Contributed by Michelle Wilmot, Community & Public Affairs, with the City of Kent

Photo Courtesy of the City of Kent

The City of Kent announces the return of its Neighborhood Matching Grant Program for 2012.  Designed to stimulate community projects that build strong neighborhoods, grants are available to groups of residents who have formed Neighborhood Councils.

“The Neighborhood Matching Grant Fund is a component of Kent’s Neighborhood Program, where residents are encouraged to work together to make improvements to their neighborhoods, develop a sense of community, and build relationships with each other,” said Toni Azzola, Kent’s Neighborhood Program Coordinator.  “The Matching Grant Fund gives residents a little extra incentive to do that.”

Azzola encourages residents to use their imaginations and says projects eligible for grant funding can include such things as signage for neighborhood entrances, landscaping for traffic circles and retention ponds, planting of trees, shrubs, or bulbs, clean-up events, and neighborhood newsletters. 

“Residents often tell me they’d like to do a project but have lacked the resources to get it accomplished.  These grant funds provide some financial assistance and help them to make a difference in their neighborhoods,” Azzola said.

Neighborhood Grant Matching Funds are awarded on a competitive basis.   Community contribution of volunteer labor, professional services or cash is “matched” by a 50% grant. 

Grant projects are evaluated by a Grant Review Team and selected based on criteria including neighborhood participation, benefit to the public, planning, scope of work and maintenance of the project after it is completed.

“Over the past few years, some great projects were funded.  I look forward to seeing this year’s applications and I’m excited about helping Neighborhood Councils achieve their goals,” Azzola said.

Matching grant applications are due Monday, April 2 for funding in 2012.   Only recognized Neighborhood Council’s are eligible to apply.

For information on forming a Neighborhood Council or to obtain a Matching Grant application, visit www.KentNeighborhoodProgram.com or call Toni Azzola at 253-856-5708.

An open letter to the public from Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas:

Holidays encourage time with your family and friends. Most people celebrate America’s independence by lighting fireworks on the 4th of July. Many celebrate Valentine’s Day by sending flowers. In addition to the fireworks and flowers, some people celebrate holidays with alcohol too. Unfortunately, these aren’t always responsible celebrations and, we see a spike in impaired driving arrests and crashes. My message to you today is celebrate safely – choose a safe ride home if your celebration involves alcohol.

St. Patrick’s Day is approaching on March 17th. While the holiday is commonly known for Irish culture, corned beef & hash, shamrocks, and wearing green, it is also known for drink specials at bars and restaurants, green beer, fun runs with beer gardens, and a massive advertisement campaign sponsored by the alcohol industry. Unfortunately, some people think luck is on their side and fail to plan ahead before drinking at these events.

Too many times, law enforcement must knock on the door of a home to notify loved ones of the tragedy that occurred. I have seen too many tears shed and too many hearts broken. Alcohol-related traffic crashes don’t only affect the impaired driver; one-third of these deaths are passengers, occupants in other vehicles, or pedestrians. And the societal and emotional costs are never ending.

These deaths and crashes do not need to happen. We all have a role in making our roads safer. Law enforcement will be out for DUI patrols across the State in hopes that our presence will discourage impaired driving and remove dangerous drivers from our roads. Last year in King County, 310 people were arrested for DUI during the St. Patrick’s DUI campaign from March 11-20th. This number tells us there is still much work to do.

If you are going to drink this St. Patrick’s Day, please plan a safe ride home before your party begins. Designate a sober driver, take a taxi or the bus, and help your friends do the same. If you’re planning a party at your house that includes alcohol, you can be held liable if a guest is involved in a DUI crash. Make sure there is plenty of food available, offer non-alcohol drinks, and help guests locate a safe ride home or provide a place for people to stay.

I want to remind you that law enforcement officers from Kent Police and other King County police departments enforce DUI and traffic laws on our roadways as part of Washington State’s Target Zero plan. What is the goal? Zero alcohol-related driving fatalities and serious injuries by 2030. Our officers and troopers participate in DUI emphasis patrols throughout the year and during major holidays, including this St. Patrick’s Day.

