Stores say no more ‘pink slime’ in meat cases
April 3, 2012
Questions about ground beef fly more often across the counter at Fischer Meats since the issue of “lean finely textured beef” — more recognizable by the headline-grabbing nickname “pink slime” — captured the media zeitgeist late last month.
“I’ve probably had a half a dozen people that have mentioned it and said, ‘We’ll never buy ground beef in the grocery store again because of that,” owner Chris Chiechi said April 2. “We have been selling a little more ground beef in the last month. I wouldn’t call it a huge impact.”
Fischer Meats does not use the additive.
The product is made from beef trimmings treated in ammonium hydroxide to eliminate pathogens. The additive is used in ground beef and beef-based products.
City Council to decide plastic bag ban soon
March 27, 2012
The proposal to ban plastic bags from Issaquah stores reaches the City Council for a public discussion April 2.
The city could join Bellingham, Edmonds, Mukilteo and Seattle to ban plastic bags at local retailers — a step designed to limit garbage headed for the King County landfill and reduce pollution in Puget Sound.
Issaquah council members could decide to vote on the measure or continue the discussion at a later meeting.
“The goal isn’t just to get everyone to switch from plastic to paper, it’s to get people to switch from bags that you use once to bags that you reuse,” Councilman Mark Mullet said.
Who’s News
February 28, 2012
School stocks up through Honda Auto Center
During Honda Auto Center of Bellevue’s annual business meeting, workers did team-building exercises. Ten teams were tasked with finding items at the Factoria QFC and coming the closest to spending $100.
After the event, Honda Auto Center donated more than $2,000 in food and supplies to Tiger Mountain Community High School.
“Our staff, along with the QFC staff and their customers really enjoyed this activity and knowing that we are donating all of this food to a great cause makes it that much better,” said Mike Lavigne, Honda Auto Center of Bellevue general manager.
Officials consider plastic bag ban for Issaquah
February 14, 2012
Officials intend to use Seattle ordinance as model
Canvas bags could turn into a more common sight in Issaquah checkout lanes soon.
The city is poised to join Bellingham, Edmonds, Mukilteo and Seattle to ban plastic bags at local retailers — to limit garbage headed for the King County landfill and reduce pollution in Puget Sound.
Though a decision on a plastic bag ban is months distant, the Council Utilities, Technology & Environment Committee plans to start collecting input from businesses owners and residents Feb. 16.
“To me, the beauty of it is, you get to your end objective, which is getting rid of plastic bags, and you’re not putting an undue, negative impact on the businesses in your community,” said Councilman Mark Mullet, a local merchant and the committee chairman.
State Route 520 bridge tolls could divert traffic
December 13, 2011
The state Department of Transportation plans to start tolls on the state Route 520 bridge Dec. 29 — and motorists could experience additional traffic on Interstate 90 as commuters avoid the toll.
The state estimates tolls should cause thousands of motorists to use the I-90 bridges or drive around Lake Washington instead.
Meanwhile, the state is encouraging motorists to set up a Good To Go! pass account.
Purchase a pass at www.wsdot.wa.gov/goodtogo or a $5 sticker pass at participating stores, including Costco, Safeway, Fred Meyer and QFC. Find a list of retail locations at www.wsdot.wa.gov/goodtogo/retail.
The state extended call center hours and hired extra customer service staffers to prepare for the anticipated high volumes of customers registering and activating accounts. Customers can purchase the sticker passes at stores and activate them online.
“Tolling is helping Washington move forward with critical transportation investments and will finance ongoing and future work to replace the vulnerable SR 520 floating bridge and corridor,” state Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond said in a statement.
Klahanie Shopping Center is sold for $22 million
November 8, 2011
The commercial hub in Klahanie, the namesake Klahanie Shopping Center, sold last week for $22 million.
Seattle-based Hogate Properties sold the shopping center to Gerrity Group, a company based in Solana Beach, Calif.
QFC anchors the 49,000-square-foot shopping center, the commercial hub for the Klahanie community in unincorporated King County. Other tenants at the shopping center include a fitness center, restaurants and a bank branch.
