Activities, County Government, People, Services, Uncategorized

Wanted: Volunteers for SnoCo Sheriff’s Office

It’s always fun when on my travels/errands through Mill Creek I find something new & interesting to share. New to me me, anyway. Hope for you as well. I was in Starbuck’s grabbing a little pick-me-up when I noticed a poster on the community bulletin board that reminded me of the old vintage “Uncle Sam – I want you!” posters. It was our very own Snohomish County Sheriff John Lovick. And it turns out that he & his deputies are on the lookout for a few good volunteers!

There are several ways you might be able to use your talents & interests as a Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Volunteer. The listings from the website include: Citizen Patrol – disabled parking enforcement, Park and Ride Lot patrol, stolen vehicle search & more, Project Lifesaver – provides electronic transmitter bracelets for vulnerable citizens who have a tendency to wander, Clerical & Data Processing – if you prefer to work in an office and Crime Prevention – programs/activities/events such as National Night Out, the Kid Care ID Program & Evergreen State Fair.

Visit the SnoCo Sheriff’s Office website for information & to read/download the application form. Once on the Home page, click on Recruiting tab, then on Volunteer from left side menu.

The application process is fully explained here. It’s a multi-step process & you’ll find it to be extremely thorough. Understand that as members of the Sheriff’s Office Team, volunteers will have access to Sheriff’s Office information & may hear/see confidential materials. Therefore, it is crucial that applicants are screened carefully. Do tell.

Other options are to email or call:
Director Ray Baron
Ray.Baron@snoco.org
(425) 388-3082

I think it’s pretty cool that Snohomish County citizens can take the opportunity to give their time, talents & energy; to take an active role in making our community a better place to live, work & play.

 

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Activities, Food, Kids, People, Shopping, Summer Concerts, Uncategorized

Blues, Bothell, Beer and BBQ

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The title pretty much says it all — Carolina Smoke BBQ & Catering, owned & operated by David Hayward, is The 2012 Diamond Sponsor of the Bothell Blues Festival 2012.

What, When & Where:  The Bothell Blues Festival happens on September 1, 2012 from 11AM to 8PM at Country Village Shops Event Area. Why? As the event website states: “The 4B’s — Blues, Bothell, Beer & BBQ!” Do tell.

The price of admission is $15 — yes,  $15  for 5 great bands, including The Wired! Band, winner of the 2012 International Blues Challenge held on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. The rest of the lineup includes: Chester Davis Jones Band, Gin Creek, Mary McPage Band, and the Mighty Miles Tones. And if that wasn’t enough, along with the price of admission, many of the Country Village merchants will be offering discounts to shopping concert goers — identified by their concert wristband — on the day of the festival only.

The Bothell Blues Festival will have a great beer & wine garden, of course, and this year organizers are proud to say that it is hosted by the Rotary Club of Northshore. The beer garden will be featuring Men’s Room Original Red on tap as well as a wine selection. You have to be 21 years old & over (no surprise there) to enter the beer garden and everyone is strongly encouraged to drink responsibly. BTW, The Beer Garden sponsorship is still available, as of this writing.

Thank you to 2012 Platinum sponsors :

  • Floor Mechanics LLC
  • Country Village Shops

2012 Gold Sponsors:

  • Bothell Pediatric & Hand Therapy

2012 Silver Sponsors:

  • Dinner Delivery Plus
  • WhatsSup Stand Up Paddle & Surf
  • Bothell Kayak Rentals

Bronze Sponsors:

  • Pegasus Pizza & Pasta on Alki

Please patronize these great businesses that support the festival. If you or your business is interested in available Sponsorships, including the Beer Garden Sponsorship, or for more information on anything & everything about Bothell Blues Festival 2012, please visit:  www.bothellbluesfestival.com & click the appropriate tab or send an email to: info@bothellbluesfestival.com

Information taken from the event website & image of event poster used with permission.
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Activities, Food, Kids, People, Uncategorized

Summer Block Party

Recently 65+ Douglas Fir residents got together for a neighborhood block party/BBQ, which they hope will become an annual event. Way back in 1987-89, or so, when Douglas Fir Division was in the process of build up & becoming populated, there were several get togethers held. There were the Summer Block Parties, the 4th of July conflagrations, er, I mean celebrations. (This was when it was legal to have “safe & sane” fireworks in Mill Creek. It  wasn’t particularly safe or sane, however. You original/longtime Douglas Fir people know what I’m talking about.) For several years a hayride/caroling party was organized in the Winter. Everyone shared the fact that they were all the “new neighbors”.  Then — no one is really sure why, but most  likely the natural evolution of the division — “it” just sort of stopped. People moved, kids grew up, everyone got busy with other things, no one stepped forward to organize. For whatever the reason, the neighborhood get-togethers just seemed to fade away.