Please celebrate safely this St. Patrick’s Day. If your celebration involves alcohol, please choose a safe ride – don’t get behind the wheel. Please keep us from having to knock on anyone else’s door. Be Safe and thanks for reading.

Ken Thomas
Kent Police Chief

The Kent Community Foundation is accepting scholarship applications now through April 1. The following scholarships are being offered:

Richard & Ina Balash Scholarship
Graduating High School Senior who resides in the City of Covington who plans to participate in business or engineering training.

Covington Chamber of Commerce Scholarship
Graduating High School Senior who resides in the City of Covington.

East Hill Community Organization
Graduating High School Senior who plans to attend a two year or vocational-technical institute in the state of Washington.

Rob Osborne Scholarship
Graduating Senior at Kent -Meridian who is involved in athletics with plans to attend a two or four year college within the state of Washington.

Wesley Soderberg Art Scholarship
Graduating High School Senior who plans to attend a two or four year college and is majoring in art.

Linda K. Ruby Scholarship
Graduating High School Senior who plans to attend a four year college and is intending to pursue a career in teaching. This scholarship is also open for winners to re-apply after they are in college.

Friends of KM Scholarship
Graduating Kent Meridian Senior attending an accredited post-secondary institution and based on financial need.

Thunderbird Community Sports Foundation Scholarship
Graduating High School Senior who plans to pursue sports related fields of study in college or university.

For more information, including a scholarship application, please visit Kent Community Foundation online. Scholarship applications should be emailed.

Kent, Washington, March 14, 2012 – Throughout the month of March, Kent Station will host its annual college scholarship fundraiser for Green River Community College (GRCC) students – Moolah for Schoolah. Kent Station began the program in 2007 to provide scholarships to Kent residents attending GRCC. Since then, Kent Station has provided 19 scholarships and $25,000 in college funding to students who might not be able to afford college otherwise.

During the month of March, Kent Station customers can participate in the college fundraiser by completing a Moolah for Schoolah postcard, available at 55 participating Kent Station merchants. For each postcard completed, Kent Station will donate $1 to the Kent Station–Green River Community College Scholarship Fund. The more postcards received, the more scholarships Kent Station will provide. Kent Station’s goal for 2012 is to receive 6,500 postcards and create one additional scholarship.

During Moolah for Schoolah, customers win too. Each postcard completed will give Kent Station customers the opportunity to win one of 15 prizes, including the Grand Prize of a $500 shopping spree to spend at Kent Station, gift cards ranging from $25 to $100, and five iPod Nanos. Customers can enter once per merchant during the month of March, giving them up to 55 chances to win. The prize winners will be selected at random on April 6, 2012.

Gagandeep Kaur is one of the four 2011 scholarship recipients. She said, “I want to express my sincere gratitude for making the Moolah for Schoolah scholarship available. I am deeply appreciative to Kent Station and the community for acknowledging my hard work and perseverance thus far in my educational career.”

To help students like Kaur, Kent Station encourages the community to visit participating Moolah for Schoolah merchants during March. By taking the time to fill out a simple postcard, the community can help college dreams become a reality and be eligible to win Kent Station prizes.

“Kent Station is delighted to support continued education for Kent residents,” said Sommer Ueda, Kent Station Marketing Manager. “Our scholarships allow people to achieve their dreams of higher education and potentially increase their future earnings.”

“Green River Community College is pleased to continue our partnership with Kent Station,” said Denton Hanford, President of the GRCC Foundation Board of Directors.

“Since Kent Station started the Moolah for Schoolah campaign in 2007, our number of scholarships awarded has doubled. Kent Station’s participation and increased awareness of Green River Community College and the Foundation have been an important part of that success, allowing us to better serve our students and our community.”

For more information about the Moolah for Schoolah college fundraiser, visit http://KentStation.com or call Sommer Ueda at 253-856-2301.

Located on 18 acres in the heart of downtown Kent, Kent Station is an urban shopping village developed by Seattle-based Tarragon Development Company. The 470,000 sq. ft., mixed-use development features locally-owned and national retail stores, professional office space, and dining and entertainment, including a 14-screen AMC Theatres Cineplex, a branch campus of Green River Community College and the Social Security Administration.

