Dear iLoveKent.net fans,

I frequently get asked why I Love Kent. Some people get it, especially those that live here and appreciate the city’s little known treasures, but people not from Kent, Washington have no idea. People from Tacoma and Seattle often can’t imagine what a town like Kent could offer that they don’t have. But Kent, Washington is a special place.

I can’t say why other people love Kent, or what people, places or things are important to them, but I can tell you why I Love Kent…and I’m going to. In 2013, I’m going to post 365 reasons that iLoveKent.net on the iLoveKent Facebook page. I’ll note people, places or things I love about Kent – favorite restaurants, shops, community leaders and volunteers, etc. and I’ll include photos whenever I can. I’ll recap those daily posts here weekly.

Please keep in mind that these are MY reasons for loving Kent. I know that not everyone will agree with my selections; in fact, I hope each Kent fan has his or her own reasons for loving our little ‘burb. I encourage feedback, comments and your reasons for loving Kent.

Kent isn’t perfect, but it has a lot to offer if you know where to look.

Happy New Year!

Dana Neuts, Publisher

Dear iLoveKent.net Readers and Fans,

When I started iLoveKent.net in 2009, I did it to showcase some of the great people, places and things in Kent, Washington. I wanted to show the rest of the world, or at least South King County, that Kent has a lot to offer — from basic shopping, dining and recreational options to deeper values like culture, diversity and creativity.

Over the years, my passion for Kent has grown, and I’ve tried to reflect that in the pages of iLoveKent.net and on our Facebook and Twitter accounts. I’ve done this as a service to the community, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I will continue to provide this service because I believe in Kent, and my readers have shown that they believe in Kent too.

But my mission is evolving and I want your help. Kent needs us now, perhaps more than ever. Over the last several months, we’ve heard about fatal car crashes, missing teens, vandalized stores, closing businesses, shootings and other crimes. Financially, our city is in danger as well. Businesses are being asked to pay more to run the city, the city is cutting valuable services and programs, and job layoffs continue. With so much going on, particularly at election time, it may seem like we as individuals can’t make a difference…but we CAN and we need to! Our city needs us, our schools and businesses need us, and our neighbors need us.

Many of you are already active in the community. You volunteer at school or church, participate in local government, or serve as a mentor or board volunteer somewhere. Those contributions continue to be important, but I think we need to do even more — at the most basic level, we need to look out for each other. We need to report burned out streetlights, call 9-1-1 when we see suspicious vehicles and erratic drivers, and need to avoid unnecessary distractions when driving, biking or walking through town. We need to remember to be kind and compassionate, pay attention to our surroundings,  and clean up after ourselves when out in public. While these may seem like minor actions, each time we help someone else in a small way, it adds up to big change and a safer, more secure community.

In the weeks and months ahead, I’ll use iLoveKent.net to share ideas and resources with members of the community to show you ways you can help. I welcome your suggestions and comments as well. I don’t have all the answers; together we do! Let’s show Kent we care.

Caring for our community,

Dana Neuts, Publisher
iLoveKent.net

[Pictured above, right:  Kent Fire Department at Kent Cornucopia Days, 2012. Photo taken by Dana Neuts.]

This post is from Elizabeth Conrad. This note was originally posted on iLoveKent.net’s Facebook page. She’s looking for anyone in the Kent area who may have known George Mulligan, Conrad’s deceased brother. She writes:

I am from Connecticut. My brother, George Mulligan died on 12/11/10 in Kent Washington. He was a Viet Nam Vet and suffered greatly mentally from affects for the war. We had not seen him since the 1990′s. We worried and wondered for years what happened to him. When I found out that he died in Kent in 2010. I obtained a copy of his death certificate. He died at Auburn Regional Medical Center. His address at the time was 20928 110th Ave SE Apt 1602. Kent,WA.

The death certificate said he had a wife. She was the informant. It says her name was Yolanda Grossley. I looked on line for her name but could find it. An address come up for Yolanda Mulligan. Still in Kent but different address. Both of my parents went to their graves never knowing where he was. George was one of seven children There are six of us left who loved him and have so many questions about what happened to him. We just found out a week ago that he passed away. August 27th was his birthday. He would have been 63. Every time his birthday comes around, we think of him and start researching where he is, that is I found out that he died.
PLEASE, if anyone knows George, Please let me know. I will check back again on this website.

Thank you and God bless,

Liz C

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.

