Expired News Items

Title	PublishDate
A special course on affordable housing offered in Kitsap	2/19/2019
Kitsap County hosts a special short-course on affordable housing, presented by the Washington State Department of Commerce, from 6:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. Thursday, March 14 in the Commissioners' Chambers of the County Administration Building, 619 Division Street, Port Orchard. The course is free and open to the public but please register by March 7 at the contacts below. Local officials, planning commissioners, developers and others working in their communities to promote affordable housing are invited to attend. The course will be tailored to local circumstances and is intended to educate and inspire attendees about the types of actions communities are taking across the state to address the affordable housing crisis. Legal cases are covered, along with an overview of strategies to encourage, require or enable the development of affordable housing. Presenters include Emily Grossman, housing policy lead of the Community Services and Housing Division of the Department of Commerce; Jill Dvorkin, attorney with the Municipal Research and Services Center; and Anne Fritzel, senior planner with the Department of Commerce. The course will cover: Understanding affordability with an overview of the roles of federal, state and local agencies in addressing affordable housing; Legal aspects of affordable housing including a look at the impacts of decisions in the courts and hearing boards; Tools to promote affordability and how communities can use them; Examples of local governments taking on housing solutions. TO REGISTER: Register by March 7 by sending an email to shortcourse@commerce.wa.gov with your name, organization and title (if applicable) and the location of the course (Port Orchard) or by leaving the same information at (360) 725-3064. For more information, contact Anne Fritzel at anne.fritzel@commerce.wa.gov, (360) 725-3064. Visit the Washington State Department of Commerce short-course web page for a full listing of upcoming short courses, handouts, recordings of previous planning courses and many other resources at http://www.commerce.wa.gov/serving-communities/growth-management/short-course/ .

Winter Weather Voting	2/7/2019
PORT ORCHARD (WA) – Tuesday February 12^th is Election Day for 88,000 voters in Kitsap County. Voters residing within the Bremerton, Central Kitsap and Bainbridge Island School Districts as well as the Bainbridge Island Fire District had ballots mailed to them in January. With a Winter storm on the horizon, Kitsap County Elections is preparing contingency plans to ensure everyone who wants to vote has that opportunity. We would like to remind all voters that no postage is required to return your ballot by mail. We also encourage voters who chose to mail in ballots to do so by Friday, February 8^th to ensure it receives a postmark by February 12^th. We are scheduled to open a Vote Center at the Olympic College Poulsbo campus on Election Day from 7:00am to 8:00pm. We have also secured an alternate location in the event one is needed because of extreme weather. Additionally, we have 11 drop boxes opened for this election and as always, you can vote at the Kitsap County Auditor's office, located at 619 Division Street, Port Orchard. For a complete list of all open drop box locations, please visit kcowa.us/vote If you have any questions, please call us at 360-337-7128. ### For all of the latest Kitsap County Auditor – Elections Division news, visit: facebook.com/KitsapCountyAuditor, twitter.com/kitsapauditor.

Short-term vacation rentals focus of community meetings	1/29/2019
The public has two new opportunities to learn about and provide input on Kitsap County's initiative to update its current code for short-term vacation rentals. County staff will review the benefits and impacts of vacation rentals on our communities and neighborhoods and discuss concerns. Input gathered will inform new policies that protect customers, uphold building safety and prevent adverse community impacts. A public open house focusing entirely on short-term vacation rentals is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 in the Commissioners Chamber of the Kitsap County Administration Building, 619 Division St., Port Orchard. There is time to review materials before the presentation begins at 6:15 p.m. The final hour is dedicated to sharing information, discussions, and questions to staff. Another presentation takes place during the Kingston Citizens Advisory Council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. (the presentation will start about 7:30 p.m.) Wednesday, Feb. 6 at the Village Green Community Center, 26159 Dulay Road NE, Kingston. Please note: public comment time is at the discretion of the council since this is one of several agenda items. A survey remains open through Feb. 28. Citizens are asked to share their thoughts on short-term vacation rentals. Click here to learn more about vacation rentals and go to the survey directly at http://kcowa.us/strsurvey. Short-term vacation rentals are popular alternatives to traditional lodging and hundreds have sprouted up in unincorporated areas of Kitsap County. Vacation rentals can fill gaps left by a lack of hotels, provide supplemental income to property owners and support tourism. But the growth of these short-term accommodations has also raised safety concerns and led to impacts to neighbors including noise, disrespectful guests, parking and intrusions onto private shorelines. For more information on short-term vacation rental policy development and public outreach, to submit public comment, and to sign up to receive project updates automatically, visit the project website or contact Eric Baker in the Commissioners' Office at (360) 337-4495, ebaker@co.kitsap.wa.us.

