Finn Hill Neighborhood Alliance

08/23/2026

Tips for Driving Safely Around Bikes 🚴‍♀️ 🚴🏿‍♂️

No matter how much experience you have, driving always carries a risk. Because motor vehicles are the biggest and the fastest on the roads, their drivers must be the safest. Watching out for more vulnerable road users like bicyclists makes our streets safer for everyone.

*Share the road. Bicycles are legal vehicles, so bicyclists are entitled to ride on the roadway.

*Give space. When passing a bicyclist, leave a safe distance. This must be at least 3 feet, but it’s ideal to give an entire lane’s distance when it is safe to do so. If you have less room to give, slow down as you pass.

*Exercise caution. Be prepared to slow or stop around bicyclists, especially at night and during inclement weather. Bicyclists may not always use hand signals to indicate movements, so be aware of clues such as head turns or lane shifts to help you anticipate their movements.

*Look twice. If you’re turning, changing lanes, or going through an intersection, take a second look in case there’s a bicyclist you didn’t see the first time.

*Be patient. Keep your cool around bicyclists, even if you’re in a rush. It’s better to be safe than save time.

*Stay focused. Distracted driving is more dangerous for you and everyone around you. Keep your attention on the road — not on your phone, passengers, the radio, etc.

Safe driving takes commitment, every single time you get behind the wheel. Learn about Kirkland’s Transportation Safety Action Plan: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works-Department/Transportation/Plans-and-Studies-Transportation-Division/Kirkland-Transportation-Safety-Action-

08/20/2026

Trails Challenge — Last chance to get a valid Bingo!
finnhill.org/trailchallenge

You must get a Guided Challenge stamped by someone when you attend an event in order to get a Bingo on your Trails Challenge card. There are still some events at the CoSEE at St. Edward State Park that you can attend in order to get this checked off! See them at the bottom of our home page at www.finnhill.org.
*Bingo cards will be accepted until August 31st.

If you can't attend one of these events before the deadline, you can contact the CoSEE to reserve a Naturalist Backpack from their library. When you check this out you can get the 'Attend an Event at the CoSEE' square stamped. You could have a very interesting time exploring with the tools in your Naturalist Backpack; they're designed for both children and adults.
https://www.uwb.edu/.../education-resources-naturalist.../

Will you win the grand prize of a $500 gift card to REI, The Lodge at St. Edward, or the McMenamins Anderson School Hotel and restaurants? All participants who enter a valid Bingo card will receive a $10 gift certificate to Molly Moon's handmade ice cream shop.

08/20/2026

Fun at DennyFest with Reptile Man! 🐊

08/13/2026

**Top Ten Reasons to go to DennyFest**
by Jeff Hoerth

2026 Top Ten List

Screen time is becoming scream time! Give yourself a mental break with a visit to DennyFest at O.O. Denny Park on Saturday, August 15, from noon to 4pm. Here are this year’s Top Ten reasons to stop by:

10. With gasoline costing so much, you’ll indulge in a guilty pleasure when you take the shuttle back and forth from the QFC parking lot. Be thankful for someone else’s tankful.

9. Get together with neighbors to look out over the Strait of Lake Washington and discuss how we can start charging that rusty barge near Kenmore a fee every time it passes by.

8. You can’t get your kids to wash their faces? At least they can get them painted and maybe you won’t see the dirt.

7. If you thought that Seahawk Super Bowl parade was something, wait’ll you see our Super Dog Parade!

6. The kids will enjoy the inflatable house as bouncy as ever because it still hasn’t been retrofitted for earthquakes.

5. Are you old school music or new? Either way, we’ve got you covered. The Everlovers will get you dancing with familiar rock songs. And Willett's Flying A band just dropped a new album so you will hear some fresh tunes.

4. You know how some lizards can regrow their tails? Then you’ll sort of understand how, after we told you last year was his last appearance, the Reptile Man is back this year and creating a whole new tale.

3. We’re setting up our own data center in the park. Don’t worry, we won’t be running a hose from the lake to suck up all the water. It’s our information booth and you can get all kinds of data on what the Finn Hill Neighborhood Alliance does as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.

