“Medical facilities are a totally different exercise in design and construction from normal office space” states Dan Ryan, president of TRC. “We have a unique perspective when it comes to building for our medical clients, because we have a sister company, Tim Ryan Properties, that is an owner of specialized medical buildings. We know what the requirements are for medical office versus outpatient surgery, for MRI and CT installations, for the ways an exam room for an ophthalmologist differs from that of a family practitioner.”

Several KPS Health Plan members have reportedly received fraudulent or ‘phishing’ calls from someone claiming to work for the health plan. The caller asks for their personal information including address, credit card or bank account information...   (Full Article)

Kitsap County Commissioner Jan Angel, a long time district resident, former commercial banker, Realtor and business owner, has announced her candidacy for state representative in the 26th legislative district, position 1. That seat is now held by Democrat legislator Pat Lantz...   (Full Article)

Retirement took police officer Brad Carpenter on a road one may not expect from a former teacher and cop: He decided to become an entrepreneur and own a coffee shop. But being the owner of the usual coffee shop wasn’t enough either. He wanted to create a place that invites people to come and relax a while, not order their drink and run...   (Full Article)

No one likes to think about taxes and so we’ve all been in the situation where we put tax preparation off until the last minute. But rushing your taxes can lead to unnecessary stress and costly errors. So before that April deadline looms up to meet you, take advantage of the time you have now to get organized so you can breeze through tax time and stay focused on the day-to-day priorities of your business...   (Full Article)

Submit your business, community, and event photos plus a 200 word brief by the 15th of each month for publishing the following month.

See your friends, business peers and neighbors in our new section...   (Full Article)

For those of us who have been in the workplace for 30 years, we remember when dress codes were simple. Women wore dresses or skirts to work, and men wore suits. Then things loosened up a bit, and women were allowed to wear pantsuits; men’s shirts no longer had to be white, and occasionally they ditched their ties. As the dot-coms exploded, companies relaxed their dress codes and implemented the business casual work environment. We were all thrilled with our new relaxed workplaces...   (Full Article)

This month, dozens of women from the area as well as beyond the region are expected to get away to Gig Harbor for an inspirational weekend highlighted by keynote speaker Kathy Ireland. The second annual “Steppin Up” conference at Best Western Wesley Inn of Gig Harbor is a chance for women to “take time, get refreshed and go back encouraged and inspired,” according to organizers...   (Full Article)

Stuart Walton director of the Washington CASH micro enterprise program in Kitsap County has announced the graduation of 12 local entrepreneurs. The graduates completed an intensive 10 week business development training program and prepared feasibility studies for their new businesses...   (Full Article)

Grant-Solutions of Kitsap County recently was notified that several grants were awarded to three of its local government clients in the last weeks of December, 2007...   (Full Article)

The Bremerton Symphony Association (BSA) has announced that it has renewed the contract of music and artistic director Elizabeth Stoyanovich for another two years, with a two-year extension. Stoyanovich is currently completing her fifth year with the BSA. Under her tenure, the Association has experienced unprecedented artistic growth...   (Full Article)

Being raised with the belief that individuals can change the world has influenced Julie Tappero to be committed to community services, and it’s what feeds her soul. Starting back in junior high school, Tappero and a friend would go door-to-door collecting books to send to soldiers in Vietnam. Later in high school, she became a volunteer with the Barry Goldwater campaign...   (Full Article)

This year’s Bainbridge Island Healthy Living Expo is slated for Saturday Feb. 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Woodward Middle School, and will include a host of activities for kids and adults...   (Full Article)

Patricia Graf-Hoke, president of Small Business Marketing Partners in Bremerton will conduct ‘The 90 Minute Branding and Marketing Plan Workshop for Women Business Owners’ on Jan. 9, at 6:30 p.m. at the company’s training center, 2112 Pacific Avenue, in Bremerton...   (Full Article)

The board of directors of the Gig Harbor Peninsula Area Chamber of Commerce recently announced that Warren Zimmerman has been selected as its new executive director. The selection follows a very successful application and interview process involving approximately thirty applicants. A formal announcement was made at the Chamber’s annual holiday party on Dec. 6...   (Full Article)