Vacation rentals, timber harvesting focus of Feb. 6 Kingston meeting	1/29/2019
Short-term vacation rentals, such as those found on popular listing sites including airbnb.com, are the focus of new policy to be developed for unincorporated areas of Kitsap County. County staff will review the benefits and impacts of short-term vacation rentals on our communities and neighborhoods at the Feb. 6 meeting of the Kingston Citizens Advisory Council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Village Green Community Center, 26159 Dulay Road NE, Kingston. The presentation starts at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Input gathered on vacation rentals will inform new policies that protect customers, uphold building safety and prevent adverse community impacts. A public survey remains open through Feb. 28 where citizens are asked to share their thoughts on short-term vacation rentals. Click here to learn more about vacation rentals and go to the survey directly at http://kcowa.us/strsurvey. County staff from the Kitsap County Department of Community Development will also give a brief overview of proposed code changes for timber harvest practices during the KCAC meeting. Visit the timber harvest code update project page here. A fact sheet and online portal for public comment is available.

Kitsap County premieres new recruiting video	1/22/2019
Facebook premiere of "She's Had Every Job" Thursday, January 24 @ 2:00 p.m. Set an event reminder by visiting www.facebook.com/kitsapwa (Port Orchard, WA) - Kitsap County's Human Resources Department (HR) is premiering a new video Thursday, January 24, 2019 at 2pm on Facebook. The video highlights different career paths available working for Kitsap County. Holly Lawrence, a Manchester resident, stars in the video as she tries several different jobs before finding the perfect fit in Kitsap County. "We work closely with local high schools and colleges sharing information about careers in the public sector. We've found that many students there don't consider public service as they explore career options and are surprised about the variety of positions we have here," said Nancy Buonanno Grennan, HR Director. "This video highlights just a handful of the professions available working for local government," Buonanno Grennan added. Tim McManus, vice president at the Partnership for Public Service, said in a recent interview that young people tend to dream about specific professions. They want to be leaders, lawyers, scientists and explorers. And though government hires for all these roles, they don't envision assuming them in the public sector. "Working for local government provides the best of all worlds. We get to do challenging work while making a tangible difference in the lives of residents," said Buonanno Grennan. The light-hearted video is a parody of Johnny Cash's song "I've Been Everywhere" with new lyrics. Over 50 employees and Kitsap County residents appear in the video, along with K9 Officer Titan! The video was produced in-house, and filmed and edited by Jacob Hollis, an intern with HR this past summer and Olympic College student. Kitsap County actively recruits about 200 regular and seasonal positions each year. "We hope this video encourages prospective employees to look at Kitsap County when considering career choices," added Buonanno Grennan. Join us, online www.facebook.com/kitsapwa at 2pm as we premiere the video for the first time to the public. County staff is available online before and during the premiere to chat about the video. You can set yourself a reminder now by visiting the page and clicking on the "Get Reminder" button below the video image.

Film explores life of Luna the whale	1/22/2019
From executive producers Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johansson comes a film exploring the legendary life of the young orca whale, Luna. Sustainable Cinema presents the film at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24 at Dragonfly Cinema, 822 Bay St., Port Orchard. Sponsored by Commissioner Charlotte Garrido. For more information, visit http://dragonflycinema.com/.

Special Election ballots in the mail by Friday	1/21/2019
PORT ORCHARD – Ballots for the Feb. 12, 2019, Special Election will be mailed by Friday to voters residing within the Bremerton, Central Kitsap and Bainbridge Island School Districts. Bainbridge will also have a measure from the Fire Department. Bainbridge voters will weigh in on a capital projects levy for the Bainbridge Island School District and an EMS levy for the Bainbridge Island Fire Department. The Bremerton School District is asking for a capital projects levy and Central Kitsap School District is requesting a school support levy. Approximately 87,000 registered voters will receive ballots. An online Voters' Guide at kcowa.us/lvp provides information and arguments about the measures. Twelve ballot drop boxes (kcowa.us/vote) will be available 24 hours a day beginning Friday, Jan. 25 until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Mailed ballots must be postmarked no later than Feb. 12 to be counted. We recommend voters mailing ballots to mail them by Feb. 8. No postage is required this election. Paul Andrews, Kitsap County Auditor, said voters curious about how ballots are processed are welcome to come watch the process in person. "Even Kitsap residents who do not live in a district with an election this time might appreciate watching the process step by step," he said. Kitsap residents registered to vote who do not receive a ballot by Jan. 31, or who have a damaged or lost ballot, should request a replacement by contacting the County Elections Office via email at auditor@co.kitsap.wa.us or by phone at 360.337.7128. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On Election Day, Feb. 12, the office will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents who are not currently registered in Washington have until 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 4 to register in person at the Kitsap County Auditor's Office at 619 Division Street in Port Orchard. Ballots for military members and overseas voters registered in Kitsap County were sent on Jan. 11. _______________________________________________________________________ Contact: David Frisk, Elections Manager, 360.337.7130

