Community briefs (July 17)

Chamber to host candidates, Whaling Days July 24-26

Chamber to host candidates

BREMERTON – The 18th annual Bremerton Chamber of Commerce Eggs and Issues candidate forum will be held at 7:30 a.m. at the Cloverleaf Sports Bar and Grill at 1240 Hollis St. in Bremerton.

Primary election day is Aug. 4 and election day is Nov. 3.

July 21: Bremerton council district 6 candidates Kim Faulkner, Richard Huddy and Roy Runyon. July 28: Bremerton School Board position 3 candidates Jonee Dubos, Phil Sehorn and Tony Stephens. Aug. 11: Port of Bremerton district 1 candidates Cary Bozeman and Josh Poppe. Aug. 18: City of Bremerton council districts 2 and 4 with Leslie Daugs and Greg Wheeler. Aug. 25: Bremerton school board positions 1 and 2 with Sheila Collins, Naomi Evans and J. Rubie.

Candidate forums are open to the public and reservations are not required.

Whaling Days July 24-26

SILVERDALE – Enjoy a family-oriented festival in “Old Town” Silverdale July 24-26. The festival will include Whale of a Run, a Silverdale Rotary Duck Race, Dyes Inlet Dash Outrigger Canoe Race, a Rotary pancake breakfast and the First Federal Grand Parade. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/whalingdays.

Seventh annual Kitsap Wine Festival Aug. 8

BREMERTON – The seventh annual Kitsap Wine Festival at Harborside Fountain Park (next to the Bremerton ferry landing) will feature food from local restaurants and tastings from more than 30 Washington wineries and breweries Saturday, Aug. 8, from 2-5:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy live music and breathtaking views of Puget Sound and the Port of Bremerton Marina.

Selections include Davenport Cellars, Stottle Winery and Silver City Brewery. While sipping wine or ale guests will also enjoy bites from participating restaurants and local purveyors such as Anthony’s at Sinclair Inlet, Toro Lounge, Amy’s Decadent Chocolates and Bella Bella Cupcakes.

Guests will receive a complimentary Kitsap Wine Festival commemorative wine glass and access to the retail shop to purchase select wines.

Ticket proceeds support the Harrison Medical Center Foundation and its mission to make a positive impact on lives through exceptional medical care.

All guests must be 21 or older to attend. Tickets are $45 through July 31, $55, Aug. 1-7, or $65 at the door on Aug. 8.

Tickets can be purchased at www.kitsapwinefestival.com or at the Kitsap Conference Center and Harrison Medical Center Foundation.

Hosts needed for Japanese students

BREMERTON – The Japan exchange program is seeking three families who can host teenage Japanese girls from Kure, Japan – Bremerton’s “sister city.”

The students will be here to learn English and immerse themselves in American life during a four-week summer program July 24 – Aug. 20.

For more information, contact program coordinator Elaine Valencia, at 360-473-5266 or elaine.valencia@ci.bremerton.wa.us.

Free summer meals for kids and teens

BREMERTON – Bremerton children and teenagers 18 and younger can enjoy free nutritious meals this summer at various locations and times from June 22-Aug. 14. Meals must be consumed on site. Visit www.bremertonschools.org or call 360-473-4717 for the summer schedule.

Back-to-school fair set for Aug. 26

BREMERTON – Free school supplies to families in need will be available to all families in the Bremerton School District in preschool-12th grade (while supplies last). Visit Mountain View Middle School Aug. 26 5-8 p.m. STEM activities and community information booths will also be available.

Give blood, get Wild Wings gift card

SILVERDALE – Support the American Red Cross Serving King County, South Sound and the Peninsulas by donating blood at Kitsap Mall Aug. 13 from 2-7 p.m. as part of the “100 Days of Summer, 100 Days of Hope” program.

The Red Cross needs to collect 38,000 blood donations every day of the year, but sees an average of two fewer donors at each summer blood drive. Silverdale community members can make a difference by giving blood—and hope—to those who need it. Visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code “KITSAPMALL” to sign up.

Those who come out to donate blood will receive $10 gift cards to Buffalo Wild Wings.

