KIRKLAND .com .com
REP RTER
NEWSLINE: 425.822.9166
LETTERS | Kirkland residents sound off on plastic bags, Potala [4]
Heart health | Kirkland turns red for National FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014 Wear Red Day [8]
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
FIRE | Highlands fire sends one to hospital, kills two pet birds [2]
Former mayor McBride to challenge Tom for state Senate BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@kirklandreporter.com
F
ormer Kirkland mayor Joan McBride will run against Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina with the 48th Legislative District in the August primary election. “Rodney Tom abandoned critical issues important to the Eastside in order
to keep a title and corner Tom is a former Republioffice,” McBride said in a can turned Democrat who news release. “I handed Senate conlook forward to trol to Republicans talking with voters in 2013. throughout the McBride, 62, will 48th district about run as a Democrat the important isand said that educasues that unite us tion, transportation and where, as a new and quality of life Rodney Tom senator, I can make will be cornerstones a real and positive of her campaign. difference.” “From my years of serv-
ing the people of Kirkland a balanced transportation and the Eastside, I know package and investing in the importance great communities. of great schools, Unfortunately, the transportation and current leadership transit investments is blocking comand protecting our mon sense progress communities’ qualto maintain their ity of life,” McBride partisan control. said. “We need It’s wrong for our Joan McBride leaders in Olymfamilies and wrong pia committed to for our region.” funding schools, passing McBride points to stalled
legislation that would invest billions in regional transportation and transit priorities, a refusal to close loopholes that would add $200 million to K-12 funding and even legislation to safeguard access to reproductive health care for women that passed the State House but is languishing in the Senate — where [ more SENATE page 3 ]
School district levies passing, bond failing Bond would fund the rebuild of three Kirkland schools including Juanita High BY MATT PHELPS mphelps@kirklandreporter.com
The first returns for a Lake Washington School District special election show the two levies passing but a huge bond measure failing to reach the needed 60 percent to pass. The first results were released by King County Elections on Feb. 11. Prop. 3, which includes a $755 million bond, is failing with 14,019 votes or 57 percent of the overall votes cast. The measure needs a 60 percent or a super majority yes vote. It also needs a minimum turnout of 18,503 votes to pass. If it passes by Feb. 25, the bond measure would allow the district to continue with its modernization program with funds going toward replacing aging schools throughout the district. Six schools are scheduled to be replaced, including three in Kirkland: Juanita High School, Kamiakin Middle School and Peter Kirk Elementary School. According to the district, the bond would cost homeowners 53 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. Prop. 1, Education Programs and Operations Levy, is passing with 16,692 votes in favor, or 63.6 percent of the vote. The levy will cost $263.6 million over the
course of four years. For homeowners, this comes to an estimated rate of about $1.85-1.92 per $1,000 of assessed property value, according to the district. Prop. 2, the Capital Projects Levy, is passing with 16,425 votes in favor, or 62.5 percent of the vote. The levy will pay for two types of capital projects: facilities and technology, and will cost $127.2 million over the course of four years. For homeowners, this comes to an estimated rate of about 91 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, according to the district. The two levies are renewals and require a simple majority of 50 percent, plus one to pass. The three measures will go toward the district’s everyday operations, technology needs and building upgrades as well as toward replacing aging schools and building new schools to accommodate the district’s growing enrollment. The vote-by-mail ballots were due Feb. 11 and the election results will be certified by Feb. 25. There were 18 jurisdictions with ballot measures in the February special election. Vote totals will be updated at www.kirklandreporter. com as they are received by King County Elections.
A little girl stands with her mother as she models a pillow case dress made by one of the women at the Peter Kirk Community Senior Center. The family was staying at the “Kwashiorkor ward,” or malnutrition ward, at Hospital Albert Schweitzer in Deschapelles, Haiti. Allison McLean traveled to Haiti to hand-deliver the dresses after she heard about the philanthropic endeavor. ALLISON MCLEAN, Special to the Reporter
Women’s group sews dresses for children in impoverished countries BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@kirklandreporter.com
One afternoon each month, a group of women meet at the Peter Kirk Community Center. It’s not for the exercise classes or a game of Bridge. It’s for thousands of children who don’t have proper clothes in some of the poorest countries around the world. And these women work to make a difference one dress and pair of shorts at
a time. During the last two years, their clothing has traveled to Malawi, Rwanda, Haiti and Kenya twice each. In March 2012, Margaret Wagner with the Senior Center at Peter Kirk, was watching the “Making a Difference” segment on NBC News, which showcased a woman with cancer who made pillow case dresses with her friends.
“I thought, ‘Wow,’” Wagner said. “I always watch these segments and think, ‘What can an individual do who’s not going to journey somewhere?’ Sometimes it’s amazing what you can do with the resources you have.” Wagner asked women at the Senior Center if they would be interested in sewing and donating the pillow dresses featured on the show. About five women
started with the group and even more donated materials such as seam binding, buttons, thread and pillow cases. “When we first started, we didn’t have anything,” Wagner said. “We had three sewing machines donated, an iron, ironing board… This woman said she found a $100 bill on the street and she went out and bought, at the thrift store, two sewing machines.” [ more DRESSES page 6 ]