Free solar system presentation
BREMERTON — Take a hike through the solar system … and beyond. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Solar System Ambassador Ward Yohe will present up-to-date information and images depicting past, present and future exploration of the solar system on Monday, April 27 at McCloud’s Grill House from 6:30-8 p.m. McCloud’s is located at 2901 Perry Ave.
Learn how a small fraction of taxpayer dollars are being spent on robotic and human space endeavors and what is being learned from those efforts.
Concert organist performs April 19
BREMERTON — Concert organist Douglas Cleveland will perform Sunday, April 19 at 3 p.m. at the Summit Avenue Presbyterian Church, 403 S. Summit Ave. Cleveland is considered by some critics and musicians to be one of America’s finest young organists. He is Assistant Professor or Organ and Church Music at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and is a past first prize winner of both the American Guild of Organists National Young Artists Competition in Organ Playing and the Fort Wayne Competition. Suggested donation is $20.
Norwegian genealogy deadline is April 18
BREMERTON _ The registration deadline for the eighth annual “I am Norsk” genealogy seminar is April 18. Enjoy a day of Norwegian fun on Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran, 11th and Veneta. Doors open 9 a.m.
The cost is $30 which includes snacks and lunch, individual volunteer translation and short genealogy. Bring an organizational chart of your family info. Free WiFi available. Seven tables of genealogy books will be on sale. Raffle prizes throughout the day. Wear your bunad or Norwegian favorites.
Contact www.sonsofnorway.org or Deanna Egeland Dowell at ddowell@wavecable.com or 360-479-1189 for more information and to receive a registration form.
Silverdale horseshoe league starts in April
SILVERDALE – The Silverdale summer horseshoe pitching leagues will start the second week of April. The club’s drop-in leagues meet at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds Courts on Thursdays at 2 p.m.
For more information, contact Carol Sperber, secretary of the Kitsap County Horseshoe Pitcher’s Club, at csperber1@gmail.com or 692-9315.
Students can visit Japan
BREMERTON – The City of Bremerton and the Bremerton Central Lions Club are accepting applications for exchange students to visit Kure, Japan – Bremerton’s sister city – for four weeks this summer departing on July 20. Three students will be selected to represent the City of Bremerton.
The program is offered to 10th, 11th and 12th grade students at Bremerton High School, Central Kitsap High School, Olympic High School and Klahowya Secondary School.
Students interested in applying may obtain application forms from the school counseling/career center, the Mayor’s office at City Hall in Bremerton or at www.ci.bremerton.wa.us.
Application forms must be received by the Mayor’s office no later than Thursday, April 16.
For more information, call Elaine Valencia in the mayor’s office at 360-473-5266.
Garden club plant sale
BREMERTON – The Central Valley Garden Club will host a plant sale on Friday, April 17, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the VFW Hall, 9981 Central Valley Road in Bremerton.
Large Selection of annuals, perennials, vegetable starts, trees and shrubs. Great plants at great prices, plus planters and garden art.
Climate risk talk
A free talk titled “Climate Risk Governance and Washington” will be hosted on Tuesday, May 19 6-7:30 p.m. at WWU Center at OC Poulsbo, Room 219.
Dr. Troy D. Abel will share his insight on Washington’s struggle to develop effective climate policies and how funding by the National Science Foundation can influence research and policy. RSVP at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6G8FZTG . More info at http://www.wwu.edu/ee/poulsbo/events.shtml.
Kitsap Senior Singles meets April 19
BREMERTON – Calling all single seniors – Kitsap Single Seniors will be meeting on Sunday, April 19, at 1 p.m. at the first floor of The Willows, 3201 Pine Road NE, in East Bremerton. It’s a potluck! Bring your favorite dish to share. Be ready to mix and meet new friends, play cards and games. Call Larraine with any questions at 360-871-2996.
Kitsap Beach Naturalists training through May 14
POULSBO – Washington State University Kitsap County Extension and Washington Sea Grant present the 2015 Kitsap Beach Naturalist training, an opportunity for the public to take a series of classes to learn more about marine life and shorelines, both in the classroom and while exploring beaches.
Classes take place 6-9 p.m. Thursday evenings, April 9 through May 14 at the Poulsbo Marine Science Center, 18743 Front St. Adults and teens are welcome; children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Cost for the six sessions is $65. Scholarships are available.
Surrounded by water, the Kitsap Peninsula is an amazing place to learn about and enjoy sea life. Over the course of six evening classes and a variety of field trips, participants learn about sea stars, clams, crabs, and other critters, as well as seaweeds and plants that live on local beaches. Discussion will also focus on Salish Sea oceanography, shoreline living, conservation, and restoration.
