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COVER STORY
It’s all over but the crying.
Judge approves fire sale of KPS to Group Health
Court rejects intervention from Kitsap County, City of Bremerton and others |
It’s only a matter of time now before a local community institution, Bremerton-based KPS Health Plans, will become the property of mega-HMO Group Health Cooperative. In a fire sale deal that gifts Group Health with assets worth considerably more than its $19 million purchase price, Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler — a former Group Health employee — will finalize the deal that stunned the community and KPS board members alike when it was announced.
Thurston County Superior Court Judge Richard D. Hicks rejected a last ditch effort to intervene in the sale by the City of Bremerton, along with Kitsap County, the Kitsap County Medical Society and three local doctors. They had requested Hicks grant them standing as interveners, even though they are not parties in the case, and allow 90 days to gather more information about the sale.
County and city officials are extremely concerned Group Health will move KPS out of Kitsap County when the four-year period required by terms of the sale expires, exporting at least 175 family-wage jobs with it. Local doctors are even more concerned that the giant HMO will accelerate its standard practice of sending patients in need of specialty care to its own providers located outside of the community before that four-year period is over... (Full Article) |
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BJC Group offers one stop engineering,
design, permitting and construction shopping
By Rodika Tollefson |
| Celebrating its 10-year anniversary at the end of the year, the BJC Group Inc. in Port Orchard has an array of services that include pre-design, design, construction, bid management, and permitting representation, for commercial and residential buildings. Company owner Robert Baglio is also a licensed engineer and part-owner of engineering and surveying firm NL Olson & Associates... (Full Article) |
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Never mind those acronyms —
they can be helpful to you
By Wendy Miles |
| KBAC, KCCDC, KEDC, WA CASH, PTAC, SCORE, SBA, WASBDC... This dizzying array of acronyms can be confusing and mysterious to the casual observer. Did you know that these organizations, along with others such as Chambers of Commerce, cities, counties, ports and private companies, work towards economic development and prosperity in Kitsap County... (Full Article) |
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Homeowners ask Supreme Court
to rehear Eminent Domain case
Homes, small businesses and even VFW post could be
condemned for private development if case is not reconsidered
By John Kramer
Institute for Justice |
| The U.S. Supreme Court has one final chance to correct one of its most-despised decisions in recent memory — its ruling in Kelo v. City of New London, which allows the use of eminent domain for private development... (Full Article) |
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Gig Harbor couple expands awning
maintenance business into new areas
By Rodika Tollefson |
| Allison and Steve Summerday say having a husband-wife business and a marriage at the same time can be tricky. But the couple, who own Summerday’s Awning Care and Shipshape Canvas Care, have found the way to separate the two — with time... (Full Article) |
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40 Under Forty Congratulations –
Class of 2005! |
| With over 70 nominations from all walks of life, including both the public and private sectors to be considered, our extremely discerning panel of judges has selected 40 of the Kitsap Peninsula’s most outstanding individuals to be recognized with our first “40 Under Forty” honors... (Full Article) |
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NW Commnet to build AMI fiber optic project
By Rodika Tollefson |
| A fiber-optic project currently in the works by NW Commnet will soon allow all four locations of Advanced Medical Imaging (AMI) to transmit and share digital data. The connectivity will mean electronic files will no longer have to be physically carried from one location to the next... (Full Article) |
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KCCDC gets $50,000 economic
development grant from USDA |
| In a ceremony that included all three county commissioners as well as a handful of other local luminaries, the Kitsap County Community Development Corp (KCCDC) recently was awarded a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business Enterprise fund... (Full Article) |
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Drive down your business
auto insurance costs
By Dan Weedin, CIC |
| Business owners who operate a fleet of one or more vehicles know that commercial auto insurance can be pricey. The reasons vary, from higher liability judgments to the number of miles logged and the unusual exposures... (Full Article) |
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Peninsula Suzuki opens new
state-of-the-art service department |
| A new service department will open this month at Peninsula Suzuki in Gorst. The service department is the latest addition to auto dealer John Dionas’ Suzuki Square signature facility, which includes a comfortable customer lounge with amenities such as Internet access and a coffee bar... (Full Article) |