Last fall after Douglas Fir experienced some car prowls & break-ins, a group of residents got together to form a Block Watch Group. At the same time it was suggested that an effort be made to revive the “Annual Douglas Fir BBQ & Block Party”. The Key to keeping a neighborhood safe & in fact, “Neighborly” is neighbors who actually recognize & know their neighbors & keep an eye out for each other. Without going all vigilante, it is residents simply being aware of surroundings & taking notice if someone/something seems out of place & reporting it to authorities if necessary.

This was a great opportunity for everyone to come out, to get reacquainted with old friends, and to meet newer neighbors & friends. Burgers, hotdogs, chicken & a few laughs were shared. Many found it to be a great chance to get caught up with everyone else. Pretty safe to say, a good time was had by all. Do tell.

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City Government, People, Uncategorized

East Gateway Urban Village News

Many residents in the neighborhoods surrounding the East Gateway Urban Village(EGUV) were involved in the original planning and visioning for the EGUV in 2007-08.

The EGUV is 52 acres south of 132nd between 35th Avenue SE & Seattle Hill Road that is zoned for a mixed-use urban village & is planned to be developed with a combination of residential, retail and office uses. Development has been anticipated since the plan was adopted.

Since development activity has finally started to pick up, the City will be sending out a periodic newsletter to the surrounding neighborhood to keep you informed.

Three items are discussed in this newsletter:

  • First, the City has received a Binding Site Plan application for what is known as the Nash Property (Henry’s Plant Farm).
  • Second, construction of the first development in the EGUV has begun.
  • Third, the City is proposing amendments to some of the regulations that apply to the EGUV zone district.

These items are described below:

Proposed Development on Nash Property

On August 6, 2012, the City received a development proposal from Polygon NW for the18.5-acre Nash property (Binding Site Plan 2012-63). The proposal is for 29,000 square feet of commercial area in three buildings, 104 townhomes/condominiums, and 210 apartments. The proposal also includes installation of a traffic signal at the 132nd Street 44th Avenue intersection, construction of 44th Avenue south of 132nd Street to connect the development to the new signal and future adjacent properties, and a public neighborhood park.

City review of the project has several steps. The City is currently reviewing the Binding Site Plan application for completeness. If deemed complete, the City will issue a Notice of Application, which will be published in the newspaper and be posted on the property.

Also, once the Notice of Application is issued, the project file will be available for public review at City Hall. Following the Notice of Application, the City will conduct an environmental review of the project and negotiate a development agreement with the applicant, which establishes responsibilities for the implementation of the project and addresses other issues such as phasing of development. The development agreement is subject to review and approval of the City Council. Finally, a public hearing on the Binding Site Plan will be held by the City’s Hearing Examiner. The City’s review process will take several months. If you have questions please contact Christi Amrine, Senior Planner at the number listed below.

Medical/Office Building Under Construction

You might have noticed a new building under construction just west of the Advent Lutheran Church. 132nd Street Land Development is building a 24,000 square foot, two-story medical/office building that will include a parking lot, landscaping, and a plaza. Only the northern portion of the site directly adjacent to 132nd Street SE is proposed to be developed at this time. This building was approved by the City’s Hearing Examiner in September 2011.

Proposed EGUV Code Amendments

To ensure that development in the EGUV area is consistent with the City’s economic development objectives and the adopted EGUV Comprehensive Plan policies, the City has been exploring revisions to the EGUV zoning to allow for stores that have a ground floor footprint that exceeds 60,000 square feet. As you may know, this issue was the focus of a City open house on June 21, 2011, where two alternative scenarios to the original illustrative master were displayed. It was reported in the media and by the City that Target was interested in locating in the EGUV area. To accommodate the possibility that a large anchor store such as a Target could locate in the EGUV, and to ensure that the area meets other commercial economic objectives, the City is proposing several amendments to MCMC Chapter 17.19, East Gateway Urban Village (EGUV) Zone District and the EGUV Design Guidelines. The proposed amendments, if approved, would:

  • Allow multifamily residential uses only above commercial uses, in the area west of 44th Avenue SE;
  • Eliminate the maximum 60,000 square foot ground floor area restriction for a single commercial building footprint;
  • Eliminate the minimum 400 dwelling unit requirement; and
  • Revise language to clarify Design Guidelines in regard to residential units in mixed-use buildings.

