TIS
~ the ~
SEASON YOUR LOCAL HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE
2014 A SUPPLEMENT OF THE BREMERTON PATRIOT AND CENTR AL KITSAP REPORTER
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Tis the Season
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16th Annual
Silverdale and Bremerton are “happening” this holiday season
2014
BY LESLIE KELLY lkelly@soundpublishing.com There’s plenty of holiday happenings in Central Kitsap and Bremerton this year.
SILVERDALE
“Sleigh Bells Ring Port Orchard Glistening”
Saturday, December 6, 2014 11:00 am - 7:30 pm
Once you’ve put away that turkey and wrapped up the leftovers, head out to Silverdale’s 60th annual Christmas Tree Lighting event the day after Thanksgiving. On Nov. 29 from 1-4 p.m., the Silverdale Library will host a holiday card-making event at the library, 3450 N.W. Carlton St., in Old Town Silverdale. There will be tractor hayrides through Old Town from 2-4 p.m., starting at the Oxford Suites, 9550 Silverdale Way N.W. Stop by Lisa Stirrett’s House of Glass, 9536 Silverdale Way N.W., and decorate some cookies. And don’t forget to take some “selfies” with area mascots who will be in Old Town.
From Dec. 12-23, hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. On Dec. 24, he’ll be there 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The mall will open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving and will be open through 10 p.m. on Black Friday.
Carolers also will sing in and about from 4-5 p.m.
IN BREMERTON
City Hall & Downtown Port Orchard
Santa will arrive on a Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue fire engine at 5:50 p.m. and help light the tree at 6 p.m. Santa will be around to talk with the kids and for photographs following that.
Presented by the City of Port Orchard and these generous sponsors: Kitsap Bank, our presenting sponsor. Arthritis Foundation - Pacific NW Chapter, Brad Paige - Caseco, Calvary Church, Dance Gallery, Del’s Feed & Farm Supply, Dennis Simpson as Santa, Dragonfly Cinema, Fathoms O’ Fun, Heritage Foursquare Church, Jones Tree Farm, Knights of Pythias, Olympic Peninsula Antique Tractor Club, Port of Bremerton - Port Orchard Marina, POBSA, Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce, Port Orchard Independent, Port Orchard Library, Sidney Museum, Sinclair Inlet Yacht Club & Wave Broadband
Santa arrived at the mall on Nov. 15 and, through Dec. 24, he’ll be there for photos in Center Court. From now to Dec. 11, hours are Mondays through Saturdays, noon to 8 p.m., Sundays noon to 6 p.m.
On Dec. 6 in the North Court, a special Cookies with Claus event is planned. From 10-11 a.m. join in for dancing, sing-alongs, crafts and more with DJ Scott. The event is free, but bring packaged cookies to benefit the Central Kitsap Food Bank.
Featuring the 4th Annual 5K Jingle Bell Run/Walk
A Christmas Story Movie @ Dragonfly Theater Bushwick Book Club Musical Group perform music inspired by A Christmas Carol at the Library Pooch & Purr on Parade Costume Contest Kitsap Community Chorale performs East Port Orchard Elementary EPOpians perform Christmas Lane Decorated Boat Contest Christmas Tree Lighting & Clock Tower Chimes Arrival of Santa Claus on Fire Truck South Kitsap High School Marching Band Free Hayrides, Crafts & Refreshments
From now to Dec. 14, there will be Giving Trees in the North Court. Grab a tag, purchase that item and then bring it back and put it under the tree with the tag. Donations benefit the Salvation Army, Toys For Tots and Bay Vista Commons Senior Center.
From 4-6 p.m. in the parking lot outside Silverdale Antiques, there’ll be free cookies, hot cider and hot chocolate. There’ll be face-painting, clowns with balloons and toys for kids to build at a booth sponsored by Lowe’s.
At 5 p.m., the tree-lighting ceremony will begin with a welcome from the Silverdale Chamber. Students from Brownsville, Emerald Heights, and Hawk Elementary schools will sing.
Celebrate the season! Please join us for FREE, family-fun events:
events planned for the holiday season.
