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PARKING | City extends public comment as concern grows [3]
Kangs | New coach changing culture for Lake FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 Washington football program [8]
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
Rebels | Juanita looks to overtake Bellevue, win league title [9]
Juanita association objects to both locations for aquatic center
Wants open space preserved at beach park BY TJ MARTINELL tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com
T
he Juanita Neighborhood Association (JNA) has taken a stance against the two proposed locations of the Kirkland Aquatic and
Recreation Center (ARC). In an Aug. 28 letter written to Juanita residents, the JNA expressed their opposition to the city’s proposal to place the ARC at the North Kirkland Community Center (NKCC) site along
with a second potential location on the north side of Juanita Beach Park (JBP). Among the reasons for their opposition included a lack of space necessary to accommodate all the
ARC’s facilities and heavy traffic at JBP. They also wrote they wish to preserve as much open space as possible in that area. Ken Albinger, president of the JNA, said the “2007
Juanita Park Master Plan” intended for the northern section of JBP to be used for fields or a skateboard park, but the ARC would add more density to the neighborhood. While he thinks the ARC would actually help with parking in the area, that’s not how the land was meant to be
used. “When Juanita Village was built to four stories and five or six stories, the tradeoff was to allow the beach to remain as open space,” he said. “It’s not the right depth for this neighborhood. This neighborhood is already [ more ARC page 3 ]
KITH celebrates 25th anniversary, Autumn Event Oct. 4 ing for them,” she said. “I think what we’ve seen is the number of the famiThe upcoming gala lies has not decreased, for Kirkland Interfaith but has increased. KITH Transitions in Housing has been able to grow and (KITH) during October we see that need growing marks not just its 25th and we’re trying to conanniversary, but how it tinue to have apartments has grown from servavailable.” ing Kirkland residents Barron, who has been to struggling families all with KITH since over the East“I think our goals October 2012, side. remain the same, to said their ability First founded empower families to come up with in 1989 by creative fundand provide several Kirkland affordable housing raising options churches, it has for them. I think has allowed gone from one what we’ve seen them to remain apartment above is the number of open when an auto store to the families has money has been 32 apartments not decreased, but hard to come by. and a condo, as In addition to has increased. KITH well as providtheir luncheon has been able to in March and ing assistance grow and we see fall auction, they for rent. that need growing also partner with The gala is and we’re trying EvergreenHealth also seen as a celebration for to continue to to host the 7 KITH making it have apartments Hills of Kirkland through several available.” bicycle ride. rough years durJennifer Barron Started in 1996, ing the economall the proceeds ic downturn have gone to starting in 2009. KITH. Jennifer Barron, the “The donations and fiexecutive director at nancial flush of availabilKITH, said although they ity wasn’t there,” she said have grown, it is also an of the bad economy. “The indication that there is agency said ‘How are we still a strong need in the going to go forward?’ The community. mission was considered “I think our goals very honorable, so what remain the same, to we did we needed to do?” empower families and Alina Aaron, the event provide affordable hous[ more KITH page 6 ] BY TJ MARTINELL
tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com
Tall ships invade Kirkland’s harbor Sophia McCloy, the engineer for the Lady Washington, directs the attention of students from the Buena Vista Seventh Day Adventist School from Auburn. The tall ship was in Kirkland for a week, taking sightseers around Lake Washington and even performing a battle on “the high seas” with another tall ship, The Hawaiian Chieftain. Reporter TJ Martinell got the ride of a life time and describes his adventure as a stowaway aboard the ship in this week’s Reporter Notes on page 4. TJ MARTINELL, Kirkland Reporter
DennyFest brings neighborhood together Sunday BY MATT PHELPS mphelps@kirklandreporter.com
Food, friends and fun will be in full force in Kirkland on Sunday, as the biggest neighborhood in Kirkland hosts a community get-together for
residents to meet and enjoy some entertainment. The Finn Hill Neighborhood Alliance will host the seventh annual DennyFest at O.O. Denny Park from noon to 4 p.m. for an afternoon of free music, entertainment
and food. DennyFest will feature Kirkland resident and musician Geoffrey Castle for the second year in a row. Castle is a rocker style electric violin player with a band full of local musicians.
“It was a slam dunk that we would want them back,” DennyFest organizer Marc Ackerman said. Also performing on the music stage will be Afro-Caribbean group [ more FEST page 6 ]