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 »

Helpline’s Port Orchard Nursery is now an authorized location for the sale of Ed Hume seeds. A portion of all seed sales benefit the food bank.

They have all the seeds necessary for a bountiful fall garden. In addition to a wide variety of popular herb seeds, there is a large assortment of peas, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, kohlrabi, leeks, onions, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard, turnips and garden perennials, wildflowers, hollyhock and poppies. All seeds are specifically for fall crops. read more »

South Kitsap Helpline announced that it will be holding its official grand re-opening of the Port Orchard Nursery and its 30th anniversary on Sat. August 14, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Port Orchard Nursery located at 1012 Mitchell Ave.

There will be free garden and greenhouse tours, fun art classes and workshops for children and plant sales. See firsthand how Helpline is growing fresh produce for the food bank and learn about the plans for future food bank operations to provide clients with healthy food and educational opportunities. read more »

Polio is on its way into the annals of history. Endemic in only 4 countries of the world, it is entirely possible to wipe out this crippling disease in the next five years. It will take about a half billion dollars to remove this scourge from the face of the earth. Rotary has been a prime mover in getting to this point, but could use some help from others to finish the job.

Merchants, churches and other organizations with reader boards are being asked to post an invitation to the public to contribute during the first week in August. The invitation is simple, “Help Rotary end polio now — contribute at www.rotary.org/en/endpolio.” read more »

Habitat for Humanity of Kitsap County helped the national Habitat for Humanity organization achieve the rank of No. 8 on the Builder 100 list, marking the first time the nonprofit has been among the top 10 biggest builders in the United States. The list also shows Habitat, with 5,294 closings last year, moved up three spots in 2009 from its 2008 ranking of No. 11.

Habitat for Humanity of Kitsap County has completed three homes at the organization’s Cornerstone Project located in East Bremerton this year and a fourth in Suquamish. They have three more underway which they expect to complete the end of this year. Permits are in hand for five more homes and they expect to start one additional unit any time now. read more »

Chuck K. Huddleston and Hank Mann-Sykes recently celebrated their 20th anniversary as members of the Silverdale Rotary Club on June 1.

Huddleston is the founder of Huddleston, McKenzie & Associates CPA in Silverdale and was sponsored by Ken Hermanson, vice-president with Kitsap Bank.  read more »

The American Red Cross is offering CPR, first aid and other preparedness classes in Kitsap County during the month of July. All classes will be held at the West Sound Service Center at 811 Pacific Avenue in Bremerton unless otherwise indicated. Special classes may also be arranged at the workplace, or amongst community groups. All classes are taught by certified Red Cross volunteers. Class fees support Red Cross services and programs in the community. Continuing education units are now available for many classes. Call (360) 377-3761 to request information. read more »

On June 1, East Bremerton Rotary awarded $7,000 in scholarships to the following students at Olympic High School for academic achievements:

• Sarah Bay - $1,000 for two years Olympic College
• Mariah Gallegos - $1,000 for two years Olympic College
• Carren Axtman - $1,000 for one year Eastern Washington University
• John Wojtech - $1,000 for one year Hartwick College, New York
• Alexis Muhleman - $1,000 for one year Olympic College
• Chelsea Brustad - $1,000 for one year — Olympic College
• Kathryne Presley - $1,000 for one year — Olympic College

This year’s Rotary Club of East Bremerton was assisted by a generous contribution by the Ray Islam Foundation making the scholarships available.

A construction crew of women volunteers will pick up their hammers to side the walls of a new Kitsap Habitat for Humanity home as part of Habitat’s Women Build program. The siding of the Mox family’s new house will take place at 391 Gatestone Court in East Bremerton at 8:30 a.m. on Sat. July 10.

Sign-ups have exceeded expectations for this event. With so many on board, Women Build volunteers will spread their skills across the build site to work on siding, foundation work and drywall installation on three sites in addition to the Mox home. read more »