Kirkland Weblog

Kirkland Boating/Watercraft Noise- Meeting May 3rd

The City of Kirkland is hosting an informational meeting on Thursday May 3rd  from 6:30-8pm in the Peter Kirk Room at City Hall to hear residents and boaters concerns about boat noise.  About a month ago, the city was looking into passing some amendments to Title 14, which was created in 1960, and does not have provisions for excessive watercraft noise.  There was a large public attendance of passionate boaters and waterfront homeowners at that city council meeting, raising the awareness of how many citizens would like to provide input on the issue.   The amendments were trying to eliminate rafting boats together (do they have any idea how much fuel costs right now?).  So, City Council decided to do some more researching and public feedback, while still hoping to make changes before the summer months arrive.

So, if you care...get there.  A mailer went out this week from the Juanita Bay Neighborhood Association, encouraging people to view this video and stand up for their peace and quiet.  There needs to be a balance- I loved Amy Walen's analogy to "Footloose" at the last meeting-they didn't realize we 'just want to dance.'  As a Kirkland boater and Juanita Bay resident, I hope there is thoughtful measure put into the differences between lake fun and lake nuisance.  I am a responsible boater and still like to laugh loud, listen to music and tie up with other boats.  At our home I consider it a privilege to hear the boat sounds and lake fun in the background of everyday life.  Until they're blasting music at 2am.  Then it's a nuisance. ;)

Go ahead and comment away..

Kirkland Events- Mark Your Calendar!

First things first- grab at least $10 and head down to Simplicity Decor on Weds 4/11 at NOON for the 'cash mob.'  It's a fun and thoughtful way to support local business and this community effort will be the first of its kind in Kirkland.  Find a fun gift for someone and stimulate the local economy while you are at it!

Captain Jack's 8K is Sun 4/15 at 8:30 am at Juanita Beach Park.  Proceeds benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Everyone gets a prize!  Free kids dash too.  Register in person at Everyday Athlete.  425-821-4301. 

On Friday 4/20 the band, Wickerman, is going to be rockin' out at the Kirkland Eagles Aerie #2681 at 258 Central Way.  Just $5 at the door is entry/donation to help support "Celebrate Kirkland" which puts on our 4th of July festivities.  Those fireworks aren't cheap.  And notably, the FOE makes some stiff drinks, so you might be seeing fireworks that night anyway.

Canvas Paint & Sip, at 122 Central Way,  is holding a benefit to raise money for the Kirkland Summer Concert Series on Thursday 4/26 7-9:30pm.  For $45 per person,  you will enjoy complimentary appetizers and a wine tasting and will walk out with your own masterpiece and maybe even a door prize (a stay at the Heathman Hotel perhaps??).  Register here or call 425-822-2266.

All out of money to share for this array of good causes? No worries.  Donate your time.  The 7 Hills of Kirkland Bike Event needs lots of volunteers still for 5/28.  Contact Marylue Gutow if you'd like to learn more about what jobs are available (I saw one was to 'chat' with the riders, c'mon, even you can do that!). 425-821-5553.

 

Join us THIS Friday 3/9: A Really Fun Way to do Something Good....

 

<---Sydney at the AG Doll Show 2011

Our daughters would like to invite you  to a Kirkland event to help them raise money for uncompensated care at Seattle Children's Hospital.  We love Simplicity Decor, so having a % of our purchases go towards a great cause is just a bonus!   Please come by and say hello.  

  Riley is already in bed, but here is a note from Sydney ( a budding blogger?):

Hi my name is sydney I am 8 years old and almost 9 and I am doing the  Amarican girl doll fashon show. I think you should come visit me at the store on friday because there are some really cool things at the store like uguly dolls or coffe mugs and there is also some really cool lights with dimonds om them and stuff! we are raising money for seattles childrens hospitil because parents might not be able to aford to have there kid get surgery or get anything that you might need if you get sick so we just raise money for that. So I hope you praticipate in it. So thank you so much.                                                     

Simplicity Décor + American Girl Fashion Show =

donations for Seattle Children’s Hospital.

