All About Renton

In 1998 Renton residents Pat Darst, Ted Taylor, John Slaney and others  proprosed to the Renton City Council that a Veterans Memorial Park be built in Renton. It was Darst’s hope that the memorial would commemorate individuals who served in all wars and those individuals who also served during times of peace. The City of Renton agreed and even donated a piece of land for the memorial to be built on right in the heart of Downtown Renton.

It took over 5 years to complete the project. Calvin Jordan Associates Inc and David Clark Architects donated the design which are five granite walls in the shape of a star. The walls are lined with engraved tiles which honor those who have served this country. Each point of the star represents a branch of the armed services: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. In the middle of the memorial is a bronze statue of an eagle atop a flag that was created by a local artist. Renton’s VFW Post #1263 as well as other local veterans groups help raise over $100,000 towards the cost of building the memorial. In 2001 Renton’s Veterans and others in the community convinced the City Council to pick up the remainder of the tab for the memorial and in May 2003  the memorial was open.

While its placement next to a busy road may make introspection a challenge for some, for me the placement is a daily reminder of the sacrafice that people have made and continue to make  for our freedoms and our Country.

Tiles can be purchased for any person who has served or is serving  in the Armed Forces, they do not have to be a resident of Renton. The cost is $50 and the application can be found here.

The information contained in this posting came from the following sites:

http://www.awcnet.org/Apps/ma/projects/2004RentonVet.doc

http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20030526&slug=memorial26e0

Hey just wanted to remind everyone that the Renton Public Library will be closed on Friday, May 22 for a furlough day and on Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day. The Highlands Branch is always closed on Fridays so the furlough day will not effect this branch. The Highlands Branch will also be closed on Monday in observance of Memorial Day.

The library will be opened on Saturday, May 23 from 10am-6pm.

Hope all library employees enjoy their day off and hope everyone out there enjoys their long weekend and this amazing weather we have been having.

thanks for reading….

If  you are one of the many people out there who have not been blessed with a green thumb or you have no patience for gardening but you still like to eat fresh produce you should consider joining a CSA program. CSA or community supported agriculture is a great way to support a local family farm, help the environment and eat lots of fresh veggies.

Renton residents happen to have access to a great CSA that is operated by Whistling Train Farm in Kent. Whistling Train has been operating a summer CSA for nine years and the  Summer 2009 season is just around the corner so if you are interested you should fill out an application as soon as possible. If you are still unsure of what a CSA is, let me give you a few more details. A CSA program is kind of like a weekly farmers market without the market and the farm dictates what is in the share. A subscriber decides what size share box they would like on a weekly basis depending on family size and veggie intake, pay an upfront fee or make payment arrangements (depending on participating CSA farm) and then choose delivery method for their shares. Subscribers can either choose to pick-up at the farm, pick-up at a specified location or have shares delivered. Again, the pick-up method will depend on the participating farm.  I happen to know that the drop-off for Renton subscribers will be a home right in Downtown Renton. A small share, feeds 1-3 adults, works out to be about $21.50 a week for 20 weeks, that is a sweet deal for farm fresh produce that is delivered within 24 hours of picking.

Whistling Train Farm is great because in addition to the weekly share subscibers also have access to some unlimited U-Pick options right at the farm. For example in June subscribers can u-pick sugar snap peas, shelling peas and fresh cut flowers. In October subscribers get to pick in the Pumpkin Patch.

I am sure your next thought is whether or not Whistling Train Farms’ produce is organic. Well, as I learned from their website Whistling Train Farm “uses no chemicals of any kind on our farm” that is as organic as you can be. But because the organic certification requirements of the USDA are so absurd and anti-small farm Whistling Train Farm has decided not to register as an organic farm so they can not technically say their produce is “organic” but wink wink it really is. For more information on the “O” issue click here and read from the Whistling Train website.

I have known a few people who have participated in CSA’s before and their biggest complaint is that sometimes they do not know how to prepare veggies that they have recieved in their weekly share. Well, Whistling Train has taken care of that as well. On their website they have a “how to eat” category where they tell you about the crop and share a few different ways of preparing it.

Whistling Train Farm also keeps animals around to give the farm that real “farmy” feeling. Subscribers are lucky enough to access to their fresh eggs and you can read all about their chickens, cows and pigs on their website.