Those who come out are asked to bring food items for the Central Kitsap Food Bank and toys for the Toys For Tots campaign. Items will be collected at the John L. Scott Silverdale office at 8382 Silverdale Way N.W. Since 1954, a very tall Christmas tree has illuminated the skies for the holidays in Silverdale, thanks to a coordinated effort of dedicated community volunteers, Silverdale Rotary, Silverdale Dandy Lions, and Kiwanis. Brothers Rich and Roland Arper have continued the tradition of their father — legendary Silverdale Rotarian Bob Arper — and are the major force behind the project. The tree is now 128 feet tall. On Oct. 12, a work party cleaned up the blackberries around the tree, spread mulch, and lowered half of the 12 light strings for maintenance, changing out bulbs and fixing the wiring. Several Silverdale Rotarians participated. Silverdale Rotary Club has provided the funds for light bulb replacements since 1955.
AT THE KITSAP MALL Also in Silverdale, the Kitsap Mall has many
The Downtown Bremerton Association’s Winterfest is set for Dec. 5 from 5-8 p.m., during the First Friday Art Walk. Downtown shops will be open for business and there will be festive displays in all windows. Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent will be on hand as the holiday tree is lighted and Santa arrives. The tree is located by the Navy Museum at Harborside. Additionally, at the marina many boats will also be lighted for the holidays. All this is planned to happen at 5:30 p.m. From 6-7 p.m., have your picture taken with Santa at the Kitsap Historical Museum. Photos are by Hudson Photography. Stop by the Evergreen Children’s Theatre and Aurora Valentinetti Puppet Museum at 257 Fourth St. to see exhibits and enjoy refreshments. The Bremerton High School marching band will perform. The Sweet Adelines will sing holiday tunes. Other choirs will be performing too. Don’t be surprised to see a horse-drawn carriage happen by on Pacific Avenue, offering rides for the young and the young-at-heart.
IN MANETTE Across the water in Manette, Winterfest’s “Magic in Manette” will take place from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 5. Santa will arrive via a Bremerton fire truck and kids can have their photos taken with Santa at Aubin Ahrens Photography Studio. Photos are free, but bring a donation for Bremerton Foodline
Tis the Season
2014
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“A CHRISTMAS CAROL”
or the Kitsap Rescue Mission. The Disney ice princesses will be out to greet children. And Violet, the Kitsap Regional Library bookmobile, will be parked in the area.
“A Christmas Carol, The Musical,” will be presented this holiday season by the Central Stage Theatre of County Kitsap (CSTOCK.)
There will be music and carolers walking about Manette. The streets in the business district will be closed to vehicle traffic. At 7 p.m., the holiday tree at 11th Street and Scott Avenue will be lighted. A scavenger hunt is also planned and there will be cookies for all.
Opening night is Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m., with additional performances on Nov. 29-30, and Dec. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21. Sunday performances are at 3 p.m. Performances are at CSTOCK’s home theater in Silverdale on the Central Kitsap Community Campus, 9729 Silverdale Way N.W.
OTHER EVENTS ARTS AND CRAFTS If you are looking for something holiday-ish to do this weekend, start your holiday shopping early at the Olympic Peninsula’s 27th annual Holiday Gift and Food Fair, Nov. 21-23, at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds in Bremerton. The show is the largest handcrafted and fine arts fair on the Olympic Peninsula “under one roof.” It features handcrafted products by professional artists with more than 175 booths for holiday shopping. Show hours are Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is ample free parking available for all customers. Some of the products being sold are woodworking, paintings, photographs, decorative Christmas items, pottery, handmade jewelry, clothing, birdhouses, handbags, food items, metal works, candies, smoked salmon, fused glass, and much more. Food items are available for lunch, snacks, and dinner including pulled pork, Thai food, Mexican food, kettle corn, fudge, Bavarian brats, espresso, and more.
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Santa will arrive by fire engine in Silverdale, Bremerton and Manette this holiday season. Photos will be available with Santa at all locations. File photo
“THE NUTCRACKER” Be sure to take some time to enjoy “The Nutcracker,” a holiday tradition by Peninsula Dance Theatre. Peninsula Dance Theatre’s Nutcracker is the longest-running Nutcracker in Kitsap County and the only Nutcracker in the county that can be seen with live orchestra. The Peninsula Ballet Orchestra, conducted by Alan Futterman, will accompany the production at the Bremerton High School Performing Arts Center.
General admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors age 62 or older, $4 for teens. Children younger than 12 get in free.
New choreography will be presented for the Snow Kingdom. Choreographer Nicole Cisler and assistant director Mallory Morrison created a scene that to highlight the dancers’ abilities and artistry, while embracing and displaying the dynamics that Tchaikovsky’s music score holds.