 

                                                         ________________________________ 

Friday March 9, 2012

4-8pm

 _____________________________

Simplicity Décor * 126 Park Lane * Kirkland

Join us on Friday, March 9th between 4-8pm to get a sneak peak at the arrival of new Simplicity spring treasures. 

Come sip and snack  while

20% of  the proceeds from your purchases will be donated towards uncompensated care.   

American Girl Fashion Show models, Sydney & Riley,  will be at the event to personally thank you for your support.

 Plan to have happy hour,  dinner, or enjoy an art walk  in downtown Kirkland and then  swing by Simplicity to pick out a few gifts or spring  items for your home.  The American Girl Fashion Show, hosted by Star Guild and benefiting Seattle Children’s Hospital will be held on March 17 and 18 at the Bellevue Hilton. For tickets or more information, please visit : www.americangirlfashionshow.org

 

 

Calling all Kirkland Boaters (in my quiet voice, so I don't get in trouble)

 There is a proposal that is going in front of city council THIS Tuesday, March 6th that could impact boating in Kirkland.  The recommendation is that we amend our watercraft regulations so that 3 or more boats can no longer tie up together ("rafting") and that we use new guildelines around public noise disturbances.  Violations of these new codes would range from $150 up to $450 depending on the number of infractions.

 Who are the party poopers that think this stuff up? 

 If you have a boat and it's a sunny day and you're tied up with a few friends, I think you deserve to blurt out a few "Woooot-woots"  and whistle a happy tune.  We live within earshot of Juanita Bay and sometimes the music is a little loud or I hear some big horsepower boats racing or even people's conversations (sound really DOES amplify over water).  But that is what we love about living near the lake- the sounds of the lake!  If I bought a house near the airport, I don't think I should be complaining about the sound of airplanes, right? 

How can Kirkland be a destination waterfront city if we start enforcing vague rules that discourage boaters from coming our way?   These are the same boaters that come use the public moorage and shop in our stores and eat in our restaurants.   I realize having 12 boats tied up with lots of skin, empty tequila bottles and Mardi Gras beads might be a recipe for disaster.  But that is not every case-- we've tied up with a few friends and acted responsibly when it would have been much less safe to have us constantly navigating around each other in circles.  And heaven forbid, I may have even laughed loudly. I'm not saying the waters should go unregulated, but that we should be reasonable and not create ordinances that are ripe for being abused. Or run the risk of being grinches that take the whos out of Whoville.

 

Here's some of my favorite verbage from the proposal re: noise...

 

 (c) Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing, particularly

between sunset and sunrise or at any time and place so as to

unreasonably disturb or interfere with the peace, comfort and

repose of others, including owners or possessors of real

property;

(d) Sound from any audio sound system operated at volumes

so as to be audible greater than 50 feet from the watercraft

itself; or

(e) Sound which unreasonably interferes with the peace,

comfort and repose of others, including owners or possessors

of real property

 And here's a rafting tidbit:

......In addition, any three (or more) motorized watercraft

drifting or anchored within 25 feet of each other for the purpose of

having a party or rafting-like social exchange shall be deemed to be

rafting;......

If you enjoy boating in  Kirkland  (and like to hoot, whistle or be near your friends on occasion) you may consider going to the meeting on Tuesday night around 7:30 (agenda here). You can also always email your city council members. ~j

 

Penterra Spa Through the Eyes of a Winner...

We ran all sort of fun contests and prizes as part of the Kirkland Blog's holiday series at the end of year.  Don't you  wonder if anyone ever really wins those things?  And darn it, how come it wasn't you?  If you don't try, you don't win (and it's not calculus proofs we're asking of you!)  For the sake of follow up and squashing your feeling of bewilderment, I wanted to share this nice note from Rachel Buchan who won a free treatment at The Heathman's Penterra Spa.  The challenge was to write about why you thought you deserved a free  treatment.  Here's her giving us a behind the scenes of her spa experience.  Many thanks to Penterra and all of the other local businesses (George's, Anthony's, Lucia, Purple, Vovina,Herban Wellness) that donated prizes for those posts!

