Tag Archives: Blog

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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Uncategorized

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.

Uncategorized

Brick by Brick in MC Plaza

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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.

Activities, Kids, People, Sports, Uncategorized

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.
Activities, People, Restaurants, Uncategorized

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.

 

Activities, Kids, People, Summer Concerts, Uncategorized

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

Activities, City Government, Uncategorized

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.

 

Activities, People, Services, Shopping, Uncategorized

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 

 

People, Services, Uncategorized

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.