Local News and Events for Kent, Washington

Happy Monday – and Happy May, everyone! Let’s hope the sun pops out soon as we look forward to longer days and shorter nights. Here’s what’s going on in and around Kent, Washington as you get your week started.

Thanks, as always, to AAA Pest Control for their sponsorship of Sound Bites! Have a great week.

~ Dana

NEW–Seattle Thunderbirds win WHL Western Conference Championship
This weekend the Seattle Thunderbirds won their second consecutive Western Conference Championship in Kelowna, winning the series 4 to 2. Congratulations to our Seattle TBirds! The TBirds will face the Regina Pats in the WHL Champsionship. Games 1 and 2 will be in Regina Fri., May 5 and Sat., May 6, respectively. The TBirds return to Seattle for Games 3 (May 9), 4 (May 10) and 5, if needed, (May 12). Get the full story and buy playoff tickets at SeattleThunderbirds.com.

NEW–KUOW covers the Kent Valley
It is a nice change of pace to hear positive things about Kent in the news. It seems these days the major Seattle media only covers us when there is a tragedy. KUOW covers the Kent Valley and the history of our city’s name in these clips.

NEW–Citywide litter cleanup event scheduled for May 13
May 13 will be a busy day in Kent. In addition to Living Well Kent’s first community bazaar and farmer’s market, the city is partnership with KDP, the Kent Lions’ Club, Republic Services, Kent Station and others to host TeamUp2CleanUp, an annual citywide litter clean-up day. Learn more details, including start times and locations, here.

NEW–Stamp Out Hunger food drive is May 13
The 25th annual letter carriers’ stamp out hunger food drive is Saturday, May 13. On that day, leave a bag or bags of non-perishable food by your mailbox before your letter carriers’ normal delivery time. They will pick up the food and deliver it to food banks throughout the area. Why are they doing this? Nearly 49 million Americans (1 in 6) are unsure where their next meal is coming from, including 13 million children and 5 million seniors over age 60.) Learn more here.

Living Well Kent to host Community Bazaar on May 13
Living Well Kent is hosting a Community Bazaar and Farmer’s Market on Sat., May 13 from 10 AM to 3 PM. There will be vendors from different cultures, communities and backgrounds selling their crafts. All are welcome. The ultimate goal of the project is to bring a Farmer’s Market to Kent’s East Hill to make healthy food more accessible. Learn more here.

NEW–Paint Kent Station Purple this May to raise money for Relay for Life
Kent Station is hosting “Paint Kent Station Purple” for the month of May to help raise money for Relay for Life of Kent. Buy a passport for $25 and get deals that last the entire month of May. On May 8, from 5 to 9 PM, the RAM will host a takeover night with special purple adult drinks, prizes and other goodies. Get all the details here.

City to celebrate national Public Works Week, May 25
The City of Kent plans to celebrate National Public Works Week on Thursday, May 25 at ShoWare Center (625 W. James St., Kent, WA 98032) from 10 AM to 5:30 PM. The event is free to the public. Meet public works employees, climb into machines, and experience hands-on educational displays and more. Learn more here.

NEW–May is Lyme Disease Awareness month.
According to the CDC, Lyme disease is the fastest growing vector-born disease in the U.S. and it is found in every state. Common symptoms of Lyme disease include flu-like symptoms outside of flu season, pain and/or inflammation of joints and muscles, severe headaches and stiff neck, facial nerve weakness and paralysis. Visit LymeDisease.org for more information.

Register to vote by Oct. 10NEW–Date change for iLoveKent Political Debates
We’ve had a slight change to the dates for the scheduled Kent mayoral and city council candidate political debates this fall. Instead of Sept. 14 and 28, they will be Sept. 21 and 28. Both events will be at the Kent Senior Center with a ‘candidate meet and greet’ from 6 to 7 PM and debates from 7 PM to 8:30 PM. Both events will be moderated by Greg Haffner of Curran Law Firm. Greg and I will select the questions from ones submitted by readers. More details coming soon!

City to celebrate national Public Works Week, May 25
The City of Kent plans to celebrate National Public Works Week on Thursday, May 25 at ShoWare Center (625 W. James St., Kent, WA 98032) from 10 AM to 5:30 PM. The event is free to the public. Meet public works employees, climb into machines, and experience hands-on educational displays and more. Learn more here.

Upcoming Events:

Additional details for these events are available on our Google calendar.

May 1         Kent School District Career Fair
May 2         Kent City Council
May 3 – 6    Kentridge Players Present The Wiz
May 5         Kent Chamber of Commerce ‘Cinco de Mayo’ Gala
May 6         Free Children’s Art Project at Rusty Raven Studio
May 6         Greater Seattle Toy Show
May 9         Seattle TBirds vs. Regina Pats (at ShoWare Center)
May 10       Seattle TBirds vs. Regina Pats (at ShoWare Center)

Dana Neuts

I am a full-time freelance writer, editor, marketing pro and the publisher of iLoveKent.net.