Kent, Washington, March 14, 2012 – Marti Reeder, local real estate broker and agent, has been named one of the 2011 President’s Elite by J. Lennox Scott, CEO and Chairman for John L. Scott Real Estate. This honor is presented to fewer than 3% of John L. Scott Western Washington realtors. Reeder is one of 3,200 brokers and agents working for John L. Scott in the Western Region.

Operating out of John L. Scott’s Kent-Covington office, Reeder has won a President’s Award each year since 2007. In addition to this award, Reeder closed 30 transactions in 2011 and was named a Five Star Real Estate Agent, Best in Client Satisfaction by Seattle magazine in December 2011, for the second year in a row. She has also been named “Best of Kent” for three straight years and was a finalist in 2011.

“I work really hard to provide my clients with the best possible real estate experience, so it is exciting to see that both my industry and my clients recognize and appreciate my dedication to them,” says Reeder. “It’s also great to work in the same industry with my husband. I have the best job!”

With more than 25 years of industry experience, Reeder specializes in buying and selling residential homes in the Puget Sound. Born and raised in Seattle, Reeder prides herself on her knowledge of the area, including a lifetime resident’s perspective on local schools, neighborhoods and amenities. She lives in the Kent area with her children and husband Merle, a Commercial Roofing Salesman and Remodeling Contractor for 30+ years.

In addition to her real estate work, Reeder is active in the Kent and Covington communities. She is a member of the Kent Chamber of Commerce, Covington Chamber of Commerce, Kent Downtown Partnership and the Kiwanis Club of Kent. For the second year in a row, she is sponsoring a Relay for Life team called Friends 4 Life. For more information about Reeder, visit http://www.martireeder.com. You can also find Reeder on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

For more information, contact Marti Reeder at 253-859-8500 or 206-391-0388.

At Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke’s annual State of the City address today, Mayor Cooke asked businesses to participate in  helping the city out of the economic downturn.

“This is your city,” Mayor Cooke said. “Be a part of the solution.”

Mayor Cooke was referring specifically to the city’ significant revenue losses – including a 32% reduction in sales tax revenue and a 75% reduction in real estate tax revenue. The city’s administration and seven-member Kent City Council have been tasked with finding ways to continue offering critical services with fewer staff and less money. Among the creative solutions being considered are imposing a local Business & Occupation (B&O) tax and creating a transportation benefit district. Mayor Cooke asked businesses to stay or become engaged with the city to help it find solutions for expensive problems like the$3 million price tag to remove sandbags along the Green River.

The two-term Kent mayor highlighted several projects in the works, including the Kent City Center project which will replace the now-demolished parking garage that was located at Smith and Fourth in downtown Kent.

“It was such a dream that went awry,” she said.

But she is encouraged to see Kent City Center in the works, a five-story, 164-unit mixed use building go up to include residential units with corresponding parking, lower level retail space and 35 parking stalls for downtown shoppers and visitors. In addition to this project, the economic development department is working on a bid to the GSA and FAA to bring a 2,000 employee facility to downtown Kent. There are other properties under consideration, including nearby Renton, but the Mayor is optimistic that Kent will be considered a strong candidate.

Another portion of her discussion focused on infrastructure and the importance of maintaining and upgrading it as needed. With nine top tier suppliers to Boeing in Kent, Mayor Cooke stressed the importance of being smart with our educational and infrastructure decisions, particularly in meeting the needs of the aerospace industry.

“We cannot let our infrastructure deteriorate,” she said.

Inviting Kent Chamber president-elect Ken Sharp and executive director Andrea Keikkala, Kent City Council President Dennis Higgins, KDP president Dawn Colston and executive Barb Smith to join her on stage, Mayor Suzette Cooke urged each of them to be part of Kent’s solution, asking each of them to hold hands and recite their commitment to the City of Kent.

She closed with a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.:  “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.”

Updated March 14, 2012 — Kent Downtown Partnership and Kent Chamber of Commerce are hosting a community forum for area businesses to hear from Kent Hope and Union Gospel Mission (UGM) and to voice their support and/or concerns about the proposed location of the shelter. The business event will be held Wed., Mar. 13 at ShoWare Center from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, call KDP at 253-813-6976.

