Local author unveils new novel

Local author Kristin Hannah will read an except from her new novel, “Home Front,” at The Loft in Poulsbo on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 6:30 p.m. Liberty Bay Books is offering a 20 percent discount on hardback or ebook editions of the book along with a special gift from the author. The novel tells the story of the Iraq War’s toll on one family as they fight for their future together after news of deployment.

Senior outreachA free Valentine-themed luncheon with entertainment is scheduled for Feb. 12 at 12:30 at the Silverdale Community Center, 9729 Silverdale Way NW. The Senior Outreach Program, along with the Filipino American Charities Foundation and the Chuckwagon Senior Nutrition Program, hosted a Christmas party on Dec. 17 for the seniors of Kitsap County. Entertainment was provided by the SUS Ukelele Group with Karmiolas Dancers and the Filipino-American Harmony Choir of Kitsap County. Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent was in attendance. The Senior Outreach Program meets once a month for lunch and interaction. Entertainment is provided and the event is always free. All seniors are encouraged to attend and volunteers are always needed. The Loft is located at 18779 Front Street in Poulsbo.

New employee joins Kitsap Food Co-op

The Kitsap Community Food Co-0p has hired Jess Sappington as its new volunteer coordinator. Sappington spent two years in Vanuatu with the Peace Corps and prior to her appointment with the Co-op worked as a case manager for homeless families in Pierce County.Conflict and Change WorkshopLeadership Kitsap’s third annual leadership skill building event, Leading Through Conflict and Change, is scheduled Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. in the Chico Room at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort.  The workshop is designed for those who effectively engage change, from mediators, attorneys, human resource professionals, social workers to leaders who work in business, organization and community settings.  Topics include discussion on assumptions about leadership, understanding change and transition in order to be an effective leader and roles leaders play in facilitating effective engagement of conflict and exploring effective decision making. Space is limited and registration is required at www.leadershipkitsap.org. The event costs $145 after Feb. 1.

Medical staff part of the design process for new hospital

Orthopedic patients in Kitsap County go to Harrison Medical Center’s Bremerton site for treatment but eventually patients will be able to go to the Silverdale location once the new orthopedic hospital there is constructed. A new orthopedic hospital will be built adjacent to vacant space next to Harrison’s Silverdale campus. The project will break ground mid to late May, said Jacquie Goodwill, spokeswoman for Harrison, adding that construction is anticipated to be complete in early summer 2013 with the first day of patient care beginning in later summer 2013. But before any of that can happen the design must be complete — and hospital staff have been able to be a part of the process.Architects at Bremerton-based firm Rice Fergus Miller wrapped up six weeks of walking through full-size mockups of an operating room and patient room for the orthopedic hospital with medical personnel from Harrison to receive feedback. “To see it on paper then in three dimensions is different,” said Mike Miller, who is the architect heading the project.  Harrison surgeons, nurses, board members, administrators and other staff were able to walk through the mockup rooms designed to scale at Rice Fergus Miller. The architects received feedback including electrical outlets needing to be placed higher from ground level to a video screen that would display X-rays needing to be set on the middle of a wall in the operating room. The 54,000 square-foot orthopedic hospital will cost $10.5 million to construct, said Goodwill.The orthopedic hospital will be three stories high with one level for operating rooms, another for 24 patient rooms and a third level with another 24 patient rooms. Both floors of patient rooms will not open for use when the new hospital opens. One will be “shelled” meaning it will remain as open space for a future 24 patient rooms to be created at a future time. “It’s always been part of the vision to expand the camps,” said Goodwill. “The population is growing and Silverdale is a central location.”