Want to Rent some Rain?

Have you ever seen one of those big tanks or containers at construction sites & wondered what they were for. Some are a round & look like silos; some look like shipping containers & they often have ladders and walkways around the top. I’ve even seen some marked with the company name Rain for Rent, which I find intriguing. Say what? Who would want to rent rain in the Pacific Northwest?

Well, there just happens to be one of these things on the construction site in Mill Creek Plaza. It is green & is of the “cargo container” variety. It has a ladder up the side & a railing around the top. I’ve wondered if they are for emergency haz-mat decontamination or something. You never know until you ask, right?

Well, I didn’t have it exactly right, but it does turn out they are for environmental purposes. These tanks can be used for a variety of reasons, but in this case it turns out this tank is there to collect surface run-off from construction site. If it rains or if the contractors are using water, incidental construction materials could be washed through & from the site. We wouldn’t want that going into our storm drains to the streams & creeks.

Soooo, in this case the surface run-off water drains into a special collection pond built on the site. It is then pumped into the tank where it is stored and/or filtered until it can be safely removed from the site. Do tell.

Brick by Brick in MC Plaza

Brick by brick a new building is going up to replace the recently razed Round Table Pizza Parlor. The multi-tenant commercial structure designed by Donahou Design Group and owned/managed by Panos Properties, will contain 5,250 square feet of retail space. The exterior will have alternating horizontal bands of brick with red & sandstone colored masonry. Grey metal bands will accent the roof line as well as the metal awnings.   

Three individual storefronts with their own entrances will occupy the building. One of the  establishments will sport a drive-through window & a small outdoor patio. Rumor has it that it will be a new Starbuck’s, like we need another one of those. If it is a coffee shop, I would at least like to see another brand for some variety & to give us some choices.

Other features include floor to ceiling windows along the Northeast and West facades. The South side windows — the 164th Street side — will be semi-opaque allowing light in yet screen tenant storage areas from view by passers-by.

The parking lot & landscaping in that area of Mill Creek Plaza will also be reconfigured. New crosswalks & walkways will increase pedestrian access & safety. New landscape plantings will include more drought resistant plant species. Existing trees will be retained.

Just like the updates made to Mill Creek Square last year, across 164th St., it is exciting to see a fresh new look coming to this corner of the Plaza. It is an important step to maintain the vitality of the Mill Creek business district & the entire community. A little more variety would be another step in that direction. Do tell.

Run of the Mill 5K 27.0

The 27th Annual Run of the Mill 5K is Saturday July 7th this year. The Run of the Mill is Mill Creek’s premier community charity event presented by Mill Creek’s premier mortgage lender, Columbia Funding Mortgage.

Columbia Funding is owned and operated by Steve Knox. Steve stepped in to organize and become the presenting sponsor of The Run of the Mill in 2006. After soliciting support from the running community, receiving help from amazing volunteers & amassing a growing list of community sponsors, “The Run” was revitalized as a charitable event. Do tell.

Steve’s wife, Linda is an integral part, volunteering as the Development Director for the Run of the Mill to honor her father, whom she lost to cancer in 1998, and to celebrate & support her brother, Jim & her sister, Shirley — both cancer survivors.

Since the run became a charity event in 2006, over $165,000 has been donated to local charities, and the goal this year is to top $200,000 in charitable donations.

Some of the local & diverse charities supported are: Providence General Foundation-the Linda Baltzell Cancer Patient Assistance Fund, Jackson High School & Archbishop Murphy High School Track & Cross Country Booster Clubs, St. Vincent de Paul -Bothell/Mill Creek Conference, just to name a few.

Register today!  Packet pick-up begins at 7:30AM on Raceday with the race going off at 9:30AM. For complete information on everything you need to know re: registration, costs, deadlines, maps, prizes, what’s included, etc., visit: www.mcrunofthemill.com

Thank you to the many local sponsors of the Run of the Mill 5K. Please support them:

Columbia Funding Mortgage, Mill Creek Family Practice, Waste Management-NW, Central Market, Columbia Athletic Clubs, Mill Creek Running, Sayenko Design, Peoples Bank, La Palmera, Mill Creek Foot and Ankle clinic, Advocare, Swedish-Mill Creek, Yoli, Mill Creek town Center, The ABS Coffee Company, the Y-YMCA, and Inner Athlete.

Credits: Information & above Photo from Columbia Funding Mortgage & Run of the Mill 5k Road Race.

Second Thursday Art Walk

The Mill Creek Town Center Business Association along with the City of Mill Creek’s Art & Beautification Board is pleased to announce the first Mill Creek Town Center Second Thursday Art Walk. The Art Walk will take place in the evening on the second Thursdays in July, August & September from 5PM to 8PM. So mark your calendars for July 12th, August 9th &  September 13th.

Calling all artists! Those of you who are interested in participating by showing your work in the Art Walk please send an email to the Art & Beautification Board:
artwalk@cityofmillcreek.com   You may also go to the Mill Creek Town Center Business Association website for all the details: http://millcreektowncenterbiz.com/?p=442

Various Town Center merchants will host the artists and some of the restaurants will host musicians during the evenings of the Art Walk.  Maps showing participating merchants & restaurants will be available soon online at  www.millcreektowncenter.biz and on the evening of the Art Walk in Town Center.

“This will be the beginning of what we hope will become an ongoing monthly event. The community can mingle and enjoy the art that will be displayed throughout the Town Center,” said Marcia Beck, co-chair of the Art Walk Planning Committee. Do tell.

Information & image of poster are from the Mill Creek Town Center Business Association.

 

Concerts at the Forum

The Mill Creek Town Center Business Association is pleased to present Music Mid-Week in Mill Creek, a Summer Concert Series at The Forum. Plan to come out every Wednesday 6-8PM in July & August 2012 beginning on the 4th of July. The Forum is located at 151st and Main Street between Blazing Onion and Ristorante Capri. 

