Welcome to SoundBiteBlog.com. This website focuses mainly on providing Real Estate, Mortgage, and Local Area information for consumers and residents in Western Puget Sound, we also share our passions, expertise, and practical insights on Internet marketing and technology, including social media/networking, SEO, website design, and custom web applications. SoundBiteBlog is an award-winning joint venture between Mark Flanders of Pastik Design and Rich Jacobson of Keller William West Sound.

Within the pages of SoundBite is an eclectic collection of articles covering a wide variety of topics we hope you'll find interesting, engaging, and helpful. Rich is committed to relentlessly representing his client's best interests and empowering them to make informed decisions. Mark finally decided what he wanted to do when he grew up and gets excited when the code he's written solves a customer's problem with blinding efficiency!

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Fire in Silverdale WA destroys several popular local businesses

January 9th, 2012 by Rich Jacobson

In my last post I shared my excitement at the prospects of Keller Williams West Sound opening a new office location here in Silverdale, next door to Forza Coffee Company, in the Towne Centre Plaza at the corner of Ridgetop and Silverdale Way.

Well, unfortunately, those plans ended rather abruptly yesterday afternoon when a fire broke out at The Desert Sun Tanning Salon located in the west end of the commercial complex that is shared with Forza and several other area businesses.

fire-destroys-local-business-in-Silverdale-WA

You can read all the details in the recent Kitsap Sun article:

Malfunction in tanning salon bed apparent cause of Silverdale fire

Other businesses lost to the flames besides Forza and The Desert Sun included Hearing Solutions, Cigar Land, Ed Wyse Beauty Supply, and Cruise Holidays.

Keller Williams West Sound, based in Gig Harbor, had recently signed a 5-year lease agreement with the building’s owner, and improvements were scheduled to begin this week.

Fortunately, no one was hurt or injured in the blaze, but the entire complex was completely razed by the fire.

I’ve also posted a gallery of photos of the fire’s aftermath on my Facebook profile

So, what’s the step? Rest assured that Keller Williams West Sound is committed to establishing a local office/presence here in Kitsap County. No doubt a new location will be identified or we will negotiate a similar space next to Forza if a new commercial building is constructed on the current site.

Stay tuned!

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional with Keller Williams West Sound, providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, ActiveRain, and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com

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Coming Full Circle – Life on the Kitsap Peninsula WA

July 5th, 2011 by Rich Jacobson

Enjoying the Quality of Life on the Kitsap Peninsula WA

crabbing-on-the-hood-canal-wa

I was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon. When I was just 10 months old, my parents moved our family down to Livermore, California, where I spent the next 18 years growing up. During my 4-year stint in the Navy, I traveled to a number of places throughout the continental US, as well as Hawaii, Guam, Okinawa, and Japan. After getting married in 1983, my wife Janice and I moved to Santa Rosa, California, where our first child, Emily, was born. Shortly after her birth, we moved to Chicago, Illinois, and lived there for 5 years. From there, we ended up in Lawrence, Kansas, and called that home for another 10 years.

But in the back of my mind, I had always had the hope/dream of one day living in the Pacific Northwest. My Mom was born here in Washington State, out on the coast, near the edge of the Olympic Rain Forest, and my Dad grew up in Warrenton, Oregon. When I was a youngster, my Mom’s folks lived on Pine Street in Everett WA, and my Uncle Bill was part owner of Everett Hardware. Needless to say, I had many fond childhood memories of time spent in and around the Puget Sound.

Homes for sale near bangor subase wa

While serving on-board a submarine in the US Navy, my boat pulled into Bangor Subase here on the Kitsap Peninsula to on-load missiles. We spent several months there as we prepared for our DASO (Demonstration and Shakedown Operations) that would take place later on over at Port Canaveral, Florida. While pulled up to the pier there at Bangor, I can vividly recall the deep clear waters of the Hood Canal and the sheer peaks of the Olympic Mountains as I stood watch topside. Those sights were truly breathtaking and remained etched in my memory for years to come.

Waterfront-Hones-on-the-Hood-Canal-WA

Yesterday, my sister Lori and her husband Ron took me out crabbing on the Hood Canal. We launched Ron’s 28 foot Grady White at Salisbury Point and motored out underneath the Hood Canal bridge. As we headed south, we passed the Bangor Subase, and it reminded me of those days over 30 years ago when I stood looking out of these waters thinking to myself, “Wow! Wouldn’t this be an awesome place to live!”

Waterfront-Properties-on-Hood-Canal-WA

Of all the places I have lived, nothing compares to the quality of life we enjoy here on the Kitsap Peninsula, surrounded by the waters of the Puget Sound, and the intense beauty of the Pacific Northwest!