Rachel Buchan, Kirkland Blog Prize Winner Extraordinaire:

 Your holiday series was especially great and I was so thrilled when I read about the spa giveaway. I had just been complaining to my husband about my sore shoulders from working at a computer all day mixed in with the stress of the holiday season. My husband and I were just married in August, so this was our first Christmas as a married couple and hosting Christmas day brunch for our friends and family. Really exciting, but also a little sad as my beloved Aunt who normally hosts is sick this year and sounds like we'll be taking over. So I wrote in to the Penterra Spa and told them my whole story. How I was recently married, will be hosting our first Christmas as a married couple, how I commute on the bus everyday to a highly stressful job routing 911 calls for cellular companies. And how this amazing spa treatment was just what I needed to de-stress and treat myself after all my hard work to make this holiday season special and wonderful.

Low and behold, I got an email on Friday the 13th (who says that day is bad luck???) saying that I had won! The spa package included a 25 minute hydrotherapy treatment, a 60 minute facial and 60 minute massage. I felt like I had won the lottery! This was the real deal super fancy spa day I had been dreaming about. I was so excited I emailed back right away to inquire about what they might have available that weekend and just my luck...they had a Saturday 1pm appointment just waiting for me. Apparently it was just one of those days where everything works out, lucky me indeed!

It was snowing a little Saturday morning, but that didn't deter me from venturing out. I only live a couple miles away and  it was barely sticking. As I arrived in the spa I was greeted by a very friendly reception staff and taken on a tour of their facilities. The spa is actually located beneath the hotel, which was nice because it kept it quiet and dark. Our first stop was the locker room. Everything was in those light beige relaxing spa colors and I couldn't wait to jump in the eucalyptus steam room. The she showed me their relaxing room and the various teas and waters they offer. There was a beautiful fountain, some nice artwork, comfortable chairs and mellow music. Everything you could hope for in a cozy luxurious spa.

The steam room is absolutely heavenly. Especially on a cold winter snowing day! After sitting in there for a good 20 minutes, I swaddled myself in one of their delicious robes and made my way over to the relaxing room. The tropical green tea I sipped on was delicious and I perused a few magazines until I was escorted to the hydrotherapy room. I am not a big "bath" person, but this takes bathing to a whole new level. There had to be about 8 jets and I was instructed to turn them on and then add the sea salts that were mixed with essential oils. The result was heavenly. I could feel my dry winter skin softening as I soaked.

Next was a little break in the relaxing room with some more tea and then off to my facial and massage. I have pretty sensitive skin and my esthetician Michelle listened to my skin concerns and had some wonderful suggestions. She used the Phytomer line on me, which I happen to have used before and love. It is a European line based on sea minerals and my sensitive cranky skin just loves it. Everything smells wonderful and fresh too without being perfumed. The facial was perfect. She used a couple different exfoliants, as my winter skin needed it. Mixed with steaming and some extractions, my skin was glowing by the time I was done. I also loved how she did a thorough hand, arm and neck massage while my mask was on. Such a nice treat, especially if you were only going in for the facial.

I was basically butter by the time we switched rooms for my massage. If it was even possible, Michelle managed to relax me even more. She used some wonderful aromatherapy oils, even pressure and covered all my trouble issues. She even noted some especially tight spots and suggested stretches I could do at home to help out. How amazing is that?

After my massage, I indulged in the spa showers and lotion they had available. I noticed they even had hair styling products, blow dryers and styling tools available to use. So if you wanted and had extra time, you could get pretty close to ready there after your treatment. Pretty nice to know.

Of course this spa isn't cheap, but it is wonderful. My suggestions would be to go a little early to your appt so you can indulge in the steam room and they even have a nice looking workout facility available. I had already squeezed in a morning workout with my workout buddy or I would have loved to check that out! Perhaps next time, as there will definitely be a next time.

 

Things I Love.....

It's that time of year again-hearts, Valentines, flowers and chocolate.  So I thought I would share with you some things that I love in the order that they randomly pop into my brain.  We'll skip the obvious, which are things like my husband,  family/friends, waterskiing, Kirkland, sleeping in and tropical vacations.

