Island Community groups to Unveil Reverse Time Capsule, Author David Guterson to Release His Latest Novel at Island Event, Plus, Find Out Where WSF is Heading in an Online Update
As most of us are aware, traditional time capsules preserve the past, while so-called “reverse time capsules” project the future.
Multiple community groups and a regional artist have come together to create and install a Reverse Time Capsule for Sea Level Rise at Fay Bainbridge Park on the north end of Bainbridge Island. The Reverse Time Capsule invites visitors to interact with the sculpture, which is comprised of a base, set at current king tide height; a granite bench, the top of which is at projected Mid-Century sea level; and a five-foot basalt column adjacent to the bench, which represents the upper end of current projections of sea level by end of century.
Visitors are encouraged to sit on the bench and visualize what those sea levels might mean for the park and the Island. Time will tell if this “reverse time capsule” plays out to accurately reflect Puget Sound’s rising tides.
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A celebration of the Reverse Time Capsule will take place at Fay Bainbridge Park on Wednesday, January 21 at 2 pm. All are welcome!
The interactive sculpture was a collaborative effort between EcoAdapt, a Bainbridge-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping communities and institutions adapt to climate
change, and Orcas Island artist Pete Welty, who made it a reality, with support from Bainbridge Islander Adrien Petersen. EcoAdapt designed the sculpture’s installation. The project was funded through grants from the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island and the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation. Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Parks & Recreation District was an essential partner in helping site the sculpture and install the foundation.
According EcoAdapt, Sea level rise is not a matter of if, but when. “Surrounded by the sea, Bainbridge is on the frontline to experience its impacts. Developing a collective understanding of how sea level rise will affect our community is essential to developing effective responses,” says Dr. Lara Hansen, EcoAdapt’s Chief Scientist and Executive Director. “The Reverse Time Capsule provides a way to visualize and interact with what sea level is projected to look like in order to spark action to address what may currently seem like an abstract risk,” she explains.
EcoAdapt is also the group behind the sea level rise visualizations in the Bainbridge Island and Bremerton Ferry Terminal passenger walkways. You can learn more about both projects at: https://ecoadapt.org/projects/39/Visualizing-Sea-Level-Rise-in-Puget-Sound\. For further information contact: Lara Hansen, EcoAdapt, lara@ecoadapt.org
WSF Holding Two Online Community Meetings on Wednesday January 21
Washington State Ferries leadership will look back on 2025 and what’s to come in 2026 at two online community meetings at noon and 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21.
Each meeting will begin with a recap of 2025, which saw the restoration of full domestic service and the system’s highest ridership since 2019. There will also be updates on workforce development, the upcoming state legislative session, new ferries and vessel charging. The majority of the meeting time will be reserved for questions from the public.
WSF online community meetings information
When: Noon and 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21
Where: Online via Zoom
Details: Prior registration is required for these virtual meetings. Each meeting will cover the same material and is designed to give participants the option to join the meeting that best fits their schedule. Participants will be able to ask questions and anyone can also provide comments ahead of time via email. After the meetings, video recordings will be available online on WSF’s community participation page.
Free, temporary internet access is available to those who do not have broadband service in locations throughout the state. To find the nearest access, visit the state’s drive-in WiFi hotspot location finder.
WSF, a division of the Washington State Department of Transportation, is the largest ferry system in the U.S. and safely and efficiently carries tens of millions of people a year through some of the most majestic scenery in the world. For the latest service updates, sign up for rider alerts and track each ferry using the real-time map online.
Bainbridge Author David Guterson to Unveil his Latest Novel at Reading Tuesday Jan. 20th
Eagle Harbor Books will host Bainbridge Island’s own David Guterson for the launch of his newest novel, Evelyn in Transit. “Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the release of this novel that critics are calling Guterson’s finest work yet,” says a release from the bookstore. “This is a rare opportunity to meet the beloved author in person, hear insights into his creative process, and dive into a luminous world of his latest literary triumph. Reserve your copy and RSVP now!”
David Guterson – “Evelyn in Transit”
Tuesday Jan 20th, 2026
6:30 to 8 p.m.
Evelyn in Transit is a short novel that follows Evelyn Bednarz, a radically open-minded and fiercely independent misfit. Bored by convention and driven by a restless spirit, Evelyn hitchhikes across the American West, taking odd jobs and asking big questions about faith, time, and purpose. As she travels, her life intertwines with that of a boy living half a world away in distant Tibet. When Buddhist lamas arrive at Evelyn’s door claiming her five-year-old son is the reincarnation of a revered lama, she’s faced with a profound parenting dilemma—and a deeper existential reckoning. What does living authentically really mean and how do we choose to spend our time on this planet are questions this story explores.
About the Author: David Guterson is a celebrated novelist, essayist, and poet best known for his PEN/Faulkner Award-winning debut Snow Falling on Cedars. A longtime Bainbridge Island resident, Guterson has built a career exploring themes of identity, place, and moral complexity through deeply human storytelling. His works have been translated into dozens of languages and continue to resonate with readers around the globe. So mark your calendars and come celebrate this literary milestone with David Guterson. His voice has long been a treasure of the Pacific Northwest—don’t miss the chance to hear him in person!
Event Details
Due to anticipated demand for this event, it will be held at the Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church, to accommodate a larger crowd.
Copies of Evelyn in Transit and other titles will be available for sale and inscription at the event. Can’t make it? No Problem! Reserve your copy by purchasing it now, the bookstore will hold onto the book when it is released and obtain David’s inscription for you at the event and hold it for your later pick up, or for a small fee we can ship the book anywhere in the USA!
Source Materials: EcoAdept, WSF and Eagle Harbor Books.
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