Jason Parker was recently elected as acting President of Kitsap Alliance of Resources for Elders (KARE).

“Richard Tizzano has done a great job the past two years leading us. He has set the groundwork, and I’m excited to get the chance to build on it,” said Parker, president of Parker Financial LLC. “Our goal is to continue reaching out to the community and making resources available to them. I’ve already started contacting possible speakers for our annual conference.” read more »

The Rotary Club of South Kitsap has announced a Mardi Gras themed Casino Night to be called the “Bay Street Bash.” The event is set for Saturday Feb. 18 at the Port Orchard Pavilion, located at 701 Bay Street. The event, benefiting the South Kitsap Rotary Foundation, begins at 6 p.m.

“The Rotary Club of South Kitsap is actively involved in local projects and causes; such as park construction, Helpline and other non-profits, as well as exchange programs and scholarships for area students,” said Kyle Morkert, president. “However, our foundation also participates in international projects such as feeding programs, disaster relief, and a more recent mission, helping Kenyan villages with clean water and sanitation.” read more »

Public comment is being sought on a federal grant application sponsored by Mason County to the State of Washington Department of Commerce through U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The proposal is for a project on behalf of Faith in Action West Sound for a Center for Seniors Facility in the town of Belfair in the amount of $1 million. Under the guidelines of this grant, Mason County is the only eligible applicant.

A public hearing for the Mason County Board of Commissioners to approve the grant application is set for Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. If approved, a resolution will be signed authorizing Mason County’s Department of Community Development Manager, Barbara Adkins, to submit the application on behalf of Faith in Action West Sound’s project. read more »

Mutual of Omaha Bank has named Kris Gjylameti assistant vice president and regional account executive for the Pacific Northwest region of its Community Association Banking operation. Based in Seattle, Gjylameti will provide specialized banking services to property management companies, homeowner associations and homeowners in Washington, Oregon and Alaska.

Gjylameti joined the bank’s Community Association Banking team in 2006 as a regional account executive for Washington and Oregon and was promoted to assistant vice president for the Hawaii market in 2008, where has served the past three years. He is actively involved in the HOA industry as a member of the Community Association Institute (CAI) and Oregon Washington Community Association Managers (OWCAM).

Donald Logan, a local Edward Jones financial advisor, will be hosting a coffee club at 8:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22 and on the fourth Wednesday of each month at Edward Jones, 2416 NW Myhre Road, Suite 102 in Silverdale.

“The coffee club offers us an opportunity to learn from one another and receive market updates,” Logan said. “I look forward to keeping individual investors informed about the current market and economy, as well as have fun and get to know some of my neighbors.”

Seating may be limited. To reserve a seat, call Sarah Bartley at (360) 692-1216.

lia sophia recently announced top honors for its Excellent Beginnings Program Achievers for their outstanding sales accomplishments and professionalism. After only 15 weeks in the fashion jewelry business, Heidi Cassel has attained certain sales levels and by sharing lia sophia with other new advisors.

According to Bonni Davis, senior vice president, U.S. sales and marketing of lia sophia, “This immediate success is a result of Heidi’s hard work and dedication. lia sophia is fortunate to have this individual as part of our team and we look forward to celebrating future successes.”

For more information on the Excellent Beginnings program, or on lia sophia, reach Cassel at www.liasophia.com/heidicassel.

Teragren, located on Bainbridge Island, manufacturer of environmentally friendly bamboo flooring, panels, veneer, and worktops, announced that Caitlyn Kari has been named marketing communications manager, and Bryan Ripka as northwest regional sales manager.

“Caitlyn brings an outstanding focus to this new position based on her experience at one of the leading sustainable organizations in the wine industry. Her understanding of sustainable supply chains, social media, and environmental ethics make her a great addition to the team. Also Bryan is an excellent addition, bringing a terrific background in green building materials, with experience on both the manufacturer and retail side of the selling equation,” said Teragren President, Mike Boshart.

It all started with a Facebook invite. Tim Samuels, a loan officer at The Legacy Group in Silverdale, received a friend request from a former middle-school classmate who needed help buying a home.

Jenn Fairlie is a single mother with a full-time job at a local animal hospital. However, a divorce several years ago had left her on welfare for a time period and depleted her savings. Although she now has steady work and excellent credit, she didn’t expect to be able to buy a place any time soon.

Samuels invited Fairlie to a first-time homebuyers seminar. Because she hadn’t owned a home in three years, she qualified for several programs. At the seminar, Samuels talked about House Key Bremerton, a down-payment assistance program funded by the city and administered by the Washington State Housing Commission. read more »

By Jonathan Dienhart and Ken Lee

Despite record low mortgage rates, 2011 has seen a surprisingly high level of cash home purchases. Between tight lending standards and a desperate search for yield by investors, cash purchase of homes (especially distressed properties) became even more common in 2011 than in 2010. According to data from Housing IntelligencePro, 38 percent of homes purchased in 2011 were bought with all cash. That’s up from 34 percent in 2010, and double the 19 percent rate in 2006. The trend is likely to continue in the near term, with investors being responsible for an increasing share of home purchases as prior homeowners abandon the ownership market and head back to rentals. read more »