kirkland reporter, september 30, 2011

Find us at KirklandWindermere.com737 Market Street Kirkland, WA 98033 | 425-823-4600 Windermere Real Estate/Central, Inc.

5293

33

KIRKLAND CRIME | Three men indicted on multiple burglaries of Eastside businesses; man stabbed at QFC [5]

REPORTER .com

K I R K L A N D

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING

NEW

SLIN

E: 42

5.82

2.91

66

BookFest | Workshops, readings and more during festival; poetry winners announced [8]

Kangs tennis | See results for Lake Washington tennis and others [7]

Candidates weigh regional partnerships, stress need for park upkeep at forumBY RACHAEL HARRIS

Special to the Reporter

Approximately 95 resi-dents packed into St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Kirkland to observe the Kirkland City Council candidate forum Sept. 21. Central topics included the city budget, the recent an-nexation and the protection of local parks.

Charisma was preva-lent among the seven contenders, who included incumbent Jane Hague and challenger Richard Mitchell for King County Council Dis-trict No. 6, Bob Sternoff and oppo-nent Jason Gardiner for Kirkland City Council Position No. 2, Jessica Greenway and com-petitor Toby Nixon for Posi-tion No. 4, and Dave Asher for Position No. 6. Also scheduled to attend was Jim Hart for Position No. 6, but he could not be present.

Th e event was hosted by Denny Creek Neighbor-hood Alliance and moder-ated by Denise Smith, former president of the League of Women Voters. Candidates represented were asked to introduce themselves and then took turns answering questions submitted by Kirkland residents.

First, the city council candidates explained their long-term visions

for Kirkland. All answers emphasized the importance of public opinion in their plans for the city.

“I want Kirkland to be an example statewide of how to do open government right,” said Nixon.

Sternoff , Greenway, and Asher all addressed Kirkland’s potential for attracting more businesses. Asher specifi cally men-tioned the redevelopment of the Totem Lake Malls as essential to the economic growth of Kirkland.

Visions of fi nancial improve-ment transi-tioned into the second question, which asked candidates for their budget pri-orities and opinions on Kirkland’s two most wasteful expenses.

Here, outlooks briefl y fractured: Sternoff contended that the budget has not been sus-tainable since he fi rst began reviewing it in 1996, while Greenway professed pride for the way Kirkland has managed the budget during these tough times.

Later, Sternoff proposed partnerships to cut waste on expenses such as park and road maintenance, and Nixon agreed.

“For example, we could create a regional fi re au-thority, combining with the Northshore or Woodinville districts,” Nixon said. “Th is would lower overhead,

Signs denoting toll testing in progress over the westbound lanes of the SR 520 fl oating bridge in Medina on Sept. 23. Tolling is set to start in December, pending a vast mix of complications. CHAD COLEMAN, Reporter Newspapers

520 tolls: Good to go?BY PEYTON WHITELY

[email protected]

When — or if — cashless tolling starts on the

520 Bridge in December, it will be one of the most audacious things that’s ever happened to state transpor-tation.

It’ll aff ect hundreds of thousands of people on the Eastside and Seattle.

It’ll put tolls on what’s now a free route across Lake Washington.

And if that’s not hard enough — making people pay for something they get for free now — there’s a

vast mix of complications, including fi ve types of ve-hicle transponders, tolls that range from zero at night to $5, depending on the time of day and payment type, and then making everything match.

“Th is project is among the

Postal Service workers rally to fight cutsBY PEYTON WHITELY

[email protected]

In theory, all sorts of formal mechanisms exist for people to meet and talk over the issues of the day, places like Kirkland City Coun-cil meetings and land-use forums.

Th en there’s reality, places where people really do bump into each other and talk about the issues of the day.

Places like post offi ces.Sure, countless other ways

exist for people to talk things over, from coff ee shops to the Internet, but the local post offi ce is certainly one of the best-known destinations in most communities.

Now Postal Service employees, including some from Kirkland, are trying to rally support for measures that would preserve post-offi ce operations and change perceptions about postal problems.

“We’ve been able to deal with the invention of the telephone and telegraph. We can deal with this,” said Rick Horner, a Bellevue letter car-rier who lives on Northeast 116th Street in Kirkland and has 33 years of postal service.

Horner also is the legisla-tive committee chairperson for Branch 79 of the National Association of Letter Carriers in Seattle, which took part in a “Day of Action to Save America’s Postal Service”

[ more TOLLS page 6 ] [ more POSTAL page 2 ]

Councilwoman Jessica Greenway, who is running again for Position 4, speaks during a candidate forum Sept. 21 as her opponent, Toby Nixon, looks on. RACHAEL HARRIS, For the Reporter

[ more FORUM page 3 ]

September 30, 2011[2] www.kirklandreporter.com

homeport restaurant

Downtown Kirkland Waterfront • 135 Lake Street South • 425-822-0225 • www.anthonys.com

Celebrate your next gathering at Anthony’s HomePort in Kirkland! We provide a great waterfront view and a warm, friendly environment with excellent service and a variety of menu choices for any occasion.

Book Your Banquet in a Room with a View52

8836

Earn a 1.00% APY with a Union Bank High Rate MoneyMarketSM Account1

SM

SM

1.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

Stop by a branch today, visit unionbank.com/rate or call 800-818-6060 to learn more.

Because love the thrillof stable returns.

We will pressure wash your concrete driveway, walkways,

patios, sidewalks, porches and wood decks…

(425) 301-3333

52

04

64

FOR ONLY

$2995*Offer is Valid until October 31, 2011. Price is good up to three hundred square feet of pressure washing area. Certain restrictions & conditions may apply; please call for details. A fuel surcharge will be applied to all homes

that “exceed” a 10 miles radius from Renton, WA 98059. “Fall Special” is valid for residential homeowners ONLY. “Fall Special” may not be combined with any other coupon, offer, advertised special or discounts. Please

present coupon at time of service. Only one coupon per household. Coupon cash value 1/100th of a cent. Coupon Code #786 © 2011 Terence A. Khan dba: All Smiles Pressure Washing, LLC

SPECIAL

+ tax

America’s Postal Service” Tuesday on Mercer Island.

Th e rally was at the offi ces of Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Mercer Island, to urge him to support House Bill 1351 in Congress, which the union argues would deal with the main problem facing the Postal Service.

Despite widespread public perceptions that the problem stems from things like the rise of email, Horner says the real reason is 2006 federal legislation. Th at law required the Postal Service to pre-fund future health-care benefi ts for 75 years, and do it within 10 years, he said, at a cost of about $5.5 billion a year.

No other private company, or public agency, faces such a fi nancial burden, he said, and that’s what’s leading to proposals for things like closing 3,700 post offi ces, ending Saturday delivery or fi ring 120,000 employees.

In Kirkland, which Horner estimates has about 150 postal employees, such actions could lead to about 17 percent staffi ng cuts,

putting about 20 people or more out of work.He said the intent of the rally, plus others held at congressional offi ces across the country, was to urge Reichert to sign House Bill 1351, and also to motivate the public to become in-volved in discussions about saving the USPS.

[ POSTAL from page 1]

About 40 Postal Service workers rallied at Congressman Dave Reichert’s offi ce on Mercer Island Tuesday to urge him to support legislation resolving post offi ce fi nancial problems. REBECCA MAR, Reporter Newspapers

[3]September 30, 2011www.kirklandreporter.com

but provide the same level of service.” He elaborated, suggesting the city contract government services out to the private and non-profi t sectors.

Gardiner and Greenway emphasized the need for sustainable revenue, such as new businesses, both in the form of retail/restaurants and high-tech corporations that provide good jobs for citizens.

Next, the forum shift ed toward the recent annexation and what must be done to en-sure that the union is success-ful. Th is round, candidates lightened up the dialogue.

“Th e most important thing we can do is learn how to dance,” Asher said, highlight-ing the importance of eff ec-tive, two-way communica-tion between the government and its constituents. Sternoff later agreed: “We do need to learn how to dance. Not with Dave (Asher) though.” Th e comment was met with laughs.

Gardiner and Greenway encouraged the audience to communicate with their representatives until policies change. Greenway reminded listeners that representatives are in place to help residents get organized in their new city.

Nixon urged residents to hold the government to its commitments, citing a

Northshore utility tax that was higher than promised.

Th e most passionate topic centered on the management of Kirkland park lands.

All candidates supported the city taking ownership of Big Finn Hill Park and the maintenance of O.O. Denny Park, both in the new neigh-borhoods. However, they also noted that an arrangement needed to be negotiated about who would pay for park upkeep.

