Archive for September 2008

Art lovers head to Renton

Renton is one of the most enjoyable cities to just spend the day with your family to enjoy the sites. One of the biggest unknown part of Renton is the art work that has been placed around the city for your enjoyment.
Renton Municipal Arts Commission Next Meeting
October 7, 2008
Council Conference Room, Renton City Hall
4:30 p.m.
The Renton Municipal Arts Commission was formed by Resolution 1320, on August 9, 1965. Overseeing an annual budget, the Commission is charged with the responsibility of acting in an advisory capacity to city government in connection with the artistic and cultural development of the city.
The Commission consists of 12 members appointed by the Mayor and subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of the City Council. Of those 12 members, at least four must be residents of the city. Its membership includes representatives from many diverse fields, with special interests in architecture, art, music, literature, education and other cultural disciplines. All members of the Commission are appointed for three-year terms, and all serve without compensation for services.
The Commission operates with a set of policies and procedures established by the members.
Commission responsibilities:
The Commission is responsible for reviewing the design, execution and acceptance of works of art funded or otherwise acquired by the city.
The Commission, along with the Mayor, annually reviews all capital improvement projects anticipated within the following two-year period to determine which projects are appropriate for inclusion of works of art and to estimate the amount allocated for this purpose. Whenever a work of art is to be funded under the One Percent for Art ordinance as authorized under Ordinance No 3749 in 1983, the Commission selects the appropriate work of art and recommends that artwork to the City Council. The Commission may initiate contracts with artists for these works of art.
The Commission is responsible for directing maintenance, inspection and rotation of works of art selected and installed for the city. The Commission keeps an inventory of all city-owned artworks.
The Commission may seek alternative funding sources for visual and performing arts programs.
2006 - 2007 Accomplishments:

  • Placed and dedicated the artwork “Home” by artist Dawn Murin at Heritage Park.
  • Placed and dedicated the artwork “Duwamish” by artist Doug Kyes at the Henry Moses Pool.
  • Recruited new Arts Commission membership representing artists and graphic design. Integrated a new youth member.
  • Provided funding and participated in Arts Unlimited art walks and the Renton Annual Art Show.
  • Networked with other South King County arts organizations. Lobbied in Olympia for additional art funding.
  • Continued local arts shows in the Carco Theater lobby.
  • Staffed Renton River Days art booth with interactive “build your own” art projects for children.
  • Teamed with Renton Parks to host the Renton River Days Kids Day coloring contest.

2008 Goals:

  • Place artwork “Welcome to Renton” by Glassworks at the Tiffany Park Community Center.
  • Continue to seek alternative funding sources for visual and performing arts programs.
  • Find a new enhanced location for the artwork “Emerging” currently located at Carco Theater.
  • Repair and move the artwork “Equui” at Burnett Linear Park.
  • Update city artwork brochures and Arts Commission website content.
  • Carry on the Bravo Award program to recognize individuals and organizations that support the arts in Renton.
  • Replace and update missing or damaged identification plaques for City artwork.
  • Seek community participation with the upcoming Municipal Arts Commission Master Plan
  • Pursue and support performing and visual art opportunities within the Renton community.

Whats going on in Renton this October

Looking for something to do? Want to help out the community? Here is a small list of a few things that are going on that could be fun for you and the family.


Green and Clean Saturday

October 4, 2008
Heritage Park, 233 Union Ave NE
9:30am to 11:30am
Get ready to roll up your sleeves, enjoy the changing autumn leaves, and help make a difference in one of our newest parks. Make it a family day! Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult or guardian. Call 425-430-6600 for more information or to register your group, yourself, or your family! Check-in begins at 9am. Heritage Park, 233 Union Ave NE

Renton Municipal Arts Commission Next Meeting

October 7, 2008Council Conference Room, Renton City Hall4:30pm

Teen Summit

October 8, 2008
Renton Community Center
8:00a. to 1:00pm
A fun-filled day of motivational speakers, educational break-out sessions such as money management, heathy lifestyles, career pathways, going green and much more! This event if FREE to Renton youth in grades 7 - 11 and lunch is provided. Contact the Renton Community Center at 425-430-6700 to register. Renton Community Center

