Local news from iLoveKent.net for Wednesday, October 12, 2016: New items are marked as NEW, and updated items are marked as REVISED. The remaining news items, if still relevant, are repeated from previous issues of iLoveKent.net Sound Bites.

vote-1190034_1280_resizeNEW–King County Ballots To Be Mailed Oct. 19.
King County Ballots for the Nov. 8 General Election will be mailed on Oct. 19. Ballot drop-off boxes will be opened the following day and available until 8 PM on Nov. 8. Accessible voting options and centers are available for those who need assistance with voting. Get additional details and King County Elections resources on iLoveKent.net.

Torklift Central kicks off 6th Annual Turkey Challenge.
Help hungry Kent families this Thanksgiving by donating cash or non-perishable food items to the 6th Annual Turkey Challenge. Donate through participating organizations or directly to Torklift Central. This year’s goal is to raise $25,000 and collect 10,000 pounds of food. Click here for details.

Washington Comcast Customers Will Get Hit with Data Usage Caps in November
xfinity-comcast-logoEffective November 1, Comcast/Xfinity customers in the state of Washington will be automatically enrolled in the company’s 1 TB Internet Data Usage Plan. Customers who go over 1 TB of data usage per month will be assessed overage fees unless they sign up for the Unlimited Data Plan at an additional $50 per month. Comcast says this will only affect fewer than 1% of its customers. Comcast emailed affected customers last week, but additional information is available here.

Ways You Can Help iLoveKent.net Stay Alive
Many readers have asked how they can help keep iLoveKent.net alive. Here are a few ways you can help: (1) make a one-time donation to help cover costs; (2) share our website and social media accounts with family, friends and business associates; (3) contribute content by sending us your non-commercial calendar entries (e.g., craft fairs, school plays, club meetings, etc.); and (4) Kent businesses can support iLoveKent.net through affordable advertising opportunities and sponsorships.

bestVote for iLoveKent.net in KING5’s Best of W. Washington Contest before noon on Oct. 30!
As we contemplate the future of iLoveKent.net, we’d love to get some recognition for our hard work in the community. If you love iLoveKent.net, please take a minute to register on KING5 and vote for us in the Online/Social Media category. We’d appreciate your support. Vote now – the deadline for voting is October 30 at noon. Thanks! FREE.

NEW–Kent Chamber Hosts Business Expo and Taste of Kent Oct. 18.
Meet 90 Kent businesses and organizations and sample tasty treats from 14 different Kent restaurants at the Kent Chamber of Commerce‘s annual Business Expo at ShoWare Center from 3 PM to 7 PM. FREE and open to the public.

Kent Event: Kent Drug Free Coalition is hosting a free town hall meeting on Wed., Oct. 19. Kent Drug Free Coalition Invites Public to Attend Town Hall Mtg. on October 19.
The Kent Drug Free Coalition invites the public to attend their next town hall meeting on Wednesday, October 19 from 6 PM to 8 PM at Mill Creek Middle School (620 Central Ave. N.) Designed for parents and students grades 6-12, attendees will hear from Kent Police about drug/alcohol trends. Following the presentation, participants can take part in action planning for what can be done to prevent underage substance use. FREE.

Join KDP for Third Thursday Art Night at Rusty Raven Studio on Oct. 20.
This week is ‘Third Thursday’ and that means it is time for the Third Thursday Art Night reception, a free event in downtown Kent. The event runs from 4 PM to 7 PM and will include light refreshments, live music from Root 5, and a chance to meet local artists and enjoy their work. Click here for more info. FREE.

Audition Deadline for Kent Has Talent is October 21.
KCF-logo-basicKent Community Foundation is hosting Kent Has Talent on Friday, November 18. Audition applications are due October 21. There are three age groups for talent and cash prizes for each. Auditions are open to anyone who lives, works or goes to school in Kent. Click here for audition details and event rules. FREE.

Kent Police Department Holds Medicine Take Back Day on October 22.
The Kent Police Department will be collecting unused, unwanted and expired prescription drugs for proper disposal on Medicine Take Back Day, Saturday, October 22 from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Kent Police Department (220 4th Ave. S.) Please remove any identifying information from prescription labels first. FREE.

ciskCommunities in Schools Hosts Screening of ‘Chasing the Dragon’ on October 26.
Communities in Schools Kent is partnering with several local organizations to host a screening of ‘Chasing the Dragon: The Life of an Opiate Addict,’ on Wednesday, October 26, a 45-minute documentary and community panel. The event is not appropriate for students younger than high school age. Click here for event time and location. FREE.

NEW–Kent International Festival to Host World Dance Party Oct. 27
Celebrate Kent’s diversity with the Kent International Festival’s 2016 World Dance Party on Thurs., Oct. 27. Enjoy an evening of dances from around the world, and learn dance steps from other cultures from local instructors. There will be light refreshments at 6:30 PM and dancing begins at 7 PM until 9 PM. FREE.

soccerNEW–Tacoma Stars Indoor Soccer League Hosts Home Opener on Oct. 29.
Cheer on the Tacoma Stars, Kent’s very own professional indoor soccer team, as they battle Soles De Sonora in their home opener at ShoWare Center on Sat., Oct. 29. Click here for additional details and to buy tickets, or click here for their 2016-17 season schedule.

NEW–Trick-or-Treating and Costume Contest at Kent Station on Oct. 31.
Celebrate Halloween safely by trick-or-treating at participating merchants at Kent Station on Mon., Oct. 31 between 4 PM and 6:30 PM. There will be a costume contest too. Get all the details at Kent Station online. FREE.

KDP Hosts 'Talking Shop' at Artsy Fartsy on Nov. 3.NEW–Kent Downtown Partnership to Host ‘Talking Shop’ on Nov. 3
Join local business owners at Artsy Fartsy to ‘talk shop’ with KDP, find out the latest news in downtown Kent, meet new friends, and get a chance to win a raffle basket and a Seahawks jersey. RSVP on Facebook or to KDP at 253-813-6976 or [email protected]. FREE.

NEW–Kent Guild of Seattle Children’s Hospital to Host 27th Annual Artisans Festival Nov. 7 and Nov. 8.
The Kent Guild of Seattle Children’s Hospital will host its 27th Annual Artisans’ Festival on Monday, Nov. 7, 2 to 8 PM, and Tuesday, Nov. 8, 9 AM to 6 PM at Meridian Valley Country Club. All proceeds benefit uncompensated care and research at the hospital. Juried artisans include pottery, unique jewelry, gourmet food items, wearable art, holiday and handcrafted items, raffle and wine pull. Happy Hour is available between 3:30 and 5:00 PM and dinner from 4 to 7 PM on Monday and lunch from 11 AM to 4 PM on Tuesday. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Contact Vicki Nelson with questions at [email protected].

dice-1157650_640NEW–Meridian-Kent Kiwanis Host 14th Annual Casino Night Fundraiser Nov. 19.
Join the Meridian-Kent Kiwanis Club at its annual Casino Night Fundraiser at the Kent Senior Activity Center on Saturday, Nov. 19. Tickets are $10 each and include an hour of champagne and hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction. Purchase scrip to play Blackjack, Roulette and Craps and turn your winnings in to win great prizes. Funds raised benefit Kiwanis Children’s Cancer Program benefiting Seattle Children’s Hospital, Key Club Leadership at Kentwood HS and Kentridge HS, Seattle Adaptive Sports, Boy Scout Troop 406, Children’s Home Society and more. Learn more here.

 

Dana Neuts

I am a full-time freelance writer, editor, marketing pro and the publisher of iLoveKent.net.