Key Peninsula News

Historic Vaughn Library Hall Damaged by Car Crash

The 1893 Vaughn Library Hall located at the corner of Hall and Van Slyke Road NW sustained substantial damage the night of Nov. 30 when a car smashed into a corner of the building. The driver fled, … more

Ted Olinger, KP News | 12/30/21

Rotary Club Dedicates Peace Pole at Evergreen Elementary

“May Peace Prevail on Earth” was the message celebrating the installation of Peace Poles at Evergreen Elementary School Dec. 10. The phrase is posted on the monument in eight different … more

Carolyn Wiley, KP News | 12/30/21

Getting ready to hike 10 miles out to Dungeness Spit to earn the Hiking Merit Badge

Local Scouts Welcome New Leadership and Rechartered Cubs

After nearly two years of challenges brought on by the pandemic, including the loss of a local program for younger Scouts, Scout Troop 220 and Cub Scout Pack 222 are back together again, meeting weekly at the Key Peninsula Civic Center … more

Krisa Bruemmer, KP News | 12/30/21

Key Center Library Welcomes Visitors

After over a year of adapting to changes brought on by the pandemic the Pierce County Library System has reopened its buildings to the public. more

Krisa Bruemmer, KP News | 12/2/21

New Leadership at Food Backpacks 4 Kids

Last spring new leadership stepped in at Food Backpacks 4 Kids. more

Sara Thompson, KP News | 12/2/21

Mustard Seed Begins Building First Home for KP Elders

After 15 years of planning, working and fundraising, The Mustard Seed Project broke ground Oct. 23 for the first assisted- living home for elders on the Key Peninsula. more

Ted Olinger, KP News | 10/28/21

KP Partnership for a Healthy Community Goes Independent

As the Key Peninsula Partnership for a Healthy Community approaches its 6-year anniversary under the leadership of executive directors Ben and Susan Paganelli, the organization has filed for its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. more

Krisa Bruemmer, KP News | 10/28/21

KP Community Council Faces Funding Crisis

For the first time since 2017 the Key Peninsula Community Council will no longer have a paid office manager and will depend on volunteers to keep the office in the Key Center Corral open. more

Sara Thompson, KP News | 10/28/21

Shabadrang (Christin) Khalsa aka Bam Bam shows off her skills.

Skate Night Ready to Roll Under New Management

Skate Night returns to the Key Peninsula Civic Center Sept. 10 with roller skate rental and concessions available from 6 to 9 p.m. There is a new Skate Night management team on board eager to get the program back up and running. more

Krisa Bruemmer, KP News | 9/1/21

More Than a Food Bank, GHP FISH Breaks Ground on New Digs

After decades of cramming food and clothing into rented spaces splitting at the seams, FISH broke ground on its own new facility at a private ceremony July 13. more

Ted Olinger, KP News | 8/28/21

County and Coalition Embrace ‘No Wrong Door’ Approach to Ending Homelessness

An RV and two custom truck trailers set up shop in the parking lot of the Key Peninsula Civic Center. It was the KP’s first visit from the New Hope Mobile Resources Response Team, a collective effort to bring services to people experiencing homelessness on the peninsula. more

Chris Rurik, KP News | 8/28/21

Hugh McMillan center, with school board directors Lori Glover, David Olson, Deborah Krishnadasan, Natalie Wimberley and Chuck West.

The Hugh McMillan Community Center is Born

In a brief private ceremony at Evergreen Elementary School, Hugh McMillan of Lakebay was honored by the Peninsula School District board of directors with the official naming of the gymnasium building as the future home of the Hugh McMillan Community Center. more

Lisa Bryan, KP News | 6/30/21

2021-22 Resource Directory

Help is here! Directory of community resources in the Key Peninsula/Gig Harbor area. Not sure where to start? Call 2-1-1 or visit wa211.org. more

6/22/21

KPHS Board of Directors with Sen. Emily Randall in 2019.

$100,000 Grant for Vaughn Library Hall Restoration

The Key Peninsula Historical Society received a substantial boost for the restoration of the 1893 Vaughn Library Hall with the award of a $100,000 grant included in the state’s 2022-23 budget. more

Joseph Pentheroudakis, KP News | 5/28/21

Flag-Flying Boy Scout Earns Eagle Scout Badge

What does it take to become an Eagle Scout? Between earning at least 21 merit badges and demonstrating scout spirit and leadership within the troop, the journey can take up to six years to … more

Kamryn Minch, KP News | 4/28/21

The load collected by “Key Pen It Clean” volunteers April 17 along 94th Avenue NW.

KP Volunteers Unite for Roadside Cleanup

A group of KP residents have organized online to deal with roadway trash on the Key Peninsula. The first “Key Pen It Clean” event was started by Sierra Fairley in mid-December 2020. … more

Matthew Dean, KP News | 4/28/21

RoxAnne Simon is Paying it Forward on the KP

RoxAnne Simon might be a relative newcomer to the Key Peninsula by the standards of some old timers, but that hasn’t stopped her from having a big impact on the community. more

Ted Olinger, KP News | 4/28/21

New cedar railing for the ADA ramp on the 100-year-old building.

KP Community Services Puts $100K County Grant to Work

The Key Peninsula Community Services building in Home is a bit of a head-turner these days. Exciting changes are in the works inside and out for the nearly 100-year-old structure, home to the former Lakebay Elementary School until the 1940s. more

Kamryn Minch, KP News | 1/27/21

CISP Site Coordinator Sammi Firman loads food at Key Peninsula Middle School.

Local Groups and Schools Respond to Pandemic

Communities in Schools of Peninsula, whose mission is to identify at-risk students and surround them with a community of support, has been serving students on the Key Peninsula and in Gig Harbor for nearly two decades. When the pandemic closed schools in March 2020, the organization had to adjust quickly. more

Sara Thompson, KP News | 1/27/21

Lives have been saved by signs posted by the coalition on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and in local parks.

Local Group Combats Suicide in Pandemic

The Gig Harbor-Key Peninsula Suicide Prevention Coalition was formed in 2012 after two local teens died by suicide in close succession. The coalition has since developed programs to support survivors and their loved ones and to train for prevention. more

Caleb Galbreath & Ted Olinger, KP News | 1/27/21