We hope to see you next Friday, December 1, for the 3rd annual City of Kenmore Luminary Walk! This free community event includes a lighted luminary path (starting & ending at City Hall Lawn), music from local school groups, poetry reading by Kenmore’s Youth Poet Laureate and arts & crafts provided by the Kenmore Heritage Society. There will also be food trucks, food vendors, and other entertainment.
A special thank you to our presenting sponsor: Edwards Jones – Financial Advisor: Colby Mayberry: “We thank you for the opportunity to work together and for making us feel at home in our community."
Pop! Shop Kenmore Winter Markets are returning to the Hangar in downtown Kenmore for the 2023 holiday season, on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons throughout December. Shoppers looking for that perfect, unique gift should prepare to shop local and support amazing and talented artisans from Kenmore and nearby cities.
Are you a local craftsperson or artisan looking to sell your products locally? If you or someone you know creates and/or curates unique, quality crafts or other gifts, please complete the application on the Pop! Shop Kenmore website by November 30.
The cities of Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline are hosting the fourth annual Winter Porch Light Parade -- a program showcasing communities shining bright during the holiday season. These four cities invite their communities to create light displays that will become part of a virtual holiday map, marking the many traditions celebrated during winter.
Register Your Display: Join the fun in making Kenmore festive and bright by decorating your home or business to be part of the Winter Porch Light Parade. Then, register your address to be featured in the interactive holiday light map to allow visitors to see just how festive Kenmore is during the holidays. Registration is open now. Entries who select to participate in the competition portion of the program can be in the running for a prize!
Tour the Displays: Embark on this exciting adventure at your leisure in the month of December to brighten your holiday spirits and see creative light displays. This is the perfect tradition to see the magic of lights from the ease of your car throughout four cities in the Pacific Northwest. Insider tip: the displays are best seen after 6 p.m. Plan your driving route using the virtual Winter Porch Light Parade map (available December 1 - 31) and get ready to experience a parade of lights to dazzle and delight.
At the November 20 meeting, the City Council discussed additional regulations to further preserve, protect, and enhance Kenmore’s tree canopy. The proposed tree regulations provide added protections by increasing the requirements for tree density on new developments, decreasing the number of trees property owners can remove each year, always requiring replacement whenever significant trees are removed, requiring that all trees on a property must be retained unless construction won’t allow it, and establishing a tree fund for instances when replacement is infeasible. There will be a public hearing on December 4 as the City Council considers adopting the additional regulations.
Since April 2021, the City Council has been taking action to protect Kenmore's trees. In 2022, new tree regulations were adopted, including requiring permits for tree removal and revising tree retention requirements. In October 2023, the City Council adopted an exceptional tree ordinance, which protects native and very large trees that because of their size and age are invaluable to the environment. Upon adoption of the ordinance, removal of exceptional trees within the city is punishable by fines up to $2,500 per inch in diameter at breast height with minimum a penalty of $10,000 and a maximum of $150,000.
The Kenmore Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Advisory Committee is recruiting to fill one vacancy for a one-year term beginning January 1, 2024. The Committee’s work involves advocating for and promoting DEIA within the city, advising City staff on DEIA issues, and reviewing the City’s progress on implementing the DEIA Strategic Plan. The Committee is made up of members who either live or work in Kenmore and reflect the city’s diversity. DEIA Advisory Committee members are volunteers, unpaid for their service. If you are interested, learn more and apply by November 30 at www.kenmorewa.gov/deia.
Metro Flex is a weekday on-demand flexible-route transit service servicing many areas in King County, including Juanita. Use Metro Flex for shopping, appointments, recreation, social events and more. A Metro Flex ride costs the same as a Metro bus trip, and you can pay with your ORCA card and even transfer to/from bus or Sound Transit light rail service. Book your trip to begin and end anywhere in the Juanita service area, which includes a large portion of Kenmore, Juanita, and Totem Lake. Here are a few perks of using Metro Flex:
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Convenient
Use your phone to tell Metro Flex where you are and where you want to go. You'll receive a nearby pickup location only a short walk away.
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Fast
Booking your ride is quick and easy! The app will send you an approximate arrival time for your Metro Flex vehicle.
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Affordable
Ride Metro Flex for the same cost as a Metro bus trip. And with your ORCA card, you can transfer for free to or from a bus, Sound Transit Link light rail or Sounder.
There has been some confusion over the years regarding the use of the BAT (Business Access Transit) lanes on Bothell Way. Some stretches of Bothell Way are for buses only, while others can be used for portions of the road until you reach an intersection, when you must then turn right. No where along Bothell Way can you drive straight through an intersection while in the BAT lane. Thank you for driving safely and using Kenmore's BAT lanes responsibly.
It’s time for the annual Kenmore Holiday Food & Toy Drive. The collection bins are at the Hangar and City Hall Lobby until December 16. Donations requests include any non-perishable or shelf safe food items, toilet paper, toothpaste, and other house supplies. The QR code above takes you to the gift wish list.
Last year, 138 children received 3 gifts and stocking stuffers and 252 total people (79 families) received a Christmas dinner and had access to food donations. Drop off your donations today to make this year ‘s Food & Toy Drive another smashing success and help those in need in our community.
The donations from the Holiday Food & Toy Drive will be setup for community members to receive on December 18 at the Kenmore Food Bank. Please email foodbank@cedarpark.org to sign up to attend.
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Wallace Swamp Creek Park Clean Up Event November 24
Join Sno-King Watershed Council, in partnership with the City of Kenmore, to celebrate their FOURTH BIRTHDAY with habitat restoration in Wallace Swamp Creek Park on Friday, November 24 from 11 am - 2 pm! More details can be found here. |
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Kenmore Heritage Society Santa Photos December 9
Join Kenmore Heritage Society on Saturday, December 9, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Kenmore Camera, for free family fun, crafts and Santa photos.
Limited spots and preregistration is required. Please no pets. Contact Kenmore Heritage Society for more information.
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Make Scarves for Mary's Place December 17
Thoughtful Citizens is hosting a scarf making event on December 17, benefiting Mary's Place. Here's hoping we can provide warmth to hundreds of community members again this year! This event is open to all ages and skill levels. Check out the event details here. |
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KWAC on the Water Christmas Caroling Paddle
You're invited to join the Kenmore Waterfront Activities Center (KWAC) for their annual Christmas Caroling Paddle on Sunday, December 17. Find event information here. |
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