In recent weeks, the City of Kent has restarted a discussion on how to best use the vacant Resource Center on the corner of 3rd and East Meeker in downtown Kent. The issue was discussed in 2011 but a citizen’s panel did not believe any proposals submitted were viable options. The City is looking at the issue again.

This time the idea of a homeless shelter has been proposed. While there is no question that homelessness is an important issue in our community, several issues need to be carefully considered. Is a homeless shelter the best use of the Resource Center? Is this location the best spot in Kent for a homeless shelter? How would it impact downtown residents and businesses? In addition, with the city’s budget so tight, does Kent have the funds to renovate, maintain and run the building? If not, is an organization like the Union Gospel Mission who has been named as a potential resource the best option for operating the building? Who will pay for the project?

The potential use of the Resource Center as a homeless shelter has been spurring discussions throughout downtown at local organizations like the Kent Chamber, the Kent City Council and the Kent Downtown Partnership.  I encourage you to visit the links below to educate yourself on the City’s options and to respond with your comments here. I also encourage you to contact your city council members to share your thoughts. As residents and business owners, we need to make our voices heard.

Thank you,

Dana Neuts, owner/publisher
iLoveKent.net

In the interest of full disclosure, my business is located on Kent’s East Hill. However, I am a member of the Kent Chamber and I serve as the Interim Secretary on the Board of Directors for the Kent Downtown Partnership.

Kent City Council, Feb. 21, 2012, Kent TV21

Kent Reporter, Letter to the Editor by Kent Chamber Executive Director Andrea Keikkala

Direct Link to Kent Chamber Letter

Kent Chamber Survey – What Do You Think?

Twenty-four schools in the Road Map Region of South Seattle and South King County have received the Washington Achievement Awards for 2011. The awards are sponsored by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education.

Schools receive the award based on seven categories:

1. Overall Excellence
2. Language Arts
3. Math
4. Science
5. Extended Graduation Rate
6. Improvement
7. Closing Achievement Gaps

Kent schools receiving the award are:

• Kent Elementary, Kent:  Overall Excellence – Elementary
• Kent Mountain View Academy, Des Moines:  Special Recognition – Extended Graduation Rate
• Kent-Meridian High School, Kent:  Special Recognition – Extended Graduation Rate
• Mattson Middle School, Covington: Special Recognition – Closing Achievement Gaps
• Neely O’Brien Elementary, Kent:  Special Recognition – Closing Achievement Gaps
• Sawyer Woods Elementary, Black Diamond:  Special Recognition – Closing Achievement Gaps

Thanks to Karen Waters, representing the Road Map Project, for this information.

The City of Kent is now accepting pre-registration for the city’s Community Garden P-Patch at the corner of James St. and 64th Avenue South in downtown Kent. Local gardeners can rent a 20 x 20′ plot for a $40 fee for water. There are 44 plots available on a first come, first served basis.

Pre-registration begins Mon., Feb. 27 and ends Fri., Mar. 9. Call the Kent Commons at 253-856-5000 or stop by the Kent Commons office at 525 4th Ave. South.

Started in 1997, the Garden P-Patch is a collaboration between the City of Kent and The Bishop’s Storehouse, affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.Call 253-856-5110 for more information.

Thanks to Victoria Andrews of the Kent Parks, Recreation & Community Services for the story.

Mayor Suzette Cooke will give her annual State of the City Address this year on Wed., March 7 at the Kent Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon:

State of the City Address

March 7, 2012
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
ShoWare Center
625 W. James St.
Kent, WA  98032

Chambers $20
Guests $30

Register online.

Sponsored by Valley Bank of Kent

If you like entertaining basketball, you will LOVE the Harlem Globetrotters who return to ShoWare Center on Thurs., Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. Now through Feb. 20, ShoWare is offering this special Family 4 Pack Offer:

4 Tickets, 4 Hot Dogs, 4 Sodas for $112
when purchased at the ShoWare Center Box Office

Online Price, including convenience fees, $136.75
Regular price, including fees, $168.75

So save big by buying your tickets at the ShoWare Center Box Office located at 625 W. James St. in downtown Kent.

