Month: January 2011

Doctor Evie Lawson performs an eye exam on Renton resident Amy Mitchell begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting at the popular new “Eyes on the Landing.”

“Eyes on the Landing”, the stylish new optometry at the Landing, has been delighting its customers. One local reviewer on yelp, who has lived in the area two months, calls the shop “far and away THE BEST find of all since my move here”.

As a disclaimer, some could say that I am biased. My son-in-law mother, Donna Jones is co-owner of “Eyes on the Landing.” I was one of many who encouraged Donna and her Partner Evie to open their new shop at the Landing. I knew Donna had a great eye for fashion, a way with people, and excellent business skills, and I had heard that Evie was very popular with her patients.

The chemistry of the staff, location, and their product has blended perfectly. Their week-by-week growth in customer base has exceeded their most optimistic business plan projections, and they are getting wonderful feedback and community support.

They will be celebrating their grand opening on February 19. If you have not seen the store, I would encourage you to drop in on the 19th to look around, enjoy some entertainment and refreshments, and discover the beauty in corrective lenses. Click here to go to their website and get more information.

The following is a recent review on Yelp by one of their newest customers. I’m sharing it here because it is so vivid, and I feel the author’s observations are spot-on.

After the second photo, I’ve also posted the other review I found on Yelp. Again, I agree whole-halfheartedly with it.

____________________________________________
WOW.

Since moving to Seattle 2 months ago, I’ve been extremely fortunate to find some great local businesses (many through Yelp). Although this place wasn’t a Yelp discovery, it’s far and away THE BEST find of all since my move here.

First impressions: incredibly up-to-date, plentiful selection of frames; beautiful, light, roomy store layout; and the most knowledgeable, personable, genuinely helpful staff I’ve ever encountered in an optometrist’s office.

This place is heavy on attention to detail – from the display of frames to signage to the beverage offerings for patients to the spotless, modern restroom to the exam itself. The moment you approach from the outside, it’s obvious that nothing has been overlooked in the layouts or displays. Abundant natural light makes the place absolutely ideal to try on frames, and the staff honestly knows all of their products inside and out. This is the Apple Store of optometry.

Dr. Lawson is simultaneously warm, engaging, professional, fun, erudite, practical, empathetic, thorough, and sentient of patient needs. Donna and Christian were completely focused on taking care of every aspect of my first visit. Christian was not just versed on the vast frame collection, he had a natural eye for suggesting which frames would look just right on me. Had I been left unattended, I would have spent 30 minutes narrowing down to the 2 perfect frames he produced for me in less than 5. Donna spent a great deal of time ensuring my paperwork for my vision insurance was exactly as I needed it, and did so while making me feel like a long-time neighbor who’d stopped in to borrow a cup of flour. From the greeting-sans-pressure on entrance through the huge smile on my face as I left, seamless interactions with all of the staff demonstrated impeccable team service all around.

Getting an eye exam and contact lens fitting felt more like a spa appointment. Hit the mall for get-what-you-pay-for, quickly processed, mediocre optical errands. Eyes on the Landing is for those of us who seriously care about our vision, want to spend the time to examine every option available today, and be well cared for by a staff who cater to our kind.

I’ve been to more optometry boutiques, stores, mall locations, kiosks, and offices than I care to admit, but for the first time ever, I feel as if I’ve ARRIVED. If I ever leave Seattle, I will fly here just to get my exams, contacts, and glasses. Period.

Erik K. (38 Friends, 25 Reviews)

Renton, WA
5 star rating

Read a second review here

We received the following email at City Hall through our City Clerk’s office. We’ve been trained on most of the information before, but it is nice to have it all in one place on the web. Citizens may find it interesting to see how broadly public records are defined, and how much access you have to them. Page 6 of the website also provides a good reminder that “Public records include both records that an agency creates and records that an agency may receive or collect.” This is why we often remind people emailing city hall that their comments are part of the public record, and can be seen by others. (As an example, if you are a developer emailing a council member asking for support of a project, your email is a public record. Likewise, if you email a council member asking for a project application to be denied, this email is a public record.)

As a matter of courtesy, I’ve tried to use discretion over the years when sharing these records, often dropping citizens’ names unless they have told me using their name did not bother them. I’ve also passed on posting many items that have come across our email that did not have public policy value, or were just too personal (such as a thank-you to our emergency services for handling a family crisis).

I suspect that as more and more public controversies get played out on the internet, more of these public records will get posted in their entirety on “Pro” and “Con” websites. So, every citizen (including me) should: (1) strive to be really thoughtful about what we write to each other, (2) have a friend proof-read our writings whenever possible, (3) sleep on anything that we write that we feel emotional about, and (4) most importantly, remember that anything we write having to do with public policy could end up on the front page of the Seattle Times.

