Local News and Events for Kent, Washington, June 12, 2017
Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you had a great weekend. We’ve got another busy week ahead in Kent. It is graduation week for most Kent high schools and for Green River College. Please note other area high schools are hosting graduation ceremonies at ShoWare, so check our graduation calendar to avoid related traffic (link below). Also, this week is Third Thursday Art Night at Ubuntu Street Cafe (202 W. Gowe) and Adventure Run at Kent Station.
Make it a great week,
Dana Neuts, publisher
NEW–It’s graduation week for most Kent high school graduates!
Last week The Outreach Program (TOP) held its graduation ceremony. This week is graduation week for the remaining Kent high schools: Kent Phoenix Academy (Thurs.), Kent Mountain View Academy (Fri.), iGrad (Fri.), and Kentridge, Kent-Meridian, Kentwood and Kentlake (Sat.) Also this week, Green River College is hosting its commencement ceremony (Fri.) Get times and locations here. Congrats to the Class of 2017!
NEW–Beware of jury duty scam
Last week the King County Sheriff’s Office warned of a jury duty scam that tries to trick residents into paying a fine for failure to appear for jury duty. This is a scam. Do not pay any fines or provide credit card numbers or other payment information. The King County Sheriff’s Office would not call about failure to appear for jury duty. Read more here.
NEW–Kent School District to implement Learning First Schedule for 2017-18
The Kent School District announced its new Learning First Schedule to be implemented for the 2017-18 school year, starting on Sept. 6, 2017. The new schedule includes a two-hour early release each Wednesday for the next school year, allowing for 26 additional hours of instruction each year and give teachers additional collaboration and prep time. Learn more about the new schedule from KSD here, and view the 2017-18 KSD calendar here. Have questions? Email the school district at [email protected].
NEW–King Co. Metro & Sound Transit offer reduced ORCA youth fares this summer
The King County Metro bus network and Sound Transit trains and buses will offer discounted summer fares to youth who carry an ORCA Youth card. King County Metro bus trips will cost $0.50 per trip and Sound Transit trips will be $1 each. Youth between 6 and 18 are eligible. Learn more about the discounted fares here.
NEW–City hosts free self-guided and leader-guided walks this summer
The City of Kent is hosting Trail Walks this summer with self-guided walks every second and fourth Wednesday from 9 AM to 11 AM and leader-guided walks monthly at 11 AM. All walks are free, family-friendly and pet-friendly. Get the summer schedule on iLoveKent.net here.
NEW–Artsy Fartsy Art Lessons to host half-day art camps
The last day of school is Tues., June 27. To keep your kiddos safely occupied and engaged this summer, check out the themed summer camps being offered by Artsy Fartsy Art Lessons in downtown Kent. One half-day adventure is $35; a whole week of art exploration is $125. Themes include Arts Around the World, Pirate Arrrrts Camp, Mythical Creature Art Camp and Elemental Art Camp. Click here for more details or call owner Susan Bagrationoff at 253-236-5005 with questions or to sign up.
NEW–PICC: Caring for the Smallest Victims of Drug Abuse
Michelle Teeter’s latest feature for iLoveKent.net shares the story of the Pediatric Interim Care Center (PICC) in downtown Kent. This beloved institution has helped more than 2,500 drug-exposed or drug-addicted newborns since 1990. Read Michelle’s article here.
NEW–Puget Sound RFA to host open house June 17 with Teddy Bear Clinic
This Sat., June 17 from 10 AM to noon, the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority is hosting an open house at Fire Station 78 (17820 SE 256th, Covington, WA 98042) and Teddy Bear Clinic. Bring your favorite Teddy Bear or stuffed animal to the open house for a hands-on experience and see how firefighters and EMTs hand emergency care situations. Get more details on Facebook.
City seeks input about Riverbend Golf Course
Are you a golfer? Have you played at Riverbend on Meeker St. in Kent? If so, the City of Kent wants your input. Complete the survey by Sunday, June 11 to share what features of a golf course are important to you as well as what types of food and beverage service you’d like to see at the municipal course. Click here to take the survey now.
National Night Out is Tues., Aug. 1, 2017
This year’s National Night Out is scheduled for Tuesday, August 1. This is a great opportunity for neighbors to work together to hold a barbecue, pot luck, ice cream social or other social event with the idea of giving crime a going-away party. Learn more, get ideas and suggestions, and register your neighborhood on the Kent Police Department’s National Night Out page.
Reminder: Stay up-to-date on local road closures and construction projects
We keep a running list of ongoing construction projects, traffic alerts and related news from DriveKent.com, King County Dept. of Transportation, WSDOT and other entities affecting Kent roads and commuters. View our updated list here.
Upcoming Events – Highlights for the Week Ahead
Get additional event details from our June “things to do” list or our Google calendar.
June 14 FLAG DAY
June 15 Third Thursday Art Night
June 15 Adventure Run
June 15 Public Meeting re New Kent Panther Lake Library
June 15 Kent Phoenix Academy graduation
June 16 Guided Nature Hike: Blooming Bog (SHADOW Lake)
June 16 Green River College, iGrad and Kent Mountain View Academy graduations
June 17 Kentridge, Kentwood, Kentlake and Kent-Meridian High School graduations
June 17 Kent Farmer’s Market
June 17 Juneteenth Festival & Celebration
June 17 Book Signing: K. C. Blackbyrn and Ashiegh Gauch
June 18 FATHER’S DAY
June 18 Trail Walks 2017 – Leader-guided walk – Heron Loop Trail
June 18 El Fantasma with Voz De Mando & Compa Kanales
