Contributed by Valley Medical Center

Valley Medical Center mourns the loss of Barbara Mitchell, Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Marketing. Barbara was known for her vivacious spirit and love for her family and career. A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, August 29 at 2pm in the Healing Garden at Valley Medical Center.

Barbara spent 35 years in corporate business management, with a primary emphasis and focus on human resource leadership, serving in a spectrum of industries spanning healthcare, broadcasting, and insurance in both union and non-union, for profit and not for profit, private sector and public sector arenas. Barbara worked at Valley Medical Center since 1999, initially as Director of Human Resources, promoted to Vice President of Human Resources, and then as Senior VP Human Resources and Marketing. Consistent with her prior work as Vice President Human Resources and Corporate Services for KIRO, Inc., and her consulting work throughout the Puget Sound, she was focused on strengthening workforces through management development, effective labor relations, strategic organizational development, and the fostering of energized, productive, responsive teams that readily achieved corporate goals.

Under her leadership, Barbara garnered “Best Workplace” recognition for VMC for ten consecutive years, saluting a high level of excellence in staff training and involvement, benefit enhancement and recruitment in a competitive industry. CEO of Valley Medical Center, Rich Roodman states, “Barbara has always been an incredibly valuable member of Valley’s management team. She was smart, insightful, compassionate and a friend, and will be missed by so many on both a professional and personal level.”

Barbara was acknowledged throughout her career as a person with exceptional mentoring and coaching skills. She designed effective career ladder programs and developed systems to identify potential talent through non-traditional methods, resulting in strong and ethnically diverse candidates for promotion.  Her ability to build trust throughout all levels of the corporate environment enabled the implementation of progressive programs that have become best practice. 

Barbara grew up in Alaska, attended Marylhurst University, served as Chairman of the Board for First Choice Health, and was active in fundraising with American Cancer Society, Washington Women in Need and Lake Washington Technical College. She also participated in community involvement with Renton Community Foundation, Rotary International, Renton Technical College, various Chambers of Commerce and community organizations.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Robb; son, Jordan Miller; daughter-in-law, Mistilyn Miller; grandson, Zayden; and granddaughter, Adel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society or VMC’s Healing Garden.

See the legendary Isley Brothers and KEM at ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St. in Kent on June 2 at 8:00 pm.  These R&B giants will play one-night only in Kent as part of “Smooth Grooves Music Fest”.

With such hits as “Twist & Shout”, “Summer Breeze” and “It’s Your Thing”, the Isley Brothers will make you want to dance! The Grammy-award winning Isley Brothers formed in the early 1950s in Cincinnati, Ohio and today are considered one of the most important and influential groups of the last half-century.

It has been said that music feeds the soul, but KEM’s journey is equally, if not more inspirational. R&B Singer/Songwriter/Producer KEM’s love of music began as a child. Music saw him through the darkest moments in his life, took him to the top of the industry’s record charts, and earned him a record deal with Universal Motown Records. A self-taught musician, KEM was born in Nashville and raised in Detroit, the birthplace of Motown Records.

Today, KEM takes the opportunity to minister through music, sharing his life’s journey with his audience at every concert. He testifies openly about overcoming alcohol addiction and drug use and touts his sobriety since 1990. He never neglects to give honor and glory to God for his achievements.

Reserved seats range from $30 to $85. Tickets are on sale to the general public at ShoWare Center’s Box Office (with no fees) or online at ShoWareCenter.com, Facebook.com/ShoWareCenter or 253.856.6999.

For more information about this and other events, visit http://showarecenter.com.

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.

Contributed by Megan Hilfer for Farrington Court

Farrington Court is hosting a Community Christmas Dinner with Elohim Ministries at Kent Lutheran Church this Saturday, Dec. 17^th.  They will feed over 200 homeless and low-income families in the Kent area.

The dinner starts at 6pm, and the menu features ham and all the trimmings.  They have received many donations from the community but are still in need of some hams, as well as more volunteers to help serve.  If you can donate or volunteer, please contact Farrington Court for more information at (253) 852-2737.

This is the first year Farrington Court has hosted the Community Christmas Celebration.

