|
|
|
|
COVER STORY
New upscale grocery store opens in Gig Harbor
By Rodika Tollefson |
|
Health-minded Gig Harbor residents looking for organic produce or gourmet groceries will have a one-stop place to shop as of this month. Harbor Greens, a 9,000-square-foot, upscale grocery store was set for a grand opening on June 29. Its owners, two energetic, young men who are longtime friends, believe they have found a niche — and are counting on the fact that their new store fills a need.
Chad Roy and Scott Teodoro have been tossing around the idea for a sort of Local Boys meets Metropolitan Market concept for more than three years. Two years ago, they found their perfect location, and planning went into high gear. The store is the anchor tenant — and first business to open — in a new multiuse development, Olympic Square Center, being developed by Rush Construction in west Gig Harbor.
“We think Gig Harbor has the clientele that will support this kind of business,” Roy said. “And there is nothing like it here... (Full Article)
|
Reprinted in part from CNNMoney.com:
Best Places to Live: Top 100
This year's list focused on smaller places that offered the best combination of economic opportunity, good schools, safe streets, things to do and a real sense of community. |
| Number 99: Silverdale, Washington. Population: 17,100. Median home price (2006): $314,788. Average property taxes (2006): $2,345... (Full Article) |
|
Statement from NASCAR |
| “This morning, at approximately 8:40 a.m. Eastern Time, a Cessna 310 registered to Competitor Liaison Bureau, Inc. of Daytona Beach, crashed in a Sanford, Florida, area neighborhood. At this time, we can confirm there were two people on-board, including the pilot, Dr. Bruce Kennedy and Michael Klemm, a senior captain with NASCAR Aviation. Both were killed in the crash... (Full Article) |
Gilje Resigns as President/CEO
of KPS Health Plans |
 |
| Gilje |
After serving eight years as KPS Health Plans president and CEO, Elizabeth Gilje announced today she is resigning.
“It is time that I move on, my work is complete here. The receivership is now concluded with the final payment to the providers on their surplus notes and KPS has completed its turnaround and is healthy and viable,” stated Gilje.
From July 1999, Gilje worked with the KPS staff and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) to bring the company into a financially healthy position. She led KPS through a successful receivership and through a smooth transition with new ownership by Group Health. Under her tenure, KPS expanded beyond the Peninsula to cover individuals and businesses statewide. KPS also received numerous “Best Places to Work” and customer service awards from several sources... (Full Article)
|
Businesses that offer delivery, shipping
to be affected by new sales tax law
By Rodika Tollefson |
| Legislation enacted during this year’s legislative session will bring a major change to Washington state’s sales tax laws, affecting almost every business that delivers or ships retail goods statewide, even rentals. Called a “streamlined” sales tax, starting in 2008 the tax will be collected based on the destination of the delivery, not on the originating location. Which means if a furniture shop in Bremerton, for example, delivers a couch to Tacoma customer, it will have to charge Tacoma sales tax rates... (Full Article) |
Hospice of Kitsap County to open
residential care center |
| Hospice of Kitsap County plans to open the county’s first in-patient, residential hospice Care Center at the end of the year. With the demand for hospice services expected to continue growing, the facility will fulfill a long-standing need by providing a place that extends dignity and caring at the end of life... (Full Article) |
Capital campaign to start
for Gig Harbor oncology center
By Rodika Tollefson |
| With the St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor finally under way, Franciscan Health System has launched a capital campaign to raise funds for the hospital. The campaign’s main focus is a 13,500-square-feet, state of the art oncology center that will occupy the first floor of a medical building adjacent to the hospital... (Full Article) |
Ready, set, toll!
