Updated Feb. 2, 2013 at 9:11 p.m.

Each year a number of Kent nonprofit organizations plan fundraising auctions. Here is a list of some of those events, so you can plan ahead. See one missing? Please email us so we can add it. Thank you for supporting the Kent community!

Rainier Chorale Stardust Cabaret & Silent Auction
Sat., Feb. 9
6:00 p.m.
Tickets are $65 each, or $600 for a table of 10.
More info. available online at RainierChorale.org, or call 206-835-8888.

Soroptimist International of Kent – Food, Fashions & Fun
Mar. 14, 2013
5:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Fashion Show, Dinner and Silent Auction
Fund-an-Item to benefit the Genesis Project, a drop in center for women in the greater Kent area who are trying to escape the sex trafficking trade. Tickets are $50. Call event chair Adrienne Rockwell at 253.631.3372 or via email to buy tickets.

Dynamic Partners (“Fun for Funds” Dinner Auction benefiting Children’s Therapy Center, SKIP & DOS)
Sat., Mar. 23 @ Emerald Downs

Kent Chamber Gala – “Prom Night”
Fri., Mar. 29 @ ShoWare Center

Kent Rotary Auction – ESCAPADES
Sat., Apr. 27 @ ShoWare Center

Communities in Schools of Kent – Annual Fundraising Breakfast
Thurs., May 23

Relay for Life Kent
Fri., May 31 – Sat., June 1
French Field, 10020 SE 256th Street, Kent

Kent Downtown Partnership Dinner Auction
Sat., Jun. 22

Kent Youth & Family Services International Gala
Sat., Sept. 14
6 – 9 p.m.
Highline Community College Student Union

Meridian-Kent Kiwanis Club’s Casino Night
Sat., Sept. 28
6 – 10:30 p.m.
Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E. Smith St., Kent

Kent Sunrise Rotary Oktoberfest
Sat., Oct. 5

Kent Food Bank Fundraising Breakfast
Fri., Oct. 11, 7:30 a.m.
Kent Covenant Church
Email Jeniece Choate for more info.

*This information is subject to change. Please confirm event dates, times and details with the organization’s event coordinators.

KDP Auction June 2010

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)

Updated June 10, 2012, 4:42 p.m. PST

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s “So You Think KENT Has Talent” competition. The event raised $600 for Kent Youth & Family Services. The winners are:

Overall winners 

1st Overall NFI Enterprise winner ($1,000) – Cameron Sterling (vocal)

2nd Overall Intimate Pilates winner ($500) – Nathan Jacobsen (vocal/piano)

3rd Overall Baldwin Chiropractic winner ($250) – Andrey Chebotarev (Saxophone)

Divisional winners

Youth division Lance Timmerman Cosmetic Dentistry winner ($100) – Cameron Sterling (vocal)

Teen division Nigel Cooper Photography winner ($100) – Bhangra Royalty (bollywood dance)

Adult division Lemon Drop Skin Care and Massage winner ($100) – Nathan Jacobsen (vocal/piano)

Audience Favorite’ winner sponsored by Baldwin Chiropractic ($50) – David Hall & Cody Moody (vocal/guitar)

Updated May 29, 2012, 7:59 a.m. PST

On May 12, Allegro Performing Arts Academy served as the host for the preliminary qualification round of the second annual So You Think Kent Has Talent competition. More than 50 individuals and groups performed, hoping to win a spot in the final competition set for June 2. Judges for the preliminaries were Suzanne Smith (Arts Commissioner), Jamie Perry (Kent City Council), and Andrea Keikkala (Kent Chamber of Commerce). The winners (in alphabetical order) by category are:

Youth Division

Teddy Gutterud (piano)
Maria Victoria Kovalsky (vocal)
Jillian Marcotte (vocal)
Alexia Samuels (vocal)
Cameron Sterling (vocal)
*Honorable Mention – Czarina Ignama

Teen Division

Bollywood Royalty (dance)
Connor Gormley (dance)
David Hall/Cody Moody (vocal/guitar)
Theresa Soto (vocal/piano)
The Voice of Reason (band)
*Honorable Mention – Benjamin Phanivong

Adult Division

James Bacher (vocal)
Andrey Chebotarev (saxophone)
Carolyne Igama (vocal)
Nathan Jacobsen (vocal/piano)
Esther O’Farrell (vocal)
*Honorable Mention – Verna Benson

The final competition will be held at the Kent-Meridian High School Performing Arts Center on Saturday, June 2 starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $10 each, or you can reserve your tickets by calling 253-813-9630. All proceeds benefit Kent Youth & Family Services, a nonprofit serving youth and families in South King County. The judges for the final competition will be Mayor Suzette Cooke, Dana Ralph (Kent City Council), Bill Boyce (Kent City Council), Dave Hobbs and more.

