Local News and Events for Kent, Washington
It is hard to believe the summer is almost over and that Kent and Covington kids return to school this Thursday. Where did the summer go? With the end of summer, we will stop publishing our “Things To Do This Weekend” posts, but we’ll continue to put event highlights in our weekly Sound Bites. If your organization or nonprofit is hosting an event or fundraiser, be sure to let us know, so we can get it on our calendar and perhaps highlight it in a future edition of Sound Bites, published every Monday morning.
As always, thanks for reading! Have a safe week and be good to each other.
~ Dana Neuts, publisher
NEW–Communities in Schools Kent is accepting school supply donations
Communities in Schools Kent’s ‘Fill the Bus’ School Supply Drive is over, but students in the Kent School District still need supplies to start the school year. Click here for the CIS Kent flyer with suggested school supplies and drop-off sites, including Kent Station, Maggie’s on Meeker, Curran Law Firm and others. Supplies will be picked up this week, so donate today! Contact CIS Kent at [email protected] or 253-867-5637 with questions.
REMINDER–Kent kids return to school Thurs., Aug. 31
Kids in grades 1 through 12 in the Kent School District return to school on Thursday, August 31. The first day for kindergarteners is Wednesday, September 6. This is the first year for the Learning First school schedule, meaning a two-hour early release for all schools on Wednesdays. Get the full schedule for the 2017-18 school year here.
NEW–Kent Has Talent auditions scheduled for Sept. 23
Are you a singer, dancer, magician, artist, poet or musician? Auditions for the Kent Has Talent all-ages talent show will be held Sat., Sept. 23 at Allegro Performing Arts Center (222 Central Ave. S., Kent, WA 98032). Click here to complete an entry form for auditions. All proceeds benefit the work of the Kent Community Foundation, a Kent nonprofit supporting cultural arts and education. Mark your calendars for the main event on Sat., Oct. 7, 2017, emceed by Bender of 106.1 KISS FM in Seattle.
NEW–Puget Sound WildCare needs volunteers and donations
Puget Sound WildCare is the biggest little secret in our area. Located in Kent, between Covington and Maple Valley, Puget Sound WildCare is a wildlife hospital that rescues and rehabilitates orphaned, injured or sick wild animals. Their goal is to release them back into their natural environment once they are able to survive on their own.
Puget Sound WildCare is supported by volunteers and donations; they rely on people like you to support their mission to help the animals brought to them. They desperately need reliable volunteers who will follow through on their commitment to show up and work when they say they will. Animals need to be fed whether someone takes a day off or not. Donations are also needed to maintain supplies.
For more information or to volunteer or donate, call (360) 996-8917, visit them online at www.pugetsoundwildcare.org
NEW–Volunteers needed to help distribute iLoveKent debate materials
iLoveKent is hosting candidate debates in Sept. Presented by Marti Reeder of John L. Scott, the mayoral debate will be on Thurs., Sept. 21 and the Kent City Council candidate debate will be Thurs., Sept. 28. Additional sponsors include gold sponsor Denali Federal Credit Union and silver sponsors 33rd District Democrats and 47th District Democrats. We want to be sure the events are well publicized to ensure that anyone who wants to attend can. To help spread the word, we could use your help sharing the print materials in your neighborhood, let us know. Email Dana Neuts at [email protected]. Thank you! Learn more about the debates here.
NEW–DAWN to host Bubba’s BBQ Fundraiser Sept. 24
DAWN (Domestic Abuse Women’s Network) is hosting their 3rd annual fundraising BBQ at Bubba’s (21237 84th Ave. S., Kent, WA 98032) on Sun., Sept. 24 from 1 PM to 5 PM. Money raised at this year’s BBQ will go toward new playground equipment and/or needs at the children’s annex at the shelter. See the event on Facebook here for more details or click here to make a donation now.
REMINDER–Extra DUI patrols across the state, Aug. 18-Sept. 4
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over: As part of its Target Zero initiative, law enforcement agencies across the state are stepping up their DUI patrols from Aug. 18 through Sept. 4. In 2016, impaired drivers were involved in crashes that resulted in 277 deaths and 286 serious injuries. To try to reduce these numbers, extra DUI patrols will be out in force, looking for drivers impaired by alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs and other substances that cause impairment. Read more here.
NEW–Amazon acquisition of Whole Foods to close today; prices drop
With the FTC’s blessing of Amazon’s $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods Market, Amazon has promised to cut prices at Whole Foods, and eventually, to integrate Whole Foods’ point-of-sale system with Prime membership information so Prime members will enjoy additional savings. The Seattle Times reports that some of Whole Foods’ lower prices, effective today, include bananas, Fuji and Gala apples, ground beef and eggs. While President Donald Trump has blasted Amazon for putting smaller retailers out of business which means lost jobs, cities like Kent have been able to offer thousands of jobs to local workers, boosting local economies. Amazon has a fulfillment center in Kent, off 212th.
NEW–iLoveKent to celebrate 10-year anniversary on Oct. 13
Have you ever wondered how iLoveKent got started? Here’s the short version: Kent was experiencing a widening media gap with the King County Journal closing down, the Kent Reporter going down to one day a week, and The Seattle Times discontinuing its SE Living Sunday special section. No one was writing about Kent. Despite advice from a web pro who told me my idea could never work, we are still here 10 years later.
We are proud of all that we’ve accomplished and the unique community service we provide. In fact, we are so proud, we are having a birthday party on Fri., Oct. 13 (6 to 8 PM) at Artsy Fartsy Art Lessons (218 W. Meeker St., Kent, WA 98032) to celebrate. It will be a casual, family-friendly open house to introduce the folks that make iLoveKent tick every day, to thank our readers for their support, and to celebrate 10 years in the Kent community. We hope you’ll join us! RSVP on Facebook here.
REMINDER–Voter registration deadlines
Now that the primary election is over, it is time to start thinking about the November 7 general election. If you are not registered to voter, but are eligible, the deadline to register online or by mail is October 9. The deadline for new voters to register in-person is October 30. iLoveKent will have voter registration forms in different languages available at our Sept. 21 and 28 debates. To register online, you will need a current Washington State driver’s license or a current Washington State ID card. Learn more at King County Elections here.
We do not have any special events on the calendar for this week.