The following is an update sent to some Kent business owners today by Andrea Keikkala, Executive Director of the Kent Chamber of Commerce. It’s an update on the Kent City Council’s action at last night’s meeting. Thanks, Andrea, for allowing us to reprint your update. Emphasis added by iLoveKent.net.

Thank you, for your time and hard work to quickly learn about the B&O Tax issue and Kent’s infrastructure funding challenges. Last night the City of Kent Council did NOT pass a proposed B&O Tax. The vote came down 5 to 2 on an ordinance that would have put into place a .2 B&O Tax on Warehouses only. However, a Resolution was passed that solidifies the continued work of the business community and the city of Kent to come up with $4-6 million by the end of the year in a revenue generating mechanism. Be that, B&O, Head Tax, Door Tax, etc.

Section 2 of Statement of Intent Resolutions – “ The city council will consider all available revenue structures, including, without limitation, a Business and Occupation Tax, a Business License Tax, a Transportation Benefit District, and any other tax or fee structure that will best serve the needs of the people to have well maintained streets while imposing the least and fairest burden on the business community of Kent” This resolution passed the council on a 6 to 1 vote.

The hard work is just beginning. The City of Kent Council talked a lot about trust, hope and their desire to keep the business community at the table. We need to make sure we follow through and do our part. This is an opportunity for the business community to give input on the economic vitality of Kent and guide the process. Please make sure that you make time to be at this table. We will be gathering information, mapping out next steps and will call for a follow up meeting with the business community shortly to review all taxing mechanisms available.

As we requested, the City of Kent also passed a resolution to hire an outside consulting firm to do an efficiencies study. This was passed by council unanimously.

Also, as requested by the Kent Chamber, a Levy Lid Lift of $.37/1000 assessed valuation will be put on the ballot this November. This resolution passed the City of Kent council on a 4 to 3 vote.

Again, thank you all for your work on this issue. Thank you for your phone calls, emails and discussion. I look forward to working with you in the near future.

Best Regards,

Andrea (Keikkala)

As Valley Medical Center has reached the one-year anniversary of our Strategic Alliance with UW Medicine, I am pleased to report that we have already increased the availability of quality healthcare in our community. 

In the July 2011 to July 2012 period, we have increased the clinical expertise and services available to our residents by expanding coverage at Valley in neurological surgery and thoracic surgery, expanding education and training through the UW emergency medicine residency, standardizing reporting for patient safety and quality, implementing a rapid process improvement program to reduce the costs of care and creating additional access to primary care, secondary care and highly specialized care when needed. 

The coming year should bring expansion to oncology services, cardiology, urology, ophthalmology and several other clinical areas. Being a part of the UW Medicine system allows our physicians to have priority access to specialized care at UW Medicine when a patient needs urgent specialty services such as open heart surgery or organ transplant surgery. 

In addition to the expansion of clinical services, we are working to reduce the overall cost of healthcare and to transform healthcare delivery. The recent Supreme Court decision on healthcare reform validates the concept of integrated delivery systems; a key component is readily available primary care. The combination of VMC’s clinics and UW Medicine’s Neighborhood Clinics has increased access to care in your neighborhoods and access to world class specialists when needed.

Valley Medical Center is committed to continuing the progress we have achieved in the first year of the Strategic Alliance. The shared mission to improve the health of the public has allowed VMC and the rest of UW Medicine to focus on expansion of services and alignment of best practices as we prepare for healthcare reform and the growing needs of our population.

The focus of the Board of Trustees, with eleven trustees living in the service area, is to provide oversight to the delivery of healthcare in our community. We will continue to provide progress reports to let you know when new services are added. Thank you for relying on Valley Medical Center for your healthcare.

Contributed by King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson

This Memorial Day weekend, as the nation honors the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defending our country, King County is working to ensure there are services to help our veterans.

Since 2006, the King County Veterans and Human Services Levy invested approximately $40 million to support veteran services programs countywide. Serving King County’s more than 135,000 veterans, these tax dollars have funded housing, mental health services, and job training to help veterans and their families find their footing during these tough economic times.

Examples of how levy funds are being used to help include:

• A dedicated telephone resource for veterans to provide service information and referrals, including crisis and suicide counseling;
• Treatment services for veterans and families dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression;
  
• New veterans’ housing projects in places such as Bellevue, Renton, Kirkland, and Seattle, and a 45 percent increase in shelter beds for homeless veterans; and
• Job training and employment assistance for unemployed veterans.