Whistling Train Farm’s Summer CSA sounds great and the season starts on June so if you are interested fill out an application or contact the farm.

Thanks for reading….

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of sitting down with Shirliey Fung, Licensed Acupuncturist, Board-certified Chinese Herbalist and owner of Wealth Acupuncture on Wells Avenue so that she could fill me in on all things acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Our visit was great, not only did I learn a lot about acupuncture I also witnessed Shirliey’s passion for her practices and the well being for all of her clients. Shirliey received her Master’s in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine and including her schooling she has been practicing  for 6 years. Shirliey has been practicing in Renton for just over a year.

Acupuncture, for those of you who don’t know, is a 3000 year-old practice in which hair-thin needles are used to treat various ailmentsby unblocking energy and restoring the body’s natural balance. There are over 200 ailments that can be treated with acupuncture including, but certainly not limited to, depression, PMS, arthritis, migraines, indigestion, back pain, constipation and even alcohol addiction. Shirliey’s practice also incorporates Chinese Herbal Medicine which helps patients return to, or maintain a general state of well-being.

Shirliey also told me that acupuncture is a very personalized practice. Each client is treated as an individual, which as many of us know is not always the case in Western Medicine. In talking with Shirliey I definitely learned that acupuncture is not a “one size fits all” practice. I also learned that each treatment uses new needles.

Shirliey is truly amazing, she makes you feel comfortable and welcome immediately and assures you that when it comes to something you don’t know about there are no stupid questions. So, if a fear of the unknown has stopped you from exploring acupuncture as an option for whatever ails you need to get in touch with Shirliey. The office is very warm and welcoming and makes you feel at ease instantly.

Wealth Acupuncture accepts some insurances but it is always best to check with your provider to see if you have this type of coverage. You can check out a list of services and fees by checking out the Wealth Acupuncture website. Wealth Acupuncture is located at 212 Wells Avenue South Suite C (it’s upstairs!), call 206-550-5206 to set up an appointment or if you have any questions.

Just wanted to let everyone know Sammy and I are on vacation this week so I won’t be posting anything new.

Have no fear though, you can keep abreast on all things Renton by checking out The Picaroon. Lady P is on the street everyday with camera in hand so you will definitely be in the know. Hope everyone has a great week and check back next week when regular postings will resume.

For some Moms, Mother’s Day is not about gifts it is about getting a day off. Not doing any cleaning, cooking, wiping of butts or playing referee is the best gift of all for some. If suprising your Mom with breakfast in bed or Sunday dinner is your idea of a great gift then you should go shopping at  Shawn and Ted’s Meat Market and Top of the Hill Quality Produce up in the Highlands to make your Mother’s Day meals local and great tasting.

Shawn and Ted’s Meat Market, located inside Top of the Hill Quality Produce, have the highest quality meats around and I stopped by the other day to see what they suggested for Mother’s Day. They recommended lobster tail, lamb chops and tenderloin steak right off the top of their heads. If you Dad’s out there are a little weary in the culinary diciplines don’t worry Shawn and Ted’s have you covered with freshly prepared meats that are bound to knock Mom’s socks off like stuffed chicken with homemade sausage with cranberries, pine nut and bleu cheese stuffed flank steak and seasoned kabob meats. If your Mom prefers breakfast in bed make sure that you pick up some of their smoked bacon, it is so good I find myself questioning my choice to be veg!

After you have made your meat selection make sure to look around Top of the Hill to find some great side dish possibilities. If you are grilling up a steak consider pairing it with a baked potato and some fresh Yakima asparagus for a meal that will definitely leave Mom feeling full. Top of the Hill also has some amazing strawberries from California that would be perfect with breakfast in bed or dipped in chocolate as a dessert.

If your family likes pasta Top of the Hill also carries Cucina Fresca products which are made in Seattle. All differents types of pasta and sauces are available and they looked good. I love fresh pasta, the texture and taste is so amazing. Tomato Vodka, Smoked Tomato, Marinara and Puttanesca are just a few of the sauces that are available.

