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Happy Friday, Kent!
Wanted to kick things off with a legislative update. During this legislative session, I have asked the Legislature, repeatedly, to address drug use laws.
The current version of the bill takes us backwards. It will make it harder for us and other cities to address public drug use. It will make it harder for us to get people into treatment.
Unless this bill is fixed, it would be better for the Legislature to do nothing. The attached letter, signed by mayors from across the state, lays out our ask to address drug abuse, not take away cities ability to do so.
See the joint statement below from twenty-eight Washington State mayors regarding the current version of Senate Bill 5536.
Hope you find these updates informative and have a great weekend!
Dana Ralph, Kent Mayor
Let's go Seattle Thunderbirds! They skated right past the Prince George Cougars, and now they take on the Kamloops Blazers.
Since we have home ice advantage, let's pack the house for the series at the accesso ShoWare Center on April 29th!
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ADU Ordinance
 The Kent Land Use and Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed ADU code amendments.
The public can provide comments at the meeting (either in person or virtually). Written comments can also be provided before the meeting by emailing: cityclerk@kentwa.gov by 3:30 p.m. on the day of this meeting. After 3:30 p.m., written public comments may only be submitted in person by presenting them to the committee secretary at the public meeting.
More information, including the virtual meeting link, agenda, and draft ordinance, is available online at the City Agenda Center.
The draft ordinance has also been uploaded to engage.kentwa.gov/ADU.
Earth Day Event
Our Parks team is kicking off their 2023 Volunteer Conservation Event series with an Earth Day celebration this Saturday April 22.
Join your friends and neighbors and show some love to our little corner of this big, beautiful planet.
Volunteering at our Parks conservation events are a great way to get involved and give back to our Kent community. If you want to participate, you can register on-site
📅 Saturday, April 22
⏰ 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
📍 Clark Lake Park
Drug Take Back Day
The Kent Police Department is partnering with the Drug Enforcment Agency to host a Prescription Drug Take Back Day at the Kent Police Department.
It's free, anonymous and no questions asked.
If you have unwanted/expired medication at home and are looking for a safe way to dispose of it, this is it. See additional details on acceptable items here.
📅Saturday, April 22
⌚ 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
📍 Kent Police Department (232 4th Ave S.)
Salt Air Vista Park is Open
 The newly renovated Salt Air Vista Park is now open!
It's so exciting to see the new full playground replacement, new swings, updated lawn area with new irrigation and stormwater upgrades. There's been improvement to the nature trail and the nature play area.
Our Parks Department will be holding an official Grand Opening later this Spring. Watch our social media platforms for more details!
Fentanyl Information Night
The Kent Police Department and Kent School District are hosting an informational event: Fentanyl and Other Drug Trends for Parents & Students.
Parents of any age students are welcome, and we also invite students grades 6-12.
There will be a panel discussion for both parents and students. Parents will stay and have an Q & A opportunity with the panel as students grades 6-8 and 9-12 will move into separate breakout rooms.
Register for the informational night here
📅Thursday April 27
🕜6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
📍Kent School District Administration Building (12033 SE 256th St.)
Kent City Council
Here's your recap from the city council meeting and operations/public safety committee meeting this week. You can view the full agenda and livestream recordings on our website.
Life Saving Award
 At Tuesday night's city council meeting, Chief Padilla awarded Corrections Officer Autumn Heerspink with a lifesaving award
On November 18, 2022, Officer Heerspink responded to another co-worker finding an unresponsive inmate. They determined that the inmate was overdosing, and CO Heerspink delivered 2 doses of Narcan, saving his life.
We are grateful for quick thinking officers like her! Congratulations Autumn!
New Kent PD Officer
 Welcome to Kent Officer Adrian Rojas!
Officer Rojas has attended EMT school, the Fire Academy and the Basic Law Enforcement Academy.
He has been an Emergency Medical Tech and Emergency Room Technician. He was hired by Kitsap County Sheriff's Officer and lateraled to Kent PD.
We are so glad you're here!
Equity & Inclusion Speaker Series
Daphne Frias is a youth activist with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair to ambulate. She is fiercely proud to be a loud champion for the disabled community.
I'd like to invite you to this upcoming presentation where we will explore the pillars of disability advocacy while touching on the history of disability culture in America.
The concept of able-bodied allyship will be broken down including how to have inter-community dialogue. Participants will leave with an understanding of how disability shapes our everyday lives and actionable items to help them lead a more disability positive lifestyle. Learn more on our website!
📅 Wednesday April 26
⌚7 p.m.
📍 Green River College, Kent Campus
Mini Recycling Event
Each year, the City of Kent hosts a number of free recycling collections events that allow residents to dispose of recyclable items not typically accepted at the curb. Instead of going to the landfill as trash, all collected items will be reused or recycled!
With out free mini recycle events, disposing of your recyclable items has never been easier! All event will be held on Fridays at locations throughout the city.
