Local News and Events for Kent, Washington

Our 10-year anniversary party is less than two weeks away – Friday, December 8 – and we have some big news to share. We hope you’ll come by for the celebration and to hear about some exciting changes for our site. The anniversary open house will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at Artsy Fartsy Art Lessons (218 W. Meeker St.) In the meantime, here’s what’s going on in Kent.

Thanks for reading,

Dana Neuts, publisher

NEW–Winterfest is coming to downtown Kent, Sat. Dec. 2, 2017
Join the Kent Lions Club for free holiday fun this Saturday, December 2. The fun begins at 2 p.m. with children’s activities and live music and singing, followed by a holiday reading at the library, a visit from Santa, the Christmas tree lighting and more. Get all the details here.

NEW–An abandoned home on West Hill was destroyed in a fire.
This weekend an abandoned home on West Hill was destroyed by fire. Nearby residents called 9-1-1 after seeing flames and hearing explosions. Puget Sound and South King Fire units responded to the blaze. No one was found in the home. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Read more about the fire here.

REMINDER–Deadline for applications for Bicycle Advisory Board is Dec. 1
The City of Kent is looking for volunteers to join the Bicycle Advisory Board, an 11-member board that meets the last Monday of each month to advise the Kent mayor and city council on projects, policies and programs that improve or affect bicycling conditions in Kent. Applications may be submitted online, deadline to apply is Dec. 1, 2017. Read more here.

REMINDER–Chief Robert E. Lee Building to be rededicated Nov. 30
On November 30, 2017 at 11:30 a.m., the City of Kent will rededicate the Kent Police Department building in the name of former Kent Police Chief Robert E. Lee who served as the city police chief from 1948 to June 1966 and as a city councilmember from 1968 to 1972. The ceremony will take place at the Kent Police Department at 220 Fourth Ave. South in downtown Kent. Read more here.

NEW–Kent Commons Holiday Bazaar is this Friday and Saturday
This annual, two-day event features more than 100 vendors with unique, handcrafted items perfect for gift giving this holiday season. The event will be at Kent Commons (525 Fourth Ave. N.) in downtown Kent. The bazaar will also include musical entertainment and food and beverages for purchase. Parking is free. Click here for more information.

NEW–Kent Police make arrests in Golden Kent Motel shooting
Last week Kent Police made two arrests in the November 2 shooting at the Golden Kent Motel. They arrested 50-year-old Stonney Marcus Rivers and 47-year-old Theneious Swafford, both of whom have an extensive criminal history. Both men have been charged with first degree murder. Read more about the case here.

NEW–Get your Santa photos at Kent Station
Santa has arrived at Kent Station. Get your holiday photos taken with the jolly old elf at Santa’s cottage, in front of AMC Theatres from November 25 to December 23. Santa House is sponsored, in part, by Smith Brothers Farms and Allegro Performing Arts Academy. Visit KentStation.com for details.

NEW–King County Elections to certify results on November 28
This Tuesday, November 28, King County Elections will certify the results from the November 7 General Election. There are 1,279,345 registered voters in King County, only 42.66 percent whom voted. King County Elections counted 545,745 ballots, as of November 22, 2017 at 3:34 p.m. Click here for Kent election results.

REMINDER–Dollar Tree Partners with Operation Homefront for the Holidays
Operation Homefront and Seattle area Dollar Tree stores are partnering to make holidays brighter for military families with Operation Homefront’s annual holiday toy drive. For the eleventh straight year, Dollar Tree customers can buy toys for military children, easing the financial burden of the holidays on military families. Dollar Tree stores will have collection boxes available for customers to put their purchased toys. Operation Homefront volunteers will deliver the toys at holiday events across the country and through on-base family readiness groups. Dollar Tree and its customers have been working together to provide toys for military families since 2006. Read more here.

REMINDER–Free Indoor Walking at accesso ShoWare Mondays & Wednesdays
Don’t let the rainy weather interrupt your daily walking routine! Enjoy free indoor walks and health screenings at accesso ShoWare Center, most Mondays and Wednesdays, now through June 27, 2018, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Free indoor walking is open to all ages and modalities, and there are two levels of walking and stairs for extra cardio. Dates are subject to change based on accesso ShoWare’s schedule. Check the community calendar at KentWA.gov for changes.

REMINDER–Registration is open for Kent’s 35th annual Christmas Rush Fun Run
The City of Kent has opened registration for its 35th annual Christmas Rush Fun Run and Walk. There will be a 10K run and a 5K run walk, so the event is open to people of different abilities. The event is Saturday, December 9, 2017 and will start and finish at Hogan Park at Russell Road. The early entrance fee is $10, or $25 with a technical T-shirt before December 2. Week of race entrance fees are $20, or $35 with a technical T-shirt. Learn more about the Christmas Rush Fun Run here.