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Like just about everything else in 2020, Halloween is going to be a bit different this year – or at least it should be, according to public health experts. Large gatherings and “normal” trick-or-treating are discouraged, so some creativity may be required to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Kitsap Public Health District has compiled Tips for a Health Happy Halloween for your reference. Have fun and stay safe.
The county has just opened a drive-through testing site at Pendergast Park in Bremerton. It will be open in the upcoming months to anyone with symptoms, people who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, and people who meet additional criteria. The testing site is open Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 AM to 3 PM. Pre-registration is required, but health insurance is not. More information can be found here.
The Health District's COVID-19 resource page continues to be the best source for case updates, resources and advice for staying safe and healthy. Please continue to wear masks, social distance and wash your hands frequently.
The North Kitsap county commissioner will hold his annual town hall event virtually this year, during the regular meeting of the Kingston Citizens Advisory Council. The meeting will be in webinar format via Zoom. The commissioner will present an update on county projects and priorities, with opportunities for the public to ask questions. The town hall can be accessed at this link, with the meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11. The Webinar ID is 822 0062 5621 and the passcode is 720718. To access the meeting by phone, call: +1 253 215 8782.
See you then!
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 Construction is complete on Washington Boulevard in Kingston! With the project, there has been progress on the Kingston Complete Streets Plan along with improvements for people getting around - whether by car, on foot, by bicycle or by bus.
The new project includes:
- Defined travel lanes, bike lanes and parking spaces
- Added sidewalks between Central Ave. and 1st Street
- A paved multi-use path along the bluff between 1st and 3rd Street
- New stormwater pipes and water quality devices in preparation for future regional stormwater treatment.
- LED pedestrian level lighting
- Green painted bike lane – first within Kitsap County
The project also included back-In angle parking, which is a first for Kingston. While the back in parking was not in the original Complete Streets Plan, recent studies have found it to be much safer to back into a parking space than out into traffic.
Public Works’ Tim Beachy did a fantastic job managing the project and working with adjacent property owners, downtown businesses, and project partners, including, the Washington State Department of Transportation, the Port of Kingston, Washington State Ferries and Kitsap Transit.
A drone video of the area before and after the project can be viewed here.
Tire Roundup
On October 4, Kitsap County Solid Waste Division hosted a Tire Collection Event that gathered approximately 60 tons of waste tires. That’s right, 60 tons!
Nearly 500 residents attended the collection event funded by the Washington Department of Ecology’s Waste Tire Program. These were incredible efforts in our community to properly dispose of and remove so many tires from our backyards. Some tires will be recycled into tire-derived fuel and products, and some may be disposed of in a landfill. Thank you to our residents for investing in a clean Kitsap!
COVID-19 safety measures were in place throughout the event. Masks, social distancing and self-unloading measures protected the public from staff contact.
Reduce Waste Over the Holidays
There are many ways to reduce waste over the holidays! You can recycle trees, wrapping paper, holiday lights and more. Take a look at Solid Waste’s Holiday Recycling and Waste page for helpful guides and drop off locations for all of these holiday items.
Be sure to save your Styrofoam packaging and materials from all those great gifts you are getting! Recycle them at our January Styrofoam Roundup Event, January 2, 2021 at the Fairgrounds Sheep Barn. See you there!
Since fall is in full gear and the trees are rapidly shedding their leaves, we all need to pitch in to prevent local flooding and property damage once the rain starts. Save your home, driveways and roads from unnecessary damage during rain storms by following these steps.
- Clear gutters and downspouts of leaves and debris.
- Dispose of leaves and debris in enclosed compost bins, curbside yard waste containers, or at local composting facilities.
- Do not blow or sweep leaves into the road where they will clog storm drains.
- Ensure driveway ditch culverts are clear and that water can flow freely.
- Keep neighborhood storm drains free of leaves and debris. Never remove the lid or attempt to clean a storm drain located in a busy street.
- If you need help with a drainage problem, contact a
For residents of unincorporated Kitsap County, contact help@Kitsap1.com, call 360.337.5777, or use the SeeClickFix app if there are problems with storm drains, ditches or pipes.
The Robert P. Smiley Boy Scout Hall, located in Kola Kole Park in Kingston, has received a place on the Washington Heritage Register! The list is maintained by the Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation and includes districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that have been identified and documented as being significant in local or state history, architecture, archaeology, engineering or culture. The program was established in 1971 as an alternative to National Register.
The home of Scout Troop 1555 (also known as the Triple Nickel – formed in 1932), the hall was built in 1960, and is a great example of community teamwork, dedication and fundraising that is still running strong in Kingston today.
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With the holidays just around the corner, now is a good time to plan ahead for disposing of cooking fats, oils and greases (FOGs) from those special meals. “Fatbergs,” like the one in the photo, can grow in pipes where fats, oils, and grease solidify and block flow. Left to its own devices, the fatberg will continue to grow, collecting bits and pieces of contraband that make it down drains.
FOGs poured down drains in liquid form will eventually solidify and cause clogs in pipes. With routine maintenance, blockages are removed before they become a problem for our customers. But fatbergs don’t only slow the flow in the pipes, they slow the maintenance crews by making additional work, and increase operation costs for your sewer service or septic tank maintenance.
Most fatbergs occur in residential areas. Commercial producers of grease are regulated and required to provide proper disposal, but there are no rules on how we use our plumbing at home. The Kitsap County Sewer Utility offers a free “Can the Grease” kit to sewer customers to encourage proper disposal. The kit includes a can lid, scraper, and information on disposal and recycling options for used cooking oil. To request your free kit, call Kitsap1 at 360.337.5777. The Kitsap Public Health District offers tips on proper septic tank maintenance in its Homeowners Guide to Onsite Sewage Systems.
Recycling your used oils and grease not only helps keep the pipes clear, but they can be turned into ecofriendly biofuels. Recycling is available at the Hansville, Silverdale and Olympic View garbage and recycling facilities.
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The usual fall salmon tours had to be moved online this year because of COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out! The Washington State University Extension – Kitsap is hosting online salmon tours from October 28 – November 30. Information can be found at their website or Facebook page.
The WSU Extension is also hosting three Webinar Series on Thursdays, November 5th and 12th, from 10:30am to 12:00pm where you can learn about salmon habitat, life cycle, and species in the Puget Sound, as well as their cultural and ecological importance to our region and the human dimensions that affect them. Click here for more details and to register!
If you choose to visit one of Kitsap's Salmon visiting sites, please social distance during your visit. The following locations are available for self-guided salmon migration viewing mid-October through November.
Click here for a map of the viewing sites.
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The county has selected a consultant, Fischer-Bouma Partnership, for design of the Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park master plan. They will oversee development of a master plan for the entire 3500 acre park.
The mountain bike ride park, which is currently in the permitting process, will be a 160-acre park with trails for all ages and skill levels. The county and consultant will be working closely with the West Sound chapter of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance to bring that project to fruition. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting project!
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