In addition, this June, King County will begin a new Veterans Treatment Court that focuses on treatment and rehabilitation rather than incarceration. Modeled after other therapeutic courts, such as the County’s nationally-recognized drug court and mental health court, the new Veterans Treatment Court will provide accountability for veterans involved in the criminal justice system who are suffering from war-related trauma while linking them to treatment and support services. The Veterans and Human Services Levy includes funding for Veterans Treatment Court and other emerging justice programs for veterans.

King County voters overwhelmingly supported renewal of the Veterans and Human Services Levy last August. Almost 70 percent of voters said ‘yes’ to continued funding for services for veterans and others in need. The six-year levy will generate approximately $17 million a year through 2017 with one half of the revenue dedicated exclusively to serve veterans, military personnel, and their families. Two citizen levy oversight boards provide accountability for how levy dollars are used.

Having come from a family of veterans, I know that veterans deserve our support. The best way to honor the sacrifice of our veterans is to make sure there are services and help available when they need it. I was proud to author the Veterans and Human Services Levy, but am most gratified that the levy is effectively serving our veterans, who selflessly serve our nation.

King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson chairs the King County Council’s Government Accountability, Oversight, and Financial Performance Committee. His father and grandfathers were veterans. He can be reached at (206) 296-1001 or bob.ferguson@kingcounty.gov.

Contributed by Nathan Box, Kent Youth & Family Services

On May 2, 1,200+ nonprofits will ask for your support during the Seattle Foundation’s 2nd Annual GiveBIG. We are one of those nonprofits. Our difference is clear though. We are right here in your community. Every dollar donated to Kent Youth and Family Services stays right here in South King County. In fact, your dollars go to work providing Youth/Family & Substance Abuse Counseling to residents of Covington and youth and families throughout the Kent School District. They also provide Outreach services at three King County Housing Authority sites, as well as transitional housing to homeless single moms and learning opportunities to 400+ kids in our Head Start/ECEAP program. Our services powered by your generosity supports 8,000 individuals in our community every year.

So, from midnight to midnight (Pacific Time) on May 2, join the Seattle Foundation as they host their 2nd annual GiveBIG. The goal is to turn out thousands of new and returning individual donors to help support local nonprofits. Donations will be stretched further thanks to individuals donors and business sponsors like Seattle Sounders FC, Microsoft, Seattle International Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, Russell Investments, Starbucks and more.

KYFS is excited to participate in this local day of giving. To support us directly, visit our Seattle Foundation page on May 2.

Thanks in advance for the support. Happy Giving.

Working toward a better future,

Nathan H. Box
Fund Developer and Community Relations Manager
Kent Youth & Family Services
nathanb@kyfs.org
(253) 859-0300 Ext. 3045
www.kyfs.org

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

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?

From the City of Kent in a press release dated October 19, 2011 (a letter to the editor of the Kent Reporter):

Dear Editor,

Much has been said, written, implied, and rumored about the collection and use of property taxes by the city. We’d like to set the record straight, not only about those taxes, but to right some false statements made by Mr. Berrios in his letter to the editor printed in the October 7 edition of the Kent Reporter.

In 2010, voters approved the formation of the Regional Fire Authority (RFA). That measure passed with over 70% of the vote. By approving the RFA, voters approved two major revenue changes that appear on your property tax bill 1) a transfer of $1.00 per thousand of assessed value from the city to the RFA and 2) the collection of a new revenue charge called a Fire Benefit Charge (FBC). Both of these changes were in the voters pamphlet and part of the public outreach campaign prior to the vote.

The Truth about Property Taxes

Property taxes are collected by King County and are used to pay for a variety of organizations and services including state and local schools, county services, city services, the Port of Seattle, ferry services, King County Library System, emergency medical services, and Valley Medical Center.

Only a small portion of the property tax we pay comes to our city – 11.2% of the total to be exact.

The property tax revenues our city receives have always been deposited into the General Fund and used to pay for general government services including public safety, parks, streets and other services. They were never transferred from another fund as alleged. Property owners should note that property taxes only cover 25% of the total cost to provide the previously mentioned services.

The remaining costs are covered using sales and utility tax revenues, building revenues and permit fees, which also, have always been deposited into the General Fund. Unfortunately, these revenue sources have declined by $8.4 million since the recession began.

It is clear there is a mistaken assumption that before voters approved the RFA, the Fire Department was funded solely by property taxes. Nothing could be further from the truth. If this assertion were true – if the entire city’s portion of property taxes received were dedicated to public safety – those dollars wouldn’t even cover half of the total cost to provide those services. In fact, in 2010, before the RFA, only $8.9 million dollars of property tax money was used to pay for the fire department. The remaining $15.2 million dollars in their budget came from other revenue sources.