Public survey launched to inform future policy for short-term vacation rentals in Kitsap	1/15/2019
Kitsap County Commissioners are launching a new effort to gather public input and reach out to residents about how short-term vacation rentals benefit our communities and affect residential neighborhoods. A survey is open now through Feb. 28 and citizens are asked to share their experiences of staying in vacation rentals, living nearby rentals, serving as host or manager of a site, or as property owner of a vacation rental. Click here to learn more and find a link to the online survey or go to the survey directly at http://kcowa.us/strsurvey. Short-term vacation rentals are popular alternatives to traditional lodging and hundreds have sprouted up in unincorporated areas of Kitsap County. Vacation rentals can fill the gaps left by a lack of hotels and inns, provide supplemental income to property owners and support tourism, which in turn, helps local communities. But the growth of these short-term accommodations has also raised safety concerns and led to impacts to neighbors including noise, disrespectful guests, parking and intrusions onto private shorelines. This effort is underway to collect public opinion, hear directly from citizens and review current code before any new regulations are proposed. It is intended to inform policy on short-term rentals in ways that protect consumers, uphold building safety, and prevent adverse community impacts. To take the survey, click here. Public meetings will be scheduled this winter and announced at a later date, along with other opportunities to provide comment. For more information on short-term vacation rental policy development and public outreach, to submit public comment, and to sign up to receive project updates automatically, visit the project website or contact Eric Baker in the Commissioners' Office at (360) 337-4495, ebaker@co.kitsap.wa.us.

Project Connect fairs offer free community services to the public	1/14/2019
Each year, Project Connect offers a free one-day, one-stop services fair for individuals and families who may be homeless, face the imminent risk of homelessness, or need access to community services. This month, Project Connect will take place at three different sites – one in each part of the county – to better reach more Kitsap residents. Events are scheduled: Tuesday, January 22, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Givens Community Center, 1026 Sidney Ave, Port Orchard Wednesday, January 23, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., The Salvation Army, 832 6^th Street, Bremerton Thursday, January 24, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Village Green Community Center, 26159 Dulay Road NE, Kingston Last year, about 450 local, low-income and homeless residents attended the three Project Connect events. Over 50 organizations provided services including housing referrals, immunizations, eye exams, health screenings, rabies shots, sleeping bags, coats, haircuts, and more. Each of the three 2019 Project Connect sites will have slightly different vendors, tailoring offerings to what is available to residents in that geographic area. A hot lunch will be provided at each of the sites. Project Connect is held in conjunction with the annual Point-in-Time Count survey of people experiencing homelessness, conducted by the Kitsap County Department of Human Services. Guests at Project Connect are asked to participate in the survey, which helps local and state leaders better understand community needs and homelessness trends. The results also influence state and local funding decisions. Project Connect is coordinated by the Kitsap Housing and Homelessness Coalition, a network which includes homeless and affordable housing service providers as well as organizations serving homeless and low-income residents of our community. For more information on Project Connect and available homeless and housing resources, please go to the Kitsap Housing and Homelessness Coalition website at www.KitsapHHC.org. To print the Project Connect flyer, click here. Additional statistics and information about past Point-in-Time Counts and homelessness in Kitsap is available at https://www.kitsapgov.com/hs/Pages/HH-Reports-and-Data.aspx.