From Michelle Wilmot, City of Kent, Community & Public Affairs

Kent Mayor Responds to Moody’s Downgrade

KENT, Wash. – February 7, 2012 – The decision by Moody’s Investors Service to lower the rating on Kent’s Limited Tax General Obligation (LTGO) bonds will have no immediate impact on the city’s finances, Mayor Suzette Cooke reported at the City Council’s Operations Committee meeting Tuesday.

On February 6, Moody’s lowered the city’s bond rating one point from Aa3 to A1. In Moody’s terms, an Aa3 rating means that an obligor has a very strong ability to meet its financial commitments while a rating of A1 represents that an obligor has a strong capacity to meet its financial obligations, but is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligors in higher-rated categories.

Cooke said city government has been in persistent contraction for the last four years. “Rising costs and deteriorating revenues have forced reductions in every area of our budget. We have significantly cut internal supports – like training and supplies, reduced staff, cut programs, and delayed projects until economic conditions stabilize. We’ve been trying to maintain a level of service that least damages our residents and job base,” said Cooke. As Moody’s notes, ‘there is uncertainty with regard to the city’s ability to implement additional expenditure cuts as it has already enacted significant cuts over the last three fiscal years.’

“Uncertainty created by the economic recession has placed a financial burden on all levels of government,” said Cooke. “Locally we know South King County sales tax revenue is down 32 percent. the sluggish construction industry has gutted our development fees income, and the dearth of property sales has reduced Real Estate Excise Tax revenue by 75 percent. As the state and King County re-align their budgets, they have either reduced committed revenues to us (such as Streamlined Sales Tax mitigation) or transferred the responsibility of providing services down to us with no attached revenue (such as animal control). The trickle-down effect has left Kent financially vulnerable to acts and decisions outside our control.” Moody’s report states, ‘There is also uncertainty with regard to the city’s ability to preserve current levels of state shared revenues….’

Cooke said the downgrade does not affect current indebtedness or bond payments, nor would it affect voter-approved or revenue bonds; the city has no plans to issue LTGO bonds in the near term.

Moody’s report lists Kent’s strengths as having a large, relatively resilient property tax base; a stable local economy; and a “still manageable debt burden” with regards to the Public Facilities District that supports ShoWare Center. The report also notes the city appears to be in the early stages of a turnaround, committed to rebuilding negative fund balances, paying down interfund debts and stabilizing recurring fund operations. Cooke said the city is already working to improve its finances.

The Kent Police Department reports that there were four robberies during the week of Jan. 17 – 23, 2012. Each included the taking of purses when victims were at an ATM, walking down the street or getting out of their cars to go into a store. They occurred at various times of day ranging from morning to around midnight. The city offers these tips for your safety:

1. Walk with confidence and purpose with your head up.
2. When you are standing at an ATM, walking down the street or getting out of your car, scan your surroundings for potential danger or suspicious activity.
3. Stay in well lit areas and avoid doorways, shrubbery and remote places.
4. Stay in pairs whenever possible.

If someone approaches you or seems to be following, cross the street or change directions and look for a safe place to go.

For more safety tips, visit the Kent Police Department online.

Click here to see the city’s public crime stats for the week of Jan. 17 – 23, 2012.

King County Executive Dow Constantine signed an Emergency Declaration earlier this week to provide free disposal of wood debris, following our snow, ice and wind storms. Wood debris only can be recycled Jan. 28-29 and Feb. 4-5 in Kent:

Free Wood Debris Recycling
Russell Road Park
24400 Russell Rd. (across from Riverbend Golf Course)
Kent, WA 

Jan. 28 – 29:  9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Feb. 4 – 5:  9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Workers will be available to help Kent residents unload their wood debris. They ask that you place a tarp under the materials before bringing them to the park. This will make unloading easier. Stumps, logs and limbs shorter than six feet will be accepted. Other yard waste, such as brush, leaves and grass clippings, will not be accepted.

Please cover the wood debris while traveling from home to the park to prevent road litter and potential damage to other vehicles if the debris becomes loose during travel.

For more info., call 253-856-5549 or visit KentRecycles.com.

