Renton, WA

Several people have noticed dead birds, and laboratory testing has confirmed salmonellosis, a common and usually fatal bird disease caused by the salmonella bacteria.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has recommended that people temporarily discontinue bird feeding or take extra steps to keep their feeders clean. People who handle birds, bird feeders or bird baths should wear gloves and wash their hands thoroughly afterwards. The disease is spread through the bird dropping.

Might also be a good idea to take your car through the car wash, if it has been splatted on lately (like my car).

Although Renton has a Wal-mart, I don’t recommend it. If I must go to Walmart (can’t think of an example reason) I go to Covington. There is a nice Wal-mart there, which I realize sounds like an oxymoron. I am a Target shopper, myself, but for Target I have to go to Kent or Tukwila. What kind of civilized community doesn’t have a Target?

Legal rangling has finally ended over “The Landing” development, and I am pleased to note that it will include a Target. It will also include a Starbucks, but since there are already seven within two miles of my home, I am not so impressed about that.

The project, upon completion, will include a Target, Starbucks, Regal Cinemas, LA Fitness, Sleep Country, Verizon Wireless, PetSmart, Staples, Joe’s and Red Robin. A few businesses will open this fall, with the balance scheduled to open in May 2008.

Westfield Shopping Center, formerly known as Southcenter Mall, is continuing their expansion to include a Kohls. I recently became a fan of Kohls when they opened in Covington, and will probably continue to go there for traffic reasons, but this is welcome news for the area.

I was happy when Applebees opened in Renton Village, since I must admit it is one of my favorite restaurants. Is there anything else you think we need, or need closer to home? Leave me a message in comments and let me know.

[tags]shopping center, shopping mall, Renton[/tags}

Summer is the time when we remember how much fun it is living in the Seattle area, and throw almost non-stop outdoor festivals. Kick it off with this weekend’s Maple Valley Days at Lake Wilderness Park. Admission and parking are free; carnival-style rides are not.

The event I want to see is the radio-controlled hydro races at noon Saturday and 10AM Sunday on Lake Wilderness.

The festival hours are Friday June 8 3pm-9pm, Saturday June 9 12pm-9pm, and Sunday June 10 10am-6pm.

Maple Valley Days, festival, carnival

The FBI obviously feels like it is stuck in Groundhog Day.

A man the Federal Bureau of Investigation is calling the “Punxsutawney Phil Bandit,” attempted to rob the Bank Of American at 300 Burnett Ave. South in Renton for the fourth time Wednesday.

The FBI believes the man tried to rob the same bank in August 2005, February 2006 and April 2006.

I’m not sure which is more surprising, the difficult name, the stupidity of robbing the same bank four times in a row, or the fact that the FBI still can’t catch him (yes, they have the video). I thought that names for criminals were supposed to be cool and more … brief.

Punxsutaney, stupid criminals

I have no idea how much input we actually have at public meetings, but surely someone, anyone, has a better idea than the current situation. The City of Renton is going to install more/better/some signs and is having a public meeting for input. Does anyone know the difference between “signs” and “signage”? It seems to me to just be a more pretentious word, like “use” and “utilize”.

The City of Renton is working to create better signage that will direct people into and around downtown as well as connect it with The Landing. Signage can also create a cohesive identify for our downtown and could provide opportunities for public art. Other downtowns have installed directional signage highlighting destinations, gateway signage welcoming visitors, and kiosks with information for pedestrians.

We need to hear your ideas to improve finding our way around downtown and what will work best for downtown Renton!Join us for one of two public meetings to provide input now - before signage is designed. Thursday, June 7 at 6:30 pm OR Friday, June 8 at 8:30 am at Merrill Gardens Retirement Community, 104 Burnett Ave S.

For more information contact Jennifer Davis Hayes at 425-430-6589 or jdavishayes@ci.renton.wa.us.

Renton, street signs

I remember a vote on Fairwood incorporation not that long ago, less than a year ago, in fact, but the issue is back. I guess there is no double-jeopardy when voting, so “they” will keep submitting it until it passes.

In fairness, it was narrowly defeated in the last vote, and laws have changed now that would allow a city of Fairwood to collect more taxes to support itself, which was the big reason it was voted down last time. More taxes … this is a good thing?

