United Way and Rice Fergus Miller need cans to create exhibit

Rice Fergus Miller Architecture & Planning, in coordination with United Way of Kitsap County, is again sponsoring an exhibition event known as CanStruction. Cans of non-perishable food items will be used to create a structure which will be on display from May 3 to May 10 in Kitsap Mall to promote awareness of hunger.

This year’s structure is a BoaCANstrictor. Rice Fergus Miller and United Way want to collect 1,000 tuna cans and 400 diced tomato cans to build the structure. After the display is taken down on May 11, all of the cans will be sent to local food banks to help aid in the shortages they currently face.

Donations can be made to United Way of Kitsap County for CanStruction. For more information, contact Rice Fergus Miller Architecture & Planning at (360) 377-8773.

Local safety

coalition schedules countywide helmet and life jacket sale

Kitsap SAFE KIDS, a coalition of local public and private groups dedicated to preventing childhood injury, are marking National Safe Kids Week (April 27 — May 3) by making it even easier for families to equip themselves for safer summer activities.

In the summer of 2004 in the United States, 2,143 children died due to preventable injuries while another 2.4 million kids were hospitalized. Drowning was the most common cause followed by bike-related incidents, according to a news release.

Kitsap SAFE KIDS members will be selling bike helmets for $7 each and life jackets for $14 from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 1. Cash and checks only will be accepted and the person who will be wearing the helmet or life jacket must be present for a custom fitting.

The bike helmet and life jacket event will take place at the following six locations:

• Port Orchard: South Kitsap Fire & Rescue, Station 31 at 200 Tremont Street

• Downtown Bremerton: Kitsap County Health District in the Norm Dicks Government Center lobby at 345 6th Street

• Silverdale: Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue, Station 51 at 10955 NW Silverdale Way

• Poulsbo: Poulsbo Fire Department headquarters at 911 NE Liberty Road

• Kingston: North Kitsap Fire & Rescue, Paul Nichol Headquarters Station at 26642 Miller Bay Road NE

• Military families with base access: Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor Child Development Center at 2902 Ohio Street

For more information about Kitsap SAFE KIDS efforts to prevent injuries or to learn more about this event, call the local coalition coordinator, Michele Jennings, at Mary Bridge Children’s Health Center in Silverdale at (360) 662-1198.