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Due to this year's holiday schedule, there won't be a podcast this week. We're working on a "Favorite Moments of 2025" special episode for next week. Thanks for listening!
 The Kirkland City Council is on winter recess. The Council's next meeting will be on January 6, 2026. More information about the agenda items for that meeting will be included in a future edition of This Week in Kirkland.
Stay in the know: want a preview of what topics are anticipated to come to Council in the coming weeks and months? Check out the City Council Agenda Calendar. Please note: this calendar is subject to frequent change and does not constitute legal notice.
 There is no solid waste collection service on Christmas Day, December 25 or New Year’s Day, January 1. If your regular service day falls on Thursday, then your collection day is moved to Friday, and Friday customers will receive solid waste service collection on Saturday during those weeks. Find more information about recycling, compost, and garbage services on the City's website.
 City administrative offices will be closed:
- At 12 p.m. noon on Wednesday, December 24
- All day Thursday, December 25
- At 12 p.m. noon on Wednesday, December 31
- All day Thursday, January 1
Fire, police, and other critical services will remain fully operational. City services normally accessible through email, the Our Kirkland service portal, and over the phone will be available during regular business hours while administrative offices are open. Please visit our website for more information about City services.
The holidays are a time for festive lights, cozy decorations, and candlelit charm - but they also bring an increased risk of fire. Did you know over one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles? The Kirkland Fire Department has some simple tips to help keep your celebrations safe and bright:
- Water real trees regularly—dry trees can quickly become a fire hazard.
- Keep candles away from decorations, trees, and anything flammable.
- Check your holiday lights: Use indoor lights indoors, outdoor lights outdoors, and replace any worn cords or loose bulb connections.
- Hang lights safely: Use clips, not nails, to avoid damaging cords.
- Be fire-ready: Make sure you have a working fire extinguisher—and know how to use it.
- Blow out candles before leaving the room to keep your space safe.
- Turn off all lights and decorations when leaving your home or going to bed.
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 Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) come mostly from pre-rinsing dishes or washing pots and pans in the kitchen. When cooking fat, oil, or grease is allowed to go down the drain, it eventually cools in the wastewater (sewer) system and sticks to pipes creating FOG buildup, also known as a "fatberg." Fortunately, FOG is also a valuable resource. You can recycle your used cooking oil by bringing it to a collection tank at the North Kirkland Community Center, 12421 103rd Avenue NE. A local company, NW Biofuels, collects the cooking oil, converts it to biodiesel fuel.
Here are some additional tips for keeping fats, oils, and grease out of pipes:
- Pour cooled fats, oils, and grease into a container and put the container in the trash
- Before washing, use your paper napkin or a paper towel to wipe FOG from dishes and dispose of it in the yard waste cart
- Use sink strainers to catch food waste
- Put food scraps in yard waste cart
- Disconnect and stop use of in-sink garbage disposals which flush food and FOG into sewers
Learn more about FOG and fatbergs on the City's website.
 Some pets love a full house, while others prefer peace and quiet. If you’re hosting guests this season, a little planning can help keep your pets safe, comfortable, and out of trouble.
One important step: make sure your pet is licensed. A current pet license helps the Kirkland Police Department reunite pets with their families quickly if they slip out during the hustle and bustle.
Party Time Tips
- If your pet gets overwhelmed by visitors, set them up in a quiet room or crate where they can relax.
- Avoid putting pets outside in cold weather—keep them warm and cozy indoors with toys or treats to stay occupied.
- Give guests a heads-up that you have a pet, especially if your pet needs extra space.
- Stick to your pet’s regular food and treats. Many common holiday foods can be harmful, including: bones, candy, citrus, coffee, raisins, nuts, raw meat or fish, onions, and chocolate.
- Keep pets from chewing on tree branches or drinking water from the tree base—both can be harmful.
- Place lights, tinsel, and ornaments out of reach.
- Never leave candles unattended; pets can easily knock them over.
- Watch out for seasonal plants like ivy, holly, mistletoe, and poinsettias, which can be toxic if ingested.
These simple tips can help keep pets safe at home and support a calmer, safer holiday season, so everyone can paws and enjoy the festivities.
 Planning a winter trip? Stay prepared with these helpful resources:
Check the Weather
Before you head out, visit the National Weather Service (NWS) Seattle for up-to-date weather conditions and alerts.
Follow NWS Seattle on social or visit on the web.
Monitor Road Conditions
For real-time road updates, check WSDOT’s travel data to stay informed about closures and delays.
Follow WSDOT on social or visit their Real-Time Travel Data webpage.
Be Prepared
Dress in layers, pack essential gear, and always let someone know your plans when heading outdoors.
Stay safe, stay flexible, and enjoy your winter adventures!
It’s been a great year! Here’s how you helped us protect water quality in Kirkland creeks and Lake Washington this year:
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60 of you had Yard Smart site visits.
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7 of you embarked on Yard Smart projects to help manage rainwater on site, reduce unwanted lawns by replacing them with native plants, and support pollinators and wildlife. Thank you!
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41 of you helped increase tree canopy, wildlife habitat, and the beauty of your homes by planting 94 trees.
