At the 11th annual Microsoft Research Faculty Summit, Microsoft Corp. announced the latest version of the WorldWide Telescope and unveiled the largest seamless spherical map ever made of the night sky. Microsoft also released the most complete high-resolution coverage of Mars available, provided through an ongoing collaborative relationship with NASA, allowing WorldWide Telescope users to experience Mars in 3-D.

To learn more, Microsoft encourages viewers to download the WorldWide Telescope rich application at www.worldwidetelescope.org. read more »

Mason County Literacy will hold pre-service volunteer tutor orientation and training July 30 and 31 for volunteers who are interested in tutoring adults in Shelton, Belfair and Olympia. The training and orientation equips the volunteer tutors with the tools they need to support student success.

“Volunteer tutors are the backbone of our program.” said Kris Smock, executive director. “Recently we had eight students pass their GED tests; this represents both the hard work and effort of the student and dedication of our volunteers.” read more »

The County Commissioners are seeking veterans willing to be considered for appointment to the Kitsap County Veterans Advisory Board. Veterans who are interested in achieving maximum use of limited public resources to assist indigent veterans and their families are encouraged to apply. Candidates must be Kitsap County residents and veterans with an honorable discharge. Fifty-one percent of advisory board members must belong to local branches of nationally recognized veteran services organizations. read more »

Coates Design Architects has been awarded LEED Platinum Certification for a home designed for Ed and JoAnne Ellis of Bainbridge Island. Coates Design is the first firm to achieve LEED Platinum Certification for a single-family residence in Washington, outside of the city of Seattle.

LEED Certification is the international standard for measuring building sustainability, and the certification demonstrates that a project is truly green. LEED Platinum is the highest possible level of certification. The Ellis residence incorporates many green technologies, including geothermal heating, photovoltaic energy collection, vegetated roofs, rainwater harvesting and passive-solar strategies that minimize energy use. read more »

Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal’s annual 40 Under Forty leadership recognition program’s nomination deadline of Aug. 10 is approaching.

Do you know someone who is outstanding in their industry or profession who is deserving of recognition? read more »

In a move that downright mystified some people in Kitsap County, former County Commissioner Chris Endresen has accepted the position of Director of Economic Development for the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC). In that position, she will be tasked with leading the staff of the region’s economic development district and staff of the Prosperity Partnership, a coalition of over 300 public and private interests within PSRC’s four-county (Kitsap, King, Pierce and Snohomish) region.

According to a press release from the PSRC, the Prosperity Partnership is counting on Endresen’s leadership skills to help in its launch of a major reassessment of how to re-tool the way it support jobs in the region over the next several years. read more »

Frank Kenny, North Mason Chamber president and CEO, has announced his resignation effective Aug. 31. Kenny will begin a yearlong tour in September around the country to speak about social media to chambers of commerce and small business audiences.

Recognized as a leading expert in social networking and social media for chambers of commerce and small business, Kenny has resigned from the North Mason Chamber to pursue his dream of being a public speaker. He has garnered support for the tour from association and industry leaders in the chamber of commerce field, in Washington and nationally. read more »

Jannae Mitton Jolibois has joined the Gig Harbor office of Ticor Title as the Account Manager. She is a life-long resident of the Gig Harbor area and lives on Fox Island. Mitton Jolibois has over 13 years in the title and escrow business and is a 2007 Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal 40 Under Forty award recipient.

Wade Perrow Construction LLC (WPC) of Gig Harbor received an AGC Safety Team award at the AGC’s Annual Refund and Award Celebration. WPC earned the “Safety and Claims Management” award for achieving an Experience Modification Rate (EMR) of .60 and for no time-loss or impairment claims in the last 3 years.