Kitsap Jayhawkers meet Aug. 1

BREMERTON – The Kitsap Jayhawkers will not hold their July meeting due to busy vacation and holiday schedules, but will meet again on Saturday, Aug. 1, at The Airport Diner, at 11:30 a.m. Call Doris Rice at 360-792-9151, for further details.

CKHS class of 1950 to meet Sept. 5

A luncheon to celebrate the 65-year reunion of Central Kitsap High School class of 1950 will be held at the Olive Garden restaurant in Silverdale on Sept. 5 at noon. Classmates and schoolmates are welcome to buy a lunch and share memories. For reservations call Peggy at 360-692-6478 or Jackie 360-779-7697.

Senior Singles July 19

BREMERTON – Kitsap Senior Singles will meet on Sunday, July 19, at 1 p.m. at The Willows, 3201 Pine Road NE. Bring a favorite dish to share. Meet new friends and play card games. For more information call 360-377-2771.

Library book sales

SILVERDALE – The Silverdale Friends of the Library will hold their July monthly book sale on Saturday, July 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Hess Room of the library located at 3450 NW Carlton St. in old town Silverdale.

There is also going to be a bonus book sale held during Whaling Days on Saturday, July 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The regular Monday sales will also be held on July 13, 20, and 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The friends will also accept books from the community to stock their sales.

Books and video’s can be dropped off during regular library hours.

Summer reading program at Tracyton

Get growing by reading books! Tracyton Community Library has kicked off its summer reading program – read and record 10 books this summer and win a free book.

An ice cream party will also be held Aug. 13 at 2 p.m.

To register, call or stop by the library. The library is located at 351 NW Tracy Ave. It may be reached by phone at 360-377-3571. Library hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Saturday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Volunteers needed at the Puget Sound Navy Museum in Bremerton

The Puget Sound Navy Museum in Bremerton is seeking enthusiastic people to welcome and interact with visitors at its front desk, within exhibit galleries, and in the museum gift shop.

The work is ideal for military veteran or retired PSNS & IMF workers, or for those who are interested in helping out and meeting new people. It can be a great opportunity to help educate the public about the nation’s proud Navy heritage. Local knowledge of regional Navy history is invaluable to the museum.

This summer the museum is expecting record visitation. Volunteers are the public face for the museum and allow the museum to remain open to the public 361 days per year.

The museum offers flexible schedules and are willing to accommodate individuals as best as it can.

Volunteering at the Puget Sound Navy Museum has its perks, too, such as a 10 percent discount at the gift shop, special volunteer events, and being in a highly social environment where volunteers get to interact with lots of new and exciting people.

For more information, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Alexander Hostettler at volunteer.psnm@navy.mil or 360-479-7447, or at Puget Sound Navy Museum, 251 First St, Bremerton WA 98337.

Program for early parent support to launch in Bremerton

BREMERTON – This month, Program for Early Parent Support will launch PEPS Newborn Groups for new families in Kitsap County. In a PEPS group, parents and their children meet to share and learn from one another, building confidence in their own parenting skills and sharing resources and information.

Groups meet in the homes of group members for 12 weeks, in daytime groups with one parent attending, or evening sessions, with one or both parents. Groups are open to all families with a baby that is 0-6 months old when the group starts. Registration is open now in Bremerton on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. starting July 21.

Each PEPS Group meeting includes time for sharing parenting highs and lows, time to focus on babies’ development and a discussion topic. Topics include feeding, sleeping, child development, balancing work and baby, self-care and many more. Sessions are facilitated by a trained leader. Meetings also include break time for informal socializing and connecting with other new parents.

The program fee is $150 if one parent will participate or $200 for two parents. Payment is due at time of registration. Payments can be refunded if cancelled at least three weeks before the group begins.

Since 1983 PEPS has been connecting parents in neighborhood-based groups for newborns and older babies. With PEPS, parents create strong, healthy families with concrete support, social connections and parenting resources. PEPS is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization.

For more information contact Autumn Waite at 425-280-4959 or autumnw@peps.org.

Small business fund competition

Could your small business use $20,000? Kitsap Bank is sponsoring a small business competition for entrepreneurs dedicated to growing the community economically, socially and environmentally will accept applications July 1-31. Lean more at www.kitsapbank.com/edg3-fund.