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.

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.

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.

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.

Salvation Army Christmas Angel Tree

A Salvation Army Christmas Angel Tree is on the third floor of the hospital. It includes gift wishes for children from age 1 through 17. Select a tag, purchase a gift and return the unwrapped gift to the tree by Tues., Dec. 13.

VMC’s Occupational Health Services Teams up with BlanketSeattle

Valley Medical Center’s Occupational Health Services is accepting donations of cold-weather items for BlanketSeattle, including:

· Blankets

· Long-sleeve shirts

· Hats

· Thermals

· Pants

· Boots

· Sweaters

· Gloves

· Scarves

· Sleeping bags

· Socks (new)

Donation boxes can be found at the hospital through the end of December.

VMC Fitness Center:  Northwest Harvest Food Collection & Salvation Army Christmas Angel Tree

The Fitness Center at Valley Medical Center is collecting donations of non-perishable foods for Northwest Harvest, through December 31. Additionally, a Salvation Army Christmas Angel Tree is located at the Fitness Center. Gift wish tags for children ages 1 through 17 are still available. Unwrapped gifts need to be returned to the Fitness Center tree by Tuesday, December 20. The Fitness Center is located on the first floor of the Talbot Professional Center on the Valley Medical Center campus. Free covered parking is conveniently located in the VMC parking garage. 

VMC Day Surgery Center Food & Clothing Drive

The Valley Medical Center Day Surgery Center is having a non-perishable food drive for Faith Harvest Helpers, and a warm clothing drive for the Renton Clothing Bank through December 22. The Day Surgery Center is located at 17820 Talbot Road South, Renton.

The first event was Big Truck Day, an annual event hosted by the City of Redmond. Now in its ninth year, Big Truck Day was held August 26 and featured 22 big trucks including police cars, an armored vehicle, a recycling truck, a school bus and a moving truck from TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® of Seattle. More than 215 kids participated in this year’s event which was held at Farrel-McWhirter Parker.

“It’s an opportunity for kids to get up close and personal with the big rigs,” explains Cindy Johnson of the City of Redmond. “TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® of Seattle was a great addition to our event. They had these darling little moving boxes shaped like houses.”

Tera-Rose Layton and Anthony Clendenen of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® of Seattle participated in the event as well, passing out the moving boxes and letting the children and parents walk inside the truck. Layton says the kids enjoyed running up and down the ramp into the truck, as well as getting “hands on” experience inside and receiving the moving boxes for their own personal treasures.

In addition to Big Truck Day, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® of Seattle participated in Kent Downtown Partnership’s (KDP) first ever Hot Rod & Custom Car Show on August 27. As a member of KDP, owners Rick and Glenna Clendenen wanted to support the event which drew 75 cars and brought residents and visitors to downtown Kent. They passed out cup holders, pens and other goodies to attendees.

“This is one of the reasons we love TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®,” says Rick Clendenen. “We not only get to know and help our customers, but we can also be active in communities in the Seattle area.”

To learn more about TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® of Seattle, visit them online at http://twomenandatruckseattle.com or call 253-656-4322.

The Seattle area franchise of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is owned by husband and wife team Rick and Glenna Clendenen. Originally from the Midwest, the couple moved to Western Washington to expand the popular moving franchise. The firm serves the Seattle area out of offices located in Kent and Kirkland. In addition to back-to-school moves, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK© offers a full-range of residential and commercial moving services including senior move management. The company also offers packing services, supplies and workshops.

For more information, contact:

Rick Clendenen
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK©
253-656-4322
Rick.Clendenen@twomen.com
http://facebook.com/twomenandatruckseattle
Twitter:  @TMAATSeattle

Wine, Women, WOW! will be held at the Kent Senior Activity Center (600 E. Smith St., Kent) from 5 to 9 p.m. It will include many new features. One exciting addition to the event is the ManCave, a 32-foot mobile game theatre with the latest in video games, six 50-inch TVs, a cigar bar, cocktails and more. Sponsored by Clowns Unlimited and Games2U, the ManCave is open to both men and women.

In addition, Wine, Women, WOW! will include a one-hour VIP event preceding the main event. Sponsored by Heritage Bank, the VIP hour will run from 5 to 6 pm and VIP ticket holders will enjoy complimentary appetizers, a hosted cocktail hour, and the opportunity to preview the pampering and shopping vendors, along with a few extra goodies including a color-changing “blinky” glass.

The main event runs from 6 to 9 pm and will include a variety of pampering services and shopping opportunities, as well as wine sampling, beer tasting provided by Airways Brewing Company, hors d’oeuvres and delicious treats. As an added bonus, guests may purchase raffle tickets to win a beautiful diamond ring donated by Bonaci Jewelers, a getaway weekend from Hawthorne Suites and gift card trees featuring gift cards and other items from local businesses. Guests will enjoy live music jazz and blues by the Still Got It Band, sponsored by Hanis Irvine Prothero.

“Wine, Women, WOW! has always been a fun event, but we wanted to bring back that ‘girlfriend feel’ this year with more pampering and shopping,” explains Barbara Smith, Executive Director for Kent Downtown Partnership. “We’ve also added a VIP event and a ManCave to make our guests – men and women alike – feel extra special!”

Bonaci Jewelers is the presenting sponsor for Wine, Women, WOW! Other sponsors include Clowns Unlimited, Games2U, Kent Station, Hanis Irvine Prothero, Heritage Bank, Airways Brewing Company, Tents & Events Party Rentals, Kent Reporter, Virtually Yourz, Café Pacific Catering, Teresa Clark of Silpada Designs, Pearson Chiropractic, Marti Reeder of John L. Scott Kent-Covington, Judy Woods, Valley Bank and MultiCare.

VIP tickets and tickets to the main event, including the ManCave, are available by calling Kent Downtown Partnership at 253-813-6976. VIP tickets are $50 and tickets to the main event are $25 in advance, or $5 additional at the door. Raffle tickets will be available for $5 with special pricing for multi-ticket purchases. For more information about the event, including a current list of sponsors and vendors, please visit http://winewomenwow.com.

All proceeds from the event benefit Kent Downtown Partnership, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. KDP’s mission is to develop and promote a vibrant downtown. To learn more about KDP, call Executive Director Barbara Smith at 253-813-6976 or visit http://kentdowntown.org.

For more information, please contact:

Barbara Smith, Executive Director
Kent Downtown Partnership
202 W. Gowe St.
Kent, WA  98032
253-813-6976
barbaras@kentdowntown.org
www.winewomenwow.com

The hurricane has created a shortage in the blood supply, and one local paper is trying to help. Renton Reporter is coordinating a blood drive with the Puget Sound Blood Center tomorrow, Wed., August 31 from 8:30 to 11:30 am.

Renton Reporter
19426 68th Ave. S.
Kent, WA  98032

Puget Sound Blood Center bus in parking lot.

Appointments are preferred. To make an appointment, email Natalie Bonham or call 425-255-3484. Walk in donors are welcome, but priority will be given to donors with appointments.

Thank you!