First off, thank you all 300-400 monthly users! It warms me to think that this has helped so many on their commute or journey.

It's been a while since I've posted about this app (PWA). I've been coming back over the months making some improvements that current users may not know about and it gives a chance to show it off to some new folks.

A quick introduction: BoatGOAT is a ferry schedule aggregator, pulling in times from Washington State Ferries, Kitsap Ferries, and Seattle Water Taxi. It's designed to be a quick glance dashboard, where you can easily pull it up and know when your next boat (or boats) leaves. It builds transfer routes from one ferry to the next, especially useful for places like Port Orchard. It pulls in relevant info for your trip, like the weather, ferry advisories, and cancelations. Good for folks trying to prep for their morning out, or if you're like me, an odd late night out in Seattle where knowing your next ferry really helps you to NOT get stranded.

https://boatgoat.boats

BoatGOAT is a website that can optionally be installed as PWA (Progressive Web App), so you can effectively install it as an app on your phone or tablet.

Since the last post back in April, here is what has been added or tweaked:

• New routes. The south end of Vashon via Tahlequah, Whidbey, and the Annapolis foot ferry.
• Multi-Ferry fallback on more routes. The Vashon transfer idea now covers fast-ferry gaps anywhere. Additionally, on transfer routes where no fast ferry runs, the app plans your trip on the WSF car ferry instead, in both directions, WSF ferry transfers are clearly labeled as to not bamboozle journey times. (This feature can be turned off in settings).
• Bus connections at the dock. You see live bus arrivals at the stop closest to where you land, timed to when your boat gets in.
• “Leave by” helper. It tells you when to head out to make your boat, for each route and each direction.
• Sports game warnings. You get a heads-up when a Mariners, Seahawks or Sounders game may pack the boats.
• It knows where you are (if you share your location). The app opens Outward or Homeward depending on which side of the water you’re on.
• Star your routes. Pinned routes stay at the top of the screen.
• Works with no signal. There is better caching, so once you’ve loaded it, your phone keeps the last schedule, so you can check times in a dead zone or out on the water.
• Improved look. It's easier to see if it's a Kitsap ferry route or a WSF route with the improved color coding. Some elements have been removed or rearranged for ease of use.

That I think covers it. If any of you have any feedback (loves or hates), whether you already use it or it's completely new to you, let me know!

Thank you all again!

A couple weeks ago I posted a free app that shows which Kitsap beaches the health department has open for clams. It has a home screen widget now.

Save your beach and the widget shows the next good low tide there and what time, or that the beach is closed, as of the app's last check. Make it wider and it adds the beach's status and, while the good lows are in the middle of the night, the first one in daylight.

Today 5 of the 41 Kitsap beaches on the list are open, including Fort Ward Park, Olalla and South Point Monroe.

Android only, free, no ads, no account. Still check the state's page before you dig.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nebulacolors.digday&utm_source=reddit&utm_campaign=kitsap-digday-widget-1026&referrer=utm_source%3Dreddit%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_campaign%3Dkitsap-digday-widget-1026

In 2025, the Washington Legislature passed a law that prevents rent gouging, but some landlords and property management companies are still up to their old tricks. They are using "junk fees" as a loophole around rent caps. We are hearing from tenants that they are increasingly being charged excessive fees for services that they don’t want or need, or for basic things like paying the rent. We at the Housing Alliance, call these “junk fees” and they are unfair, expensive, and deceptive. We’d like to hear your experiences. All information shared with us will be kept safe and confidential. 

Please fill out our survey if you or someone you know has received junk fees and we will be in touch within one week of your submission. Thank you! ~ Po (Advocacy Organizer)

Housing Alliance Junk Fees Survey link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=w21JOKsxXkiwtHn-0hx8aKTozXDbIbFMt3Zx5CarFp1UQVdCNElaSzQyNzFWUU02QVJTNEI2OUVCVS4u

Being autistic and new to advocacy, this was a BIG STEP for me. I was so nervous and shaking so hard lol, but I’m proud of myself and everyone who spoke up about the shelter, the unhoused, and local businesses. I wanted to prove that anyone can make an impact by speaking up about what matters.

Unfortunately, it didn’t feel like our words were even considered. It’s time to take action and start looking at new leaders. Bremerton’s future depends on it. Yesterday was frustrating, but it’s motivated me even more to keep pushing for change!

You can watch the whole VOD here. Public Comments start around 40:00 mins in. Around 1:06:00 is where the council comments:

https://bremerton.vod.castus.tv/vod/?video=9aea8bbd-c953-4fe9-9ce4-fad69d818a9f

Join us November 4 at 5:30 PM at the Norm Dicks Government Center for the next City Council meeting! Come speak during community comment, show support for these issues, and help document potential code violations. The more residents who show up and speak out, the harder it is for our concerns to be overlooked.

