Church seeks permit to host Tent City 4

Lake Washington United Methodist Church has submitted a draft permit application with the city of Kirkland to host Tent City 4 in May.

Representatives of the church and SHARE/WHEEL, the tent-city's sponsoring organization, met with city officials late last week and submitted the application to stay at United Methodist for 90 days beginning in mid-May. The city expects the application to be completed within the next week, said Eric Shields, Kirkland's planning director.

The permit was filed a few days after the Kirkland City Council approved an interim ordinance allowing a sponsor to host a homeless encampment for up to 90 days; now, one sponsor may host the encampment for 60 days once a year. The interim ordinance, which is in effect for six months, also allows more than one sponsor to host the encampment in a year.

Tent City 4 is now at Kirkland Congregational United Church of Christ, across from Kirkland City Hall. The roving camp previously has been in Bothell, Woodinville and Finn Hill near Kirkland. Tent-city residents have said they are hoping to move to Bellevue next, but they have yet to receive an invitation.

Redmond

Bank robber sought; may have shot self

The Redmond Police Department and the FBI were searching for a man who may have shot himself during a bank robbery yesterday afternoon.

The man was seen fleeing on foot from the 1st Security Bank of Washington, in the 15200 block of Northeast 24th Street, said Stacey Holland, spokeswoman for Redmond Police Department.

The Police Department was aiding the FBI in the search, Holland said.

The man entered the bank about 4:15 p.m. carrying a semi-automatic handgun and demanded money from a teller.

Bank employees said that as he was leaving, his gun went off, wounding or grazing his abdomen, Holland said.

Police were unsure of his injuries but put an alert out to area hospitals.

Holland said that the man is considered dangerous and that people should call 911 if they see him.

Kenmore

Burglary suspect tried to take booze

A 42-year-old Mountlake Terrace woman has been arrested on suspicion of breaking into a Kenmore restaurant, drinking beer from the tap and trying to cart off 44 bottles of liquor.

The woman was arrested at 4:30 a.m. Friday after King County sheriff's deputies responded to a burglar alarm at Tai-Ho Restaurant in the 6300 block of Northeast Bothell Way, sheriff's spokesman John Urquhart said.

Deputies found the woman trying to wheel a garbage can full of liquor bottles out the back door, Urquhart said. She was booked into the King County Jail on suspicion of burglary.

Bellevue

BCC to celebrate Earth Week

A week of public events to celebrate Earth Week will be held at Bellevue Community College (BCC), 3000 Landerholm Circle S.E., from April 18 to 22.

The celebration will include a series of 14 lectures plus films, displays and a hands-on environmental project.

On Earth Day — April 22 — participants can help restore the Mercer Slough wetland in Bellevue, in conjunction with the city of Bellevue Stream Team and the Bellevue Parks Department. Environmental organizations will have displays on campus; interior-design students will show environment-friendly building materials and concepts; and the BCC cafeteria will offer organic menu choices and free organic samples.

Among other lectures, participants will hear Nancy Gonlin, a BCC anthropology instructor, speak on "Chocolate, the Ancient Maya and Environmental Degradation."

All events are free and open to the public. For a complete schedule, visit www.scidiv.bcc.ctc.edu/rv/earthweek online.

Seattle Times Eastside bureau