Author: Jeff Hoerth

The Salmon Watcher Program trains volunteers to identify and record species and numbers of spawning salmonids in streams in the Lake Washington Watershed. Denny Creek is one of the streams listed by King County. Here is a page at the King County website identifying fish seen in Denny Creek: http://1.usa.gov/oOdXIW The King County Salmon Watcher training sessions for 2011 have been scheduled! You need attend only one training session to be a volunteer. Trainings are 7 to 9 p.m. Please show up a few minutes early to sign in and get your packet. Please contact Jennifer Vanderhoof, Ecologist, with any questions. Thursday, September 15: Bellevue City Hall Thursday, September 22: Woodinville City...

The King County Districting Committee has begun public hearings on four alternate County Council redistricting plans. The plans are online at www.kingcounty.gov/districting. One of those plans has a current portion of the Finn Hill area being moved over to District 1 northward. The other three retain the existing alignment for Finn Hill within District 6. There is a public hearing on Thursday June 30 at Bellevue City Hall from 6:30-8:30 pm. The hearing is in City Council Chambers at 450 110th Ave NE. Take a look at the King County website to get a better idea of what is being considered for the Finn Hill area. Then attend a public hearing or submit comments. Written testimony can be submitted on the committee website or can be mailed to Districting Committee, 516 Third Avenue, Room 1200, Seattle, WA 98104. A final district plan must be approved by January 15,...

A reminder now that Finn Hill is part of Kirkland. As plans for the July 4th “Celebrate Kirkland!” community event are finalized, the Kirkland Police and Fire Departments encourage residents and visitors to celebrate safely and legally and offer the following tips: Comply with the City’s fireworks ban. The sale, possession and discharge of all fireworks are prohibited within Kirkland city limits.  This includes the recently annexed areas of Finn Hill, North Juanita, and Kingsgate. Report fireworks violations. Persons observing non-emergency violations of the fireworks ban should contact NORCOM Police Dispatch at (425) 577-5656 and a Kirkland Police officer will be dispatched when available.  In the event of an emergency, please call 9-1-1. Keep pets safe. Most pets are upset by fireworks and should be kept inside.  Report lost and found pets to King County Regional Animal Services at 206-296-7387 (PETS). Carpool if you can. Many activities are happening in downtown Kirkland and parking may be limited.  Visitors are encouraged to carpool, ride transit or use other alternate means of transportation. Observe parking rules. The parking lot at Marina Park (6 a.m. – midnight), Heritage Park (6 a.m. – 2 p.m.), and Lake Street (6 a.m. -2 p.m.) will be closed on July 4th. Observe the closure of the Marina Park boat launch from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (for parade) and again 9:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (for...