COMMUNITY CALENDAR

The free community calendar is published Wednesdays on a space-available basis, and includes free and nonprofit local events and groups. Submit items at least a week in advance of publication dates to calendar@reporternewspapers.com.

December 8, 2008 6:19 pm

Calendar Submissions

The free community calendar is published Wednesdays on a space-available basis, and includes free and nonprofit local events and groups. Submit items at least a week in advance of publication dates to calendar@reporternewspapers.com.

Classes

Career Choice workshops: 10 a.m.-noon the first and third Fridays of the month. Cost: Free. Lake Washington Technical College, 11605 132nd Ave. N.E., Kirkland. 425-739-8113 or www.lwtc.edu.

Home Depot kids workshops: 8-9 a.m. Saturdays. Open to ages 6-12. Cost: Free. Home Depot, 18333 120th Ave. N.E., Bothell. 425-806-9300.

LWTC Worker Retraining Program Info Sessions: 2-3 p.m. Tuesdays. Learn about Lake Washington Technical College’s free program, open to unemployed and formerly self-employed workers, as well as to homemakers who recently lost their primary source of income. Cost: Free. Lake Washington Technical College, 11605 132nd Ave. N.E., Kirkland. 425-739-8100, ext. 562, or www.lwtc.edu/workerretraining.

Community meetings

Central Houghton Neighborhood Association: 7 p.m. Jan. 7. Houghton Fire Station, 6602 108th Ave. N.E., Kirkland. www.hougtonlives.com.

Faith

Labyrinth Walk: 4-8 p.m. Dec. 31. All are welcome to drop in and ponder 2008 and 2009 while walking the indoor labyrinth. Lake Washington United Methodist Church, 7525 132nd Ave. N.E., Kirkland. 425-885-3311 or www.lwumc.com.

Libraries/Books

Kirkland Library, 308 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland. 425-822-2459. Events include:

• SCORE Counseling: 10 a.m. Dec. 13. Counseling for small-business owners by appointment.

• “The Rain-Deer—A Holiday Program”: 1 p.m. Dec. 20. Enjoy a musical puppet adventure in search of a new reindeer for Santa’s sleigh.

Kingsgate Library, 12315 N.E. 143rd St., Kirkland. 425-821-7686. Events include:

• Mother/Daughter Book Group: 7 p.m. Dec. 11. Open to girls 10-12 and their mothers. Topic: “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick.

• Game On!: 1:30 p.m. Dec. 17. Teens can play GameCube and Xbox video games.

ParkPlace Books, 348 Parkplace Center, Kirkland. 425-828-6546. Events include:

• Poetry Night: 7 p.m. Dec. 10.

Network

I Take the Lead Kirkland Best Networking: 12:30-1:30 p.m. Fridays. Starry Nights, 11200 Kirkland Way, Suite 220, Kirkland. seattle@itakethelead.com.

Kirkland Business Association: 8 a.m. Fridays. Networking breakfast. George’s Place, 108 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland.

Lakeside Business Builders chapter of BNI: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Visitors welcome. Hector’s Restaurant, 112 Lake St. S., Kirkland. 425-646-8800.

Groups

Bellevue Sons of Italy: 6:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month. Holy Family Catholic Church social hall, 7300 120th Ave. N.E., Kirkland.

Eastside “Cashflow” Club: 630 p.m. every other Friday or Saturday. All are welcome to come play the “Cashflow” board game and learn about investing and financial literacy in a fun way. Call for location. 425-458-8545 or drnathanbanks@gmail.com.

Eastside Toastmasters Club: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays. Everyone interested in developing public-speaking skills is welcome. Eastside Group Health Hospital, 2700 152nd Ave. N.E. www.eastsidetoastmasters.org.

GFWC Kirkland Women’s Club: The first Thursday of the month. Luncheon meeting. KWC Clubhouse, 401 First St., Kirkland. 425-576-8909.

Kirkland Eclectics Toastmaster Club: 7:30-9 p.m. Thursdays. Kirkland Congregational Church. 425-822-1428, pyarbrough3@comcast.net or schaefersue@yahoo.com.

