Contributed by Victoria Andrews of Kent Parks, Recreation & Community Services
253-856-5113

Neely-Soames Historic Homestead Celebrates Milestone with
Open House: August 20, 2011 10 am – 2 pm

July 25, 2011–This year marks the 10th anniversary of a ribbon-cutting ceremony that opened up the Neely-Soames Historic Homestead to the public for the first time. The

King County Master Gardeners, whose members lovingly maintain the heritage gardens and grounds, will help Kent Parks, Recreation & Community Services celebrate with special activities at the annual public open house and tour, Saturday, August 20, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Photo by Dana E. Neuts, 2009

The homestead is located along the Green River Trail at 5311 S. 237th Place, just north of the Russell Road Athletic Complex. David Neely and his family settled in the Kent valley in 1854 and moved their home to its current location in 1885. Neely’s daughter Ruby was born in the house in 1895, and after she married Harry Soames, the couple lived there until her death in 1986. The bed she was born in, hand-carved by her father, is on display at the home.

One of the oldest houses in Kent, the Neely-Soames Homestead was listed on the State Register of Historic Homes in 1977. It underwent significant renovations in 1999 and 2000, supported by the Washington State Historical Society, King County and the city of Kent. Eight Eagle Scout projects added an informational kiosk, a grape arbor with benches, a picket fence, a trellis for hops, picnic tables and historic photographs.

The home can be rented for meetings and small events. But the gardens are open to the public year-round, with all flowers and vegetables clearly marked. Since 2004, employees of Hawkeye Consultants, a Kent-based company, have volunteered to help the Master Gardeners harvest the gardens and do other projects as part of the city’s Adopt-a-Park program.

For more information about the open house or to receive a self-guided walking tour of the gardens, call 253-856-5110.

On Tuesday, May 11 (6 to 8 p.m.), the City of Kent will host an open house at the Kentridge High School Library, 12430 SE 208th St., Kent. This will be the city’s final open house before annexation takes place July 1, 2010. The annexation will add approximately five square miles and 24,000 residents to the City of Kent, making it the sixth largest city in the state of Washington.

For more information, visit the City’s Annexation Web page, email the city, or call the annexation message line at 253-856-5777.

Valley Medical Center will host a special ribbon-cutting ceremony of its new Emergency Services South Tower on Mon., Jan. 11. Refreshments will be served at 7:30 a.m., with the program beginning at 7:45 a.m. Free valet parking.

In addition, the public is invited to attend an open house on Sat., Jan. 16 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) to unveil the new center. The open house will include tours, free health screenings, wellness talks, and fun, family-friendly activities.

According to Valley Medical’s website, the new Emergency Services South Tower will provide patients with the following features:

• State-of-the-art medical technologies
• Instantaneous information exchange
• Comfortable healing environment
• 100% private emergency care suites
• Faster ambulance and helicopter access
• Award-winning expert clinicians

For more info., read Valley Medical’s open house brochure.

The City of Kent is hosting an open house to discuss the Panther Lake annexation on Sat., Jan. 9 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Sunrise Elementary School (multi-purpose room, 22300 132nd Ave. SE, Kent, WA).

The annexation was approved by voters on Nov. 3, 2009. Panther Lake will become a part of the City of Kent effective July 1, 2010, making Kent the sixth largest city in the state. Panther Lake is located east of Kent’s current city limits and includes Benson Hill and Panther Lake. The area is approximately five square miles and contains about 24,000 residents.

For more information about the annexation, visit the city’s website,  call the annexation info. line at 253-856-5777 or send an email to the city.

The city has also created a document with Annexation General FAQs. You can download it here: annexation_faq.

If you haven’t heard the news, let me be the first to announce that Renaissance Yarns is moving to Kent Station. The store will close its doors on East Meeker Street Sun., Nov. 30 – Tues., Dec. 2 and move to its new Kent Station location and open for business on Wed., Dec. 3.

Owner Nancy Skorupa is excited about her new store and is anxious to kick off the holiday open season. Stop by and say “hi” after the move, and mark your calendar for Fri., Dec. 12 (5 to 9 p.m.) for Renaissance Yarns’ Home for the Holidays Open House to celebrate the new location.

Feel the fiber!

[Voted Best Arts & Craft Store in KING5's 2008 Best of Western Washington contest!]