- We talked to more than 600 community members at events this year, who asked awesome questions about how they could reduce pollution and waste!
- We talked to over 350 students at John Muir Elementary about pollution prevention, in addition to providing thousands of in-class learning experiences through our Nature Vision partnership. We hope those students are helping spread the word in their families and communities!
- We high-fived one 5-year old who was helping her dad clear leaves off a storm drain during a serious downpour – way to go!
However you celebrate this month, we want to thank you for a great year of helping conserve the natural environment of Kirkland with us, and hope you’ll remember the environment when you make your New Year’s Resolutions for 2026.
Learn more about Kirkland's stormwater team..
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 This New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, riders can travel without paying fares on King County Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Everett Transit, Pierce Transit and the Seattle Streetcar as part of their holiday celebrations. Regional transit agencies will operate on specific schedules to accommodate fare-free New Year’s Eve and riders are encouraged to check times beforehand.
After your holly jolly holiday, unflocked (without powder or fake snow), undecorated Christmas trees up to 6 feet tall can be placed beside your cart on your regular service day during the first two weeks of January to be collected by Waste Management for composting at no extra cost. Taller trees should be cut down to 4-foot segments.
Outside of the first two weeks of January, trees should be cut into 3-foot segments and put fully inside your yard waste cart or brought to the Factoria Transfer Station for composting.
Your tree brought the cheer. Now let it spruce up the soil!
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 Kick off the new year with an act that truly matters. Donating blood is a simple, powerful way to bring hope to patients facing cancer treatments, surgeries, and trauma. January is National Blood Donor Month, and there’s no better time to make a difference. Just one donation can help strengthen our community blood supply and save lives. Schedule a blood donation appointment to donate at Kirkland City Hall on January 21 or 22.
 Tilth Alliance’s Soil & Water Stewardship Program offers an eight-month comprehensive training in resource conservation and regenerative systems for King County residents. Participants apply what they learn in local communities through hands-on projects like building garden beds, installing rainwater catchment systems, and creating habitat for wildlife and pollinators.
Soil & Water Stewards meet one Wednesday evening (online) and one Saturday (in-person) per month, from March until October. Stewards explore a wide range of topics related to taking action for local ecosystems such as soil health, regenerative design, waste stream management, and ecological restoration. Participants then put their skills into action by partnering with local organizations, parks and community gardens throughout King County.
Participants may be students, parents, professionals, community leaders, or anyone passionate about food, the environment, and the health of our communities.
Learn more and apply by March 3!
(1) Northeast 85th Street: 122th Avenue Northeast to 120nd Avenue Northeast
On Northeast 85th Street east of I-405, daytime work may close a westbound lane on the north side of Northeast 85th Street between 120th Avenue Northeast and 122nd Avenue Northeast. Daytime work may reduce eastbound traffic to one lane between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Visit the project website for updates on Thursdays.
(2) Northeast 85th Street: I-405 to Sixth Street
Northeast 85th Street continues to usher a single lane of traffic in each direction, between Interstate 405 and Sixth Street while a Kirkland contractor builds a shared-use pathway that parallel’s Northeast 85th Street. Visit the project website for updates on Thursdays.
Additional Construction Projects
Find out about additional construction projects here.
 Google Lights
Date: Now through January 9
Time: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: Feriton Spur Park, 509 6th Street South, Kirkland
Celebrate the season with sparkle and joy! The lights will shine bright nightly from 4 to 9 p.m. through January 9, so you can soak in the holiday glow all season long. Bundle up, bring your loved ones, and let the magic of the holidays light up your night!
Kirkland Ice Rink
Date: Now through January 11
Location: Lee Johnson Field, 202 3rd St, Kirkland
Experience the magic of winter in downtown Kirkland with festive outdoor ice skating on Lee Johnson Field surrounded by twinkling lights, music, and seasonal cheer for all ages. Presented by the Kirkland Downtown Association, the ice rink will be open through January 11, 2026.
Ice skates are included in the admission fee. Skating sessions are for one hour. Tickets must be purchased online in advance. This is REAL ice, so bundle up!
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 MLK Jr. Day of Service Stewardship Events
Dates: January 17 and 19, 2026
Times and Locations: Please see below.
Join the Green Kirkland Partnership for a day of outdoor volunteering and habitat restoration. Help remove invasive plants, plant native trees, and care for local ecosystems while honoring the spirit of service and commitment to community that Dr. King championed. All ages and experience levels welcome! Gloves, tools, and training are provided. Register and learn more with the links above or visit www.greenkirkland.org.
MLK Jr. Day of Service Stewardship Events in 2026
Saturday, January 17, 2026 | 10 AM to 12 PM - Juanita Heights Park
Monday, January 19, 2026 | 10 AM to 12 PM - Everest Park
Monday, January 19, 2026 | 1 to 3 PM – Kingsgate Park
Want a monthly Events Guide delivered to your inbox? Sign up for our Events Newsletter.
A look back at the highly anticipated "Junk in the Trunk" event that took over Houghton Park and Play on May 3, 2025. This large community garage sale was free and open to the public, offering a unique market-style shopping experience in Kirkland.
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