Renton, WA

I had someone ask me if it was a fact that Renton was going to get a Trader Joe’s at The Landing. I haven’t seen any signs up for it yet, unfortunately. The closest thing I have to “fact” is this Community Fact Sheet in my hot little hands. It is marked as “Last Updated July 2007″ …

The Landing First Wave Store Openings (Fall 2007):
225,000 sq feet
Anchor store: Target (check)
Junior anchor stores: PetSmart and Staples (check)
A variety of smaller retail offerings including: Sleep Country, Verizon Wireless, and Golf Galaxy
Family dinning restaurants and cafes including: Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Jimmy Johns, Panda Express, Panera Bread, and Red Robin
L.A. Fitness, a full-service health club

The Landing Second Wave Store Openings (Spring 2008):
375,000 sq feet
675-car parking garage and 2,630 parking spaces offering free (I would hope so!) short-term parking
One or two additional anchors
Three junior anchor stores including Confetti Junction
Residential complex

The District at the Landing is included in the Second Wave. “The District” has:
14-screen, stadium seat Regal Cinema
Variety of specialty retail shops
Unique restaurants and cafes
Outdoor seatings

The rest of the fact sheet is more marketing than actual facts. I’m not a scientist, but I don’t think it can be considered an objective “fact” that The Landing “will provide convenience, comfort, and charm in an exciting outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment environment”.

If anyone has more current facts regarding The Landing, and, most importantly, the future of a Trader Joe’s in Renton, please leave me a comment and let me know.

I’m sure you have a choice of cool private parties to attend on New Year’s Eve, but just to add a few more options, here are some local offerings for the Big Night, in and near Renton:

New Year’s Eve Concert
In Tukwila, ring in the New Year with the Seattle Wolves Football Club and The End 107.7. They are throwing a party featuring two local Seattle bands: The Blakes and The Saturday Knights. Festivities run from 9PM - 2AM on Monday December 31st (duh) at Starfire Sports and Entertainment Complex. They are located at 14800 Starfire Way, and will charge you $35.

New Year’s Eve Party
At the Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn, there will be live music and dancing until 6AM the following day. Free party favors, and the restaurants will have special menus. You can find them at 2402 Auburn Way S, or on the web at www.muckleshootcasino.com

New Year’s Eve Symphonic Pops Concert
Spend the last night of 2007 listening to the Federal Way Symphony perform a tribute to Ray Charles. 9PM to midnight at The Commons (formerly SeaTac Mall) in Federal Way.

The Grown and Sexy Bash at the Holiday Inn in Renton
I never thought I would put all those words together into a headline. This event features a dinner and comedy show from 6:30-8:30 p.m. (as well as VIP jazz lounge), followed by a party featuring music by Uncle Guy and DJ Hitmann at 9 p.m. Admission: $35 (party only), $75-$140 (VIP package), brownpapertickets.com. Information: 425-226-7700, 206-984-7751, thirdlevelevents.com.

For some downtown Seattle ideas, visit about-seattlewa to check out A New Year in the Emerald City and browse her other Seattle-centric events listings.

Holiday lights are fading fast. Here are three more local places you can still see them.

Auburn City Hall Lights
I couldn’t find on their web page how many lights there are this year. Last year, they had 52,000 lights and a “holiday tree”. Can we just call it a “Christmas tree”? Lights are on starting at 4pm daily, through March 10th. If Auburn is having budget problems, someone might suggest they can stop their “holiday” light display in early January and save a few thousand. They are at 25 W Main St, or on the web at www.auburnwa.gov.

Clam Lights
In Renton’s Coulon Park from 5-9PM, until Tuesday the 1st. Gene Coulon Memorial Park is at 1201 Lake Washington Blvd. It’s exit 5 off 405.

Fantasy Lights
This one is in Spanaway Park, which is at 14905 Bresemann Blvd S. And, this one is (gasp) not free. The cost is $13 per car or $45 bus. Which may imply a higher quality display. They claim 300 displays and thousands of lights. This runs 5:30-9PM until December 31st.

