Author: Quinn Propst (Quinn Propst)

Bainbridge Island resident Ross Eide didn’t originally plan to start a salsa business. But after years of sharing a family recipe—and watching people light up at the first bite—he launched Ardell Salsa, named in honor of his mother, the salsa’s original creator.

For many coffee drinkers, the ritual of brewing a morning cup is a familiar comfort. But for Jacob Motola, co-founder and CEO of Wautauga Bay Roasters, coffee is more than routine—it’s a longstanding interest that’s become a second career rooted in relationships, respect for the process, and an appreciation for rare, small-lot beans.

When Tom and Yukie Huebner retired and moved to Kingston, they were excited to enjoy the region’s natural beauty and vibrant boating community. They looked forward to days spent crabbing, fishing, and exploring the waters around Puget Sound. But they quickly realized something that many new boaters do: docking isn’t easy.

Running a small business can feel like walking on water—each step a test of balance, belief, and resilience. For Shannon Raymond-Becker, founder of Pier 52 Bookkeeping, her mission is simple: be the pier that helps other entrepreneurs find solid footing.

The East Bremerton Rotary Club is gearing up for another impactful year with a renewed commitment to service, fellowship, and community engagement under the 2025–2026 theme: Unite for Good. As part of Rotary International—a global network dedicated to humanitarian efforts—the East Bremerton chapter continues to make a meaningful difference both locally and abroad.

The Historic Roxy Theater in downtown Bremerton has been around since 1941, but these days it feels anything but stuck in the past.

Now run as a nonprofit, the single-screen venue has carved out a fresh identity as a place where locals can catch everything from first-run movies to concert films, jazz nights, drag performances, and community events—all in a space that blends vintage charm with modern sound and projection.

In the heart of Kitsap County, a symphony orchestra has quietly—and powerfully—been shaping the cultural, educational, and economic landscape for more than eight decades. Founded in 1942 during World War II as part of a nationwide initiative promoted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to build community in military towns, the Bremerton WestSound Symphony has grown from a wartime pastime to a vibrant cultural institution.

On Bainbridge Island, where misty mornings linger and the views never disappoint, Mikal Foushee has created something extraordinary: a Scandinavian-inspired refuge where heat meets cold – and transformation begins.

Launched in 2024, Fire + Floe is rooted in the centuries-old Nordic tradition of sauna and cold plunging. It’s a ritual Foushee and her husband practiced for years in the chilly waters of the Puget Sound. Inspired by travels to Denmark and Sweden – where sauna culture is seamlessly woven into daily life – Foushee often dreamed aloud of a sauna to warm up in after their plunges. Eventually, that dream took shape.

Honeybee Horticulture is a Kitsap-based event planning and floral design business that also offers charcuterie catering, combining artistic detail with heartfelt personalization to create meaningful, memorable experiences for weddings, celebrations, and community events.

For owner and founder Mariah Mendez, the name Honeybee Horticulture is more than a nod to flowers—it's personal. Her mother always called her "honeybee," and the business name reflects both that endearment and Mendez’s original intention: to grow plants.