Public meetings this week address impacts of vacation rentals	1/3/2019
Short-term vacation rentals, such as those found on popular listing sites including airbnb.com, are the focus of policy being developed for unincorporated areas of Kitsap County. Staff from the Commissioners' Office will attend public meetings in Suquamish and Manchester this week to kick off outreach, review current code and gather input on existing issues and amenities related to short-term vacation rentals. Presentations will be given at the Suquamish Citizens Advisory Committee meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3 in the Suquamish Tribal Council Chambers, 18490 Suquamish Way NE; and at the Manchester Citizens Advisory Committee meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3 in the Manchester Library, 8067 East Main Street. Other public meetings will be scheduled this winter and announced at a later date. A survey will be circulated broadly throughout the county to gather further input. For more information on short-term vacation rental policy development and public outreach, visit the project website or contact Eric Baker in the Commissioners' Office at (360) 337-4495, ebaker@co.kitsap.wa.us.

Committee members needed for arguments against ballot measures	12/18/2018
PORT ORCHARD – Committees are needed to draft voters' guide arguments against proposed ballot measures submitted by the four different districts for the Feb. 12, 2019, Special Election. The four measures are: Bremerton School District is proposing a property tax levy to fund repair renovation and improvement projects. Bainbridge Island School District is proposing a property tax levy for capital improvements. Central Kitsap School District is proposing a property tax levy education program enrichment and operations. Bainbridge Island Fire Department is requesting a permanent property tax levy for Emergency Medical Services. According to Revised Code of Washington 29A.32.280, Districts proposing the measures are responsible for appointing committees to write arguments for and against each measure. The four Districts have not appointed committees to write arguments against the measures, so the County Auditor is seeking individuals to serve on those committees. The Special Election Online Voters' Guide includes official ballot titles, explanatory statements, arguments "for" and "against" each measure, and rebuttals. Committee members do not have to be residents of the district in order to draft arguments. Interested parties should contact the Elections Division by 4:30 p.m., December 24. Please email auditor@co.kitsap.wa.us or call 360-337-7128 if interested. Resolutions submitted by the districts for each measure are at the Resolutions page [DF1] on the Kitsap County Auditor's website.

Holiday schedules for curbside waste pickup and waste facilities	12/14/2018


Recount for 26th Legislative District Senate Race	12/14/2018
The Kitsap County canvass board will meet to re-certify the results of the manual recount of the 26^th Legislative District. This meeting will take place at 2:30pm on Friday December 14, 2018 at 619 Division Street, Port Orchard, in the Kitsap County Auditor's office, room 304.This is a public meeting and observers are welcome.

Commissioner Gelder elected to top leadership role for Washington counties	12/14/2018
Kitsap County Commissioner Rob Gelder was recently elected as First Vice-President of the Washington State Association of Counties for 2018-2019 and will step up as President in the top leadership role in 2019-2020. The Washington State Association of Counties has served as the collective voice of Washington's counties for over one hundred years and provides training, legislative advocacy and a forum to build a statewide county legislative agenda. WSAC members include county commissioners, council members and executives from all of Washington's 39 counties. "It's my great honor to serve as the First Vice-President," said Commissioner Gelder, who is 2018 chair of the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners. "As a subdivision of the state, counties play a unique role in the provision of services and programs to our local communities, often on behalf of the state. "It is vital to maintain a strong voice of advocacy in Olympia and Washington, DC for adequate funding for infrastructure (roads, fish passage barrier removal), trial court public defense, and foundational public health services," he noted. "In addition, it's important to challenge new state-mandated services that shift the burden of funding onto the backs of local residents and taxpayers." WSAC is governed by a board of directors led by the executive committee. Each year, county representatives elect officers for the following year. Join Commissioner Gelder on one of his monthly "Walk & Talk" sessions through North Kitsap communities. Upcoming walks take place January 5, 2019, beginning at the Bainbridge Island Senior Center, 370 Brien Dr SE, and February 2, 2019, beginning at the Commissioner's Kingston office, located in the back portion of the building housing the Kitsap County Sheriff's precinct office at 26076 Illinois Ave. The Walk & Talks get underway at 9:30 a.m. sharp. Visit Commissioner Gelder's website to view newsletters, Commissioner's Corner programs and an interactive map of North Kitsap communities, and to sign up for electronic news updates: https://www.kitsapgov.com/BOC_p/Pages/Dist1home.aspx . To learn more about WSAC, visit http://wsac.org.

Film explores personal stories of Seattle homeless	12/13/2018
Trickle Down Town explores the personal stories of those living unsheltered in Seattle. Filmmaker Tomasz Biernacki will be on hand for discussion after the showing. The film begins at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 27 in Dragonfly Cinema, 822 Bay St., Port Orchard as part of Commissioner Charlotte Garrido's Sustainable Cinema film series. For more information, visit www.dragonflycinema.com.

