Anyone who’s been to the town of Port Gamble pretty much agrees across the board. The community is just plain beautiful.Green hills, historic buildings — Norman Rockwell would have had a field day there.

And surely if telecommuting had been around in his day and age, the North Kitsap town would have no doubt graced the cover of the “Saturday Evening Post” more than once.

Even so, Port Gamble’s artistic prowess has nearly come to equal that of Rockwell (at least as far as locals are concerned).

For 43 years (44 this weekend), the scenic town has opened its arms to artists of every age to showcase their talents in mediums as vast as the landscapes of America. It’s an event that’s been around since “I Like Ike” put Dwight Eisenhower in the Oval Office. Like the popular campaign slogan, the North Kitsap Arts & Crafts Festival evoked a strong response and one we’re always glad to see.

The three-day event is definitely a must see and while neither Ike nor Norman will be on hand, the continuing artistic and historic spirit of America is sure to be.