News briefs Ashley Furniture to host DIGIKIDS

Ashley Furniture Homestore, located at 9577 Ridgetop Blvd. in Silverdale, will host a one-day DIGIKIDS event from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, April 10.

Ashley Furniture Homestore, located at 9577 Ridgetop Blvd. in Silverdale, will host a one-day DIGIKIDS event from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, April 10.

DIGIKIDS creates small CDs with two high-resolution digital photos along with medical and identifying information to be used to help find a child if he or she is lost or kidnapped, according to Ashley Furniture. The CD is small enough to carry in a wallet, pocket or purse.

DIGIKIDS will create the child identification kits on site in two minutes or less free-of-charge.

“The children of Silverdale and Burlington are near and dear to us at Ashley Furniture Homestores and we are excited about the opportunity that DIGIKIDS provides to help keep them safe,” Ashley Furniture Homestores Director of Stores Shawn Seals stated in a news release.

Aside from the DIGIKIDS, bounce houses, coloring, face painting, pictures with the Easter bunny and food will be available for the public.

Parents also will be able to save 12 percent on furniture purchases and receive free financing for 12 months from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. April 10.

Volunteers wanted for Kitsap Water Festival

Volunteers are needed for Kitsap Water Festival, a one-day event where children from around Kitsap County learn about all things water and conservation.

Exhibitors, professionals in environmental and natural resources fields, and entertainers educate students through hands-on learning in a fun and memorable atmosphere. This year’s festival is Tuesday, May 5 at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.

People are needed to set up/cleanup, act as a guide or assist with presentations or activities. Lunch is provided and participants get a free Water Festival T-shirt.

Register online at www.kitsapgov.com/sswm/waterfestival_vol.htm or e-mail your information to Kathlene Barnhart at kbarnhar@co.kitsap.wa.us or call (360) 337-4601 for more information.

Silverdale water main flushing to begin April 6

Silverdale Water District will begin flushing water mains April 6 and conclude on May 22.

Water main flushing is required to remove naturally occurring sediments from water lines and improve drinking water quality. Flushing is conducted as efficiently as possible, and although it appears large quantities of water are used, it is a small percentage of total usage.

Starting April 6 through April 30 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Silverdale Water will be flushing residential areas. Beginning May 4 through May 22 the commercial areas will be flushed at night from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Road signs will be set up in flushing areas the day prior to flushing.

While the operation is in progress, residents may experience discolored water, with a temporary loss of pressure and/or flow. It is recommended people do not use hot water and minimize use of cold water during the flushing cycle. When pressure and flow have returned to normal, residents are advised to open an outside tap and flush individual services lines for one or two minutes.

For more information, call Silverdale Water District at (360) 447-3500.

Children First Montessori School receives technology grant

Children First Montessori School (CFMS), a Bremerton-based nonprofit pre-kindergarten to sixth-grade school, was awarded a technology grant from Hewlett-Packard Company (HP).

The grant is part of the HP U.S. Employee Product Giving Program which allows employees to give to educational institutions and nonprofit organizations with product donations. The cost is shared between HP and their employees on a percentage basis.

The grant supplied several wireless laptop computers and printers valued at more than $4,000. The computers will help students learn about technology and its many uses.

“The HP grant will enable CFMS to develop a computer lab in each classroom, allowing children to do online research for projects at school,” said Karmen Penrose, director of the school.

CFMS plans on having the computer labs set up and running after the upcoming spring break, providing immediate access to learning with the new computers.

A parent submitted CFMS for consideration in this grant.