Did you know that Normandy Park has no service club, like a Rotary or Lions?

Bill Wippel is looking to change that, and is seeking feedback on whether NP should have its own Lions Club.

Do you think Normandy Park should have a Lions Club? Contact Bill at 206-819-8200.

There will be an introductory meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 1st at 1pm at Angelo’s Restaurant, located at 601 SW 153rd Street.

Bill adds this list of ongoing projects Lions can help with:

• Stewardship Miller & Walker Creeks.
• Restoration of Marine View Park
• Promote and support shopping in Normandy Park

The Normandy Park Police Department is inviting all residents to join their neighbors in fighting local crime during the 27th annual “National Night Out” on Tuesday, Aug. 3rd.

Here are the details, including info how you can join in:

WHAT: “National Night Out” in Normandy Park.

WHEN: Tuesday, Aug. 3rd from 6pm – 10pm.

WHERE: Your neighborhood – see below for details on how to join in.

INFO: From the city’s newsletter:

GET THE WORD OUT – join your neighbors & “give crime and drugs a going away party”!

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

Mark your calendars and celebrate the 27th annual National Night Out against crime and drugs.  NNO, sponsored by the Normandy Park Police Department, will involve over 10,000 communities from all 50 states, US territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world. 

National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness and to provide an opportunity to promote and celebrate  police-community partnerships in crime prevention efforts. 

From 6:00 to 10:00 pm, residents in neighborhoods throughout Normandy Park and across the nation are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors. Many neighborhoods throughout Normandy Park will be hosting a variety of special events such as block parties, cookouts, ice cream socials, potlucks and games.

2010 Registration
We encourage every neighborhood to get out and participate in “America’s Night Out Against Crime”.

Register your party early and enjoy a visit from K-9 Rocky, the Police Department, or the Fire Department!

Return registration form by July 30 to:

Normandy Park Police Department
801 SW 174th Street
Normandy Park, WA 98166

For more information, including registration forms, click here.

The City of Normandy Park’s “Music in the Park” summer concert series runs Sundays in July and August at Marvista Park from 5pm – 6:30pm, beginning July 18th.

Marvista Park is located at 20000 4th Ave. SW. in Normandy Park.

This is FREE family entertainment, and here’s the full schedule:

2010 Music in the Park Summer Concert Schedule:

July 18 – Locust St. Taxi
Horn Band – A fun band sure to make you smile, original and infectious horn-happy eclectic rock, swing and everything

July 25 – Craicmore
Contemporary Celtic – As heard on Without a Trace, and Days of Our lives, Craicmore takes you on a sound tour of Ireland. Music that touches the heart, mind, and soul. Full of fun & humor

August 1 – 1st Act: Recess Monkey
Hip Music for All Ages – especially for those under 4 feet high. Original pop & rock singable, danceable songs that parents and children enjoy. Beatles type music for young ones, too

2nd Act: Normandy Park Youth Orchestra
Classical Music to Popular Showtunes

August 8 – Woodrush
Alternative-Americana – Blues Traveler without the harmonica. This trio will have you dancing all the same. Original acoustic rock.

August 15 – Starlings
Americana Folk / Organic Country – Folk music, delicate, edgy and natural, at its finest. Sit back and reminisce about those lost summer days

August 22 – Jam On My Muffin
Old Time, Cajun, Irish – foot-stomping Cajun and Appalachian, as well as music from Quebec and Nova Scotia.

August 29 – Blue Ringer
Altertantive Country Rock – 2010 Grammy nominations in FOUR categories, from cowboy grunge to alternative country rock. The music is bold and energetic.

Paint your face, decorate your bike, get out your flags folks, ‘cuz it’s time to celebrate the 4th of July in Normandy Park!

The annual Normandy Park 4th of July Community Celebration starts at 10am and goes until 1pm on Sunday, July 4th.

Events will include:

• 2.8K Fun Run
• Children’s Parade
• Ice Cream Social
• Bike Decorating Contest
• and More!

The 2.8K All Downhill Fun Run begins at 10:25am at Marvista Elementary School, and finishes at SW Normandy Terrace. Visit www.npcove.org to download the Fun Run registration form. This year’s custom-designed race t-shirt can be ordered in advance by all runners for pick up at the finish line. Non-runners may purchase any left over shirts at the end of the race. For more information contact the Cove at 206-242-3778.

Get a great seat along the parade route to view classic cars, floats, wagons, bicycles, strollers, horses, marching bands and more! Of course, everyone is also encouraged to participate in the Children’s Parade. The parade leaves Marvista Elementary parking lot at 10:30am.

Be part of the annual City of Normandy Park Arts Commission 4th of July Bike Decorating Contest. Children who participate in the annual parade through town are encouraged to decorate their bikes in the holiday spirit. At the end of the parade, park your bikes in the designated area near the ten- nis courts at the Cove for judging. Prizes will be awarded for the “Best Patriotic Decorations”!

After the parade, join your neighbors and friends for the Ice Cream Social at the Cove. Enjoy fun and games for all ages – Car Show, jumpy toys, music, and more.

Everyone is invited to attend, so please come and join in on the 2010, 4th of July Community Celebration!