The new Narrows Bridge opens in July
By Rodika Tollefson |
| Driving to the Tacoma side? If you’re planning to do it after July 16, make sure to have some change in your pocket or your debit/credit card ready. After five years of construction (which followed years of years of planning, opposition, litigation, moans and raves), the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge is about to open. Which means drivers traveling eastward will have to pay a toll... (Full Article) |
|
Art Anderson Associates adds more new talent |
| Bremerton’s Art Anderson Associates recently hired six new employees to keep pace with its increasing project workload. The new employees are Bill Higgins, Ed Cuaron, Greg Jennings, Todd Allen, Tinisha Rockiett, and Zach Wonderly... (Full Article) |
U.S. Supreme Court rules unions must ask
in “paycheck protection” suit
Washington State Supreme Court unanimously overruled |
| In a suit brought by the Evergreen Freedom Foundation and argued by Washington State Attorney General Rob Mckenna, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that it is constitutional to require unions to first ask permission before they use someone else’s money to further their own political causes... (Full Article) |
Gregoire again ignores business, defends
L&I’s “emergency” heat stress rule |
| Governor Christine Gregoire defended the ineptitude of bureaucrats at the state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) and offered her support for the controversial emergency “heat stress” rule which recently went into effect... (Full Article) |
The check is in the mail
Tips on making effective collection calls
By Paula Bartlett, President, Saba & Associates |
| Whether you own or manage a business, one of the most challenging aspects can be managing the accounts receivable. Without good management and attention to accounts receivable, businesses can get in trouble quickly. The normal procedure is sending out statements monthly. After the monthly statements have been sent short notes are written or past due notices are sent. These notes will work for many of your customers or patients, but some will never respond. Some individuals have no problem working on the free money you have allowed them to borrow... (Full Article) |
Understanding each customer’s
true dollar value
By Wendy Miles |
| It has been said that 20 percent of our customers generate 80 percent of our revenue; however, for most companies, resources are most often spent interacting with customers who are the biggest (sales), the loudest (service) or the easiest to find (marketing). You may be thinking to yourself, “Well, of course! Sales, service and marketing are the foundation of any successful business!” But are they? Have you considered the actual value of these transactions... (Full Article) |
Bremerton tunnel construction begins
in this month
By Rodika Tollefson |
| Commuters on the ferry from Bremerton and other downtown drivers should be prepared for detours, which will last for as long as two years. Construction of a tunnel, planned for many years, gets underway in July. The $30.7 million federally financed project will construct a two-lane, 950-foot-long tunnel to take vehicles offloading from the ferry directly to State Route 304 and Burwell Street. Drivers will also be able to use the current route... (Full Article) |
ENVIRONMENTAL
Low Impact Development...
and other water sports
We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When
we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with
love and respect. ~Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac
LID showcase project completed
By Kathleen Byrne-Barrantes |
| The Home Builders Association (HBA) and Kitsap Home Builders Foundation Showcase Low Impact Development (LID) project at the office site off of Kitsap Way in Bremerton wrapped up in the last weeks of June... (Full Article) |
Task force to act on state’s new
family leave law
By Rodika Tollefson |
| Following the passage of a bill in the last legislative session mandating new family leave requirements, a 13-member task force is been created as a step toward implementation of the law. The task force will decide which agency will oversee the new program, how the program will be administered, as well as how the it will be funded... (Full Article) |
KMHS executive director announces
retirement plans |
| Larry Keller, executive director of Kitsap Mental Health Services, has announced his intention to retire after 30 years of service with the agency. Keller was hired in 1978 to consolidate local agencies providing mental health services in Kitsap County into one service agency originally named Kitsap Resources Consolidated. In 1985 the name changed to Kitsap Mental Health Services... (Full Article) |
Things I can’t do without
Doña Keating: Solitude is her key to success
By Amy Hager |
| Doña Keating has a life full of personal, business and civic obligations. This Bremerton resident is a well-respected woman who is active in many things but tries to make time for solitude. “It may sound unbelievable, but at the core I am a loner and introvert,” she said. “The ability to enjoy myself alone is critical to remaining engaged at the level I do.... (Full Article) |
West Sound Workforce certified
as Woman-Owned Business Enterprise |
| West Sound Workforce, which has offices in Poulsbo and Gig Harbor, has been officially certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) according to an announcement from the State of Washington Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises... (Full Article) |
