Mayor Ed Stern

09/02/2026

At tonight’s City Council will be at the top of the meeting (after 5:pm) the presenting (bilingually) of the Proclamation declaring Hispanic Heritage Month Sept 15 - October 15, 2026 in the City of Poulsbo.

Especially important this year for our Poulsbo community of residents and neighbors, of whom almost 15% of which are of Hispanic/Latine (largest pro rata concentration of population on the peninsula) connection & heritage - - and we resolve to recognize the times we live in and the uncertainties and anxiety that must exist in our fellow Poulsbo neighbors.

For an historical context to all this, please see my posted Comment screenshot of a painting of ‘first contact’ between the Salish Sea tribes and European explorers, Spanish, that happened in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, not far from here in 1744, some 50 full years before Captain Vancouver’s foray for the British in 1792.

08/24/2026

A new hotel going up by the college campus

A new three-story Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel is proposed in Poulsbo's College Marketplace area. See link below ⬇️

📸 Provided by City of Poulsbo.

08/22/2026

⚓️ Port of Poulsbo ‘E’ Dock crawling with Pirates and Damsels this weekend for the Port’s annual ‘Pirate Bash’ 🏴‍☠️

Wrapping up tonight at 10:pm, open to the public, enjoy the sights and sounds (of cannons booming 💥) Live full band on the pier, 7:30 - 10:pm ⚔️

Thank you Port of Poulsbo & Manager James Weaver for the boost to the downtown (and not involving car traffic and parking, right?! 😉)

08/18/2026

🏡 In front of the Kitsap County Association of Realtors (KCAR) annual networking breakfast meeting in Bremerton on Wednesday morning, focused on the 80 - 120% ‘adjusted median income’ population called ‘Workforce Gap’ - - where home ownership is beyond the reach of our teachers and first responders and others in the trades and retail - - and now rental of one bedroom apartments is approaching $2000 per month 😮‍💨 - - every effort must be made to not lose these young families and individuals from our area!

So I walked my dog up Raab Park Nature Trail this afternoon to see the progress to-date on the ‘Model Workforce Housing Ownership’ unit being built for the park caretaker, but also as a demonstration here on the peninsulas what an 800 sq ft ‘cottage home’ would look like.

As I posted here 2 weeks ago pertaining to the ‘Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission for Public / Private Partnership on Affordable Housing Solutions for Home Ownership’, this unit pictured here could conceivably be purchased by a ‘household’ with $75 - $85,000 annual income with conventional bank/credit union financing terms, and if we’re successful, scalable to be built ‘en masse’ cottage court configurations by the private sector profitably!!! 🏠

PS: posting under comments here the projected preliminary draft chart of range of affordability and square footages of cottage housing in relation to

08/15/2026

So proud of Judge Robin Hunt, Western Washington Court of Appeals (ret.) & Emissary Emeritus for the Suquamish Tribal Council, who was honored today with a Presentation Blanket she was wrapped in, alongside three other honorees.

It has been my privilege to work alongside her gracious self and outreached hands for many years now in facilitating relationships between communities.

👏👏👏

08/15/2026

🙌 honored to stand with ‘the People Who Remember’ by the clear saltwater at the annual Chief Seattle Graveside Services 🙌

Recalling the year 1792 when ‘Sealth’ as a 6 year old in his father’s canoe made ‘first contact’ off Bainbridge Island with British Captain George Vancouver’s initial foray into the Salish Sea / Puget Sound.

Attaching here under comments a screenshot I was privileged to take of the original hanging artwork in the home of Betty & Duane Pasco on the Port Madison Reservation - - it being the perspective of Sealth seated observing his father coming alongside Captain Vancouver’s frigate in the first moments of direct engagement. And I thank Riggins Diana for the courtesy of the invitation into her mother’s home, for that 🙌

08/14/2026

The Kitsap Sun newspaper will be publishing in this Sunday’s edition a feature story of this past week’s City of Poulsbo ‘Liberty Bay Light Show by Drone’ by focusing on the high school students (and their teachers!) who learned life-building technical and career skills by literally orchestrating the over-the-water celebration of community witnessed by THOUSANDS in and around our bay!

One last time here, ‘kudos’ to our remarkable and relentless Poulsbo Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Ozimek who like ‘a dog with a bone in it’s mouth’ single focus made this all come together since just April from scratch. Thank you Kitsap Sun for the attention in the story on this outstanding city employee!!!
👏👏👏

08/12/2026

🎶 Fly me to the Moon! 🎶

I think it safe to say the morning after, we are all a bit ‘over the moon’ about last night’s Liberty Bay Light Show by drones. Didn’t the high school students of Peninsula High in Gig Harbor orchestrate a great show - - while learning career skills!

Much thanks to Poulsbo Parks and Recreation and its Director Jeff Ozimek, and ‘thank you’ once again City of Poulsbo - City Hall and my City Council for funding the ‘experiment’ to set a template for future July 4th community events 👏👏👏

08/12/2026

Scenes from tonight’s audience at the finale of the City of Poulsbo’s Summer Concert Series!

Up next at dusk - - the Light Show over the Bay. Still time to boogie down before 9:15pm 💥