Have you been to any of these displays? Good, bad, or indifferent? Leave me a comment and let me know.

I am a huge fan of Common Sense Media, so I will blatantly steal their list for the year and present it as my own opinion. As long as I give them credit, it’s ok, right?

Books
Kids: Toot & Puddle: Let It Snow, by Holly Hobbie
Tweens: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling
Teens: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

Theatrical Movie Releases
Kids: Enchanted
Tweens: Stardust
Teens: Juno

DVDs
Kids: Ratatouille
Tweens: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Teens: The Namesake

TV
Kids: Planet Earth
Tweens: High School Musical 2
Teens: Pushing Daisies

Games
Kids: The Jumpstart World Series
Tweens: Super Mario Galaxy
Teens: Rock Band

Music
Kids: Class of 3000: Music Volume One, by Andre 3000
Tweens: Wild Hope, by Mandy Moore
Teens: Into the Wild Soundtrack

Web
Kids: EekoWorld.com
Tweens: KidsHealth.org/kid
Teens: YouthNoise.com

Compiled by:
Betsy Bozdech, Executive Editor, TV and Movies
Carrie Wheadon, Editor, Books and DVDs
Heidi Kotansky, Editor, Web Sites and Music
Jinny Gudmundsen, Editor, Video Games

The following offerings are for children 6 and under at the Fairwood Library this month:

Preschools and daycares need to contact the library to schedule a story time. These are designed for children with a parent

Baby Fun Story Times
Tuesday January 8,15,22, and 29 Noon
Newborn to 12 months, with adult

Tiny Toddler Story Times
Monday January 7,14, and 28 10:45 AM
Ages 12-24 months with adult

Toddler Sharing Story Times
Monday January 7,14, and 28 10AM
Tuesday January 8,15,22, and 29 10AM
Ages 2-3 with adult

Preschool Story Times
Monday January 7,14,28 1PM
Tuesday January 8,15,22, and 29 10:45AM
Ages 3 to 6

Note that some of the Monday offerings skip a day, because the library is closed on Monday January 21st in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.

IKEA is really teaming up with the Thunderbirds right now. In addition to the Thunderbirds birthday package, they are offering free kids’ tickets with the purchase of adult tickets.

Just go to IKEA and swipe your child(ren)’s Kids Club card at the kiosk at the entrance to the store. You will receive a coupon for one free Kid’s Ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket to any Sunday through Friday game. The game must be between January 1, 2008 and February 20, 2008. (Sunday through Friday means Saturday is excluded, get it?)

In case this still isn’t enough Thunderbirds for you, the actual team may or may not be at IKEA Seattle with a Puck Shoot Booth on Saturday January 19 and Sunday January 20, from 11am-3pm each of those days.

Does your child like the Seattle Thunderbirds? Here is a unique birthday party idea for a hockey fan, at a reasonable price.

IKEA is offering a Cool Birds birthday package. For $96 you can take two adults and six children (12 & under) to a Thurnderbirds game. You all will be sitting in the Family Friendly No-Alcohol section.

The birthday child receives a souvenir certificate.
A happy birthday greeting for your child will be announced over the loudspeaker and displayed on the scoreboard.
The birthday child receives a birthday card signed by all the Thunderbirds team
Cool Bird visits the birthday party at their seats during the game.

Also, the child receives a $5 IKEA gift card, but I don’t count that as a benefit. Since it is impossible to leave an IKEA store without spending ten times that amount.

To reserve a package, call 206.448.PUCK. Make sure that you arrange 24 hours in advance for the birthday announcements.

Here are the top 5 holiday light displays in the Seattle area, courtesy of the Seattle Times.

For a daytime decorations, try the downtown Seattle “Nutcracker March“. This is a scavenger hunt, map provided, where you can wander around the downtown area and find sixty large nutcracker statues. Each is uniquely decorated by local artists.

