Members of the public will have the opportunity to learn how Bainbridge Island’s groundwater might be affected by different land use, population growth and climate change scenarios. Staff of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which has been working with the City to develop a hydrogeologic model of the island’s groundwater, will present the results at a public meeting at Council Chambers from 5:30 - 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 27.

“Since groundwater is the sole source of drinking water for island residents, it’s imperative that we have a thorough understanding of our aquifer system in order to make sound, knowledgeable management and planning decisions,” said Cami Apfelbeck, Water Resources Specialist and Groundwater Monitoring Program Manager for the City. read more »

Kitsap Home Builders Association (HBA) announced that due to the low inventory of homes for the Parade of Homes has been cancelled this year. However, commercial builders have expressed an interest in producing a virtual tour on the HBA Web site. Commercial properties will be featured in a similar format as past Parades with information about the builder and the project. The public will be able to view the properties on line. read more »

The South Kitsap Regional Park, located in Port Orchard, was selected for a nationwide pilot project by the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES). The park’s Phase One design will be one of more than 150 projects that will participate in a new program testing the nation’s first rating system for green landscape design, construction and maintenance.

Kitsap County, which owns the park, will not receive read more »

AGT Advanced Environmental Services Inc. recently expanded and added some new personnel. As foreclosures continue to plague the housing market, AGT has added a new foreclosure clean up division. read more »

Real Estate Appraisers Shirley Allen, Glen Sprecher, Sprecher Appraisal Service, Jeffrey Hansen, Kitsap County Appraisal Inc. and Jo Schaefer, Schaefer, Schaefer Callahan Appraisal Group Inc. all recently earned the Green Valuation Specialist Designation. Requirements for the designation included a comprehensive two day training class and successful passing of two exams. In order to maintain the designation the appraisers are required to complete four hours of continuing education each year.

Hall & Company of Poulsbo, a firm providing professional liability insurance to architects, engineers and environmental consultants, is one of the first businesses in the state to install a solar array and capitalize on Washington State’s Renewable Energy Production Incentive Program. “It’s simple,” states owner Mike Hall. “As sure as the sun will shine, I will make a 14 percent compounded annual return on my investment over the next ten years. And the project will continue to yield energy savings for another 20 years beyond that.” read more »

On May 6, John L. Scott Poulsbo managing broker Frank Wilson and agents from his office hosted a retirement party for Ed Bomar. Bomar has retired after almost 34 years with John L. Scott.

Bomar began his career in November 1976 at John L. Scott’s Bainbridge Island office. He managed the Poulsbo office from 1981 until 1984.

Nearly 150 people attended Ed’s retirement party. Guests included clients, friends, family, and agents, both active and retired, that he had worked with over the course of his career. read more »

Certified Distressed Property Expert Penny McLaughlin of Penny’s Team Real Estate, is now offering free educational information for homeowners who are delinquent on their mortgages.

Accessible through www.pennysteam.com/cdpe, these educational materials clearly explain what a homeowner’s options are when faced with an unaffordable mortgage, as well as the benefits of each option. read more »

Tacoma-based Rushforth Construction has kicked off construction on the 85,784-square-foot Haselwood Family YMCA in Silverdale, which will be the first component of the 12-acre Central Kitsap Community Campus.

The facility is slated to serve up to 15,000 residents, and includes an aquatics center, wellness centers, exercise and multipurpose rooms, youth drop-in center, gym, community meeting rooms and nursery.

Rushforth utilized 3D virtual construction technology called Building Information Modeling on the project to maximize the design and enhance construction efficiency. read more »