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Judge Sally Olsen Bar Association’s clear choice |
| Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Sally Olsen, appointed to the position earlier this year by then-Gov. Gary Locke, is seeking re-election. Olsen is being opposed by Jonathan R. Morrison of Port Orchard... (Full Article) |
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Silverdale Chamber of Commerce
announces new board officers |
| The Board of Directors of the Silverdale Chamber of Commerce elected the officers for the coming year at its August meeting... (Full Article) |
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New public forum at South Kitsap Chamber |
| A new forum series sponsored by the Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce invites the public to join in Friday mornings for breakfast and guest speakers. The speakers will cover topics ranging from legislative to environmental to public safety... (Full Article) |
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City of Gig Harbor awarded
$500,000 grant to acquire park land |
| The City of Gig Harbor was awarded a grant of $500,000 from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, Outdoor Recreation Account, local parks category. The grant was awarded by the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC) and will be used for the following... (Full Article) |
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PDC fines Bainbridge Island levy committee |
| The Chair of the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC), Earl Tilly, recently ruled that Bainbridge Island Public School Supporters (BIPSS) violated the state’s Public Disclosure laws... (Full Article) |
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Environmental
The answers to your recycling questions —
Part II
By Vicki Bushnell |
Can I recycle my shredded paper?
If your company has its own shredder, do not place the shredded paper into the recycle bin. The paper fiber is too short after shredding to be of much use in the recycling process... (Full Article) |
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Environmental
Environmental Briefs...
By Kathleen Byrne-Barrantes |
| Sinclair Inlet cleanup at Bremerton Boardwalk is Saturday, Sept. 10. It is usually held on the 3rd Saturday in September (Sept. 17) at the downtown Bremerton Boardwalk, next to the ferry terminal, as part of an International Beach Cleanup Day... (Full Article) |
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Environmental
Neptune’s influence and community’s
earth-shaking, resuscitate efforts to
open the Marine Science Center
By Kathleen Byrne-Barrantes |
| Efforts to resurrect the Poulsbo Marine Science Center and clean up trash from the Puget Sound’s sea floor to the shore’s edge may be guided by more than recent influences... (Full Article) |
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Environmental
AWB summit on environmental issues
set for Oct. 19-20 |
| The Northwest Environmental Summit will provide information on how to stay on top of environmental law, regulatory, policy and technical issues as well as a great opportunity to network with other professionals in the environmental industry... (Full Article) |
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Armchair Books in P.O.
now under new ownership |
| Armchair Books in the Towne Square Port Orchard Shopping Center, formerly the South Kitsap Mall, has been purchased by the store’s manager, DeDe Teeters. Teeters, who has worked as the manager since the bookstore’s inception in April, 1997, purchased the store from retiring owner Glynis Gehring, who also was the former owner of the mall... (Full Article) |
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Puppy Hut Salon & Spa opens in Port Orchard |
| A new self serve pet grooming salon, Puppy Hut Salon & Spa, has opened at 509 Bay Street in Port Orchard. It will be open 6 days a week, closed on Tuesday. The hours of operation are Monday, Wed – Sat. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m... (Full Article) |
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Gig Harbor development honors
town’s boat building heritage
By Rodika Tollefson |
| Making a town attractive for tourists usually takes work on many dimensions. For Gig Harbor, one of those dimensions heralds back to its days of farming, fishing and boat building... (Full Article) |
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Port Madison Home announces
new opening date |
| John Hays, owner of Port Madison Home, a Bainbridge Island home furnishing store, recently announced that the firm’s opening date for its new location at 240 Winslow Way on Bainbridge Island, has been changed to September 30 at 10 a.m... (Full Article) |
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United Way kicks off 2005-06 campaign |
| The United Way of Kitsap County will kick-off this year’s annual campaign with two goals in mind; to increase both the dollar amounts raised over last year and to increase the number of donors... (Full Article) |
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Revisions to the Fair Credit Reporting Act |
Late last year the House of Representatives voted to revise the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to include a provision that removes third-party investigations of alleged employee misconduct from the notice and disclosure requirements.