The Planning Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed revisions on September 20, 2012. City Council action on the amendments could occur as soon as September 25, 2012.

If you have questions on the proposed code amendments, please contact Senior Planner, Christi Amrine.

Mailing List

If you would like to continue to receive information on the proposed development or the proposed code amendments as they are reviewed by the City, please contact Sherrie Ringstad at the number listed below to be added to our mailing/email list.

Being on the mailing list will ensure that you receive regular updates on EGUV projects. Even if you don’t add your name to the list, you will still receive required public notice of the public hearing if you own property or reside within 500 feet of the project site.

Contact Information

Tom Rogers, Community Development Director   (425) 921-5721

tom@cityofmillcreek.com

Christi Amrine, Senior Planner (425) 921-5738 (contact with questions & comments)

christi@cityofmillcreek.com

Sherrie Ringstad, Planning Specialist (contact to be added to email and/or mailing list)    (425) 921-5717

sherrie@cityofmillcreek.com

Information taken directly from City of Mill Creek Press Release 8/16/2012  from the office of Tom Rogers, Community Development Director

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Activities, City Government, Kids, People, Services, Sports, Uncategorized

Mill Creek Parks & Rec Announcement

The City of Mill Creek Parks and Recreation Department is pleased to announce that registration for Fall/Winter programs begins on Monday, August 20, 2012. The Recreation Guide is available on the city’s website www.cityofmillcreek.com

When you’ve decided what you want to do, registrations can be mailed or dropped off at City Hall located @  15728 Main Street Mill Creek, WA 98012  They can be faxed to 425-551-7255  or you may register online:   http://activenet9.active.com/millcreek

In addition, guides are available @ City Hall, Mill Creek Library, University Bookstore – Mill Creek & in the Mill Creek Living Magazine. Do tell.

So what are you waiting for?

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Activities, Food, Kids, People, Restaurants, Shopping, Uncategorized

Art Walk Tomorrow Evening

Mill Creek Town Center Business Association has just announced participating merchants & restaurants for the Second Thursday Art Walk happening this Thursday August 9th 2012 5-8PM.

  1. Central Market will host Artists James Taylor featuring ink washes & Ann Davenport who works with pastels and acrylics.
  2. Artist Terri Davis will be at Color Me Mine showing her oil paintings.
  3. Enjoy a bite to eat and listen to music from the Cascadia Big Band at Firestation Deli.
  4. Tana McCoy will show & answer questions about her Sea Glass Jewelry at Belle Provence.
  5. A feast for your eyes at Eye Society as they welcome artist Lynn Kerr with her watercolors.
  6. Paddywack feaures pet photographer, Emily Reimann of course.
  7. Nature photography from Kevin Merchant at the University Bookstore.
  8. Nest Home & Gifts presents Ashley Danae Flameless Art Candles: Hand-decorated wax candles.
  9. Artisan Custom Framing will host Richard Duval, photographer featuring scenic, landscape & wine imagery.
  10. Blazing Onion another good stop for food, drink & music featuring The Jazz Tonz.
  11. Artist Philip McCrain will be on hand at NorthWest Pharmaceutical Compounding, Inc. with his Nature Photography.
  12. Purity Integrative Health & Wellness Center features wood craft by artist Dan Bowman. 
  13. Devine Wines hosts artist Gail Martinez – globally inspired realism art.
  14. World’s Tastiest Frozen Yogurt will welcome Amy Hill showing her acrylic paintings.
  15. Boston’s will be home base as the locale for the Information Booth. Pick up maps & get your questions answered here. See map below.
  16. Musings Artist Inspired hosts artists in several media : Traci Bixby – watercolor illustrations, Charlton Glassworks – fused glass with hand-cut metal inclusions & Melissa Davis – pencil/charcoal drawings.
  17. Columbia Funding Mortgage photography by artist, Nathan Brend.
  18. Windermere Mill Creek also showcases photographs, by artist Sue Russell.
  19. Photographer Tim Boyer will display his work at People’s Bank.

Word has it that in addition to the restaurants & aforementioned live music stops, some of the merchants will be serving light bites & wine when you visit their shops. Do tell.

And, as always, for more information visit:  www.millcreektowncenter.biz   Enjoy!

 

 

 

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Activities, Books, Shopping, Uncategorized

Summer Reading Into Fall

I’ve talked about it before, but the University Bookstore in Mill Creek is such a good resource for book groups it bears repeating. In fact, if you are looking to join a group there are several options to pick from through the store. Do tell.

