The Salmon are Here…..

Salmon on top of the weir at Cedar River Park, don't worry the SPU guy saved his life

That’s right, the salmon have returned to the Cedar River to make their annual migration to their spawning sites. Watching the salmon can be captivating, the struggle to push inches through the rushing water only to be pushed back four feet. You would think after millions of years they would find a different way to ensure the survival of their species but whatever works, right?

While watching the salmon is utterly amazing the facts about their long journey from salt water to fresh water are just as amazing. This weekend you can learn just about everything you ever wanted to know about the salmon that visit our awesome Cedar River. Volunteers from the Friends of the Cedar River Watershed will be on hand at five spots along the Cedar River to answer questions and tell about the long journey the salmon make to their breeding grounds.

Volunteers will be around from 11am-4pm Saturdays and Sundays till

Salmon weir at Cedar River Park

 November 1st to inform visitors about the salmon. The bridge of the Renton Public Library, Cedar River Park, Riverview Park, Cavanaugh Pond and Landsburg Park will all be hosting volunteers. This is your chance to not only see the salmon but to ask questions or better yet have your kids ask questions about the salmon that you may not have the answers too.

Visit the Friends of the Cedar River Watershed website to get additional information about this event or information about upcoming volunteer opportunities or you could check out this flyer for any details that I may have missed.

Thanks for reading and happy salmon watching…

 

Please Read Before Voting

Initiative 1033, spearheaded by the one and only Tim Eyman, has been all over the news the last couple of weeks. I am asking all voters to really research and consider the ramifications of this initiative before they cast their vote.

While at first glance the prospect of paying less property taxes is appealing the long term ramifications of this initiative could be detrimental to our state, just ask Colorado, Mississippi and California. If I-1033 passes the States general fund, which helps fund education, health and environmental services, infrastructure, and public safety services would be cut by billions of dollars over the next 5 years. 

The timing of this initiative could not be any worse. I-1033 purposes that a cap be placed on the amount of revenue a city can earn, any revenue above that number is given back to the tax-payers the next year by lessening the amount of property taxes that they pay. That sounds great but the problem is that the cap is based on the revenue, or lack there of, that has been generated during the worst recession year that the state has had in 29 years. This means that when we finally find ourselves out of this recession there is no money to go into the rainy day fund or improve education, social services and infrastructure. If I am reading the initiative right, and oh boy is it some light reading, once in place voters would have to vote on any increase in spending into our school systems, protective services and so on.

There are many resources out there for voters to find more information about I-1033. Joel Connelly wrote this piece in the Seattle Times back in July, the Association of Washington Libraries prepared this little piece to inform voters. There was also a great piece in the Olympian back in July as well. If you would like to see how other initiatives have helped tax payers in other states read this article about Proposition 13 in California, I also found this 19-pages of light reading from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities which discusses the problems with property tax caps. 

Look, I am all for a reduction in government spending but let’s cut the spending at the administrative level not the level where it helps the people like education. Please take the time to do some research before filling out your ballot and by that I don’t mean just listening to T.V. ads.

Thanks for reading and happy voting….

 

Is Your Costume Ready?

When you are the parent of a young child you start talking about Halloween costumes in July. I am an advocate for making a decision early on in the season and getting the costume as soon as possible, that way your child can not change their mind and you are not scrambling around at the last minute. However, normal people start getting their costumes together around this time of the month and I wanted to let everyone know about a great local costume store here in Renton.

A Perfect Party & Great Costumes, formerly Graight’s Great Costumes, has been doing business in this area for over 28 years. With that many years

you can never have too many severed heads at Halloween

 experience they have to know what they are doing right? They do.

I could not believe the number of costumes in this store. Costumes to rent, costumes to buy, costumes for kids, costumes for adults and even costumes for two people. They had pirates, superheroes, fairies, cats, zombies and many, many more that I can not possibly list here.  In addition to costumes they have costume accessories, decorations, make-up, party supplies and balloons. They also have the greatest selection of hats that I have ever seen.

sometimes a hat makes the whole costume

The prices at a Perfect Party are very competitive to the “other”costume stores out there and you know how awesome it is to support a local business.

Halloween is going to be so fabulous this year. Not only is it on a Saturday but we also get an extra hour to be ghoulish that night, so your costume needs to be perfect.