In 2010, the city received $2.36 per $1,000 in assessed valuation to pay for all of the general government services referenced previously. When the RFA was formed, the city gave up $1.00 of the $2.36 previously received, leaving $1.36 per $1,000 assessed valuation to pay for those previously referenced services. That $1.00 dollar equated to a reduction of $11.7 million in property taxes that used to go into the city’s General Fund, which is now collected by the RFA. That is well over the $8.9 million in property taxes that partially funded the fire department in 2010.

This year, due to fluctuation in property values, the county, not the city, set the rate at $1.48 per $1,000 in assessed valuation. This is just the city’s portion of the total property tax bill.

The letter to the editor wrongly asserts that “additional taxes were collected without voter approval.” The $1.00 redistribution from the city to the RFA is a “wash” to taxpayers. The $1.48 still received by the city in property taxes was not “stolen”, “kept” or “taken” as the author claims. That money was, and has always been received and deposited into the city’s General Fund to provide general government services…not to solely pay for the Fire Department. Remember, the city gave up $1.00 of its total property tax receipts. The RFA now receives that $1.00 dollar. At a minimum this was not an “excess collection,” and to say it was “unethical” is unconscionable.

This was never a property tax reduction discussion; it was about a redistribution of $1.00 from the city to the RFA, pending voter approval. Again, voters approved the plan to redistribute the $1.00 from the city, to the RFA by more than 70%.

About the Fire Benefit Charge

Well why is it if the city used to get $2.36 and now gets $1.48 that my property taxes have gone up? A review of one’s property tax bill will show voter approved tax increases and charges to pay for services they deem valuable.

For instance, voters approved bonds, levies and charges to support the Kent School District, King County Library System and the Regional Fire Authority.

An additional voter approved charge appearing on tax statements is the new Fire Benefit Charge (FBC). This charge is over and above what was previously billed and collected. To be clear, the FBC is a charge, not a tax and goes directly to the RFA. While we agree it’s confusing that this charge is included in King County’s property tax bills, it is not a tax. That’s why it falls under the “Other charges” category just as the Noxious Weed and Conservation charges do. There is no double taxation here. Voters agreed to transfer $1.00 from the city’s total property tax collection to the RFA. Voters also agreed to be assessed a FBC.

The fact the measure to approve the RFA, including its FBC required a 60% voter majority signaled more money out of our pockets.

Moving Forward…

Mr. Berrios is asking the city to reduce its portion of property taxes collected by $4.9 million. For the owner of a $300,000 home, that would equate to $114 per year. It would not reduce the $1.00 received by the RFA, or the Fire Benefit Charge, also received by the RFA.

That $114 reduction would come at cost; a cost in police services, parks, street maintenance and other services vital to the community.

Declining revenues since the recession began have forced reductions in every area of the city budget. Since 2009, 90 employee positions have either been eliminated or left vacant and programs have been cut.

The suggested $4.9 million cut translates to between 60 and 70 additional employees losing their jobs, causing even further reductions and elimination of programs.

We understand the public is typically eager to cut government spending, and government employees for that matter. At the same time, the public insists on a strong police force, streets without pot holes, sidewalks in good repair, snow removal, parks and teen programs, neighborhood councils and even the lunch program at the Senior Center. The city employees are the people patrolling the streets, repairing streets and sidewalks and removing the snow. These programs don’t exist without funding, or the employees that provide the services.

The council is always looking for feedback on what you would like to see, or not see in the budget. The next public hearing on the 2012 budget is set for Tuesday, November 15, 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall and we encourage you to come with ideas and suggestions on how to move this city in the right direction.

Sincerely,

Jamie Perry, Council President
Elizabeth Albertson, Councilmember
Deborah Ranniger, Councilmember
Debbie Raplee, Councilmember

Contributed by Candice Boutilier, Torklift Central

Kent City Council designates 1^st Annual Kent Turkey Challenge
Hopes of feeding 1,500 families

Kent City Council will proclaim Oct. 24 through Nov. 17 as the 1st Annual Kent Turkey Challenge.

 The donation drive challenges Kent businesses to compete against each other to collect the most turkeys and canned goods to donate to the Kent Food Bank.

“This year we learned the Kent Food Bank would not be receiving the funding they relied on to give our families a memorable Thanksgiving meal,” explained Torklift Central Vice President Jack Kay. “They feed up to 1,500 families for the Thanksgiving holiday.”

