Kitsap County Central Communications (CENCOM) had two employees receive top honors from the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO), the world’s largest organization of public safety communications officials. Donna Kelly was named Telecommunicator of the Year, while Ken Sala was honored as the state’s top Communications Information Technician for 2012.
Kelly has worked at CENCOM for 14 years, and serves as a primary call receiver as well as handling staff training duties.
Sala, who has worked for CENCOM for six years, is responsible for the design, repair, installation and maintenance of all electronic systems. He also conducts monthly training sessions with other employees. read more »
A launch party for Olalla author Gregg Olson’s new book “Betrayal” — the latest installment of his Port Gamble-based Empty Coffin series — will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 4 in Port Gamble. West Sound Reads invites the public to the event at Hood Canal Vista Pavilion, 4740 NE View Drive.
Olson’s book was inspired by the Amanda Knox murder trial in Italy.
In this sequel to “Envy,” Hayley and Taylor Ryan find themselves tangled once again in the deadly secrets of Empty Coffin, Wash. (a.k.a. Port Gamble). As the crime unravels, so does the twins’ past … and they must face off against a family member who may have unexpectedly carried out the worst betrayal of all.
The author also will be signing books and reading from his novels at these locations read more »
Several local authors will be stopping by The Loft at Liberty Bay Books in Poulsbo to discuss their newly released books. All events are free.
Jonathan Evison’s newest novel is “The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving,” which follows a teenager with muscular dystrophy and his caregiver who venture out on a hair-raising road trip across the American West following a great loss. Evison will be at The Loft at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 6.
Local author and UW graduate Katherine Malmo will be at Liberty Bay Books on Sept. 8 at 4 p.m. to discuss her book “Who in this Room,” a collection of creative nonfiction based on her diagnosis and battle with breast cancer. But Malmo’s story isn’t solely about cancer, it is also a true tale of survival and joy found in every day life. read more »
The Sustainable Cinema Series will feature the film “What’s on Your Plate” on July 26 at 6:30 p.m. at Dragonfly Cinema, 822 Bay St. in Port Orchard.
July’s film showcases a growing movement. Food value and nutrition topics provoke opinions about everyone’s health. Of particular concern is childhood obesity, which has quadrupled in the last 10 years. “What’s on Your Plate” features a journey through the eyes of two inquisitive 11-year old girls as they regard a variety of perspectives on how food reaches a community, and the challenges encountered. read more »
The newly remodeled Rite Aid Wellness Store is holding a grand opening event from noon to 4 p.m. on July 14 in Port Orchard. The store features increased staffing for customer service, an enhanced selection of wellness products and resources, and advanced clinical services including a private pharmacist consultation room at most locations.
Based on Rite Aid’s latest store design, Wellness Stores are part of the drugstore chain’s continued commitment to providing services, products and resources to help customers and their families live healthier lives. read more »
Liberty Bay Books in Poulsbo is a community partner in World Book Night U.S., an ambitious campaign to give away half a million free, specially printed books in thousands of cities and towns across America on April 23.
Volunteer book lovers will help promote reading by going into their communities and distributing free copies of a book they enjoy to new or light readers, reaching them especially in underserved places — and even some fun spots. Volunteers will be picking up the books they selected to share in locations as diverse as VA hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, ballparks, mass transit, diners and more. read more »
The South Kitsap Helpline Food Bank’s application to sell vegetable starts, plants and flowers to benefit the non-profit agency at the Port Orchard Farmer’s Market was denied by market membership. This occurred in a 5 to 4 vote on Thursday, March 15, at the market’s membership meeting at Saar’s Marketplace in Port Orchard.
The reason given for denial was stated to be because the South Kitsap Helpline has a retail location at the nursery; even though Helpline officials at the meeting stated they were very willing to stop selling on-site to comply with market rules.
Applied Technical Systems (ATS), located in Silverdale, is one of three companies awarded a one year contract with two option years to develop simple and unified interfaces to make the user experience as integrated and intuitive as possible for the US Patent & Trademarks Office (USPTO). This project supports Trademarks-Next Generation (TM-NG) and Patents End-to-End (PE2E). ATS was also recently contracted to redesign, develop and implement the new user interface for PE2E. read more »
In March, the South Kitsap School District (SKSD) began a new program in its mission to “care for the whole child” by launching Hope Academy. This new program operates under the umbrella of Explorer Academy and is headed by principal of South Kitsap Alternative Programs, Pat Oster. It is designed to help recover dropout and expelled students from grades 9 through 12.
Students who are expelled, dropped out, or have otherwise slipped through the cracks of the school system now have another chance to receive their education in a more personalized instructional environment. read more »