Local company receives prestigious Hire-A-Vet Award	12/13/2018
Skookum Contract Services in Bremerton received recognition from the Washington Employment Security Department (ESD) for its proven track record of hiring veterans. Workforce professional and company leaders joined Kitsap County Commissioner Charlotte Garrido to present the Hire-A-Vet award last month. ESD, a partner in the state WorkSource system, created the Hire-A-Vet Award as a way to call attention to unemployed veterans in Washington and recognize employers who hire, retain and celebrate veterans in their workforce. Skookum Contract Services is a facilities management and logistics firm that employs 1,300 employees in 11 states, of which a third are veterans. In 2018, the company hired 33 veterans in Washington. Whenever they have a job opening, Skookum contacts WorkSource first to check for potential veteran candidates. The company also takes part in local hiring events and the state's YesVets program to promote the hiring of veterans. The WorkSource partnership of state, local and nonprofit agencies provides employment and training services to job seekers and employers. Last year, WorkSource helped 170,000 workers and nearly 5,600 Washington employers. WorkSource Kitsap serves as a comprehensive center and is located at 1300 Sylvan Way, Bremerton with an affiliate site at Kitsap Community Resources, 3200 SE Rainshadow Court, Port Orchard. The Bremerton office has a team assisting veterans and employers who want to employ them. For more information, drop by the office locations above, visit the WorkSource Kitsap website, or learn more about opportunities at https://www.kitsapgov.com/hs/Pages/OWDC--LANDING-Home.aspx, or contact the office at (360) 337-4810, wskitsap@esd.wa.gov. To learn more about Skookum Contract Services, visit www.skookum.org. Pictured below, from left to right: Aschlee Drescher, vice-chair of the Olympic Workforce Development Council; Margaret Hess, WorkSource Administrator for Kitsap, Clallam, and Jefferson counties; Adrian Allegra, WorkSource Kitsap local veteran employment representative: Kitsap County Commissioner Charlotte Garrido, who also serves on the Olympic Consortium Board; Skookum representatives Brenda Palomares (holding award), Sierra Hinrichsen, Ellen Reichart, Kelsey Kilen, Megan Mason-Todd, Kevin Broussard, Carolyn Day, Felix Vicino; and Nicole Brickman of the Olympic Workforce Development Executive Board.

Volunteers needed to survey those without homes next month in all Kitsap communities	12/12/2018
Each year throughout the state, counties conduct surveys that inform local, state and federal funders about the scope of homelessness and resources that will be needed. The Kitsap County Point-In-Time Count takes place January 22-25, 2019 and volunteer registration is open for those who can help collect information. Citizens from all walks of life are sought to assist the Kitsap County Department of Human Services and Kitsap Continuum of Care Coalition with the survey. Positions range from finding those living without homes in many different situations and locations to surveying individuals and families who visit local service providers, food banks, shelters and community meal sites. No experience is necessary; training will be provided. To learn more about positions available and to register as a volunteer, go to http://tiny.cc/PIT2019. For more information about the Kitsap County Point-In-Time Count, please contact Cory Derenburger of the Housing and Homelessness Program of the Kitsap County Department of Human Services at cderenbu@co.kitsap.wa.us or (360) 337-7287.

Extended closure to Olympic View Transfer Station for critical repairs	12/10/2018


Recount for 26th Legislative District Senate race update	12/10/2018
Port Orchard, WA – The Office of the Secretary of State of Washington has instructed the Kitsap County Auditor to reconvene the canvass board to investigate why the manual count of precinct #003 on December 6 was one ballot short of the electronic count. The canvass counting board will reconvene on Wednesday, December 12 at 8:00am. This is a public meeting and observers are welcome. Observers may not disrupt the process. Space is limited. The order of priority for observers is determined by WAC 434-264-030. Upon completion of this investigation, the Kitsap County Elections Canvassing Board will meet to recanvass the results. ### For all of the latest Kitsap County Auditor – Elections Division news, visit: facebook.com/KitsapCountyAuditor, twitter.com/kitsapauditor.