Kirkland Heritage Society: 7 p.m. the last Wednesday of the month. Heritage Hall, 203 Market St., Kirkland. 425-827-3446.

Kirkland Kiwanis: Noon-1:15 p.m. Wednesdays. Crab Cracker, 452 Central Way, Kirkland. www.kirkland.kiwanis.org.

Kirkland Sunrisers Kiwanis: 7-8 a.m. Thursdays. Original Pancake House, 130 Parkplace Center, Kirkland. www.kirklandsunrise.kiwanis.org.

Kirkland Rotary Club: 6 p.m. Mondays. Woodmark Hotel, 1200 Carillon Point, Kirkland. www.kirklandrotary.org.

MOMS Club of Kirkland: 10 a.m. the first Thursday of the month. Support group for at-home moms offers activities, outings, and playdates for moms and kids. Kingsgate Library, 12315 N.E. 143rd St., Kirkland. kirklandmoms@yahoo.com.

Newcomers and New Friends of Greater Seattle: The second Wednesday of the month.

Lunch meetings held at various locations throughout the Puget Sound. Call for details. 425-778-8608 or www.seattlenewcomers.com.

Newcomers and New Friends Club: 10:30 a.m. the fourth Thursday of the month. “Come for Coffee” informal gathering of new and longtime friends. Poppinjay’s Cafe, 2240 Carillon Point, Kirkland. 425-828-3048 or 425-827-9103.

Office Support Services Association: 6-8:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month. Guests are welcome. For location and membership details, see Web site. www.ossa-wa.org or membership@ossa-wa.org.

Willow Voices Toastmaster Club: 7-8 a.m. the first and third Fridays of the month. Come improve your public-speaking skills. Triad Associates upper conference room, 12112 115th Ave. N.E., Kirkland. steve@moreainplease.com or dpeach100@yahoo.com.

Outdoors

Bird-watching field trips: 8 a.m.-noon Dec. 13, Green Lake; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 14, Samish and Skagit flats; 9 a.m.-noon Jan. 26, birding the hot spots of King County; 8 a.m.-noon Jan. 31, West Seattle Shoreline; 7:15 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 7, Marrowstone Island and Port Townsend. Trips led by Eastside Audubon Society members. Call for details. 425-576-8805 or www.eastsideaudubon.org.

Annual Christmas Bird Count and Dinner: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 20. Join one of eight Eastside Audubon teams of bird counters for annual nationwide project. All experience levels welcome. Wear comfortable shoes, warm clothes; bring lunch. Cost: $5. Call for details. 425-576-8805.

Kirkland Watershed Park Nature Walk: 9 a.m. the third Saturday of the month. Led by a volunteer park ranger. Sponsored by Eastside Audubon Society. Cost: Free. Corner of Northeast 45th Street and 110th Avenue Northeast, Kirkland. 425-814-5923.

Public Meetings

Kirkland City Hall is located at 123 Fifth Ave., Kirkland. For more information about meetings, visit www.ci.kirkland.wa.us.

City Council: 7:30 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Study sessions: 6 p.m. prior to regular meetings. City Council Chamber at Kirkland City Hall. 425-587-3190 or www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/depart/council/Agendas.htm.

Cultural Council: 4 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month. Kirkland City Hall. 425-587-3009.

Design Review Board: 7 p.m. the first and third Mondays of the month. Kirkland City Hall. 425-587-3229.

Hearing Examiner: 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month; 9 a.m. the third Thursday of each month. Kirkland City Hall. 425-587-3225.

Lodging Tax Advisory Committee: Meets monthly or as needed. 425-587-3010.

Planning Commission: 7 p.m. the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Kirkland City Hall. 425-587-3227.

Transportation Commission: 6 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of the month. Dec. 10, special meeting; Dec. 24 meeting cancelled. Kirkland City Hall. 425-587-3865.

Youth Council: 6:45-8:30 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays of the month. No meeting Dec. 22. Kirkland City Hall.

Houghton Community Council: 7 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month. December meeting is Dec. 18. Kirkland City Hall. 425-587-3228.