What does this mean to employers? In the past an employer had to notify the employee whenever a third-party was hired by the employer to investigate any allegations of workplace (sexual) harassment.
This notification greatly interfered with an employers’ ability to investigate any claims, as very often employees being questioned would either change their stories or choose not to participate.
While this revision to the Act still requires that employees be notified of the investigation, this notification does not need to happen until the conclusion of the investigation.
For more information, contact the Washington Employers Association at (206) 329-7720. |
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Daigle Design joins World Trade Center |
The World Trade Center Seattle has recently welcomed Daigle Design of Bainbridge Island to its sponsorship roster of Northwest companies.
WTC Seattle is located across the street from the Bell Harbor International Conference Center, and is a Port of Seattle property. Founding sponsors include Microsoft and Holland America Line, and charter sponsors include Starbucks Coffee Company and Weyerhaeuser. |
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Madison Avenue Garage, Rolling Bay
Automotive earn 4-Star certification |
The Health District recently awarded 4-star EnviroStars certifications to Madison Avenue Garage and Rolling Bay Automotive, owned by Ranji Dhatt of Bainbridge Island.
Wastes such as antifreeze, oil, and oil filters are stored in properly labeled containers with secondary containment, ensuring that hazardous materials do not enter storm drains. Used antifreeze, batteries, oil filters, air conditioning refrigerants, scrap metal, condensers, printer cartridges, and all paper products are recycled.
For more information about their pollution prevention measures, contact Madison Avenue Garage at (206) 842-4026 and Rolling Bay Automotive at (206) 842-7678. |
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HBA sets 2005 annual auction |
The Homebuilders Association of Kitsap County (HBA) has set the date for its 2005 Auction. The event, which supports the Affordable Housing Council of Kitsap County, will be held on Friday, Sept. 16 at Kitsap Golf and Country Club. The social hour begins at 5:30 p.m.
The event, chaired by Greg Livdahl of Fairbank Construction on Bainbridge Island, will feature a 1950’s theme, although 50’s attire is optional, and gaming tables as well as a silent auction in addition to the live auction. Tickets are $35.
For more information, visit www.kitsaphba.com. |
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Remodeled Chester Manor
reopens in West Bremerton
$1.4 million from DCD Grants and Loan Program helps provide low-income housing |
A totally remodeled Chester Manor opened its doors Sept. 1, thanks in part to the efforts of the City of Bremerton’s Department of Community Development Grants and Loans Program.
City DCD staff was able to secure $1.4 million in HOME Funds from HUD to support the $8 million project, which revitalized Chester Manor, a 36,590 sq. ft., 56-unit apartment complex on Chester Ave, between 6th and 7th Avenues. The facility offers studio and one-bedroom units for people with disabilities and those needing lower-income housing. Some of the units have also been set aside to assist with the City’s homeless population. |
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Bremerton Symphony announces new staff |
The Bremerton Symphony Association (BSA), under the leadership of Elizabeth Stoyanovich, Music Director, recently announced four new staff positions have been filled. Under the artistic staff, John Falskow, of Tacoma, will serve as assistant conductor for BSA and music director of the newly formed Bremerton Symphony Youth Orchestra, while Gary Dahl, of Silverdale, has been hired to serve as assistant conductor of the BSA covering for Stoyanovich.
The administrative staff has also expanded. Jane Melin was hired as the new marketing director and Gena Wales will serve as the education director for the BSA. |
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Details Property Management
opens in Silverdale |
Karin Kay Properties welcomed Heidi Hartman as manager of its new property management division, called Details Property Management. Hartman has been involved in real estate and property management in Kitsap and Mason Counties since 1992. Her experience also includes Real Estate Office Management, project management, bookkeeping and consulting.