Winning performers will also particulate in the Kent International Festival (June 16), Kent’s Fourth of July Splash (July 4), Kent Cornucopia Days (July 14) and the Kent Cornucopia Parade (July 15).

Prizes include:

$1,000 NFI Enterprise Grand Prize
$500 Overall 2nd place – Intimate Pilates
$250 Overall 3rd place – Baldwin Chiropractic
$100 Youth 1st place – Lance Timmerman DMD Dental Excellence
$100 Teen 1st place – Nigel Cooper Photography
$100 Adult 1st place – Lemon Drop Skin Care & Massage
$50 Audience Pick Winner – Baldwin Chiropractic
Theater & Advertising Sponsor – Allegro Performing Arts Academy
Award Sponsor – West Coast Awards and Athletic

For more updates, visit So You Think Kent Has Talent on Facebook.

The Kent Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual gala on Saturday, April 28, 2012. Touted by organizers as an evening of dining, dancing and fun, the event will feature the Kings of Swing, a dynamic big band. During the event, local businesses will be presented with awards for outstanding service to the community.

Tickets for the fun-filled event are $65 each or $550 for a table of 8. Can’t make it to the dinner? You can come just for the dancing from 9 to 11 p.m. for just $15. For more information or to buy tickets, visit KentChamber.com or call 253-854-1770. Note:  You don’t have to be a member of the Kent Chamber to participate. Everyone is welcome!

Kent Chamber of Commerce President’s Gala
ShoWare Center
Sat., April 28,  5:30 – 11 p.m.
Dining, Silent Auction, Biz Awards, Dancing
$65 per person or $15 for dancing only (9 – 11 pm)

If you are a fan of Dancing with the Stars, or just enjoy a fun night out, mark your calendars! The Kent Parks Foundation and Arthur Murray Dance School are sponsoring “Dancing with the Stars Kent” on Saturday, October 22. Held in Green River Community College’s Cascade Room, the event begins at 5:30 pm and it features the following “celebrity” dancers:

1. Mayor Suzette Cooke
2. Kent City Councilwoman Deb Ranniger (sponsored by Allegro Performing Arts Academy)
3. Kent City Council President Jamie Perry (sponsored by Pacific Raceways)
4. Deputy Chief, King County Steve Strachan (sponsored by Great American Casino)
5. Representative Dave Upthegrove (sponsored by Pat’s Bar & Grill)
6. Kent Chamber President Andrea Keikkala (sponsored by Airways Brewing Company)
7. Timberwolves Receiver Jeremiah Captain (sponsored by Charley’s on Central)
8. Kiwanis Noon Club President Janet Stebbins (sponsored by Kiwanis Noon Club)
9. Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas (sponsored by Rotary Club of Kent Sunrise)
10. Kent Firefighter Marvin Oakcrum (sponsored by Gators Sports Bar and Grill)

Guest Judge:  Ken Sharp, owner of Minuteman Press of Kent

VIP Tickets are $100 and include dinner, wine, priority seating and voting rights in the People’s Choice Trophy Presentation; General admission tickets are $30 each.

Call 253-639-0124 to purchase tickets, or buy them online now –>  Click Here To Buy Tickets Now

Additional information is available on Facebook.

Donations will benefit the Kent Community Center’s music lab.

Contributed by Lori Nevin of Urbia Fresh Cafe:

ANOTHER BUSINESS CLOSING IN DOWNTOWN KENT

 August 22, 2011, Kent, Washington — In an open letter to the Kent Community, Urbia Fresh Café would like to thank each and every one person that visited the Cafe over the last year. The business grew 53% while operating costs were lowered by 40%. The Urbia Connections Program contributed to eleven community organizations helping with support in over $2500 in cash and products. Urbia hosted many ad-hoc business meetings for Kent, and three ongoing meeting groups. Urbia participated in the Mayor’s initiative Kent 4 Health, the Kent Chamber of Commerce, and Kent Downtown Partnership.