The City of Normandy Park published an update on the progress of the First Avenue South construction project this week, claiming some elements of the job are over 90 per cent completed, while others are much lower.

It’s no secret that this ongoing project, funded by federal grant money, has caused numerous travel delays in the area, garnering frustration not only amongst commuters, but from business owners whose businesses have suffered because of it.

Additional work will begin at the intersection of 192nd SW following Memorial Day weekend, which will require closure of the entire intersection for approximately two weeks.

The city did not specify an end date for the construction, but we know that many residents would like it to happen soon.

Here’s the city’s update, as printed in the May 28 City Manager’s Report:

To date the Contractor, Pivetta Bros. Construction, has made the following progress:

• Storm sewer – 99 percent complete
• Joint Utilities – 90 percent complete and
• Retaining walls (2) – 90 percent complete
• East side improvements;
  • Curb and gutter on east side – 75 percent complete
  • Sub grade preparation;
  • First two lifts of asphalt;
  • Street lighting foundations – 50 percent complete;
  • Concrete sidewalk formwork – 33 percent complete
• Signal modifications – 80 percent complete;
• Street lighting conduit for both sides – 90 percent complete.

Work will begin at the intersection of 192nd Avenue S.W. following Memorial Day weekend. The work involved will require closure of the entire intersection for approximately two weeks. Detour signs will be erected to direct motorists to alternate routes. Project completion is estimated by mid- July based on the contractor’s schedule.

According to the March 26 City of Normandy Park City Manager’s Report, if garbage haulers in Normandy Park go on strike this week:

“The City has the right to require Allied-Republic to lease their equipment to the City, in the event of contract default, so City employees can collect solid waste.”

That’s right – if a strike is called (which could be as early as midnight Wednesday, March 31st), you just might see city workers out collecting garbage and recycling beginning Thursday, April 1st (and that ain’t no joke).

However, City Manager Doug Schulze warns us not to expect to see any high-ranking officials going door to door collecting trash.

“If it got to that, we’d have members of our public works staff out there,” he said. “And we’d probably set up some drop-off stations for people to bring their trash and recycling.”

Too bad. We were so looking forward to seeing Mayor George Hadley in a bright yellow vest hanging off a big ol’ garbage truck lifting cans.

Here’s the actual announcement from the newsletter (sign up here to receive it yourself free from the city):

Potential Sanitation Worker Strike
Teamsters Local 117 and 174 represents sanitation workers employed by Allied – Republic and Waste Management. Contracts between the sanitation workers (trash and recycling collection) Allied-Republic and Waste Management will soon expire.

If agreement is not reached on a tentative contract proposal, sanitation workers may vote to authorize a strike as early as Monday, March 29th. If Teamsters Local 117 and 174 vote to strike, it is likely that landfill workers at King County transfer stations will honor the picket line. Allied-Republic provides solid waste and recycling collection service to Normandy Park residences under contract with the City of Normandy Park.

Based on terms of the contract, the City has the right to require Allied-Republic to lease their equipment to the City, in the event of contract default, so City employees can collect solid waste. Contract default would occur if Allied-Republic fails to perform for a period of five consecutive days. City staff will have plans in place to provide, at a minimum, basic solid waste disposal options for residents in the event of a strike. However, conversations with representatives from Allied-Republic as well as Teamsters suggest both sides are optimistic about reaching a tentative agreement over the weekend.

The City of Normandy Park’s City Manager’s Report (link, PDF file) says that the former Dairy Queen building, located at 17827 1st Ave South (near QFC), will be remodeled and occupied by a Subway Sandwich shop and probably one other tenant.

According to the report:

The former Dairy Queen building is going to receive a facelift and part of the remodeled building will be occupied by Subway Sandwich.

Plans for the remodel are currently under review by the Community Development Department, but the issuance of a building permit is expected within the next week or two.

The remodeled building will eventually be occupied by two tenants. The photograph to the right below is an architectural concept of the remodeled building.

The organizers of Cove to Clover, the 5k fundraiser race for the Highline Area Food Bank coming March 14th, are issuing a “friendly challenge” to the City of Burien, including councilmembers and city employees, to sign-up to offset city fees that are being charged to stage the event.

Fees that are not being charged by the other city involved in the race, Normandy Park.

Did we mention that this event is a fundraiser, and last year raised $12,000 for the Highline Area Food Bank?

And that John Nelson, the main organizer, is one of four recipients for the City of Burien’s 2010 Citizen Community Leader awards being presented March 6th?

And did we mention that the City of Normandy Park is NOT charging any city fees for the event, which starts at their Community Club, so they have not been challenged?

Oh yeah, I guess we did.

Here’s the “friendly challenge” language from the Cove to Clover website:

Burien City Council: You just got served!

Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Council members,

Thanks for listening to my request last night to waive some fees for the race. I now understand that the fees can’t be waived and have been given some sage advice about how to offset these fees in future year.

However, for this year I have a proposal.

I happened to be at the NP Council Meeting when Rose Clark issued a friendly challenge to the Normandy Park Council to enter a team for the very worthy Relay for Life.