Karin Kay Properties’ new property management division intends to provide superior service by attending to all of the “details” involved with managing rentals. Months have been spent perfecting technology related services. Details will include video recording of properties, scheduled property condition inspections, online bill paying services and collection services.
Hartman can be reached at (360) 535-8104 or heidi@detailsPM.com. |
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Investor Resources ranks as
one of America’s top independent advisors |
Don Creech, president and owner of Investor Resources, Inc., located at 691 Bethel Avenue in Port Orchard, recently announced that Investor Resources has earned a spot in the Bloomberg Wealth Manager Magazine’s annual ranking of America’s top wealth managers for the fifth consecutive year and is one of only 13 firms in Washington State to receive this distinction.
Investor Resources, Inc. can be reached at (360) 895-9119, (800) 317-9119 or www.investorresourcesinc.com. |
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Art and Furniture Fair at
Northwest Design Center |
Bad Blanche’s Northwest Design Center and Furniture Gallery, located at 18850 State Highway 305 in Poulsbo, is having its first annual Art and Furniture Fair on Sept. 3 and 4 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The event will host an assortment of local and regional artists and furniture designers.
Northwest Design Center and Furniture Gallery can be reached at (360) 697-4443. |
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Bremerton Symphony Association
announces new members and officers |
The Bremerton Symphony Association board of directors has elected new members and officers for the 2005-2006 season. Recently elected to the Board of Directors are Alan Halfhill, Steve Politakis and Joan Soriano.
The new board officers are: President: James H. Kendall; 1st Vice President: Deborah Housen; 2nd Vice President: Randall S. Ross; Secretary: Sara Nell Davis; Treasurer: Jean Charneski; and Past President: Tom Long.
The Bremerton Symphony Association’s new season will commence on October 1 with a concert titled “Homegrown Talent” featuring local guest artists Craig Alden Dell and Claire Sledd under the baton of Music Director Elizabeth Stoyanovich, who is beginning her third season with the BSA. |
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D&R Home Inventory Specialists opens doors |
Deborah Petker, owner, recently announced the opening of D&R Home Inventory Specialists. It will provide a professionally documented home inventory including a digital video and digital stills on a non rewriteable DVD/CD along with written documentation, including serial numbers correlating to the still photographs.
D&R Home Inventory Specialists can be reached at (360) 871-6838 or toll-free at (866) 871-6838. |
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Bez Graphics still designing |
Belle Bezdicek of Bez Graphics has been volunteering at North Kitsap Fishline and designed its business cabinet and collateral. Bezdicek is also a full-time instructor at The Art Institute of Seattle.
Other recent clients are Prowse and Company, assisting with redesigning their identity system and collateral and North Kitsap High School, who is having a 20-year class reunion, requested a creative design approach for their invites and save-the-date cards. |
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Bainbridge Island mayor
hopefuls to debate Sept. 7 |
The Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the Kitsap County League of Women Voters, is sponsoring a primary candidates debate on Wednesday Sept. 7 at City Hall.
The debates, slated for 7 p.m., will feature three of the four mayoral candidates vying in the September 20 Washington State Primary Election, in a moderated and timed Q&A format.
For more information, contact the Chamber at (206) 842-3700. |
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Kitsap County Art Board
announces call for artists
Selections to show in new county administration building |
The Kitsap County Arts Board is seeking artists to help create two-dimensional and three-dimensional art for the newly constructed Kitsap County Administration Building in Port Orchard.
Applications are due by 4 p.m., Fri. Sept. 30, mailed or delivered to the following address with preliminary announcement of artist selection on Nov. 18:
The Kitsap County Courthouse Department of Administrative Services
Attn: Dana Hills,
614 Division Street, MS-7, Port Orchard, WA 98366
Register online at: www.kitsapgov.com/boards. Art call information can be downloaded at: www.kitsapgov.com/boards/ArtsBd/ab_call_for_artists.htm. |
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Truck Town new Pace American trailer dealer |
| Truck Town, located in Bremerton, recently announced that it is now an authorized Pace American trailer dealer. In addition to sales, it will have a parts and service department. View available inventory at www.trucktownltd.com. |
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Hill Moving celebrates 20 years in business |
Hill Moving recently announced that as it enters its 20th year in the moving and storage industry, Kay Hill Cook has been named general manager of the Poulsbo branch and Mike Hill has been tapped as the general manager of the Gig Harbor facility.
