Kirkland Reporter, August 21, 2015

Page 1

KIRKLAND .com

REPORTER

NEWSLINE: 425.822.9166

POTALA VILLAGE | Development moves forward with 58 units [11]

Healthy Bonez | New juice truck business FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015 opens on Market Street [10]

A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING

Sports | Tennis club kids perform well in regional competition [8]

Kirkland schools to provide all-day kindergarten next year

Despite state education spending increases, Supreme Court announces daily fines BY TJ MARTINELL tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com

T

hree Kirkland elementary schools will have all-day kindergarten fully paid for through state funding beginning in September. The funding will also be extended to all the Lake Washington School District elementaries by the start of 2016-2017 school year. Robert Frost Elementary,

John Muir Elementary, and Rose Hill Elementary were selected as the first schools in LWSD to receive the funding for the 2015-2016 school year for all-day kindergarten as part of the recent budget passed by the state legislature. It also included full funding for all-day kindergarten in all public schools in the 2016-17 school year. Parents can still have their children attend all-day kindergarten in the

other elementary schools, but they will still pay for the second half of the school day. By the 2016-2017 academic year, state funding will cover the entire cost. School district spokesperson Kathryn Reith said that the LWSD has been preparing for the changes for several years while the state focused on funding all-day kindergarten in 2007-08, concentrating on less affluent

districts. “They have been rolling this out slowly over time and each time adding a few more schools,” Reith said. “When it started out it was a small percentage of schools and the schools had a high level of poverty.” This academic year, around 72 percent of kindergarten students statewide will be eligible for state funded all-day kindergarten.

While they anticipated the funding for the handful of elementary schools that qualified, the additional appropriations for all the schools next year was unexpected. “It was a huge surprise,” she said. “Obviously it’s great for some of our parents expecting to either not have all-day kindergarten available for their students or have to pay. We’ve been looking forward to all-day kindergarten for all students.” Advocates of all-day kin-

dergarten claim that it offers an opportunity for students to improve in subjects such as reading and mathematics. John Muir Elementary Principal Jeff DeGallier described the all-day kindergarten funding as having a “profoundly positive impact on our earliest learners” and will [ more SCHOOL page 3 ]

Vehicular assault case against motorcyclist forwarded to KC prosecutor Investigation documents show suspect had little concern for victims BY TJ MARTINELL tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com

The Kirkland Police Department has forwarded a case to the King County Prosecutor’s Office against a 20-year-old Kirkland man for alleged vehicular assault and hit and run after he struck a woman and man in downtown Kirkland with his motorcycle. The incident occurred June 10 when the suspect was riding his motorcycle down Lake Street South and struck two Bellevue residents, a 29-year-old woman and a 31-yearold man, along with two of her dogs, while they were in the crosswalk next to the Ben and Jerry’s, according to police documents. The Reporter is not naming the suspect at this time because the King County Prosecutor’s Office has to yet to decide whether or not to file charges. The investigation into the incident included numerous statements by witnesses, one of whom stated seeing the

suspect just moments before the collision riding recklessly down Lake Street and weaving in and out of traffic by passing vehicles in the oncoming lane. One witness reported the suspect revving his engine so loudly she had to cover her ears. The collision allegedly occurred when a vehicle in front of the suspect stopped at the crosswalk at the intersection of Second Avenue South for the victims and their dogs. The suspect then drove around the vehicle, going at least 40 mph in a 25 mph zone, according to several witnesses, only to drop his motorcycle when he collided into the victims and the dogs, the documents continue. Witness statements vary as to what happened next, but they were unanimous in their assertion that the suspect denied being responsible for the collision and attempted to pick his motorcycle up immediately afterward. One witness reported him swearing and yelling “My bike! My [ more ASSAULT page 2]

Chris Ballew, of Casper Babypants, performs at Juanita Beach Park during the Kirkland Summer Concert Series on Tuesday. TJ MARTINELL, Kirkland Reporter

Music that moves the masses BY TJ MARTINELL

tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com

A combination of good weather and popular local talent helped make this year’s Kirkland Summer Concerts at Juanita Beach Park and Marina Park one of the most successful, according to organizers. The concerts, which

finished up this week with performances by Caspar Babypants and Prom Queen, are put on through a partnership between the Downtown Kirkland Association (DKA) and the Kirkland Performance Center (KPC). “Honestly, it’s been really well received by the community,” said DKA Event

Kirkland Summer Concert Series proves to be a big success

Manager Barbie Collins Young. “It’s been really the most successful thing we’ve done. We’re really glad to see how well received it’s been.” Some of the concerts have seen record attendance, drawing anywhere between 500-1,000 attendees. Among the performers have been Mycle Wast-

man a finalist on the “The Voice,” Abbagraphs, an Abba tribute band, Bobby Medina, Kirkland electric violinist Geoffrey Castle, Long Stride and Creme Tangerine. The kids concerts, managed by organizer Julie Metteer, have featured Cowboy Buck and Elizabeth, Johnny Bregar Recess [ more MUSIC page 6 ]


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.