September 3, 2010

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Grape Stomp Sept. 15th

Guest Commentary | Keep Kirkland Family Friendly

Note: The following letter has been broadly distributed around town and was forwarded to us by several readers. It refers to a promotional activity involving bikini-clad women during the Kirkland Classic Car Show which took place last month. – Editor

August 10, 2010
Dear Neighbor,
Origins of Keep Kirkland Family Friendly Initiative
The initiative to Keep Kirkland Family [...]

Guest Commentary | One of those moments at Marina Park…. (photos)

I totally experienced one of those moments last Thursday evening, ( Aug 5th 2010) that just makes you feel really glad you were, where you were.  My wife and I were heading down to the Kirkland Summer Concert Series at Marina Park in Kirkland and to be honest, I couldn’t even remember the name of [...]

Larry Springer responds to Matt Gregory letter

Matt Gregory sent us a letter to the editor regarding Representative Larry Springer. As a courtesy to elected officials, we offer them an opportunity to respond to such letters whenever feasible. – Admin
I appreciate the concern my longtime colleague, Matt Gregory, has regarding the cost of political campaigns.  As a candidate whose has had to [...]

Guest Commentary | Lake Washington Boulevard: Kirkland’s future depends on our crown jewel

I wrote the following letter to Janice Soloff, Senior Planner for the City of Kirkland on July 14, 2010:
Janice,
Thanks again to the hard-working folks who are helping plan the vision for the Lakeview neighborhood.
After last night’’s ,meeting I realized that of all the Kirkland neighborhoods, Lakeview plays a crucial role in Kirkland’s future. Here are my thoughts:
Lakeview [...]

Guest Commentary | I Pledge… (video)

Jeff Heinz, local photographer and Kirkland resident, has created a montage of his Kirkland Fourth of July photos to which he has added audio explaining the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Jeff Heinz is a guest contributor for Kirkland Views and a local photographer.
Find Jeff on Twitter or see more of his photography at www.JeffHeinz.com.

Burglaries in the Kirkland Highlands Neighborhood

There have been two home burglaries in the Highlands in the past two weeks and several apparent attempted break-ins. All of these crimes have taken place in mid-afternoon. In addition, a car was stolen Monday night
On June 17, neighbors saw a Caucasian man in his mid thirties, wearing jeans, a white shirt and a baseball [...]

Kirkland’s Henry Bischofberger continues family tradition as maker of violins

It’s not often you get to say you know a real live Violin Maker… unless you live in Kirkland and have met Henry Bischofberger with his wife Debbie at one of the local Arts or Community Events they attend on a frequent basis.  Henry has a fantastic story to tell.
“Not many people can call themselves [...]

Guest Commentary | Local versus Regional spending – Has the City of Kirkland’s focus on regional programs gone too far?

One Kirkland citizen questions the cost/benefit of regional involvement
By Robert L. Style
When an elected official recently said that we got back more than what we paid into regional funding, I asked the City for the dollars and cents figures.  [The chart below] shows in black what I asked the Finance Director, Ms. Tracey Dunlap, to provide. [...]

The show must go on! Locals save popular summer concert series at Marina Park

By Karen Story
It wouldn’t be summer without concerts at Marina Park. But when the Utility Tax failed in November, the City of Kirkland cancelled the concerts they’ve been organizing for 32 years. But there’s good news: a group of citizens and businesses have stepped in to save the concerts! The Kirkland Downtown Association will be [...]

Guest Commentary | A trail now on the BNSF corridor?

By Debra Sinick
A trail now on the BNSF corridor? Over 40 people came out for last week’s Eastside Trail Advocates meeting to hear about the possibilities of a trail on the corridor now, with a train, if needed at a later date.  The  ETA supports the publicly funded studies that have concluded commuter rail [...]

BNSF Rail Corridor sale – Conservation Futures Tax questioned as source of funds

The sale of the BNSF corridor seemed like a done deal. The news media reported the sale of the BNSF line to The Port of Seattle at the close of 2009 with plans to sell the line to King County in 2010. But now some question how the sale will be funded.
By Debra Sinick
Keith [...]

I love and adore Kirkland and I hope you will too – an essay

The following essay on Kirkland was written by Rachel Walen, 11, of Golden, Colorado. Rachel turned in this work as a 5th grade homework project, and now she has shared it with us. Sometimes a child’s perspective helps us better appreciate the very special place in which we live. – Admin

Kirkland, Washington
By Rachel Walen
As you walk down [...]

Guest Commentary | Washington State should legalize or decriminalize possession of marijuana

By Toby Nixon
Last Wednesday in Olympia, the state House Committee on Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness held hearings on two bills regarding marijuana policy reform. These bills, HB 1177 (decriminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana) and HB 2401 (legalization of marijuana and sale in state liquor stores) will be voted on in the committee this [...]

Will Kirkland Be The Only Major Seattle-Eastside City Without an Off Leash Dog Area?

By Debra Sinick
I always kid my husband that if we ever break up our dog is a real “people” magnet.  He’d have no trouble meeting people, especially the female kind, if he has Henry, our dog, by his side.  Dogs do that for their people.  Dogs are magnets for other dog lovers.

People love to [...]

A walk-about with Dave Ramsay – Kirkland City Manager

Dave Ramsay, our current Kirkland City Manager is scheduled to retire spring of 2010. This interview was conducted during the Fall of 2009.

By Julie Metteer
How long have you been City Manager for Kirkland?
“Well, actually since you mentioned it, today is actually my 12th year anniversary of being here in Kirkland. In fact I’ve been [...]

Letter | The unbelievable City Update

By Robert L. Style
The latest quarterly issue of the City Update illustrates why we should question what the city has to say.  Page 3 it talks about “Staff and Service Reductions in Effect.” Paragraph 2 is fabricated to help cover what is obvious to those who attended the budget discussions, the failure of the city to [...]

A Family Legacy at Georges – Pete and Athina Mangouras

Pete and Athina Mangouras

By Julie Metteer
Athina – “Dad bought Georges in 1976, and we pretty much grew up here. The place started out as a donut shop called “The Hole in One”, then it was a short order restaurant, and then it was re-modeled into the restaurant.”
“In the early days of the restaurant, orders were shouted [...]

Thanks to Our Local Scouts for Giving

By Debra Sinick
Hi Rob,
Were you a Boy Scout or Girl Scout when you were a kid?  Do you remember how much fun it was?  The weekly meetings, making new friends, and working hard to earn badges.  I was a Girl Scout and a Brownie back in Connecticut where I grew up.  I remember how excited [...]