KEY PENINSULA COMMUNITY COUNCIL

We serve the community through programs, sponsorships and partnerships,

Improving the quality of life on the Key Peninsula

Key Peninsula
Community Council
(KPC)

2020 Annual Key Peninsula Candidates Forum Event
Some changes this year for the annual event. The Candidates Forum Committee has been working hard to learn how to successfully host webinars on Zoom.
Zoom is an online platform that will allow each of you to tune in to hear your local, county and state level area representatives answer your questions.

More info to come......stay tuned!
This event is made possible by the collaborative efforts of :
Key Peninsula Community Council, Key Peninsula Newspaper, Key Peninsula Civic Center Assn, Key Peninsula Business Association and the event will be live broadcast thanks to KGHP FM Radio.





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Due to COVID-19 restrictions:
Under WA State Governor Inslee's Stay in Place Order,

The Key Peninsula Community Office is now open 10-2 Mon-Fri MASKS ARE REQUIRED! SOCIAL DISTANCING IS REQUIRED!

We will continue to follow Tacoma Pierce Co. Health Dept. recommendations to keep each other safe

Tacoma Pierce Co. Health Dept Office Services on the Key are temporarily suspended. Come into the Key Center office and do a face to face "virtual visit" with Health Dept. staff. Or call 253 432 4948 for questions
Some Health Department services are available online:
visit http://www.TPCHD.org

Safe Streets in-person visits on the Key are on hold until further notice
http://www.Safest.org or call 253 432 4948 to leave a message

Pierce Co. Council District #7 in person Key Center office hours are on hold until further notice visit call:
Ph: 253-798-6654
Fax: 253-798-7509
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Key Peninsula Events affected by Covid-19
LIC Annual "Memorial Day Dance" Cancelled
KP Civic Center "Comedy Fundraiser" Cancelled
Key Pen Parks "4th of July Hot Dog" Event Cancelled
Annual Two Waters "Key Center Art Walk" Cancelled
Safe Streets "Night out on the Town"-Pending
KP "Logging Show" Cancelled
KP "Scarecrow Contest" NOT CANCELLED
KP "Farm Tour" Cancelled
KP "Candidates Forum" ONLINE WEBINAR format 10/13 (Stay Tuned)
Pierce "Transportation Summit" 11/5

Do you love your community?
Do you like what you see?
Do you want to get involved in our work?

Apply for a seat on the board

KPC Director Application
(This will open a new window)

KPC BROADBAND PROJECT-

Do you live or work on the Key Peninsula and experience internet connectivity issues? The Key Peninsula Community Council's GOC Committee has been working on an initiative to determine current internet capacity and working to identify which areas are the worst.

How can you help?
On October 5, watch for a Survey Monkey link and answer the survey. Afterwards, share the link with your neighbors and ask them to do the same with theirs.
Your participation matters!

Council Information

Calendar

KP Transportation

COMMUNITY COLLABORATION/JOINT EFFORTS TEAMWORK/PARTNERSHIPS/HEALTHY COMMUNITY

Many thanks to the United Way of Pierce County and the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation through Pierce County Connected funding for supporting the efforts of the Gig Harbor/Key Peninsula Suicide Prevention Coalition's work. The funds will be put to good use in support the behavioral health needs in our community. We thank you for your kindness and generosity!

LIVING WORKS TRAINING SESSIONS ARE NOW BEING OFFERED AT NO COST TO THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT WHAT TO SAY to someone thinking of committing suicide

LIVING WORKS teaches trainees to recognize when a friend or loved one is thinking about suicide, and will show how to connect that person to the help and support they need.

Suicide is preventable.

LivingWorks is a social enterprise company dedicated to teaching others what to say to HELP save lives.

Integrated training programs
for ages 15 & up
Contact 253 432 4948 for more information or to sign up for a free 1 hour training session!

Special thanks to:

Greater Tacoma Community Foundation

CHI Franciscan

United Way of Pierce County

KPC is thankful for the donations received on behalf of:

Peninsula Violence Prevention Coalition

In support of the ongoing work of the following organizations:

Bischoff Food Bank

Children's Home Society of WA

Communities in Schools of the Peninsula

Harbor Hope Center

Key Peninsula Community Council Office

Key Peninsula Community Services
Key Free Clinic/Key Medical Center
Key Peninsula Fire Dept.
Food Backpacks 4 Kids
Olalla Recovery Center The funds were funneled to a wide array of KP community organizations to bring resources to the area to help improve the quality of life for residents on Key Peninsula. Thank you!