I LOVE:

1. My kids' adorable Valentines! Photo above. Katie, the head photographer from  Classic Kids Photography , is a gem that really captures their essence in black and white.

2. The Lighting Universe Warehouse Sale.  10930 116th Ave NE (NOT the showroom near the Old Costco Home , it's the warehouse at the end of Forbes Creek Drive) I've been there at least 5 out of the last 7 days.  If you follow me on Twitter, you'd already know this, but they are clearing out tons of stuff for crazy dirt cheap garage sale prices.  Many things are new in the box. They have lighting, furniture, knobs/pulls, vanities, mirrors, sinks, faucets, bulbs and strangely enough, some shoes.  Someone needs to report me to that hoarders show soon b/c I can't stay away.  Tell all of my new friends that work there I said hello: JJ, Corey, Terry, Chip, Todd, and Henry.   

3. ....that Susanne Park of Sweet Cakes in on the front page of the Kirkland Reporter this week!  Way to go-a super fabulous local woman and fellow mom with her own business centered around cupcakes.  Who doesn't love a good cupcake? This month's special gluten-free cupcakes are White Chocolate Raspberry and Pink Champagne.  Cheesecake flavor of the month is Cherry Chip. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

4. Price Brothers Garage-  Was just there yesterday and I love that they never BS me. Been going here for a few years now.  Honest and professionally run place that deserves some kudos.  My poor kiddie delivery SUV has over 100K miles on it now and still going strong without having to endure a list of things to fix every time I go.  And on the occasion that it does need some work- they give you options, explanations and competitive pricing. 

5. Dave at West Coast Paint Supply- Why make yourself crazy picking paint when there are color geniuses like Dave in the world?  Not only is  Benjamin Moore  great paint, Dave is awesome at brainstorming on different ideas and helping match paint to other materials you are working with.  My mom is an artist and even she-who questions how many drops of red are in a particular brown- is a die hard Dave fan. Thank you, Dave, for dealing with all of us crazy ladies (dudes too, just not as outwardly crazy) trying to figure out our paint.

 6. The shops of downtown Kirkland that get excited for Valentine's Day despite most of us that are closely guarding our wallets these days.  Thank you! Love ya! Look at the fun window displays.  (photo from Life is Good) Get out there and buy something locally for your sweetie.  Take him or her to a great meal at one of our many restaurants. They can't do it without you.

 

7. Kirkland's camaraderie-- there is a flash auction on Sunday Feb 19th from 5-8pm at the old TGIF location in Kirkland Park Place  (above Rikki Rikki) to raise money for this year's 4th of July celebration.  Drink some wine and support this community event-those fireworks are not cheap! Call with your questions.425-686-0164.  Can't make it? You can always write a check to the KDA or procure an item to be auctioned.

Feel free to share what YOU love about Kirkland this Valentine's Day.

 

 

PSE Ratings- Follow Up

My recent PSE post really hit a nerve for a lot of you. It's always fun to see what gets you talking!

First, you should know that we have found someone with consistently great report cards from PSE. Not just great, Tom of the Kirkland Highlands is typically #3 out of 100. Big round of applause to Tom!! I am amazed and impressed. So now we know it is possible. But how, you ask? Here's what Tom had to share with us:

"Until last fall my daughter Hannah and I lived in the Kirkland Highlands in a 1700sf 2 story daylight basemnent house built in 1969 with 4 bedrooms (small) and 1.75 bathrooms. The house has GREAT passive solar, which I believe really helps with keeping it warm in the winter, even on our dark days. We keep the programmable thermostat low at night (59) and about 64 when we are here. We have a tankless gas water heater, a gas furnace, and double pane windows. I think it also helps that a part of the house is below grade (4') so that helps hold in the heat and keeps it cool.My daughter has since moved away to college, and I haven't received a report in awhile. Hope this helps, and good luck motivating your kids - they like to see the improvement and we found the quarterly reports to be a good incentive (plus we kept trying to move up to # 1)."

