Kirkland Place for Families and Women Holds Grand Opening, Recycle Your Styrofoam and Electronics at Two Upcoming Events, Kirkland Undercover: Meet Tere Alonso Thompson, Traffic Updates and More!

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this week in kirkland

August 19, 2020

city of kirkland washington

Kirkland Place for Families and Women Holds Grand Opening

Image for Shelter announcement

Temporary rotating winter shelters for families with children and women find a permanent 24/7/365 home

The City of Kirkland, New Bethlehem Project, The Sophia Way, and Salt House were pleased to announce the ribbon cutting for the Kirkland Place for Families and Women today, Wednesday, August 19 during a livestream event. The shelter celebration is a culmination of efforts dating back to 2012 to provide permanent 24/7 emergency shelters to replace the temporary winter shelter for families and women.

“The opening of Kirkland Place for Families and Women will enable Eastside families and women who are struggling with homelessness to live in a safe, nurturing place while they search for housing and connect with the community resources which can help stabilize their lives and end their homelessness,” said Bill Hallerman of Catholic Community Services. “Instead of traveling each day from program to program, the 24/7 shelter will provide a consistent anchor, support and integrated services for its residents in a facility located in their home on the eastside.”

The virtual ribbon cutting event included:

• A virtual tour of the shelter
• Blessing of the new space by Pastor Sara Wolbrecht, Father Kurt Nagel, Father Gary Zender and Pastor Lisa Horst Clark
• Statement from Kirkland Mayor Penny Sweet 
• Messages of gratitude by staff of New Bethlehem Place and The Sophia Way

If you were unable to attend, you can watch the footage online at a time convenient for you.

The Kirkland Place for Families and Women will be open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to provide a warm and safe place to rest, heal, and regroup – all under one roof. It will offer singular cubicle beds for adult women in a communal space and private spaces for families. Housing and supportive case management services will also be available to keep guests safe and supported as they work to rebuild their lives and re-establish their housing.

“This has been a long-awaited day and a much-needed safety net for women without homes. We are eternally grateful for the support of the state, county and cities, foundations, corporations and individuals that made this a reality. Knowing that we can provide around-the-clock shelter, keeping women safe and healthy is truly a gift,” says Alisa Chatinsky, Executive Director of The Sophia Way.

Funding for shelter construction and operations came from a variety of sources including the City of Kirkland, King County, Washington State Housing Trust, ARCH, East King County CDBG Cities, and private donors from the community, particularly Holy Family Church in Kirkland, St. Louise Church in Bellevue, and The Sophia Way donors.

“This project would not have been possible without significant support from a multitude of public and private partners,” said Mayor Penny Sweet. “However, we must remind ourselves that our work is not done yet. We need to make sure that ongoing support is provided to ensure that robust services are available 24/7 to ensure that the guests at this facility have the safety and security they need to move forward on the pathway to housing and healing.”

If you are interested in supporting the ongoing operations of the Kirkland Place for Families and Women, please visit nbpshelter.org or sophiaway.org.

Watch the ribbon-cutting event here

Ribbon Cutting Image Salt House

Kirkland Undercover: Kirkland Cultural Arts Commissioner and Kirkland Resident Tere Alonso Thompson

Kirkland Undercover

After over two decades in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, Kirkland resident and Kirkland Cultural Arts Commissioner Tere Thompson doesn’t think twice about masking up to help protect herself and others from COVID-19.   

"I feel like it's an essential responsibility of every individual to wear a mask," Tere said. “Wearing masks has been scientifically proven to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”

Tere moved to Kirkland in 2018 after 15 years in Bellevue. She loves the distinct character of the City and supports its ongoing initiatives to reinforce that Kirkland is a safe, welcoming and inclusive City for all people. After moving here, she was encouraged by good friend Kelli Curtis – then on the Houghton Community Council and now on the Kirkland City Council – to venture into service on one of the City’s boards or commissions. The two had worked together for years in the nonprofit sector and Councilmember Curtis had a feeling that Tere’s unique skillset would be an asset to the City.

Out of all the City boards and commissions, Tere was immediately drawn to the Kirkland Cultural Arts Commission, a volunteer board that works to help arts, culture and heritage grow and thrive. She saw it as an opportunity to combine her passion for art with her keen business acumen and her expertise in project management, and as a way to serve her community. 

“The concept of having an impact on the aesthetics of Kirkland seemed really appealing to me so I decided to volunteer to be part of that,” Tere said.

She was appointed to the Commission in April of 2019. She holds positions on the marketing subcommittee and the Park Lane subcommittee and is actively working to bring fresh, vibrant new art to Kirkland’s distinct downtown region.

Now more than ever, it is crucial that people follow recommended public health protocols, including wearing face coverings, engaging in social distancing, being diligent about handwashing and avoiding the temptation to gather with friends, she said. Wearing face coverings in public is a simple way to help in the ongoing fight against COVID-19.

