Written by Don’t forget Doggapalooza at the Landing tomorrow! I’ll be down there serving as a judge. I hope to see you!
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At least two Rentonites helped Fremont reclaim the world record for the most “Zombies” in one place
It appears that Seattle has retaken the world’s record for the most “zombies” in one place. Seattle obtained this record at their first annual “zombie walk” last year, only to lose it to England shortly afterward. But now we are once again the zombie capitol.
This year Seattle got some help from some of the Renton Corman clan, as my son Kenny and his wife Anastasia dressed up as zombies, signed in for official counting, and then danced “Thriller” with thousands of others.
Here are a couple videos which give a sense for this event. The first one was put together by a youtube user, and shows off the crowd’s costumes and dancing. The second video is one I took of Kenny and Anastasia practicing their “Thriller” dance here at the house.
I’m thinking I may have to try dressing up as a Zombie next year… it looked like a lot of fun.
Thousands of Zombies dance “Thriller” in Fremont last Saturday
Son Kenny and his wife Anastasia practice their dance before the big event
Renton welcomes Miss Washington contestants to our town for their 2010 pageant week
Miss Washington Contestants from across the state pose for a photo at their official welcome event at Renton’s Tea Palace Restaurant (Photos by The Tea Palace)
Miss Washington contestants from across the state have been arriving in Renton for their annual pageant week. They have many official pageant activities planned, and a few public stop-offs. I’ve heard you might be able to see at least some of the contestants at the Farmers Market tomorrow.
Yesterday they attended an official welcome ceremony at the Tea Palace Restaurant in Renton Highlands. Here are a few more photos from this event. (The Tea Palace is an outstanding venue for very large banquets. Their food and service are excellent, and they can accommodate over a thousand people.)
Happy Fourth of July Renton!
Fourth of July Parade, sometime before 1918. (Do any of you readers know antique cars well enough to identify the precise year?)
The above photo and other historic photos can be found here.
And if you have the chance, be sure to catch the festivities at Coulon Park today. The Celebration runs all day, and will culminate with a professional fireworks display tonight after dark (around 10:00 PM).
The above photo was shot by Mayor Law during last year’s display.
Newer residents may not be aware that 62.57 Percent of Renton Voters chose to ban fireworks
We received an email today from a citizen suggesting council consider a less-restrictive ban on fireworks. I’ve attached the email below.
I personally enjoy SAFE fireworks on the Fourth of July, and I’m always interested in hearing from citizens; but unless things have changed significantly since November 7, 2006, council would probably be reluctant to change the ban on fireworks.
This is because this issue went to the voters during the 2006 general election, and voters overwhelmingly chose to maintain the fireworks ban. Renton voters favored a ban at a rate of 62.57 percent to 37.43 percent.
Voters chose to maintain a ban that had been put in place by council by unanimous vote (including me) in 2004. Council had originally put the ban in place after the state had allowed the definition of “Safe and Sane” to become so inclusive that flaming rockets could now be labeled “Safe and Sane”, followed by a Fourth of July in which two Renton building burned to the ground from fireworks: a brand-new single family home and a publicly owned building on park land (across the Cedar River from Carco Theater).
Voters affirmed the council fireworks ban in 2006. Here is the link to the 2006 ballot proposition, and here is the link to the election results.
Below you will find the recent email council received on this topic.
To: Council
Subject: Fireworks ban
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 9:39:29 AM
I exchanged several emails with Lisa Garvich, and she directed me here to ask my questions about the fireworks ban. I have looked at the meeting minutes and wanted to know the best way to propose that the current ban be amended.
I believe that the same improvements to the safety and security can be achieved with a less restrictive ban that would allow citizens their freedoms to celebrate and allow for additional revenue inside the city.
I have analyzed the numbers associated with fireworks injuries and fires, and compared this to other legal activities. I have also evaluated the causes of injuries related to types of fireworks, and believe if the ban were to be limited to specific types it would still achieve its desired purpose.
I know it is too late to affect this independence celebration, but I hope to get a change for the next.
Thank you,
A.B.
Vampire fever grips the Northwest again
My son Kenny and his wife Anastasia have the right look for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Photo by Gabe Tompkins.
Twilight Fans get their third installment of the motion picture series starting tonight at midnight. The popular series covers romance, vampires and werewolves, and it is set in Forks. Regal Cinemas at the Landing will no doubt be seeing a line-up.
Dog Days of Summer at The Landing
The press release announcing Dog Days of Summer at The Landing was sent out earlier this week. I’ll be helping judge the dog-onwer look-alike contest at Doggapalooza on July 10. I hope to see many of you at the Landing for some of these great events!
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The Landing in Renton Announces Series of Summer Events and Promotions
RENTON, Wash. – June 20, 2010 – While families across the country prepare for summer vacation out of town, many in the Pacific Northwest opt to stay in town to enjoy the best time of year. Luck has it that Renton residents won’t have to look far — The Landing in Renton is pleased to announce The Dog Days of Summer, a series of summer events and promotions which encourage local residents to escape the summer doldrums and visit The Landing’s small boutiques, convenient national chains and mix of eclectic dining options.
