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CRIME BLOTTER | Group assaults driver with pepper spray, steals his phone [3]
VOL. 15, NO. 18
Mirror
F E D E R A L WAY
division of Sound Publishing
OPINION | Roegner: Leadership in aftermath of shooting rampage [4] Jarvis: Czar investigates PACC poster child [5] FUN BRICK | FW resident hopes charitable idea catches on with investors [7] MUSIC LEGENDS | Centerstage Theatre will auction items signed by rock drummers [8]
SPORTS | FW grad is Iceland league MVP. COMMUNITY CALENDAR | Bowl a strike FRIDAY, May 3, 2013 | 50¢ Plus: Jason Collins and gay athletes [17] against cancer this weekend [15]
Rebranding Federal Way: Ask students?
Farmers market kicks off season with Elvis
By GREG ALLMAIN gallmain@fedwaymirror.com
By ANDY HOBBS editor@fedwaymirror.com
Elvis will ring in the 2013 summer season for the Federal Way Farmers Market, now celebrating its 10th year. The opening ceremony begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at The Com- Danny Vernon mons mall’s southwest parking lot. Lunch with Elvis — also known as local entertainer Danny Vernon — will begin at noon. Patrons are encouraged to grab a bite to eat while Elvis croons the classics. This year’s market features more than 50 vendors along with plenty of fresh produce from local farmers. Several longtime vendors will return, along with master gardeners and local crafters. As for food vendors, Great Harvest Bread will sell classic goodies, Little Russia bistro will serve crepes, Charro Azteca will whip up Mexican food, Parsnips will offer German grub, and Ono Chargrilled Burgers will put a Hawaiian spin on an American classic. [ more MARKET, page 10 ] NEWSPAPER RACKS: To see a list of rack locations for the print edition of The Mirror, visit federalwaymirror.com/about_us.
Cop stops traffic for ducks
Officer Dave Johnson of the Federal Way Police Department stopped traffic to help a family of ducks — a mother and her 13 ducklings — cross the road. Suzanne Hitztaler captured this photo of the feathered pedestrians around 11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 25, on South 320th Street just east of Pacific Highway. The photo went viral after Hitztaler posted it on The Mirror’s Facebook page. Federal Way police note that the department takes all pedestrian safety seriously. PHOTO BY SUZANNE HITZTALER
As the city tries to figure out ways to revitalize Federal Way’s economy and business community, one idea is to ask high school students to tackle the task. The Finance/Economic Development/Regional Affairs Committee (FEDRAC) held a frank discussion during its April 23 meeting about possible branding/marketing efforts. Led by FEDRAC chair Dini Duclos, the committee, along with economic and community development director Patrick Doherty, began to spitball some ideas about what rebranding might mean for Federal Way. “I think that some of us feel that if we move on
the civic center, which contains the performing arts and conference center downtown, some other people will begin to show interest,” Duclos said. “The mall is getting a big renovation. Isn’t it time that maybe we looked at our image that we have out there? And come up with a new tagline and a new logo? And a better description of this city.” Duclos suggested that perhaps the rebranding effort could be held as a contest among the city’s high schools. This would have the added benefit of engaging the city’s youth and also keeping costs low, she said. Committee member Susan Honda suggested that if that’s the direction [ more REBRAND, page 10 ]
The intersection of downtown blight By ANDY HOBBS editor@fedwaymirror.com
Federal Way’s so-called downtown core brimmed with potential before the recession froze the U.S. economy. A prime illustration of the recession’s effect on Federal Way can be seen at the intersection of 20th Avenue South and South 316th Street. Today, all four corners are plagued by garbage, graffiti, abandoned buildings and vacant lots. On the southeast corner, crews demolished the AMC Theatres in 2007 to make way for a string of failed proposals that included skyscrapers and a “crystal
palace.” The latest proposal under consideration is a park with a “town square” surrounded by private businesses and residences. The city owns this 4-acre site. On the northeast corner is the former Toys R Us, which closed in 2006, alongside another decaying building that once housed Target. The 4-acre site is slated for a $32 million performing arts and conference center (PACC) with a hotel. City leaders hope the 700-seat PACC, if it’s built, will transform the downtown area and act as a catalyst for development. Also on this side of the street is a half-full strip mall with [ more DOWNTOWN, page 11 ]
On Tuesday, a father took his son for a driving lesson in the empty parking lot by the old Toys R Us building on 20th Avenue South, just north of South 320th Street. The building marks the site of a proposed performing arts and conference center (PACC). See more photos at federalwaymirror.com. ANDY HOBBS, The Mirror