|
Hoke named to board of directors of CASH |
| Bill Hoke of Bremerton has been appointed to the board of directors of Washington Community Alliance for Self Help (CASH), a micro enterprise and lending program for economically disadvantaged men and women. The program is headquartered in Seattle. Hoke has been a volunteer mentor for the CASH program in Kitsap County for six years and in 2002 was named “Mentor of the Year... (Full Article) |
|
Change of command at NAVFAC Northwest |
| Capt. Paul T. Fuligni, commanding officer of Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Northwest, handed over the reins to Capt. Robert D. Schlesinger in a change of command ceremony on June 15... (Full Article) |
|
Recognition, training important to success |
| Human resource managers who develop employee recognition and training programs are as important as CEOs in determining the success of an organization, according to a speaker at a recent Society for Human Resource Management’s annual conference... (Full Article) |
HDR/FishPro presents
at the Kitsap Water Festival |
| Becky Holloway, an environmental biologist, of the Port Orchard office of HDR/FishPro was a presenter at the Kitsap County Water Festival held recently at Olympic College. The annual festival provides concentrated, hands-on learning to over 900 local fourth graders about water resources and the associated organisms that depend upon clean water and aquatic habitats... (Full Article) |
|
Goodwill opens new store in Port Orchard |
| Goodwill Industries opened its 15th Puget Sound area store, and second in Kitsap, in Port Orchard on June 28. The store is located at Towne Center (formerly South Kitsap Mall), 1700 SE Mile Hill Drive, in the space most recently occupied by Big Lots... (Full Article) |
|
Legislative Business Stars honored |
| United For Washington’s Business Institute held the first ever Business Stars Awards luncheon on June 11, to honor four state lawmakers for their leadership during the 2007 Legislative session on behalf of Washington’s private sector... (Full Article) |
KCDEM announces new alert
and warning program |
| Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management (KCDEM) has launched a new “Alert and Warning” program where residents voluntarily sign up to receive information from KCDEM via an email and in emergencies by telephone or text message... (Full Article) |
Silverdale’s Heads Up Brewery
captures international awards |
| Heads Up Brewing is celebrating after a record breaking win at the North American Beer Awards. With over 1000 beers from all over the world, three of its beers, Bourbon Barrel Millennium Barley Wine, Sour Brown, and Abbey Style Triple, were selected at the award ceremony in Idaho Falls on June 1... (Full Article) |
|
Riki Jacobs retires from Crisis Clinic |
| Riki Jacobs, supervisor of the Crisis Clinic of the Peninsulas and a Native American Mental Health Specialist, has announced her retirement effective July 6. Jacobs joined Kitsap Mental Health Services (KMHS), the agency administering the Crisis Clinic, over 27 years ago when the Crisis Clinic served only Kitsap County. Under Jacobs’ leadership, its services expanded to include Clallam and Jefferson, the other two counties in the Peninsula Regional Service Network, and earned a certification by the American Association of Suicidology making the Crisis Clinic eligible to join the National Hopeline Network... (Full Article) |
|
EMBARQ volunteers earn AWB recognition |
| EMBARQ was among fourteen companies recently honored for their outstanding community service by the Association of Washington Business (AWB) at its spring board meeting in Spokane... (Full Article) |
|
Malibu Boats sticks to Westech |
| Malibu Boats of Merced, Calif., manufacturers of the pre-eminent competition waterski and wakeboard boats, recently expanded its business alliance with Westech Adhesives, of Port Orchard... (Full Article) |
|
Lint earns coveted CRS designation |
| Cindy Lint, a Realtor with Windermere Real Estate/West Sound, Inc., has been awarded the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation by the Council of Residential Specialists. Realtors who receive the CRS designation have completed advanced courses and have demonstrated professional expertise in the field of residential real estate. Fewer than 38,000 realtors nationwide have earned the credential.
Lint can be reached at (360) 692-6102 or cindylint@windermere.com.
|
|
Workplace flexibility may increase productivity |
| According to a study by Brandeis University Community, parents with high parental after-school street (PASS) miss as many as five more days of work a year than their low PASS counterparts. They also frequently make errors, turn down requests to work extra hours and miss meetings and deadlines.
Companies that provide for greater flexibility will see more productivity and less workplace disruptions than those that don’t. Policies that are cited in the study that creates a family friendly environment include flextime, telephone leniency, and employee assistance programs. (Brandeis University Community, Families & Work Program, www.bcfwp.org)
|
Performance = promotion?
Some minorities disagree |
| Employee perceptions of merit-based promotions may be shaped by their ethnicity. White workers are more likely to believe that job performance will lead to promotions whereas Hispanic and Black employees are somewhat less sure.