When pressed for their philosophy about developing forested park land on Finn Hill, all contenders agreed again. Th e summative phrase was, “Once a forest is lost, we never get it back.”

Concessions were made when questioned about the potential construction of a fi re station on a corner of Big Finn Hill Park. Sternoff reminded the audience of the necessity to balance the environment with public safety. Nixon said, “We use those kinds of sites only for essential public facilities and only as a last resort.”

Greenway noted that four other sites are also being ana-lyzed as potential locations for the fi re station.

Th e King County Council District 6 candidates took the fl oor next. Candidates were asked about their county budget priorities. Hague admitted that the county has budget issues, but was

optimistic about the lengths the county is taking to bridge the structural gap.

Mitchell was much more critical of the budget. “Th ere is a long-term challenge that the county has of looking at its mandated, required services ... and those that are discretionary,” he said.

Th e opponents agreed on renewing the King County parks levy, as well as helping Kirkland use a purchased portion of the railroad corri-dor for a cross-Kirkland trail.

Above, About 100 residents packed St. John Vianney Catholic Church for a candidate forum on Sept. 21. The event included all Kirkland City Council candidates for the three open seats, as well as candidates for King County Council Position 6. Left, Councilman Dave Asher, who is vying again for Position 6 against Jim Hart, speaks during the forum. Hart was the only candidate who could not be present for the event. PHOTOS

BY RACHAEL HARRIS, For the Kirkland

Reporter

[ FORUM from page 1]


City replacing damaged in-pavement lights with crossing flags

(In response to a Sept. 15 let-ter). The City of Kirkland is a leader in innovative crosswalk treatments.

Kirkland was the first city outside of California to begin using in-pavement lights nearly 15 years ago, and Kirkland is the first U.S. city to use pedestrian crossing flags.

Use of both of these crosswalk enhancements, in-pavement lights and crossing flags, have since spread across the country to cities large and small. They are similarly effective methods of improving safety at crosswalks and both are used in a variety of situations throughout Kirkland.

One drawback to the more expensive method, in-pavement lights, especially the earlier models like those installed along 124th Avenue by King County, is that they are prone to damage by vehicles, surrounding pavement failure, and weather. When they fail, it is sometimes impossible to repair them in a cost effective manner.

Over the years Kirkland has

adopted a policy to manage the damaged systems in a cost-conscious manner. Currently, when more than 50 percent of the lights in either direction fail or there is damage to the control system and it cannot be readily or cost effectively repaired, the system is taken out of service, and the crosswalk is solely sup-plemented with crossing flags.

This was the situation at the crosswalks on 124th Avenue. Too many heads had failed, and the system was taken out of service.

A recent development in crosswalk safety that Kirkland has been exploring is a new LED based system of flashers that are mounted on roadside signs and activated by a pedestrian push button. These devices are known as Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons or RRFB’s. Testing and research by the Federal Highway Administration has shown them to be very effective at warn-ing drivers that pedestrians are present.

Since the RRFB’s are not installed in the pavement and use parts that are widely avail-able, they are more durable, long-lasting, and easier (i.e. less expensive) to repair than the early in-pavement systems.

The City of Kirkland will soon be installing four RRFB’s

systems. Based on results from this first group of replacements, and depending on funding availability, other RRFB’s will be programmed to be installed to replace failed in-pavement lights over time.

Maintaining safe crosswalks is a high priority of the Kirkland City Council, and the city is continually evaluating cost effec-tive and innovative methods to help ensure the continued safety of Kirkland’s numerous pedes-trians.David Godfrey, Transportation Engineering manager

Bob Sternoff did violate laws

Council candidate Toby Nixon wrote a letter published Sept. 2, stating that “the investigation de-termined that Bob Sternoff didn’t violate any city or state laws.”

In fact, the Sherman Report of Oct. 2, 2009, documented evidence of violations of three sets of city codes and state laws. They are:

1. Use of public facilities for political activity;

2. 452 personal emails, over six council meetings, which violated prohibition of non-minimal personal use;

3. Seven emails expressing ill will and ridiculing citizens and other council members.

State law includes remedies that could refer these violations to a state or local prosecutors. Other city employees have been reprimanded and/or fined in similar instances. The report rec-ommends that the city determine the appropriate action with the enforcement used in previous cases.

The fact that the council voted 7-0 to not pursue any further ac-tion does not clear Mr. Sternoff of the documented violations. So claims that he broke no laws are untrue.

Mr. Sternoff ’s contempt for those citizens (item 3) who come before the council to make com-ments or offer testimony should not be tolerated. His language of “morons, f*%#&ing morons” and threats such as “I keep forgetting my gun” and “may I strangle her now?” are unaccept-able from a public official sitting in an official capacity during a city council meeting. Since the council has taken no action, we the voters should reject him for another term on council.

And for candidate Toby Nixon to defend his actions argues against his election as well.Ken Albinger, Kirkland

U.S. Postal Service workers nationwide are saying they

don’t want a bailout – they just want to get the mail

out.

The agency has long survived technological

change, from the telephone, telegraph, fax machine and the

Internet, where people can send email instead of conventional

letters.

But the Postal Service, which lost $8.5 billion last year, is

now struggling so much that it will not be able to make a $5.5

billion payment due today (the end of the USPS fi scal year) to a

federal retiree health care trust fund.

Desperate to steer the agency from defaulting on its em-

ployee pension obligations and to cut billions from its payroll,

the Postal Service is proposing to cut Saturday mail delivery

and close thousands of post offi ces. More than 120,000 postal

workers could also lose their jobs, including 20 people or more

in Kirkland.

Of the 32,741 post offi ces in the U.S., the Postal Service is

reviewing about 3,700 for possible closure – or nearly 10 per-

cent. Six of those offi ces are in Washington state: Kent, Seattle,

Spokane, Yakima and two in Tacoma.

Congress should take emergency action and stabilize the

agency’s fi nances.

During a rally on Tuesday at congressional districts through-

out the country, including Kirkland’s Eighth District, postal

workers petitioned and informed people about house bill 1351.

The measure is in response to a 2006 congressional mandate

that the Postal Service pre-fund future retiree health benefi ts

for the next 75 years – and do so within a decade. That’s $5.5

million each September out of the agency’s operating budget

for the health benefi ts of people who haven’t been born yet,

according to the National Association of Letter Carriers.

The bill would give the Postal Service access to the billions

of dollars Congress forced it to set aside for pre-paid pension

benefi ts.

In an already-strained economy, it does not make economic

sense for an agency to provide such benefi ts to future workers.

Alternatives to this bill are not in the best interest of resi-

dents, communities and local businesses, let alone the future

of USPS. The agency is a centerpiece of a $1.3 trillion mailing

industry that supports 8 million jobs.

It’s time for Congress to protect those jobs by worrying about

present - not future - workers.

OPINIO

NKIR

KLAN

D● Q U O T E O F N O T E : “You can’t get it wrong. You bill the wrong people, and that shoots down

the whole system,“ Tyler Patterson, WSDOT toll operations engineer.

● L E T T E R S . . . Y O U R O P I N I O N C O U N T S : To submit an item or photo: email [email protected]; mail attn: Letters, Kirkland Reporter, 11630 Slater Ave. N.E., Suite 8/9, Kirkland, Washington, 98034; fax 425.822.0141. Letters may be edited for style, clarity and length.

Take action now to keep Postal Service running

Andrea Southern Publisher:

[email protected]

425.483.3732, ext. 3050

Carrie Wood Editor:

[email protected], ext. 5050

Advertising 425.822.9166

Classifi ed Marketplace 800.388.2527

Letters [email protected]

A Division of Sound Publishing

For delivery inquiries

888.838.3000 or email [email protected]

?

11630 Slater Ave. N.E. Suite 8/9

Kirkland, Washington 98034

Question of the week:“Do you think tolling on the 520 Bridge will begin in December?”

Vote online:www.kirklandreporter.com

Last week’s poll results:“Will you attend one of the upcoming candidates’ forums?”

Yes: 30% No: 69%

You said it!

REPORTER .com

K I R K L A N D

E D I T O R I A L


Sat & SunOctober

8th & 9th ONLY

A TOUCH OF CLASS BARBERS111 LAKE STREET S, KIRKLAND, WA 98033

425-827-7222*On-line Scheduling Available*www.touchofclassbarbers.com

Now Open Sundays 11-3

Men$10Haircuts

Proudly Support Bob Sternoff KCC reelection

$5Buzz

5298

27

The blotter feature is both a description of a small selection of police incidents and a statistical round-up of all calls to the Kirkland Police Department that are dispatched to on-duty police officers. The Kirkland Reporter Police Blotter is not intended to be representative of all police calls originating in Kirkland, which average about 1,000 per week.

