Senior driving school July 19
The AAA Driver Improvement Program is offering its refresher course on defensive driving skills. The course gives practical guidance for traffic accident prevention and enhances driver safety and confidence. Successful course completion qualifies drivers 55 years of age and over for automobile insurance premium discounts. Class will begin at 8:30 a.m. July 19 at Westside Improvement Club, 4109 “E” St., Bremerton. It is scheduled to end at 4 p.m. Cost to participate is $18 per person. Pre-registration is required. For enrollment information, call 800-462-3728.
Fourth of July travel increase
AAA Travel recently released a report that an estimated 41 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Independence Day weekend. That’s a 1.9 percent increase from the 40.3 million people who traveled last year, according to a AAA press release.
An estimated 34.8 million are choosing to travel by car, the highest level since 2007, states the release.
AAA Travel is also projecting that many U.S. drivers can expect to be hit by higher gas prices as the holiday weekend rolls near. The national average price of gas is about 20 cents per gallon more expensive than the average price last year leading up to the Fourth of July.
For the latest gas prices, visit www.FuelGaugeReport.AAA.com for pricing across the nation.
Transit buses won’t run July 4
Kitsap Transit will not operate service today, on Independence Day. Transit’s routed, ACCESS and Worker/Driver buses and the Kitsap Transit Foot Ferry also will not operate on Independence Day.
Kitsap Transit’s Customer Service Office in downtown Bremerton, information phone lines and the administrative office in Bremerton will be closed on July 4.
Because service is not operating on July 4, Kitsap Transit ACCESS will not take next-day reservations on Thursday, July 3. Reservation lines will be open on July 4 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for next-day trip reservations. Because bus service is not operating, parking fees will not be collected at the Annapolis parking lot on July 4.
Friends host book sales for library
The Silverdale Friends of the Library will hold two Saturday book sales in July.
The “Second Saturday Sale” will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Hess room of the library located at 3450 NW Carlton St. in old town Silverdale.
On Saturday, July 26, there will be a Whaling Daysbook sale from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and (weather permitting) it will be outside in the parking lot of the library.
Used books in good condition are needed to keep the book sales having great selections. Books can be dropped off at the library during regular library hours. All proceeds go to support Silverdale library’s extra programs including a summer reading program for children.
The library will also have Monday book sales on July 7, 14 and 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Picnic set for Jarstad on July 13
Anyone with Norwegian roots is welcome to the annual Norwegian-American Picnic at Jarstad Park on Sunday, July 13 from noon until around 4 p.m. Bremerton Sons of Norway Oslo Lodge 2-35 welcomes old friends and neighbors and looks forward to meeting more Norwegian descendants and families with games and live music.
Admission is a potluck dish. Jarstad Park is at 4230 W. Belfair Valley Road just outside the Gorst area on the way to Belfair. There are trails and viewing areas along Jarstad Creek. Facilities include a covered picnic area, restrooms, and picnic tables. Bring an extra chair just in case. Velkommen!
Parade deadline approaching
The deadline for entries for the annual Silverdale Whaling Days parade is fast approaching. The event, hosted July 26, will start at 10 a.m. Entry forms are available on the Whaling Days website, www.whalingdays.com or by sending an email to lionsgrandparade@gmail.com. Entries must be received no later than July 11 to ensure placement in the parade. Late entries will be subject to an entry fee surcharge and placed at the rear of the parade. The event is sponsored by First Federal Bank, and it is coordinated by the Silverdale Kiwanis Club and the Silverdale Dandy Lions Club.
Class available on native plants
Discover the beauty and value of native plants in classes offered this summer on Fridays from July 25 to Aug. 29. Participants will learn about the historical uses of native plants for food and clothing, while also learning to appreciate the many benefits to people and the environment. This class includes indoor and outdoor experiences.
Classes will meet at the Norm Dicks Government Center in room 406 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $65 including materials. Scholarships are available.
Classes are open to the public, taught by local and regional experts, and covers topics including an introduction to native plants, ethnobotany and traditional uses of native plants for food and clothing, using native plants in your landscape, native plant propagation and salvage, and enhancement and restoration with native plants.
For more information, visit our website at http://ext100.wsu.edu/kitsap/. Registration is available at Brown Paper Tickets at www.nativeplants.bpt.me/.