Comments from our community partners:

"....Thank you for bringing the resources from the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation and United Way of Pierce County to the Key...."

Gina Cabiddu, Children's Home Society of WA

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".....We deeply appreciate your compassionate heart and support as we are facing an unprecedented challenge. Your gift makes such a difference......"

Daniel Johnson, Harbor Hope Center

Come and Visit the Key Peninsula

Visit our community links page to learn about the offerings from our cherished community

Have you visited the US Census website?

You truly DO count!

"The more the merrier?"

Did you know....?

The Census counts the total number of people living in a specific area and the population is the determining factor to bring more resources to the communities where people reside.

How the Census Count Benefits Communities

Supports initiatives for:
legislation
quality-of-life
consumer advocacy

creates jobs

ensures public safety

new schools

hospitals

roads

You count, be counted!

HOT TOPICs:

INTERNET on the Key Peninsula

TRANSPORTATION

Resources:

Subscribe to nearly 200 specialized email or text alerts from WSDOT to help you know before you go. Receive current traffic conditions, mountain pass reports, construction updates and more.

The Pierce County Community Plan for - The Key Peninsula

Pierce County reviewed and updated the Comprehensive Plan on June 30, 2015
The Pierce County Comprehensive Plan is an adopted policy document that guides County decisions related to growth and development in unincorporated Pierce County

Key Peninsula Community Office
9013 Key Peninsula Hwy NW Suite D
Lakebay, WA 98349
(Located in the heart of Key Center KC Corral)

253 432 4948 M-F 10-2
Email us! keypencouncil@gmail.com

2020 KPC Executive Board
President Don Swensen,
Vice President-Irene Torres
Treasurer-Robert McCrossin
Executive Secretary-Marcia Harris
Executive Liaison-Danna Webster
KPC Ofrice Manager- Lisa Larson

Covid-19 Updates
Tuesday, September 29th, 2020
These updates are a joint effort by the KP Partnership, The KP Council, and numerous other local organizations

Timely News

Census!! Tomorrow, Sept. 30th, is the last day to fill out the 2020 Census form. To fill out information for your household, or get more information, visit: https://www.piercecountywa.gov/5853/2020-Census or https://2020census.gov/en.html
You may also call and talk to a real person to answer the 10 census questions, the whole thing should take less than 10 minutes. To call in your information, dial (toll-free): (844) 330-2020
Additional phone numbers for languages other than English, visit: https://2020census.gov/en/languages.html

A reminder that certain Pierce County grant programs, such as Business Mortgage/Rent Assistance, have application deadlines of Oct. 2nd (Friday). To find out more and apply: https://www.co.pierce.wa.us/6957/Commercial-RentMortgage-Assistance-Progr

KP Business & Organization Info

In case you missed it last week, Sen. Emily Randall spoke with Gina Cabiddu from Children’s Home Society and Family Resource Center. You can find the talk here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=355869815460795&ref=watch_permalink

The Pierce County Library system has many, many resources on-line for parents, teachers, and students. To see, go to: https://www.piercecountylibrary.org/
And, Key Center Library is still doing curbside pick-up.
And, the library system has a number of resources available to those looking for work, needing certificates, or starting new businesses: https://jbc.mypcls.org/

Worth another mention:
The Longbranch Foundation has set up their web site to facilitate giving to Key Peninsula (KP) 501(c)(3) organizations. When you go to https://www.longbranchfoundation.org/ click on COVID-19 in the header and you will reach a page where there is a list of KP non-profits. You can either donate directly by going to the web site of the non-profit of your choice, or you can donate to one or more non-profits by following the instructions on the page. (Reminder: The new tax provisions permit taxpayers who don't itemize to now deduct up to $300 per year in charitable contributions.)
If we have missed a non-profit that you would like to see on the list, please send that information to hozro_99@yahoo.com.

