Articles by Matt Phelps
Caspar Babypants comes to Kirkland this weekend.
Caspar Babypants to rock Kirkland’s socks off
By Matt Phelps • November 22, 2010 7:58 pm

Many parents feel the generational gap with their kids for the first time when they turn their music on in the car. Inappropriate lyrics or subject matter in many forms of popular music can make for a (sometimes) very quiet car ride with the kids. But when a parent’s favorite musician is also the child’s, things take a bit of a turn. Lead singer and guitarist of the rock band Presidents of the United States of America (PUSA), Chris Ballew, has set out to make music for the family with his new music project and persona Caspar Babypants.
“I like it to be useful and reduce stress,” said Babypants. “It is nice when kids and parents can sing the same songs without cringing.”
He will play twice in Kirkland this weekend, Saturday at the Kingsgate Library at 10:30 a.m. and Sunday at the Kirkland Performance Center at 12:30 p.m. He will also play his 150th show as Caspar Babypants at the Lake Forrest Park Library at 2 p.m. Saturday. All three shows are free.

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Elevation was everything Monday morning as many Kirkland streets were clear but the tops of local hills were not. Rachel Severinsen holds a set of car chains and Jordan Kamal finishes putting a set on the front tire in the middle of Juanita Drive N.E. on Finn Hill. An accident caused a blockage on the road and many had to turn around or chain up.
LWTC, LWSD classes canceled Wednesday, Kirkland Municipal Court...
By Matt Phelps • November 22, 2010 12:04 pm

Many schools and roads are closed and some local services have been postponed due to weather conditions in and around Kirkland. The National Weather Service is advising that temperatures will not rise above freezing until Thursday and more snow may fall on the Puget Sound area Wednesday evening and into Thursday morning.

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Tony Youn
Bottlez Up! pops the cork on Kirkland location
By Matt Phelps • November 17, 2010 5:51 pm

Some fathers smoke a cigar to celebrate the birth of a child. Tony Youn built a cigar room.
It has been a busy year for the Youn family, welcoming Isabelle into the world and preparing to open three new beer, wine and cigar boutique stores on the Eastside. The Kirkland store is celebrating its grand opening today.

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Cartoon for the week of November 19.
Goodbye, Dave Niehaus
By Matt Phelps • November 17, 2010 5:35 pm

Most people do not think about 3-2 counts or a pitcher warming up in the bullpen during this part of the year. But for most people in the area, baseball has been on their minds during the past week or so.
I have seen posts on Facebook about Dave’s passing from people who think that a slider is just a type of sandwich.
Most lost a friend on Nov. 10. The warm breeze that was Dave Niehaus’ voice in the dark and stormy landscape of Seattle sports is gone.

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Kirkland City Council reviews draft code of ethics
Kirkland City Council reviews draft code of ethics
By Matt Phelps • November 17, 2010 5:21 pm

The Kirkland City Council officially received the draft code of ethics Tuesday during a special study session with the Ethics Task Force. The meeting allowed the council to review and address concerns about the code and a decision was made to have a second study session in early 2011, despite releasing the task force from their duties.
Members of the task force agreed they would be available for further consultation on the documents if needed.

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Failure of liquor measures puts $1 million back into Kirkland city budget
Failure of liquor measures puts $1 million back...
By Matt Phelps • November 10, 2010 5:39 pm

Only two of this year’s six statewide initiatives passed and all of the measures translated in a strong anti-tax sentiment from Washingtonians. But the City of Kirkland may come out a winner thanks to its planning.
Initiatives 1100 and 1105, both to privatize liquor sales in the state of Washington, were defeated. While it was clear from first returns that 1105 would fail in a landslide 65-34 percent, 1100 held on until Nov. 3. It eventually went down to defeat 53-47 percent.
The failure of both measures has a direct impact on city budgets. For Kirkland, city planners adjusted the budget for passage of one or both of the measures.

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Roger Goodman and Rodney Tom are on the verge of completing comebacks from first results on election day on Nov. 2.
Tom, Goodman complete comeback in 45th and 48th...
By Matt Phelps • November 10, 2010 12:12 pm

There will be just one new face this legislative session from the 45th and 48th districts.
But two races have gone from upset, to a possible recount, to nearly over in the incumbent’s favor in one week as the newest vote totals on Tuesday afternoon were released.
State Rep. Roger Goodman holds a 1,196-vote lead against challenger Republican Kevin Haistings. The race for Pos. 1 in the 45th District is looking less likely for a recount with the difference being more than the state’s 150-vote threshold. In first returns, Haistings held a 3 percent lead on the incumbent Democrat, but as the week progressed Goodman turned the tide at 51.15-48.81.

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These three maps represent the options that will be deliberated on during the next six months if the Kirkland City Council approves the Planning Commission's recommendations.
Planning Commission makes recommendation on Kirkland annexation neighborhood...
By Matt Phelps • November 5, 2010 7:57 pm

The Kirkland Planning Commission will recommend that the Finn Hill neighborhood get six more months to decide on where or if to divide after annexation in June 2011, while coming to a decision on the division of the other three neighborhoods, the city announced on Friday. The council will review the Planning Commission’s recommendations as a part of its annual Comprehensive plan update during its December 7 meeting.

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City of Kirkland
City talks trash with leading garbage service providers
By Matt Phelps • October 20, 2010 6:11 pm

Some of the issues that surround annexation could be considered rubbish for some people. But the impending switch from Allied Waste Services to Waste Management, Inc. (WMI) is truly a garbage issue.
The City of Kirkland is currently in negotiations with WMI on a new long-term solid waste contract. An agreement on a new contract will increase the WMI service area as annexation area residents will officially be Kirkland residents after June 1, 2011.

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Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna speaks to the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce at the Woodmark Hotel.
Attorney General speaks at Kirkland Chamber luncheon
By Matt Phelps • October 13, 2010 6:42 pm

The monthly Kirkland Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Woodmark Hotel was packed Tuesday with chamber members and elected officials. And while the official business of the chamber included a vote on major by-law changes that merged the group with the Kirkland Downtown Association, the merge wasn’t the big draw of the meeting.
“I was asked to speak about the complete history of by-laws,” joked special guest speaker Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna.
McKenna, who lives in Bellevue, spoke to the group formally and received hugs from long-time friends after the event.

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State Senator Rodney Tom answers a question from the audience during a candidate forum at the Woodmark Hotel.
Kirkland Rotary, Chamber host 48th District candidate forum
By Matt Phelps • October 13, 2010 4:33 pm

Levity was rare as 48th District incumbents and hopefuls discussed the budget deficit, paying for the new State Route 520 bridge and education during the 48th District candidate forum, hosted jointly by the Kirkland Rotary and Chamber of Commerce Monday night at the Woodmark Hotel. The 48th District covers Kirkland, Bellevue and Redmond.

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State Senator Rodney Tom answers a question from the audience during a candidate forum at the Woodmark Hotel.
Kirkland Rotary, Chamber host 48th District candidate forum
By Matt Phelps • October 13, 2010 4:32 pm

Levity was rare as 48th District incumbents and hopefuls discussed the budget deficit, paying for the new State Route 520 bridge and education during the 48th District candidate forum, hosted jointly by the Kirkland Rotary and Chamber of Commerce Monday night at the Woodmark Hotel. The 48th District covers Kirkland, Bellevue and Redmond.

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