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.
Events
Kirkland Polar Plunge “Freeze For A Reason”: 1 p.m. Jan. 1. Ring in the New Year by plunging into Lake Washington. There will be a bonfire to warm spirits and people; Wilde Rover will give free bowl of soup to swimmers who come in wet. Cost: Bring donations for the food bank. Marina Park, 25 Lakeshore Plaza, Kirkland. 425-587-3300.
Holiday
Kiwanis Christmas Tree Sale: Through Dec. 24 or till sold out. Proceeds go toward various service projects sponsored by Kirkland Kiwanis. 1010 Lake St. S. www.kirkland.kiwanis.org.
Classes
“Staying on Track During an Unexpected Job Transition”: Noon Dec. 30. Free workshop presented by Merrill Lynch. Registration required by Dec. 28. Purple Café, 323 Parkplace Center, Kirkland. 425-468-1249.
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.
Public Meetings
Kirkland City Hall is located at 123 Fifth Ave., Kirkland. For more information about meetings, visit www.ci.kirkland.wa.us.
Greater Kirkland Citizen Corps Council: 6:30 p.m. the second Monday of the month. Peter Kirk Room, Kirkland City Hall. 425-587-3630.
Civil Service Commission: 4 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month. Kirkland City Hall. 425-587-3218.
Planning Commission: 7 p.m. the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Kirkland City Hall. 425-587-3227.
Community meetings
Central Houghton Neighborhood Association: 7 p.m. Jan. 7. Houghton Fire Station, 6602 108th Ave. N.E., Kirkland. www.hougtonlives.com.
Faith
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services: 7 and 11 p.m. Dec. 24. Come celebrate and worship. All are welcome. Kirkland Congregational Church United Church of Christ, 106 Fifth Ave., Kirkland. 425-822-3811 or www.kccucc.org.
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.
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.
Volunteers
United Way Tax Preparation: Volunteers are needed Jan. 13-April 15 to prepare tax returns for low- to middle-income families throughout King County as part of United Way’s Free Tax Preparation Campaign. 206-461-5048 or www.unitedwayofkingcounty.org/taxvolunteer.
American Cancer Society Discovery Shop: Volunteers are needed to help in the Overlake Shop. Shop hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays-Saturdays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays; noon-4 p.m. Sundays. 14840 N.E. 24th St., Redmond. Call for more information 425-869-7523.
Angel Care Breast Cancer Foundation: Breast cancer survivors needed to provide support for others battling cancer. Must be one year past the end of treatments and have good interpersonal skills. 206-417-3484, 877-417-3484 (toll-free), www.angelcarefoundation.org or angelcare@angelcarefoundation.org.
Evergreen Hospice: Volunteers age 18 or older needed to help terminally ill patients and their families throughout King and Snohomish counties. Training provided. 425-899-1040 or www.evergreenhealthcare.org.
Family Law CASA of King County: Children’s needs can get lost in the dispute between separating parents. Do you want to advocate for such a child? Volunteer for Family Law CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) of King County. 206-748-9700 or www.familylawcasa.com.
Hopelink: Volunteers needed in Kirkland to assist at food bank, help with childcare and education, maintain the planting areas around the center. Holiday help also needed. Training provided. Hopelink’s Kirkland Center, 13013 N.E. 65th St. 425-869-6000 or www.hope-link.org.
Kirkland Interfaith Transitions in Housing: Program offers transitional housing and case management for local families facing homelessness. Volunteers needed to help with office work, special events and maintenance. Board of Directors members also needed. KITH, 125 State St. S., Kirkland. 425-576-9531, ext. 101, or www.kithcares.org.
Meals on Wheels: This program is seeking a volunteer to coordinate and oversee the program at the Bellevue Senior Center. This position requires approximately three hours on Mondays and two hours on either Thursdays or Fridays per week. Some computer skills are helpful. 206-727-6242.
Senior Services Transportation Program: Volunteers are needed who are available weekdays to drive local seniors to medical appointments. The seniors served are unable to drive or take the bus. This is a flexible program, where volunteers use their own vehicles and choose where and when they wish to drive. Senior Services offers mileage and parking reimbursement and supplemental liability insurance. 206-448-5740, 800-282-5815 or www.seniorservices.org.