Peninsula School District Board Meetings are available to watch (if you didn’t make last Thursday’s) at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCziGt9xSKb9BZvayuXcm15Q/videos

Links

Hurray for new baby Orcas!! Our resident J Pod has added 2 new babes this month – super important for the overall health of our Orca Population. To find out more go to: https://www.whaleresearch.com/

FAQ’s
You mentioned the Puget Sound Orcas above. What else can you tell us about the Puget Sound? The Puget Sound is an amazing body of water! There’s not a lot like it elsewhere in the world, although people often compare it to the Chesapeake Bay. It holds a lot of water. Looking at the main basin of the Puget Sound, which includes all inlets south of Whidbey Island, there is about 40 cubic miles of water. That’s a difficult number to put one’s mind around, but imagine a cube of water a mile high, by a mile deep, by a mile wide. Now imagine 40 of those. In comparison, because the Chesapeake is so shallow, it only holds about 18 cubic miles of water. According to some studies, if we could “value” the Puget Sounds natural assets like it was a business asset, it would be worth between $305 Billion and $2.6 trillion. Source for this: https://www.conservationgateway.org/Documents/Valuing%20the%20Puget%20Sound%20Basin%20v1.0.pdf For some more great Puget Sound Facts, go to: https://pugetsoundblogs.com/waterways/2017/08/21/amusing-monday-a-quiz-for-you-based-on-the-puget-sound-fact-book/
I hear the term Salish Sea often, what is the difference between the Puget Sound and Salish Sea? The term “Salish Sea” refers to ALL of the combined inland waters of the Straight of Georgia, Straight of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound, and the San Juan Islands. It includes waters on both sides of the Canadian-US border. British Columbia and Washington State agreed in late 2009 to use the name to describe these collective waters. For more on the naming and borders of the Salish Sea and Puget Sound, go to: https://www.eopugetsound.org/articles/geographic-boundaries-puget-sound-and-salish-sea#:~:text=The%20name%20Salish%20Sea%20was,the%20entire%20cross%2Dborder%20ecosystem.&text=The%20Salish%20Sea%20water%20boundary,drains%20into%20Salish%20Sea%20waters.

Covid-19 Updates
Friday, September 25th, 2020
These updates are a joint effort by the KP Partnership, The KP Council, and numerous other local organizations

Timely News

Tonight! From 6:00 to 8:00, GGHF Band Together presents RetroRockets. Stream this live event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHKPband2gether/
OR on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/ghkpbandtogether
For more info: https://www.ghkpbandtogether.org/

To put on calendar: Key Pen Parks will be holding a “All Hallows’ Eve Celebration” drive-through at Volunteer Park on Saturday, Oct 17th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. For more information go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/427296768232458/
https://www.keypenparks.com/uploads/4/5/0/8/45082793/all_hallows_2020.png

KP Business & Organization Info

Be on the lookout for a broadband survey coming out on Oct 5th. This is more than just a “Are you happy with your service” survey, this one is to map out poor service areas on the KP and see what we can do about getting better internet to those spots.

Worth another mention: The KP Candidates Forum will still be happening this year! It will be held virtually on Oct. 13th at 7:00 pm. Attendees who wish to submit questions to candidates may do so prior to the event by sending the questions to: keypencouncil@gmail.com
More event information will be available as we get closer to the date.

A bit of KP History:
A 2013 blog about a sea serpent, circa 1855: https://blogs.sos.wa.gov/fromourcorner/index.php/2013/03/sea-serpent-at-devils-head/?fbclid=IwAR0mEtOCDQnT2grm3yLWLUEZD9_umKiGP7ihNYmK4L1k43pPjOIfgRvbtOU
A 2014 TNT article about Home: https://www.thenewstribune.com/entertainment/article25869265.html?fbclid=IwAR0fx7hoIc-u8h7PapvGstthOQfHmpbWdisFBfROZlQaL1Nk4BcjKWXjlLY
And a short documentary about the same: https://www.pbs.org/video/northwest-now-home/

Links

The Greater Gig Harbor Foundation has a number of resources, including on-line technology tutorials, to access these, go to: https://gigharborfoundation.org/technology-tutorials

Forterra, a group that looks at land use, conservation, and communities, is holding a 1 day conference about the South Sound on September 29th. To find out more or register, visit: https://forterra.org/event/south-sound-2020?fbclid=IwAR1pnSJPvmzrQFinCM7Y7XRkPTZBkkEsKzGykLpFP8CAXKcTNIWKL6lRWWQ

FAQ’s
It’s the end of September and I need something funny to look at. Got anything? I do! Some of it is a little dated, like from early May and quarantine time, but worth a look! https://www.boredpanda.com/coronavirus-funny-jokes/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic And because this just about sums it up for me: