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August 21, 2025
Mo from 'The Remontant' shares how her business pitch turned into a brand-new candle shop downtown. Plus, learn how you can score free Kirkland Ca$h when you visit (while supplies last).
Check it out.
The next regular meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on September 2, 2025. More information about the meeting will be included in an upcoming edition of ‘This Week in Kirkland’ and on the City Council webpage.
As of 4:50 p.m. on August 19, 2025, Public Health – Seattle & King County is recommending that people and pets continue to stay out of the water at Houghton Beach Park for at least an additional week due to elevated bacteria levels.
Read more.
City administrative offices are closed on Monday, September 1, in observance of Labor Day. 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 resume 8 a.m., Tuesday, September 2.
For 2025 City Hall closures, visit the City’s website.
🚒 Welcome Deputy Chief Pat LeDoux! DC LeDoux joined the Kirkland Fire Department this week as the new Deputy Chief of Support Services, bringing more than 30 years of fire service experience, including 25 years with King County Fire District 27 in Fall City, where he most recently served as Deputy Chief of Operations.
Throughout his career, he’s taken on major leadership roles in Zone 1 Operations, the South King County Fire Training Consortium, and wildland deployments. Earlier this year, he coordinated the work of more than 60 Washington fire engines during the Palisades wildfire deployment to California. He also serves as the King County Zone 1 Coordinator, helping manage resources during major emergencies in Eastside cities.
Beyond his impressive professional experience, DC LeDoux has a special connection to Kirkland. He grew up spending summers at the waterfront, played baseball at Peter Kirk Park, and even proposed to his wife at the Kirkland Marina.
We’re looking forward to DC LeDoux’s leadership in serving our community and are happy to welcome him as Kirkland’s newest Deputy Fire Chief!
Many people will head out of town for the upcoming Labor Day weekend. But how many of us do more than just lock the door when we leave? Here are some tips to help ensure that your home is well protected from burglary while you’re away:
- Do what you can to make your home less inviting to thieves. Don’t leave expensive items like bikes or scooters outside. If your home looks difficult to enter and is well-maintained, chances are thieves will try somewhere else.
- Make sure there’s enough lighting in the front and back of your home and garage.
- Increase window and sliding glass door security with secondary locks or dowels that fit securely. Fortify garage doors with a padlock or a sliding bolt. Don’t forget to lock the door from the garage into the house.
- Use deadbolt locks as secondary locks on all doors.
- Let a neighbor or friend know you’ll be out of town and ask them to keep an eye on your house.
- Don't let mail, flyers, or newspapers pile up outside – that’s a telltale sign that you’re not home. Ask your friend or neighbor to collect mail while you’re gone.
- Trim all landscaping below windows to prevent areas where burglars could hide.
- Make sure your address is visible from the street in case emergency personnel need to respond.
- Don’t leave the spare key out. It may seem like a good idea, but if you can find it, so can burglars. Someone could also see you retrieve the key at some point, giving away your hiding place. Give a spare key to your neighbor or friend who’s keeping an eye on your house for you instead.
Learn more crime prevention tips by visiting the Kirkland Police Department webpage.
Planning a Labor Day getaway? Expect extra congestion as everyone heads out for the long weekend. WSDOT’s travel charts can help you find the best (and worst) times to go, and their online tools and app keep you updated on traffic, ferries, and more.
Check out resources here: https://wsdot.wa.gov/travel
Additional travel tips:
- Before you leave, map out potential rest areas to avoid drowsy driving,
- give yourself extra time in case of delays, and
- consider shifting your trip to less busy times.
A little planning goes a long way to make your weekend travel smoother and safer.
This summer WM interns tagged over 6,000 yard waste carts with a tag focused on reminding community members to put food waste into their gray yard waste carts. By keeping food out of the garbage, you help reduce waste and prevent the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, at landfills. Instead, by sending food scraps to be composted, they can be transformed into a valuable soil amendment!
These cart tags have resulted in community members reaching out to the Recycling Hotline with some great food waste related questions. One that has come up multiple times is whether compostable bags and paper bags are still allowed in the yard waste cart? Yes, residents are encouraged to put their food waste in certified compostable bags or paper bags and then place them into the gray yard waste cart! More info on composting can be found on our website at www.kirklandwa.gov/compost. If you have a burning recycling or compost questions give us a call 425-587-3812, or email the Recycling Hotline at or recycle@kirklandwa.gov. Keep composting responsibly!
There’s still time to sign up for the September Green Kirkland Steward Orientation! Learn urban forestry and habitat restoration skills while becoming a leader in your community’s parks.
Orientation dates: Sept 18, Sept 20, Sept 25. Sign up on the orientation page here.
Are you friendly, organized, and love working with people? Join our team as a Recreation Attendant and help support community programs, events, and rentals! Whether you're greeting guests, setting up activities, or ensuring everything runs smoothly, you'll be the face of fun in Kirkland! This is a great opportunity to build your resume, gain hands-on experience, and get involved in your local community.
Join us as a Recreation Attendant, a non-benefited, flexible position perfect for students, recent graduates, or anyone seeking short-term work.
Learn more and apply today at kirklandwa.gov/jobs
Thank you for making an incredible first Kirkland International Night Market!
From delicious food and unique artisan vendors to vibrant performances and hands-on activities, the night was filled with the sights, sounds, and flavors of cultures from around the world, right here in our own community.
A huge thank you to:
- Our amazing vendors, performers, and cultural organizations for sharing your talents and traditions;
- Everyone who came out to explore, taste, and celebrate with us;
- And our volunteers and partners who helped to make this event possible.
We hope to see you again! Check out our future events at www.kirklandwa.gov/communitybuildingevents
I-405/Northeast 85th Street
The Northeast 85th Street on-ramp to southbound Interstate 405 will be closed and mainline southbound I-405 will be reduced by one lane, 24 hours a day, from 8:30 p.m. Friday Aug. 22 to 4:30 a.m. Monday, Aug 25. The southbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 85th Street and up to two lanes of southbound I-405 will also be closed nightly from 11:30 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Market Street @ 9th Avenue
Market Street will be closed in a single direction at 9th Avenue beginning Monday, August 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Work on the Stores to Shores Greenway project will close one direction of Market Street to work on the crossing. Short detours will be posted onsite. Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/storestoshores for project updates on Thursdays.
100th Avenue Northeast
Drivers will encounter daytime work to raise utility access along the freshly paved section of 100th Avenue Northeast south of Simonds Road Northeast. A ‘dark’ signal at Northeast 145th Street is expected one day next week (expected Wednesday, August 27) as the new signal comes into service. A uniformed police officer will control the intersection traffic during this work. Final paving is expected in September.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/100thavedesign for project updates on Thursdays.
2025 Street Overlay Program
18th Avenue is paved from Market Street to Crestwoods Park. Kirkland’s contractor will alternate traffic through the project area as they raise the utilities to the new road surface. Crestwoods Park parking lot is expected to be paved August 25-29.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/overlay for project updates on Thursdays.
Central Way Street Preservation
Kirkland’s contractor begin daytime work along Central Way on August 18. Kirkland is paving the street from Market Street to 6th Street. Drivers can expect temporary lane shifts as Lakeside Industries crews prepare the street for overlay. Most work will occur during the day, but final paving is expected to occur at night. Grinding the street is expected to begin as early as September 8. Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/overlay for project updates on Thursdays.
Northeast 85th Street: I-405 to 6th Street
Northeast 85th Street is a single lane in each direction from I-405 to 6th Street for the NE 85th Street shared-use pathway project. The Cross Kirkland Corridor is closed at Northeast 85th Street to Northeast 87th Street. Visit https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works-Department/Construction-Projects/NE-85th-Street-Shared-Use-Pathway for project updates on Thursdays.
Northeast 85th Street: 122th Avenue Northeast to 120nd Avenue Northeast
On Northeast 85th Street east of I-405, daytime work begins on August 11 to build the soldier pile wall on the north side of Northeast 85th Street between 120th Avenue Northeast and 122nd Avenue Northeast. Daytime work will reduce eastbound traffic to one lane between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Overnight, traffic will be impacted from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as Kirkland’s contractor upgrades the stormwater facilities and other utility work. Visit https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works-Department/Construction-Projects/NE-85th-Street-Eastbound-3rd-Lane for project updates on Thursdays.
Goat Hill
Kirkland's contractor will continue preparing the roads for asphalt and will have shifting work zones throughout the week. Northeast 116th Place and Northeast 117th Place are expected to be open each night, but Kirkland’s contractor advises drivers utilize Northeast 116th during this phase of construction. Paving is now expected to begin September 2. Visit https://www.kirklandwa.gov/goathill for project updates on Thursdays.
124th Avenue Northeast
Work continues on 124th Avenue Northeast, between Northeast 116th Street and Northeast 124th Street. Pavement markings are now applied, and this project is headed towards completion. Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/124thavenue for project updates on Thursdays.
2025 Street Slurry Seal Program
Various residential streets in the Finn Hill and Juanita area will be closed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. as crews slurry seal the pavement on August 12, and 15. Residents impacted have received mailed and hand delivered notices to prepare for the impacts. Several streets will be rescheduled. Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/slurryseal for updates, project map, and rescheduled dates when available.
Slater Avenue Northeast/132nd Avenue Northeast at Cross Kirkland Corridor
Permanent lane markings will be added once the new asphalt has cured, and installation of the long-lead items is expected in early 2026. Trail users will detour to the intersection of Northeast 124th Street as we do not have a working, signalized crossing until early 2026. Visit https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works-Department/Construction-Projects/CKC-to-Eastrail-Crossing-at-Slater-Ave-NE-132nd-Ave-NE for project updates on Thursdays.
School begins for Lake Washington School District schools on Tuesday, September 2nd. School begins for Northshore School District schools on Wednesday, September 3. Please drive alertly with caution with increased activity around schools as the school year begins.
Blood Drives
Save a life and fuel your adventures! Donate blood with @bloodworksnw at Kirkland City Hall (Aug 27–28) or Peter Kirk Community Center (Aug 27). You’ll be entered to win prizes including a $10,000 gas gift card and $500 REI cards (with TRIPLE entry Aug 24–Sept 3!). Book now:
See Spot Splash
Date: Saturday, September 6
Time: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Peter Kirk Pool
It's a dog's day in Kirkland! Bring Fido for a splash and play day at the Peter Kirk Pool followed by some off-leash fun at Lee Johnson Ballfield! Thanks to Emerald City Orthodontics for sponsoring this event.
Visit vendor booths from dog businesses, rescue groups and visit our coffee food truck! Pre-registration is highly recommended, or pay upon entering. Participating dogs must be well-behaved, and vaccinated. For complete details or to register, visit KirklandParks.net or call 425-587-3336.
City Hall 4 All
Date: Saturday, September 13
Time: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Kirkland City Hall, 123 5th Ave
Don’t miss a live recording of the This Week in Kirkland Podcast at City Hall 4 All! Whether you’re tuning in or jumping in, this is your chance to be part of the conversation. Bring your voice, your curiosity, and your community spirit.
Check out all fun things planned for the day: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Whats-Happening/Community-Events/CMO/City-Hall-4-All-2025
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What does the Salary Commission do? Watch our video to find out about past and future exciting projects.