Between Sept. 16 to Sept. 22, the Kirk-land Police Depart-ment reported 500 traffic violations (three DUIs, three hit and runs, 11 school zone cita-tions), 30 alarm calls, 23 car accidents, 19 noise complaints, 20 thefts, six burglaries, 14 car prowls, 12 domestic vio-lence calls, six calls for harass-ment, eight acts of fraud, nine calls of a disturbance and five animal-related calls. At least 43 people were arrested.

Sept. 22Assault: 4:42 p.m., 12000 block of N.E. 64th St. A 41-year-old Kirkland woman and her husband were involved in a verbal and physical altercation. The woman was found to be the primary aggressor and was arrested for fourth-degree assault.

Theft: 9 p.m., 9736 N.E. 120th Pl. A 34-year-old Kirkland man was arrest-ed for stealing a Crown Royal and coke beverage at the Juanita Bay Pub.

Sept. 21DUI: 1:37 a.m., 12100 block of N.E. 64th St. A 28-year-old Bothell man was stopped on a traffic violation and found to be drunk. He later provided blood alcohol content samples of .194 and .192.

Stabbing: 8:40 p.m., 11800 block of N.E. 142nd St. A 21-year-old Kirkland man was arrested after he confronted another man and stabbed him in the parking lot of QFC. Police gathered evidence, including a pen, blood-stained jockey underwear and Nike

sweatpants, both with a pen hole in the left groin

area.

Shoplifting: 944 Sixth St. South. A 20-year-old Kirkland woman

left without paying for a bottle

of Squirt soda. When the cashier

attempted to retrieve the property, the woman

struggled to get away. She returned shortly after leaving to talk to police. She will be cited for theft through an investigation.

Sept. 18Marijuana possession: 7 p.m., 11100 block of N.E. 60th St. A neigh-bor called to report two juveniles using a ladder to enter a nearby resi-dence. Police did not know whether it was a burglary, but contacted the homeowner. Officers also contacted the two 17-year-old juveniles and found one had outstanding felony warrants and the other was in posses-sion of marijuana and paraphernalia. The juveniles were taken into custody.

Sept. 17Assault, malicious mischief: 8:30 a.m., 12000 N.E. 97th St. A 21-year-old Kirkland man was booked for fourth-degree assault and malicious mischief after he pushed his grandfather to the ground and knocked over his motor scooter because the grandfather wanted the man to not continue his 45-plus minute shower.

DUI: 10:16 p.m., 12526 N.E. 144th St. Police responded to a parking lot collision at the Caribbean Casino. The 32-year-old Kirkland driver per-formed poorly on field sobriety tests and was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Warrant arrest: 5:22 p.m., 14300 block of 124th Ave. N.E. A 25-year-old Kirkland man got into a verbal dispute with a woman. Both refused to come to the door for police. Wit-nesses heard a punch and someone yelling to “stop.” Police entered the residence due to the sounds of violence and arrested the man for his outstanding warrant.

Sept. 16Theft: 2:50 p.m., 14444 124th Ave. N.E. Kingsgate Safeway detained a 41-year-old Redmond man for stealing root beer soda, a Heineken keg and tools. Police found a pair of needle nose pliers and bolt cutters. The man has multiple prior records for burglary and he confessed to a clear intent to steal. He was charged with possession of burglary tools.

Assault: 11 a.m., Slater Ave. N.E. A mother reported that her 15-year-old daughter had assaulted her. The girl was on home monitoring and had violated the terms of her super-vision. She was arrested and booked.

CRIME

ALERTThis week’s…

Police Blotter

BY PEYTON WHITELY

[email protected]

A prosecution of an elec-tronic theft ring that some-times used a technique called “war-driving” to commit crimes on the Eastside and elsewhere has moved into the federal arena.

Th ree Seattle men are named in a federal in-dictment that accuses them of multiple conspiracy counts to steal information and other goods from businesses throughout the Puget Sound region.

Th e indictment brought Sept. 15 in federal court in Seattle largely parallels accu-sations fi rst fi led early in 2011 in King County Superior Court.

Several Eastside businesses are named as victims, includ-ing at least three in Kirkland and four in Bellevue.

One of the major theft s, totaling more than $300,000, took place at Concur Tech-nologies in Redmond.

Th e defendants are Joshuah Allen Witt, 34; Brad Eugene Lowe, 36, and John Earl Griffi n, 36, all of Seattle.

If convicted, they could face up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fi ne.

Th e 10 counts, which include charges of identity theft and illegally accessing computer systems to

commit fraud, describe both complex techniques

and expensive tastes.Among the techniques

was a tactic known as “war-driving,” according to the charges, in which people drive through neighborhoods with a long-range antenna to fi nd vulnerable networks.

Th e three men “used the war-driving technique, and information they obtained as a result, in order to identify

and reconnoiter wireless net-works for attack,” the charges add.

Th e men hacked the com-puter networks of at least 13 companies and burglarized at least 41 other businesses, the charges continue.

In one incident at a Renton company on July 31, 2010, for example, the men are accused of stealing about $170,600 worth of computers and other electronic gear.

Th e crimes began as early as April, 2008, the charges add, and besides stealing fi nancial information and computer equipment, they tried to buy things.

In November, 2008, for ex-ample, Witt and Griffi n either bought, or tried to buy, 16 items through a phony eBay account, including a 2006 Dodge Charger Hemi engine for $3,949, a 2006 Dodge Hemi engine for $4,249 and a new Rolex watch for $5,490.

Three men indicted on multiple burglaries of Eastside businesses

KIRKLAND

CRIME

Crosswalk enhancements coming Th e city’s contractor began construction

this week to install specialty signage and pedestrian crosswalk lights at the following

locations: Th ose locations include: N.E. 124th Street at 103 Ave. N.E. (North Kirkland Com-munity Center); Market Street at 18 Avenue (leads to Kirkland Junior High School); 132 Ave. N.E. at N.E. 74 Street and N.E. 60 Street.


51

91

11

Tree Care, LLCLicensedBondedInsured

Pruning & TrimmingArborist Reports

RemovalsFree Estimates

425 739 6730www.Certifi edArboristTreeCare.com

certifi [email protected]

CERTIFIED ARBORIST

A+ RatingKirkland, WA 98033

Are you searching for physical healing, security, restoration, hope?

Christian Science Healing: A Demand of the Times

A lecture for the public by Martha R. Moffett, CSB

A practitioner and teacher of Christian Science

Come learn about prayer in Christian Science and how healing takes place.

Sunday, October 9, 2011 at 2:00 pm

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Bellevue 801 Lake Washington Blvd NE

Ample parking — Child care provided For more information: 425-454-7654—www.csbellevue.org

Join us for the best happy hour deals in KirklandLively Italian Restaurant featuring unmatchable tasty foods

7 Lake Shore Pl. , Kirkland, WA 98033425-896-8327

5296

63

Happy HourMonday-Friday

3pm-6pmLate Night Happy Hour

10pm-1am

Lunch SpecialsTuesday-Friday

11am-3pm

$99512031 NE Totem Lake Way, Kirkland,WA 98034

(Right next door to the Yuppie Pawn Shop.)

425-814-5200 | yuppietavern.com

5289

39

Tuesdays: Open BluesWednesdays: Open Mike

Monday & Thursdays: PokerFriday & Saturday: Live Music

Rent Us For Parties

HAPPY HOUR 3-6 P.M.

Sat. Oct. 8th - The GrandtoursSat. Oct. 15th - Black River BluesAll Shows: 9 p.m. 21+ only. No Cover Charge

NowServingHard Liquor

Fabulous

Sandwiches

most complex in the tolling industry,” is how an Expert Review Panel summed it up in an August report.

“Th e requirements they have established go beyond anything in place today. Implementing this system far exceeds the diffi culties expe-rienced by most toll agencies,” the panel added.

With a cost estimated at $4.65 billion, redoing the Highway 520 corridor, including the bridge, will be one of the most expensive road projects in history. Th e record is held by Boston’s “Big Dig,” put at $22 billion, but redoing I-90 from Seattle to Bellevue in the 1980s came to $1.46 billion and Se-attle’s Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement is projected at $3.1 billion. About $1 billion of the 520 cost is to be paid through tolling.