Styrofoam Recycling Event December 29 at Kitsap County Fairgrounds	11/27/2018
(Port Orchard, WA) - Kitsap County's third STYRO-Roundup recycling collection event will be held on Saturday, December 29 from 9am to 3pm at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds Van Zee building located at 1200 Fairgrounds Rd. NW, Bremerton. The following types of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) will be accepted for recycling at no charge: Packing Peanuts Styrofoam Block (No tape or labels) Food Packaging (Clean and unstained) Styrofoam Trays (Separate color from white) Styrofoam must be clean, dry and empty and please remove packing tape and labels. Limit one car load per household for Kitsap County residents only. No trailers, box trucks or commercial customers will be accepted. Material that will not be accepted include soft foam, hot tub covers, Expanded Polyethylene (EPE) and sealed or foil lined foam. For detailed printable pdf please follow this link https://spf.kitsapgov.com/pw/Documents/3091-Styrofoam%20Roundup.pdf Contact: Kitsap 1, 360.337.5777 or kitsap1@co.kitsap.wa.us ________________________________________________________________________ Contact: Eirik O'Neal \| Education & Outreach Techncian \| 360.337.5777 or eoneal@co.kitsap.wa.us.

Recycling options for used cooking oil	11/19/2018
(Port Orchard) - Fats, oils, and grease from kitchens can impact sewer systems in a big way. When poured down a drain inside the house these items can quickly damage or clog sewage pipes. Whether your house is on a septic system or connected to a public sewer system, NEVER pour these items down your kitchen sink. This holiday season residents can recycle liquid used cooking oil at no cost at locations listed below. Kitsap County Public Works contracts with a local biodiesel firm for a recycling option for residents. Whether you plan to deep fry a turkey this Thanksgiving or simply cook meats in the kitchen, take your used liquid cooking oils over to these locations (dispose of solid fats in regular garbage): Olympic View Transfer Station 9380 SW Barney White Road, Bremerton, WA 98312 North Kitsap Recycling and Garbage Facility (Hansville) 7791 NE Ecology Road, Kingston, WA 98346 Central Kitsap Recycling & Garbage Facility (Silverdale) 8843 NW Dickey Road, Silverdale, WA 98383 South Kitsap Recycling and Garbage Facility (Olalla) 2850 SE Burley – Olalla Road, Olalla, WA 98359 These facilities are closed on Thanksgiving. Visit kcowa.us/dropoff for hours and directions. How to use cooking oil recycling stations: Stations are for residents with cooking oil from their home kitchens. Cooking oil from businesses cannot be recycled at these stations. Before bringing your cooking oil, filter it at home using a strainer, coffee filter, or cheesecloth. Throw away the food particles you filtered out. Avoid spills. Pour slowly and with care into collection tank. Take your empty container home to reuse or throw away. Do not leave it in the recycling area. Benefits of biodiesel: Studies show that biodiesel outperforms gasoline, ethanol, and conventional diesel in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and in overall fuel-efficiency. Biodiesel has also been proven to be much less toxic than diesel fuel, and is readily biodegradable. This makes it safer for distribution, use and storage. Recycling fats into a biodiesel product helps our local economy. ________________________________________________________________________ Contact: Lisa Edge, Education and Outreach Coordinator, 360.337.5777 or ledge@co.kitsap.wa.us.

Night closures of SR 305 Agate Pass Bridge canceled	11/14/2018
The Washington State Department of Transportation has cancelled a series of night State Route 305 Agate Pass Bridge closures that were scheduled over three weeks in December. As a result, both lanes of the bridge will remain open throughout the month of December. The work that was to occur involved replacing seven overhead steel horizontal bridge members that were damaged by an overheight load. The repairs were in preparation for a bridge painting project scheduled to begin in 2019. WSDOT has cancelled the work to allow staff more time to prepare for the task. Times and dates of the work will be announced as it is rescheduled. In addition to the above bridge work, in February 2019 WSDOT crews will return to the bridge for its annual bridge inspection. Crews at that time will reduce the bridge to one-way alternating traffic during daytime hours. Specific information will be forthcoming on that work as the time approaches. For more information, contact Doug Adamson with the Washington State Department of Transportation at adamsod@wsdot.wa.gov, 360-357-2716.