After the training, participants will be qualified to volunteer in exciting service projects, which include beach explorations, local community events and service and monitoring projects that help protect and enhance Kitsap shorelines.
For more information, go to http://ext100.wsu.edu/kitsap/beach-naturalists/ or register online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/935697.
Learn how to control marine corrosion
GIG HARBOR – Rust never sleeps, but this hands-on workshop will show how to protect boats from all types of marine corrosion.
Washington Sea Grant and the Gig Harbor Boat Shop are co-sponsoring a Marine Corrosion Protection Workshop. Topics covered will include: Galvanic corrosion of aluminum, steel, and bronze; Crevice corrosion of stainless steel; Poultice corrosion of aluminum; Corrosion-potential testing; Potential monitoring systems for aluminum and bronze; Advantages and disadvantages of various anodes; Analysis of wood damage from excessive zinc; Controlled potential systems for wooden boats; Coatings for propellers and propeller shafts; Test methods for detecting AC and DC stray current.
The workshop will be hosted May 31 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Gig Harbor Boat Shop, 3805 Harborview Dr. The cost is $60. Pre-registration required. To register or for more information, contact Sarah Fisken at 206-543-1225 or sfisken@uw.edu.
AARP Smart Driver course
BREMERTON – Be a safer driver with the AARP Smart Driver program. Bremerton Senior Center, 1140 Nipsic Ave. April 20-21, also June 22-23 (Mondays and Tuesdays). 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. $15 for AARP members; $20 otherwise. Attendees receive a certificate that may be good for an insurance discount. Pre-registration required. Call 360-473-5375.
Author to speak April 25
SILVERDALE – Elizabeth Corcoran Murray, author of A Long Way from Paris, will speak at Barnes and Noble at the Silverdale Mall on April 25 at 2 p.m. Murray’s searing non-fiction story of a city girl struggling to survive a vicious winter herding goats in the mountains of southern France in 1980 has received critical acclaim. With photos and maps, Murray will describe her adventure living without running water or heat and barely speaking French.
Kitsap Rescue Mission will host its sixth annual Dinner of Hope
BREMERTON — Enjoy an evening of food, fun, fellowship and find out what’s new at Kitsap Rescue Mission during the sixth annual Dinner of Hope. The dinner will be hosted Saturday, May 2 from 6-8 p.m. at the Gold Mountain Golf Club.
Learn how you can be a part of the solution for homelessness in Kitsap County.
If you are interested in hosting a table, contact Jenny Kucera at 360-509-2951 or exeasst@kitsaprescue.org.
KMHS offers mental health first aid training
BREMERTON – Mental Health First Aid is a nationally acclaimed training course recognized for its effectiveness in educating adults about how to respond to mental health problems and for reducing the stigma that often prevents people from seeking help.
Certified instructors from Kitsap Mental Health Services will offer the eight hour course to the Kitsap community Wednesday, April 29. Participants learn to assess a situation and respond to signs of mental health concerns, such as helping a person through a panic attack, or talking with someone who is anxious or depressed. The course is useful for everyday events, and especially helpful to people working with the public.
Cost for the training is $30; with registration required no later than April 24. For more information, or to register on-line visit www.kitsapmentalhealth.org.
Managing health costs
SILVERDALE – Donald Logan, an Edward Jones financial advisor in Silverdale, is sponsoring Managing Healthcare Costs Workshop from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, April 23 at 2416 NW Myhre Rd Suite 102 in Silverdale. For more information, call 360-692-1216.
Bonsai Club hosts former Pacific Rim curator
BREMERTON – The Evergreen Bonsai Club will host David DeGroot, recently retired as curator of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection, at its April 17 meeting.
DeGroot will present a program on displaying bonsai, including the use of decorative screens, stands, and companion plants.
The meeting will be on Friday, April 17, at 7 p.m. at the Crossroads Neighborhood Church, 7555 Old Military Road NE, in Bremerton. Admission is free and guests are welcome. For further information, please contact Ruth Anderson, 360-626-1264 or rutha33@msn.com.
State Parks offers ‘free day’ April 22
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will offer a “free day” on April 22. Visitors will not need to display a Discover Pass for day-use visits to state parks.
Free days are in keeping with legislation that created the Discover Pass, a $30 annual or $10 one-day permit required on recreation lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources. The Discover Pass legislation provided that State Parks could designate up to 12 “free days” each year when the pass would not be required to visit state parks. Discover Pass is required to access WDFW and DNR Lands on State Parks free days.
The remaining 2015 State Parks free days are as follows: May 10, June 6, June 13, Aug. 25, Sept. 26 and Nov. 11.
Outdoor club meets first Wednesdays
BREMERTON – Peninsula Wilderness Club is an informal organization for people interested in the outdoors. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m.