Renton Shredathon

October 11, 2008
Sams Club Parking lot, 901 S Grady Way
9:00am to 12:00pm
Free - up to five boxes containing paper documents to be destroyed in a truck-mounted shredder. Donation of canned goods will be accepted for Renton Food Bank. A cooperative program between Renton Police, Sams Club, Iron Mountain, and Food Bank. Sams Club Parking lot, 901 S Grady Way

Speaker Series at the Museum

October 14, 2008
Renton History Museum, 235 Mill Ave
4:30pm to 6:00pm
The program features a screening of Land of the Giants, a documentary that explores the story of the old Indian trail that became the seven-lane Interstate 90. The “giants”—huge hemlock, cedar, fir and spruce trees—gave rise to a thriving lumber and logging industry. The film’s co-producer Chuck Brodish will tell the story behind the video. High school through adults. Renton History Museum, 235 Mill Ave

Home Maintenance Tip -Fall Maintenance Tips for Your Home

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it...is like wrapping a present and not giving it. "
-- William Arthur Ward


Although it may be quite warm in some parts of the country, fall is approaching, and it's time to think about preparing your home for colder, wetter weather. The list below will help you keep warm and dry in the coming months...and help to keep your utility bills lower!
Fall home maintenance checklist
· Check all window and door locks for proper operation.
· Check your home for water leaks and repair as necessary. Read more at Preventing water damage at your house.
· Review your fire escape plan with your family.
· Make sure there are working nightlights at the top and bottom of all stairs.
· Have a heating professional check your heating system. Wood burning stove connector pipes and chimneys should be inspected by a certified chimney sweep annually.
· Protect your home from frozen pipes. Read more at No Frozen Pipes.
· Replace or clean your furnace filter monthly.
· Run all gas-powered lawn equipment until the fuel is gone before storing. This removes flammable liquid storage from your garage. At the same time, make sure you aren't storing dirty, oily rags in a pile; they can ignite spontaneously.
· Test your emergency generator if you have one.
· Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the flues and check your fireplace damper. Soot and creosote, which build up inside the chimney, can ignite when a fire is lit in the fireplace.
· Remove any bird nests from chimney flues and outdoor lighting fixtures as they are a fire hazard.
· Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and replace batteries. Read more at Smoke alarms save lives.
· Re-caulk around doors and windows to reduce heat/cooling loss.
· Check for cracked or missing caulk around the base of your toilet, bathtub, and bathroom cabinets. Properly sealing gaps between your bathroom fixtures and flooring material can prevent damage to the sub-floor.
Please share this with your clients and friends. You could make someone's day.
Thank you for making me your #1 Real Estate Agent.
Warmly,
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
E-Mail : snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

High School, College, and Your Car Insurance Rates

The moment your child gets their drivers license and the moment they head off to college are two major events in a parent’s life. You will more than likely reminisce on how you watched them ride around on a Big Wheel as you watch them drive down the street the first time. You might think back to all the times you told your child to clean their room as they are packing up the car to go to college. One thing you may not have thought about is how all of this is affecting your car insurance rates.
Adding a Teen Driver to Your Car Insurance Policy
While adding a teen driver to your car insurance will more than likely increase your rates, there are ways to minimize the damage after you add them to your policy. The trick is knowing what car insurance discounts apply to you and your newest driver. Below are some tips from InsWeb on how to save on your car insurance.
Good Student Discount
Good grades can be a car insurance discount. If your child maintains a GPA of 3.0 or better, you could save 10-25% on your car insurance. This is one way to motivate Jr. to hit the books.
Compare Multiple Car Insurance Quotes
Each car insurance provider will review your information differently; which means varying rates from company to company. Taking time to compare car insurance quotes will help you find the best deal after you add your teen to your car insurance. Another time to compare car insurance quotes is when your child makes the jump from high school to college. Maybe your child won’t be taking a car with them to college, allowing you to take them off your policy and lower your rates. If your child is going to an out of state college, there might be different car insurance restrictions than what you are used to in your home state.
Increase Your Deductible to Lower Your Premium
Many people may know that raising their deductibles on their insurance policy can save them money, but most don't feel the need to do this until they have added a teen driver to their policy. Once you raise your deductible, you are also raising the amount you have to pay before your insurance kicks in.
Avoid Accidents and Tickets
Here is a no brainer; if you avoid accidents and tickets, you pay less for car insurance. You will pay more for car insurance once you add a teen driver to your policy. However, if your teen driver gets into an accident, your rates will be drastically affected.
Whether you are adding a teen driver onto your policy or removing a college bound student, these simple measures can help you save hundreds of dollars on your car insurance rates. Hundreds of dollars that can be used for their books, computer and food.

