🌱 Patch AM: How would a new Chick-fil-A reshape traffic on Olympic Drive?

What's up Gig Harbor! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How would a new Chick-fil-A reshape traffic on Olympic Drive?
• Which games on Gig Harbor's football schedule are must‑watch this fall?
• How new sensory kits are changing visits to Gig Harbor Library.

Also on today's calendar: Gardeners Guide to Growing Great Dahlias and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: Why did the chicken go to the gym? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Partly sunny, showers around, with a high of 70 and low of 52 degrees.
• Saturday: Clouds giving way to some sun, temps: high: 70, low: 52.
• Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 73 and low of 54 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Neighbors raise traffic concerns as Chick-fil-A updates plans for Gig Harbor restaurant (gigharbornow.org) — Plans for a Chick-fil-A at 5115 Olympic Drive in Gig Harbor are raising worries among nearby residents about already heavy traffic and pedestrian safety at the Point Fosdick intersection. City planners are reviewing the conditional use permit and updated traffic study, which projects more than 1,200 new weekday trips and includes a proposed median that would change access to neighboring driveways.
   

2. Peninsula, Gig Harbor kick off high school football season (gigharbornow.org) — Gig Harbor High's football team kicks off its season Friday, Sept. 4, with a road game at Emerald Ridge, launching a full slate of fall matchups local fans can attend. The article breaks down returning Tides standouts, coaching strategies, and key league opponents, and also previews Peninsula High's season, including the upcoming Fish Bowl rivalry showdown.
   

3. Pierce County Library System receives national grant (pierceprairiepost.com) — Families in Gig Harbor can now request youth sensory kits at the local Pierce County Library branch, thanks to a new $10,000 national grant. The kits, designed with guidance from the University of Washington's Autism-Ready Libraries initiative, offer tools like lap pads, ear protection, and visual timers to make in-library visits more comfortable and inclusive for children with sensory needs.
   

4. A super(ette) history of the Island View Market building (gigharbornow.org) — A beloved Rosedale log-cabin store, built in 1954 from an Austin & Erickson kit manufactured on Harborview Drive in Gig Harbor, has quietly evolved into today's Island View Market. This history traces its changing owners, names, and even the hidden original vertical-log structure, while highlighting early local tradespeople and a Gig Harbor fuel distributorship that kept the pumps running.
   

📸 Around Gig Harbor

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Gig Harbor

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Monday September 7
• Rainy Day Gym Space
  Peninsula High School PHS - Aux Gym
  4:30 pm
• COM - PHS / Fastpitch Field - HSC
  Peninsula High School PHS - Fastpitch Field
  5:00 pm
• COM - HRMS / Turf field - HSC
  Harbor Ridge Middle School HRM - Turf Field
  5:00 pm
Tuesday September 8
• Rainy Day Gym Space
  Peninsula High School PHS - Aux Gym
  4:30 pm
• COM - HRMS / Aux & Main Gym - SSA Cheer
  Harbor Ridge Middle School HRM - Lower Gym, HRM - Main Gym
  5:00 pm
• COM - HRMS / Upper and turf fields - SSA
  Harbor Ridge Middle School HRM - Turf Field, HRM - Upper Field
  5:00 pm
• COM - PHS / Fastpitch Field - HSC
  Peninsula High School PHS - Fastpitch Field
  5:00 pm
• COM - PHS / Pool - New Wave Swim Foundation
  Peninsula High School PHS - Pool
  7:00 pm
Saturday September 12
• Gardeners Guide to Growing Great Dahlias →
  Pierce County Master Gardeners Gig Harbor Demonstration Garden, 10123 78th Ave NW, Gig Harbor
  10:00 am
Friday September 18
• Pierce County Suicide Prevention Summit + 5K →
  PenMet Parks Recreation Center, 2524 14th Ave NW, Gig Harbor
  12:00 pm

📣 Gig Harbor Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Friday September 4
• Family Storytime
  Wheelock Branch Library 3722 North 26Th, Tacoma, WA 98407
  10:30 am
• Drop-in Tech Help at Swasey Branch
  Swasey Branch Library 7001 Sixth Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98406
  11:00 am
• Brick by Brick LEGO Club
  Swasey Branch Library 7001 Sixth Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98406
  4:00 pm
• Rainy Day Gym Space
  Peninsula High School PHS - Aux Gym
  4:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Please share & repost to help reunite this stray dog!
  Found on September 2, 2026 in Maplewood, WA 98332 near 144th and crescent valley dr nw Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to… (Nextdoor Peacock Hill & Downtown)

• Parkview Estates posted a job opening for Activities Assistant in Tacoma. Apply here.
• Aerotek posted a job opening for Welder And Fabricator in Tacoma. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Gig Harbor here.

Ok Gig Harbor! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: He was working on his pecks (pecs). (Thank you W F C. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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