The Cafe operated at 30% capacity. It needed to be at least 50% within the first year to continue. Therefore, this month the Café ends regular business hours and the shop is closing August 31. Urbia sends sincere thanks to those of you who were brave enough to try out yet another new restaurant at this location. Urbia will miss you all and provides a recommendation for independently owned restaurants: Maggie’s on Meeker, Golden Steer, or Pat’s Bar and Grill. These owners contribute greatly to the Kent community.

Please do your part to carry the vision of transforming downtown Kent, the sixth largest city in the state. Don’t wait until another downtown business is gone. Be a part of making Kent downtown lively again not just by spending your money locally or frequenting the national chains, but take walks through downtown, sit in the Town Square or on a corner bench, even go in to look in the independent shops and just meet the business owners. Find out how they contribute as your neighbors making a difference for downtown Kent.

Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke is set to give her annual “State of the City” address this Wed., Feb. 2 (11:30 am) at ShoWare Center. Mayor Cooke will highlight 2010 accomplishments, as well as give an update on what’s happening in Kent now and in the near future. The address will be taped for viewing on Kent TV21 and will be reprised in an expanded format during the Mar. 15 Kent City Council meeting.

For more information about the event, which is being hosted by the Kent Chamber of Commerce, visit the City’s website online.

Kent fans & friends, attend the October 6 business expo to meet Kent businesses, sample bites from local restaurants, meet political candidates, get goodie bags and more!

The Kent Chamber of Commerce is hosting a business expo at ShoWare Center on Wed., October 6 (11:00 am to 6:30 pm) . With approximately 90 exhibitors, the event will include an expo, election forum luncheon (11:30 am – 1:00 pm) and Taste of Kent (4:30 pm to 6:30 pm). Admission is free* and the public is invited to attend.

Kent Business Expo
ShoWare Center (625 w. James St.,  Kent, WA 98030)
Wed., October 6
11 am – 6:30 pm

Booths 11 am – 6:30 pm

Election Forum Luncheon* 11:30 am – 1 pm

Taste of Kent 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm

For more information, contact the Kent Chamber of Commerce. The election forum is $30/person.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010, Kent, Washington–Today Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke gave her annual State of the City Address at the February Kent Chamber membership luncheon. With a packed room at the ShoWare Center, Mayor Cooke revisited 2009.

“This past year was challenging, not just for this city, but for all governments, large and small,” Mayor Cooke said. “Kent, like all cities, worked under a tightening budget.”

She is, however, optimistic about three things:  1) that 2009 is over; 2) the economy appears to be recovering; and 3) flood season is ending. She recounted a number of the city‘s 2009 highs and lows, including:

1)  The popularity of ShoWare Center which brought 350,000 guests through its doors in 2009, including 60,000 guests who saw Disney on Ice at the new sports arena

2)  The implementation of the new CodeRED system which allows the city to make 60,000 emergency contacts per hour via phone, email and text message

3)  The four labor unions taking voluntary pay cuts to avoid staff reductions and to help the city save more than $1 million in 2009 spending

4)  2.8%, or $2.2 million, drop in revenue

5)  8.1%, or $1.5 million, drop in sales tax revenue

6)  Elimination of 56 positions within the city, about half of which resulted in layoffs. Other vacant positions were not filled.

7)  Expansion of Kent Station with the GRCC expansion

8)  1,677 Kent Parks volunteers

9)  4,000 volunteer hours spent removing graffiti

10)  Annexing Panther Lake to occur July 1, 2010, making Kent the sixth largest city in the state

In addition to these items, Mayor Cooke reviewed the 2010 budget, stating that public safety remains the city’s #1 priority. The 2010 budget is 5.6% less than the 2009 budget and it includes $1 million to be set aside for emergencies like potential flooding.

“Things are looking a lot better economically,” she added.

A topic of major concern was, of course, the flood risk of the Howard Hanson Dam. Once predicted at a 1 in 4 chance of flooding, the flood risk has dropped to 1 in 33. While this is a positive step, Mayor Cooke said, a permanent fix is not available for three to five years.

“Any kind of delay is simply unacceptable,” she added. “Until that dam is fixed, it is going to haunt us.”