Starting July 10 through mid-August, there are a number of ways your family, friends and furry companions can enjoy The Landing. From strolling with your sweetie, dining al fresco with your dog or catching a flick with your family, The Landing’s Dog Days of Summer event series has everything you need to spice up the summer months.
Here’s a sample of what we’re planning this summer at The Landing:
I. Renton’s Fabulous 4th of July Presented by The Landing
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Start the summer off right with an exciting family Sunday “fun day” sponsored by The Landing. The all-day event, hosted at Coulon Park will feature face painting, live music and a spectacular 22+ minute fireworks show.
7:00am Coulon Park Opens
12:00 – 8:00pm Free Inflatables & Face-Painting for Kids
1:30 – 9:30pm Stage Entertainment
10:00pm Fireworks off the Shores of Coulon Beach Park
II. Doggapalooza
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Doggapalooza is The Landing’s signature event of the Dog Days of Summer. The event will feature KISS 106.1’s Bender and his dog Ted, kid-friendly activities and a dog and owner look-alike contest with great prizes valued at up to $500.
11:00 – 11:30am Dog / Owner Look-alike Contest Registration
10:00 – 1:00pm Balloon artists, face painting, pet adoption services and more
12:00 – 12:30pm Dog / Owner Look-alike Contest Judging
12:45 – 1:00pm Winners Announced
Contest entry: Suggested donation of $10 to benefit the King County Humane Society ($5 with a pet food donation)
III. Friday Date Nights
Fridays, July 9 through August 13
Bring your sweetheart and enjoy a romantic evening at The Landing complete with live music, extended shopping hours and special Friday-night deals for movie ticketholders.
IV. Saturday Strolls
Saturdays, July 10 through August 14
Enjoy summer Saturdays at The Landing. Shop, stroll and picnic with your pooch, al fresco of course!
V. Summer at the Movies
Prizes Announced Mondays, July 12 – August 9
Escape the heat with movie-ticket giveaways to The Landing’s Regal Cinema. Follow Facebook.com/thelandinginrenton or Twitter.com/landinginrenton for chances to win. Winners will be announced via Twitter and Facebook and contacted via phone or e-mail.
VI. Regal Cinema’s FREE Family Film Festival
Tuesdays and Wednesdays, June 22 through August 26.
Family friendly just got more fun! Free screenings of select G or PG movies for families of all age at 10:00 a.m. Limited capacity.
VII. Seahawks Training Camp
The Landing will once again be official transportation center for Seahawks Training Camp. Seahawks fans with tickets to training camp must park at The Landing to catch convenient shuttles to the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Dates, times and ticket purchasing details will be announced in early July. For more information, visit www.seahawks.com
City unlikely to operate school speed cameras for summer school this year; watch for kids/lights
The city has been working to tighten up the timing of the school zone speed enforcement cameras. As of now, the mayor does not expect to operate any of the cameras even during summer school this year. This should reduce confusion on the part of motorists. This will please many people, and I think it is a good decision.
But now the disclaimers and reminders: Don’t forget that everyone is still expected to adhere to the 20 mile per hour speed limit when children are present (on the sidewalk, in the street, or near the street/sidewalk) regardless of whether the lights are flashing. Furthermore, the mayor’s email says they are not PLANNING to use the camera, but it is potentially subject to change. Finally, there could be flashing lights around other schools, where there are no cameras. These are still enforceable by the police. So note the lights when you pass by the schools.
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Here is a recent email from the mayor about summer speed camera plans:
From: Denis Law
Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 8:07 AM
To: Council
Cc: Jay B Covington
Subject: School zone photo enforcement
FYI – In case you receive any inquiries:
We are not planning to operate our photo enforcement cameras in the school zones this summer. In addition to the confusion to motorists who are not aware of summer school classes, there are many classes that have been canceled due to budget cuts. We have decided not to operate the cameras in these zones until classes resume in the fall.
Mayor, City of Renton
1055 S. Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057
425 430-6500
rentonwa.gov
Hosting a street fair? Staging a protest march? You’ll want to get a Special Event Permit
Renton is implementing a new Special Event Permitting process to formalize and better organize the way we approve such events (and to help recoup costs). City Council spent forty-five minutes going over this ordinance on Monday getting it ready for final reading and adoption.
The permit application fee will be 50 dollars, and the forms and instructions will be available online.
This new Special Event Permit may be all you need for your event, or it may point you to additional fire, street use, or other permits you may need– depending on the nature of your special event.
We already require street and fire permits for special events, but until now these permits have been handled separately by individual departments and it has lead to confusion on the part of citizens and city staff. For instance, we have had occasions where one department has granted a permit for one aspect of an event (such as a fire permit for a special tent), only to find that other elements of the event (like transportation planning) are not workable. Or, we’ve seen special city events piled on top of each other, using the same road capacity and spreading services thinner than we would like.
The new Special Event Permits will make sure all of the events get added to a master city calender, and that all of the affected departments get word that an event is coming. This will enable individual departments to help event organizers figure out what additional accommodations and permits they will need, and should make event planning less chaotic all around.
