Top Kirkland stories of 2011 | Editorial

Published 9:37 am Thursday, December 29, 2011

The 2011 year in news for Kirkland had everything from “A”nnexation to “Z”oning codes disputes. But some of the biggest stories were also some of the most tragic in the city’s history.

The Reporter began the year with its five-week long in-depth series on the Totem Lake Malls. We looked into the history, financial issues, ownership and future of the place that had been called everything from a “ghost town” to the “white elephant.” The series generated a nationwide response like any other we have ever received.

The new downtown Kirkland Transit Center opened in March to great fanfare. The transit center was expanded and construction shut down Third Street for months.

House Bill 1812 nearly started a war in Olympia and Kirkland. It aimed to shutdown the Houghton Community Council but residents fought the measure and won a reprieve.

In April, Rep. Jay Inslee visited Lake Washington High School for Democracy Day. The event was coordinated with schools across the country and featured a speech by the now candidate for Washington State Governor.

Former astronaut Dr. Bonnie J. Dunbar was the guest speaker at the annual Lake Washington School District luncheon at Juanita High School. The event raised $145,000 for the district.

Kirkland said goodbye to one of its most trailblazing former mayors Doris Cooper, as she died at age 85. Along with being the first woman mayor of Kirkland, Cooper was partly responsible for purchasing land on the Kirkland waterfront and turning it into city parks, a feature that defines the city to this day.

The Juanita girls softball team won the state title over Bainbridge Island during June.

One of the worst tragedy’s in the city’s history came to a close for many as Leonid Milkin moved back into his home, which was rebuilt by community members. Milkin, a service member, was stationed in Iraq in 2006 when his family was murdered in their Kirkland home and it was burned to the ground.

The City of Kirkland became the 12th-largest in the state in June after a long anticipated annexation of the Finn Hill, Juanita and Kingsgate neighborhoods. During that same month contractors hired to renovate Juanita Beach Park were fired after they failed to complete the project on time. The park finally opened three months later after a new contractor was hired to complete the job.

A six month string of tragic deaths began when Kirkland resident Steve Lacey was killed by a drunk driver July 24 on busy N.E. 85th Street. Tragic news continued in August as a cyclist was killed on N.E. Juanita Drive. A second cyclist would lose his life in December.

September saw the announcement that LWSD Superintendent Dr. Chip Kimball would step down following the school year.

The announcement of the Potala Village project on Lake Washington Boulevard would set off a fight between residents, the city and the developer over the scale of the project. The project has been put on hold as the city takes time to reassess the zoning codes and the Comprehensive Plan for the area.

The fall election gave Kirkland its first council member from the newly annexed neighborhood of Kingsgate, as Toby Nixon narrowly defeated two-term incumbent Jessica Greenway for Position No. 4.

Kirkland father Solomon Metalwala’s son Sky went missing in November and the search continues for the boy. Sky was left in his mother’s car in Bellevue on the side of the road and she claims he was gone when she returned after going to get gas for the vehicle. Metalwala would gain custody of his daughter Maile in December.

The owner and cook at Amici, an Italian restaurant in downtown Kirkland, were charged with rape of a woman at the establishment after hours.

Tragedy struck again at the end of November as Scarlett Paxton, 19, of Juanita was allegedly stabbed to death by Lewis-McCord soldier Dakota Wolf.

The year finished on a more optimistic note for the future of Kirkland, as the City Council voted to approve the purchase of the old BNSF rail line through the city for $5 million. The property could be used for a bike and pedestrian trail or even Lightrail.