People and places

Here's a few of the things that are going on in our communities

Gateway Inns wins lodging honors

The Navy Gateway Inns and Suites (NGIS) on Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) garnered five-star accreditation and the coveted Secretary of Defense’s 2013 Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt Award for Excellence in lodging management.

NGIS on both NBK Bremerton and NBK Bangor earned the honors, and NBK Commanding Officer Captain Thomas Zwolfer presented the awards during a ceremony on NBK Bremerton, Wednesday.

“The Zumwalt Award is just another example of the very talented people we have here at Naval Base Kitsap,” said Captain Zwolfer. “Two weeks ago our energy specialists received the SECNAV Energy Award for large shore commands; before that our Navy chefs won the Ney Award for having the best galley in the Navy up at Bangor.”

Captain Zwolfer also had something unexpected for one of the employees attending the ceremony.

“Today we are at NBK Bremerton for the Admiral Elmo Zumwalt Five-Star award for Navy Gateway Inns and Suites, and a highly competitive personal award for a talented and dedicated person who was selected as the Navy NGIS enterprise-wide Housekeeper of the Year.”

That Housekeeper of the Year was Castrence “Cathy” Calden.

She stressed though, that the job has always been about serving the service members for whom NGIS is a “home away from home” and that she and her fellow employees will remain focused on that.

Judging for the award covers a number of areas, all of which must pass, and facilities must score at least 95 percent overall.

Since 1996, NGIS Bremerton has earned six Five-Star awards, while the Bangor location has earned five. Inspections are conducted every other year.

Inspection visits are unannounced, so each NGIS must be inspection ready every day.

Silverdale Rotary honors military

The Silverdale Rotary Club recently recognized outstanding military personnel from the Marine Corps Security Force Battalion Bangor.  The award is given to those sailors and Marines who consistently exhibit extraordinary job skills, excellent leadership abilities and good community service.

The award is highly competitive and it is considered an honor to be chosen.

Each person named was a top performer among their peers, and all of them are core personnel that are heavily relied on to get jobs done.  Each recipient was awarded with a plaque and a gift card to recognize their achievement.

This quarter’s winners were:

MA2 Jordan Catherman – Junior Sailor of the Quarter

MA1 Trisha Blosser – Senior Sailor of the Quarter

Cpl Chantley Hawkins – Marine of the Quarter

MASN Nicholas Rodabaug – Blue Jacket of the Quarter

Marine of the Quarter – Cpl Chantley Hawkins

Kitsap Transit to host meetings

Kitsap Transit will be hosting community meetings on Saturday, April 5. Executive Director John Clauson will share a brief summary of Kitsap Transit’s 2013 accomplishments and 2014 plans. Come share ideas and ask questions.

The session in Bremerton will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Harborside Building, 60 Washington Avenue, second floor.

A session in Silverdale will be at 11 a.m. at the Haselwood Family YMCA in the community room, 3909 NW Randall Way.

Fundraiser set for Oso slide victims

The Port Orchard Eagles will host a fundraiser on April 5 to raise funds for victims of the Oso mudslide. Gumbo, rice and cornbread will be $8 at the 4001 Jackson Ave. location in Port Orchard. On April 12, the group will also host a spaghetti feed with all proceeds going to help the mudslide victims. Cost will be $8 and includes spaghetti, salad and garlic bread. The event will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the 4001 Jackson Ave.

Symposium April 7 for nonprofits

The Secretary of State’s Corporations and Charities Division is sponsoring a charity and nonprofit educational symposium in Bremerton on Monday, April 7.

The event will be held at Kitsap Conference Center, 100 Washington Ave., from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with lunch provided.

Teresa Glidden, education coordinator for the Corporations and Charities Division, said the event will provide valuable information about the legal and fiduciary duties of a nonprofit board, maintaining nonprofit status, financial controls, registration and renewal requirements for charities, Washington state tax requirements, and special occasion licensing from the Washington State Gambling Commission.

There is a $10 per-person lunch charge to help defray the costs of the facility and catering. Registrants can pay online when they register by credit or debit card. Registration is limited and available online at www.sos.wa.gov/charities/training

Kitsap MS walk is April 12 in Silverdale

The Kitsap County Walk MS will be Saturday, April 12 in Silverdale.

The National MS Society, Greater Northwest Chapter, has set its sights on raising $34,000 at Walk MS Kitsap County. Together with nearly two dozen other Walk MS events in Washington, Alaska, Northern Idaho and Montana, the Chapter hopes to raise $2.2 million during its largest annual fundraising event.

The Silverdale event will begin at 9 a.m. at Klahowya Secondary School, 7607 NW Newberry Hill Road.

Other Walk MS Washington sites include: Clarkston, Bainbridge Island, Bellingham, Olympia, Snohomish County (Tulalip), South Sound (University Place) and Tri-Cities (Kennewick), Seattle, Spokane and Wenatchee.

“Walk MS is a great way to bring families, friends and co-workers together to enjoy a spring day, have fun and raise much-needed funds for a cause that affects nearly 15,000 people throughout our Chapter community,” said Chapter President Patty Shepherd-Barnes.

To start a team, make a donation, sign up to volunteer or learn more, call the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater Northwest Chapter, at 800-344-4867 and press 2, or visit www.walkMSnorthwest.org.

The Silverdale walk is sponsored by Haggen Northwest Fresh and TOP Food & Drug.

Silverdale Friends host book sale

The Silverdale Friends of the Library will hold its April book sale on Saturday, April 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Hess room of the library at 3450 NW Carlton St. in old town Silverdale.

There will be a good selection of books for all ages and interests. The friends depend on the community to give books in good condition for book sales. Book may be dropped off at the library during regular library hours.

Monday sales will continue on April 7, 14, and 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All proceeds from our sales go to support the many programs our library provides to our community.

Kitsap Senior Singles to meet April 13

Kitsap Senior Singles will meet Sunday April 13, at 1 p.m. at 3201 Pine Road N.E. in East Bremerton at the Willows on the first floor.

All single seniors are invited for a potluck. Bring a favorite dish to share. Mix and meet new friends, swap stories or play cards and games.

If you arrive early please wait in the lobby. For more, call Doris at 360-895-4404 or Lorraine at 360-871-2996.

Volunteers needed

Meals On Wheels Kitsap is seeking volunteers for both its home delivery program and its community dining program. Contact the office for more information at 360-377-8511 or 888-877-8511.