Here is the info on the new website:
___________________________________________

On Behalf Of Koziara, Leslie
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 1:47 PM
Subject: New online – “Public Records and Public Officials”

The Office of the Secretary of State and Washington State Archives are pleased to announce the addition of an interactive online resource titled “Public Officials and Public Records.” This new module is intended to introduce newly elected and newly appointed public officials to the new world of public records and their new responsibilities. It will be updated from time to time.

Secretary of State Sam Reed welcomes each participant and emphasizes his connection to public records and stresses the importance of public records in our democracy. State Archivist Jerry Handfield encouraged the development of this online resource to provide information on the ever changing world of electronic records and to provide easy access to the many resources available for the preservation of public records in Washington.

Also, this module reminds everyone of the importance of records management and that “All public records shall be and remain the property of the state of Washington. They shall be delivered by outgoing officials and employees to their successors….” (40.14.020 RCW)

Seasoned public officials may also find it useful as a reference guide.

Here is the link: http://www.sos.wa.gov/archives/RecordsManagement/PublicOfficialsandPublicRecords/index.html

Thank you,

Washington State Archives

From Denis Law
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 9:20 PM
To: Council

I’m out at Safeway on S. Third St., where two people have been shot. The shooting took place on 3rd near the entrance to the parking lot. A young man and a female were both taken to Harborview with what is believed to be non-life threatening Injuries. Media is here and detectives are on their way. Multiple shots were fired by a group of youth that fled on foot. k-9 track was unsuccessful.

(Photo credit– State of Washington)

Renton officials have been coordinating with King County, Washington State, and the Federal Government to install charging stations in preparation for the newest chapter in personal transportation; mainstream all-electric automobiles. While the vehicles are expected to have a range of over 100 miles on one charge, enough for most commuters to make it to work and back, there will still be a need for public charging stations for motorists traveling across the state. Ultimately, as more and more drivers opt for all-electric vehicles, we would expect to see private filling stations springing up to help address this need. Note that there are generally three types of charging stations; 110 volt trickle charge, 220-volt faster charge, and high-speed charging. The high-speed charging will be part of a second phase of this plan, and will require public/private partnering.

Our County Executive issued a press-release on the County-wide plan back in September. You can read the press-release here. The press release includes county-wide details on where all of the charging stations are planned.

Thirteen public charging stations have been proposed for Renton:

Two in the Renton Landing Parking Garage

Three at Renton City Hall

Two at Valley Medical Center

Two in the Renton City Center Parking Garage

Two at the Renton School District Headquarters

Two at Renton Technical College

The county-wide project is part of a state-level “Electric Highways” plan that is being managed jointly by the Washington State Department of Commerce and the State Department of Transportation. They are getting their initial funding from federal stimulus dollars. Here is a website with more information in the state-wide program.

The project has been enabled by new legislation enacted in Olympia. You can read the new law on this topic here

Ford CEO Alan Mulally, who worked many years here in Renton as Boeing’s Commercial Airplane Chief, introduced the automaker’s first-ever zero-emissions vehicle earlier this month in his keynote address at the 2011 CES convention in Las Vegas. (Photo owned/hosted by CNET )

Susie made Panda cupcakes today. She got the idea from a library book titled “Hello Cupcake.” Susie is extremely talented at cooking, and has made some very elegant recepies in the past. While she is the youngest in our family, in the last two years she had been in charge of our Thanksgiving dinner.

After seeing Susie’s creation today, I sent my son Andy down to the Landing to get us all lunch from Panda Express. Funny how the mind works.

My daughter Susie (number 10) watches intently as her shot swirls around the rim before falling into the basket for her team’s second score of the game.

The City of Renton offers a wonderful selection of classes, team sports, outings, and other activities to enrich our lives and keep us at maximum health. For instance, yesterday my wife and oldest daughter were attending city-organized belly dancing class tonight, my youngest was at basketball practice in a city-hosted league.

My daughter’s team played its first game on Saturday. (The Seahawks were stomping the Saints at the same time, so we were glad the Community Center had televisions during the breaks in the basketball action.)

Here are a few photos showing Susie’s first game, as well as the apparent transformation of our Main Community Center into a second Seahawks headquarters.

Susie off the court with my wife Cathy

Meanwhile, the Seahawks are trouncing the Saints!…

Click here for more photos

Fluoride has been in the national news lately. Last week the federal government lowered the recommended levels for fluoride in municipal water systems. Then yesterday the EPA announced that it was proposing banning certain pesticides that leave fluoride as a residual product on treated fruits, nuts, and beans and such products as coffee and tea. These actions were taken primarily because when fluoride concentrations are too high, it actually harms teeth instead of helping them–excessive fluoride can cause dental fluorosis, which produces spotting and weakening of the teeth.