Bring a new toy for Toys For Tots and get in free. Bring a can of food for $1 off admission.
Performances are Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m.; and Dec. 7 at 3 p.m., with a special Nutcracker Tea at 1 p.m.
Each year customers, donate approximately two pick-up trucks full of food and two truckloads of toys for the local community. Receive a discount coupon at www.holidaygiftfair.com.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.peninsuladancetheatre. org, or in person at Bremerton Dance Center, 515 Chester Ave., Bremerton. For more information call 360-377-6214.
This inspiring, original adaptation of Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic is a joyous celebration of the season with holiday carols and surprising time-bending classics. “A Christmas Carol, The Musical” is brilliantly re-told in song. Broadway heavy hitters Alan Menken (of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid” ) along with Lynn Ahrens (of “Ragtime” and “Seussical”) brought new life to this classic tale. Ticket range from $8 to $15. Family passes can be purchased at the door. Show information is available online at www.cstock.org/ shows/a-christmas-carol-2014/.
OLD MILL TOWN CHRISTMAS One of the area’s special holiday happenings is the Old Mill Town Christmas, celebrated each December at the historic Seabeck Conference Center in Seabeck. This year’s event will be on Dec. 14, beginning at 4 p.m. Enjoy Christmas as it would have been enjoyed in the mid-1800s, when Seabeck was a logging town. There will be pioneer music and dancing, hayrides, caroling, and gift baskets to bid on. Enjoy chestnuts roasted on an open fire. Have some hot cocoa. And around 5 p.m.,everyone will sit down to an old-fashioned family dinner and, following, a program will be given about life at the time the mill town was founded. Tickets are $30 for adults, and $15 for children ages 4-12. For more information, call 360-479-6226. Tickets are available at the Kitsap Historical Museum at 280 Fourth St., in Bremerton.
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Tis the Season
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Page 4
2014
Local shops offer unique gifts for all
BY SERAINE PAGE AND LESLIE KELLY lkelly@soundpublishing.com Don’t be the lame gift giver who dashes out at the last minute to buy a gift card for purchases at a big-box retailer. Instead, try planning ahead and keep dollars here by shopping local. The receiver of your gift and the shop owner will thank you for being so thoughtful. Here’s a roundup of local stores offering items that likely won’t be found elsewhere. Take your list and check it twice, there’s gifts for all those you know, both naughty and nice.
FOR THE EARTH LOVER Stop in at F.R.O.G. Soap to pick up yummy smelling soaps for anyone on your gift list. F.R.O.G. stands for From Reclaimed Oil and Glycerin, and shop owner Laura Kneib is happy to tell you about her environmentally-friendly process of making soap. Most everything in her shop has been recycled in some manner, and she even packages her items from recycled materials. Last year, Kneib sold hundreds of her soap wrapped in a washcloth to look like a reindeer, priced at $9.95. With a red pom pom nose and wiggly eyes, the reindeers are a good go-to gift. “They’re chipper,” she said. For those who can’t choose just one or two scents, Kneib can make customizable baskets depending on what a customer wants. With a price in mind, she can help a customer pick out items based on their budget. She’s got most every scent anyone can think of and welcomes folks to sniff away. Peppermint soap tends to be a favorite around the holidays, Kneib said. This year she’ll have green soap in the shape of a Christmas tree to add a special touch to baskets. And if feeling brave enough, check out her daily special which may require singing a favorite show tune to get 20 percent off a purchase.
Visit F.R.O.G. Soap at 530 Fifth Street in Bremerton. Call 360-3370934 for more information.
always, she will offer customers who walk through her doors tea and coffee. The opportunity to peruse without pressure is the main goal, and if it takes some time for someone to make their way through her shop, she understands.
FOR THE HOMEBODY
“I want them to explore the experience,” she said. “It’s just a really pleasing atmosphere to take in.”
If there’s someone on your list who loves all things home decor, Real Deals is the place to go. Owner Vicki McRoberts welcomes guests at the front door with a smile and her expertise as a “retail therapist.”
Visit Real Deals Thursday through Saturday only at 5960 State Highway 303 N.E., Suite 160 in Bremerton. Call 360-479-3325 for more information.
While customers may be afraid to touch the delicate displays, McRoberts encourages them to ask her for assistance. If someone you know has a blank wall that needs to be filled, McRoberts has a variety of special decor to fill the spot. Clueless husbands may get some assistance this holiday season after a girls’ night out event will allow wives to tag favorite items at her location.