The sale is among the largest real estate transactions in Issaquah area in the past year.
In July, Preston-based apparel company SanMar purchased a glass-sheathed office building as a corporate headquarters for $32 million. In September, Hawaii-based A&B Properties Inc. acquired the Siemens Building along East Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast for $19.7 million.
Change smoke detector batteries for daylight saving time
November 1, 2011
Local firefighters encourage residents to change smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries before 2 a.m. Nov. 6, as daylight saving time ends.
Eastside Fire & Rescue is part of the national Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery campaign. The effort encourages people to change smoke detector batteries at the end of daylight saving time.
EFR firefighters plan to remind people to check the batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors from 4-5:30 p.m. Nov. 5.
Meet firefighters and receive complimentary 9-volt batteries at Bartell Drugs, 5700 E. Lake Sammamish Parkway S.E.; QFC, 4570 Klahanie Drive S.E., and The Home Depot, 6200 E. Lake Sammamish Parkway S.E.
Fred Meyer, QFC join Taylor Farms salad recall
October 25, 2011
Fred Meyer Stores and QFC are participating in a voluntary recall initiated by salad maker Taylor Farms.
Taylor Farms announced the recall of several Fresh Selection bagged salads after a sample tested positive for salmonella.
Customers should check for specific Fresh Selection items with a sell-by date of Oct. 18.
The affected items all have the Fresh Selection label and include: Field Greens Salads, 8-ounce package; Leaf Romaine, 10 ounce; Romaine Salad Blend, 10 ounce; and Hearts of Romaine, 10 ounce.
Fred Meyer and QFC have removed affected items from store shelves. Customers who may have purchased the affected products will receive register receipt messages and/or automated phone calls. Any open or unopened items included in the recall should not be consumed and should be returned to a local Fred Meyer or QFC location for a full refund or replacement.
Consumers who have questions about the recall may call Fred Meyer and QFC toll free at 800-576-4377 or may contact Taylor Farms consumer relations at 877-323-7374 toll free.
Fred Meyer, QFC join Taylor Farms salad recall
October 20, 2011
NEW — 12:45 p.m. Oct. 20, 2011
Fred Meyer Stores and QFC are participating in a voluntary recall initiated by salad maker Taylor Farms.
Taylor Farms announced the recall of several Fresh Selection bagged salads after a sample tested positive for salmonella.
Customers should check for specific Fresh Selection items with a sell-by date of Oct. 18.
The affected items all have the Fresh Selection label and include: Field Greens Salads, 8 ounce package; Leaf Romaine, 10 ounce; Romaine Salad Blend, 10 ounce; and, Hearts of Romaine, 10 ounce.
Port Blakely announces plan to build highlands shopping center
July 12, 2011
A view east toward Ninth Avenue Northeast shows the 14 acres being considered by Florida-based Regency Centers for a 175,000-square-foot shopping center in the Issaquah Highlands. By Greg Farrar
The plan to add more stores to the Issaquah Highlands, a subject responsible for much grumbling among neighborhood residents and city leaders, lurched ahead July 5, as highlands developer Port Blakely Communities announced a deal to sell 14 acres for a proposed shopping center.
If the deal is completed, as executives hope, construction could start as early as next year. The announcement also prompted some residents to point to similar — albeit unsuccessful — attempts in the past.
The agreement calls for Regency Centers, a real estate investment trust based in Florida, to purchase about 14 acres of highlands land and build a 175,000-square-foot shopping center along Northeast High Street and Northeast Park Drive — a site once set aside for a stylish retail destination called The High Streets.
Regency Centers also plans to acquire a retail-and-office building along Northeast Park Drive. Caffe Ladro and other businesses occupy the building’s 39,000 square feet.
The companies did not disclose terms of the transaction. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year.
Jacksonville-based Regency Centers owns almost 400 shopping centers from coast to coast, including Pine Lake Village and Sammamish Highlands on the Sammamish Plateau.