 To help the food bank meet the need, we are challenging all businesses in Kent to collect canned goods and turkeys, he explained. On Oct. 24, we are delivering donation boxes to businesses who would like to participate.

Each business will also get paper turkeys. An employee or customer of that business can purchase a paper turkey for $10. That money will be used to buy one turkey for the food bank. The paper turkey will have the donator’s name written on it and it can be posted in the business.

Each Friday Torklift Central employees will contact participating businesses to find out how many paper turkeys they have sold. All participating businesses will be featured on www.torkliftcentral.com/turkey and the progress of the number of paper turkeys sold will also be tracked there. The Web page will go live on Oct. 17.

“We are also accepting corporate sponsorship of the program,” Kay said. “Those sponsors will be featured on our Web site too. At the end of the challenge, we will deliver the turkeys and canned goods to the food bank and announce the winner. Help us gather 1,500 turkeys for the food bank. If we come together as a community, we can ensure a happy Thanksgiving for our local families.”

For more information or to participate, call Candice Boutilier at 253-299-0076.

As a journalist, I am required by the SPJ Code of Ethics to remain impartial and to avoid getting personally involved with the news or newsmakers. Normally, this isn’t a problem for me since I typically write features, business profiles and other nonessential news pieces. This week, however, it is difficult for me not to speak out on the Amanda Knox case. Though my connection to Knox is insignificant in her story, I feel touched by her and by the news of her acquittal.

I started following the Amanda Knox case much like everyone else. I heard the story of Meredith Kercher’s tragic murder in 2007 in Perugia, Italy on local news. Sadly, such tragedies occur more often than they should so many of us were immune to the news. It was just another tragic and unnecessary death overseas. This story had a local twist though – one of the murder suspects was Amanda Knox, a beautiful, doe-eyed student from the University of Washington. Local news stations covered the story briefly, sometimes interviewing local students and Knox’s family who proclaimed Knox’s innocence. With little to base my opinion on, I presumed Knox was guilty and followed the story from a distance, not seeking out new information or facts in the case.

That changed 18 months ago when I met author Candace Dempsey at a journalism function in Seattle. Dempsey, an Italian American journalist, had written a book about the case titled “Murder in Italy.” After talking with Dempsey, my curiosity got the best of me and I agreed to read the book to form my own opinion. Reading through the first half of the book, I remained convinced that Knox was, indeed, guilty. This wasn’t based on any hard evidence, but rather the feeling that the suspect had exhibited some odd behavior during questioning (e.g., cartwheels in the police station). Granted, these unusual behaviors did not make her a murderess but they were offbeat enough to plant a healthy dose of skepticism.

As I progressed to the second half of the book, however, I quickly reversed my opinion. There was little, if any, evidence supporting the fact that Knox and her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito had committed the murder with or without a third suspect. In fact, it is probable that they were not even in the apartment the evening of the murder. According to Dempsey’s detailed research, the investigation was flawed and the convictions of Knox and Sollecito were based on circumstantial evidence. By the time I finished the book, I was infuriated at the injustice of the guilty verdicts and sad for the young couple who would spend a good portion of their young lives in an Italian prison, wrongly accused.

Yesterday those verdicts were reversed and Knox and Sollecito were released from prison after a painful four-year saga in and out of court. Sollecito headed for his Italian home, as Knox made her way back to the United States. As one who is relieved that the truth finally came out, I am happy for Knox and Sollecito and hope they can somehow find peace in their lives after having been wrongly persecuted. Sadly, it seems unlikely. After all, how do you turn two innocent lives upside down, accuse them of inhuman deeds, and callously toss them in prison without a shred of definitive evidence? Initially, I am sure good food, a soft, warm bed and being surrounded by loved ones are probably the first thoughts on Knox’s mind, but she’ll have to face her future with an albatross of a past hanging over her head. I cannot imagine the mental anguish she must be experiencing right now. Her release is bittersweet.

And, of course, there’s the Kercher family. Not to be forgotten in this tragedy, Meredith Kercher will never come home, and her parents will never experience the joy of seeing her again. They only know the pain of a tragic loss and a young life snuffed out much too quickly. Where is the justice for them? Only one convicted murderer, Rudy Guede, remains in prison for the grisly crime and he will be released after serving a 16 year sentence, reduced down from 30 years. Does his imprisonment provide closure for the family?

In this tragic story of murder and wrongful imprisonment, there are no winners. There is no justice.

