Renton, WA

Happy April Fools Day, I guess. I’ve never been a fan of Aprils Fools day, or understood the concept of playing pranks, so I’m going to ignore that pseudo-holiday and point out something better. April is National Landscape Month
The month encompasses Earth Day on April 22 and the birthday of Frederick Law Olmsted on April 26, founder of the American landscape architecture profession.

For most of us, we can celebrate this month by dreaming of what we will do when spring actually arrives. However, The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) wants to use this month to train up the next generation of landscape architectures. Which is ok by me as long as they come work on my yard. And I use the term “yard” loosely. It’s more like “nature outside my house”.

Eddie George is a Heisman Trophy winner, former NFL Pro-Bowl running back, and landscape architecture firm principal. Isn’t that an interesting combination? He is helping promote landscape architecture careers to young people. ASLA chapters across the country will host activities throughout the month of April, highlighting what landscape architects do and the broad range of careers available in the field.

ASLA would like to point out that “a recent survey” shows that the average landscape architecture student receives three job interviews during their final semester at school, resulting in two job offers. The starting salary for graduates with undergraduate degrees is $40,080 and with graduate degrees is $44,600. The annual salary and bonus for all landscape architects averages nearly $90,000, with experienced landscape architects and firm owners earning much more.

To learn more about landscape architecture or to find local events in your area, visit http://www.asla.org.  Renton Technical College offers a landscape design class which I highly recommend.  Since most of us don’t do “landscape design” nearly as much as good old fashioned “gardening”, check out Susan’s Earthly Garden, also on 451press.net

This is not Renton-specific, but all of us tax-paying Americans will be receiving stimulus checks starting in May, and it is our patriotic duty to spend them! Then we will stimulate the economy, thus the “stimulus” checks.

For the few who haven’t heard, all individuals or married couples who filed their 2007 taxes will automatically receive the stimulus payment either by direct deposit, if you had a refund direct deposited, or by check to your mailing address. The amount for most people is $600 single, $1200 married, plus $300 per dependent. You can calculate your exact amount using the IRS calculator here.

People who file a return after April 15 will still receive their economic stimulus payment, but probably about two weeks later than the schedule shows. A return must be filed by October 15 in order to receive a stimulus payment this year. According to most reports, there will be an opportunity to claim this amount during the 2008 tax year filing.

And now for the payment schedule you have all been waiting for:

DIRECT DEPOSIT

PAPER CHECK

Related 451press articles: check out HomeBizNet’s review of tax prep software.

Summer starts today, according to IKEA. I decided I had better check with them, since last year summer was over, and I missed it. So I visited the local shrine of inexpensive Swedish furniture to consult their authority. Their posters informed me that summer starts March 7th. I snapped a picture with my cell phone.

I think I’m starting to get the hang of this. I’ll buy my new patio furniture, and put it outside while it is still raining. While I’m at it, I’d better buy a new swimming suit. When I ready to actually sit outside and use the new patio furniture, the store will be selling winter coats. Got it.

Related articles:
Get creative with your IKEA household, with ideas from ikeahacker.

If you want to help save the world, but aren’t willing or able to risk infecting yourself with malaria to do so, there still may be a way. The Gates Foundation has dedicated $100 million to encourage innovation in global health research, offering grants to those with innovative ideas on four topics: Tuberculosis, HIV, infectious diseases and drug resistance.

They plan to give $100,000 each to 60 new projects. Proposal applications are short - only about two pages long - and preliminary data is not required for the applications due at the end of May. They’ll be accepted beginning March 31. The projects can be unproven, and unorthodox, but each applicant will need to be a scientist and have a lab in which to do the work.

The foundation is already spending about $450 million to support 40 bigger projects focused on preventing infectious diseases, creating drugs or delivery systems that limit resistance, creating new ways to prevent or cure HIV infection, and understanding latent TB infection.

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.

This is a nifty Costco trick, sponsored by GreenSight Technologies. You can turn-in your item for credit in the form of a Costco Card, or just plain recycling, for many of your old electronics. They will send you a UPS pre-paid label to mail your item in to them, and you fill out the form online. So it takes almost zero effort to get rid of your old stuff. If your item does not qualify for any trade-in value, you will be offered the opportunity to recycle your item for free.

Items which are included are: Notebook PCs, MP3 players, Desktop PCs, LCD monitors, Game Systems, Camcorders, Digital Cameras, SmartPhones, and PDAs. They offer free recycling only, no credit, for CRT Monitors, Personal Printers, and Fax Machines.

This is a great deal to recycle your CRT monitors, since I know RE-PC charges you to take them, and office supply stores like Staples only periodically will take them for no charge. I find it hard to believe that they would provide me free shipping to recycle such an item, but went as far as I could through the sign-up process without actually commiting myself, and it definitely said “Qualifies for free shipping to recycler for disposal.”

The only catch is the small print which says “Your email address will be provided to Costco.com, which may use it to send you brief advertising announcements regarding special offers, hot buys and services from Costco.com and other Costco companies”. I think that’s more than fair.

Use this link to begin application for this trade-in program or call 800-955-2292 (6am to 6pm PST weekdays; 8am to 5pm PST Saturday).

