Local News and Events for Kent, Washington
I don’t know about you, but I am relieved that we have some cooler weather and that the skies are finally clearing. It got me out of the house on Saturday – and my neighbors too. In fact, it was funny walking to the mailbox that day. I saw neighbors I hadn’t seen in more than a week. It was almost as if we’d had a terrible snowstorm, and the snow had finally melted and we were emerging from our homes to see that the weather was livable again. Summer’s still here though, and there is much fun and sunshine still to be had. Have a super week!
~ Dana Neuts
NEW–King County Elections to certify primary results on Aug. 15
Tomorrow King County Elections will certify the results from the Aug. 1 primary. As of now, the results show the following candidates will compete in the General Election on Nov. 7:
- Kent Mayor: Dana Ralph and Jim Berrios
- Kent City Council, position 2: Satwinder Kaur and Paul Addis
- Kent City Council, position 4: Tye Whitfield and Toni Troutner
- Kent School District, Director, District No. 4: Bryon Madsen and Denise Daniels
Kent City Council, position 6, is also up for re-election this fall, but there were only two candidates, so they did not compete in the primary. Incumbent Brenda Fincher will vie against Russ Hanscom for the seat.
NEW–Kent Police make arrest in transient camp homicides on one-year anniversary
This weekend, on the one-year anniversary of the murders of two residents of a Kent transient camp, Kent Police arrest a suspect, a 30-year-old Covington man. Louisa Campos, 31, was shot on August 12, 2016. The following day, Robert ‘Spongebob’ Dias, believed to be a witness, was also shot. The suspect has not yet been formally charged, so the police are not releasing his name. He is in the King County Jail awaiting his first court appearance. Read more here.
REMINDER–Project Feast shares Ukrainian cuisine on Aug. 15
Project Feast, housed at Ubuntu Street Café (202 W. Gowe St.), is hosting two events in August, featuring international cuisine. On Aug. 15, guests can enjoy summer favorites from the Ukraine. Learn more about the event and purchase tickets here. Project Feast is a local nonprofit whose mission is to transform lives by providing pathways to sustainable employment in the food industry and to enrich communities through intercultural exchange.
NEW–Kent Arts Commission announces 2017-18 Spotlight Series line-up
The Kent Arts Commission is celebrating the 20th season of the Spotlight Series by bringing top talent to Kent, including Wylie and the Wild West, Las Migas, Molly Ringwald and the Seattle Rock Orchestra. See the full season line-up and get ticket information here.
REMINDER–SOAKS: Free Family Fun at Kent Station is this Thurs., Aug. 17
Next Thursday Kent Station will host its annual SOAKS (Summer’s almost over at Kent Station) from 5 PM to 7 PM, in conjunction with Communities in Schools’ 5th annual school supply drive, Fill the Bus, and Road Runner Sports’ monthly Adventure Run. Families are invited to join the fun and check out vendor booths with family-friendly activities. iLoveKent will have a booth. Please stop by, say hi, and help us fill a “wall” with reasons we love Kent. Learn more about SOAKS here.
NEW–Councilmember Dana Ralph calls on City Council to stop safe injection site from coming to Kent
In a press release issued to iLoveKent last week, mayoral candidate and Kent City Councilmember Dana Ralph called on Kent City Council to vote ‘no’ on bringing a safe heroin injection site to Kent. Ralph asked for the matter to be place an ordinance on the City Council agenda at the next council meeting to stop such a site from being placed in Kent. “…there are no such things as safe injection sites,” Ralph writes. Read the full press release here.
NEW–Kent Police involved in fatal shooting while apprehending a domestic violence suspect
Early last Wednesday, Kent Police responded to a domestic violence ‘no contact order’ violation. When officers arrived and tried to make contact with the 20-year-old suspect, he fled in a stolen vehicle, dragging a K9 officer and K9 with him. A struggle ensued and the suspect was fatally shot. The officer and K9 sustained minor injuries. Read more about the incident here.
REMINDER–KDP Wine Walk is This Friday, Aug. 18
Join Kent Downtown Partnership for its last Wine Walk of the season on Friday, August 18. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Participants must be 21 or older and have a valid ID. No exceptions. Each ticket entitles the guest to a wine glass and 12 tasting tickets. Participating wineries include Barrage Cellars, Cloudlift Cellars, Davenport Cellars, Marcus Sophia Winery, Masquerade Winery, Michael Florentino Cellars, Moose Canyon Winery, Naches Heights Vineyard, Soos Creek Wine Cellars and Vino Aquino. Tickets are available online now.
ICYMI–iLoveKent now has merchandise available for purchase
We had a few hats and signs made for our booth at Kent Station’s SOAKS event on August 17, and readers were excited to get some of the merch for themselves, so we opened a store on Cafe Press. You can now buy iLoveKent hats, shirts, coffee mugs and dog shirts! iLoveKent will earn a portion of the proceeds from sales and will reinvest that into our work. Thank you for supporting iLoveKent! Start shopping now.
REMINDER–iLoveKent is hosting candidate debates on Sept. 21 & 28
We have secured our third sponsor for the debates, so we will begin promotion of the debates in earnest later this month. We will announce the name of the third sponsor later this week. In the meantime, we want to thank presenting sponsor Marti Reeder of John L. Scott and Gold sponsor Denali Federal Credit Union for their support. Kent TV21 will be covering both events, so voters and residents who aren’t able to attend the debates will still be able to see them. More details coming soon!
Event Highlights: This Week in Kent
(Get additional event details on our Google calendar or our August “things to do” list):
Aug. 15 Free Summer Concert: Take Out Tuesdays
Aug. 15 King County Elections to Certify Primary Results
Aug. 15 Kent Rotary Summer Picnic
Aug. 15 Kent City Council
Aug. 16 Free Summer Concert: Wednesday Picnic Performances
Aug. 16 Free Summer Concert: Wednesday Family Date Night
Aug. 17 Third Thursday Art Night
Aug. 17 Adventure Run
Aug. 17 SOAKS at Kent Station
Aug. 17 Free Summer Concert: Thursdays at the Lake
Aug. 18 KDP Wine Walk
Aug. 19 Officers Down 5K Nationwide Law Enforcement Event
Aug. 19 Kent Farmer’s Market
Aug. 19 Experience Historic Kent: Open House, Car Show and More
Aug. 19 CybFest NW Transformers Convention
Aug. 20 Green Kent Event
Aug. 20 Kent4Health Leader-Guided Walk
Aug. 20 Historic Cemeteries Bus Tour