Post updated August 8, 2010 –

A group of Kent residents and dog owners are pitching in to create a dog park on the East Hill between Morrill Meadows Park and East Hill Park on 248th. Though volunteers have helped to clear the blackberry bushes to get the park dog-ready, there is much more work to be done. Funding is also needed. You can help make this dream a reality. Here’s how you can help:

• Purchase and donate fencing at Home Depot ($45 a roll; volunteers can pick it up, if needed).
• Purchase a plaque on behalf of your dog for $102. Half pays for the plaque; the other half goes toward the dog park.
• Buy a bench for $500 (4 are needed).
• Purchase a garbage can for $350 (2 are needed).
• Monetary donations are always helpful.

For more information or to make a donation, call volunteer Michelle McDowell at 253-639-0124 or visit DogPark online.

In kind donations such as fencing and other items needed for the park can also be donated. Contact Brian Levenhagen, parks planning and development manager to see if the materials you want to donate meet city standards.

Ride to Make a Difference – Kent A.M. Kiwanis teams up with Children’s Therapy Center and Pat’s Bar & Grill on August 1 to do their 5th Annual Kick Start For Kids, a benefit motorcycle ride.

{Download the flyer here}

The rain-or-shine ride starts at 10:30 am at Children’s Therapy Center in Kent (sign up starts at 9:30 am), goes on a leisurely, unescorted ride to Snoqualmie Falls, and ends at Pat’s Bar & Grill, 114 Railroad Ave. N. in downtown Kent.

The ride will take place rain or shine and the event benefits Children’s Therapy Center to help provide scholarships to families whose children need therapy services to help them reach their full potential.

Cost:  $35 at the door + $15 for additional passengers or spouses

Coffee and light snacks will be provided before the ride and riders will receive a commemorative pin. The ride will finish with a celebration at Pat’s Bar & Grill.

For more info., call 253-854-5660 or email kentamkiwanis@gmail.com!

Open to all motorcycle riders 18 years and older with valid endorsement.

Icon Theatre presents The Seahorse, a play by Edward J. Moore in late July – early August.

Tony Driscoll and Jennifer O’Brien star in ICON THEATRE’S presentation of the The Seahorse by Edward J. Moore, directed by Rebecca Lloyd. This riveting play examines the lives of Harry Bales and Gertrude Blum inside the walls of The Seahorse, a seaport bar.

This play features only one man and one women alone on stage discovering each other and working on love. This is not a fairy tale love story. It is dark and clouded with the sum of the past, but it illuminates what is possible when you commit yourself to loving someone unconditionally. Due to strong language, this performance is for mature audiences only (13 and up only please).

July 29, 30 & 31 and August 5, 6 & 7
7 pm curtain
Kentwood Performing Arts Center
Kentwood High School 25800 164th Ave. SE., Kent, WA  98042
Tickets are $10 each
Purchase online at Brown Paper Tickets

[Bonus: The theatre will be air conditioned, so come out to support the community with a dramatic theatrical performance by local actors.]

Update-July 2, 2010:  Opening date pushed back to July 16 (was originally set for July 14):

The City of Kent is bringing back the Morford Family Carousel the summer.  Your favorite Kent amusement  ride returns on July 16 at Town Square Plaza, on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Harrison Street in downtown Kent.  You can ride the 1940s classic Venetian-style carousel carousel through August 22 for a $2.00 donation.

This summer the carousel’s donations will benefit the Girl Scout Troop 41104, to help send the girls, next summer, to Savannah, GA, the Girl Scouts’ home base.  They will also be participating in other fundraising efforts including crafts.  So come to Downtown Kent with your family, do some shopping and go for a spin.

Weekly hours (may vary) will be:

Wednesdays, 11 am – 1:30 pm;
Thursdays, 5-8:30 pm;
Fridays, 5-8 pm;
Saturdays, 10:30 am – 3 pm; and
Sundays, 1-5 pm.

For more information, call 253-856-5110 or visit the City’s website at www.ci.kent.wa.us.

After a delicious lunch at Archa Thai Bistro on East Meeker St., Brooke, Larissa and her girls – Nadia & Kira – spent the afternoon at Kent Cornucopia Days. It was darn hot, but who could complain? The weather was significantly better than Fourth of July. Anyway, we had a great time.

I got a 10-minute back massage at Lemon Drop, a $5 brow wax at Blanc ‘n Schwartz, Brooke got a henna tattoo, Nadia & Kira had caricatures done, and we all got free face painting (think artsty, fun, colorful!) at Blanc ‘n Schwartz. We also met Miss Cornucopia, Lauren Vermilion, enjoyed a little ice cream and did a bit of shopping! Thank goodness for the nearby Wells Fargo ATM.

