Goodbyes and hellosIt's hard to lose our friends and neighbors - actually they can never really be replaced in our hearts - but it's also fun to know their replacements. Because we've had so many changes lately in my (Lorraine) Silver Spurs neighborhood, the Judy and Bill Brokaw decided to host a potluck last month to honor those leaving and to meet our new friends.More than 30 residents came for at least part of the time. Sadly, Paul and Catherine Duffy and family are leaving. When they bought and remodeled the Eppenstein home, we thought they would stay forever (and we all hoped they would) but family situations change. In the short time they have lived here, they have become very active in our community and we shall miss them so much.Also, on the "leaving" list, Bill Hawes - he's historic! The Hawes family was one of the first residents of Silver Spurs, moving here 46 years ago when most of our area was still treeless and contained only about five homes, he recalls. The children have moved on and after losing his beloved wife, Nancy, several years ago, Bill decided it was time to make some changes. His new house near the Skagit River is almost complete and he also plans to travel. We shall miss him and hope he also keeps in touch. The Duffy's Silver Spurs home has been bought by Pete and Joanie Shelton - and they're not going to tear it down! Next door - in the Adams "mansion" - we now have Aziz and Mala Virani and their two children. We only met Mala - her husband was out of town - but she is very excited to be here and is a vivacious lady - as are their two children whom I met earlier - and they love animals. Also, joining the neighborhood are Jon and Julie Bergevin, who purchased the Gilpin home on l26th - and they have a HORSE! Jon is ecstatic about being back in Bridle Trails and on the same street he and his brothers grew up on - he left when he was l4 - 29 years ago. I knew his mom and dad (veterinarian, Dr. Joe) and his grandparents, Jimmy and Bea Rainwater, who developed and ran the Flying Horseshoe Riding Stables. The Bergevins have two children, Jonna and Joy. (There were six Bergevin children - their names all starting with "J" - it seems Jon and Julie are extending the tradition.)
Another great picnic The Highlands picnic on Sept. 10 had perfect weather, great food and an inflatable bouncer that kept the kids happy for hours, allowing the grownups to renew old acquaintances and make some new ones. Thank you to organizer Mari Bercaw and to everyone who helped set up and clean up.First meetingWhat kind of neighborhood do you want to live in? What is your vision for our neighborhood? What projects and activities would you like the neighborhood association to organize?At the first Highlands general meeting of the year, neighbors shared their concerns and ideas and came up with a long list of projects and suggestions.At the top of everyone's list was a desire to sign up more people on e-mail. E-mailing is the fastest way to convey important information, such as alerting people about a burglary or other crime. It's also the most effective way to spread the news about neighborhood projects, events and issues. Currently, only 20 percent of our neighborhood is signed up.Several people have volunteered to go door-to-door to collect e-mail addresses. If you see a familiar face with a clipboard at your door, please sign up. Or ask someone who isn't on the list, to sign up. Just go to www.kirklandhighlands.org for instructions.
Walk to School weekMark your calendars for Oct. 2 - 6, and join children and parents across Kirkland and America - by walking your child to school. Each day your child walks, they can enter a drawing for great prizes.On your walk:* You can talk to your child about the best walking route to and from school. See your school's walk route map for suggested walking routes. * It is always best to walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk and you have to walk in the road, always walk facing the traffic. * Always cross at corners and at marked crosswalks. * Before you step into the street LOOK LEFT, THEN RIGHT AND THEN LEFT AGAIN and make eye contact with the driver.Mark Twain Elementary School will culminate the week on Oct. 6 with festivities and awards. This is the ninth year that Mark Twain Elementary students and parents have participated in the event.The event is chaired by Kaylee Nilan, who walks to school with daughter Zoë every day, rain or shine, hot or cold."We need to consider the example we are setting for our kids," she said. "Do we want them to learn that you hop in the car to go a few blocks because it seems to be faster?"During Walk to School Week parents and students will be encouraged to either walk from their homes to school, walk their children to their bus stop, or if they live too far or there is no safe walk route, to drive to a location and park and walk from there.On Friday morning, starting at 8 a.m., the fire and police departments will be at Mark Twain for safety demonstrations and tours of their vehicles. We will have muffins, coffee from Tully's and orange drink from McDonalds. A Kirkland City Council member will also help us celebrate.