The Main Street Book Club which features “The best in contemporary titles” meets the last Wednesday of each month at 6:30PM. You would still have time to read the August (meets Aug 22nd) selection — The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach. Paperback • Fiction • $11.99*

“The book confounded my expectations, in that it wasn’t strictly about baseball. Baseball is used literally and figuratively in this book, as a focus for multiple story lines, each in its own way dealing with the challenges of learning how to live with one’s imperfections and failures. I loved the characters, the metaphor, the baseball.” — Excerpt from a review/recommendation staff member, Kerry.

@thecreek Book Club is the group for you, if you are looking for “The best in young adult fiction, open to readers 16 and older.” They meet the first Monday of each month at 7PM. You might have to pull some all-nighters to get it read in time, but the August selection for the August 6th meeting is Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey. Paperback • Young Adult Fiction • $9.99*

“Charlie Bucktin, a bookish thirteen year old, is startled one summer night by an urgent knocks on his bedroom window. His visitor is Jasper Jones, an outcast in their small mining town, and he has come to ask for Charlie’s help. Jasper takes him to his secret glade, where Charlie witnesses Jasper’s horrible discovery, in the simmering summer where everything changes, Charlie learns why the truth of things is so hard to know, even harder to hold in this heart.”

If you want to catch up with the next one, the book for September 10th is Rampant by Diana Peterfreund.

The Odd Shelf Book Club offers up History → Memoir → Cultural Criticism discussing the best in new & classic non-fiction. They meet the second Thursday of each month at 6:30PM.  Again, August 9th is just around the corner, so you may have to get going on it, but the selection is Hit Lit: Cracking the Code of the Twentieth Century’s Biggest Bestsellers by James W. Hall Paperback • Books About Books • $16.00*

What do Michael Corleone, Jack Ryan and Scout Finch have in common? Creative writing professor and thriller writer James W. Hall know. Now, in this entertaining, revelatory book, he reveals how bestsellers work, using twelve twentieth century blockbusters as case studies — including The Godfather, Gone With the Wind, To Kill a Mockingbird and Jaws. Hit Lit is a must-read for fiction lovers and aspiring writers alike, and makes us think anew about why we love the books we love.”

This is being added to my list for sure. Coming Attractions: September 13th The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Keane Paperback • Chemistry • $14.99* & on October 11th The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin Paperback • Self-help • $14.99*

Creek Classics Book Club is just like it sounds. These are the books that have stood the test of time. One classic title per season & they meet once a season. The Fall meeting is Tuesday, September 4th @ 6:30PM. The next selection is Log From the Sea of Cortez by John Steinbeck. Paperback • Travel Literature • $16.00*

“In 1940, John Steinbeck and his friend, biologist Ed Ricketts ventured into the Gulf of California to search for marine invertebrates along the beaches. This exciting day-by-day account of their trip drawn from the longer work, Sea of Cortez, is a wonderful combination of science, philosophy, and high speed adventure that provides a fascinating portrait of Steinbeck and Rickets.”

*It should be noted that the prices for the books are the regular list price, but as book club selections you will save 20% when purchased at the Mill Creek store.

Reviews & summaries quoted above are from the University Bookstore materials.

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Activities, Food, Kids, People, Summer Concerts, Uncategorized

Kid’s Concerts Again. Yay!

Library Park Stage ready for Children’s Concert.

The Friends of The Mill Creek Library,  the City of Mill Creek Parks & Recreation & local sponsors are once again presenting a Summer Children’s Concert Series. The concerts are on Wednesdays from 12PM – 1PM at the Library Park adjacent to the Mill Creek Library!

August 1 — Alleyoop AKA Allan “Al” Hirsch is the featured performer. “He is an author, storyteller, historian, poet, riddler, puppeteer, musician, singer, teacher, dad, and now a grandpa!” “An upbeat concert that includes musical games & active playful songs & so much more. The children become the show as they dance & play along. Then there are the puppets.” Excerpt from:  www.alleyoop.us

August 8 — Tia’s Quackertunes  “Tia! is a nationally acclaimed, award-winning children’s song writer and an international recording artist who has been nominated for “Best Female Music Artist” by the American Academy of Children’s Entertainment and has won the Gold Parents’ Choice Award for her audio recording ‘Tia’s DINO-STEW ZOO.’ ” Excerpt from:  www.quackertunes.com

August 15 — Last but not least in the series for the Summer!  Buck & Elizabeth return to the Mill Creek Library Park all ready ” . . . to lasso you for cowboy or cowgirl costume contest. So come ready to strut your stuff and enjoy a fun & exciting show.” “For 20+ years Buck has been pursuing his passion in ‘Education Through Entertainment.’ ” ” ‘Animated personality’ ‘Dynamic vocals’ ‘the best ventriloquist EVER’ are just a few of the many talents Elizabeth brings to the stage.  From character voices to soulful blues she is comfortable with Looney Tunes and Patsy Cline.” Excerpt from: www.beep.8k.com

Technically these are free concerts. However, PLEASE bring a non-perishable food item to support the New Mill Creek Food Bank located at Jackson High School. Do tell.