A Perfect Party and Great Costumes is located at 1120 SW 16th St. Bldg #7, the store is located next to Mr. Rooter. Check out A Perfect Party’s website to see all of the merchandise and services they have to offer.

 

Business Expo and Harvest Festival this Saturday..

Come to the Piazza Renton this Saturday from 10am-4pm to participate in the Harvest Festival and the Business Expo. I can think of no better way to enjoy this amazing Fall weather that we have been having.

The Harvest Festival is going to take place at the Piazza Renton and will feature a farmer’s market, arts and crafts, live music, food, pumpkin patch and a kid’s booth.

The Business Expo is happening inside the Spirit of Washington building and over 70 businesses will be on hand. This is an awesome way for consumers  to get familiar with all of the businesses in Renton, especially when holiday shopping is right around the corner.

After you have spent some time at the Expo and Harvest Festival make sure you stroll through Downtown to checkout all of the scarecrows and spooky decorations that are on display in local businesses. Autumn and Halloween are definitely in the air and it is apparent all through Downtown.

After strolling through Downtown stop at The Met, Liberty Cafe, The Red House, DC’s Bar and Grill or one of the other local restaurants that we have to catch a bite and get a drink. My own personal favorite for a quick bite and a really good beer is The Met. It is my opinion that they have the best tasting beer on tap in all of Downtown and the staff is always really nice to us.

So, get out and enjoy our great little Downtown and all that it has to offer.

thanks for reading and I’ll see you tomorrow, Sammy and I will definitely be decorating a pumpkin.

 

Lights, Camera, Action….

The last day to register for Renton Film Frenzy II with the hopes of winning the coveted Curvee Award  is coming up this Friday, October 9th at 5pm. So, if you have been procrastinating you better get on it.

If you are wondering what the Renton Film Frenzy is (gasp!) it is this. A 50-hour film making extravaganza that takes place in Renton. Participants have 50 hours to write, shoot and edit a movie up to 4 minutes long. The catch is this, participants will be given a location, in Renton of course, and a few words of dialogue that have to be incorporated into the movie. See they do that so you can not shoot your movie early, although I guess with some really good editing…

Anyways, the winners are announced at the Curvee  Awards Gala, which is totally red carpet and littered with paps, at the Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center on October 27th. In addition to the Gala there is also a FilmWalk where all films will be screened at various locations in Downtown Renton on October 29th and 30th, more information to come on that.

So, if you have always wanted to make a film, use that camcorder that you had to have but never use or just want to have a good time and challenge yourself creatively then register for the FilmFrenzy. The fee is $50 but the memories are priceless. The best place to go for all the rules and detailed information would be the FilmFrenzy website so go there now and break a leg!

 

When You Don’t Turn on the Computer

Hello Readers, sorry for the lack of posting this week but honestly I have not even turned the computer on. I have to confess it has actually been really nice.

Anyways, I am hard at work with the calendar of events for October and it will be up by tonight, be sure to check back because there are a ton of events happening this month.

Thanks again for reading….

 

The Results Are In

Unfortunately there weren’t too many of them. A few weeks ago I posted a very general, one question poll asking if people thought the Renton Public Library should annex to King County Library System. Only 44 people answered and 25 voted in favor of annexation, 18 voted to remain independent and only 1 person said they needed more information before making a decision.

While the special election which is to be held in February seems far away, it is never too early to start spreading the word if we want to keep our library local.

Thanks for reading and am I the only one who did not get a Renton Reporter today?

 

Renton Public Library Closed Friday and Monday

Just FYI- RPL will be closed tomorrow, September 4th for a furlough day, open regular hours on Saturday, September 5th and closed on Monday, September 7th for the Labor Day Holiday.
Big thanks to all the City of Renton workers that work so hard to make our city great and for making an effort to help solve the budget crunch, you are greatly appreciated around here.

 

Library to open at 11am tomorrow

Just a quick one to let you know that the Renton Public Library will not be opening at the usually 10am tomorrow but rather 11am due to a staff meeting. Sorry I did not post this sooner, it has been a busy day.

 

DTR First Friday Block Party Tonight

DTR. First Friday Block Party Tonight on 3rd between Mill and Wells. Enough said…