To help control potential flooding, the city raised levies by three feet, successfully completing the task before the beginning of flood season last fall. In addition, Mayor Cooke thanked the community, business leaders and service groups for helping to spread the word about potential flood risks as well as helping one another fill sand bags and helping seniors and the disabled prepare for a flood.

Mayor Cooke singled out a number of city staff and community and business leaders for their support of the Kent community. She thanked them for their tireless service and for making Kent the great place that it is. One person instrumental in the city’s survival of a difficult year was Chief Administrative Officer John Hodgsen.

“John Hodgsen is an outstanding leader and worker in the city,” Mayor Cooke said.

The overall mood of the meeting was positive and Mayor Cooke left the audience with some new things to watch for:  a redesigned website, taking the inbox newsletter to an email format, and the second annual International Festival, set for June 26, and the Kent Refugee and Immigrant Forum.

“It’s 2010 and I’m smiling,” Mayor Cooke said.

The event was presented by the Kent Chamber of Commerce, sponsored by Allied Waste and co-sponsored by Kent Downtown Partnership. The program was taped to be shown on Kent TV21 at a later date.

This Interactive Scavenger Hunt beginning January 18 and ending March 15, 2010 is fun for your whole family. This 8-week promotion encourages you to shop locally, learn more about our local businesses, and educate you on the benefit of tax dollars to your community.

The Scavenger Hunt will use Facebook.com/FindItInKent and the Kent Reporter. Each Monday a riddle will be released on Facebook, and in the Kent Reporter the following Wednesday. Your job is to solve the riddle, visit the business described in the riddle, and pick up the Golden Ticket. Collect Golden Tickets for all 8 participating businesses and you can enter to win prizes. Drop off all 8 Golden Tickets along with your contact information at Kent Downtown Partnership, Kent Chamber, BECU, or Kent Station. This event is generously sponsored by BECU.

Watch online, http://facebook.com/finditinkent, for weekly clues on Monday and the Kent Reporter for clues on Wednesday!

Today’s clue:  No damsel in distress would ever be turned away from this castle.

October 5, 2009
For Immediate Release

Kent Businesses Encourage its Customers to “Find It In Kent” a New Shop Local Campaign

Kent, WA October 5, 2009 – Local consumers are urged to “Find It In Kent” as part of a just-launched campaign to remind them about the benefits of spending locally.

Development of the campaign was a team effort by the Kent Chamber of Commerce, Kent Station, the City of Kent, Kent Reporter and the Kent Downtown Partnership.

The theme of “Find It in Kent – We Have What You Want” will be featured at local businesses in the form of flyers, window decals, and inserts in shopping bags.  The Kent Reporter will also have ads featuring the central theme.

As well as being urged to spend locally, shoppers are encouraged to visit www.Facebook.com/FindItinKent site. There, they can enter comments and impressions about shopping in Kent, the “it” they found, and be entered to win prizes such as Kent Station gift card, Kent Reporter movie package, a Kent Chamber gift, and a KDP gift certificate.

A downtown rally to promote the campaign is scheduled from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13. Campaign promoters will have signs to wave and display, starting from the corner of James and Central and dispersing from there. At 7 p.m., all the rally participants will gather at the ShoWare Event Center to attract the attention of people attending the Thunderbirds Hockey game.

The partners of the shop local campaign will have decals and posters available for local businesses wishing to participate. “We want to remind shoppers just how important it is that they look locally for whatever ‘it’ is their heart desires,” Smith of the KDP said.

The benefits of local spending outlined in the Kent campaign include: Spending locally invests in our future, supports our schools, maintains our parks, fixes our roads, sustains and creates local jobs. “This is a solid way to support your local community,” Keikkala of Kent Chamber said.

Kent businesses and community members are encouraged to use the materials produced and to join the rally on the evening of October 13. For more information or materials, contact any of the following:

Kent Chamber – Andrea Keikkala, andreak@kent.chamber.com, 253-854-1770

Kent Station – John Hinds, jhinds@KentStation.com, 253-856-2301 x 100

Kent Downtown Partnership – Barbara Smith, barbaras@kentdowntown.org, 253-813-6976

Kent Reporter – Polly Shepherd, PShepherd@KentReporter.com, 253-872-6600

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