In my opinion, these revised federal policies are positive, and they will help achieve a desirable compromise in the persistent debate regarding fluoride in our water systems.

Last year I published this blog entry giving background on the pros and cons of water fluoridation, and asking readers to share their view on water fluoridation– at the time, the debate was once again raging in Issaquah, a city which does not fluoridate its water. I received twenty reader comments on the topic.

I also shared that a close family member has a sensitivity to fluoride and therefore must try to avoid fluoride as much as possible. When she consumes too much fluoride she experiences stomach cramps. She has a reverse osmosis filter to remove fluoride in her home and we have installed one in our home (where she often drinks and dines) just to reduce her total fluoride consumption. She also must currently be careful with tea, nuts and fruits (seeking organic whenever possible) because of fluoride-containing pesticides. Fortunately the EPA ban on these pesticides should resolve this issue.

She got a break from monitoring her fluoride consumption during a year she lived near Tokyo. Japanese municipalities do not fluoridate their water, and they use fewer pesticides that would leave fluoride residues. She was symptom-free all the months she lived there.

In summary, the reduced fluoride levels will help reduce the cases of dental fluorosis in children; and for my daughter and others who must manage their fluoride consumption, the lower federal-recommended levels will be a tremendous advantage.

At our Monday council meeting I referred the subject of Renton’s Water Fluoridation program into our Utility Committee. I’m hoping we can lower our Fluoride levels consistent with the new Federal standards– thus improving our health (fluorosis and otherwise), bringing some compromise to the fluoride debate, and perhaps even saving Renton ten or twenty thousand dollars a year.

Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, pictured here with her husband Mark, was shot in the head by a gunman today. (photo from her campaign website)

It’s a sad day for Arizona and our nation, as one of our members of congress battles for her life after being attacked by a gunman. While information is still coming in, it is known that Gabrielle Giffords and her aides and bystanders were attacked today at a public event with constituents.

The gunman is alive and in custody, but his history, motivations and mental condition are not publicly known at this time.

In my lifetime I can only remember one congressional assassination, and that was of Leo Ryan at Jonestown when I was in high school. That attack was initiated by Jim Jones, one of the craziest people of all time. If there were other assassination attempts on members of congress, I can’t remember them as if this writing. These types of attacks are very rare in our country, which is obviously a very good thing because they are an immediate threat to our democracy.

My prayers to all of those directly affected by today’s tragedy, and for the continuing freedom and security of Arizona and our Nation.

UPDATE at 1:25:

The news is getting more tragic… according to an update on MSNBC a federal judge and child were killed in this attack. Here is the developing story.

Renton gained 28 businesses and 161 full-time jobs in 2010. This is not bad performance considering the brutal national economy of 2010.

Our city’s economic development staff worked hard in 2010 to nurture a climate for 423 new businesses to open, exceeding the 395 closures that were primarily victims of the tough financial climate.

The growth in jobs and business is obviously important for helping more of our residents find work. This growth also plays a big role in maintaining our property values and reducing the number of citizens that get “underwater” in their homes– owing more than their home is worth.

In addition to admiration to our city’s economic development team, I greatly appreciate those business owners who have found the courage and capital to invest in our city when the economy is so rough nationally. I also with to extend a parting thank-you and best wishes to the owners and employees of the 395 businesses we lost in 2010– these are businesses that sustained our city and employed 1367 people in 2009, as well as building our city in prior years; I’m hoping you all find new opportunity, and that Renton is at the top of your list.

_________________________________________

From: Linda Weldon
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2011 9:32 AM
To: Adriana Johnson; Alexander Pietsch; Bill Taylor; Iwen Wang; Jennifer Davis Hayes; Jennifer T. Henning; Kristi Rowland; Mark Santos-Johnson; Neil R. Watts; Patrick Roduin; Sabrine – Chamber; Steven Burke; Suzanne Dale Estey; Tina Hemphill; Vivienne Lietz; Zong Her
Subject: December – 2010

Attached are the new and closed businesses for December 2010.

For the year, we had 423 new businesses and 395 closed – with a difference of +28

For FTE’s, we had 1528.45 new and 1367.07 closed – with a difference of +161.38 FTE’s

Linda L Weldon
City of Renton
Business Licenses/Passports

My wife Cathy (top photo below) bought me a new camera for Christmas. I’ve been practicing with it. Below are some of my photos from the holidays. I’m experimenting with the settings and with different lenses. I really appreciate that this camera can take pictures with just 2 to 5 percent of the light (depending on the lens) required by my 4-year-old Panasonic camera. This allows the camera to shoot pictures indoors without a flash, even at night. The light in the room often produces much nicer photos than a flash. I’m looking forward to bringing it to blog-worthy events. The new camera is a Nikon D3100.

see more photos by clicking here