Whether the 520 tolling will work is unknown. Tolling was supposed to start nearly a year ago, but the review panel, made up of six tolling-industry experts, found that schedule never was realistic.

And one panel member, Ron Fagan, who spent 14

years running Texas toll roads, has precisely described what can go wrong:

“You can lose a lot of mon-ey doing this if you don’t have the basics right — and there are certain critical operational aspects that you need to un-derstand before you take the risk of just switching to all-electronic because that’s the sexy new thing,” Fagan wrote in explaining why he was go-ing into private consulting.

At the same time, cashless tolling undeniably is foreseen as the way to move people in places as divergent as Austra-lia, South Africa and Florida.

It also off ers undeni-able benefi ts: Drivers don’t even have to slow down to pay tolls, so choke points disappear. No expensive salaries have to be paid for toll collectors. Chances for human error are reduced. No huge piles of money have to be counted and physically handled.

Yet making the systems work to allow those benefi ts can be nearly overwhelming.

“You can’t get it wrong,” said Tyler Patterson, Washington State Depart-ment of Transportation toll

operations engineer. “You bill the wrong people, and that shoots down the whole system.”

“My personal feeling is they’re trying to do too many things at once,” said Peter Samuel, a former newspaper reporter who’s found a niche as a toll-road expert through publishing a newsletter called TOLLROADSnews for the past 15 years.

In any case, the state DOT fi nds itself dealing with three tolling projects at once, on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Highway 167 in the Green River Valley and now 520.

At the least, just the techni-cal work involves sorting out systems that would have seemed impossible a few years ago.

How tolling worksTh e basic concept for

tolling 520, which carries over 100,000 vehicles a day, involves two types of charges.

One’s called “Good To Go.” Th at’s induced more than

100,000 people to pay a mini-mum of $30 to buy “Good To Go” transponders, partly through clever TV ads. Th e transponders themselves are

something of a technological wonder.

Th ey come in versions that can be mounted on places like a windshield or a license-plate holder and tests have shown they’ll even work if they’re stuck in a glove compartment.

Th ey’ve even become so cheap that Samuel says it might soon be easier to give them away than charge for them; they used to cost about $25 each, but now they’re down to as low as $1.25 apiece.

And while once transpon-ders were kind of clunky, box-like things, now they’re barely bigger than a credit card.

Even worries about issues like batteries are in the past.

Present-day transponders use something called “passive backscatter” for their power, meaning the signal that reads the transponder information also powers the transponder itself.

Drivers can see some indi-cations of how the system will work just by driving across the bridge. Th e antennas and cameras and most of the other visible equipment to al-

low tolling has been installed on girders of the East High Rise, the transition section that leads from 520’s fl oating pontoons to land in Medina.

Even that was something of a compromise, said Pat-terson. When the 520 route opened in 1963, it had toll booths on land, just east of the bridge.

But the land there is virtually unusable for such installations now, he added, with nearly all of it torn up for construction. And putting the gear on the bridge itself, where it would be over water on pontoons, also wasn’t very desirable, leading to the tem-porary high-rise location.

All of it’s scheduled to be replaced when a new bridge is opened, now planned for 2014. For all their golly-how-cool characteristics, however, the transponder concepts might be considered fairly straightforward.

Th e theory is that people establish an account and pay for a transponder, probably with a credit card, and when they cross the bridge, a signal is sent and a toll is deducted from their account. Get near

[ TOLLS from page 1]

[ more TOLLS page 12 ]

The toll collection system above the eastbound lanes. The equipment is mounted to the existing east highrise structure. COURTESY OF WSDOT


Girls soccerLake Washington beat

Mount Si Tuesday, winning 2-0 at home.

In the fi rst half, neither team could connect to score, but Lake Washington came out strong in the second half, taking possession and pressuring with the ball. Th e Kangs scored the fi rst goal in the 54th minute off a set play following a foul by Mount Si. Jessie Zogg made the free kick from the 50-yard line, which made its way to Kaita Brixey and on to Emma Holm. Mount Si goalie Courtney Cowan punched the ball out, only to have it bounced into the net by a running Shelby Bergren.

It wasn’t until the 78th minute the team scored again. Th is time Cassie Lively threw the ball to Holm, drawing out the defense, before passing to Emily Bunnell who scored.

On Th ursday, the Kangs hosted Liberty, losing 2-1.

Bunnell scored the team’s only goal in the 27th minute, assisted by Bergren. Liberty scored 10 minutes later to tie the game, and both teams fought it out until Liberty

scored again to take the win.Lake Washington has a

2-2-0 KingCo record, and is 2-3-1 overall.

Juanita fell 4-0 to Bellevue on Tuesday, Sept. 20 during the Rebels home game.

Bellevue scored the fi rst goal in the 22 minute by Natalie Nelson, assisted by Emily Webb, followed by Webb’s goal in the 62 minute. Rachell Wadell and Marina Hooker each scored unassisted goals late in the game.

Th e Rebels also lost to Mount Si on Th ursday, falling 2-1. Karissa Radke scored in the third minute of the game, assisted by Han-nah Johnson, but it wasn’t enough to stop two penalty kicks from the Wildcats to give Mount Si the win.

Juanita has a 0-3-1 league record and is 1-4-1 overall.

TennisJuanita beat Liberty last

Tuesday aft ernoon 6-1. In the singles competi-

tion, Bill Norita won 6-2, 6-0, while Austin Chen won 6-0, 6-0. Devin Chambers won 6-2, 6-2, while Justice Canley won 6-1, 6-1.

In doubles, Alex Wallin and Ethan Ludlam won 6-3, 6-0, while Jordan Soleman and Danny Baba won 6-1, 6-4. Sam Schubacher and Paul Reed earned their win

with scores 6-1, 6-1.Bellevue beat Juanita last

week in a 6-1 match. Th e team’s lone win game in the doubles competition, when the pair of Soleman and Baba beat Starr Wen and Chris Graham 6-4, 7-5.

Lake Washington lost to Mount Si last week during a conference match. Th e Wildcats won 7-0 over the Kangs.

Arash Hafi zi beat Nate Popp 6-1, 6-0, while Nikola Lakic beat Jake Miller 6-1, 6-0. Satoshi Matuura beat Matthew Griffi n 6-2, 6-0 and Connor Ross beat Rhett Haney 6-1, 6-0. In doubles, Fergy Lu and Jeremy Sacks won 6-3, 6-0, while Grant Gleff e and Ryan Lustgar-ten won 6-1, 6-2. Tristan Jimenez and Connor Stumpf beat Clint Christen and Van Magnan 6-2, 6-0.

Boys golfJuanita fell to Liberty on

Tuesday, playing Liberty at Wayne Golf Course in Bothell.

Th e Rebels had a team score of 208, but the Patriots eclipsed it with a score of 198.

Despite the team loss, Frank Garber fi nished in fi rst for Juanita with a 34, on par with the course.

Th ursday, Lake Wash-ington lost to Sammamish at Bellevue Municipal Golf Course.

Th e Totems took the team title with 191 strokes, while the Kangs had 201. Bunnell fi nish in second overall with a 37, while Steve Hopkins and Ben Ciuva tied for third with a 39.

CINEMA 6

5278

08

50/50 (R) 1:20 4:30 7:20 (9:40 Fri & Sat ONLY)

MONEYBALL (PG13) 1:00 4:00 7:00 (9:40 Fri & Sat ONLY) DOLPHIN TALE (PG)1:10 4:20 6:40 (9:00 Fri & Sat ONLY)

DRIVE (R) 1:20 4:20 7:20 (9:30 Fri & Sat ONLY)

CONTAGION (PG13) 1:30 4:10 7:10 (9:30 Fri & Sat ONLY)

THE HELP (PG13)1:00 4:00 6:50

Next Baby’s Day at the Movies ison Friday, September 30 @ 9:45am

Show Schedule 9/30-10/6Movietimes: 425-827-9000

www.kirklandparkplace.com

Call 253.234.3506 to place your ad.

GOOD NEWS!

529811

WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT

Ken Roberts and Lory Armitageof Kirkland, are pleased to

announce the marriage of their daughter, Liana, to Kevin Stein,

of McMinnville, OR. The wedding and reception

were held at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish,

on July 17, 2011.The bride is a 2004 graduate of Lake Washington High School. Kevin and Liana received their

bachelor’s degrees from the University of Puget Sound.Currently, they are living in

St. Louis, pursuing doctoratesin molecular cell biology at

Washington University.

Call today and we will give you a $100 dollar discount on any

package you purchase along witha FREE diet and fi tness

evaluation.