One of my favorite vendors had historic photos from around Washington. I bought three that were Kent-specific, one of the old Kent High School and two of the downtown area. They’ll look great in my office where most of the “iLoveKent” action happens.  : )

There was so much we didn’t have time to do though – we may go back again today for the Farmers’ Market and to see the booths and downtown friends we missed yesterday.  I would also like to swing by Lake Meridian today to see the Dragon Boat Races. I’ve never been to them before and this year is the 10th anniversary for the dragon boat races at Kent Cornucopia Days!

Hats off to Bill Westcott and the Kent Lions’ Club for putting on such a fun, family-friendly, all-volunteer event. Great job!

For more pix, visit our iLoveKent Facebook page.

South King County Genealogical Society is hosting a Living History Performance on July 17 and 18 (1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.) at Saar Pioneer Cemetery and 91st and 212th Way in Kent.

This performance tells a living history of six characters whose stories were taken from those buried at the cemetery. Each character will tell his or her own personal story of life in Kent beginning with Margaret Saar and ending with Civil War veteran Elias Clark.

For more information, call 253-850-2777. Admission is $10/person. Reservations are required. View flyer here.

A collaboration between The Saar Cemetery Living History Committee, Book-It Theatre, and Living Voices

WITH THE HELP OF THESE SPONSORS:

• South King County Genealogical Society
• Greater Kent Historical Society
• Saar Pioneer Cemetery Project Committee
• Goodwill Industries
• and Hilda Meryhew

Thanks to Meilee Anderson of Seattle Southside Tourism for passing along this unusual – but very cool – event!

Thanks to Victoria Andrews for providing this news update. Contract Ms. Andrews with questions at 206-824-3966 or 253-856-5113 or contact her by email.

Kent Sunrise Rotary to Dedicate Shower Trailer on July 8

KENT, Wash. – June 24, 2010 – With construction provided by a group of dedicated, talented volunteers and a Rotary district grant of $8,000, the Kent Sunrise Rotary Club is donating a new portable shower trailer to help homeless men in Kent.  The trailer will be dedicated on Thursday, July 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Kent Lutheran Church, 336 2nd Avenue South.

Working at a local shed donated for the build, the volunteer team, lead by Dave Anderson, outfitted a purchased trailer with two shower stalls. The trailer will be moved to sponsoring churches in the area serving the homeless.  Catholic Community Services will coordinate services, and the project is endorsed by Valley Cities Counseling and the City of Kent Housing and Human Services Division.

Guest speaker at the dedication will be Richard LeMieux, author of Breakfast at Sally’s, the account of one homeless man’s experience.  The book was written on a second-hand manual typewriter when LeMieux was forced to live in his minivan after his business failed.  Sally’s was the soup kitchen at the Salvation Army in Bremerton.

The Kent Sunrise Rotary Club is part of Rotary International, a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace worldwide. There are about 1.2 million club members in more than 32,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas.  Our motto is “Service Above Self.”  Weekly breakfast programs with local and visiting speakers offer education, fellowship and fun.

Kent Cornucopia Days is just around the corner. The 39th annual street fair and community festival will be held in and around Kent July 8 – 11, 2010 with a variety of favorite events (dragon boat races, carnival, Grand Parade) and a few new additions (bike ride).

Highlights include:

• Crowning of Miss Cornucopia
• Funtastic Shows Carnival
• Kent Lions Street Fair & Taste of Cornucopia
• Farmers Market (Sat., 9-2)
• Kent Youth Soccer Association’s 11th annual Cornucopia Cup Tournament
• Kent Valley Artists Association Art Show
• Kent Cornucopia Days First Annual Bike Ride
• Plaza and Gazebo Stages
• Dragon Boat Races
• Blood Drive
• Safety Fair
• Beer Garden
• Pet Adoptathon from KCACC
• Grand Parade (Sun., July 11 at 2 pm) – It’s Kentastic!
• First Annual Bike Ride (25 & 60 miles) (Sat., July 10)
• Military Displays from the Army National Guard, etc.
• Lions Bingo
• 5k Fun Run & Walk
• Beatles Tribute Band

For a complete schedule, please visit the Kent Lions Club’s Kent Cornucopia Days website.

Friday, July 2:   Qualifying and racing:  9 am – 5 pm
Saturday, July 3:  Saturday practice and racing
Sunday, July 4:  Sunday practice and racing

$25-day-long passes available per day OR by a multi-day pass for $40
Children ages 7 – 16 are $5 per day
VIP parking – $5; Field parking – $FREE

Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Alfa Romeo, the Pacific Northwest Historics will feature approximately 250 of the world’s rarest pre-1970 race cars at next weekend’s event including Ferraris, Lotuses, Cobras, Corvettes and more. Some of the vehicles are valued at over $1 million. Guest celebrity and sports car racing legend Augie Pabst will be on hand as well.

