Evergreen Hospital has opened its new emergency department (ED) and the top three of six floors for private patient care in a brand-new building. The $120 million project - which includes 475 parking spaces in an underground garage - took around two years to complete.The three new floors for patient care have room for 96 beds, and the other three floors represent a future capacity of 192 beds all together, along with room in the future for up to six operating rooms, four catheterization labs and multiple pre-op and post-op areas, according to an Evergreen press release.
Although the 15,000 rubber duckies haven't yet hit the water, the ninth annual Great Puget Sound Duck Race (a.k.a. Duck Dash) has officially begun. The kickoff party on May 1 offered up duck adoption papers, dignitaries, music and tickets, all in preparation for the big event at 5 p.m. on July 4 at Juanita Beach Park.Kirkland Rotary's annual Duck Dash has evolved into a Kirkland Fourth of July tradition. Following the parades downtown, the celebration continues with the Rotary's holiday picnic at the beach; the duck race is at 5 p.m.
After 17 years at the helm, Pacific Publishing Company Inc. president Tom Haley is retiring.Haley's last day at work was Friday, March 30.Pacific Publishing owns and operates the Kirkland Courier and six other local community newspapers: Queen Anne News, Magnolia News, Beacon Hill News & South District Journal, North Seattle Herald-Outlook, Madison Park Times and the Capitol Hill Times. The company also performs web-printing services for some 250 clients.Haley, 64, will be available as a consultant to Pacific Publishing owner and Chief Executive Officer Peter Bernhard of Danville, Calif., who will assume the role of company president. Bernhard, a career newspaper person, also owns community newspapers in Nevada.Vice President and Publisher Mike Dillon, Vice President of Operations Robert Munford and Controller Carmen Evans will continue in their respective roles."Tom has done a brilliant job in building and managing Pacific Publishing," Bernhard said. "His steady hand and attention to detail have served our company well and positioned us to continue to grow our newspapers. When I purchased the company in 2005 we discussed this transition. As is customary with Tom, he made sure to train and position our executive team to take over when he left. We expect a smooth transition." Haley founded Pacific Publishing in 1990 with the acquisition of Murray Publishing Company and Flaherty Newspapers.Haley's newspaper career, which began in 1972, has included executive roles at the Detroit Free Press, Dallas Times-Herald, Orange Coast Publishing Company and the Denver Post, among other newspaper companies.In Seattle he served as president of the board of directors for Food Lifeline and on the board of directors for First Place School and United Way.Looking back, Haley said he is most proud of establishing a company culture at Pacific Publishing where "kindness and fairness are important. It's not ordinary. That was a specific goal when I founded the company," he said.Haley plans to move to Carlsbad, Calif., in May in order to spend more time with his five grandchildren and perhaps complete his masters degree, which was interrupted by his newspaper career. He said he might even take up golf, "Which I have successfully avoided to this point." "Anyone lucky enough to have worked with Tom will understand how sorry we are to see him go," said publisher Dillon. "His integrity and human kindness, matched by his intelligence and professionalism, have made it a privilege to work for him. I'm happy for him, though. He's going to be near his family. He richly deserves it." Looking ahead, Haley noted: "The best is yet to come for Pacific Publishing Company and its many talented staff members."
In response to your April front page article on the Kirkland annexation, I would like to thank you for your even-handed coverage, and take this opportunity to introduce you to SaveKirkland.com - an organized group of concerned citizens in opposition to the annexation.A new $44 million public safety building including a jail with 75 beds for inmates is planned. In which neighborhood is a new jail going to be located? Bellevue has no jail and farms out its criminals to Issaquah and King County. Kirkland would become the holding pen for the Eastside's criminals.
The North County Parks Coalition was organized to address the condition, gather suggestions for improvement, and discuss the future of the neighborhood park at 132nd Square Park in Kirkland. The North County Parks Coalition (NCPC) is an association of community members, non-profit organizations and agencies who formed this spring, in response to the deterioration and removal of the park's play structure. After some discussion with park users, it was concluded that a total refocus of the park was needed with King County.
On May 15, the Kirkland City Council will make a momentous decision that could significantly impact housing affordability in the years to come. Yes, the city's efforts to recover the costs associated with operations is commendable. But we fear that the implementation of fee increases without first examining the origin of the costs is premature.City council and staff have expressed their concerns about housing affordability but the city's own comprehensive plan helps drive the costs for upgrading transportation and parks.
LAKE AND CENTRAL PARKING UPDATE Last month, Ken Dueker, chair of the Parking Advisory Board, recommended that the Kirkland City Council suspend parking fees and time limits in the Lake and Central parking lot on Thursday evenings after 6 p.m. from May 3 through June 28.KDA'S WEEKENDS START ON THURSDAY CAMPAIGNThe Kirkland Downtown Association has kicked off a program called, Weekends Start on Thursday, encouraging retailers to stay open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend.FINANCIAL CLASSESWomen's Investment Coffee Club, third Wednesday (May 16), 6 p.m. and third Friday (May 18) at 7:30 a.m. both at Edward Jones office (963 Sixth St. S.) Each is ongoing and one hour long. New people welcome.MOTHER'S DAY AT SIMPLICITY DÉCORThrough May 13, Simplicity Décor is offering a Mother's Day surprise. Enter to win a $250 Simplicity Décor gift card.
April 30 is Tax Freedom Day. It's not a national holiday, and you won't find it on your calendar. But it can still be meaningful - if you use it as a starting point to review your own tax situation. Tax Freedom Day is the date when average Americans will have earned enough money to pay their federal, state and local tax bills for 2007
Do you need your current life insurance policy any longer or have your needs changed? Possibly your premiums are becoming too expensive or your policy is under performing its original projections. Could it be that your policy is lapsing without value or you are leaving behind a group life benefit? An active and rapidly growing secondary market for life insurance emerged less than 10 years ago.
Lake Washington Kang Camp will be held at the Lake Washington High School gym in July.Kang Camp is a great opportunity for kids to learn basic fundamental basketball skills that can be used to further their development. At the same time, campers will enjoy a great week of fun. The staff of Lake Washington coaches and players will work to teach the proper techniques that it takes to play the game at a higher level.
Teammate Nick Ludwig, 8, stares the ball right into his glove.
With the April 5 grand opening celebration of a new store in Totem Lake, Joe's (formerly G.I. Joe's), took the opportunity to show support for its new neighbors. Amid streamers and celebration, Joe's president and CEO, Norm Daniels, presented the Kirkland Boys & Girls Club with a $10,000 check from the Joe's Foundation.Daniels also announced that both the Kirkland and Bellevue Clubs would receive 10 percent of the sales from all purchases during opening day
The Kirkland Junior High Wrestling Team was crowned dual meet champions for the 2007 season in the Lake Washington School District. The team was undefeated with seven wins in seven matches. Head Coach Terry Higbee said that this was the first time the team has brought home the dual meet title in 10 years. The team was led by three undefeated wrestlers, Dylan Ullery, Kyle Lance and Joel Navas.
On April 19, King County Executive Ron Sims honored students, teachers, school staff and volunteers for their actions on behalf of the environment as winners of Earth Heroes at School awards.The Earth Heroes at School Awards honors individuals and programs whose values and actions support the region's environment and high quality of life.
'TWELFTH NIGHT' Lake Washington High School presents Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," to be staged at the school's Cadle Theatre.May 9, 1:30 p.m.May 10, 7 p.m.May 11, 7 p.m.May 12, 2 and 7 p.m.All tickets are $6 and are available at the door.