Of course no dinner is complete without some bread and Top of the Hill can provide you with that as well, freshly baked from the La Panzanella Bakery. These breads would be a great accompaniment with dinner or as some really gourmet french toast, if you are feeling crazy.

Top of the Hill and Shawn and Ted’s Meat Market are a great destination for all of your Mother’s Day meal needs. They also have a great selection of fresh flowers, hanging baskets and starter vegetables that could also be a great gift for Mom. If you have not visited this store before you should, the customer service is great and they are very family friendly. Make sure that you check out their $1 bags of fruits and veggies, a great value for produce that is just slightly past it’s prime.

Top of the Hill Quality Produce and Shawn and Ted’s Meat Market are located at 5325 NE 4th Street in the Highlands call 425-226-4316 for directions and store hours. Check out Shawn and Ted’s website for their hours and history of seleling meats in Washington.

Mom's love flowers

If  giving flowers to your Mom is a tradition on Mother’s Day then you need to get over to Cugini Flowers on 3rd Street. Sammy and I stopped on Tuesday to check out all of the great stuff that they have for Mother’s Day.

Receiving flowers is awesome, I think it is impossible to walk by fresh flowers and not smile at them and Cugini’s has some beautiful flowers and plants that are bound to make any Mom smile. Bouquets range in price from $25-$100, so they pretty much fit any budget. Here is a wonderful arrangement that immediately caught my eye while I was looking in the cooler…

I'm smiling right now just looking at this pic

If your Mom prefers house plants they have those too. I saw a couple of “Mother-in-Law Tongue”, one of my personal favorites, some huge peace lillies, and a very big leafed philodendron. The house plants were priced from $20.

Cugini does not just have flowers, they also have a very extensive selections of gifts. From vases to picture frames, statues to decorative tea cups there is a big selection to choose from. I happened to notice quite a few vases, picture frames and other decorative pieces that my own Mother-in-Law would really like. Vases in all colors and styles are so nicely displayed around the store, you need to allow yourself enough time to look around so you can see everything. These cute green vases with the butterflies on them are priced from only $13, that is a great deal.

Cugini’s is a great store and they are definitely a part of Renton history having been in business since 1973. Check out their website for location, hours and a comprehensive list of their arrangements.

I want to give a big thanks to Bill for taking the time out to answer my

Oliver and Dodger

 questions and discuss the latest in globalization trends. I want to also thank Dodger and Oliver for keeping Sammy occupied while I looked around the store, you two really made his day.

By now I am sure that everyone knows Mother’s Day is fast approaching. For some reason Mother’s Day gifts are hard to pick, it could have something to do with the fact that you are picking out a gift for the person who gave you life but that is just a guess.  Before you head out to the mall consider doing your Mother’s Day shopping in good ole’ Renton. Downtown Renton is home to some unique, locally owned businesses that can help you find the perfect gift for your Mom. For the next week I will be posting about some of the great stores in Renton that can help you find a gift for Mom no matter what her taste is or your budget.

My first stop when I have some gift giving to do is Happy Delusions, Mary has so many talented artists it is possible to find a gift for even the pickiest Mom. I stopped by today and here are just a few of the great things I found at Happy Delusions.

Artist Linda Vidmar produces some of the best ceramics that I ever seen. Everything from vases, covered pots, bird feeders, serving platters and sponge holders, Linda’s pieces run the gamut. They are also very affordable ranging in price from $15-$75. Here are just a few samples of the pieces Mary currently has at the shop. 

Necklace and Earring set by designer Laurie Olson

Some Su Studio Pieces

Reusable Grocery/Tote Bags

Starborn Alchemy

and it comes in a few different scents that are not too overpowering including lavender. Starborn also makes some great lip balms, Starborn products are reasonably priced from $4-$15. 

One of my most favorite things in Mary’s store is this great handmade, one of a kind skirt and shirt ensemble by artist Jonah of Mahuhia’s Designs. All of

Maluhia's Designs

Jonah’s products are super cute and they are made with imported fabrics. This cute outfit is priced at $95 and is a size 6-8.  Any Mom would be so lucky to get this as a gift.

Show Mom you care, don't forget the card!

 If your Mom has a sense of humor or if your therapy sessions are now the family joke give your Mom something that will make her laugh every time she uses it