GRADUATES | Juanita High School graduates 289 students; Emerson high schools graduate 23 [3, 8]
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KIRKLAND
Fireworks | Donors, new company step up and save Kirkland’s fireworks [4]
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
300 call on legislators to pass budget at rally
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early 300 Kirkland residents and members of political action committees chanted “Courage for kids” and “Kids and families first” at a rally on Wednesday evening to let legislators know they want a budget passed - and one that reflects amply funded education as well. Meanwhile, Washington state Sen. Andy Hill supporters attempted to block protesters with high-held picket signs on the sidewalk near the rally at Heritage Park in Kirkland. The rally, organized by Our Economic Future coalition, was to call on Sen. Hill, R-Redmond, and Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina,
to pass a state budget before the inaction causes a government shutdown on July 1. But the protesters not only want a budget before government shuts down. Many, who were with the Washington Education Association, want a budget that is aligned with the Washington Supreme Court’s mandate for the Legislature to amply fund education. Proposed budgets only allocate $250 to $300 million in additional revenue for education, despite the McCleary decision, which calls for $1 billion this year alone, said Steven Miller, who is vice president-elect of the Washington Education Association. [ more RALLY page 5 ]
Nearly 300 Kirklanders and members of political action committees gathered at Heritage Park on June 19 to let legislators know that they want a budget passed that reflects amply funded education. State legislators need to pass a state budget before the inaction causes a government shutdown on July 1. RAECHEL DAWSON, Kirkland Reporter
Girl’s memory lives on, project helps students at Peter Kirk
Remembering a man who preserved city’s history BY CARRIE RODRIGUEZ crodriguez@kirklandreporter.com
BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@kirklandreporter.com
After months of helping their peers at recess, 33 fifth-graders at Peter Kirk Elementary will pass on their duties at Kelsey’s Corner to next year’s students. The five-month-old Kelsey’s Corner project was created in January with a mission to make recess more engaging by encouraging volunteers to befriend or connect others with fun games during recess. It was started to honor fifth-grader Kelsey Jensen who came up with the idea, but unexpectedly passed away soon after the initial project launched last year. Every day at recess the students alternate between days to meet at a corner on the outskirts of the Peter Kirk
Kelsey Jensen, a fifth-grader at Peter Kirk Elementary, died unexpectedly last December. Last school year, she created a project in which student volunteers help fellow students during recess. Students this year have carried on her project – now called Kelsey’s Corner – in her memory. CONTRIBUTED playground. They put on special vests and bring out a tub of toys and sports equipment. “They spread around the playground and look for those kids that really don’t have anything to play, or you know, they don’t have any friends, or they want to play a game but aren’t sure how to get into it,” said Erika Keck, a fourth-grade teacher and coorganizer of Kelsey’s Corner. “So they’re just kind of on the lookout for those kids who maybe are just walking by
themselves … because that was a really big concern for Kelsey.” Last spring, then-fourthgraders Kelsey and her best friend created Kid’s Corner in an effort to give their peers something more to do during recess, such as playing new games or meeting new friends. “They really wanted to keep a positive spin on it,” said Kelsey’s mom Carol Jensen. “It wasn’t a place for kids [ more KELSEY page 5 ]
Robert Glen Burke did not tie himself to the old church or even lay down in front of it to protest its demolition in 1999. But he did so metaphorically before the Kirkland City Council, and in a way that was graceful in the true Burke fashion that he was known for. “The council did not have much of an appetite for saving the building and was inclined to just let it be demolished,” recalled Santos Contreras, who served on the council when the 1922 Christian Science Church was spared from demolition. “Bob would not
hear of it and prodded the tage Society, where various council …” local artifacts are preserved. After the council voted That was just one historito save the building, the cal contribution that Burke council “just looked left the city. at each other and Burke passed shrugged our away unexpectshoulders,” said edly at his Kirkland Contreras, adding, home on May 20, “He wouldn’t let just shy of his 79th up. Without Bob birthday on June that building would 28. The community have been demolwill hold a celebraRobert Burke ished - period.” tion of life for him And now Kirkat Heritage Hall on land has Burke to thank for July 6. that building, which is now An Idaho native, Burke Heritage Hall - a miniature worked as an architect and White House of sorts that urban planner for the Port stately stands before Market of Seattle and various cities Street, with a view of Lake for many years. He was also Washington. The structure president of the planning also houses Kirkland Heri[ more BURKE page 6 ]
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BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@kirklandreporter.com
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