PACKAGE INCLUDES:• Private fully equipped studios• Personal certified trainer• Proven accelerated results• Personal accountability• Personal nutrition plan• Personal guarantee

425-739-4668

(We accept all major credit cards) Fitness Together Kirkland

located in Houghton Village at10600 NE 68th Street

425-739-4668www.fi tnesstogether.com/kirkland

FIRST SESSION IS FREE!

Marika McLean lost 65 lbs with Fitness Together

“Our clients look good in public because they train in private.”

5252

86

Testimonial“I am 55 years old. I was overweight,

Knee and Back problems and no energy. I tried the Big Gyms and really set myself up for failure. No help and

didn’t know what to do. I saw the Fitness Together ad and set up a free consultation. Changed my Life. I am now 45 lbs. lighter - no aches and

pains and I am getting ripped. I love this place. To all those people who

are in the same boat I was in -Just Do It!” - Mario V

Real people caring about your insurance needs. How can we help you?

Contact us for a complimentary insurance review.

[email protected] • McDonaldIns.com

416-6th Street South • Kirkland, WA 98033Companies represented include: Liberty NW, Safeco, CNA, Travelers, Hartford, NSM Homebuilders, Progressive, Unigard, Encompass, Kemper, Chubb, Zurich

Auto, Home, Business, Life & Health insurance

5204

45

51

12

27

To advertise in thisWorship Directory

Please call Johanne Lund 425-822-9166 Ext. 1550

or email:[email protected]

44

68

06

44

71

82

Northlake UnitarianUniversalist Church

308 4th Avenue S.www.northlakeuu.org

Sunday Services: 10:30 amChildren’s Classes: 10:30 am

Rev. Marian Stewart

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Lake WashingtonChristian Church

Worship Sunday: 10:30 AM343 15th Ave, Kirkland

425-822-4637 www.lwchristian.org 4

47

18

6

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

Kirkland Congregational UCC An Open and Affi rming Church

Sunday Services 10:30 AM

106 - 5th Ave.425-822-3811

www.kccucc.org

4743

56

Lake Washington lost to Mount Si during a match last week. Pictured is Kangs tennis player Arash Hafi zi. MEGAN MANAGAN, Kirkland Reporter

more story online…kirklandreporter.com

Sports


T H E B E S T K E P T S E C R E T

(1/2 mile North of Metropolitan Market on 6th St. South) 525926

DISCOVER KIRKLAND’S

BEST KEPT SECRET...WOMENS & MENS SAMPLE APPAREL

I

25% OFF Any Regular Priced Item

Coupon Expires 10/31/11

5283

05

A non-profi t school near downtown Kirkland, serving

two-and-a-half- tofi ve-and-a-half-year-olds

and their familiesfor over 30 years.

802 – 2nd Street, Kirkland425-822-4450

www.kirklandpreschool.org

We welcome your child and familyto our community!

Educating young children since 1969

Piano lessons withAlexandra Tsirkel

Bachelor Degree (Novosibirsk, Russia)Master Degree (University of Washington)

For [email protected] (425)297-3079

Music is a Gift that lasts forever.The Gift that anyone deserves!

5275

93

Rooted in the rich history of ancient Asian mind-body practices, Dahn Yoga has been a source of healing and rejuvenation for all of its members. Dahn Yoga offers a wide variety of yoga classes and workshops designed to bring balance and harmony to your life and peace to your heart.

Please call for class times

425.893.9642Email:

[email protected]

BODY. BRAIN. WORLD

5298

16

FREE

Trial Class!

REACH FOR MOREMore learning, more challenge for your 4 to 9 year old. Part-time, pull-out, drop-off enrichment. Help your child go beyond and stay engaged when class sizes are growing and opportunities for challenging work are limited.

For ages 4-7: Monday math and science from 9 to 12:30 followed by out-door science with Tiny Treks from 1 to 2:30. For ages 6-9: Friday Science, Technology, Engineering and Math from 9 to 1, followed by Robotics from 1 to 2:30.

Contact us to learn howwww.reachschool.org | 425-449-0767

PAID ADVERTISEMENT 5298

09

5263

57

explorekirkland.comexplorekirkland.com

5271

74

Don McDaniel sits in the sun as he reads at Houghton Beach Park in 2008. REPORTER FILE PHOTO

The Northwest read-ing public is in for a literary deluge

October 1 and 2 when writers, editors, librar-ians, and booksellers participate in the 2011 Northwest BookFest — themed “It’s Raining Books!”

The popular event will be held at Kirkland’s Peter Kirk Park and adjacent locations (King County Public Library, Kirkland Community Center, Kirkland Per-formance Center, and the Teen Union Build-ing), with activities and programs planned for all ages.

In excess of 50 panel discussions and work-shops on writing, editing, publishing, distribution, and marketing; special entertainment for young

families and teens; and book signing will take place throughout both Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

“We are nearly over-whelmed and excited by

the positive response from participants,” says Sheryn Hara, BookFest coordi-nator. “Bestsell-

ing Northwest thriller authors such

as Robert Dugoni, Mike Lawson, Boyd Morri-son and Kevin O’Brien are one example of a panel. And, multicultural authors Flor Fernandez Barrios, Sunnie Empie, Bharti Kirchner, and Donna Miscalta will lead a workshop focused on the many challenges they overcame.”

Authors — fledgling to experienced — will benefit from a range of

book development topics, while the general public may enjoy the opportu-nity to chat with their favorite authors of chil-dren’s books, cookbooks, mysteries or memoirs. Nearly all book genres will be represented.

Northwest BookFest 2011 sponsors are: King County Library System, King County Library System Foundation, City of Kirkland, King County 4Culture and Book Pub-lishers Network.

For a complete sched-ule, visit www.northwest-bookfest2011.com.

For more information, contact Sheryn Hara, Book Publishers Net-work, [email protected], or telephone 425-483-3040.

Northwest BookFest coming to downtown KirklandEvent expected to draw 8,000 people to downtown Kirkland on Oct. 1-2; more than 100 authors signed for event

IT’S RAINING

BOOKS!

Poetry contest winners

Please see page 9 for the Kirkland Reporter’s 2011 Poetry Contest winners!


Congratulations to Kirkland’s First Annual BookFest!

Book Store 17” x 16” Palette Knife Oil 728 Market Street

Arlon Rosenoff Fine Art Studio & Gallery

5268

61

5263

56

28

75

42

5266

90

5296

43

The staff of Element 5 Fitness would like to CONGRATULATE Rommel Acda and Belton Lubason their most recent feature in USA TODAY and

THE INDEPENDENT UK where they were quoted as one of the World Fitness Elite Trainers of the Year!

AS SEEN IN

5296

40

First place: ‘Autumn Miracle’

A cinnamon stick swirls a morning cup of warm homemade

apple cider, as the front porch rocking chair

groans beneath the old man’s weightPeering at the mound of drying leaves, the man appears to be waiting for an autumn miracle to blow the leaves to his neighbor’s yard A cinnamon stick swirls an evening cup of warm homemade

apple cider, as the front porch rocking chair

groans beneath the old man’s weightThe setting sun whispers to the gentle tired man “perhaps the wind will blow tomorrow” ~

Second place: ‘After All, Autumn’

1.Scarlet sockeye climb the creeks Two weeks early. In the forest, fronds lift up. Chanterelles nudge through matted groundExposing frilly orange hats.The scents of loamy soil, rotting logs, Every kind of green wakens again.2.Parched roots of grand cedar and hemlock Call to the rain through limbs that toss like Prayer flags in the cooling winds : “Come. We have waited so long.”The rain drips down over shingled branchesSoaking earth in answer: “I am here.” 3.In town, where the woman lives, Rain and wind blow across the west deck.Roses there dip and sway on bushes grown

rugged Through this dry, awful summer.A cloth spinner turns, Manic colors pinwheeling with the gusts.

The round glass table gathers reflection,Its faded umbrella closed for keeping.Toys strewn about dribble Playful memories onto yellow leaves. 4.Inside, the woman pours hot tea and honeyInto a waiting cup And at last sits downAnd sips it.