“I see that it will protect me, but I mostly see it as something that will protect others,” Tere said. “I think that if everyone would wear a mask, we would see a substantial flattening of the curve in terms of new cases of COVID.”

Thank you Tere, for your service to the City and the community!   

Kirkland Undercover August 19

City Hosting Safer Summer Recycling Events Friday and Saturday

Batteries

Do you have a collection of old computer monitors taking up space and gathering dust? Or stacks of block Styrofoam you’ve been wanting to clear out of the garage? If so, the City’s next two Safer Summer Recycling Events are for you!

The City’s Safer Summer Recycling Event series was designed to keep our staff and the community safe while still allowing our residents to recycle tricky items safely. Each event incorporates careful safety protocols to ensure social distancing and requires all staff and attendees to wear face coverings. Guests arriving with items to recycle are asked to only bring items that one person can move, and to remain in their vehicles until it’s their turn. If you cannot lift items, staff can remove items from your trunk.

If you are feeling sick, please help us keep these events as safe as possible and stay home.  

Both of these events take place at the North Kirkland Community Center, located at 12421 103rd Ave. N.E., in the Totem Lake area.

9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, August 21 – Safer Electronics + Batteries Recycling event

With City Hall closed to the public, we know that many residents miss our household battery recycling container that is free to use. If you’ve got an accumulation of alkaline batteries taking up space in a closet, this is your chance to dispose of them properly. In addition to batteries, Friday’s event accepts televisions, monitors – LCD and plasma (no CRT), computers, laptops, cell phones and much more. Please see the event flyer for additional details on what is accepted at this event.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, August 22 – Safer Block Styrofoam Recycling Event

This is a great opportunity to get rid of those awkward white Styrofoam packing blocks! Saturday’s event accepts block white Styrofoam, including both coolers and packing blocks. Please make sure that all items are clean and dry, remove any labeling, and peel off all tape. This event will be extremely popular, and we are asking our guests to anticipate a wait. For more information on how to recycle your block Styrofoam, please check out our event calendar, or our event flyer.

These events are open to Kirkland residents and businesses. Please follow the safety guidelines and expect a wait. Due to the unpredictable nature of the current situation, events may be changed or cancelled with little notice. The City will post event changes on the recycling and solid waste webpage as soon as possible, if they occur. If you have questions, email: recycle@kirklandwa.gov.

Thank you for your efforts to care for our environment!  

Safe Summer Recycling

Traffic Alerts for the Week of August 19 Through August 25

3rd Street Transit Center

Drivers commuting on 3rd Street between Central Way and Kirkland Avenue may encounter mild impacts while workers repair three stormwater structures and one wastewater structure. The work zone will be coned off and traffic diverted around the impacted area, which is located on the east side of 3rd Street. A temporary wheelchair ramp will be used to divert pedestrian traffic around the work area. Bus parking will be impacted in the area by the library entrance/exit.

When the work is completed, the structures will be covered with steel plates and traffic restored. The plates will be removed one week later, after the concrete has cured.

Market

Drivers commuting along Market Street may encounter minor traffic delays this week between Central Way and 16th Avenue while Kirkland’s contractor prepares the street section for the new layer of pavement crews will be applying to it in August and September.

To prepare, Lakeside Industries this week is removing maintenance hole lids, as well as damaged sections of curb and gutter.

Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/streetpreservation

Finn Hill

Sections of Finn Hill’s 84th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 132nd Street will be reduced to one lane at times next week while Kirkland’s contractor grinds old pavement from the two streets’ surface.

Lakeside Industries is paving 84th Avenue Northeast, between 124th and 132nd avenues northeast and Northeast 132nd Street, from Juanita Drive to 80th Avenue Northeast.

Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/streetpreservation

Houghton

Kirkland’s contractor is allowing one lane of alternating traffic for local residents, emergency responders and Metro transit throughout the next three weeks on 108th Avenue Northeast, between Northeast 53rd and 60th streets.

Marshbank Construction is detouring northbound Houghton residents from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. around the construction site via Northeast 48th Street.

This includes the 200 Northwest University students, who will be moving into their dorm rooms on Thursday and Friday.

Southbound commuters will detour around the construction site via Northeast 68th Street, Lakeview Drive and Northeast 38th Place.

108th Avenue Northeast’s northbound and southbound lanes are available for driving on weekends and on weekdays, between 4 p.m. and 7 a.m.

The contractor is replacing water and sewer systems—both more than five decades old—to increase their capacities to serve Kirkland’s growing population and to reduce the systems’ needs for maintenance.

Marshbank expects to complete the upgrades by spring of 2021. 

Visit: www.kirklandwa.gov/108thavewatersewer

Totem Lake

Drivers will continue to have access to one northbound and one southbound lane on Totem Lake Boulevard between Northeast 124th Street and 120th Avenue Northeast until September, when Kirkland’s contractor expects to complete the Totem Lake Gateway project.