According to a survey by Noavations Inc., nearly 63 percent of white workers believe performance is the most critical factor in career advancement, compared with about 57 percent of Hispanic and 58 percent if Black workers. Instead, the minority workers are more likely than whites to cite other reasons, such as “who you know” and seniority.
|
|
Washington CASH graduates six in Kitsap |
| Washington Community Alliance for Self Help (CASH) recently graduated Leslie Camarillo, Sandra MacArthur, Lisa Lenzzo, James Irwin, Joseph Gariabaldi and Paulita Franklin from its 9 week Business Development Training Program in May. These individuals learned about cash flow, profit and loss projections, mission statements, elevator speeches, marketing, taxes and how to build a business plan.
For more information, contactStuart Walton at stuart@washingtoncash.org or call (206) 914-4824.
|
Westsound Bank now ranked
in top 200 banks nationally |
| WSB Financial Group, Inc., the parent company for Westsound Bank, announced that it has been ranked 38 on the top 200 Community Banks list. The list, published by U.S. Banker Magazine, uses data collected by SNL Financial, which includes banks with less than $1 billion dollars in assets and ranks banks based on a 3-year average return on equity. |
S. K. Helpline reschedules
“Vintage to Vogue” fundraiser |
| The South Kitsap Helpline Food Bank’s fifth annual “Vintage to Vogue Carnivale” fundraising auction and dinner originally scheduled for June 2 at McCormick Woods in Port Orchard, has been postponed until Saturday, Oct.6 at 6 p.m. The location remains the same. Call (360) 876-4089 for more information. |
Bainbridge Rotary Auction and Rummage Sale
set for July 6 |
| The 47th annual Bainbridge Island Rotary Auction and Rummage Sale kicks off July 6, from 4 to 9 p.m. with an evening preview auction. The silent auction runs from 4 to 7 p.m. and the live auction from 7 to 9 p.m. The rummage sale opens the next morning at 8 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m.
The yearly event is held at Woodward Middle School at 9125 Sportsman Club Rd NE, on Bainbridge Island.
For more Information call (206) 842-9111 or visit www.bainbridgeislandrotary.org.
|
|
Coach opens new business in Silverdale |
| Joanne Victoria, core vision strategist, author and speaker announced the opening of New Directions in Silverdale.
Victoria is the author of Vision with a Capital V – Create the Business of Your Dreams. She works with and speaks to independent professionals, small business owners, professional associations, and helps clients attract more prospects, referrals and income.
Reach New Directions at (360) 377-2995 or www.JoanneVictoria.com.
|
|
Possum’s Boutique now open in Poulsbo |
| Possum’s Boutique, located at 19132 Jensen Way NE, in Poulsbo offers children’s clothing for age’s newborn to 6 years old. The inventory includes clothing by Zutano, Tea, One Kid, Feather Baby, Sage Creek Organics, Under the Nile; and shoes, including Wee Squeaks.
The boutique will also offer dress-up clothes including princess and pirate costumes, and hats, as well as blankets, wood toys, raingear, gift items, organic lotion and more.
Possum’s Boutique can be reached at (360) 598-2229.
|
|
WINGS to hold after hours networking evening |
| Women in Networking Generating Success (WINGS) is holding its next after hours networking evening on July 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. Dr. Kim Allen will give a short presentation on “How to have a successful show.” Dr. Michelle Cho Gip will host the event at her new office, located at 19337 Jensen Way NE, in Poulsbo.
Light refreshments will be served. The cost is $10 per person. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Mari Moffitt at (253) 232-3703 or Helen Patterson at (360) 434-2695, by July 17.
|
Clubhouse Grill in Port Orchard
boasts new owners |
| Alan Roberts and Paul McGee are the new owners at Port Orchard’s popular Clubhouse Grill and Cocktail Bar, located at 4215 SE Mile Hill Drive.
Roberts and McGee bring a history of restaurant experience and a new vision,including an updated menu serving seafood from their own commercial fishing vessels, grade-A steaks from the mid-west and daily specials with their own signatures.
For more information contact the Clubhouse Grill at (360) 871-6363 or at clubhousegrillpo@wavecable.com.
|
|
Metro Market Café on Bainbridge closes |
| Due to changes in building ownership, Metro Market Cafe on Bainbridge Island has lost its lease and closed its doors at the end of June. However, Metro Market Catering continues to offer full service catering along with boxed lunches and deliveries for large and small events. The certified catering kitchen on the island at 12685 Miller Road plans to offer take-out lunches along with Metro Market Soups to meet the needs of the Day Road business district.