2. A lot of talk about socialists lately. Get a little taste of what that’s like. DennyFest is free and it’s a public park. But don't worry, comrade, we won’t tell anyone you were there. Promise!

1. Okay, maybe we don’t have Jimothy. But there will be plenty of trash bins. So who knows what may turn up. Keep your eyes peeled.

Zing HQ LLC, , , ,

08/11/2026

FHNA would like to thank Jeff Hoerth of ZingHQ for his generous support of our work through design and printing services.

The Grandfather of DennyFest, Jeff is a former FHNA President who helped make DennyFest the celebration it is today.

Look to Jeff's Top Ten List coming out this week if you want a laugh, and the kick in the rear needed to get out the door to DennyFest!

You can check out the clever Kirkland and Finn Hill themed T-shirts he creates on Sasqwear.com.

08/11/2026

** Know before you go **

Getting ready to come to DennyFest? 🙌
You should know:
🚌 The minibus shuttle will depart from the Inglewood Shopping Center parking lot (near the Over the Brick store) about every 15 minutes to transport folks to O.O. Denny Park for the festival.

The best way to help us avoid long wait times at the shuttle is to drop members of your group off at the park, then head up back the hill to park and take the shuttle down.

👉 Plan for a possible wait at the shuttle before the arrival of Reptile Man at 3:30.

🐾 If you are bringing a dog to the festival for the Dog Parade, you will want to drop your dog off at the park with a member of your party, then drive back up the hill to park and take the shuttle. *Dogs aren't allowed to ride on the chartered minibus*

Dog Parade sign-up begins at 12 at the FHNA booths, and ends at 1:15 when the dogs line up!

We'll see you there!🎉

08/10/2026

This artist creates portraits of children (and playful adults!) as their favorite animals! 🐻‍❄️🐒🦇🐢
Stop by her booth at DennyFest and watch the magic happen, or get your own wild portrait!
📅 Saturday, August 15 | 📍 O.O. Denny Park | 12–4 PM
https://www.facebook.com/WildChildPortraits/

08/06/2026

Is your dog destined to be a star at DennyFest?? 🌟
Join the Dog Parade and find out!

Anyone can join in. Just bring your dog and register at the FHNA booth area at 12:15 for the 1:30 parade.

Meet other dog owners and have fun with the community! 🎉

https://www.finnhill.org/event-details-registration/dennyfest-2

08/04/2026

Reptile Man is returning to O.O. Denny Park this year! See him on August 15th for free at DennyFest!

Here's the schedule for the day:

🚌 11:30am — Shuttle begins from Inglewood Shopping Center lot
🕰 12:00pm — Official festival start time
🚒 12:00pm to 1:00pm — City of Kirkland firetruck is open to explore
🎸12:00pm to 1:30pm — Willett's Flying A band plays
🐕 🎟 1:30pm to 2:00 — Dog Parade, first raffle draw
🎸2:00pm to 3:30 — Everlovers band plays
🐊 🎟 3:30pm to 4:00 — Reptile Man performs, final raffle draw
🕰 4:00pm — Official event end time
🚌 5:00pm — Shuttle service ends
(*times subject to change)

To learn more, go to: https://www.finnhill.org/event-details-registration/dennyfest-2
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07/31/2026

DennyFest is the place for free fun for kids!
This year, back by popular demand is, drumroll please...

Reptile Man!

This famous entertainer is still wowing children with real-life experiences with his extraordinary, gentle reptiles. Ever touch a small crocodile? Ever pet a large land tortoise? Ever feel a snake's smooth scales? Well this is your chance!

DennyFest also offers children:

free face painting

bouncy house!

Wild Child Portraits (get a drawing of yourself as an animal)

free snacks and drinks

Lawn Activities including some organized games

A real firetruck to explore!

Join us on August 15th from noon to 4:00 at O.O. Denny Park!

For more info, go to:

Our annual free community festival, offering great live bands, food trucks, entertainment and more! Don't miss it!