FOR THE CLASSY AND SASSY Anyone who enters Elizabeth’s House of Wax will be entertained by the atmosphere provided by owner Elizabeth Brooling. As a longtime local business owner, she’s excited to see customers at any time, but especially during the holidays.
This Christmas she anticipates she’ll sell a lot of clocks since she has all shapes and sizes.
“Truly, I’m able to have the advantage of saying what other people are thinking in their workplace and putting up what I think I would buy,” she said. “I think the holidays are a time of relationships and to touch base with your family and giving the unexpected.”
“I just love clocks, so I’ll have lots of different, unique clocks in here,” she said. “We have a clock in each display in some way, shape or form.” Clocks range in price from $10.99 to $150, depending on the size and extravagance. She has bedside clocks and huge wall clocks that take up a good chunk of space in a room.
While gift certificates are certainly available for waxing services, Brooling’s small office foyer provides an intimate shopping experience for buying unexpected and unique items.
Mirrors are another hot item she believes will sell quickly because of how much ambiance one can add to a room. During the holidays, a perfectly placed mirror above a mantle can be surrounded by fresh garland or other decorations. “To have a unique mirror reflects so much character if put in the right place,” she said.
Brooling offers Miche line products, which are customizable purses that have “shells” that can be changed daily. The handles, rings and color are all interchangeable, offering a new look each day. Those who own Miche bags can replace worn rings and handles and choose from a selection Brooling has in stock.
Real Deals mirrors range from $25 to $200 and come in all shapes, sizes and weights.
“It is good quality,” she said of the bags, which range from $60 to $80. “People like to change their purse shell all the time.”
McRoberts plans to host a shopping event Dec. 11-13, and as
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This page: Snowmen mugs with homemade cocoa mix and marshmallows, rich seasonal scented candles and an assortment of sea shells are among local gifts that are available for holiday gift-giving. Previous page: Lisa Stirrett shows a fish-shaped glass tray she designed in her shop. The tray is a part of a gift package available at her glass art studio in Silverdale. An assortment of mirrors make nice gifts for the home. They are available at Real Deals in Bremerton. Staff photos
or in a cute little wicker basket. All these things are available at the Mercantile and will allow you to use your creative skills to make a one-of-a-kind gift. The store has a number of more upscale unique pendants to choose from for that special woman. Made from old pieces of hardware and strung together with assorted colorful jewels and vintage brass, these pendants range from $45 to $75. Of course, there’s upcycled vintage furniture, hand-painted wood signs, handcrafted soap, and even cowboy boots. And on Sundays in December, there’s a flea market in the building behind the store from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check out the booths filled with great antiques, collectables and vintage clothing. list from their loved ones listing all the Miche items they want, Brooling said.
staple of the Pacific Northwest along with her art, making it an easy gift to pick up.
Looking for a unique gift that will get some laughs — and, likely, guaranteed use? Brooling carries Poo-Pourri, an item that most may consider a gag gift. Starting at $10 and up, Poo-Pourri is for avid bathroom users. Other than her main waxing services, Brooling’s Poo-Pourri display items are a big seller.
“I think we’re all so busy, that’s why it’s so hard to find something meaningful,” she said. “It’s nice you can get it and go if it’s nice and wrapped and looking beautiful.”
“They’re great stocking stuffers,” she said. “Royal Flush is probably the most popular (scent).”
Stirrett’s studio will be open on Black Friday at 8 a.m. with “misfit” items offered at a fraction of the regular price. Last year, customers were lined up outside her door standing in line covered in blankets, she said.
Visit Elizabeth’s House of Wax at 9020 Washington Ave. N.W. in Silverdale. Call 360-620-0697 for more information.
“Before I had a business, I didn’t understand how small businesses gave back to the community,” she said. “It’s really important to stay local and keep our businesses alive.”
FOR THE ART LOVER
Visit Lisa Stirrett Class Art Studio at 9536 N.W. Silverdale Way in Silverdale. Call 360-631-5472 for more information.