Tickets on sale now for 28th Annual Conference for Human Rights Dec. 7	11/6/2018
The 28th Annual Kitsap County Conference for Human Rights is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7 at Olympic College, 1600 Chester Avenue, Bremerton. This year's theme is "Building Community in a Polarized World: Celebrating Our Togetherness." Tickets are now on sale at https://kitsapconferenceforhumanrights.bpt.me. The conference begins with breakfast and a special introduction from Harriette Bryant of the Bremerton Housing Authority and Partnering for Youth Achievement. Participants will attend workshops (details below) throughout the morning and gather together again for a delicious lunch and time to network. The afternoon features facilitated discussions. The conference is organized by the Kitsap County Council for Human Rights and sponsors include Olympic College, the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners, Kitsap Sun and the Shiers Law Firm. To purchase tickets and learn more about sponsorship levels, click here. General ticket categories are adult, youth, and adult with informational table. Ticket prices include breakfast and lunch. Sponsorship levels of support are also available, which help fund youth scholarships. 2018 Conference Workshops (participants will select two workshops to attend during the conference): - The Power of Empathy for Ourselves and Others with Marcia Christen of Northwest Compassionate Communication - *Dignity and Equality: What are Human Rights?* with Judy Arbogast of the Council for Human Rights - *Building Community Through Volunteering* with Tamra Ingwaldson of United Way of Kitsap County - *Considering RACE and ACES* with Sonia Barry of North Kitsap School District - *Affordable Housing* with Regina Adamson of Kitsap Public Market - *How to Kill an Indian With a Piece of Paper: Blood Quantum Laws and Contemporary American Indian Identity* with Noel Purser of the Suquamish Tribe - *Healing Roots: Tools for Survivors* with Beckie Evans and Erika Anderson of Life Keys Energy - *Disaggregating Population Data to Shed Light on Health Disparities* with Maya McKenzie of the Kitsap Public Health District - *The Restorative Circle Experience* with Sue Miglino of the Dispute Resolution Center of Kitsap County - *Peer Support 101: Building Community Resiliency* with Pattie Marshall of the Health Care Authority Behavioral Health and Recovery Division - *Bully You, Bully Me (A Search for the Bully Within)* with Karen Vargas of Living Life Leadership For more information, contact Rebecca Pirtle at (360) 337-4650 or rpirtle@co.kitsap.wa.us. To learn more about the Kitsap County Council for Human Rights, click here.

Kitsap WSU Extension survey asks for public input on current programs	11/5/2018
Kitsap County is partnering with Washington State University (WSU) Extension to survey residents about how they use the WSU Kitsap Extension programs and services, and which are most valuable to their families and communities. The survey, which takes about 10 minutes to complete, asks about residents' familiarity with WSU Kitsap Extension, the frequency of their participation and suggestions for outreach and expanded programs and services. You can complete the survey online. Participation is voluntary, and responses are confidential. "We want to be sure we are focusing on the needs of the community and using Kitsap County's resources to support the programs that make the most difference for our citizens," said Commissioner Charlotte Garrido. WSU Kitsap Extension has served the county since 1917, coordinating educational and outreach programs such as the Master Gardeners, 4-H Youth Development, Strengthening Families, Noxious Weed Control, Stream and Salmon Stewards, Rain Garden Mentors, Beach Naturalists and Small Farm Resources. WSU Kitsap extension has over 550 volunteers who support these programs annually. Send questions about the survey to cmsanders@wsu.edu or for more information, contact the Kitsap County Commissioners' Office at (360) 337-7080. Learn more about programs at Kitsap WSU Extension online.

The Salmon Are Coming! - November 3	10/30/2018
(Bremerton, WA) - Celebrate the return of the salmon to Kitsap County this weekend on Saturday, November 3. Watch migrating salmon, attend activities for all ages, and learn from experts and Salmon Docents from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at these free salmon viewing events. Chico Salmon Park - Golf Club Hill Road and Chico Way (Bremerton) Mouth of Chico Creek - Kittyhawk Drive (Bremerton) Salmon Haven at Dickerson Creek - Northlake Way (Bremerton) Keta Legacy Foundation Rhododendron Preserve (Bremerton) - guided tours at 10am and 1pm Otto Jarstad Park (Gorst) Clear Creek Ridgetop Pavilion (Silverdale) Cowling Creek (Poulsbo) Fish Park (Poulsbo) Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. A visit to the Rhododendron Preserve involves a hike down to the stream through old growth forest. For more information and directions to the viewing sites, visit www.kitsapsalmontours.org Kitsap Salmon Tours is brought to you by City of Bremerton, Chico Salmon Park Stewardship Group, Clean Water Kitsap, Clear Creek Task Force, Great Peninsula Conservancy, Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, Keta Legacy Foundation, Kitsap County, Kitsap Poggie Club, Kitsap PUD, City of Poulsbo, Suquamish Tribe, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Sea Grant, and WSU Extension.