SAFE Boats International, LLC., the Port Orchard-based boat manufacturer, has signed a contract with the Mexican Navy — Armada de Mexico — to begin building a faster and stronger small boat force around the entire coast of Mexico...   (Full Article)

Downtown Bremerton’s second new hotel in three years will apparently move forward now that financing for the project has been nailed down. Seattle-based Hotel Concepts, Inc., owners of the Hampton Inn adjacent to the Harborside Conference Center, plan to build a 130-room Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott. The project site is the old Bremerton City Hall on 4th Street, between Pacific and Washington Avenues, which the firm purchased in February of 2006 at a cost of $930,000...   (Full Article)

Gig Harbor’s Regal Cinema, a three-screen movie house, will close doors in January. The closing is due to the theater’s inability to compete with the upcoming Galaxy Theatre, according to reports in the local media...   (Full Article)

SEIU Healthcare 775 NW has relocated its Bremerton office into the Best Professional Building, Suite 106, located at 801 11th Street in Bremerton, according to building owner Todd Best.

SEIU Healthcare 775 NW was formed in 2003 when home care and nursing home workers from several different SEIU locals united together to form a union focused specifically on long-term care workers and issues. Healthcare 775 NW now represents 30,500 home care and nursing home workers.

Reach Healthcare 775NW Bremerton office representative Eddy Hayes at (866) 371-3200.

Home Tech. Wiring, Inc. announced the opening of its new contractor’s office and shop located on Bay Street in Port Orchard. The new office provides a convenient location to meet with clients and contractors to discuss projects. For more information, contract Robert Casey at (360) 340-8468 or www.hometechwiringinc.com.

Westech recently received the Outstanding International Trade & Relations Partner award by the Port of Bremerton at the Partnership Appreciation reception on Nov. 1. For the past several years, the Port of Bremerton has awarded selected “partners in business” who have contributed to the success of the Port of Bremerton.

Westech, located in Port Orchard, has been a leader in adhesives that take into consideration stringent California requirements. For more information contact jdownes@ok2spray.com or call (877) 674-2010.

Ashley Gardens of Bremerton, an Alzheimer’s and dementia care community, recently named Russ Murker as business office manager for the community. In his new position, Murker will be responsible for inventory, accounting, human resources management and IT.

Murker has more than eight years of experience with clerical, communicative and IT duties, most recently working in the customer service department for an antivirus software company. For more information on Ashley Gardens call 360-478-7277.

U.S. Senator Patty Murray will speak at a Jan. 17 Port Orchard Chamber general membership luncheon. The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. and be held at Le Garmache Catering in the Westbay Center. Senator Murray will discuss current issues facing the senate, as well as the recent flooding, FEMA relief, and general questions.

Space is limited for this event and reservations are required. The cost is $15 if prepaid, $17 at the door and $20 for non-members  Call (360) 876-3505 for more information; submit a issue to Senator Murray to address, or to make a reservation.

Kitsap Credit Union (KCU) has created an account at each of its branches to receive donations to assist the service center in its response to residents affected by the Dec. 3 floods. The donations collected through the account will support local response and recovery activities.

“Kitsap Credit Union applauds the American Red Cross in its efforts to assist local victims of last week’s flood”, KCU President/CEO Elliot Gregg commented. “We want to do our part by making it possible for the public to make contributions on behalf of the Red Cross and its outreach endeavors.”

Checks can be made payable to: American Red Cross — West Sound, and mailed to Kitsap Credit Union, P.O. Box 990, Bremerton, Wash. 98337 or dropped off at any KCU branch.

Cosmo’s Restaurant and Deli has announced the return of its rustic Italian cooking classes through the South Kitsap Community Schools ongoing project. Cosmo’s will teach two classes, one at the end of January and one at the end of February. “We’ve had so many requests to revive these classes, and South Kitsap Community Schools has graciously given us a couple of times during their next session to do them” said Shelly Lewis of Cosmo’s. “We have lots of fun, eat good food, and get to know our community at the same time!”

For more information, contact the South Kitsap School District and request a copy of its community schools brochure for dates, times, and cost, or contact Cosmo’s directly at (360) 895-3138.