Shoppers who love art and know other art lovers will want to stop at Lisa Stirrett Glass Art Studio, the only studio of its kind on the peninsula. Her art form is focused on glass creations of varying items, including tea light candle holders to home decor pieces. This year, for the first time ever, she invites the public to utilize her studio’s new “play area” to create glass art gifts. Those who have taken a class with Stirrett before can stop in on Wednesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays to create gifts for themselves or others for the holidays. Gift options vary in price for various projects including tea light holders and ornaments. “There’s so much you can do with the glass, it’s mind-boggling,” she said. “I’ve always made homemade gifts. We can go to the store any day of the week. When it’s something that’s one-of-a-kind, that’s pretty special.” Customers looking for a quick grab-and-go gift may opt for Stirrett’s salmon gift set that includes a box of smoked salmon, a handcrafted glass serving tray, knife and ornament for $125. It offers a food
ALL ABOUT VINTAGE AND UPCYCLING Anyone who wants to make a connection to the past, or give a gift that may have formerly been something else, needs to take a look at the Uptown Mercantile & Marketplace. Amber Breske, owner of the Uptown Mercantile & Marketplace, has a store filled with great gifts for anyone on your list. For the “12th woman,” there are cute handmade Seahawks logo necklaces for $28. The logos appear behind glass in small squares and are hung from silver chains. For those who like candles, try a sweet potato pie candle, ranging in size and price from $7 to $12. Or there’s plum, birch, vanilla oak, and a host of other inviting scents. Maybe you’ve got someone who loves the sea on your list. Select an assortment of seashells and place them in an old Ball canning jar
Kitsap County’s Traditional
Nutcracker Nutcracker
You’ll find it all at 816 Pacific Ave., Bremerton. Call 360-801-0361 for more information.
SATISFY A SWEET TOOTH The holidays would not be the holidays without a sweet treat. At Amy’s Decadent Chocolates, the options are plenty. For the chocolate lover, there’s a variety of assorted flavors of homemade fudge, including milk chocolate, peanut butter and dark chocolate with walnuts. Fudge comes in varying amounts, and most are $7.50 to $9.50 for eight ounces. If you’re looking for something a bit different, why not try a pumpkin spice caramel apple? It’s sure to please the young and the young at heart. They are $8. Another unusual item at Amy’s are the 3-ounce bags of dark chocolate-covered potato chips for $4.75 a bag. Or, how about some cranberry milk chocolate bark at $6.75 for 4-ounce bags? It’s sure to go with any holiday spread at any gathering and makes a nice hostess gift too. Traditional candies include peanut brittle, Cherry Cordials and almond or macadamia toffee. Those range from $5 to $14. A nice gift for the teacher is the hot cocoa mix in a kit. The decorative gift includes a large snowman mug, the mix, and Amy’s fresh-made marshmallows. It costs $15. But if you can’t decide, there’s alway a gift certificate. Amy’s has those too. Take a look around the shop in the Charleston Center, 2801 Sixth St., in Bremerton, or call 360-377-2252. Amy Jablonski’s chocolates are handmade on site from family recipes and can be shipped to loved ones just about anywhere. For a full menu, go to www.amysdecadentchocolates.com.
Happy Holidays from your locally owned furniture store.
Peninsula Dance Theatre Accompanied by
Peninsula Ballet Orchestra
Bremerton High School Performing Arts Center Nutcracker Tea, Sunday 1pm
Lawan Morrison, Artistic Director
Alan Futterman, Conductor
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Tis the Season
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Five holiday baking tips from a pro
2014
BY SERAINE PAGE It’s time to break out the cookie cutters and rolling pins. While the task of holiday baking and cookie decorating may seem daunting, if done in the right setting with the right preparation, your cookies will likely come out with that extra dose of sweetness. Daleen Grimes, the owner of Sugar Studios, a specialty cookie shop in Old Town Silverdale, bakes huge batches of goodies every week. She loves being creative in the kitchen so much that she estimates she owns at least 350 cookie cutters.
sure to clean your kitchen prior to baking, pulling all necessary tools — bowls, spatulas, decorating tips and the like — out before starting. Bakers don’t need to disrupt the flow of production by searching cupboards with sticky fingers halfway through creating. “Be organized, neat and clean. Use the right tools for the job,” Grimes emphasizes.
DETAILS DO COUNT
Here, she offers her expert tips to getting the perfect cookie every time from snickerdoodles to basic sugar cookies.
One of the most important parts of baking comes down to planning ahead. That means having enough timers and improvising while baking. “It’s in the details,” Grimes says. “Don’t overbake. Cut your cookies thicker than you would think. Watch the timer. Be a slave to the timer.”
USE REAL INGREDIENTS
HOMEMADE IS BEST
Don’t pass on quality items, Grimes advises. When possible, use the freshest ingredients possible to have the most delicious cookies or baked goods. It’s the ingredients that will make or break taste when it comes down to it. “Do use real butter, real vanilla and fresh eggs,” she says. “If you can get them from the farmers market, do it.”