Third place: ‘God is Like Dave Fielding’

God is like Dave Fieldingwho never picks up his phone. Dave has two land lines and two cell

phonesbut he rarely answers.Sometimes a woman answers but she

doesn’t know where Dave is or what he is doing. Oncein awhile I come across a friendwho says, call Dave now, he’s home,I just spoke to him.What number did you use, I shout outas I fumble for my phone.But Dave rarely picks up. Sometimeshis answering service activates after 20

rings and I leave a breathy short message before I

am cut off.Last week I finally reached him.He was on a hilltop in Ellensburg. He said he didn’t want to talk businessand held the phone aloftso I could hear the wind whistlingdown the foothills of the Cascades.Someday we’ll stand on this very hillside

andcelebrate he said. Celebrate what?Well, he replies, right now the sun is going

down, I can seethe shadow inch across the valley.It’s the first day of autumn and I’m standing

on a dirt roadwith a few friends. Someday I will bring

you here.The phone crackles and he is gone.I call back and finally give upafter the series of rings begin to sound like a heartbeat.

2011 Poetry Contest winnersThe Kirkland Reporter recently launched

its first-ever 2011 Poetry Contest with the theme “autumn.” Thank you to the poets who together submitted 40 poems.

The panel of judges for the contest included Kirkland Reporter Editor Carrie Wood, Both-ell/Kenmore Reporter Editor Andy Nystrom and Christopher Jarmick, a writer who organizes and hosts two regularly scheduled monthly poetry readings in Kirkland and Seattle. Jarmick is also a former executive vice

president of the Washington Poets Associa-tion.

Congratulations to the following winners: First place goes to Kirkland resident Al Drink-wine for his poem, “Autumn Miracle”; second place goes to Chi Chi Stewart, of Kirkland, for her poem “After All, Autumn”; and third place goes to Jeanette Curlew, of Kirkland, for “God is Like Dave Fielding.”

Winners will read their poems during the Northwest BookFest Poetry Slam on Oct. 1.


Now that summer is over and school has started up again, it’s

back to the books! For some people it is much harder to get back into the school routine than for others.

Of course, you have to get back into your sleep schedule, get to school on time, make sure you have all your things, get your home-work done, and so forth. If you’re like me, getting back into the school routine takes a little time.

Th ere are lots of things that students can do to be success-ful in school, such as partici-

pating in class and staying organized. Dan Sweeney, the 4th-5th Grade Divi-sion Head at Seattle Country Day School said, “Students should take risks, ask questions and realize

that mistakes are all a part of the learning process.”

He also said that students should not feel shy about asking a teacher or parent for help. “Students should feel comfortable asking for

help when they feel unsure about anything at school,” said Sweeney.

Some of the best things you can do to when you’re getting back into school must be done during the summer. Jennifer Reubish, a kinder-garten teacher at Peter Kirk Elementary said, “I suggest you set aside a little bit of study or learning time every day even during vacation to help yourself get back into the routine.”

Reubish also suggests that aft er school, you leave yourself 30 minutes to relax before you do your homework. But don’t put it off too long! Doing homework when you are tired can make you angry or frustrated. Sophia Beams,

a third grader and Kirkland resident, agrees. “Don’t wait until the last second to do your homework,” she said.

Sometimes kids like to do their homework in peaceful and quiet places where their siblings aren’t running around and parents aren’t hovering. Th e Kirkland Library has a free program for helping kids with homework called Study Zone. Volunteer tutors are available to help students do their homework. All students in grades K-12 are welcome to attend. Contact the Kirkland Library for more information.

Th ese are just a few tips to help you get back into school aft er the long summer break. Th e start of a school year is always exciting, but it takes time to get adjusted to your new school routine. I’m now off to go get started on that math homework!

Nine-year-old Allison Hoff lives in Kirkland.

Back to the books

Knee and Hip Replacement Which May Result in Less Pain, Faster Recovery

Meet Dr. Coon and the Surgeons of the Coon Joint Replacement Institute

■ Dr. Coon: Dr. Coon pioneered the QuadSparing total knee replacement, a minimally invasive technique that may reduce blood loss and enable a quicker recovery.

He is a consulting and designing surgeon for Stryker and Mako, developing new implants and robotic technology.

■ Dr. Freedhand: Dr. Freedhand was among the first to introduce direct anterior approach to central California. He is a consulting surgeon for Stryker hip implants.

■ Dr. Velyvis: Dr. Velyvis has performed over 500 Mako partial knee replacements since 2008. He is a consulting surgeon for Mako and Zimmer knee products.

■ Coon Joint Replacement Institute performed more than 800 joint replacements in 2010. The institute was recently ranked number one in the world for MAKO®

robotic joint replacement volume.

Minimally invasive knee and hip replacement can have you up and on your feet the same day, thanks to the precision techniques of our orthopedic surgical team.

St. Helena Hospital is among

the 1% of hospitals selected by

Becker’s Hospital Review for

having “Great Orthopedic

Programs”

W I T H O F F I C E S I N S A N F R A N C I S C O A N D T H E N A P A V A L L E Y , C A L I F O R N I A

Learn more at www.napavalleyjointcare.org

Monday, October 3, 2011Register Today for our Free Joint Replacement Seminars

12:30 p.m. Registration | 1-2:30 SeminarLunch & refreshments served

5:30 p.m. Registration | 6-7:30 p.m. SeminarDinner & refreshments served

The Fairmont Olympic Hotel | 411 University Street | Seattle, WA 98101

RSVP to 800.540.3611.

Thomas Coon, MD Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon

Free valet parking

(425) 242-0280 | brixwinecafe.com

IntroducingBRIX DAILY FEATURESSomething enticing for everyone

each day of the week!

MONDAY 3 Courses for $20 - Prix Fixe Menu

TUESDAY - FaceBook FeatureLike Us on Facebook and we’ll post the

Tuesday feature

WEDNESDAYLADIES NIGHT!

$5 Pearl Persephone Drop &Domaine Ste. Michelle Sparkling

THURSDAY BURGER & A BEER NIGHT

Our famous Café Burger &any draft beer for $16

SATURDAY25% Off Bottles over $30

SUNDAYHappy Hour All Night

Open Daily at 4pm

9749 N.E. 119th Way,Kirkland, WA 98034

5251

81

(All specials are ONLY available on the specifi ed days. No exceptions)

11628 97th Lane NE, Kirkland, WA 98034 - In Juanita Village

425-825-8899

Monday Closed Tue-Thu: 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:00pm-9:30pm

Fri: 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:00pm-10:00pmSat: 12:00pm-10:00pm • Sun: 12:00pm-9:00pm

Full Take Out& CateringAvailable

“The best fusion sushi we

have had since San Francisco. The

owner/sushi chef came from SF and

brought the eclectic and insanely fresh

style along with them. ....Very friendly

staff and great service, too.”

Micheal T., West Seattle

Full Take Out & Catering Available

GRAND OPENING

5291

28

Lunch &Dinner

TraditionalSushi

52

04

35

NEWS TIPS! We want to hear from you425.822.9166 [email protected]

KID’

S COR

NER

Alli

son

Hoff


pampering pets...

NE 124th St

Exit 20B

N

VM

124

th Ave NE

NE 132nd St

NE 130th Ln

NE 128th St

NE 124 St

EvergreenHospital

120th Ave NE

405

116th Ave N

E

116th Ave NE

Exit 20

Totem Lake Blvd

VirginiaMason.org/Kirkland

VIRGINIA MASON MEDICAL CENTER – KIRKLAND

You don’t have to travel far to get

award-winning medical care.

In Kirkland since 1983.

425-821-9100 scampersdogs.com

12532 NE 124th StreetKirkland, WA 98034

over 9000 sq. ft. of supervised indoor and outdoor play space

convenient Totem Lake location

joint-friendly rubber flooring indoors

canine pack management trained

pet first aid trained

as many tummy rubs as your pooch can handle!!

5172

44

Request a free information kit:

Expand your campaign marketing coverage by advertising in community newspapers across

the entire state of Washington at a low cost.

425-822-9166 REPORTER .com

K I R K L A N D

Serving the Greater Seattle area since 1980

425-488-0923206-367-8071

OBEDIENCE and AGILITY CLASSES

49

95

58

ProfessionalPet Sitter & Dog Walker

Online updates will be provided after each visit with your pet.

Because they like to stay, even when you’re away.

(425) 638-3825

Licensed Bonded Insured

www.whiskersathome.com5

00

29

6

The Kirkland Dog Off-Leash Group is offering a free seminar, “Having Fun & Staying Safe at Kirkland’s Dog Park.”

This seminar will help you enjoy the new Kirkland Dog Park when it opens later this year. Topics covered include: safety features of the new

park; is the dog park right for your dog; what good play skills look like; dog park etiquette; and identifying red flags in order to avoid inap-propriate situations.

Sign up for the Oct. 5 or Oct. 25 seminar, which both run from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at the North Kirkland Commu-

nity Center, 12421 103rd Ave. N.E., Kirkland, Room 1.