Tips On Using A Warm Mist Humidifier


If your home is very dry and you need to add moisture to the air all year long, you may want to consider a whole house humidification system. These are installed on a forced air heating system and should be installed by a professional. If you only need to use a humidifier in the winter weather, a single room model will be sufficient. These are plugged into any electrical outlet and can be used in the kitchen, bedroom or any other room in your home. The size of the water tank determines how long you can run the humidifier without adding water. Be sure the model you choose is large enough for the room and the amount of time it will be running.
Dry indoor air causes a wide variety of physical symptoms including a stuffy nose, dry cough, nosebleeds, dry skin and brittle hair. A warm mist humidifier will relieve these symptoms and help you sleep better. Dry air is common when the heat is turned on in the winter. If you live in a dry climate, you may need to humidify your home all year long. Excessive dryness causes wood furniture and flooring to crack and warp. Houseplants can dry out and the seams of your wallpaper could peel.
· A Whole House Humidification System
· Benefits of a Warm Mist Humidifier
· Cleaning Your Warm Mist Humidifier:

Benefits of a Warm Mist Humidifier:
A big benefit of the warm mist is the ability to put medication in the humidifier, as you can with a vaporizer. This is great for treating colds, congestion and winter viruses. Vaporizers release hot steam into the air and are notorious for causing burns in children. The steam in warm humidifiers is initially heated and then cooled just before it enters the room. This results in less risk of burns. Because the water is heated, there is less risk of mold spores and bacteria breeding in the water. Since the mist is cooled before entering the room, mold can still grow, but happens less often than with cool mist humidifiers. Proper cleaning and maintenance can nearly eliminate mold spores in the air from the humidifier. In addition, monitor the humidity level in the room and make sure it doesn't exceed fifty percent. Mold flourishes at higher levels of humidity.

Cleaning Your Warm Mist Humidifier:
To keep your humidifier working well for years, regular cleaning and maintenance is needed. Always clean your humidifier according to the manufacturer's directions. You will find this information in the owner's manual. You should empty the water reservoir and rinse with clean water. Dry it out with a towel before adding new water. It's best to do this each time you use it. At the end of the season, give it a thorough cleaning before storing it. Use a disinfectant cleaner and dry thoroughly. You should clean the heating element at the end of the season to remove any build up that has accumulated. Doing this will help keep the air in your room cleaner. Many warm mist machines have humidifier filters. The filter will need to be changed at least once, at the end of the season. Depending on the usage, you may need to change the filter more often. If you have hard water, the filter will need to be changed more often. Using distilled water can prevent the filter from becoming clogged with iron or other contaminants in your tap water.

New Listing in Renton Benson Hill

I saw a wonderful house in the Great neighborhood of Spring Hill. This listing at $439,000 features a grand foyer leading to formal living room with vaulted ceiling & formal dining room with cove ceiling.








Kitchen features a cooking island, pantry & work space. You will love the hand painted ceramic tile counter.

Upstairs master bedroom has a walk-in closet, 5 piece bathroom with soaking tub, & an adjoining large bonus room that can be an office, nursery or sitting room! Two more bedrooms upstairs, one with a walk-in closet. Professionally designed garden has apple & cherry trees, blueberry bushes & flowering plants.


I would love to show you this great house.

Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
E-Mail : snyder@kw.com
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Time to Recycle Renton

Waste Reduction and Recycling
Fall Recycling Day is Saturday, September 13, 2008 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. North Parking Lot of Renton Technical College(NE 6th Place & Monroe Avenue NE)
Recycle Ease!
Help us reach our goals this year by bringing your recyclable items to this event. Look below for a list of materials that will be accepted. If you have questions, call us at 425.430.7396.

Please Note:

  1. Limit one trip per household.
  2. No vehicle may join the line after 3:00 p.m.
  3. Vehicles will only be allowed to enter line from South-bound on Monroe Ave.
  4. No business waste accepted.
  5. We reserve the right to refuse oversized loads or unacceptable materials.
  6. Acceptable Recyclable Materials Please load your vehicle in the order listed below (we will be unloading materials in the opposite order, i.e. plastics first):
  7. Bulky yardwaste and clean wood: bulky (min. 2" in diameter) branches, stumps, shrubs, unpainted, untreated wood and plywood.
    Broken concrete (rebar excluded), brick, porcelain (all parts removed).
  8. Scrap metal and appliances: auto parts, lawn chairs, water heaters, lawn mowers, large appliances and other metal, iron and steel. Empty oil and other fluids from auto parts and lawn mowers. No television sets. (Remove all non-metal parts from bikes, mowers, etc.).
  9. Refrigerators, freezers and home air conditioners $25 cash charge per unit. No commercial refrigeration equipment.
  10. Car, pickup truck, and motorcycle tires: Bias ply, steel belted, and studded tires. Take tires off rims. Residential waste only. Limit 10 tires per load. (Call 425.430.7396 for approval of larger loads).
  11. Used oil filters: All automobile filters accepted. Residential waste only.
  12. Uncontaminated motor oil: Store in sealed, lidded, reusable container. (Do not mix with any other substances.) Residential waste only.
  13. Uncontaminated antifreeze: Store in sealed, lidded, reusable container. (Do not mix with any other substances.) Residential waste only.
  14. Lead-acid batteries: car, truck, marine and motorcycle batteries accepted. No household batteries. Residential waste only.
    Ni-Cad (nickel cadmium) rechargeable batteries: These are found in cell phones and power tools. No alkaline batteries please.
    Cell phones.
  15. Unusable textiles: stained, torn or otherwise unusable clothing, sheets, towels and other fabric items accepted. No wet material or furniture cushions. Separate from reusable items.
  16. Reusable household goods: clothing, small furniture, small appliances and household items that are in good condition and reusable "as is." No console TVs, sofas or baby furniture. No broken furniture or appliances. No hide-a-beds or water beds.
  17. Plastics: we accept only the following clean plastics. Please check plastics for recycling codes. #2 and #4, plastic bags (remove receipts and food debris). Limited quantities please. Please separate.
  18. Styrofoam peanuts (foam peanuts and popcorn only), bubble wrap, no hard packaging or molded containers. Separate from other plastics.

Do Not Bring:

  • Garbage
  • Pesticides
  • Cleaning products
  • Styrofoam packaging
  • Leaves
  • Grass clippings and small branches
  • Sod
  • Fluorescent lights
  • Drywall
  • Windows
  • Carpet
  • Paint
  • Solvents and thinners
  • #1 and #2 plastic bottles
  • #6 food containers
  • Alkaline batteries
  • Glass plates
  • Mirrors
  • Bottles
  • Commercial refrigeration equipment

If you cannot use up these household products, call the Hazards Line at 206.296.4692 to find out where to dispose of them properly.


Services For This Event Provided By:All Battery Sales and Services, City of Renton Public Works, City of Renton Fire Department, Emerald Services Inc., ITR, Inc., L&S Tire Company, Mailbox Express, Northwest Center for the Retarded, RBRC, Rainier Wood Recyclers, Renton Concrete Recyclers, Renton Highlands East Safeway, Total Reclaim, Inc., Waste Management Rainier, Inc.
This event is funded by the King County WR/R Program and the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County.
For more information, call the Information Line at 425.430.7398 or the Solid Waste Utility at 425.430.7396.
Email the Solid Waste Coordinator