Clam Lights, Renton

Take a moment to enjoy the holidays and walk around Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park in Renton. Around 220,000 lights will shine from 5-9 p.m. daily, through Jan. 1. 1201 Lake Washington Blvd. N.

Auburn City Hall

Last year, Auburn City Hall was aglow with more than 52,000 lights and a holiday tree. Try to find all the lights on this year’s display at 4 p.m. daily, through March 10. 25 W. Main St.

Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park

See 300 displays and thousands of sparkling lights without leaving the comfort of your car. Enjoy the two-mile drive along Spanaway Lake from 5:30-9 p.m. daily through Dec. 31. 14905 Bresemann Blvd. S. Cost is $13 a vehicle.

Kaibara Park, Kent

Take a break from holiday shopping in Kent to see the 40,000 lights on display at this park at various times through Jan. 2. First Avenue North and West Meeker Street.

Zoolights, Tacoma

Come celebrate the 20th anniversary of Zoolights at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and walk among 70 displays and more than 500,000 lights from 5-9 p.m. daily, through Jan. 1. Closed Dec. 24. Don’t forget your camera! 5400 N. Pearl St. Tickets cost $5 to $7.

The repairs that were supposed to start last night were delayed, because the equipment broke down. A piece of equipment used to fuse pipe sections is what broke. Crews need the machinery to install a 2,000-foot pipeline that will divert Thunder Hills Creek around I-405.

Crews reopened the lane at 6 p.m. but plan to resume work at 6 a.m. Saturday. The lane is scheduled to stay closed until 5 a.m. Monday. The right-lane closures between 10 and 5 a.m. could continue for up to two weeks.

They continue to display a gift for understatement. State Department of Transportation spokesman Greg Phipps said Thursday that he realizes the closure creates an inconvenience for drivers and holiday shoppers. About 70,000 cars travel the northbound lanes in a week. Engineers do not have a total cost estimate for the work, but repairs alone are estimated at $5 million.

This project has been off and on, so check traffic conditions by using the web or by calling 511.

Other expected traffic delays this weekend:

- 6 a.m. until noon, Saturday: West Mercer Street is to be closed to through traffic from Second Avenue West to Third Avenue West.

- Early mornings, Saturday and Sunday: Inspectors to check bridge decks, expansion joints and ramps on Interstate 5 between state Route 520 and Interstate 90, and on I-90 east of I-5 to west of I-405. Drivers should expect possible single-lane closures on ramps, rolling slowdowns and shoulder closures in both directions on both interstates.

405 closures are beginning now. Crews are beginning work to build a pump that will divert water around 405. To install this drainage system, crews will close one right northbound lane 20 hours a day for up to two weeks. The round-the-clock lane closures are scheduled to begin Saturday. WSDOT “recognizes the significant amount of traffic in the area” (great understatment) and will make every effort to open all lanes in the northbound direction during the peak morning commute.

Once the pipe is in place, crews will begin the long-term repair work. This work involves replacing this 48-inch culvert under the freeway. Although engineers haven’t exactly settled how they will get the new pipe into place, they know it will likely NOT involve closing lanes on I-405.

Because this is emergency work, the nature of the lane closures is changing. WSDOT advises drivers who use this freeway to stay on top of the closures by:

* Checking the 511 drivers information line before they head out
* Checking the WSDOT travel page
* Checking the Web page specifically for this project

You probably didn’t suffer flood damage to the extent that 405 did, but you may have had some.

Report it! If enough homeowners, renters, and businesses in King County report damage from the December 2-3 storms, FEMA funds may become available to help with recovery. Fill out their online form to report damage, the sooner, the better. Disposal of flood-related debris Dec. 13-16 will be free of charge, according to King County. Residents of Seattle and Milton do not qualify. Others just need to bring a utility bill provining that you are a resident of King County.

It needs to be legitimate flood damaged items, no regular garbage mixed in. Examples of items would be carpeting and padding, furniture, household furnishings, spoiled food, or drywall, plasterboard and insulation. The usual restrictions apply. All items must be under 8 feet in length and less than 200 pounds.