[Note:  I was so impressed with Candace Dempsey's work and her ability to write about the facts surrounding the case without interjecting her own opinions that I wrote an unsolicited book review on "Murder in Italy." I encourage others to read it to learn more about the Amanda Knox case. I do not receive any compensation for promoting the book.]

Kent residents are invited to learn more about their Police Department starting on April 20, 2011. The Community Police Academy is delivered in a series of classes that offer straightforward, candid information regarding daily and specialized operations of the Police Department, while defing the agency’s role in the community. Classes are held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 p.m to 9:00p.m and are instructed by department members and civilian experts. There is a one Saturday session which will include tours of the City of Kent Corrections Center and the 9-1-1 facilities at Valley communications Center. After attending the first three classes, participants are also eligible for a ride-along with a Kent Police Officer. Classes are held at the Kent Police/Fire Training Center, 24611 116th Ave. SE in Kent.  A wide range of topics will be discussed to include patrol and traffic enforcement, detective and special investigations, SWAT, canine and other specialized Police functions. Thee will also be instruction on recruitment, hiring and training of Kent Police Officers. There is no cost for participating in the Community Police Academy. It is open to Adults 18 and over and you will need to pass a background check. Applications are available at the Kent Police Department, 220 4th Ave. S or the Kent Police Website at: www.ci.kent.wa.us/communitypoliceacademy. For general questions Please contact Cesi Velez at 253-856-5884.

February 1, 2011

To Whom It May Concern,

I attended the Economic Development Committee meeting held on January 24, 2011, and was pleased that the board is willing to review the Traffic Mitigation fees, as to the effect they will have in attracting new business in Kent.

I do feel however the graphs, showing new investors in our city, to be a bit deceptive.

First of all, Redmond should not have been included. It is not in the same economic situation as the valley cities and it skews the results.

Secondly, without Redmond, Kent would have the highest utility rates due to the exorbitant drainage fees. Kent collects approximately. $1,027,380.00 per month from commercial accounts, $260,000.00 per month from residential accounts, and $29,000.00 from the state just for storm drainage. Of the 1,316,183.94 funds collected each month for storm drainage, business are paying 78% of this amount. If our property were in Auburn, we would pay $249.00 per month. If in Renton, it would be $288.00 per month. Here in Kent, we pay $746.00 per month.

Thirdly, there was no mention of the newly enacted Regional Fire Tax. This new fee for our business is $9,400.00 per year. That amount is hard to afford for us because, since 2008, our business is down 25%. Renton does not have the Regional Fire Tax, so there is no extra charge of this type in Renton.

Also I wonder about the 4.2 million dollars that the City of Kent saved by going to the Regional Fire Authority. Is the monies saved going to defray the expenses or going to hire more employees?

With all these factors, I find it hard to believe any company knowing the above facts would feel welcome in Kent, further hurting our local economy.

If money is needed so badly for roads and storm drainage, why is 25% of the monies collected for these services being spent on a $49,000,000.00 Operational Facility? That the people in this area can ill afford? How much has already been spent on this for Engineering and Utilities? If our roads and storm drainage needs so much repair why is this money used for this new very expensive facility

As a business owner, I strongly urge you to reconsider the TIF and other fees you expect companies to spend to maintain & grow in Kent. In this economy we cannot afford such expenses. Thank you for your time.

Cordially,

Delores Christianson
Owner of Central Avenue Mini Storage (Kent, WA)

Every once in awhile someone will ask me why I love Kent. Sometimes it is someone far away from Washington who has no idea where Kent is or what it has to offer. Other times it is someone who visited Kent long ago and remembers it as a not-so-special place they wouldn’t go back to.

I’ve lived here for five years, but every week I discover something new to love about Kent. Here are 10 things I love about Kent, Washington!