Unless the county immediately can cough up another $5 million and figure out a way to sustain their operation, it is likely that the North Public Health (located in Northgate), a dental clinic on Lake City Way and King County Public Health at Northshore (10808 N.E. 145th St., just north of Kirkland) will all close.This is based on the 2007 budget that King County Executive Ron Sims officially will hand over to the King County Council on Oct. 16, with a final decision to be announced Nov. 20. According to public health communications manager James Apa, "The county budget is a multi-month process," where all the departments are canvassed for individual budget recommendations. Between Oct. 16 and (traditionally) the Monday before Thanksgiving (Nov. 20), the council reviews and votes on all submitted budgets. The county Web site will be updated on both of these dates: www.metrokc.gov. Look for links to executive's budget proposal.Blow to communityIt is estimated that 150 jobs would be lost and according to Northshore employee Suzanne Gordon, "This is a cost-cutting measure that would save $4.6 million and leave no access to public health care in North Seattle and the Eastside."The low-income people who use these clinics, which saw more than 19,000 people in the first half of 2006, will be left stranded and will force them to travel south to receive low-income medical/mental/dental care," Gordon said.
Following a protracted, 50-odd month legal nightmare, including six torturous months spent waiting for a judge's final decision, Kirkland's beloved Siddick family no longer lives under the black cloud of deportation.Ayoob and Amida Siddick and their four children - three of whom have graduated from Lake Washington High School - have been granted political asylum in the United States. They finally are free of the corrupt reign of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, whose government seized land from farmers, leaving thousands unemployed and homeless. Amida told the Courier in March, "People are starving. I mean, people are eating roots from trees ... just to survive."
Anyone got an extra five acres to spare? Or a few million you'd care to donate to a worthy cause?If so, the city would like to hear from you. According to a 2001 survey and goals in an existing comprehensive plan, Kirkland residents have made it clear that they would like an all-inclusive, indoor community recreation center - complete with fitness studios, gyms, kitchen, art, preschool and the biggie: aquatics.The looming issues: price tag (anywhere in the range of $25-$35 million) and space (anywhere from five to eight acres).Maxed out"We realized that we have limited indoor active recreation space," said Carrie Hite, deputy director for Kirkland parks and community services. "The space we have - North Kirkland Community Center and Peter Kirk Community Center - is maxed out." As is rented school space.An indoor rec center has been part of the city's comprehensive plan for the past seven or eight years, according to Hite. The community survey done in 2001 was to prepare for a park bond and recreation space. "It came back very favorably," Hite said. However, the city felt that given the struggling economy at the time, it wouldn't be a good idea to put up a $15-20 million bond to build a rec center.Instead, the city did propose and pass a bond in 2002 for $8 million that enhanced parks: Juanita Beach, the watershed and the city/school partnership (in which the Lake Washington School District rents fields and gyms for youth and adult programs).
Chances definitely didn't look good early in September that an 80-year-old chapel could be saved from the wrecking ball by moving it across the street next to the Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church on Fourth Avenue South.That's changed now, and both a church member and city officials said they're optimistic a deal can be worked out as of the Courier's Sept. 27 press deadline.The chapel has to be moved because CamWest Development is building a multifamily project on the site, but the congregation faced a financial challenge because moving a building isn't cheap. The church took out a loan for $425,000 to go toward the $500,000 moving project, said congregation member Sue Werner. "In order to pay that back, we needed to rent the building out to the public."And that led to plans to add a basement to the chapel and use it for, among other purposes, a preschool and daycare, she said. However, church members didn't realize that adding a basement would change land-use code requirements, Werner added. "We were amateurs."
Here in Kirkland, we've access to lots of healthy choices. We dwell amid health professionals-clubs-grocers, nature's beauty and a community of friendly people - all of which might contribute to our well being. And given all that, I cast my vote for personal choice as the most powerful health tool any of us possess.I've a calendar at home that features a quote by Aristotle: "For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them." This wisdom still carries the day. It reminds me that our lives - and our health - are shaped by the choices we make.Moving forward with clarityThis same general message of choice and action came my way in another form recently. I saw someone wearing a necklace comprised of two small leather pockets dangling from a chain. I wondered what was hidden inside the pockets, so I asked. I learned that one pocket contained a black stone, the other a white one. These stones were a reminder to move forward with clarity rather than getting stuck in the "gray" zone of indecisiveness.Since life is a continuum of transitions, we've ample opportunity to learn by doing.
About 80 percent of the population will suffer from back pain at some point in their lifetime. This is an alarming statistic!Overexertion or even something as simple as sitting in a chair too long can cause back pain. But no matter what the cause, back pain hurts! The keys to preventing back pain are simply good posture and regular exercise.It's hard to believe that chronic back pain can result from poor posture, but it's true. Poor posture puts a strain on muscles and ligaments and leads to back pain. Good posture keeps the body in proper alignment, relieving muscles of unnecessary stress and strain. It is difficult to support the spine without a strong core (abdominals, back, and hips). As a certified personal trainer, I can tell you analysis of posture is the first step when I train my clients. I need to be able to assess muscle imbalances and weaknesses, which helps to prevent possible injuries that can develop over time. You are only as strong as your weakest link.