I have since shared our report with our children so I can get them on board. Long hot showers and leaving lights on are the vices we need to break them from along with throwing every item of clothing in the laundry even if it's been worn for 15 minutes. I cannot turn my thermostat down to 59 or even 64 because I'm pretty sure that frozen nipple replacement surgery for a family of 5 is more expensive than power. But we are motivated to get a better report card next time.

I also received an official response from PSE- feel free to comment away- sounds like they are listening... Here is what they had to say:

My name is Dennis Rominger and I’m one of the energy efficiency experts at PSE. These Home Energy Reports are one of the programs that I manage. I wanted to thank you for starting a healthy conversation about energy use in people’s homes. This is one of the fundamental reasons why we have started experimenting with these private mailers to our customers…. To draw out their reactions, and perhaps spur some persistent action inside homes to lower energy bills especially in these winter months

We love having customers like you and your readers who take such extraordinary measures to safeguard our energy future, and can serve as evangelists to get us all using energy more efficiently. Regrettably, there is a large percentage of our customers who have yet to get on the bandwagon, and we need to turn them into believers as well.

We are taking a lot of customer comments on these mailers into account during this experiment, and we are learning at lot about how our customers respond to a bit of peer pressure when it comes to making choices about how to use energy. We realize that the comparisons aren’t necessarily apples to apples, but at least there is enough relative comparison to a radius of your neighbors --- so that it might trigger some quick attention on your family’s habits, or at the very least, make “energy efficient” top of mind for next equipment purchase you make.

For the comparisons, admittedly we don’t know everything about your home, occupants, or household activities. The information we have was received from county records and PSE account information. This includes home type, size, heating fuel source, and location. This information is sometimes incorrect because the county records aren’t always up-to-date. To assure the most accurate comparison, you can update your info by visiting www.psereports.com. This might correct any inconsistencies that you feel are preventing you from a proper comparison. You are always free to opt out too. But, we hope you don’t.

Please continue to spread the energy efficiency gospel – and if you or your readers need any ideas on the choices you can make in your daily lives, visit PSE.com/re-energize, or call one of our Energy Advisors at 1-800-562-1482. Keep those critiques coming.... we learn best when we "hear" the conversations.

Why is PSE always picking on me?

It can't just be me.  So I'm throwing this out there at the risk of being a bad example because I am curious if EVERYONE gets that same letter from Puget Sound Energy declaring that they are terrible awful energy wasters.  Every quarter I dread opening the "home energy report" that tells me that I use 49% more energy than my neighbors, which is then illustrated in colored bar graphs and breakdowns by electricity and natural gas.  I also apparently used 74% more energy than my neighbors in the past 12 months- ack- shoot me now. Is this true?

Do they have to start name-calling?? PSE tells me here's what the "energy efficient" neighbors use, "all neighbors" use and then "YOU." It really is bold and capitalized like that so you feel like someone is pointing a finger at your nose.  REALLY?!  Although we are a family of 5 which means lots of laundry and dishes, we are also energy conscious (turning lights out, only running full loads, etc) and our recently remodeled and relatively small home has newer/energy efficient components.  We're good people- we recycle and do our best to lessen our environmental footprint.  But I think PSE keeps us on their whipping board.  Does anyone out there get a letter saying, "you are doing a fantastic job conserving energy! Way to go!" ?? I need to know. Maybe my kids are secretly sucking up energy when I'm not looking (we know they steal mine).

Kirkland Family Raises Funds for FSH Research

Terry Colella has lived in the same Kirkland home since 1980.  But in 2004, everything changed when her son, Brian, was diagnosed with FSH (Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy) and they turned from your typical Kirkland family looking forward to college and grandchildren, into one of fundraisers.  What they discovered was that very few researchers were studying this condition due to lack of funds and its complexity.  This family does not sit and ponder.  Now they head up a non-profit charity, Friends of FSH Research, and raise money for research.

They have raised more than $1.5M from their home-based charity with a volunteer crew.  Today, researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Research Center and the University of WA are leaders in FSH research and are working in collaboration with researchers in the Netherlands and Rochester, NY as a result of their funding and support. 

