Page A12
NorthKitsapHerald.com
Friday, May 30, 2014 | North Kitsap Herald
KPUD signs contract to improve Wi-Fi By RICHARD D. OXLEY
roxley@northkitsapherald.com
POULSBO — The Kitsap Public Utility District has taken many steps toward offering free Wi-Fi access to a handful of Kitsap communities. Now, it hopes to take a leap. The utility district has signed a contract with a consultant to assess and fix its pilot public Wi-Fi networks in Poulsbo and on Bainbridge Island. “Poulsbo will be the start-
ing point for the upgrade project, simply because our office is here in city,” David Jones of KPUD told the Poulsbo City Council’s economic development committee May 28. KPUD has hired the Port Townsend company Intellicheck Mobilisa, Inc. to take a look at and remodel its Wi-Fi systems. The contract is for the consultant to improve Poulsbo’s system and the Wi-Fi network in downtown Winslow
however, devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones often lacked the range to send a signal back. “It hasn’t been very successful, not from a demand point-of-view but from a technology point-of-view,” Jones said. “A lot of frustrated people have called us and said they could see the signal, but couldn’t use it.” The pilot program to offer free public Wi-Fi put hotspots in downtown Winslow on Bainbridge
on Bainbridge Island. Founded in 1994, Intellicheck Mobilisa, Inc. specializes in wireless technology and mobile devices; areas that will hopefully assist KPUD improve its public Wi-Fi systems. KPUD began running into problems with its first try at a Wi-Fi system when devices had difficulty communicating with antennas. The antennas were powerful enough to send out a signal across wide areas,
SUMMER Activities
Island, Kingston, and Poulsbo. There were four antennas placed in downtown Poulsbo. “Which was not enough,” Jones said. An upgraded system will likely equate to more antennas throughout a coverage area. “I’m willing to put a tower on my house,” joked Poulsbo Port Commissioner Jim Rutledge, who attended the
May 28 meeting. “I’m willing to wear one,” quipped Councilman Ed Stern. Improving the system may require KPUD to further expand its fiberoptic system to accommodate additional antennas. “We are going back to the core,” Jones said. “Front Street up to parks and rec building, and do it correctly this time with slightly different technology ... “We are actually putting a fair amount of money into it now, whereas before we were scratching at funds. We’re more serious about it now.”
concerts • karate • daycare • classes • festivals • sports • expeditions
451058062
SUMMER engineering CAMPS
FRIENDS
First Stage Montessori is pleased to be offering two exciting 2014 Summer Camps!
Science ScienceCamps Campson onthe theSound Sound with withSalish SalishSea SeaExpeditions Expeditions
Time for tea! A manners camp! Cost $150 (including all materials) Ages 3 – 7 years
essori is Monday pleased – Fridayto Junebe 23th–offering 27th, 2014 9.00two a.m. – 1.00 p.m. Theater in the Forest ng 2014 Summer Camps!
$279/wk. $279/wk./ /Fort FortWard WardPark, Park,Bainbridge BainbridgeIsland. Island./ / July July7-11, 7-11, 9am-3pm 9am-3pm
Explore Exploreour ourconnections connectionstotoPuget PugetSound Soundthrough through scientific scientificinquiry inquiryand andhands-on hands-onactivities activitiesatatFort FortWard Ward park. We will design + build our own scientific experipark. We will design + build our own scientific experiJr. Robotics Mining & Crafting Bricks 4 Friends Comic ments + equipment, use professional water quality ments + equipment, use professional water qualitytesting testing Creator Remote Control Mania Stop Motion Animation tools, tools,collect collectoceanographic oceanographicdata, data,play playgames, games,meet meetlocal local scientists scientistsand andpioneer pioneera arestoration restorationproject. project.Camping, Camping, BBQ BBQand ands’mores s’morestotocelebrate celebrateour ourfinal finalnight. night. *offering camps in Poulsbo, Silverdale, Bremerton & Bainbridge
Spaces are limited to 15. Please contact 360-394-4440 Time for tea! or email: firststagemontessori@hotmail.com
Register at: www.bricks4kidz.com/poulsbo
Clear Creek Rd NW, Poulsbo WA 98370 A manners16107 camp!