  • Jul 4     Hyah Vision — Reggae
  • Jul 11   Cherry Cherry — Neil Diamond Tribute
  • Jul 18   Ventura Highway — 60’s-70’s Hits
  • Jul 25   Bump Kitchen — Funk/Blues
  • Aug 1   Gold Rush — Pop Classics 50’s, 60’s & 70’s
  • Aug 8   All Mixed Up — 80’s Tribute
  • Aug 15  Sly Mr Y with Time Slip — Classic rock
  • Aug 22  Creme Tangerine — Beatles Tribute
  • Aug 29  3 Miles High — UK/US Rock/Pop 70’s- 90’s

We enjoyed the concerts last year. Plan to eat dinner at Capri or Blazing Onion where you can find a great seat during the concerts (Hint: go early). Another option? Eat at Azul, Kafe Neo, Firestation Deli or one of the other fun restaurants in Mill Creek before or after the concert. Get something “to go”, maybe. There is generous seating in the Forum area and the concerts are all family friendly. Did I mention the concerts are free?! Do tell.

Music Mid-Week in Mill Creek is a highly anticipated annual event thanks to the Mill Creek Town Center and their generous sponsors: North Creek Roofing, Chirobody, The Y-YMCA, Silver Dollar Casino-Mill Creek, City of Mill Creek, ABS Coffee Company & The World’s Tastiest Frozen Yogurt, and Mill Creek Rotary. Please support these local businesses. For more information visit: www.millcreektowncenterbiz.com

In the Know

The City of Mill Creek Planning Commission will host an Open House followed by a Public Hearing on the proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendments on Thursday, June 21, 2012. The Open House will run from 5:30PM – 6:45PM. The Planning Commission Meeting & Public Hearing will follow at 7:00PM. The purpose of the Open House is to provide information on the proposed amendments & to answer questions prior to the hearing. The Planning Commission packet containing the proposed amendments is available on the city’s website:   www.cityofmillcreek.com

Also, please note: The June 21st meeting of the Design Review Board has been cancelled because there is no business. Do tell.

 

Father’s Day Procrastinators,

you know who you are. Father’s Day is on Sunday June 17th, and if you haven’t planned something for Dad you had better get going! 

One idea, I’ve used in the past, that’s always been a hit with the men in my life,  is a gift card for “the works” at Weldon Barber. Your father, husband, son, that special person in your life who’s a dad will welcome this, I’m sure.

Weldon Barber is not your typical hair styling salon, nor is it your granddad’s barber shop.  A rich warm atmosphere, plush leather chairs, flat screen TVs, experienced friendly staff, a complimentary beverage add up to a first class experience. Do tell.

The Weldon Signature service includes a hot face towel, shampoo, scalp massage, custom haircut, hot towel neck shave, styling and detail finish (brows, ears & nose). Consider adding a Signature Shave to make what I call “the works”.

In addition, Weldon Barber features Aveda, Jack Black & American Crew hair & grooming products for men.

Located at 15118 Main Street, Suite 300  Mill Creek, WA 98012  425-337-5068

Visit online: www.weldonbarberseattle.com/millcreek 

 

Blood Drive Comes to Mill Creek

The Puget Sound Mobile Blood Drive will be in Mill Creek on  Friday, June 22nd for those of you who have time and blood to give. The mobile unit will be located in the parking lot of Central Market 15606 Main Street – from 11AM until 5PM, closing between 1:30-2:30. Do tell.

Mutt March 2012 & Relay For Life

“Two Days — Two Events — Benefiting All” happening at McCollum Park this June 2nd & 3rd. The annual Mutt March and Relay for Life are joining forces this year to provide two days of fun activities and entertainment, all the while benefiting their respective causes. The Mutt March starts on Saturday morning when it is expected that around 500 dog owners will take a leisurely 5k walk on the North Creek Trail & return through the City of Mill Creek’s Town Center. After the walk, there will be demonstrations, the YMCA dog costume contest and other prizes & giveaways. Funds raised through the Mutt March will benefit ChaseAway K9 Cancer & local food banks through Rotary First Harvest. 

Then starting at 2:00PM on Saturday The American Cancer Society Relay For Life will begin activities that will last through the night until 9:00AM Sunday. Do tell.

There’s still time to get involved – how will you be included?

For more information see previous blog post & for even more information go to: www.RelayForLife.org/millcreekwa  and  www.k9muttmarch.org

Relay for Life: the Details

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life — Mill Creek style, will be held on June 2, 2012 at McCollum Park —600 128th Street SE Everett, WA 98204. The first thing you can do is go to www.relayforlife.org/millcreekwa to sign up to start a team or sign up as an individual by joining the team for individuals. You can also just show up. 

One of the big things that sets this event apart from other “walks” is that it is an all-night event. A celebration of survivorship kicks the event off at 2PM on June 2nd. We will honor survivors with the 1st lap around the track. Who is a survivor? Anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer. The purpose of the Relay for Life is to raise funds and make more survivors.

At 10PM there will be a Luminaria Celebration. This is the time at which we remember those who have been take from us by cancer. You can decorate a luminaria bag in remembrance of a loved one. The candle-lit bags will be lined up around the track while the Snohomish County Bagpipers play. It is a somber dignified, meaningful time for all who witness it. The event continues through the night to signify that cancer doesn’t sleep and neither do we. Every team should have at least one person walking on the track at all times. Hence, Relay. Each team will have its own tent site. There will be live bands, shows and other local entertainers. This event is by the community for the community. Come out and help create more birthdays.

Information from the Relay for Life Website and newsletter.

 

Who, what, where, when in Mill Creek, Washington