be served
Info: (360) 779-5909; libertybaybooks@embarqmail.com; www.libertybaybooks.com

About "One Shoe Blues"
"One Shoe Blues" presents a thoroughly captivating story and a dazzling music video on an accompanying 12-minute DVD. Boynton writes, designs, and directs (her first film ever), King stars (singing, playing, and turning in a wry and brilliant comic acting performance), and exuberant Boynton sock puppets chime in.

About the author
http://www.sandraboynton.com/sboynton/index.html

For more information about the event or to interview Liberty Bay Books owner Suzanne Droppert, call (360) 779-5909.