Since you’re baking goodies from scratch anyway, why not add a little extra step and create your own icing too? While the store-bought stuff is quick and easy, the flavors aren’t as tasty as some good ol’ homemade icing. “Real icing is so easy,” Grimes says. The secret to making it is meringue powder that isn’t over whipped, she says. She sells it to bakers who may not know where else to find it during the holidays when baking shelves empty quickly.
“It’s labor intensive. It’s fun,” she says. “Decorating cookies is easy.”
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To keep the momentum going, even several batches in, Grimes advises holiday bakers to turn on some good tunes.
And when you can’t bear to look at one more cup of sugar or ounce of food coloring, just try to remember why you turned the oven on to 375 degrees in the first place. When a relative takes that first bite into a cookie or baked goody you made, just enjoy the look on their face as they eat your savory treat.
“I do adore Pandora,” she says. In her shop, she changes the music to match the mood of the shop or customers stopping in. She even has a special selection for the kiddos who come bounding through her doors for their sugar fix. “We do sing-a-longs,” she says. Whether you prefer classic Frank Sinatra Christmas music or a pop remix, turn up the radio and enjoy the memories being created in the kitchen.
“I feel like it’s giving love back to your family, back to your community,” Grimes says. “It’s the old adage: when family gathers, food is present. It is an easy thing to consume — the whole grab and go. It’s a special gift when presented.”
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Tis the Season
2014
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Page 7
Brothers’ work helps keep Silverdale’s Christmas tree aglow
Santa will be back again this year to greet children in Silverdale — on Nov. 29 when the holiday tree will be lighted. There will be wagon rides and events for children at the Silverdale Library, as depicted here in 2013. File photos
BY CHRIS TUCKER ctucker@centralkitsapreporter.com What’s blue, green, yellow, red and 131 feet tall? It’s Silverdale’s Christmas tree, and brothers Rich and Roland Arper are two of the many folks who work to keep its colors shining bright. “We’ve worked on it, oh golly, I’m guessing 20 to 25 years,” said Roland, 59, a member of the Silverdale Dandy Lions Club. Rich, 66, is a member of Silverdale Rotary. The Arper brothers are carrying on a tradition put in place by their father, Bob, who was a Silverdale Rotarian, and Rotarian Hank Mann and Lions Club member Bill Seelow. The tree was first lighted in 1954, Rich said. “I was probably there then, but I don’t remember it,” he said. Rich recalled Seelow and Mann working on the tree until about 2006, when they both became ill. “For years, those two guys did basically almost everything,” Rich said. But when they were no longer able, everyone else had to step in and figure out how Seelow and Mann had done their work, Rich said. Keeping the tree illuminated is a team effort. About a dozen members from the Lions, Kiwanis and Rotary clubs work to repair the lights in September and October. They take down the lines, tape wires, and replace light bulbs and sockets. This year, they took down five lines of lights from the front for inspection, Roland said. “They (the lights) stay up all year,” Roland said. Additionally, Roland said a crew of six to eight kids from the Kitsap County Juvenile Detention Facility work to clear brush from the area.
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Roland said the bulbs are 25-watt incandescents, “Just like the lightbulbs you’d put in a lamp in your house.” The tree had 12 strings of light. Each string had 34 bulbs for a total of about 288 lights. It also has a star at the top.
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“Some years, we’ve got to take the star down,” Rich said, which is more difficult than the rest of the lights due to the weight and size of the star. Two different types of LED lights have been explored as replacements for the incandescent lights. “The challenge we have is if we go to LED, the electrician tells us they’re actually a heavier bulb. The wiring won’t support the heavier bulb,” Roland said. That would mean completely rewiring the tree in order to support the extra weight. The wiring would be handmade, in lengths of 140 feet. One issue with commercially available LED lights, Roland said, was whether they would be bright enough to see from a distance. The cost of the LED bulbs, which Roland said was $4 per bulb, is also a factor. “We put some in several years ago and they weren’t very bright at all. And they were quite small. We got a new one this year that’s a full-size bulb but it seems like it is heavy because the base of an LED has some kind of electronics in it,” Rich said. This year marks the 60th year of the tree-lighting ceremony, on Nov. 29. Families can watch the holiday season start when Santa arrives to turn the lights on. Activities will start at 1 p.m. and conclude at 6 p.m.
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