How important is it to save early and often for college? In 2005-2006, the average total cost was $15,566 for students attending four-year public colleges and universities, while students at four-year private colleges and universities paid, on average, $31,916, according to the College Board. These numbers are likely to keep rising. For the past decade, inflation has been much higher on the college campus than in the world outside.So, what can you do? As is the case when you save for retirement, it's a good idea to find vehicles that offer both growth potential and tax advantages. Here are a couple to consider: * Coverdell Education Savings Account: Depending on your income level, you can contribute up to $2,000 annually to a Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA). Your Coverdell earnings and withdrawals will be tax-free, provided you use the money for qualified education expenses. (Any non-education withdrawals from a Coverdell ESA may be subject to a 10 percent penalty.) You can place your contributions to a Coverdell ESA into virtually any investment you choose - stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit, etc.* Section 529 savings plan: In this plan, you put money in specific investments. All withdrawals will be free from federal income taxes, as long as the money is used for a qualified college or graduate school expense of the beneficiary you've named - typically, your child or grandchild. (However, 529 distributions will appear as income on the child's tax return, which could affect financial aid calculations.) Withdrawals for expenses other than qualified education expenditures may be subject to federal, state and penalty taxes.
The very first stage in planning for lifetime retirement is a "vision exercise." Envision what your retirement looks like. What will you do when your weekdays are now your weekends? Who's around you? Where do you live?What is most important to you...passing along a legacy to your heirs...taking a first-class cruise every year?"Retirement" can be defined as many things. The one I like most is: "Doing less of what you don't want to do and doing more what you want to do." Full-time leisure rarely fits the mold. How concerned are you about your own health? The health of your spouse?In today's world, the sense of well-being, fulfillment and objectives accomplished is going through a paradigm shift. Many of our 30-40-year-old entrepreneur clientele are attempting to design "retirement" strategies today while some of our octogenarians are seeking new methods to extend their lifetime skills and personal satisfaction in new ventures!After considering what vision you retirement may take, you can make more accurate estimates of what it will cost to fund that lifestyle.
Kirkland, known for its lively downtown, waterfront parks and quality neighborhoods, is also filled with successful and innovative businesses that sustain our local economy, and provide services and family-wage jobs for our residents. Cities thrive when business leaders work together with commitment, energy and ideas to make great places even better. To help Kirkland move forward as a community, Kirkland has created a new vehicle to address local and regional economic development challenges and opportunities. The Kirkland Business Roundtable, set to meet for the first time in October, is comprised of CEO-level "movers and shakers" of the Kirkland business community.Members are drawn from the community's major business clusters - information technology, video gaming, engineering and clean technology, retail, hospitality and health, together with those operations that support a vital business climate, such as finance, real estate, higher education and government.
Current and past Roosevelt High School students returned to their newly remodeled alma mater for the official "reopen house" on Saturday, Sept. 30. Many congregated in the cafeteria at tables set aside for each graduating class (at right), while others watched the freshmen football team play Eastside Catholic just beyond the cafeteria doors (unfortunately, Roosevelt lost).
Capturing everyone on film, from groundskeepers to kids at play, psychoanalyst and photographer Gary Grenell will present 32 of the 85 portraits that comprise his "Five Blocks to Green Lake" series through Oct. 30 at City Hall.Innocent, yet intenseSince 1993, Grenell has snapped environmental portraits of people he encounters within five blocks of his home near Green Lake. One of his older photographs, "Boy with Basketball," will be on display."I thought the lighting was beautiful," Grenell said of the photograph. "There was a sense of innocence about him, but also intensity.""Green Lake Gothic," his photograph of a Russian immigrant couple, which earned him a finalist award in the Photo Review magazine competition last year, also will be on display."Green Lake is my neighborhood, my home and the epicenter of my photographic world," said Grenell, a resident of the area for about 20 years.
The Wallingford Community Senior Center is holding its 23rd-annual Rocking Chair Races on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. You won't want to miss this unique event. Races are organized into teams of five. Each team member rocks as many times as possible in five minutes. A counter is attached to the chair, and a computer records how many rocks each team achieves. Depending on how many rocks per heat, the computer will determine who will hedge forward to the final "rock-off."