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ID THIEF | Kirkland woman sentenced to prison time [7]
520 | Bridge to be closed eastbound this FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015 weekend, June construction to ramp up [6]
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
Kirkland’s Park Lane in downtown reopens to fanfare
Kirkland teams dominate state weekend Juanita claims state 3A softball championship BY MATT PHELPS mphelps@kirklandreporter.com
T
he state high school softball title came back to Kirkland for the second consecutive season on Saturday but it wasn’t the team that won
Track | Kirkland athletes show well during state meet in Tacoma [11]
BY TJ MARTINELL tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com
The Juanita softball team celebrates its state softball championship on Saturday in Lacey. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO KingCo and Districts. The Juanita High School softball team completed an unlikely run by defeating Everett 9-0 during the title game to take the 3A State Softball Championship on Saturday at the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey.
“Winning the state title this year was so unexpected, yet well deserved,” said Juanita head coach Traci Odegard. “These girls came into the tournament with no pressure on them and just played the game to the best of their ability.
They worked hard and worked together as a team, and I truly believe that is what allowed them to do so well and win it all.” Leading the way was starting pitcher Lisa Nelson, who picked up all [ more SOFTBALL page 3 ]
The city of Kirkland’s ribbon-cutting celebration on Park Lane Friday featuring local electric violinist Geoffrey Castle and a speech by Mayor Amy Walen marks the near completion of the renovation project intended to improve walkability in downtown. The Park Lane project is designed as a curb-less plaza-style street, similar to a woonerf or living street design common in Europe, with a red and beige brick paver surface. For many Park Lane businesses, the end of construction will be a welcome
change as summer and better weather approaches. Originally scheduled to be finished at the end of April, work is anticipated to go on until June 12, according to Neighborhood Services Coordinator Christian Knight. “There’s been several hiccups,” he said. “And that’s part of the construction process.” One of causes was the 70-year-old water-main, which they found in a much more dilapidated condition than previously thought, requiring more time to replace. Businesses the Reporter spoke to were mixed on how the construction [ more LANE page 2 ]
Two markets, one director Juanita Friday Market and Wednesday Market at Marina Park open new season BY TJ MARTINELL tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com
Sibling rivalry Lake Washington senior Sasha Oelsner, foreground, charges down the field as the Juanita lacrosse team looks on. Oelsner was named Player of the Game during the state title game, scoring three goals, including the game winner. MATT PHELPS, Kirkland Reporter
Lake Washington defeats Juanita for Division II Lacrosse State Championship BY MATT PHELPS mphelps@kirklandreporter.com
When the high school Kirkland lacrosse program split into two teams
last fall it was like dividing a close-knit family. However, there is nothing like a sibling rivalry between brothers. That rivalry fueled the Lake Washington
and Juanita teams to the state title game on Sunday at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila. In the end, it was an older brother, senior Sa-
sha Oelsner, who was the difference maker in Lake Washington winning the Division II State Championship against Juanita, [ more BOYS page 3 ]
The Kirkland Wednesday Market kicked off the opening season this week with a performance by Kirklandbased ukulele rock band “Marilyn and the G Strings” at Marina Park. The performance, along with new local vendors, was one of the changes made as Marketing Director Tina Lathia takes over the Kirkland Wednesday Market. If her name sounds familiar it is because she is also the director for the Juanita Friday Market, which opens today. “I wanted to do something special for opening day,” she said. “It would lighten up the scene and be
fun.” Lathia, who has been directing the Friday market for five years, said she plans to keep the Wednesday Market the same, though she still hopes to attract bigger crowds with new vendors offering local products, such as fresh goat cheese, all-natural beef, nurseries and specialty chocolates. The variation, she said, will ideally keep people coming back. “I find if you come to the market every year you want to find something new,” she said. Now that she is in charge of both markets and with the Juanita Friday Market growing after moving from [ more MARKET page 5 ]