All proceeds for the event benefit uncompensated care at Seattle Children’s Hospital in Seattle. Over the past 21 years, the event has raised more than $7 million for the cause. This year’s goal is $525,000.

For more info., visit the Pacific Raceways website or call 206-389-5200 (race hotline).

See you there!

This Saturday the Kent International Festival committee presents the second annual Kent International Festival at Town Square Plaza. Located in downtown Kent at the corner of 2nd and Smith Streets, the day-long festival will include informational booths, an international fashion show, ethnic music and performances, authentic native attire and more!

The festival will be held from 10 am to 6 pm and it is FREE to the public. This year’s theme is “Learn From Each Other.” Informational booths will host activities and provide information from different countries and cultures to help us bridge the gap of diversity.

In addition, Town Square Plaza and 2nd Street will feature the Kent Lions Club’s Farmers Market from 9 am to 2 pm. Don’t miss out on the action!

Sponsors:

Allied Waste

Kent4Health

Great American Casino

Neighbor2Neighbor

Adam’s DJ Service

Kent Chamber of Commerce

Kent Community Fund

Kent Downtown Partnership

Kent Lions Club

Last week Relay for Life, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, was held at Kent-Meridian High School’s French Field (100210 SE 256th St., Kent). Together 96 teams and 912 participants raised $220,907.98 by walking in teams from 6 p.m. June 4 through 12 p.m. June 5. The annual fundraiser included opening ceremonies, the luminaria ceremony and a final lap by Lance Goodwin, event chair, and the leadership committee.

Visit Relay For Life – Kent online for more detailed info. and photos.

According to participant Kristen Jordan, this year’s event was the best year ever.

“Every year it gets better and better,” the three-year participant says. “It was an amazing experience!”

The 2010 top fundraisers and award winners are:

Highest Fundraising Youth Team:
Space for Grace – $6,699.08

Highest Individual Youth Fundraiser:
Russell Johnson – $2,046.20

Rookie Team of the Year:
The Exotic Solution – $12,291.90

Fundraising Team (non-business):
1st place:  The Country Club Village People – $20,057.18
2nd place:  KUMC Spirit Walkers – $8,658.00
3rd place:  Team Harnett – $5,625.00

Fundraising Team (business):
1st place:  Prudential Aggressive Cancer Kickers (Pack) – $12,984.87
2nd place:  The Exotic Solution – $12,291.90
3rd place:  Windermere’s Ron’s Warriors – $7,236.49

Fundraising organization:
1st place:  The Country Club Village People – $25,069.41
2nd place:  KUMC – $16,282.83
3rd place:  Kentridge – $13,328.66

Individual highest fundraiser:
1st place:  Suzanne Hartnett – $3,305.00
2nd place:  Sean McFarlane – $3,293.55
3rd place:  Mark Prothero – $2,750.00

Mini Relay Fundraisers:
Meridian Elementary School – $5,012.23
Glenridge Elementary School – $3,627.00

Reader Kristen Jordan contributed the following photos for iLoveKent.net. Thank you, Kristen!

Join the Rainier Youth Choir on Saturday, Jun 19 for an evening of music. The “Sentimental Journey” concert begins at 3:00pm at the Kent Methodist Church located at 11010 SE 248^th St., Kent.  See youth of all ages from Kent, Maple Valley, Auburn, Federal Way, Enumclaw and Renton.  Tickets are $12/$10 purchased in advance and $15/$12 at the door.

RYC is a non-profit community organization, partially funded by the Kent Arts Commission and 4 Culture, which offers age-appropriate, exceptional choral singing experiences for boys and girls with a variety of levels.

“This will be a bittersweet concert with 14 seniors graduating, some of whom have sung with me and each other since they were in fifth grade,” observed Leora Schwitters, RYC’s Artistic Director.  “We’ll be programming several favorite songs from their past as well as adding a few new selections.”  Repertoire for this concert includes lighter Broadway numbers, folk songs, jazz ballads, spirituals, as well as newer selections by Stroope, Ratledge, Sevier and Quick.

Auditions for Rainier Youth Choirs are now available for the 2010-11 season by appointment for boys and girls with strong musical talent, grades 4 and up. RYC groups rehearse weekly throughout the school year in Covington, September through May.

For ticket orders and more information about Rainier Youth Choirs, visit www.RainierYouthChoirs.org .