Vehicle prowls are on the rise, so please remember to remove ALL valuables from your vehicle. It only takes 30 seconds for someone to break into your car and steal your purse, garage remote, CD case or other valuables. Be safe – take everything with you!

And if your garage remote is stolen, Garry Stewart of Doorman Service in downtown Kent says you can erase the code for the remote so that thieves can’t use it to break into your home!

Click here to review the latest crime stats of the City of Kent.

Auto Theft Prevention – Top 10 List  (thanks to the City of Kent for providing this info.)

1. Remove all valuables every time you park.
2. Lock all doors.
3. Completely close all windows.
4. Install and use an alarm system.
5. Never leave your vehicle running unattended.
6. Consider installing a steering wheel locking device such as The Club. Clubs are available at a reduced cost through the Kent Police Foundation.
7. Park in well-lit locations.
8. Avoid parking in isolated areas.
9. Remove your GPS system, including the suction cups that are mounted on your windshield.
10. Call 9-1-1 at the sign of any suspicious activity.

Submitted by Katie Cava for Forterra

Sat., Feb. 4
10 am – 2 pm
Lake Fenwick Park
25828 Lake Fenwick Rd., Kent, WA
YOU can help Pearl Jam mitigate their carbon emissions by volunteering to plant native trees and shrubs at three upcoming events!

Last year Pearl Jam partnered with Forterra to mitigate 7,000 metric tons of carbon emitted during their 2009 world tour. Together we are restoring 33 acres of forested parkland in Kent, Kirkland, Seattle and Redmond. These restoration efforts are part of Forterra’s Green Cities Partnerships, programs with cities and the community that restore our beloved forested parklands.

Volunteers will spend the morning planting native trees, shrubs and ground cover in Lake Fenwick Park while rocking out to Pearl Jam music.

As always, no experience is necessary, and we’ll have all the gloves, tools, and other materials for you, as well as water and snacks. Please remember to bring your own water bottle to re-fill, and/or a mug for coffee.

Wear sturdy shoes and consider long pants and long sleeves. All ages are welcome, although all volunteers under 18 must either be accompanied by an adult or bring a signed waiver (available here).

Please register early by clicking below so that we can plan a great event for our volunteers.  We will follow up with any additional details as we get closer to the date.

EXTRA: Please REGISTER by following this link: http://www.forterra.org/events/2_4_help_pearl_jam_mitigate_their_2009_tour

Thanks to Public Health of Seattle & King County for these tips on winter weather safety.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can kill you. Carbon monoxide gas comes from burning fuels such as gasoline, propane, oil, kerosene, natural gas, coal or wood.

Prevent poisoning from carbon monoxide:

• Only use a generator outdoors and far from open windows and vents
• Never use a generator or portable propane heater indoors, in garages or carports
• Never cook or heat inside on a charcoal or gas grill.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen suddenly and without warning. Physical symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include splitting headache, nausea and vomiting, and lethargy and fatigue.

If you believe you could be experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, get fresh air immediately. Call for medical help from a neighbor’s home. The Fire Department will tell you when it is safe to re-enter the home.

For a full list of carbon monoxide prevention tips and other safety and disaster information in English and other languages, visit www.kingcounty.gov/health/disaster

If you have a power outage, use safe ways to stay warm:

• Find places where you can go to get warm, such as the home of friends and family whose homes have power. Many cities have opened centers where people can go during the day to stay warm. Center locations can be found at www.kingcounty.gov/safety/prepare
• Wear several layers of light weight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Wear hats, mittens, and blankets indoors.
• Close curtains and cover windows and doors with blankets. Everyone should try to stay together in one room, with the door closed, to keep in body heat.

• Check on elderly friends, family, and neighbors to make sure they are safe.
• Watch your footing on surfaces that may be icy and slick, and wear shoes that provide traction.
• Be careful not to overexert yourself when shoveling snow, especially if you have heart disease or high blood pressure, as the cold weather puts extra strain on your heart.
• Do not sled on streets or on slopes near streets, ponds, or streams.
• Avoid driving if you can. If you must drive, allow safe stopping times and distances.

