“The 39 Clues,” a popular interactive and worldwide children’s series, combines video games, collectible cards and an insatiable desire to read. There are cash prizes, too.

Chalet in the Woods could well be the city’s best-kept secret.

As the season changes to autumn, I hear many regrets of what didn’t get done in the past growing season.

The First Saturday Art Walk in Gig Harbor is scheduled for 1 to 5 p.m. this weekend.

One youth said: “My parents’ examples in living the teachings of the Christ helped me internalize the gospel’s principles in my life. The most important thing was just seeing in them that the gospel and the Church were central to their lives. It was evident in every aspect of their lives.”

Bible Study Fellowship will host a women’s Bible study class from 9:40 to 11:30 a.m. beginning Sept. 16 at Believers Fellowship Church, 4112 Hunt St. NW in Gig Harbor.

The Fox Island community will host an all-island garage sale from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 12 on Fox Island.

The word salary is derived from salarium, the Latin word for salt. According to legend, Roman soldiers were paid in salt, leading to the phrase “worth his salt.”

Pinks All Out, a popular TV show on the Speed channel, has a new fastest car, and it’s owned by Garret Richards of Gig Harbor.

As energy costs continue to increase, we need to look for various, imaginative and logical ways we can reduce the amount of energy we consume. Often overlooked is how trees and shrubs surrounding our homes can affect the temperature of our living spaces

In the days following the horrendous attack on our country in September 2001, I wondered, like many others, what I could do for my country. Perhaps some of you had the same feeling.

Richardson named to Linfield College Dean’s list

‘Fabulous ’50s Mega Reunion’ set for Eagles on Sept. 12

Artists at the annual Gig Harbor Chalk the Walk event have been recognized for their talent. Here are this year’s winners:

During a lightning storm last month, a 150-foot Douglas fir took a very serious hit. A bolt of lightning struck it about 20 feet below its top and spiraled some 35 feet down, shearing off large chunks that took out part of a fence protecting a horse paddock off McEwan Road in Home.

The bench press at the gym is an infallible measurement of one’s motivation. Today, gravity was winning, so I turned on my iPod for inspiration.

Business owners on the historic Gig Harbor Waterfront pooled resources to host a 50s dance party Saturday, featuring the Fabulous Farelanes, a 50s rock and roll band from Vancouver, Wash.

VIDEO: Watch harborites dance the night away.

Of course deer love roses. But with a little strategy and some Liquid Fence Deer Repellent, you may be able to have your roses and your deer, too.

As our weather will be cooling down soon, it’s time to be thinking about main meals that are satisfying. Boneless and skinless chicken breast halves stuffed with a very simple filling, then sautéed with mushrooms and Marsala wine yield a most delicious entrée.

In last month’s column, I addressed the issue of context and “parachute theology” within modern Christian churches. The idea for these discussions came from the book “What the Bible Didn’t Say” by J. Stephen Lang.

The lure of the ocean is an ancient lure. And for people in the Maritime City, the tug is especially strong.

Author Michael Vaughn, who describes his latest book as a “love letter to Gig Harbor,” will sign his latest book, “Outro,” on Aug. 29 at Gig Harbor’s Mostly Books.

The annual Old Timers’ Day celebration last Saturday at the Longbranch Improvement Club entertained visitors from an array of locations, including London, England. Vendors, associations, clubs and others manned booths as fundraiser activities and for the edification of those interested.

In the middle of a northwest downpour, Gig Harbor Mayor Chuck Hunter — with a little bit of help — unveiled the latest sculpture to grace the Maritime City’s waterfront area.

The Commencement has had many lives. For 70 years, it made the waters around Washington and Alaska its home, navigated and worked by Croatian fishermen.

The smell of fresh donuts, the sounds of acoustic guitar and the sight of smiling faces highlighted the annual Fox Island Community and Recreation Association Fair last Saturday.

As we pass the intensity of the summer growing season, it doesn’t seem to be the time to think about planting vegetables again. Yet mid-July to mid-August is the time to plan a crop of vegetables that will extend the season of fresh edibles for fall harvesting.

Regular readers of this column know I like to make most everything from scratch. I blend my own seasoned salt, seasoned pepper, chili powder and other spice mixes. I grind mustard seeds to make deli-style mustard, and I grate horseradish roots to make tangy horseradish sauces.

The Community Bible Fellowship has been meeting on the Key Peninsula for 17 years, but, until now, it was a ministry without a home.

Each year, hundreds of dogs and cats are put to sleep by humane societies nationwide. Their crime? Not being able to find a home.

Peninsula High School’s Class of 1959 will hold its 50-year reunion at 5 p.m. Aug. 22 at Gig Harbor Golf Club, 6909 Artondale Drive. For more information, call 253-884-2869.

Local students named to Dean’s List at UW

I just finished reading two intriguing books and found myself seeing connections between the two. I read the first one, “Tales of a Female Nomad,” by Rita Golden Gelman after I heard the author speak at the Nichols Community Center on Fox Island.

Linda Gair was busy dressing her store window in 1950s style décor on Monday. Beginning this month, a group of downtown business owners will take a step back in time and remember the carefree era of sock hops, pony tails and roller skates.

Keeping cool during our hot summer weather — as well as keeping out of a hot kitchen — is absolutely necessary. But continuing to eat healthy during this hot summer is vitally important, too.

Having just celebrated the 233rd birthday of the United States this past Fourth of July, I was asked a question by some of my students about how many colonists lost their lives during the American Revolution.

Connor Hobby of Gig Harbor has been named to the Dean’s List at the University of Washington for the spring quarter. He is a Gig Harbor High School graduate.

A sizzling sun didn’t detract from the enjoyment that personified the third annual Beyond the Borders musical performances last Saturday at the Longbranch Improvement Club.

Ever wonder why we have predominantly evergreen forests in the Pacific Northwest? Whereas, at our same latitude in the east, New Brunswick, Canada, has mostly deciduous trees that exhibit brilliant colors in autumn.

The public is invited to an open house at the Harbor History Museum, located at 4121 Harborview Drive, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 10 to learn the benefits of the Gig Harbor community becoming a National Maritime Heritage Area.

The First Saturday Art Walk in Gig Harbor is scheduled for 1 to 5 p.m. this weekend.

On a recent visit to a California congregation of my church, I attended worship services and classes for three Sundays with Bill Chase, 64, who has Down syndrome, and his older brother, Palmer Chase.

A cooler of open samples of different flavors of hummus and pesto sauce lures tasters under a tent at the Saturday Gig Harbor Farmer’s Market. Katie Scrivner dishes out the creamy spreads and sauces on tiny crackers.

It usually starts with the notion of selling a home: All the ways to dress to impress potential buyers, paint, new carpet, etc. After all the work inside, then comes the first impression — the landscape outside. Landscaping can boost the value of a home; statistics show anywhere from 5 to 15 percent.

It’s barbecue season, and cooks are looking for something different to prepare to serve to family or friends for a cookout.

Summer, oh, glorious summer — isn’t it grand? Yes, it’s summers such as these that make up for all the gray skies, rain, wind and — well, rain — that we get each winter.

Hansons to celebrate 50th wedding anniversary

The three rules of pitching are location, location, location. The three rules of real estate are location, location, location. Words on a page only have meaning in the context (location) in which they’re written.

The Fox Island United Church of Christ will host two traditional annual events this month.

Gig Harbor High School’s Class of 1989 will hold its 20-year reunion at 7 p.m. July 25 at the Tacoma Yacht Club.