Pull out your sneakers, grab your basketball and head to the Showare parking lot for the Showare Shootout, “South King County’s Premier 3 on 3 basketball event”.  On Saturday and Sunday August 7-8 the Showare Center in Downtown Kent will let people from all walks of life bring it on.  Featuring  age divisions for men, women, seniors, kids and wheelchair there is a game for anyone to get in on the action.

Players who advance through the first round will have the opportunity to play for the championship.  The entry fee is $100 per team for any division and includes a guarantee of four games, a T-shirt and trophy if your team makes the championship game of the division. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated back to Kent Youth and Family Services.  Sign up soon because the entry deadline is July 10. Visit Showare Shootout’s website for complete rules and information.

Do you enjoy public speaking? Are you required to do it for your job? Would you like to brush up on your communication skills? If so, check out the Green River Toastmasters Club which meets weekly in Kent:

Green River Toastmasters Club
Mitzel’s American Kitchen
22330 84th Ave. S.
Kent, WA
Fridays:  6:30 a.m.

For more info., visit the club on the web or contact Renee Gangloff at 206-334-0109.

Kent International Festival is hosting a fundraiser dinner on Saturday, June 19 (6-9 pm) called International Taste of Kent. Enjoy an evening of international food and entertainment including a full dinner from five of the city’s top international restaurants:  Greek, Chinese, Thai, Indian and Mexican.

Saturday, June 19, 2010
6 to 9 p.m.
Kent Senior Center, 600 E. Smith St., Kent, WA
Tickets are $50 each or $350 for a table of 8

Greek – Chinese – Thai – Indian- Mexican
Irish Step Dancers – Japanese Taiko Drummers – Indian Punjabi Dancers

For reservations, call 253-852-0874 or visit KIF online.

Sponsored by the City of Kent Sister Cities Association and Kent4Health.

At its annual awards luncheon yesterday at Golden Steer, Soroptimist International of Kent presented its community service awards. With 45 or so guests in attendance at the luncheon, including Mayor Suzette Cooke and Kent City Council President Jamie (Danielson) Perry, the following individuals and organizations were honored for their work in improving the lives of women and girls in the Kent community:

• Volunteer of the Month:  Kenyanna Brown, Kent Phoenix Academy
• Children’s Therapy Center/Dynamic Family Services
• Domestic Abuse Women’s Network (DAWN)
• Kent Youth and Family Services
• SKCAC Industries
• Master Gardener Foundation, Tribal Life Trail

Jon Botten, executive director of Children’s Therapy Center, accepted the award on behalf of his organization by reading a letter from MacKenzie, a recent graduate who utilized the center’s services for many years.

“Children’s Therapy Center gave me hope when there wasn’t any,” she writes.

Mike Heinisch, executive director for Kent Youth & Family Services, accepted the award for KYFS’s Watson Manor, a transitional housing program for homeless teen mothers.

“These mothers don’t have a place to call home – home is where our root is, our security and shelter,” Heinisch says.

Each of the honorees also received a donation from the Soroptimists to help them to continue their work. For more information about the local Soroptimist group, visit them online at www.soroptimistnwr.com.

Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.

Kent teams are gearing up for the American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life fundraiser. This year’s event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 4 and will continue until noon on Saturday, June 5 at Kent-Meridian High School’s French Field.

The purpose of the event is to raise awareness and funds to fight cancer. Teams of families, friends and co-workers walk in teams around the Field throughout the night. In addition, activities and ceremonies will be held during the 18-hour event. An opening ceremony will be hosted to Seattle DJ “Bender”  followed by the Survivor Lap. The luminara ceremony will take place at dusk where luminara bags will be lit for survivors and loved ones lost to cancer.

Ninety-six local Kent teams – including 815 participants – have been formed to walk during the race, including Hanis, Irvine & Prothero and the Curran Law Firm. To date, more than $70,000 has been raised. Nationwide, 5,000 communities are expected to participate and hope to raise more than $3 billion in the fight against cancer.

For more information, contact Becky Walter of Hanis, Irvine & Prothero via email or visit Relay for Life online.

This Friday the Greater Kent Historical Society will host an open house at the Kent Historical Museum (855 E. Smith St., Kent) to celebrate Kent’s 120th birthday — Friday, May 28 from 4 to 7 p.m.

City of Kent:  120th Anniversary
1890-2010

Join us on the anniversary day of Kent becoming the 2nd city incorporated in  King County, May 28, 1890!

•    New Mayoral History Display
•    Heavy hors d’oeuvres & cake
•    Presentation program at 6pm

Questions? Call 253-854-4330.