Bremerton, WA

Just a little reminder - Don't forget to give to Toys for Tots.

Toys for Tots is a Marine Corps Reserve community service project. You will see Marines in their dress blues at malls, shops and local businesses soliciting donations. If you see one of their barrels please make sure you drop something in. On the Toys for Tots official websiteyou can find a drop location, or take your donation to any ToysRus. Toys for Tots is very special to many families in our great country. The toys collected will be given to families in need in many areas.

My husband who is in the Navy is stationed with a Marine Corps unit in Anchorage, Alaska is gearing up to go out "on remote delivery" for Toys for Tots. The Alaska Marines do this every year prior to Christmas. This year there are two teams. Team #1 will fly into Galena and deliver via snowmobile toys to the school in Ruby. Usually they travel to Koyukuk and Nulato too, but due to the warm weather up in Alaska and the late icing the toys for Koyukuk and Nulato will have to be flown in. The native guide they use has told them it is too dangerous to ride the snowmobiles over the water right now. There will be toys delivered to about 550 children and teens in the remote city/villages of Ruby, Koyukuk and Nulato. Team #2 will be flying into McGrath and delivering to Nikolai. There is a high school there that offers a trade school so they will be delivering to these teens. It is nice to know an organization that realizes older children are just as important.

For some of these kids these will be the only gifts they receive. For some these are the only toys they receive for a year. Until the next remote delivery arrives.

I know my husband enjoys this part of his job tremendously - the adventure of the Alaska wilderness on snowmobiles in minus 10, 20 or 30 degree weather and the look on the kids faces when they bring in the toys - and yep one of the Marines dresses up as Santa.

REMOTE DELIVERY 2008

Delta(-)Company Anti-Terrorism Battalion

Anchorage Alaska

This is how Santa loads his sleigh to go remote. (Santa's sleigh is a C130)

Here is the gorgeous view flying over Mt McKinley area!

This is how Santa travels over the vast wilderness of the Alaska Bush -(with native guide Fred)

HO HO HO !! This is the first time some of these children have seen Santa or received a Toy

Fishing with Alaska Native Guide Fred

Just looking at these photos gave me a chill. My husband loves to do this. He has learned so much about the Native Alaskan life and has made some real fascinating connections. He was so amazed at how people with so little would feed them and give them jams, jellies, jerky and what ever they had to say thanks.

Authored By: Jo Soss : WestSoundLive.com

The Definition of Absorption Rates:

Number of weeks it takes to sell the current inventory at the present rate of sales. Using absorption rates can help you define markets. My definition breaks down like this…

Normal Market - Between 5 and 6 months of inventory. (21.65 - 25.98 weeks)

Seller’s Market - Between 1 and 4 months of inventory. (4.33 - 17.32 weeks)

Buyer’s Market - 7 months and higher. (30.31 plus)

Now remember that absorption rates just track trends and isn’t an exact science! Here is the absorption rate trend for 2008.

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Jo Soss-Olson · WestSoundLive · Copyright © 2008 · All Rights Reserved

The other day I was over goofing off on Zillow and doing some nosing around.  I went to look at my homes "Zestimate" and saw that the "Google Street View" option was available! Woo Hoo!

I love this Google map feature - love it!  You can insert an address and see if the neighbors bring in their garbage cans! lol! Well, not really, but you can "scope" out the neighborhood in a real three dimensional way. 

Sure the photo isn't "live" but it is better than seeing some agents photos in a listings (if there are any at all).  This will be great for those relocating to the area.  I go out and take videos for my relocation clients but this gives them the opportunity to look right away. 

I can't wait until it expands into all of Kitsap County!

Here are a couple of spots to check out in Bremerton Washington.

Google Maps Street View is undergoing some changes and so the links to embed are not working. If you type in google maps street view in your browser and then enter an address for Bremerton you will be able to use the feature that way. Once, the feature is corrected I will re post the images. Sorry for the inconvenience.

With all the news on the California fires I was reminded of how horrible and scary a fire can be. I spent 3 years in Southern California and during that time was in the middle of the Sawtooth Complex Fire. My husband was in Iraq so I was on my own and it really was an unbelievable experience.

Looking out my living room window at night I could see the flames that had been burning for days and at a certain point was prepared to evacuate. The thought of what to take and what to leave was horrible. The winds changed and I was able to stay in my home, and I am so thankful.

I know that in this area we do not have the threat of mass fire but we always have the threat of a fire in our home and must always be prepared and use as much prevention as we can. Here are some good tips.

1. Smoke detectors should be installed on every level. Test them regulary and change the batteries at least once a year.
2. Have an evacuation plan. You need to be aware of two ways to exit each room. Remember to crawl close to the floor if there is smoke.
3. Establish a meeting place outside where everyone will go after evacuation the house.
4. Make your house address very visible so that firefighters and any first responder can find it easily.
5. Create a safety zone around your house of 30 fee in which there is no flammable vegetation.
6. Install fire extinguishers in the kitchen and the garage area. Know how to use them.
7. Make sure your roof and gutters are free of leaves, needles and dried twigs.
8. Store your firewood away from the house.
   

I have been asked by Adele LaCombe, Area Manager, Girl Scouts Western Washington, Peninsula Regional Office to release the following exciting news concerning our local Peninsula Girl Scout Program Center.