At any rate, the folks who live in the Fairwood area have to do something, because people in unincorporated King County are being “strongly encouraged” to either incorporate or annex to an existing city by 2009.

For more information on the proposed Fairwood incorporation, visit the website for the
Fairwood Municipal Initiative -
Advocating for incorporation of the proposed City of Fairwood. Say that three times fast.

Fairwood Incorporation, City of Fairwood

The Renton Farmers Market is open every Tuesday from June 5th through September 18th, from 3PM to 7PM.

The Renton Farmers Market is held at the Renton Piazza in downtown Renton. Metro’s Renton Transit Center is immediately north of the Market, providing bus access via several dozen routes. Two-hour free parking is available at Renton’s City Center Parking Garage - enter on 2nd Avenue.

farmers market, renton, organic

It seems to have turned into a world of recalls lately. The latest is ground beef. Super Valu is recalling ground beef that was contaminated with e. coli. In our area, it was sold at Albertsons under the Moran label.

The recalled products had sell-by dates from April 20 through May 7. This was a month ago, so either you need to check your freezer or you’ve already eaten it and been mildly ill. It included Moran’s brand meat sold in 1- to 5-pound varieties under UPC numbers 34779 60501, 34779 60000, 34779 96000, 34779 91000, 34779 60010, 34779 96194, 34779 21117. Also recalled was Albertsons 90/10 Sirloin fresh hamburger patties.

ground beef recall, e. coli, recalls

My favorite “media for parents” website is commonsensemedia.org. I always go there for movie reviews. (I love that they provide information and talking points, not just thumbs up or down.) In honor of Internet Safety Month they have written up a series of articles for parents providing information from a parenting point of view on things like online games and social networking.

At Common Sense Media, we believe in media sanity, not censorship. And since we can’t always cover our kids’ eyes, we have to teach them how to see. The information here will help your kids stay Internet safe and smart. Click on the links below to find out what every parent should know about how our kids use the Internet.

To summarize from their five points:
1. Because keeping up is hard to do, parents need to help their kids learn about safe and appropriate behavior, not just safe and appropriate sites.
2. Parents need to become involved in their kids’ online lives.
3. Adults must still teach codes of conduct
4. We need to help our kids think critically about what they post, read, and see online.
5. It’s up to us to make them listen when they don’t want to hear.

I encourage you to visit their website to access their Internet Safety Guide and their Five Internet Challenges for Parents.

On the first Monday of every month, Valley Medical Center holds a clinic with quality childrens bike helmets, fitted for your child, for $5 each. Not only are these nicer (and cheaper) than the typical helmet, but having someone fit the helmet for my child was invaluable!

If the child’s helmet has any cracks or dents, toss it and get a new one from them. Much like car seats, if it is actually used for it’s intended purpose, or if there is any damage, you need a new one. They are one-time use items, which you hope you don’t need.

These are such nice helmets, I recommend you buy one of theirs even if you already have one. Especially if you have a dog who chews up bike helmets … maybe a brown and white dog who looks like this ….

Every year, the City of Renton mobilizes to help residents recycle their unwanted belongings. On Saturday, June 2 at 10am, CleanSweep! Renton will kick off with Reuse It! Renton Stop & Swap at Renton Memorial Stadium (405 Logan Ave N.). For more information about Clean Sweep! contact Linda Knight at 425-430-7397.

Also, some neighborhoods will have a variation on the event. Some neighborhoods will have Neighborhood Cleanup Event on Saturday, June 23, and Load Zone Neighbor-to-Neighbor Curbside Cleanup on Saturday, June 30. To organize a neighborhood program, contact Norma McQuiller at 425-430-6595.

At Gene Coulon Park, kids ages 5-14 are invited to the annual “Fishing Kids” event.

For $5 each, kids fishing these events get to catch and keep a couple of fat rainbow trout, they receive a “Fishing Kids” t-shirt, and they can keep the Zebco rod and reel they’re given at the start of the event! Pre-registration is required, and the number of kids per event is limited.

To pre-register, call Renton Parks and Recreation at 425-430-6700