Visit: www.kirklandwa.gov/totemlakegateway or www.kirklandwa.gov/totemlake

Upcoming Events

Green Kirkland Partnership image

Green Kirkland Partnership

12 to 1:30 p.m., Friday August 21

Online, virtual event

Learn about about the amazing world of stream bugs and their role in our local creek ecosystems!

Join Green Kirkland and Public Works staff from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, August 21, for a virtual exploration of Cochran Springs Creek in Watershed Park. This non-technical webinar is for those in our Kirkland community looking to learn a little more about the fun, fabulous, and sometimes mysterious stream life, right in your neighborhood.

Find more information and register for this webinar. Registration is required to receive login information.


Batteries

Safer Battery and Electronics Recycling

North Kirkland Community Center (12421 103rd Avenue NE)

9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday August 21

Open to all Kirkland residents and businesses. Free to attend.

Please keep batteries separate from electronics.

Event safety procedures: please wear a mask and stay in your vehicle until it is your turn to unload.

Accepted batteries (please bag and keep separate from electronics): household (alkaline) batteries (AAAA, AAA, AA, C, D, 9v); button batteries; rechargeable batteries; car batteries

Accepted electronics: TVs & monitors - LCD and plasma (no CRT); computers & laptops; servers & networking equipment; printers, scanners & fax machines; AV equipment (DVD/VHS/stereo units); keyboards, peripherals & mice; electronics parts & cables; cell phones; microwaves; UPS battery backups. For more information, visit our website


Styrofoam

Safer Block Styrofoam Recycling Event

North Kirkland Community Center (12421 103rd Avenue NE)

10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, August 22

Accepted materials: white block Styrofoam (e.g. coolers and packing blocks). All tape and labels must be removed before the event. Materials must be clean and dry. Get more details.

Event safety procedures: please wear a mask and stay in your vehicle until it is your turn to unload.

This event will be popular, please be prepared for a wait!

This is our final Safer Summer Recycling Event. Stay tuned for recycling events this Fall!


KPC at Home Shaggy Sweet

Kirkland Performance Center Presents: A live virtual concert with Shaggy Sweet

8 p.m., Thursday, August 27

Online, virtual event

Since 2009, Shaggy Sweet’s eclectic mix of Blues/Rock/R n B cover songs and original compositions have been captivating audiences all over the Pacific Northwest.  Cover songs spanning multiple decades by Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Ray Vaughn, The Beatles, John Mayer, and Tom Petty among many other classic rock and current artists are mainstays of the band’s repertoire, and always have audiences on their feet.

Their dynamic show features both tight arrangements and impressive improv that showcase each of the band member’s talents: Ben James (vocals, acoustic guitar), Aaron Hiebert (vocals, electric guitar), Ethan Gibbons (bass), and Jason Edwards (drums).  To date, the band has composed and recorded 3 studio albums and one live album of originals, and is currently in production for their fourth studio album, coming winter of 2020.

This live performance can be seen on FacebookYouTube, or Twitch. For more information, visit the KPC webpage


Wednesday Market

Kirkland Wednesday Market presented by the Kirkland Downtown Association

3 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday through September 23

Marina Park

Face masks are required to enter the market.

The Kirkland Downtown Association Wednesday Market takes place 3 to 7 p.m. in Marina Park. Please see the new market rules. If possible, please order from market vendors in advance. More information about the Wednesday Market is available at http://kirklandmarket.org/


Juanita Friday

Juanita Friday Market

3 to 7 p.m., every Friday through September 25

Juanita Beach Park

Face masks are required to enter the market.

Please allow for extra time as Public Health Seattle & King County is limiting the number of customers allowed in the market at any given time. Thank you for your patience! There are big changes this year so before you go, be sure to pre-order your purchases, check-out the drive-thru plans, and see how we'll be handling health & safety issues. And while we'd love to see everyone, if you're in a high-risk group please stay home and send a friend to do your shopping. 


Evenings on Park Lane

Evenings on Park Lane

6 p.m. to 7 a.m. every evening through September 7

Park Lane

In an effort to support downtown businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, the City closes the west end of Park Lane between Lake Street and Main Street to vehicles from 6 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., seven days a week. This pedestrian friendly environment aims to increase patronage at businesses in the heart of our downtown shopping district. Enjoy unique clothing boutiques, delicious restaurants, decadent desserts, art galleries and fine furniture stores at your leisure! 


Kingsgate Library free summer meals

Kingsgate Library presents Free Summer Meals

Kingsgate Library at 12315 N.E. 143rd Street

12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays in August (August 10, 12, 17, 19, 24 and 26)

This "grab and go" free summer lunch program is available to kids and teens age 18 and under. *Masks must be worn to participate. For more information, visit the Kingsgate Library website

This program is made possible through partnerships and sponsorships. Supporting organizations include: United Way of King County, FareStart, the YMCA and the King County Library System. 

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