Kent 101 

Happy Friday, Kent!

The Fall session of Kent 101 is just a few short weeks away!

I've always believed in the importance of being informed, and this program empowers residents with the knowledge of how our local government operates.

It's a free eight-week civics course open to all residents and is designed to educate, inform and build experience.

If you’ve ever wondered who does what around Kent, how construction projects get done or how our Parks department works, this is a great opportunity for you!

Classes begin September 19, 2024! You can sign up here! 

As usual, there are some great things happening in Kent this weekend and some great opportunities in the month ahead, take a look below.

Hope you enjoy and have a great weekend!

Dana Ralph, Kent Mayor

Excited to announce that I have been appointed to serve as the Vice Chair for Transportation and the New Economy of the Transportation Standing Committee for the U.S. Conference of Mayors! Looking forward to contributing Kent's perspective as a regional hub of transportation, distribution and commerce to this committee.

Thank you Consul General Gupta and the City of Bellevue for hosting an amazing evening celebrating the 78th year of independence for India. It was an honor to attend, enjoy the entertainment and cultural performances, and offer congratulations on behalf of the City of Kent.

Yesterday I also met with the youth ambassadors from the Yangzhou, China and Kent Sister Cities exchange program! They've been out exploring regional attractions and I am so happy that this program has continued. The program provides opportunities to establish real, meaningful and lasting global friendships and connections. The friendship between Kent and Yangzhou began in 1993 with each city exchanging commemorative garden pavilions, and has continued to grow.

If you are looking for a new position this Fall, the Office of Congressman Adam Smith is holding a Government Jobs Fair tomorrow. This non-partisan event aims to connect people with valuable career opportunities within federal, state, and local government entities. 📅 Saturday, August 17 ⌚ 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.  📍 Highline College (2400 S 240th St. Des Moines, WA)

Cajun Fest 

The Kent Downtown Partnership is holding their 3rd Annual Cajun Fest this weekend!

This annual extravaganza promises to immerse attendees in the rich traditions of Louisiana with delicious food and drink, live music that'll have you dancing, and a community spirit that'll warm your soul.

📅 Tomorrow, August 17
🕑 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.
📍 Burlington Green Park 

Communities in Schools of Kent is gearing up for their Annual School Supply Drive collection event.  Fill the Bus supports all 42 schools in the Kent School District and provides our students with necessary items that they may not have.  📅 Thursday, August 22 ⏰ 4 - 6 p.m. 📍 Kent Station Please bring your donations to the school bus on Ramsay Way (near Johnny Rockets). Find out more information about the event and what is needed here!

Join us when we raise the Thunderbirds flag at Kent City Hall with Head Coach Matt O'Dette, Cool Bird, a few of their players! There's a lot of excitement heading into their home opener September 28 at accesso ShoWare Center! 📅 Wednesday, September 25  🕐 3:30 p.m. 📍 Kent City Hall

Meeker Construction

We have put information about the project up on KentWA.gov.

Congratulations to our Valley Communications 911 team!  Last week, they were awarded the "Team of the Year" at the APCO International 2024 Conference in Orlando, Florida!  We are so proud of this outstanding team!

Cruisin' Kent Car Show

The Cruisin' Kent Car Show is back for its 6th year at Kent Station!     

We are excited to partner with Kent Station for this fun and free event! Don't forget to pick up your 50/50 ticket where the profits will be donated to the Green River College VET fund. Here's where you can register your car and get all the information! 

📆 Sunday, August 25
⌚ 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 
📍   Kent Station

The next session of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training starts September 26.  When widespread disasters strike, city workers can be overwhelmed. This course is designed to give people the skills and confidence to safely help themselves and others when help is delayed. The eight-week program meets 2 different times on Thursday. 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. or 6 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.  This training provides instruction on disaster preparedness, disaster first aid, triage, fire safety, search and rescue, disaster psychology and team organization.

Kent Police Department Promotion 

Kent PD is excited to announce the promotion of Sergeant Mello!

With an incredible 22 years of dedicated service, 11 years with Kent PD, and 11 years as a Deputy in Stanislaus and Merced Counties in California, Sergeant Mello has shown unwavering commitment in every role he has been in.

Since joining Kent PD in July 2013, Sergeant Mello has served in various capacities, including the Special Operations Unit, Valley Civil Disturbance Unit, Field Training Officer, Drone Pilot, Peer Support, and Detective in the Major Crimes Unit.

His favorite assignment was in the Special Operations Unit where he and Ofc. Walter made a significant impact by helping numerous individuals overcome their situations and find housing. He even presented the success of this program to state legislators in Olympia, highlighting its effectiveness.

