🌱 How a Longbranch goat herd is reshaping overgrown Key Peninsula land

Good morning to you Longbranch! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How a Longbranch goat herd is reshaping overgrown Key Peninsula land
• Remember when driving from Gig Harbor to Longbranch took five hours?

Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high of 68 and low of 53 degrees.
• Friday: Times of sun and clouds, temps: high: 68, low: 51.
• Saturday: Nice with plenty of sunshine, with a high of 70 and low of 48 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• 'Deadherds' Take a Bite Out of Fire District's Blackberries (keypennews.org) — A Longbranch goat farmer is helping the Key Peninsula Fire District clear massive blackberry and Scotch broom growth behind Sunnycrest Nursery using a hardworking herd instead of heavy machinery or chemicals. The project gives residents a more environmentally friendly solution, supports a local small business, and shows how goats can tackle tough brush in tight, wetland-adjacent areas where tractors struggle.
   

• The Story of the KP Highway, Part II (keypennews.org) — Longbranch and the Key Peninsula once relied on rough, horse-era roads before the Gig Harbor–Longbranch Highway slowly took shape in the early 1900s. This history piece traces how state and county investments, new bridges, and better grades gradually turned a muddy obstacle course into the paved route Longbranch drivers use today.
   

📸 Around Longbranch

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday October 1
• COM - MES / Field - HSC
  MES - Field
  5:00 pm
Friday October 2
• Skate Night →
  Key Peninsula Civic Center, 17010 S Vaughn Rd NW, Vaughn
  6:00 pm
Saturday October 3
• Madrona Fest 2026 →
  Key Peninsula Civic Center, 17010 S Vaughn Rd, Key Center
  10:00 am
• Fox Island Festival 2026 →
  Fox Island WA
  1:00 pm
Sunday October 4
• 50th Annual Apple Squeeze →
  Steilacoom WA
  10:00 am
Monday October 12
• Korean Bulgogi Cooking Class at Steilacoom Community Center →
  Steilacoom Community Center, 2301 Worthington St, Steilacoom
  10:00 am
• Orting at Steilacoom →
  Steilacoom High School, 54 Sentinel Dr, Steilacoom
  7:15 pm
Thursday October 15
• Blowin' in the Wind, Songs and Stories of Bob Dylan →
  Town Hall, Steilacoom
  6:00 pm
• Free Concert: 'Blowin' in the Wind' Songs and Stories of Bob Dylan by Joel Underwood →
  Steilacoom Town Hall, Steilacoom
  6:00 pm
Friday October 16
• DuPont & Steilacoom Halloween Hullabaloo 2026 →
  Steilacoom Community Center, 2301 Worthington St, Steilacoom
  6:00 pm
Saturday October 17
• Dueling Pianos at the Key Peninsula Civic Center →
  Key Peninsula Civic Center, 17010 South Vaughn Road Northwest, Vaughn
  5:30 pm

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

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Freeman Health System posted a job opening for Biller-PRC in University Place. Apply here.
• O'Reilly Automotive posted a job opening for Assistant Store Manager in Gig Harbor. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Longbranch here.

🗞 Nearby News

Steilacoom

• Steilacoom Historical School District (businessviewmagazine.com)

DuPont

• Worse Than Asbestos? (leadersedge.com)
• SPSCC women's golf finishes 9th at PLU Invitational (thurstonchronicle.com)
• Caught on camera: The debate over Flock Safety hits the streets of Pierce County (thenewstribune.com)

Gig Harbor

• Two Gig Harbor pizzerias tried this Tacoma address. Another will close this week (thenewstribune.com)
• A tombstone tourist visits greater Gig Harbor cemeteries (gigharbornow.org)

Ok Longbranch! 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: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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