VMC has a network of neighborhood clinics which provide a convenience location, but doctors with the training and access you would expect from a major hospital. Two new neighborhood clinics have just opened up:

Covington Primary Care
Primary Clinic: Monday-Friday 8AM - 8PM (ph.253.395.1960)
Acute Care: Monday-Friday 11AM - 8PM; Saturday 8AM - 4PM (ph.253.395.2006)

Renton Highlands Clinic
Primary Care Clinic: Monday-Friday, 8AM - 5PM (ph.425.656.5500)
Urgent Care: Monday-Friday 8AM - 8PM; Saturday & Sunday 8AM - 4PM (ph.425.656.5518)

No, I don’t know the difference between “Acute” care and “Urgent” care. I would venture a guess that “acute” is even more critical than “urgent”, but there are fewer available hours for that service. If either of those words applies to you, just go to the nearest clinic or ER and stop quibbling over technicalities.

Other existing neighborhoods served by VMC neighborhood clinics are Cascade, Fairwood, Kent, Maple Valley, and New Castle. To access their referral system, call 425.656.INFO or go to www.valleymed.org

Thanks to Councilman Randy Corman for letting us know that today is Renton’s 106th Birthday.

This is the second annual event of it’s kind. There is no fee to wander around and look, and you can buy directly from the artists - no commissions are collected on sales.

The show will take place on August 25th, so if you are an aspiring artist, apply to show your work. For more information, or to apply, call 425-430-6589

Today, Tuesday August 7th, is National Crime Prevention Day.

If you are having an event in your neighborhood, Cities of Covington and Auburn will send a council member or police officer to speak.
For Covington, call 253-638-1110 ext 2243
For Auburn, call 253-931-3035

For Renton, or other neighborhoods that didn’t volunteer this service, I think it’s still worth giving them a call and asking.

Renton is opening a Small Business Development Center.

The stated goal is to “help strengthen Renton’s economic vitality by providing one-on-one confidential assistance to individuals, small businesses, and other entrepreneurs at no charge.” Programs will provide practical, real-life solutions and will be taught by experienced business people. The press release also notes that business advisor services will be provided through a contract with the well-established SBDC at Highline Community College.

There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday the 30th at RTC. If you want to be advised, go to Renton Technical College or make an appointment at the other location downtown in “Old City Hall” — 200 Mill Avenue South, Suite 100

Let’s just save some time in having a series of recalls, and improve our economy, by not importing cheap products from China. I realize we all might need to pay a little more, but I think it beats the alternative.

Dent Fresh U.S.A., Inc, Miami, Florida, is initiating a nationwide recall in accordance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the toothpaste made in China involving all:DentFresh Fluoride Mint Toothpaste 9 Oz (255g). This recall has been initiated because the products may contain the poisonous chemical diethylene glycol (DEG). DEG is used in antifreeze and as a solvent, and is a Central Nervous System depressant and potent kidney and liver toxin.

West Nile Virus is rare, and only 1 out of 150 people who get the virus even show serious symptoms. Regardless of the risk of disease, I’m all for minimizing my exposure to mosquitoes. The City of Renton has put out a series of recommendations, which I have blatantly copied below:

Prevention Tips:

* Make sure doors and windows are covered in screen
* Wear long pants, long sleeved shirts and socks when outdoors
* Consider use of a mosquito repellent containing DEET
* Eliminate standing water on your property: clean out gutters, dispose of old tires, empty buckets and flowerpot dishes, fix leaky faucets
* Change water in watering troughs and bird baths weekly
* Screen rain barrels or other containers that can’t be drained
* Stay indoors at dusk and dawn
* Vaccinate horses - other pets (dogs and cats) are resistant to West Nile Virus

mosquito, mosquitoes, west nile virus

The city of Renton put out a press release advising people to take common sense precautions to deal with the heat, and to check in on elderly relatives to make sure they are doing ok.

If you are one of the majority without air conditioning, and are uncomfortable at home, visit a local public place such as a mall or library for the afternoon to kill some time in an air-conditioned space. If you aren’t limited to free ways to kill time, Wednesday afternoon would be an ideal time to take in a matinée movie.

The Renton Community Center at 1715 Maple Valley Highway in Renton is air conditioned, and is open to the public from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Renton Senior Activity Center at 211 Burnett Avenue N. in Renton also has air conditioning available, and welcomes seniors
during its normal operating hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They will have extended hours on Wednesday because of the forecasted record high heat. The community center will be open to the public from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11. The Renton Senior Activity Center at 211 Burnett Avenue N. in Renton will also extend its operating hours. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday.

Also keep in mind that more than 50% of residential burglaries in Renton are non-forced entry, meaning the criminal entered via an unsecured door or window. While it is good sense to let cool evening air into your home, use a window that can be locked partially open, is small, or difficult to access.

Powered by ScribeFire.

The 2nd Wednesday of every month - that would Wednesday the 11th this month - Valley Medical Center is hosting a new free service for the fitting of child safety seats at the VMC north garage. They will help you fit a new seat, or inspect the one you have already installed. The service is offered from 5 - 6:30 PM and is free, although “donations are excepted”.