• Warn others about carbon monoxide poisoning. Share the information with neighbors, friends, family and community groups.
• Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially if they are elderly or if you think their power might be out.
• If you know someone who has lost electricity, invite them to your home to stay warm.

If power goes out where you live, keep food safe:

• Keep the doors closed on your refrigerators and freezers as much as possible. This keeps the cold air inside. A full freezer can stay at freezing temperatures about two days; a half-full freezer about 1 day.
• If you think the power will be out for several days, try to find some ice to pack inside your refrigerator. Keep raw foods separate from ready-to-eat foods.
• Refrigerated foods should be safe as long as the power is out no more than a few hours and the refrigerator/freezer doors have been kept closed. Throw away foods that spoil easily (such as meat and fish) if they warm up above 41º F.
• Frozen foods that remain frozen are OK to eat. If potentially hazardous foods are thawed (such as meat and fish), but are still cold or have ice crystals on them, use them as soon as possible. If potentially hazardous foods are thawed and are warmer than 41º F, throw them away.

Updated, Jan. 20–Shelter will also be open this evening, Fri., Jan. 20.

Because of the snowstorm and its accompanying cold temperatures, the City of Kent is opening the Kent Severe Weather Shelter at the Kent Lutheran Church tonight, Jan. 18 through Fri., Jan. 20. Here are the details:

Location:  Kent Lutheran Church, 336 2nd Ave. S., Kent, WA  98032

Check-in and registration:  9 p.m.  (all guests must register)

Shelter closes, guests must leave:  7 a.m.

The shelter is giving priority to homeless families with children who are living on the streets or in their vehicles. Men and women without children are also welcome. There is separate sleeping space available for families, men and women.

The Severe Weather Shelter is operated by Catholic Community Services staff and volunteers from the Kent Lutheran Church and Kent community.

To locate shelters in Renton, Federal Way, Bellevue and Seattle, dial 2-1-1.

If you know of a homeless person or family who needs shelter, please share this information with them.

For the second year in a row, Seattle magazine names Kent Realtor® Marti Reeder of John L. Scott a Five Star Professional Real Estate Agent. Only real estate agents rated highest in overall satisfaction were selected. Winning this award puts Reeder in a select group of Seattle Five Star Real Estate Agents, representing fewer than 6% of real estate agents in the area.

To determine the winners of the 2011 Five Star Professional Real Estate Agents awards, Five Star Professional surveyed Seattle residents who purchased a home over $150,000 within an 18-month period (Aug. 2009 – Feb. 2011), 1,000 subscribers of Seattle magazine and 250 mortgage and title company representatives. Top agents were also screened to ensure that their licenses are current and that there is no disciplinary action pending against them. Only those with the top scores were awarded the title Five Star Real Estate Agent in Overall Satisfaction, including Reeder, a full-time broker/real estate agent with John L. Scott in Kent and Covington.

In addition to this prestigious award, Reeder has received President’s Awards from John L. Scott every year since 2007, has won top producer and top resale awards at John L. Scott in 2011, and was voted “Best of Kent” Realtor® by readers of the Kent Reporter three years in a row. In July 2010, Reeder was nominated for the Business Examiner’s “Women of Influence.” With more than 25 years of industry experience, she has earned the following professional designations:  Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) and Accredited Seller’s Representative (ASR). She is also an Accredited Staging Professional and a Certified Pre-Foreclosure Specialist.

“It is such an honor to win this award two years in a row,” Reeder said. “It means so much to me that my clients appreciate my attention to detail and continue to refer me to their friends. I am blessed, doing the work I love.”

For more information about Reeder, visit http://www.marti-realtor.com or call 206-391-0388. To learn more about Marti’s Five Star Real Estate Agent distinction, visit http://www.pageturnpro.com/Crescendo-Business-Services/32866-2011-SEARE-Marti-Reeder/index.html#1

As a lifelong resident of King County, Reeder is a full-time, full-service real estate broker. She has a wide range of experience in mortgages, home inspections and real estate. Starting her real estate career with John L. Scott over seven years ago, Reeder specializes in working with individuals and families to buy and sell their homes throughout the Seattle area. In 2011, she helped more than 30 families sell or buy new homes.