Meetings are held at the VFW Hall at 9981 Central Valley Rd. Go online to www.pwckitsap.org.
Registration open for third annual ‘Fore the Animals Golf Tournament’
SILVERDALE – Now is the time to register for Kitsap Humane Society’s third annual Fore the Animals Golf Tournament. Sign up today at kitsaphs.ejoinme.org/golf2015. KHS plans on making this year’s event on May 15 the most doggone fun ever.
If you’re not able to golf, please consider visiting the registration page to give a donation in lieu of your attendance. Money raised by the tournament at Port Orchard’s Trophy Lake Golf and Casting goes directly toward saving animals’ lives.
Kitsap Humane Society is a private, nonprofit, charitable organization that has been caring for animals in need since 1908. KHS admits more than 5,000 animals per year and has one of the highest lives saved rates in the US. KHS’ vision is that every adoptable companion animal has a home. For more information, visit kitsap-humane.org.
Employers can learn to develop safety committees
BREMERTON – The Department of Labor and Industries is offering a free workshop to help employers comply with state law and develop effective safety committees. The next workshop in Bremerton is May 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the L&I office in Bremerton at 500 Pacific Ave. on the 5th floor conference room. Please register in advance by calling 1-800-574-2829 or visit the website at www.lni.wa.gov. Be sure to reference course number 3-20-002.
Washington State law requires employers, depending on their size, to hold safety committee meetings or have in place a formal safety committee. This workshop is designed for those employers who are required to have a safety committee and will provide participants with information on how they can ensure the cusses of their safety committee and how the safety committee can be utilized to assist in preventing injuries and controlling your claims costs. The work shop will cover what are the Washington State requirements for conducting safety meetings, the purpose, goals, and functions of a safety committee.
Lend a helping hand to the elderly, disabled
CENTRAL KITSAP – Volunteer Services, a program of Catholic Community Services, is seeking volunteers throughout Kitsap County that would be in interested in providing a little help to low-income elders and disabled adults with yard care, by installing grab bars and by providing for transportation needs.
With the help of community, Volunteer Services can assist those that cannot afford to pay for the type of help they need or do not qualify for assistance elsewhere, or do not have family or friends available to them.
Volunteer Services helps those in need in several ways such as driving clients to medical appointments or the grocery store, running errands or shopping for those that are housebound, making minor home repairs, and helping with yard care. Lend a hand with light housework, by building wheelchair ramps and by installing grab bars.
Mileage reimbursement is provided upon request.
For more information on volunteering contact Program Coordinator Donna Jones at 360-405-0072 ext. 3 or via email at DonnaJ@ccsww.org
Strengthening Families Programs
BREMERTON – WSU Kitsap Extension Strengthening Families classes, for youth ages 10-14 and their parents/caregivers, will be held in two locations this spring.
The seven-week family program is designed to help parents and young adolescents improve communication, increase family harmony and protect youth against substance abuse. Classes are held from 5:30-8 p.m. Classes are free and include dinner and child care.
The class will be hosted at Mountain View Middle School, Tuesdays April 21 – June 2. Contact Joyce Cowdery at 360-620-7291 for more information.
Second and fourth Sundays family brunches hosted by Cascades of Bremerton
BREMERTON – Cascades of Bremerton, a continuing care campus retirement community located at 3201 Pine Road in Bremerton, is hosting an event every second and fourth Sunday of the month with seating at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. for seniors and their families. A delicious buffet of brunch favorites will be served at The Willows for $10 per guest.
RSVP is required by the second Friday prior to brunch by calling the front desk concierge at 360-479-8522.
Employee excellence class
A class titled “From Hire to Hero: Training Employees to Become Superstars” will be hosted on Tuesdays, May 5, 12, 19, 26; June 2, 9 from 6–8 p.m. at Olympic College Poulsbo – Room 107. Learn how to develop a workplace culture committed to excellence through methods for hiring great employees, effective strategies for use in employee trainings and tools for utilizing the skills of employees in order to create competency in their positions. Cost is $225. More info: http://www.wwu.edu/ee/poulsbo/conted/hire-to-hero.shtml.
Leadership Kitsap deadline is May 15
Leadership Kitsap provides an opportunity for current and future leaders to gain insight into the issues, opportunities, strengths and challenges within Kitsap County. Leadership Kitsap offers its participants access to our community leaders, awareness and understanding of critical issues, and an in-depth overview of the systems that govern, serve and develop Kitsap County. Visit www.leadershipkitsap.org to complete an application online. Tuition assistance is available to those who qualify. Contact Kathy Nelson at exdir@leadershipkitsap.org or 360-782-1058 for more information.