Note: Parking is available at the Library parking lot on the north side of the street off 156th St SE Mill Creek. Parking is also available near Azteca Restaurant. Please use crosswalks at all times for safety. If you need additional information please call Parks & Recreation at (425) 745 -1891

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Activities, City Government, People, Services, Uncategorized

Green Choices Recycling Challenge

A few weeks ago you should have received a flyer in the mail from Recycle Rewards, Inc.,/Recyclebank.com with information about a recycling challenge for our area. It may have seemed a little confusing. I wondered if it was bona fide. I am happy to report that it is! 

Mill Creek is one of 50 communities across the country chosen to participate in  The SC Johnson Green Choices Recycling Challenge.  The goal is to be the community with the highest percentage of their population reporting they recycle each month. The winning community will be rewarded with a $100,000 grant for a project or program that promotes sustainability. Do tell.

I contacted the City of Mill Creek to check on this, and they are in fact serious about this & working to organize the program & get the word out to the residents. Look for information at the City of Mill Booth (spaces 25-26) at the Mill Creek Festival running this weekend July 14th & 15th —11:00AM  on Mill Creek Boulevard. In addition to self-reporting, Waste Management-NW has agreed to help with verification/reporting tonnage weight of recyclables they collect in Mill Creek. For more information and to sign up go to:  recyclebank.com/greenchoices

The Challenge has already begun! It runs from July 2, 2012 until December 31, 2012. To find out more about the collaboration between communities, including Mill Creek, SC Johnson & Recycle Bank visit this great link from:  SC johnson Green Choices   Excerpt from the site: While the challenge aims to increase consumers’ recycling, it will also contribute to the company’s goal of becoming landfill neutral by 2015.

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City Government, People, Services, Uncategorized, Weather and ambience

Invite to Sign Code Open House

Mill Creek residents & businesses place a high value on the community’s appearance. One way the City maintains its beauty is through regulations that minimize visual clutter such as excessive signage. At the same time, Mill Creek residents & businesses desire a thriving business community that provides goods & services to the citizens in close proximity to where they live. To meet both objectives, the City’s sign regulations must balance the need to prevent visual clutter with the need to provide exposure to businesses.

Over the past few years, several City Council members have expressed a desire to consider revisions to the City’s sign regulations to allow larger freestanding signs for commercial properties, which would allow the display of the center name plus one or more tenants. The City has also identified a need to revise the building (wall) sign regulations regarding maximum area calculations to make them uniform throughout the City. Currently, there are two separate calculation methods for building signs, one used in the Mill Creek Town Center and one for the rest of the City. Staff is proposing to apply the Town Center regulations citywide. For these reasons, the Community Development Department is working with the Mill Creek Planning Commission to prepare potential revisions to the sign code for consideration by the City Council. Do tell.

The City would like to hear from both residents and the business community on their ideas for potential code amendments. To provide a forum to receive public comments, the Planning Commission will be hosting an Open House on Thursday July 19, 2012 at 7:00PM in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 15728 Main St., Mill Creek, WA 98012

At the Open House, additional information will be provided about the proposed sign regulation changes, and there will be an opportunity to participate in a Visual Preference Survey to let the City know which types of signs you think are, and just as important —are not, appropriate in the City of Mill Creek.

Over the next months, staff will review with the Planning Commission the public comments received and prepare potential revisions to the sign regulations for Planning Commission review. The goal is to have a Planning Commission recommendation on any revisions to the sign code available for City Council review by late 2012.

There will be additional opportunities for public input, including a formal public hearing before the Planning Commission. Please contact staff at the numbers listed below to be added to a mailing and/oremail list to receive updates on this project, or to share your comments.

Camille Chriest, Senior Planner   (425) 921-5726   (contact with questions & suggested code amendments)

camillec@cityofmillcreek.com

Sherrie Ringstad, Planning Specialist (contact to be added to email and/or mailing list)    (425)921-5717

sherrie@cityofmillcreek.com

Information provided by Office of Tom Rogers, Community Planning Director
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Who, what, where, when in Mill Creek, Washington