KINGSTON — A wall of people, projects and events — centered around Kingston — greeted visitors to the Kingston Junior High Commons Tuesday night. Though the space seemed cramped, plenty of information was easily accessible to visitors curious about changes to the community.

The Kingston Open House, formerly the Kingston Town Meeting, was hosted by the Kingston Citizens Advisory Council and boasted almost 50 information booths.

“We had over 350 people sign in,” said KCAC member and event co-organizer Greg Platz. “That is a big crowd for us. The response from people was excellent. We had people walking out of the open house with smiles on their faces.”

The event provided residents the opportunity to get caught up on various projects planned for the Kingston, and to see some of the new ideas that could impact North End communities in the near future. Representatives from White Horse, Arborwood, Kitsap County, Kingston Stakeholders, Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and Kingston Community Center Foundation, were on hand to answer questions and explain plans to the public. KCAC members were also present to help point visitors in the right direction.

A big draw for many attendees was Kitsap County’s passport table, which allowed people to register for their passports at the open house.

“I’m here to get a passport,” said Poulsbo resident Dorothy Gordon. This was her first year at the open house, and she said she was amazed by all the information available. “My husband is wandering around here somewhere while I stand in line. He enjoys these kinds of events.”

The passport table had a line for the better part of the evening, with many residents concerned about the changes being made with regard to traveling to Canada and Mexico. By 2008, anyone crossing national borders will need a passport to return to the United States.

Passports were not the only draw; Suquamish Citizens Advisory Committee chairman Kevin McDonald said he thought it would be a good idea to observe what the SCAC’s sister group was doing in Kingston, and to get ideas that he can apply in Suquamish.

“I came to see if we could do something jointly some day,” he said. “I changed my mind. We need something uniquely Suquamish, just as this is uniquely Kingston. We’re a smaller community, so maybe we’ll do something like this on a smaller scale.”

McDonald said a goal of the SCAC should be work to generate the same excitement and energy as Kingston’s open house.

“It’s nice to live in a community where so many people care about where they live,” Platz said. “This open house is half family reunion, half get to meet your neighbor. It’s clear everyone enjoys it.”

“I love this event,” said Kitsap County Public Utilities District representative Debbie Thomas. “I’ve been coming for several years, and it’s a great opportunity for people to see what’s happening in their community. It’s a chance for neighbors to see other neighbors.”