Check out KentWA.gov/TalkingTrash for more details on accepted items!
📅Friday, May 12
⌚ 9 a.m. - Noon
📍 Kent United Methodist Church (11010 SE 248th St)
Riverbend Golf Tournament
The 26th Annual Riverbend Golf Complex 2 Man at the 'Bend tournament, presented by Kairos Community is right around the corner!
Registration is now open, so sign up today!
Kherson Park Renovation
I really hope you'll join us for the celebratory lift off of our brand-new space themed park located in downtown Kent.
Space for Kidz at Kherson Park is to be the first-of-its-kind to feature augmented reality, really immersing kids in an even more engaging, interactive and personal experience!
We are so excited to have this one-of-a-kind park in Kent. Launch your imagination into a world filled with rides on the Lunar Rover, earth sightings from inside a Lunar Lander and rocket launches from mission control.
📅 Saturday, May 20
🕥 10:30 a.m.
📍 307 W. Gowe St
It's going to be an out of this world experience for the whole family, as we continue to celebrate our community's ongoing legacy in space exploration.
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Thank you Hira for the invitation to the Vaisakhi Festival at Khalsa Gurmat Center last weekend.
Vaisakhi is a significant cultural festival for the Sikh community and marks the start of the new harvest season and birth of the Khalsa. Considered one of the most important festivals in the Sika calendar, parades and festivities are held by the Sikh communities around the world.
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The Kent Museum is unveiling its Welcome Figure with a dedication April 29 at 1 p.m.
Welcome figures are found around Washington State and Vancouver Island and were placed near the water to indicate that travelers coming by canoe were welcome.
The Welcome Figure is being carved by Waq́usqidəb (Mike Evans), Honorable Chair of the Snohomish Tribe of Indians, Father of the Blue Heron Canoe Family and Vice President of the Greater Kent Historical Society.
📅 April 29
⌚ 1 p.m.
📍 Greater Kent Historical Society and Museum
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Are you ready to run!? Join us for the 2023 Kent Cornucopia Days 5k!
The race will start and finish at the Three Friends Fishing Hole Park . Race fees are $20, or $35 with this fun throwback shirt! Sign up to race and get your fun throwback shirt!
📅 Saturday July 15 at 9 a.m.
📍 Three Friends Fishing Hole Park
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Cider and Ale Trail
Beer and Cider lovers, this one's for you!
Don't miss the Cider and Ale Trail in historic downtown Kent. Kent Downtown Partnership is putting together a fun night of tasting local craft brews, ciders and toe tapping live music performances.
Participants will enjoy specialty beer and cider offerings while rubbing elbows with Kent and regional brewers. Visitors are encouraged to come early and visit some of our unique shops and restaurants.
📅Friday April 28
⌚6 p.m - 9 p.m
📍Historic Downtown Kent
Team Up 2 Clean Up
 Each spring and fall, the City of Kent hosts TeamUp2CleanUp: a little cleanup event where community members work to beautify Kent as individuals or in teams at various locations around the city.
We provide garbage bags and disposal, safety vests and little grabbers. Gloves are recommended and closed shoes are required.
Meet our teams at one of the following locations:
-East Hill: Golden Steer Restaurant (23826 104th Ave SE)
-Downtown: Kherson Park (307 West Gowe)
-West Hill: West Hill Plaza (24700 Military Road)
This is a great opportunity to earn school required community service hours! Note we cannot sign off on court ordered community service hours.
📅Saturday, May 6
🕘9 a.m,
📍Various locations
Kent Community Bike Rodeo
Our annual Bike Rodeo event is a fun, interactive, non-competitive skills course designed for kids to improve their bike handling and traffic safety skills.
Kids will learn about stop signs, crosswalks, approaching corners as well as being considerate around other bikers and pedestrians.
The program will include helmet fittings, helmet giveaways, a bicycle skills course and bike safety checks.
Fill out this waiver to participate. If you would like to volunteer, please email KentBikeRodeo@gmail.com.
📅Saturday May 20
⏰10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
📍Kent YMCA
Awakening Music Festival
 The Awakening Music Festival comes to Accesso ShoWare Center on Friday, April 28!
You can come and enjoy the festival for FREE! In return, they encourage a donation up to the ticket price of $15 or more per adult and will be accepted at the event.
The donation will help support the sustainability of the Awakening Music Festival and bringing Christian music to the Pacific Northwest!
Check out this great line up!
Mosaic MSC
Evan Craft
Riley Clemmons
HNRY
PeaBod
📆Friday April 28
⏰6 p.m. - 11 p.m.
📍Accesso ShoWare Center
Have you heard the new KentNow episode this week? Josh and Tracy update you on the important, fun, and interesting things happening here in the city!
Listen to new and previous episodes on:
🔊 Apple Podcasts apple.co/3J2UMkd
🔊 Spotify spoti.fi/3GNCeli
🔊 Amazon Music amzn.to/3jjaOvU
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Translations
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