The presentation is spon-sored by KDOG, and is being given by Sandy Dain, owner of Metamorphosis Pet Train-ing. Please leave your dog at home as this seminar is for humans only. To RSVP, email [email protected].

KDOG to offer free seminar on staying safe at Kirkland’s new dog park

Volunteers needed to complete work on new dog park

Kirkland Off Leash Dog Group and the City of Kirk-land have set an ambitious schedule to get the new dog park in the Totem Lake area open before the end of the year. Realizing that the window of opportunity provided by our Northwest weather will be closing in November if not sooner, KDOG is putting out a call for volunteers particularly those with construction experience for help in com-pleting the first phase of the 1.24 acre dog park.

Work parties will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 8; and 1-4 p.m. Oct. 15 and Oct. 22. The park is located at a vacant property just west of the Kirkland Municipal Court building near the intersection of 113th Avenue N.E. and N.E. 120th St. in the Totem Lake neighborhood.

Participants should dress for the weather, bring heavy loppers, a shovel, wear boot and work gloves. All visitors are asked to use street park-ing and walk via the path to view the site. For informa-tion, visit www.kdog.org.


51

87

89

FURNITUREBEST PRICES IN TOWN!

14522 N.E. N. Woodinville Way ~ 425-908-7768Across from Public Storage in Woodinville ~ Open Daily

ON SALE

NOW!

Discover the fortunein your treasures

Get a bid from your local jewelers orany licensed buyer then bring it to us,

Our fi rst cash offer will be yourhighest by 5%-50% Guaranteed

(425) 820-GOLDwww.kirklandgoldbuyer.com

13520 100th Ave NE, Ste 30, Kirkland 98034

Bring This

In For An

Additional

3%

5200

70

the bottom of your money, and an autopay feature puts in more bucks.

In theory, almost nothing could be easier, and cashless toll systems routinely have 70 or 80 percent transponder use, notes Samuel, accounting for the bulk of traffi c. Th at still leaves thou-sands of non-transponder drivers, however, and that’s where cameras come in, allowing a license-plate recording system that makes up the heart of the system, matching vehicles and license plates and transponders.

Again, in theory, this isn’t too hard. Th e cameras are made by a company called JAI and trace their origins to industrial systems developed in Denmark beginning in 1963.

Part of the technology actually stems from counting things like pop bottles, said Rich Dickerson, a JAI spokesman. It turns out that JAI cameras are commonly used for chores like inspecting bottles on production lines, checking for things like whether caps are in place, whether the bottles are fi lled and labeling. Th at might make it seem like, compared to counting billions of bottles, keeping track of 100,000 cars a day on 520 would be easy.

Th at’s not quite the case, said Dickerson. Counting cars on a bridge in a rainy December isn’t really much like counting beer bottles in a factory, he said. “It’s a little bit more dynamic an environment,” he said.

It also turns out the key to the cameras isn’t really the cameras themselves, he ex-plained, but the triggering mechanism.

While the cameras are certainly examples of advanced technology, shooting some 30 frames a second, compared to maybe fi ve frames a second for a fancy amateur camera, they’re nowhere near 10,000-frames-a-sec-ond cameras that might be used to capture a speeding bullet.

Th ey will record license plates on cars moving up to 150 mph, added Dickerson, but the real secret is fi nding the proper balance to make everything work. For example, a constantly-running camera system wouldn’t be good, he noted, since it would generate too much information, which already is something of a problem.

“You’re pumping all this data into the network, you’re creat-ing huge bottlenecks,” he said. What’s better is a system that takes a picture when there’s something to photograph, like a car in a lane.

Yet even that’s not easy, added Dickerson. If a car is changing lanes, for example, a camera might record just half a license plate.

Th e way around that is to have enough cameras, and Patter-son notes there’ll be 12 of them on 520, with three on each lane, two doing front plates and one for rear readings, for four lanes.

But there’s more. Th e cameras have to work all day, but they also have to work at night. And in rain, and snow. Yet it’s obvi-ous that the usual way people take pictures in the dark —with a fl ash — wouldn’t work on 520; imagine having someone set off a strobe light into your windshield at 60 mph.

Th e solution there is to use something invisible — but not an infrared camera, said Dickerson, since that oft en results in a “fl oating plate image,” meaning the license plate is visible, but not the vehicle, so the plate and the car can’t be matched.

Instead, what’s used is called “dual-band fl ash,” said Dick-erson, or “near-infrared.” Th e eff ect is to get something like a fl ashgun, but invisible. “You want a wavelength that’s just outside human perception,” said Dickerson.

While this can be done, it’s also not exactly simple. Th e state’s contractor “should research and test alternative options for

night illumination if the near-infrared does not produce the quality required,” the Expert Review Panel concluded in August.

Such technical questions are just parts of many other proce-dures that have to be in place before tolling can start, however.

Th ere’s a whole toll-collection system, allowing for the mail-ing of bills to non-transponder-equipped drivers, and arrang-ing the ultimate sanction, of not allowing drivers with unpaid bills to renew their license tabs. Provisions have to be made for rental cars and out-of-state drivers. An administrative-law-judge process has to be created, with the judges still to be hired, to deal with drivers who think they’ve been improperly billed.

Th is alone can be a source of bedeviling complexity, with a DOT audit noting a backlog of 100,000 tolling violations had been run up on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge by April, aft er a change of tolling contractors there. Such work is part of what’s known as the “back offi ce” of tolling, and that’s oft en seen as the real, and invisible, challenge to getting tolling on 520. “Th at’s usually the bigger challenge,” said Dickerson.

In fact, both the Expert Review Panel and an internal DOT audit have cited such “back offi ce” questions as critical. Inci-dentally, the 520 “back offi ce” is in Seattle’s University District. With an address of 4554 Ninth Ave. N.E., it’s where the state’s tolling contractor, Electronic Transaction Consultants, of Rich-

ardson, Tex., houses its operations here.It’s the “back offi ce” functions that have caused

substantial problems, the Expert Review Panel found.

“Th e vendor’s lack of understanding of the accounting requirements has caused several missteps in development of the system,” the panel found. Th e DOT internal audit was done on Tacoma Narrows procedures, since tolling isn’t yet used on 520, but also raised substantial doubts about proposed 520 operations.

“It will be important to address the recommendations above before beginning tolling on the SR 520 bridge, as the current traffi c and revenue reconciliation eff ort does not appear reli-able or scalable to the large volume of transactions expected for SR 520,” the audit concluded.

In eff ect, that means the state has “to make sure all the toll transactions are reported,” and that the transactions have to be “subject to vigorous testing procedures,” said Steve McKerney, DOT director of internal audit

In practice, this means all the cars and the money match, he added. “It’s gathering trip data and making sure that results in a billed transaction,” said McKerney.

“Th e problem is really designing those standard reports and having the vendor develop the soft ware,” he added.

As an example of what has to be done, McKerney explained that part of the work on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which handles about 40,000 vehicles a day and isn’t cashless, still using human toll collectors, routinely works with Excel spreadsheets to track transactions.

“Th at is a much more manual process,” he said, and it’s un-likely such techniques could be adopted for the fully automated 520 tolling.

McKerney said he didn’t know what type of programs or operating platforms would be used by ETC in meeting the 520 requirements, since the DOT audit function isn’t involved in designing programs.

ETC has had a mixed record of meeting such requirements. Besides encountering problems on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the corporation has been the subject of disputes in operations in Louisiana and Florida.

Yet the business also won a signifi cant contract in August, getting an $88 million award from the Port Authority of New

York and New Jersey to handle tolling on four bridges and two tunnels, carrying 242 million vehicles a year, dwarfi ng Wash-ington State traffi c.

ETC declines to discuss what problems it’s facing in making back-offi ce functions work. But Mark Hallenbeck, director of the University of Washington’s transportation research center, describes what’s essentially an accounting morass.

Whatever soft ware is used, he explained, has to keep track of everything from expiring credit-card dates to matching cars and owners so bills can be mailed, involving tracking owner-ships through 50 states and even internationally, perhaps to Canada or elsewhere.

“Th e lookup process is pretty ugly,” he said.Th en there are such questions as how to handle aft er-the-

fact billing, since charges are sent aft er the bridge crossings.“Do you send 20 bills?” if the crossings are made over a pe-

riod of days, he asked. “Here’s where the reconciliation process gets diffi cult.” Such questions are simple and obvious issues compared to what’s really involved, he added.

“Details of how you track this internally are 16 times more diffi cult,” he said.