Patricia Curran, 77, wife of Pete Curran, passed away on Saturday, January 15. Pete and Pat had eight children. As an active member of the community and supporter of the arts, Pat will be missed by many in the Kent community.

Services for Pat will be held as follows:

Vigil: Friday evening, January 21, 7 pm at Holy Spirit Church, 310 Third Ave. So., Kent, WA

Funeral Mass: Saturday, January 22, 10:30 a.m. at the Church

Luncheon: Following Mass, in the parish hall

Read her obituary in today’s Seattle Times

Reprinted with permission from Barry Fretwell and Leslie Hamada of Project U(th)

On Thursday October 21, at open invitation of the Social Outreach Committee of Kent United Methodist Church, community leaders, city officials, pastors, non-profits, fund providers, service club representatives, and citizens gathered together to have the first Youth Summit Conference of 2010. The evening discussion started with time for the youth of the community to tell us what they wanted. Project U(th) showed up in force and one by one told the audience what they wanted and saw as visions. They are the future generation. If you listen to all the outreach and plans they have, you will be exhausted by just hearing their energy and “can do” spirit. They fielded many questions and thoughts with the poise and understanding of seasoned veterans.

What guests took away from that portion of the discussion was what Thomas Paine, General Patton, and Lee Iacocca stated: “Lead, follow, or get out of our way.”

How can we as a society stop putting so many barriers in the path of our youth in reaching their desires and goals? How can we as institutions and people of leadership and authority channel the funding which is in existence today into what kids really want and need today? Does it not start with first inviting them to the table to be part of the process? Does it not start with more kids feeling safe and knowing they will be heard coming to such a conference and discussing these issues? Does it not have to be sure to include the following, as Pastor David Madden, who has exhausted his own personal resources and time to help kids who are at serious risk stated: “Whatever you do…do not let these kids down because all around them adults have been doing this for years.”

There was great communication and ideas from the entire group. There has been a data base of information collected for future meeting development and plans to be announced soon for the 2^nd meeting.  Are” we as a city doing many things right”, as Dennis Higgins, City Council Member stated when he spoke to these issues? “Yes,” as he stated we all agreed on this point. “Is there much more we could be doing or areas we could look for to make improvements” as Dennis went on to state? Yes. This was obvious in everyone’s comments.

What you took away from this conference was we cannot stop this momentum which is starting in our community. This is the time when communities reach down and see what they are really can accomplish when resources become more limited and economic times hand us great challenges. America was built on this spirit of optimism and can do. The young people that showed up for this meeting had that pouring out of them.

If you would like further information how your club, Faith Based organization, non-profit, service club or fund provider or just plain involved citizen can get involved in this movement contact : leslie.hamada@yahoo.com and for more information on Project U(th)barry@projectuth.org

If you love inspirational music, you’ll love this FREE concert by gospel artist Michael A. Wilkins of Kent. He’ll be performing live next week in Tacoma.

Michael A. Wilkins
Tacoma Christian Center
3507 McKinley Ave.
Tacoma, WA  98404
253-272-6079

Wed., Sept. 22, 2010
7 – 8:30 am
Admission is Free

To hear samples of Michael’s music, visit his site online at http://MichaelWilkins.com.

Christian singer/songwriter Michael A. Wilkins of Kent will make his music debut at a reception at Marie Haggin Accessories at Kent Station next week.

The public is invited to meet Wilkins and hear him perform on Wed., August 18 from 6 to 8 pm at Marie Haggin. He will be performing songs from his debut album “I Don’t Want to be Lost” featuring songs including “Defeated Giants” and “Don’t Want to Forget Ya.”

Wilkins’ debut reception is being hosted by Wilkins’ sister, Debbie Marie Haggin, owner of Marie Haggin Accessories.

“I know I am biased, but his music is so beautiful,” Haggin says. “I can’t wait for the rest of the world to hear his work!”

To learn more about the Christian artist or to hear clips of his music, visit him online at Big Dream Music Productions.

Wed., August 18, 2010 (6 to 8 pm)

Christian singer/songwriter Michael Wilkins performs live at Marie Haggin Accessories at Kent Station (441 Ramsay Way, Suite 103, Kent).

Questions & RSVPs? Call 253-859-9769 .