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional with Windermere Real Estate, providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, ActiveRain, and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com

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“I Caught Commissioner Josh Brown Red-Handed!”

May 29th, 2010 by Rich Jacobson

I just posted over on my Kitsap Sun Reader Blog “Everyday CK” an article about Kitsap County Commissioner Josh Brown. Like most elected officials these days, you either like the guy or you don’t. Personally, I think he’s made some great strides for the residents of Central Kitsap County.

To read more about Josh Brown’s recent accomplishments, go to Everyday CK.

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, ActiveRain, Everyday CK, and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

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CK Schools Levy – A Sound Investment

February 6th, 2010 by Rich Jacobson

Central-Kitsap-School-District-Support-LevyThere’s been a lot of somewhat heated yet healthy discussion and debate lately regarding the upcoming local school support levies being voted upon here in Kitsap County WA by February 9th.

You can follow one of the more ‘lively’ conversations HERE.

A rather interesting and timely article appeared in a recent Kitsap Sun article:

“Judge Rules State not Fulfilling Duty to Fund Education”

Kitsap Sun Staff Blogger Marietta Nelson offered an ensuing commentary that poses the probing question: “What’s Missing?”

I can’t speak personally for the other districts within Kitsap County, but I can vouch for the Central Kitsap School District both as a resident and a parent of four CKSD students.

One of the benefits of living here in Central Kitsap is the sense of family and community that we all share. For those of us whose children have attended CK schools we have experienced firsthand the value and quality of education provided by the educators and staff of Central Kitsap School District.

I’ve never seen teachers and administrators who take such an active role in the lives of our kids. Superintendent Greg Lynch and the School Board Members (especially Chris Stokke) can be seen at nearly every school function or activity (even taking time out to personally read books in class to elementary students). Such occasions have afforded me countless opportunities of becoming better acquainted with our school leaders/administrators.

We are most fortunate here in Central Kitsap to have such highly qualified administrators/staff, and dedicated board members, all who possess high ethical standards and personal integrity.

A vote of “YES’ to renew the upcoming CK school support levy is not only a vote for our kids, but it’s also a vote of trust and confidence in our teachers and district leadership, to empower them all to continue their proven track record of educational excellence!

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An avid blogger since 2005, Rich has published over 1000 articles, most related to real estate. He enjoys using the tools of social media to brag/boast about the quality of Life on the picturesque Kitsap Peninsula in scenic WA State. He is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, ActiveRain, Crabbing in the Hood, Everyday CK, Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

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King County Court Denies Justice to Grieving Family

January 27th, 2010 by Rich Jacobson

King County Court decision devastates Local Family

justice-denied-for-local-central-kitsap-familyOn the morning of March 13, 2005, local CK resident Heather Lee Meadows, daughter of Greg and Leah Meadows, was driving to work with a friend on I-5 just south of Seattle, when a speeding drunk driver entered the freeway using the off ramp, going the wrong way against traffic, and hit her head on. She was killed almost instantly, while her passenger suffered internal injuries, a fractured skull and jaw, as well as long lasting emotional trauma.

The drunk driver, Ngere Tambwe Omari, had a long list of prior run-ins with the law. An immigrant from Rwanda, he had entered the U.S. illegally, but was granted amnesty by our government due to the civil war in his country of origin at that time. Just a month earlier, he had been convicted of a DUI, was placed on probation, and had his licensed suspended. At the time of the accident, in addition to a suspended license, he had no insurance, and the car he was driving belonged to someone else.

As a result, Omari was convicted of Vehicular Homicide, Vehicular Assault, and 2nd degree driving on Suspended License. He was sentenced to prison for 72 months and a release date of April 27, 2010.

During his incarceration, he received extensive medical treatment to repair his crushed femur that he sustained in the crash. His physical therapy, surgery, medications, multiple mental health visits to Western State, and the expense of his translator, attorneys, etc., has cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. He has yet to fulfill any of his court ordered responsibility of paying restitution to any of his claimants.

In addition to his jail sentence, there had been an immigration hold placed on him during his incarceration. Upon release, he was to be remanded to the immigration authorities to begin the deportation process.

Unbeknownst to the Meadows family, a decision was handed down in the fall of 2009 by the King County courthouse that lifted the immigration hold. When Omari is released from prison this coming April, he will be allowed once again to roam this country freely.

Which of our daughters or sons, Mothers or Fathers will be Omari’s next victim?

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2006/dec/06/man-sentenced-in-death-of-ck-grad/

http://www.komonews.com/news/7894072.html

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-393677

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