1. People: Despite the fact that Kent is the fourth largest city in King County, it retains its small town feel. Everywhere I go I am greeted with a smile. People in Kent are some of the nicest I’ve ever met. They are open minded, welcoming and good natured.
2. Parks: Kent, Washington has a handful of beautiful-but-small lakes that are serene and peaceful. Most are adjacent to a city-owned park with almost every amenity you can imagine. There are specialty parks as well like Arbor Heights 360 and Wilson Playfields, encouraging outdoor recreation for kids and adults. Some of my favorite parks include Clark Lake Park, Lake Meridian Park, Fennewick Park and Town Square Plaza.
3. Entertainment: There is always something to do in Kent. We have everything here from Kent Station and ShoWare Center to a Historic District and Kent Historical Museum. We also have a wealth of arts programs and school drama programs that provide dozens of performances, plays and other opportunities every year. What’s even better is that many outlets offer free or affordable things to do. Who doesn’t love free?
4. Shopping: Kent does not have a mall, per se, but we have much more shopping than most people know about. In addition to the always-popular Kent Station, there are locally-owned stores like Marie Haggin Accessories, Fig & Feather, Cheryl’s Unique Boutique, Titusville Antiques and more. There are also little niche areas like the “International District” on 104th and the shopping plaza on 104th and Kent-Kangley Road (Joann Fabrics, Linda’s Apparel, etc.) No matter where I go, I can find something special that fits my taste and my budget. See our Shopping page for more stores.
5. Dining: No matter how picky or broad your tastes are, there are multiple restaurants, cafes and diners to suit everyone. For American diner-style food, Maggie’s on Meeker is a favorite. For Thai, I recommend Archa Thai in downtown Kent. For Indian, I love Punjab Sweets on the East Hill. Proud to display its diverse heritage, Kent has a little bit of everything. Visit our Dine page for more suggestions.
6. Diversity: It is politically correct to say you embrace diversity, but not everyone truly does. In Kent, though, I believe we have a diverse population as well as a culture of inclusion and acceptance. We have several areas of town and specific businesses that cater to particular populations (e.g., Indian, Ukrainian, Hispanic, etc.), but we are eager to learn from each other as well. With more than 120 languages spoken in our schools, for example, most schools have English-learning programs as well as International Days where students can share their culture. This year the city of Kent partnered with a group of citizens to put on the 2nd annual Kent International Festival in downtown Kent. As a more personal example, my daughter goes to Dr. Na of the Mountlake Acupuncture Clinic on Central Avenue. He was born, raised and educated in China. When we go for my daughter’s weekly treatments, we exchange stories about our respective cultures. I think we learn as much about Chinese culture as we do about acupuncture and healing!
7. Accessibility: When I say “accessibility,” I mean that people and government in Kent, Washington are accessible to the average resident. I truly believe that anyone in Kent can send an email to the mayor or place a call to the police chief and get a prompt, personal response. I feel very comfortable that are our local leaders are accessible as well as eager to listen.
8. Entrepreneurial spirit: I love the fact that people in Kent, Washington have an entrepreneurial spirit about them. This includes business owners who passionately build their own companies, but also teens and young adults in the area who want to make a difference. People in Kent don’t accept that we have to do things the way they’ve always been done. They say, “I don’t like this. Let’s change it.” One local citizens group, for example, wanted an off leash dog park on the East Hill. Recognizing that the city didn’t have the funds to build one, they created the park in cooperation with the city, raising money on their own and turning their dream into a reality. In another case, a group of teens calling itself Project U(th) formed this summer to create opportunities for work and leisure for their peers. In Kent, we are not afraid to work hard or to pave our own way. We are a spunky bunch!
9. Community pride: Kent has been called many derogatory names over the years, but those who love Kent remain proud of their city. We show up in the thousands for events like Kent Cornucopia Days, Seattle T Birds and Predators’ games and concerts like the Backstreet Boys and REO Speedwagon. We work together to show our spirit and to shout Kent’s strengths to the world. For example, Kent’s neighborhood program brings residents together to solve mutual problems, to beautify neighborhoods and to clean up graffiti. Call us what you want – we will love Kent anyway!
10. Beauty: While I’ve touched on this a bit in #1 through 9, I love the beauty of Kent which includes its parks, lakes and mountain views but also its historic buildings, its public art work and, most of all, its people.

Those are just 10 of the reasons I love Kent, Washington. Tell me some of yours! Post them here or email them to us at iLoveKent.net, and we’ll post them online.

A little over three weeks ago, my 15-year-old daughter Brooke passed out in the First American Title Insurance Company parking lot at 248th and 104th in Kent. We had been shopping at a fundraising garage sale hosted by the title company to raise money to help an employee and family in need. We were touched by their cause, so we stopped by to see if there was something we could buy.

I picked up some paperback books and, while putting them in my trunk, Brooke passed out in front of the parked car, hitting her head on the asphault. This was the fourth such occurrence in three weeks, all without warning. I had kept Brooke home from school – she’s a Kentwood student – the previous two days and kept her by my side every minute…except for those fateful minutes when she fell in the parking lot.