The applications are requested at least 90 days prior to the event, but this deadline can be waived if it can be shown that the event could not have been planned that far in advance; for instance, a protest parade of a sudden political action, or a labor rally during a strike might qualify for a shorter approval period since they could not be anticipated. On the other hand, if you are planning a Thanksgiving Day Parade, we’ll be asking you to let us know at least 90 days ahead of time–preferably more if possible.
You won’t generally need a special event permit if your activity is being held on private property (like a church or hall) that has already been approved for the assembly of people in the numbers you expect to host. So a church having a block party in it’s parking lot would generally not need a permit. But if it’s an unusual use of private property, such as a circus coming to town and setting up at your church or assembly site, you would need to check with the city about the special event permit (and you would likely need fire and other permits as well.)
Below are some excerpts from the ordinance which give additional details about when the Special Event Permit will be required. At the bottom of the page I have a link to a PDF of the whole document.
After half a year of study, City staff and Parks Commission recomend against dogs in Coulon Park
The Renton community services department has prepared a memo for council recommending against allowing dogs at Coulon Park at this time. You can read the memo by clicking here .
This city parks department worked very hard assessing this request, going as far as to survey residents and wade through many, many inputs (for and against.)
In the end, the Parks Commission (which is composed of Renton Citizen volunteers and helps set park rules and policy), unanimously agreed with the city staff recommendation.
The council has final authority over this issue, and we will discuss it at Committee of the Whole on Monday (which runs 5:30 to 7:00 PM). History shows that council is unlikely to vote against a combined staff recommendation and unanimous Parks Commission recommendation on an issue like this.
I will wait until we see the presentation on Monday night to make a final decision.
Renton Shoreline Master Program Frequently Asked Questions
The city planning department released this “Frequently Asked Questions” yesterday to try to resolve some confusion/concerns regarding the Shoreline Master Program.
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City of Renton Shoreline Master Program
Common Concerns FAQ
Why is the City updating its Shoreline Master Program (SMP) in the first place?
The City’s existing Shoreline Master Program has been in place since the 1970s when the state legislature passed the Shoreline Management Act. A few years ago, the state adopted new shoreline guidelines and mandated that all cities and counties update their Shoreline Master Programs. The City was required to adopt an updated SMP by December 1, 2009. However, due to interest and concern by the public, the City has delayed adoption to allow for additional public input and City Council deliberation.
Salvation Army Renton Rotary Food Bank Fifth annual benefit to be held on June 29th
State Representative Marcie Maxwell and the Eriam Sisters will be headlining the fifth annual Salvation Army Renton Rotary Food Bank Benefit on June 29. This year community leaders are gathering support for a new regular community supper as well. The event will also be showcasing Renton’s largest new venue, the new auditorium at the New Life Church. This beautiful brand new sanctuary is available for community rentals when it is not being used for church services. It seats around 1600 people, roughly three times the number that IKEA Performing Arts Center can accommodate.
A beautiful weekend wrapping up; images from outdoor art show/sale at C’est La Vie
Cathy and I had a fun morning at the Landing yesterday. Here are a few pictures from an outdoor art sale at C’est la Vie. We also enjoyed live music provided by Papaya Vietnamese Restaurant and C’est la Vie. We bought some environmentally conscientious Himalayan beer (Lhasa) from a booth staffed by Gene Sens and Linda Middlebrooks (outside Papaya), saw kids gathering for special karate demonstrations at the opening of Karate Kid at Regal Cinema, and then enjoyed some great coffee at Cafe Felice. Then we caught the opening of “the A-Team” since Cathy and I always enjoyed the TV show… we had a great time. A great start to a great weekend.
Two Kennydale Elementary students ingest PCP after school
Renton police have reported that two Kennydale elementary students ingested PCP after school today. The two eight-year-olds are recovering, and there is an on-going investigation to understand exactly how they came into possession of the illegal drugs. This could have been extremely tragic, and it is important to get to the bottom of it.
Here is more information in the Renton Reporter.
C’est la Vie brings new outdoor artwork to the Landing
Four Renton councilmembers and the mayor pose with new artwork on display down at the Landing. Master Artisan/welder Ivan McLean produced this piece. Left to right are Concilman Greg Taylor, Councilwoman Marcie Palmer, Councilman Don Persson, Mayor Denis Law, and Councilman Randy Corman (me). Photo by Lisa Garvich.
The Landing is home to a new sculpture by Ivan McLean. The sculpture is for sale for around $20,000, but until it’s sold the community gets to enjoy it. Other pieces will likely be joining it in the future. We may even be seeing a privately-funded sculpture garden down at the Landing.
This sculpture project has been spearheaded by Michael Bowman, owner of C’est la Vie, who has made a very positive impact on our city in his short time in Renton. In the words of Suzanne DaleEstey from our Economic Development department, Mr. Bowman “is already making a tremendous impact to our economic goals of helping to foster a thriving arts and culture scene in our city. Michael served on the four-person Leadership Group of the Arts & Culture Master Plan process and will be a key player in ensuring that we help move forward and implement the plan.”
Keep your eye out for new art projects in this area!
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