For information and menus visit www.metromarketcatering.com or contact the kitchen at (206) 842.8524.
|
|
Hopkins certified in advanced Rolf method |
| Joanne Hopkins recently acquired her advanced certificate in The Rolf Method of Structural Integration. She has been practicing massage in Poulsbo since 1987 and Structural Integration since 2000. The original owner of the Olympic Spa & Massage in Poulsbo now works out of her home on Sandy Hook Road. Hopkins can be reached at (360) 598-6565. |
|
Russell opens law office in Silverdale |
| Diane Russell recently announced the launching of her solo law practice. The Law Office of Diane F. Russell is located in Old Town Silverdale. Russell offers more than 20 years of legal experience to the residents of Kitsap County. She provides counsel in the areas of family law, real estate, probate, criminal defense, employment law, contracts, estate planning and general litigation.
Russell also offers mediation and arbitration services, and is available to help local businesses resolve their disputes through mediation. She received her 40-hour mediator certification and is prepared to offer an impartial alternative to litigation.
Reach Russell at (360) 698-6063 or www.DianeRussellLaw.com.
|
Park promoted to director
of My Gym Federal Way |
| My Gym Silverdale announced that Susan Park has been promoted to director. She will be running My Gym Silverdale until July, at which time she will become the new director of My Gym Federal Way, scheduled to open in September.
My Gym Silverdale has also announced that Jenifer Rasco has been promoted to assistant director of the Silverdale facility and would like to welcome Rebecca Merker and Kellie Greenhill to the Silverdale team.
|
|
Kitsap Bank promotes Cindy Countryman |
| Kitsap Bank announced that Cindy Countryman has been promoted to the position of human resources generalist. Countryman has been with the bank since 2004, serving as payroll/human resources coordinator. She is certified as a professional in human resources (PHR), and is nearing completion of her degree in human resources management.
“We are pleased to see Cindy transition to this new position,” remarked Marilyn Hoppen, Kitsap Bank human resources director, “She is a very dedicated and hard-working professional, who has a thorough understanding of the Human Resources department’s role at Kitsap Bank.”
|
County administrator to address
23rd District Dems |
| Kitsap’s new County Administrator, Nancy Buonanno Grennan, will speak at the July 8 general meeting of the 23rd Legislative District Democrats, which meets from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Poulsbo Fire Hall.
As chief administrative officer for the county, she oversees all six departments under the Board of Commissioners.
Mendy Droke, who replaced Clarence Moriwaki as Rep. Jay Inslee’s Poulsbo Office Manager, is also slated to speak.
For information, contact Remo Barr at (360) 779-4393 or remok@comcast.net.
|
|
New service for fundraisers in Kitsap |
| Robert Loop, owner of RDL Enterprises in Bremerton, a catalog-based company with more than 3,000 family-oriented home, garden and personal items, as well as gift cards, is now offering a new service — fundraising for non-profit organizations. “We will custom-design a program to fit any fundraising need,” Loop said.
Loop, a Washington native and Washington Cash micro-credit program graduate, can be reached at 360-551-2314 or wyndryder8@netscape.com or www.shopwithrdl.com.
|
WSB Financial Group to be added
to America’s Community Bankers Index |
| WSB Financial Group, Inc., the parent company for Bremerton-based Westsound Bank announced that it has been chosen to be included in the America’s Community Bankers NASDAQ Index. This is a broadly representative stock index for community banks that track the performance of community banks and currently includes 517 community banks with total market capitalization of over $193 billion.
Westsound Bank is one of 19 community banks that was added on June 1st under the ticker symbol ACBQ. The complete list of banks can be accessed on America’s Community Bankers’ website at www.acb.us.
|
|
New date for Bainbridge Summer Golf Scramble |
| Due to a scheduling conflict, the date for the Bainbridge Island Chamber’s 11th Annual Summer Golf Scramble has been moved to Thursday, Aug. 16, from Thursday, Aug. 23. The Summer Golf Scramble will be held at Wing Point Golf & Country Club. Player cost: $105. For more information about sponsoring a hole or playing in the tournament, contact Cathy Smith or Kevin Dwyer at (206) 842-3700. |
|
|
| |
|
