It's that time of year again where our neighborhoods will come alive with ghosts and goblins with an unquenchable thirst for candy. Trick-or-treating can be a great way for neighbors to come together, connect face-to-face, and start building the important personal connections that are so vital for neighborhood crime prevention and emergency preparedness during the rest of the year. It's also an important time to practice safety on our streets. Below you'll find a few helpful reminders of things you can do, and your children can do, to make sure that everyone has a safe and fun Halloween. And while you're out, don't forget to stop by the Kirkland Justice Center lobby from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to grab a treat from your police department.
Lastly, if you see any suspicious or criminal activity, who are you going to call? No, not the Ghostbusters, please call 9-1-1.
Drive Extra Safely on Halloween
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There's nothing scarier than a driver under the influence. If you're going to mix your boos with your booze, find a designated driver, take transit, or utilize one of the many ride share options that are available.
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Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways. Adults are also excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways (see number one). Stay alert.
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
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Put the phone down. You'll need to concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
Reminders to Share with Trick-or-Treaters of All-Ages
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Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
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Put down the phone, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
- Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
- Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
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Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
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Join kids under age 10 for trick-or-treating. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, tell them to stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
Happy Halloween,
Chief Cherie Harris
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The City of Kirkland is updating our tree code. In a series of videos, we’ll share information about the tree code update process, the current code, the proposed changes to the code, and we’ll let you know how you can get involved. In this third video we’re focusing on our code regarding developer tree removal. The first video, which introduces the tree code update, and the second video, which provides information about homeowner tree removal, is available on the City website. More information can be found on the Tree Code Update page on the City website.
While Halloween is fun for families with kids and teenagers, it can be a stressful time for our four-legged family members. Constantly ringing doorbells, vastly increased neighborhood foot traffic and an abundance of oddly-dressed humans can be unnerving for even the most seasoned fur-kids.
Here are some tips from our Animal Control Officer Jennifer Matison to keep your pets safe this Halloween!
Candy is for humans – not pets
Everyone enjoys Halloween’s resulting sweet and tempting bounty – but it’s important to remember that delicious sugary treats can be extremely hazardous to your pets. Chocolate is dangerous and potentially life-threatening to dogs and cats, including white chocolate and especially dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate. Candy and gum sweetened with xylitol are also problematic and can cause your dog’s blood sugar to drop or even liver failure. Caffeine is another substance that can be fatal to dogs and cats, so if you think your pet has ingested caffeine, take him or her to the vet right away.
Leave the trick-or-treating adventures to your human children
It may be tempting to show off your furry four-legged family members in their goofy, ghostly garb, but resist the urge to take your pet trick-or-treating. All the unusual sights and sounds can be disorientating, and pets may become uncomfortable around so many unfamiliar folks. Walk your pet before Halloween festivities begin and consider keeping outdoor pets inside for the duration of the evening.
Costumes are cute but make sure they’re safe
It doesn’t get much cuter than a pug dressed in business suit or a labradoodle dressed like a Wookiee – but is your pet’s costume safe? Carefully examine your pet costumes for small parts that can potentially be chewed off and swallowed. Also, make sure that the costume doesn’t impede your pet’s ability to move, breathe, bark or meow. Try the costume on your pet before Halloween and give it a trial run to make sure your pet is comfortable.
Make sure your animal license is up-to-date
Should your pet somehow become lost, always remember that your Kirkland animal license is a free ride home! By law, all dogs and cats twelve weeks old and older owned by Kirkland residents must be licensed and vaccinated against rabies. Licenses expire after one year and must be renewed on or before the date of expiration. A valid pet license enables us to reunite you with your pet immediately! If you have any questions about Kirkland’s Animal Services Program, please visit our website.
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The winter holidays are just around the corner. Avoid the stress of giving the perfect gift to your friends and family with a gift that is truly meaningful!
At Kirkland Interfaith Network’s Alternative Gift Fair you can make a donation in the name of your loved one to two dozen wonderful local, national, and international non-profit organizations.
How does it work? You make a donation that can purchase a new window for a house being built by Habitat for Humanity, or pay for the training of a Hero Rat for landmine removal, or a night in a shelter for a homeless family.
You will receive a lovely card to give to your loved one explaining the donation that was made in their honor. No malls, no lines, no wrapping, and no wondering if it is the right size and color. Best of all it is a gift you give twice as it will bless someone in our community, nation, or world that is in need as well as your loved one.
Join us at the Peter Kirk Community Center behind the Kirkland Performance Center on Saturday, November 16, between 10AM and 4PM. The address is 352 Kirkland Avenue in downtown Kirkland. Parking is available at Kirkland Urban and at the Kirkland Library.
Let this holiday season be filled with joy, surprise, and meaning with a gift from the KIN Alternative Gift Fair. See you there!
If you’d like to help let people know about the fair, click here to download materials: 11×17-color, 11×17-gray, 8.5×11-color, 8.5×11-BW, 2-up-5.5×8.5-color, 2-up-5.5×8.5-BW, 4-up-4.25×5.5-color, 4-up-4.25×5.5-BW. And please share this post!
For more information, email info@kirklandinterfaith.net.
Nothing scary about City of Kirkland Projects causing traffic impacts in Kirkland this week, many projects are either complete or wrapping up in the next few weeks. Please remember to drive slowly and cautiously when returning home on All Hallow’s Eve.
Goat Hill Stormwater Upgrade
Commuters traveling along Juanita Drive should continue to expect traffic delays near Juanita Beach Park until early November while Kirkland’s contractor wraps up a vital upgrade to the Goat Hill stormwater system. Once completely installed, Grade Incorporated will repave the trench. Flaggers will direct traffic through the work zone, when necessary.
Sixth Street Improvements
Kirkland’s Contractor, Lakeside Industries, is wrapping up a few final tasks this week along Sixth Street between Fourth Avenue and Northeast 68th Street. Work for this task will occur between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Totem Lake Gateway Project
Night construction continues until early November on the first in a series of infrastructure projects in Totem Lake. Marshbank Construction could continue closing one lane of Totem Lake Boulevard, just north of the intersection of Totem Lake Boulevard and Northeast 124th Street nightly through early November. Working hours are between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. The City of Kirkland is encouraging commuters to drive cautiously through the work zone. Once work on this series is complete in early November, work will be suspended until early spring. For more information on the Totem Lake Gateway Project, visit: www.kirklandwa.gov/totemlakegateway
Third Street Water Main Upgrade
Shoreline Construction is on schedule to repave Third Street in early November, weather permitting. Flaggers and detour signs will direct traffic around the work zone during road closures along Third Street. For more information, visit: www.kirklandwa.gov/thirdstreetwater.
124th Avenue Northeast Sidewalk
Kirkland’s project engineers expect Allied Construction to complete by early November the new sidewalks along the west side of 124th Avenue Northeast, between Northeast 90th and 108th streets. The new sidewalk will create a continuous walkway between South Rose Hill and Totem Lake, after planned private development occurs. For more information, visit: www.kirklandwa.gov/124thavenue.
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During the month of November, the collection of extra yard waste will be free for single family residences in Kirkland.
Please help us prevent flooding in your neighborhood by cleaning leaves off storm drains and out of streets. Fallen leaves pile up on storm drains on our streets, blocking rainwater from draining, which can lead to localized flooding. City crews work hard to keep storm drains clear of leaves, but with over 12,000 drains in Kirkland, we could use your help!
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