For context, the Bremerton City Council approved the BHA shelter in 2024 but voted against it on 9/16/26. With over $1.3 million in funding at risk of being redirected if not spent this year, residents deserve clear answers about what happens next and where the funding will go. We’ll keep advocating until our concerns are heard and considered.

If you would like to learn more about the BHA shelter and how to support Bremerton’s unhoused neighbors, the Facebook group "Bremerton Homeless Community Coalition" is a great source!

I've been thinking about going back to church but it feels like things are substantially different than the church I grew up in. I'm looking for a "Love thy neighbors as you love yourself" church without the caveats that a lot of pastors seem to be adding. It kind of bums me out that I even need to add that but it's the times we're in.

Exactly what the title says. I remember Salughter County Brewery in Port Orchard had some of the best fried chicken (RIP). Anyone know of a place? It can be a restaurant, bar, anywhere but fast food chicken like Popeye's or Church's.

Thank you!

An October 9, 2023 investigation report prepared for Civil Survival concluded that Tarra Simmons’ conduct was central to cultural dysfunction at the organization and that a potential retaliation claim existed. The investigators did not find that the evidence met the threshold for a hostile-work-environment claim under Washington law.

The article reports the executive summary, findings, and legal analysis from the report, along with subsequent public statements by the board and staff and the related lawsuit. Sources are linked in the piece.

https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/civil-survival-investigation-report-tarra-simmons-2023

Greetings, fellow humans.

My body has decided that gluten can no longer be tolerated. Aside from Char in Bremerton, does anyone know if there are other restaurants in Kitsap that can accommodate celiac peeps? I miss going out to eat. :(

Hi neighbors,
We are looking for a general contractor that could help us build a significant but straightforward addition on our prefab HiLine Home. It would add an additional Living Room, bathroom, and bedroom. The photo is the basic idea of what we would want built.

Is there anyone who you’d recommend or warn us to avoid?

Thanks!

Best cheat pizza?

I've dieted and worked hard for a great body. In fact, one could say I've been so loyal to this that I'm married to it. But I'm looking for a place where the pizza won't punish me for cheating on those commitments.

Any suggestions for a location in Kingston?

You can read all about it here:

https://www.kadoa.com/energy-prices/insights/investor-owned-utilities

But essentially, percentage-wise, in WA, investor-owned electric (think PSE) charges more than public (think Mason PUD) at the 2nd highest percentage in the country (behind only Maine.)

It's not that PSE has overcharged and raised rates unnecessarily, and it's not that PUDs are perfect. It's that PSE has overcharged so much that the gap is offensive at a national level.

Another interesting note is that after inflation, investor-owned costs went up, PUD costs went down over time.

Been in the mood to get stoned and go fuck up some salad. Anyone have a recommendation?

I truly worry for any child in a home that is not open and affirming.

I recently discovered pour overs when visiting Seattle coffee shops and really like them. I have not found a single coffee shop in Kitsap that offers pour overs. For those of you that do these at home, where do you buy your beans locally? My bean preference for pour overs is single-origin light-to-medium roast and want to experiment with beans that have origin-specific flavors like citrus, berry, jasmine, and stone fruit and sold in smaller quantity bags.

North End folks- prepare for WORSE traffic on Bond Road between Poulsbo and Kingston (as if it isn't bad enough)! This is hugely unpopular in the North Kitsap end of the county with neighbors and community members, yet they are pushing it through. Tax payers will probably have to pick up the tab to improve the road.

GOP candidate Katy Cornell deleted videos of her sermons calling abortions murder, even in cases of rape and agreeing that any non- Christian religion is "witchcraft." You can delete the video, but you can't erase your record or hateful beliefs. We need leaders who respect the rights and freedoms of EVERY Washingtonian. LD26 you deserve to know the REAL Katy Cornell.

In a recent Seattle Times article by Shauna Sowersby, Ms. Cornell defends her stance on abortion reproductive rights in Washington, but is circumspect about sermon videos that have been removed that among other things, praying to God that doesn't involve Jesus Christ is witchcraft.

Juliana Mcmahan, a republican chair, text me last night with her idea on how I should vote.

The conversation moved out of the auto generated text and onto a private line.

Needless to say, her arguments supporting the initiative were… expected.

ICE are active in Port Orchard and detained a man first thing this morning on Bethel

Hi! I was wondering if anyone knew where to recycle electronics, in Kitsap county? I have broken Christmas lights, phone chargers, batteries, light bulbs, broken electric toothbrush etc. I know it is discouraged to throw batteries/ e-waste in the waste management bins. So I was just wondering if anyone knew of a place at least in Kitsap but preferably near Bremerton or PO. Thank you! 👍