The caring staff and volunteers from First American Title rushed into action as soon as they saw her fall. One of the volunteers called 9-1-1. Another gathered blankets and pillows to comfort Brooke. A third got warm water and clothes to wash Brooke’s face, as we waited for the ambulance to arrive. The EMTs were just minutes away and were on the scene quickly. They took over, but the First American Title gals and their families stayed by our sides ready to help, offering comfort and concern.

That was a scary day for my family, but the help and kindness offered by Trasie Willis, Rachel Major, Marilyn Brown and other volunteers and their families was so comforting. At one point, I started to break down because I was afraid for my daughter. Trasie came over and hugged me until I stopped crying, a heartwarming courtesy for someone she’d never met before.

It has been three weeks since that fall, and Brooke is doing fine. She’s been to several doctors, clinics and specialists since her fall and we still don’t have answers but, thankfully, all of her test results were normal. She’s handled this whole situation with wisdom beyond her years, and she and I both feel blessed at the kindness of strangers…particularly in this day and age when it seems people are so busy with their own lives that they don’t always take time to care.

Trasie and her co-workers and friends reminded me that the kindness of strangers is a wonderful blessing. I will be pay it forward if I’m ever in a similar situation!

Thank you, Trasie and crew, for helping us through a difficult time. You are angels!

Sincerely,

Dana Neuts

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Letter to the Editor, from Darren Motamedy:

Dear Editor,

I love my community of Kent Washington.  I have lived in Kent for over 40 years, and attest to the strength of our schools, not only because I attended Panther Lake Elementary, Meeker Junior High School, and Kentridge High School, but because today I am an educator in the Kent School District.  On February 9^th, we are going to vote on two critical propositions, proposition one and two.  http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/ksd/cr/2010levy/web/index.html The purpose of these levies will be to “maintain” the current status of education for our children at our current tax rate!  By voting yes, we will continue to ensure that our students are technologically savvy in the 21^st century.  By voting yes, we will ensure that our students will continue to have “clean and well maintained classrooms”, after school sports programs, music programs, safety officers, and a highly trained teaching staff that is preparing our students to become our future leaders!

I appreciate what the Kent School District offered me when I was a student.  My teachers taught me the importance of hard work, knowledge, dedication, and the high ideals of contributing back to the society that raised me.  Today, I am a band director in the Kent School District because of the ideals that my teachers instilled upon me.  I see those ideals being met every day in the classroom by observing my colleagues.

I see teachers tirelessly and lovingly instructing students every day.  I see teachers continuing their personal education by taking college classes, master classes, professional certification classes, and national board class to ensure that they are acquainted with the newest teaching techniques available to help their students.  I see teachers helping disadvantaged students by opening their checkbooks to pay for clothing, food, school supplies, and school camps.  Why?  Because they care about the future of our community!

By voting yes on February 9^th, we are adopting the district motto to “Successfully Prepare All Students For Their Future”. Voting yes on February 9^th will ensure our teachers have the tools necessary to “Prepare All Students For Their Future”.  The School Administration, Teachers, and School Board in Kent are united in our quest to build our community, student by student, classroom by classroom, school by school.  Yes means quality education for our children of Kent!  Yes means a positive future for Kent!

Sincerely,

Darren Motamedy

Darren Motamedy teaches 5^th and 6^th Grade Band in Kent and was the 2008 teacher of the year in Kent, as well as  the KCTS Golden Apple Recipient for 2009.

Every year my family drives throughout Kent to eye all of the beautiful Christmas lights and holiday decorations. Last year was a tough year – and we didn’t see much – because the roads were icy. This year, however, the weather is cooperating but, unfortunately, there aren’t many holiday lights to see. I’m not sure what’s different this year – perhaps people aren’t as festive or maybe rising prices and the economy have had an impact. Our drive, though fun as always, was disappointing. Most neighborhoods had at least one house with lights, and some were dramatically decked out, but for the most part, the usual displays were nonexistent.

My vote for best neighborhood in Kent:  Chancellor Crest off of 132nd, between 240th and 248th Streets. Starting with Kensington High, these neighborhoods are very colorful and festive. If you plan on going on your own holiday lights tour, don’t miss this neighborhood.

Also, check out the lights at Town Square Plaza (2nd and Harrison) in downtown Kent and “Alpaca Road” (aka 240th St. between 132nd and 160th).

Does your neighborhood have a particularly interesting display? Post the neighborhood or address here, and we’ll check them out!

Happy Holidays!

~ From the iLoveKent.net family to yours