Features | Key Peninsula News

Remembered History: ‘Let Us Now Praise Famous Men’

It seems an appropriate season to revisit the work of an author who wanted nothing but that his readers recognize the unexpected grace in people unlike themselves and offer them an unfamiliar mercy. more

Ted Olinger, KP News | 10/29/20

About the Title

The title comes from Ecclesiasticus 44:1 in the Old Testament, part of the Apocrypha or “Books which are not regarded as equal to the holy scriptures, and yet are profitable and good to … more

10/29/20

The Hummingbird Cake

I am rather new to the wonderful hummingbird cake, first created in Jamaica, where it was originally called the Doctor Bird cake (named after the island’s national bird). more

Barbara Van Bogart | 10/29/20

When the Silver Salmon Return

Last month the silver salmon came to Glen Cove. Each year their arrival roughly coincides with the first great rainfalls of autumn, when the Pacific Ocean reminds us of its presence by sending us waves of wind and fog and darkness — and salmon. more

Chris Rurik, KP News | 10/29/20

A Votes for Women pennant was carried by Dr. Cora Smith Eaton, a member of the Mountaineers Club to the summit of Mt. Rainier, fastened to the staff of the Alaskan-Yukon Pacific exposition flag. The flags were planted in the highest snows on top of Columbia Crest, a white dome that rises above the mountain's crater.

Women Who Dared: A Celebration of Suffrage History and Local Pioneer Women

The year 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th amendment, a change to the Constitution of the United States recognizing and proclaiming the right to vote for women. It is … more

Anna Brones, Special to KP News | 10/1/20

Kolby Asbra — Ultimate Kid Whisperer

A descendant of old timers Art and Hazel Fenton, who purchased 240 acres in the Minter area in 1939, Kolby Asbra has deep roots on the Key Peninsula. more

Krisa Bruemmer, KP News | 10/1/20

Local Teacher Publishes First Novel

Key Peninsula writer and teacher Alice Kinerk has self-published her first full-length novel. “The Octopus Under the Bridge” follows the adventures of Jay, a 14-year-old who lives in a … more

Matthew Dean, KP News | 10/1/20

Caramel Apples

One of the joys of my childhood was caramel apples — the sticky sweet caramel balanced by a crisp and juicy apple. Preceded in history by the bright red cinnamon-flavored candied apple, … more

Tim Heitzman, KP News | 10/1/20

McMicken Island marine state park is a favorite destination for area boaters.

The Story of McMicken Island

McMicken Island, a few hundred feet from Harstine Island to the west of the Key Peninsula, is a favorite destination for area boaters and kayakers. One of about 40 marine state parks in Washington, … more

Joseph Pentheroudakis, KP News | 10/1/20

‘The Proud Tower’ as Distant Mirror

“The Proud Tower: A Portrait of the World Before the War, 1890-1914” was a bestseller when it was published by historian Barbara Tuchman in 1966. Drawn from a collection of lengthy essays … more

Ted Olinger, KP News | 10/1/20

Vaughn Elementary Welcomes New Principal

Vaughn Elementary School has a new principal, Abbie Barabe (pronounced “bear-a-bee”), with an extensive background in the field of elementary education. After earning her … more

Krisa Bruemmer, KP News | 8/27/20

Dolphin Pays a Rare Visit to the KP

A dolphin has been putting on a show around the southern tip of the Key Peninsula. “The acrobatics I witnessed were incredible and unlike anything else outside of Sea World,” said … more

Chris Rurik, KP News | 8/27/20

Pickles, from Sour to Sweet

My mother-in-law Edna was a wonderful cook, reigning supreme in the kitchen. She excelled at making pickles (and pies, but that’s for another column at another time). Her recipes, handed down … more

Barbara Van Bogart | 8/27/20

a bright psychedelic tie dye background with a retro look

The Vibrant Resurgence of Tie-Dye

For some, tie-dye never died. It flowed on through the decades after Woodstock as an everlasting symbol of counterculture, peace and love, and the backdrop for the Grateful Dead Bears. Vivid, … more

Krisa Bruemmer, KP News | 8/27/20

How to Tie-Dye a Shirt

Supplies: All-purpose dye Plastic squirt bottles Rubber bands Plastic gloves Plastic bags or plastic wrap 1. Select your workspace: Tie-dye can get messy, so working … more

Krisa Bruemmer, KP News | 8/27/20

The Bat’s Superpowers and COVID-19

Been thinking about bats. I’ve been going out on the beach after dusk to spend time with them. As a kid, I threw rocks and watched them pick up my projectiles with their echolocation. They … more

Chris Rurik, KP News | 8/6/20

Theresa Gano delivers smiles along with the daily mail.

Neither Snow, Rain, Heat nor Pandemic

Theresa Gano has been a rural mail carrier on the Key Peninsula for 23 years. What started out as a part-time job while tutoring students and raising her three daughters developed into a lifelong … more

Megan Schowalter, KP News | 8/6/20

What’s Your Favorite Comfort Food?

When feeling stressed, as a lot of us are these days, many turn to favorite comfort foods, like grilled cheese and tomato soup, mashed potatoes and gravy, fried chicken. Mine is macaroni and cheese, … more

Kace Ugles | 7/30/20

America’s first lady of letters, Toni Morrison, died at 88 in August 2019.

'Beloved': An American Classic Whose Time Has Come Again

Sometime in 1987, I think, I accidentally got to hear Toni Morrison read at a private gathering. I was a neophyte assistant at a large publisher in New York City. A sympathetic editor had offered … more

Ted Olinger, KP News | 7/30/20

Blooming Foxglove catches light along the forest edge.

Toxic Plants in the Garden and Beyond

The list of plants that can harm you, your child or your pet is enough to strike terror into any heart. Hemlock was famously used to execute Socrates. Deadly nightshade, mistaken for edible berries, … more

Sara Thompson, KP News | 7/30/20