On Dec. 3, heavy rainfall overwhelmed a culvert beneath I-405 in Renton. The resulting rush of water created a sinkhole beneath the road surface, resulting in a collapse of a section of the culvert and threatening the stability of this section of the freeway. Crews have made temporary repairs to fix the sinkhole, but permanent repairs must be made to replace the culvert to prevent significant damage to I-405 in the next storm.

From Tuesday, Dec. 11 through Friday, Dec. 14, crews may close the right lane of northbound I-405 overnight between SR 167 and SR 169 in Renton for repairs. Around-the-clock right-lane closures could begin as early as Saturday, Dec. 15 and last up to two weeks while crews complete necessary repairs. WSDOT will keep the right lane open during the morning commute.

Repairs will take approximately eight weeks to complete in total. Starting on December 11, that puts us at the end of February (February 26th).

This weekend’s burn ban has been lifted. You can now return to your regular fire bug habits.

December 11, 2007 – Effective immediately, the Stage One Burn Ban issued on December 9, 2007 for King, Pierce and Snohomish counties is cancelled. The current weather pattern has brought improved mixing and dispersion of the fine particle pollution, which reached unhealthy levels over the weekend.

For current conditions use this link to determine if there is or is not a burn ban in effect.

As a reminder, when you are using your wood stove, check the exhaust coming out of your chimney. The smoke level is a good indicator. If you are burning properly, you should only see heat waves. The darker the color of the exhaust, the less efficiently you are operating the appliance. It may be necessary to adjust the operation of your wood stove to decrease the opacity of the exhaust (that is, the density of the smoke). A 15% opacity level indicates efficient operations, while a 20% level reflects unacceptable polluting conditions. You can be cited by inspectors if the smoke from your chimney exceeds 20% opacity.

I am so glad we purchased a certified wood stove last year, because we love our wood stove! You will notice that an EPA certified wood stove is exempt from a burn ban.

A Stage One Burn Ban is being called for King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, effective at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, December 9, 2007. No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves, unless this is your only adequate source of heat, and all outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned. No visible smoke is allowed from any wood stove or fireplace, beyond a 20-minute start-up period.

Why?

A stable weather pattern with very light winds is limiting the mixing of pollutants being generated in communities where wood burning for home heating is common. Air quality levels are above the federal standard for fine particle pollution (PM2.5). These conditions compel the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency to issue a Stage One Burn Ban for King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. These conditions are expected to persist through Tuesday.

Now begins the first round of grants for the 2008 Neighborhood Grant Program.

A total of $50,000 in grant funds is available to residents who plan and implement projects for the purpose of improving the viability and livability of their neighborhoods. Eligible organizations include organized neighborhood associations that draw membership from a commonly recognized geographic neighborhood in Renton, or ad hoc groups of neighbors who form an organization to work on a specific project.

Eligible projects include physical improvements that build or enhance a feature of the neighborhood or benefit the general public. Projects to produce and distribute newsletters are also eligible for neighborhood grants.

The amount of matching funds allocated to a neighborhood is based on a project’s merit and will be determined by the Renton City Council. Potential grant projects are evaluated and selected based on a series of criteria including planning, neighborhood support, “sweat equity,” need, final project maintenance, and benefit to the general public. There is no limit on the amount of matching funds available per grant project. The typical grant award is $3,000 - $5,000 per project.

Examples of neighborhood projects eligible for funds include:

* Improvements and/or identity signage for neighborhood entries and gateways
* landscaping of traffic islands and streetscapes
* beautification of trails or play areas
* neighborhood clean-up
* community gardens
* projects that involve and/or benefit youth
* newsletters
* neighborhood events

For more information about applying for a neighborhood grant, come to a workshop on January 23rd at City Hall, 7th floor, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Grant applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 29, 2008. Awards will be announced in April 2008.

You can download the application in PDF format from this link for the neighborhood grant or this link for the newsletter grant. For more assistance contact Norma McQuiller, Neighborhood Coordinator, at 425-430-6595.