Ages 3 – 7 years
N
e ur t a
e Pr
s
ol o ch
ts
Sp
or
ts
SU
une 23th– 27th, 2014
D
e
c an
Science Camps on the Sound
Ar
M M
ER
Ca m p Fu n ! ! p to polish up those good manners, then now’s your
with Ali learning about grace, courtesy and good d time along the way! The week will culminate with Cream Tea’ during which you will demonstrate your skills to a special guest of your choice.
9.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.
$279/wk. / Fort Ward Park, Bainbridge Island. Explore our connections to Puget Sound through
July 7-11, 9am-3pm scientific inquiry and hands-on activities at Fort Ward park. We will design + build our own scientific experi-
Poulsbo Parks & Recreation
ding all materials)
360.779.9898
Ages 4 – 7 years
scientists and pioneer a restoration project. Camping, $299/wk. / Fort Ward Park, Bainbridge Island. BBQ and s’mores to celebrate our final night. July 14-18th, / 9am-3pm
Summer Culture Camp
$299/week $299/week / / Fort FortWard WardPark, Park,Bainbridge BainbridgeIsland. Island. th July 9am-3pm July14-18 14-18,th, / / 9am-3pm
InInthis thiscamp campwe’ll we’llbebediscovering discoveringthe thewonders wondersofof the theunderwater underwaterworld worldbybybuilding buildingoceanographic oceanographic exploration explorationequipment. equipment.From Frombuoys buoystotounderwaunderwater terremote remoteoperated operatedvehicles vehicles(ROV’s) (ROV’s)and andmuch much more, more,hands-on hands-onactivities activitieswith withscientists scientistsfrom from around aroundthe theSound Soundwill willteach teachabout aboutsome someofofPuPuget getSound’s Sound’smost mostpressing pressingissues, issues,and anddemondemonstrate stratehow howSTEM STEMcan canhelp helpususunderstand understandand and create createsolutions solutionstotothese theseissues. issues.We Wewill willcap capthis this camp off project, camp-out, camp offwith witha alocal localservice service project, camp-out, Description: Learn Chinese BBQ BBQand ands’more s’moreroast! roast! language through Chinese culture,
Salish Sea Science (Ages 11-14) Salish SeaExplorers Science $279/wk. / Fort Ward Park, Bainbridge Island. / July 7-11, 9am-3pm Explorers (Ages 11-14)
Submerged in Science ments + equipment, use professional water quality testing
Submerged SubmergedininScience: Science:(Ages (Ages15-18) 15-18)
Camp 1: 7/7 - 7/11 2014 Camp 2: 8/4 - 8/8 2014 Time: 9 am - 12 pm Location: Hyla Middle School @ Bainbridge Island Fee: $135 per camp
with Salish Sea Expeditions
Register at:
tools, collect oceanographic data, play games, meet local Register at: (Ages 15-18) www.biparks.org www.biparks.org
ter in the Forest
playful
TECHNOLOGY
Salish SalishSea SeaScience ScienceExplorers Explorers (Ages (Ages11-14) 11-14)
Cost $250 (including all materials) Ages 4 – 7 years Monday July 7th to Friday July 18th, 2014 9 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.
ing all materials)
with LEGO® Bricks
oror call (206) 842-2306 call (206) 842-2306
Scholarships are available
games, craft making, singing, dancing, cooking and more.
phone: (206) 780-7848 phone: (206) 780-7848 / /www.salish.org www.salish.org / / eric@salish.org eric@salish.org
Submerged in Science: (Ages 15-18) 1257 Patmos Lane NW, Bainbridge Island 206-780-7848 • www.salish.org • Park, eric@salish.org $299/week / Fort Ward Bainbridge Island. th
July 14-18 ,
/
Registration & Info: http://www.bainbridgemandarinlc.org/Culture_Camp.html
9am-3pm
In this camp we’ll be discovering the wonders of the underwater world by building oceanographic exploration equipment. From buoys to underwater remote operated vehicles (ROV’s) and much more, hands-on activities with scientists from
Call today to advertise on the June Summer Activities page 360-779-4464
er camp will introduce the basics of theater and forming their own short, live theater performance in