The Regional Board of the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild has approved the formation of the new Kitsap Chapter of the guild. The guild is a not-for-profit organization, with the mission of educating homeowners, property managers, builders, developers, designers and architects, on a wide variety of sustainable design and build subjects. read more »

Although we are seeing some gains in employment and other economic indicators on the Kitsap Peninsula, persistent sluggishness in the regional economy also is whittling away at our competitiveness for new investment from outside companies as well as employer retention.

On the heels of releasing their second quarter industrial market statistics for Central Puget Sound (excludes Kitsap), commercial/industrial brokerage CB Richard Ellis is contacting businesses here and elsewhere in the region about the great deals to be had by moving to vacant facilities in King and Pierce counties. read more »

So this is what it looks like when the extreme environmentalists get their way.

For two decades, enviros in our state have been striving to shut down homebuilding. No-growthers have argued, litigated, legislated, and lobbied for every law, regulation, tax and impact fee designed to stop homebuilders from building homes.

Enviro groups with righteous-sounding names like Futurewise and Earth First! Fight against virtually every single development and every single homebuilder. read more »

West Sound Technology Association (WSTA) and Pacific Northwest Title Company will co-host a presentation on Sept. 14 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Pacific Northwest Titles’ office, located tat 2021 NW Myhre Rd, Suite 300 in Silverdale, by Jackie McVay, senior vice president and CIO of Kitsap Bank about the evolution of eSignatures since they were authorized by Congress ten years ago. She will share some insights about best practices for adopting eSignatures.

Who should attend: Title companies, mortgage companies, banks, law firms, and any industry for which electronic signatures will change how they transact business. read more »

Vending machines in neon-splashed Tokyo have electronic eyes that evaluate customers’ skin and wrinkles to determine whether they are old enough to buy tobacco. In bathrooms at upscale Canadian bars, vending machines with flat irons enable women to defrizz their locks. In Abu Dhabi, the lobby of a luxury hotel has a vending machine that dispenses gold bars and coins at more than $1,000 an ounce.

MaryBeth Polony bought Proactiv skin care products from a vending machine at the Danbury Fair Mall in Danbury, Conn. read more »

In recent months, you may have heard a lot about investing in gold. But is gold the right choice for you? Actually, many factors are involved in this investment decision — and you’ll want to consider these factors before you invest.

Of course, the lure of gold is undeniable. Throughout history, gold has been perceived as having great intrinsic value. And this year, as you may know, gold prices have hit record highs, at well over $1,200 an ounce, as people have sought “shelter” from the stormy financial markets. read more »

On Labor Day, we celebrate the achievements of the American worker. As someone who works hard yourself, you can appreciate this holiday. And, of course, you hope your efforts will eventually result in achieving your important goals, such as college for your children or a comfortable retirement. But if you’re going to turn these objectives into reality, your money needs to work as hard as you do.

What steps can you take to help make sure your money is working hard for you? For starters, consider keeping the money you may need in the near future in investments that pay minimal rates of return. read more »

Despite complaints from some consumer advocates about the privacy measures in Facebook Places, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) called privacy controls for the location-based service a “substantial improvement” over those of earlier products.

That praise from the EFF comes with the caveat that Facebook Places settings are only good if users understand them and judiciously use them.

Facebook launched its Places location-based service Aug. 18. The service lets users “check in” to a location via their smartphone to share their locations with Facebook friends. read more »

The Rotary Club of Silverdale announces a successful Duck Race held in Dyes Inlet in Silverdale. The race was held at the conclusion of the Whaling Days festivities in Silverdale. read more »