Please consider joining the Colellas for the 8th annual gala auction event to benefit FSH on January 28th at 5pm/Bellevue Hyatt.  There will be a silent auction, champagne/appetizers, 4 course gourmet dinner with wine and a live auction led by auctioneer David Silverman.  1976 Gold Medalist Wendy Boglioli will be emcee for the evening.  And local band The Offenders will be playing after the auction so don't forget your dancing shoes!  Tickets are $110/per person and parking is free.  100% of the proceeds from the event go towards supporting FSH research.  Purchase online or call 425-827-8954.

My Exit Interview with Bill Vadino

Bill Vadino has stepped down as the Executive Director for the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce and Kirkland Downtown Association (KDA).  He will be moving on to become the Show Director for the Kirkland Concours d'Elegance.  He also has another mysterious Eastside consulting gig in the works which he will be announcing soon.  So, before Bill pushes out on his sleigh, I had a few questions and they went something like this... (I'm in bold)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Pressing questions...Yes or No..

Is parking a problem in Kirkland? "Can you hold for a second? I am looking for a parking space"

Will the Antique Mall be there forever? "No--I just told Marilyn Dillard there will be a Santa Claus."

Are there too many spas and salons downtown? "Oh--are those all the places between the restaurants, coffee shops and consignment clothes stores?"

Is that you that dresses up the cow statue on Central every holiday? "I thought it was you and your kids--or PETA"

Too many political floats in the 4th of July parade? "Politicians in the parade? I am shocked, shocked..."

 Hard to believe, but not everyone in Kirkland knows Bill Vadino,  Director of the KDA and Kirkland Chamber of Commerce.  Tell us what the heck that means in 3 sentences or less. 

 "Well the Chamber is a membership organization of businesses that believe that "what is good for neighbors is good for business" by making Kirkland a great place to work, live and play.  Most importantly for me aside from the networking events, public policy advocacy, business assistance and downtown/community events is the community service aspect getting neighbors and business folks (sometimes  to volunteer to help the hungry, homeless, and those who need medical care.  The Kirkland Concours was (at least for me) the piece de resistance with it generating 1.5 million for uncompensated medical care for children over the last 9 years. 

 -Where are you scurrying off to and why?

"Well, I have four tasks and I am keeping two, shedding two and adding one.  After 10 years (combined) I will be leaving the Chamber and Downtown Association to focus on my two other tasks--the Kirkland Concours which, while is planned by volunteers here in Kirkland and on the eastside, will be at the new LeMay America's Car Museum in Tacoma as well as my "friends and family."  Another exciting position on the eastside will be announced eventually which I am looking forward to as well.  Good news is that I will be around as many of my friends are here"

 -Tell me why you think Kirkland is Super Cool.  And what would make it even cooler. 

 "It's the people and their volunteerism linked with the small town Mayberry with enough Peyton Place to keep things interesting.  What would be even cooler is to have a foundation that helps fund all of our community organizations from those who help the needy as well as the arts and event organizations."

 -Favorite event in Kirkland? (tough to pick one, I know) 

 Well...now that the Kirkland Concours is moving and I don't have to be "Switzerland" anymore I would say Summerfest and Moss Bay Days which may return in a new incarnation next summer.

 -Who will (try to) fill your shoes? Still looking for candidates? What unique skills are required besides looking snappy in a suit and having the balance to hang off of ladders while hanging holiday decorations? (photo)

 "Bond, James Bond.  With all his stunt work as the new Bond, Daniel Craig would be perfect on the ladders.  Or Charles Durning as the governor in the "Little W****house in Texas ("oh I like to dance the little side step...now you see me now you don’t) for all the moments when my successor tries to please all he people all the time.  Most of what happens will continue in exemplary fashion because of all the volunteers that have enabled success since 1935.  Are you available?"

 -If it was your last meal in Kirkland, where would you go?  

 "I would be a like a hobbit and have six meals (two breakfasts, lunches and dinners) so George's, Hectors, Sasi's, Bin, Crab Cracker, of course Trellis.  And dessert at Sweet Cakes."

 Good luck Bill! We will miss you (but we still know where to find you!) ~j