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.

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

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.

City of Kent 2012 Recycling Events

Jan. 7:  Christmas Tree Recycling Event at Service Club Ballfields

Jan. 9-13:  Christmas Tree Recycling for City of Kent residents

Jan. 28-29, Feb. 4-5:  Wood Debris Recycling at Russell Road Park (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Jan. 28:  Appliance and Electronics Recycling at Meridian Elementary, 25621 140th Ave SE, Kent (10 a.m. to p.m.)

Mar. 17:  Special Recycling and Collection Event at Russell Road Park

Mar. 24:  Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale

For more info., visit KentRecycles.com.