Charlee Glock-Jackson

Freelance writer Charlee Glock-Jackson was the primary reporter for the weekly Gig Harbor Life until it folded in 2018. She is the founder of the Olalla Bluegrass & Beyond Festival and the caretaker of an enchanted Olalla forest that's been in her family nearly 70 years.

Former mayor Chuck Hunter left highly visible legacy on city

Jan 23, 2023

Chuck Hunter’s legacy from his tenure as mayor of Gig Harbor is visible just about everywhere one looks in the city. His term in office, from 2006 to 2014, saw the opening of St. Anthony Hospital (2009), the Tom Taylor Family YMCA (2007), and the Uptown Gig Harbor shopping complex (2008). The city acquired the

Julie Martin settles in to her post on city council

Jan 19, 2023

Julie Martin, newly appointed to the Gig Harbor City Council, isn’t fazed by having to dive into big issues her first day on the job. She has an extensive background — more than 35 years — much of it in the public sector. Martin was appointed to the council to fill the seat vacated when

Harbor Happenings: Final weekend for ‘Puffs’ at PHS

Jan 17, 2023

There are plenty of opportunities to have some fun this week as we ring in the Year of the Rabbit on the Lunar New Year, Sunday, Jan. 22. Peninsula High School’s production of “Puffs, Or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years At A Certain School of Magic & Magic” wraps up its two-week run with performances Jan.

Council appoints Julie Martin to vacant position

Jan 12, 2023

The Gig Harbor City Council on Monday appointed Julie Martin to a vacant council position. Martin retired late last year from the Washington state Department of Corrections, where her recent positions included deputy secretary and chief of staff. Before that, she was sales director for Northstar Lottery in Chicago and deputy director of the Washington

Harbor Happenings: City celebrates North Creek property purchase

Jan 11, 2023

This week’s calendar has plenty of opportunities to enjoy music, movies and even a dedication ceremony at Gig Harbor’s newest “park.” The city of Gig Harbor will host an “un-groundbreaking” ceremony at the North Creek Salmon Heritage Site near Donkey Creek Park at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14. The ceremony celebrates acquisition of 5.15 acres

Harbor Happenings: Live music returns to BoatShop

Jan 03, 2023

Good news, music lovers. Live music returns to the BoatShop this Saturday, Jan. 7, with a performance by multi-talented John Nilsen in an all-ages-welcome show. Nilsen is a piano- and guitar-playing singer-songwriter with whose repertoire includes classical, folk and jazz music. He began studying piano at age 6 and taught himself to play guitar at

Harbor Happenings: Olalla’s Polar Bear jump

Dec 28, 2022

While some folks will start the New Year with a cup of strong coffee and a football game, dozens of intrepid souls will gather to jump from the Olalla Creek bridge into the icy waters below. They call themselves “Polar Bears.” It’s a decades-long tradition New Year’s Day tradition. Although the origins of the Polar

Movie scene displays frame a festive downtown holiday season

Dec 23, 2022

Those little movie scenes that popped up along the waterfront earlier this month? They began back in October as an idea to bring some joy to downtown businesses still reeling from the double-whammy of COVID and a Harborview Drive roundabout project that seemed to go on forever. The movie scene idea blossomed into the life-size

Harbor Happenings: Winter Make Music Day

Dec 20, 2022

Even as other holiday events are winding down, musicians all across the land are tuning up to celebrate the winter solstice with Make Music Day. In Gig Harbor, Make Music Day is Wednesday, Dec. 21, in Uptown. It includes all-join-in activities at the Pavilion and live bands performing in two restaurants. Drop by the Pavilion

Gig Harbor is second city to recognize rights of Southern Resident orcas

Dec 16, 2022

Gig Harbor became the second Washington city to recognize the rights of the Southern Resident orcas when Mayor Tracie Markley read a proclamation at Monday’s city council meeting. The local recognition, suggested by Councilmember Jeni Woock, comes a week after a similar move by Port Townsend in Jefferson County. The proclamation recognizes that Southern Residents