Legacy lots, land use discussed in Manchester Nov. 6	10/29/2018
Jim Bolger, assistant director of the Kitsap County Department of Community Development, is the featured speaker at the next meeting of the Manchester Citizens Advisory Committee, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6 in the Manchester Library, 8067 East Main Street. The topics of discussion will include legacy lots and other land-use issues unique to Manchester. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend and learn more about development in the community. The MCAC will also review its 2018 work plan and begin work on updating it for 2019. For more information, visit the MCAC website here or contact Jennifer Haro in the Kitsap County Commissioners' Office at (360) 337-7080, jharo@co.kitsap.wa.us.

Second half property taxes due October 31	10/26/2018
Kitsap County Treasurer Meredith Green reminds taxpayers that second half property taxes are due on October 31. Payments must be paid or postmarked by October 31 and can be made online at www.kitsapgov.com/treas, via mail, or in person. The county administration building is open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM weekdays and is located at 619 Division Street. If you're mailing your payment, we recommend mailing it on October 30 to ensure an October 31 postmark. If you missed paying your 1st half taxes, you can still pay only the first half with interest and penalties if postmarked by Oct. 30. Tax statements are also available on the treasurers website.

Help guide county’s decision-making: Citizens needed to serve on advisory committees	10/24/2018
Kitsap County citizens have an opportunity to help guide county government’s decision-making, address neighborhood concerns, improve communities and connect citizens to local services and programs. Consider applying to serve on one of the many Kitsap County advisory groups. Members are appointed by county commissioners to serve as sounding boards and conduits between citizens, communities, county staff and commissioners. Members may also review grant applications, transportation and development plans or host informational events with other public agencies. Applications are currently being accepted for the following boards, committees and councils: o Board of Equalization – North, South and Central Kitsap Representatives o Commission on Children and Youth – Business, Military, Tribal, North Kitsap School District youth o Manchester Citizens Advisory Committee – California, Nebraska and At-Large Representatives o Non-Motorized Facilities Citizens Advisory Committee – North Kitsap, At-Large Representatives o Planning Commission – Central Kitsap Representative o Suquamish Citizens Advisory Committee – At-Large Representatives o Washington State Ferries Advisory Committee – Bainbridge Island Route Representative More information about the positions listed above and an online application are available at Kitsap County Volunteer Services, (360) 337-4650 or rpirtle@co.kitsap.wa.us .

Ballots mailed this week	10/16/2018
Ballots for the Nov. 6, 2018, General Election will be in the mail later this week. Voters have an opportunity to vote on several local and state ballot measures, as well as on races for local, state and federal offices. Local Voters' Pamphlets were mailed over the weekend and should arrive ahead of the ballots. The pamphlet is also available online at kcowa.us/lvp. "We are expecting additional interest in this midterm election because people are more engaged this year," Dolores Gilmore said. "Kitsap County voters have an opportunity to impact important races and measures." Just like the Primary, no postage is required for returning ballots. The county added five new ballot drop boxes earlier this year, one each in Seabeck, Naval Base Kitsap, Keyport, Indianola and at Olympic College's Poulsbo campus. For a list and maps of ballot drop locations, go to kcowa.us/vote. Additionally, the state provided funding for elections this year so ballots could be returned by mail without the need of a stamp. Residents not currently registered in Washington can register in person at the Kitsap County Auditor's Office, 619 Division Street in Port Orchard through October 29. Ballots must be returned to one of the county's drop boxes by 8 p.m. on Nov. 6, or postmarked by that day. ______________________________________________________________________ Contact: Steve Gardner, Auditor's Office, 360.337.7128 or sgardner@co.kitsap.wa.us

DiCaprio explores climate change in Sustainable Cinema's latest feature	10/16/2018
Using his celebrity status to draw attention to the problem of global warming, actor and United Nations Messenger of Peace, Leonardo DiCaprio travels the globe to witness firsthand the effects of an impending environmental disaster in "Before the Flood," showing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25 at Dragonfly Cinema, 822 Bay St., Port Orchard, presented by Sustainable Cinema. This film is an insightful look at how climate change affects our environemnt and what can be done to present the desmise of endangered species, ecosystems and native communities across the planet. Sustainable Cinema is sponsored by Commissioner Charlotte Garrido. For more information, go to www.dragonflycinema.com.

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