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QUESTIONABLE ACTIONS | Police presence at Watershed Park frightens neighbors after man displays gun to kids [7]
Thieves | Unidentified street bike thieves FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2013 caught on camera wanted by police [6]
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
Blaze | Kirkland fire causes “total loss” of Evergreen Hill home [10]
Lake Street Place project moves ahead BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@kirklandreporter.com
After Kirkland residents appealed the Design Review Board’s decision to approve Stuart McLeod’s Lake Street Place development, the city’s Hearing Examiner affirmed the boards’ decision to allow the developer to move forward with the five-story office, retail and parking structure. The city of Kirkland Hearing Examiner made the decision April 10, knocking down at least nine concerns made in the appeal. After the Design Review Board approved the project last January, two Merrill Garden residents and four Portsmith Condominium owners appealed the decision in February, stating the structure is out of scale with the neighborhood and would increase traffic hazards. But the residents, who have formed Kirkland Neighbors United, are not giving up. “We’re disappointed, not necessarily surprised, but we’ll move on and keep trying to make sure downtown Kirkland looks and remains the same character as intended,” said Portsmith resident Sandi Hart. Appellants Ellen Glauert, Barbara Flagg of Merrill Gardens, Lisa and Brian Rohrback, and Hart and Stan Christie of Portsmith Condominiums are six of the approximate 80 members of Kirkland Neighbors United. Rick Chesmore with Chesmore/Buck Architecture, architect of the development, said he is also unsurprised by the Hearing Examiner’s decision, and has already begun to move forward with a nearly complete traffic study for State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review. “The items did not relate well to the Design Review Board’s decision authority,” Chesmore said. “They don’t [ more PROJECT page 5 ]
Three Kirkland women are among the 34 cheerleaders who were chosen to be a part of the 2013 Sea Gals squad on Sunday as finals wrapped up a monthlong process. SEA GALS PHOTOS COURTESY OF SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, ROD MAR
3 Kirkland women return to Sea Gals squad BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@kirklandreporter.com
W
ith the inkling of a Super Bowl win this season, 34 women were chosen for the 2013 Sea Gals NFL cheerleading squad. Sea Gals director Sherri Thompson narrowed down the 170 auditions to 62 semi-finalists before choosing the 34 posi-
tions during finals held on Sunday. Three returning Sea Gals from Kirkland share their excitement. The Reporter withheld their last names due to the Seahawks’ privacy policy.
Courtney, 27 Kirkland resident Courtney will embark on her sixth
year as a Seahawks NFL Cheerleader. Courtney was added to the group after Sunday’s finals wrapped up a month-long process. “I am so excited for this year’s football team,” she said. “We played so well last year, and based on that, and everything that’s in store, I hope we will make it all the way to the Super Bowl.” The California native has
been dancing since she was 4 years old and has stretched her skills to tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, contemporary and ballroom. After Courtney’s dancing ended at the University of California at Santa Barbara when she graduated, she decided to take a leap and tryout for the Sea Gals at 22 years old. She had one year to make it as a dancer, said her father. But
she soon went on to win a spot on the team. “The year I decided to audition, I came to Kirkland for Easter and stayed at the Woodmark Hotel,” Courtney said, adding that her mother was from Seattle. “I had never been to Kirkland before. But I went out for a walk with my cousin one day and thought ‘this is such [ more SEA GALS page 3 ]
Mother’s Day weekend studio tour to feature 41 local artists BY MEREDITH BARRETT UW News Lab
Forty-one local artists will open their studios for the Kirkland Art Studio Tour (KAST) during Mother’s Day weekend, May 11-12, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Among them will be three Redmond residents: printmaker and mixed media artist Kathy Bennett, ceramic artist Elaine Moore and printmaker E. Valentine DeWald II. This is Bennett’s first
year being featured in through the print,” she KAST. After attending for says. years and collecting local Oftentimes, Bennett artwork, Bennett does not have is ready to take the concrete plans for spotlight as part of her designs — she the tour. Bennett simply allows the has always been process to speak involved with crefor itself. Using ating art through bright colors and various methods shapes, she creates Kathy Bennett but recently disher abstract pieces covered her niche with materials such about a year ago in as rubber bands, printmaking. string, cut paper and more. “For me, it’s about feelBennett will display nearly ing that connection and 100 prints in various sizes letting that [be expressed] and formats at KAST.
Moore will display many of her ceramic pieces. She does not use the wheel, but rather build all of her pieces by hand. Moore enjoys designing and molding garden art. One product in particular is the “Slug Pub,” a colorful item designed for gardeners to capture slugs. The medium-sized dish is topped with a lid painted like a leaf with a ceramic slug on top. The gardener pours beer into the dish, which attracts slugs through holes on the side — to
their ultimate demise. Moore has been participating in the KAST for several years. “I really enjoy the whole process I’m doing. I’m in my element,” she says with a twinkle in her eye. DeWald II graduated from the University of South Dakota with a double major in photography and painting. In 2007, he discovered mezzotint printmaking and became intrigued with the process. This form of printmaking [ more TOUR page 3 ]