Since I’m new to this game, I’m stealing a play from your own playbook. From Normandy Park, I’m issuing my own friendly challenge to the Burien City Council and City Staff.

I’m challenging every member of the council to secure at least 2 registrations for the 2010 Cove to Clover. I especially encourage you to personally walk or run the race yourselves and to bring a new friend. It will be a lot of fun and I’d love to see our leaders all out there partaking in the goodness.

When you find a victim that is willing to register, make sure they enter “BTOWN” in the “Reg Code” field of the online or paper entry form to get official challenge credit. You can make an extra donation to the cause while registering which will also go to the challenge. You can pick up a paper form at Mick Kelly’s or register at www.covetoclover.com.

For your convenience, I setup a webpage to track the progress of the challenge (www.covetoclover.com/btown). It will be updated daily.

I know your team can do this and will have fun in the process.

Thanks for your consideration,
John Nelson

PS: Next year, we can get NP and Burien into a head-to-head competition but I’ve learned to take baby steps first.

Click here to see how much the City has raised so far (updated nightly).

[EDITOR'S NOTE: as of 6pm Thurs. Feb. 25th, the total amount raised by the City of Burien = $0.00].

To register and for all the race info, visit www.covetoclover.com.

It’ll be interesting to see if, and how, the City of Burien will respond…

• Will they suddenly find a way to waive the fees?
• Will city employees suddenly sign-up en masse?
• Will we see Mayor McGilton and Mike Martin running down SW 152nd?

We’ll keep ya posted…

Ric Jacobson is the Des Moines Rotarian in charge of lining up the largest line-up of wineries – 25 – in the six year history of the Poverty Bay Wine Festival, which is coming to the Landmark Event Center in Des Moines on March 6th and 7th.

Ric reports that the following Northwest wineries will be at the festival on Saturday and Sunday to serve the guests. If you taste a wine you want to take home, bottles will be for sale at the event. All proceeds of the sale of wine will go directly to the Rotary Club of Des Moines, who use the funds for the many great things they do for the community.

The following wineries will be in attendance for the event:

• Canyon’s Edge
• Chandler Reach
• Covington Cellars – NEW
• Coyote Canyon Winery – NEW
• Burien’s own E.B. Foote Winery (WLB Advertiser)
• Eaton Hill
• Erin Glenn
• Fall Line
• Five Star Cellars
• Fort Walla Walla Cellars – NEW
• Kestrel – NEW
• Knipprath – NEW
• Masset Winery
• Otis Kenyon
• Page Cellars
• Pondera – NEW
• Sleeping Dog
• Sodo Vino – NEW
• Stina’s Cellar
• Two Vintners – NEW
• Vashon Winery
• Vin du Lac – NEW
• Waving Tree
• Willis Hall
• Windy Point

Des Moines Rotarian, Dave Loft, in charge of food and goodies at the Poverty Bay Wine Festival has lined up the “best of the best” for food and snacks for wine-fest guests:

• Des Moines’ Anthony’s HomePort
• Des Moines’ Salty’s at Redondo
• Charley’s on Central Avenue in Kent
• Cafe Pacific Catering
• Forte Chocolates
• Kauzlarich Smoked Products
• Panera Bread
• Poverty Bay Coffee
• Waters to go
• Redondo Fred Meyer
• Archery Bistro
• Elliot Bay Brewery

The sixth annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival is surely the hottest ticket in town – well lots of towns, surrounding Des Moines. Your ticket includes fun, music, wine, food and even beer, all presented in the historic and magnificent Landmark Event Center (aka Landmark on the Sound), which is located at 23660 Marine View Drive South in Des Moines.

Tickets for the event are just $20 in advance from CorkyCellars (206-824-9462), Des Moines Drug or your local Des Moines Rotarian.

Parking and free shuttles will be available in the South Marina Parking lot.

All attendees must be 21 years of age and photo ID is required.

Click here for more information.

Normandy Park’s first-ever Winter Festival will be held this Saturday, Dec. 12th, from 11am to 4pm at the Normandy park Towne Center (located at 200th & 1st Ave South).

From their poster (download/view PDF here):

Join us at the first Normandy Park Winter Festival in Towne Square (1st Avenue at 200th) for holiday fun.

A free family event with over a dozen kids’ activities including Santa photos (bring your pets, too!), face painting, cookie decorating, Rockie the Police Dog, karaoke and caroling, and performances by Melanie’s Dancers.

Give back. Bring an item for the “Stuff the Trailer” senior gift drive or a food bank donation, and receive a free cocoa, cider or coffee at the Little League Trailer.

Support your local Normandy Park businesses. Raffles every half hour. Win prizes and gift certificates, receive discount coupons, and shop for hand-made gifts from local artists.

Raffle Sponsors:

• Archery Bistro
• Optimal Health Chiropractic
• SkySoles Reflexology
• Benson’s Best Bites
• Richard Steppic Wood Turning
• Emerald City Smoothie
• Companion Animal Medical Center
• Starbucks

Special thanks for generous sponsorship by:

• Normandy Park Senior Living
• Highline Little League
• Melanie’s Dance Unlimited

City of Normandy Park Arts Commission