Long time Islanders may remember when Hill Moving had one truck parked behind the Coast to Coast store and now, the Poulsbo warehouse is 36,000 square feet and the Gig Harbor warehouse consists of 15,000 square feet and now have the ability to move customers anywhere in the world.
Hill Moving can be reached at (360) 697-3969 or (800) 833-9555 in Poulsbo, or (253) 851-5232 in Gig Harbor. |
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First Federal Savings & Loan of
Port Angeles receives 5-star rating |
First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Port Angeles, which operates a mortgage lending office in Poulsbo, has been awarded BauerFinancial’s 5-Star superior rating for the 47th consecutive quarter.
BauerFinancial, the nation’s leading independent bank rating firm, recognizes First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Port Angeles’s past and present strength and performance through this award. The award is based on an analysis of current financial data as supplied by federal regulators, supplemented by historical data. Having earned this highest 5-Star rating consistently for at least the last ten years, First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Port Angeles has also earned the right to be called an Exceptional Performance Bank. |
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Strictly Scandinavian Gifts has new owner |
Jeanette Wiggins recently acquired Strictly Scandinavian Gifts, a shop originally established by Inge and Jim Miller 20 years ago.
Strictly Scandinavian Gifts carries a variety of sweaters from Norway, candles and holders, jewelry, music, books, kitchen items, figurines, glassware and more. Translation services are available for Norwegian, Swedish and Danish, but call in advance.
Located in Gig Harbor at 7803 Pioneer Way, the store hours are Mon-Thurs. 10 a.m. – 5.p.m., Fri-Sat 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Sun 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Strictly Scandinavian can be reached at (253) 851-5959 or on the web at www.strictlyscandinavian.com. |
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Baskets Unique has relocated |
To better serve its customers, Baskets Unique has relocated and is now a home-based business, with a full showroom and design capabilities. It offers custom baskets and balloons for every occasion.
Baskets Unique can be reached at (360) 692-3600. |
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Agricultural field burning tax
exemptions take effect |
Farmers must now meet new requirements to obtain sales tax exemptions on the purchase of equipment used to reduce field burning. The revised law specifies what equipment qualifies for the exemption, which counties are eligible, what constitutes a qualified farmer, and how much of that farmer’s tillable acres must be planted with cereal grains or field and turf grasses grown for seed production.
Specified machinery and equipment include no-till and minimum-till drills, sprayers, plows, chisels, discs, cultivators, harrows, mowers, swathers, power rakes, balers, bale handlers, shredders, transplanters and tractors over 250 horsepower designed to pull equipment on steep slopes and highly erodible lands.
Sales tax exemptions continue to be available for materials, labor and services for the construction of hay sheds, but no longer apply to materials incorporated into hay sheds after construction. |
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Harrison’s South Kitsap Clinic
Changes Name, Hours |
Harrison’s South Kitsap urgent care clinic has a new name, new hours, new services, a fresh new look. The new Harrison Clinic at South Kitsap now offers expanded services that include primary care and same-day appointments; walk-in care for minor accidents and injuries continues. The new hours are 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., seven days a week.
The clinic’s new hours better accommodate busy families’ schedules, according to clinic manager Gene Burwell, who said, “We heard from a lot of families who requested appointments in the evenings.”
Primary care physicians typically treat most of a person’s healthcare needs, explains Burwell. “Now we can benefit the long-term health of those we serve, and by continuing to offer walk-in care for their minor incidents, we can answer their immediate health needs.”
New to the clinic is Dr. Martin Iverson, a family practitioner, who began seeing patients in July. The Harrison Clinic at South Kitsap is located at 450 S. Kitsap Blvd., Ste. 1600. Call (360) 895-6250. |
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