“Th e problem is internal soft ware, and it’s cascading down-wards,” he said. “It’s going to take longer and cost more than we ever anticipated.”

It’s an Oracle-based database that’s being used to track the information, said Patty Rubstello, DOT’s director of toll sys-tems development and engineering, with data then imported into another tool. “We’re plugging along,” said Rubstello, who explained that she can’t specifi cally comment on the reconcili-ation progress.

Whether ETC can meet the December schedule hasn’t been resolved, of course, and the deadline really is earlier, with 30 days or more of successful testing needed before tolling begins.

“During the last week of this process, nearly every user of SR 520 should be identifi ed and determination made as to any additional support needed for the go-live period,” concluded the Expert Review Panel.

In August, DOT announced it was focusing on meeting audit reporting standards and other requirements.

“We’re also planning for several weeks of testing that will start aft er those reports are refi ned, followed by a fi nal month of testing that will serve as a dress rehearsal,” said Craig Stone, DOT Toll Division director.

If, somehow, it doesn’t all work out by December, the Expert Review Panel also had some other words of advice. “Recognize the worst-case issues ... and develop corrective actions to take if they are experienced,” the panel recommended. “Anticipate the need to operate more of the system without vendor support and know what is needed to accomplish this.”

WSDOT crews attach the westbound sign to the east highrise. WSDOT

[ TOLLS from page 6]

SOUND OFF

Will WSDOT be able to implement the tolling system with no hitches and begin tolling in December? Send us your thoughts: [email protected]

What do

you think?


Employment

Media

[email protected]

real estatefor sale - WA

Real Estate for Sale

King County

real estatefor sale


Lots/Acreage


Services

real estatefor rent - WA

WA Misc. Rentals

Want to Share

real estaterentals

Out of Area Rentals

financingGeneral Financial

announcements

Announcements

Announcements

Find what you need 24 hours a day.

Announcements

jobsEmployment

Education

Sell it free in the Flea1-866-825-90 1

Employment

General

Employment

General

www.evergreentlc.com

[email protected]

Advertise your service800-388-2527 or nw-ads.com

Employment

General

Employment

Transportation/Drivers

Business

Opportunities

PNW MarketPlace!click! www.nw-ads.com email! classifi [email protected] call toll free! 1.888.399.3999 or 1.800.388.2527

Kirkland author’s book debuts at Costco

Kirkland author Rick Turner’s book “If my name was Phil Jackson, would you read this?” is now avail-able at Costco stores around the area.

Th e author will also be signing copies of his book at three local Costco’s in October.

On Saturday, Oct. 1 Turner will be signing cop-ies starting at the Issaquah Costco. Th e following weekend, on Saturday, Oct. 8 he’ll be at the Woodinville Costco, and on Sunday, Oct. 16 Turner will be at the Kirkland Costco. All sign-ings begin at noon.

To learn more read the Kirkland Reporter’s story Kirkland basketball coach

recounts his life in the game.

Kumon opens after-school program

Kumon, the world’s largest aft er-school math and reading enrichment program, opened a center in Kirkland at 385 Kirkland Ave. (across from the Kirk-land Performance Center).

Th e Kirkland Chamber of Commerce held a grand opening ribbon-cutting event, with Kirkland Coun-cilman Bob Sternoff , on Sept. 15.

Kumon’s individualized approach helps children progress by ability rather than age or grade. In the U.S., 200,000 students from preschool to high school are developing their math

and reading skills indepen-dently and gaining con-fi dence through Kumon’s Method of Learning. Th e Kumon Center of Kirkland joins the more than 1,300 U.S. instructors committed to helping children excel through the ability-based program.

“At Kumon, we believe children have unlimited potential to succeed,” said small business owner, Peter Youngs. “I saw the success of Kumon with my own two daughters. I am now eager to bring the power of the Kumon Method to the children of Kirkland.”

In a recent report, “Teaching Math to the Talented,” published in Education Next, American students were signifi -cantly outperformed by 33 countries including Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea,

and Finland. America’s lack of advanced students impacts the country’s future economic growth and that’s why Youngs cares deeply about helping Kirkland students in his aft er-school enrichment program. More than half of U.S. Kumon students study advanced math, and 24 percent of these students are learning materials two to three years above their grade level.

Youngs saw his own two daughters develop a love of learning in Kumon, as well as discipline, accuracy, and mastery of computational skills. As a result of his daughters’ success, he was inspired to open his own Kumon Center.

Prior to opening Kumon of Kirkland, Youngs earned a master’s degree in Educa-tion from Seattle University. He has spent the past two

decades teaching English skills and Communication courses at Bellevue College and other institutions in the area.

Kumon of Kirkland class hours are: from 3-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays.

Students study for ap-proximately a half-hour per subject and have short assignments to complete at home. For information, call 425-968-8573 or email [email protected].

Cutting the ribbon at the new Kumon Center (left to right): Bill Vadino, Chamber executive director; Lindsay Embry, Kumon North America; Kristi Middleton and husband, Peter Youngs; Councilman Bob Sternoff and Chamber member Patty Tucker. CONTRIBUTED

[15]September 30, 2011www.kirklandreporter.com[14] Friday Sept 30 2011 www.kirkland-reporter.com www.nw-ads.com

Reach thousands of readerswith justone phonecall.

Business

Opportunities

stuffCemetery Plots

Reach the readers the dailies miss. Call 800-388-2527 today to place your ad in the Classifieds.

Cemetery Plots Cemetery Plots

Farm Fencing

& Equipment

Firewood, Fuel

& Stoves


Firewood, Fuel

& Stoves

flea marketFlea Market


Flea Market

Free Items

Recycler

(Does not include 48x40 size)

Mail Order

Find your perfect pet in the Classifieds.www.nw-ads.com

Mail Order

Miscellaneous

Musical Instruments

Wanted/Trade

pets/animals

Dogs

Need extra cash? Place your classified ad today! Call 1-800-388-2527 or Go online 24 hours a day www.nw-ads.com.

Dogs

garage sales - WA

Garage/Moving Sales

King County

Thousands of Classifiedreaders need your service. Your service ad will run FOUR full weeks in your local community paper and on the web for one low price with the Service Guide Special.Call 800-388-2527 to speak with a customer representative.Go online 24 hours a day: nw-ads.com.Or fax in your ad:360-598-6800.

wheelsPickup Trucks

Ford

Pickup Trucks

Toyota

Motorcycles

www.greenextremescooters.com

Professional Services

Tutoring/Lessons

In-Home TutoringNorthwest Academy

is now

Brock’sAcademy

We offer 1/1 tutoring and in-home K-12

private school classes.

425-483-1353www.brocksacademy.com

52

58

09

Home Services

General Contractors

I.P.I CONSTRUCTION

Residential & Commercial No Job Too Small

Home Services

Hauling & Cleanup

253-886-7724SLASHED RATES!

JUNK REMOVALYard,

Home & Garage too!

LICENSED/INSURED/BONDED

Home Services

Hauling & Cleanup

Home Services

House/Cleaning Service

TAKE A SUMMER VACATION FROM YOUR

CLEANING

Think Inside the BoxAdvertise in yourlocal communitynewspaper and onthe web with justone phone call.Call 800-388-2527for more information.

Home Services

Landscape Services

TOM’S CONCRETESPECIALIST

Tom 425-443-547425 years experience52

0987

www.tomlandscaping.com

All Types Of Concrete

Advertising doesn’t have to break the bank. The Classifieds has great deals on everything you need.

Home Services

Landscape Services

SHELLY’S GARDENINGAll Kinds Of Yard Work:

Anytime

STEVE’S GARDENINGBARK - WEED-TRIM - PRUNESod - Retaining

Walls-Paving-PatiosGeneral Cleanup

Home Services

Lawn/Garden Service

Free estimates Quality work & best price425-891-7723

Pruning-Trimming-Weeding

JJ GARDENING CAREALL YARD WORK

Sell it for FREE in the Super Flea! Call866-825-90 1 or email the Super Flea at [email protected].

Home Services

Lawn/Garden Service

Home Services

Roofing/Siding

Pinnacle RoofingProfessionals PRP

www.pinnacleroofingpros.comLic.# PINNARP917P1

Free Estimates!206-919-3538

ALL TYPES OF ROOFING & REPAIRS

Home Services

Window Cleaning

kirkland reporter, september 30, 2011

Documents

kirkland crime

way kirkland

kirkland city council

kirkland residents

city budget

city council candidates

economic growth of kirkland

com737 market street