Before joining Kent PD, Sergeant Mello began his law enforcement career in Stanislaus County as a patrol Deputy and later served as a Detective in general crimes. He then moved to Merced County, where he worked as a patrol Deputy, Field Training Officer, and was a vital member of the search and rescue and dive teams, performing rescue and evidence recovery missions.

Sergeant Mello and his wife have spent 25 years coaching and mentoring children in youth sports.

Join us in congratulating Sergeant Mello on this significant achievement and thanking him for his outstanding service to our community!

Community Police Academy

The Kent Police Department is now accepting applications for the 2024 Fall Community Police Academy. Classes will be on Tuesday evenings, for 10 weeks, starting October 1st.

The Community Police Academy is a series of classes that offer straightforward, candid information regarding daily and specialized operations of the police department, while defining the agency’s role in the community. A wide range of law enforcement topics will be discussed to include an overview of law enforcement, recruiting, traffic enforcement, investigations, narcotics, gangs, community education, use of force, stress and chaplaincy, and K-9.   

There is no cost for participating and it's open to any adult 18 years or older that lives, works, or has an interest in the City of Kent and its police department. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. 

📅 Tuesday, October 1
⌚ 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
📍 Kent Police/Fire Training Center (24523 116th Ave. SE)

Applications are available online and for security reasons all applicants must pass a background check.

Farmers Market

It's farmers market season! 

Living Well Kent and the Kent Lions Club have partnered to bring their Farmers Market downtown! This is a community driven market, increasing access to fresh, healthy, and culturally relevant produce to our community. 

📅 Every Saturday until September 14
⏰ 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.​
📍 2nd Ave between Smith and Gowe

There's only one Kent Summer Concert left for the Summer! It's Wednesday night at Kent Station!  Don't miss Oncore! They are a high energy Top 40/Pop/R&B cover band gets the party started and never lets it stop.  📅 Wednesday, August 21 ⌚ 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. 📍 Kent Station

The 2024 Fall Recreation Guides are out now! Registration for Fall programs are now open. From preschool classes and FREE after school programming, to clubs and outdoor adventures for adults age 50+ and everything in between, our Parks team offers something for everyone in the family! Browse a digital guide and register online at MyKentParks.com/Register

Just a reminder there are no lifeguards on duty at Lake Meridian Park. Swim safe this summer with a free life vest rental from Kent Parks! You can check out a life vest for a single day, or the entire summer season through September 6. Life vests must be checked out in person from the Kent Commons Community Center. All sizes are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Call 253-856-5100!

Hop Picking Festival

Do you need some help with your garden? Get free gardening advice from the Master Gardners.  The WSU Extension Master Gardener volunteers are local and university-trained. They are providing free research-based information to home gardeners in King County.  📅 Saturdays ⌚ 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. 📍 Kent McLendon's Hardware

The playground area at Lake Meridian Park will be closed for maintenance beginning Monday, August 19. Contractors will be onsite to replace all of the playground surfacing. The playground closure is expected to last about 4 weeks. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience while this important work is done!

2024-25 Spotlight Series 

We are excited for announce another incredible season of our Spotlight Series!

The Spotlight Series brings the best entertainment to local stages here in Kent. Tickets are now on sale for all shows. Read more about the performers, see ticket prices, and purchase tickets online KentWA.gov/SpotlightSeries

The Kent Parks Fall Youth Volleyball program is open to all kids in Grades 3-12. Practices begin in October, with games starting in November! Sign your child up to learn the game, make new friends, develop and grow as a player, and have fun! Registration deadline is September 3.

Grab some blankets, pack up the family, and come down for our Summer movies series under the stars. Sprawl out on the lawn at Kherson Park and enjoy a FREE showing of new blockbuster hits! All movies will begin at dusk. 2024 Summer Movie Series Friday, September 6: IF

Want a free tree? The Sound Transit Federal Way Link Extension project and contractor Kiewit is providing free trees this fall! Community members and organizations in Kent, Federal Way, SeaTac and Des Moines are eligible to receive trees.

We're hiring! Check out our featured jobs and find great opportunities on our hiring page at jobs.kentwa.gov

The RASKC animal shelter is over capacity! They need your help to find furever homes for dogs of all sizes. Help them clear the shelter! You can learn more at their website.

Here's the resident question of the week! "Hello Mayor, English is not our family's first language and I want to know what resources or help there is for us to communicate with the city government?" Another great question! The City of Kent website has translation features, and you can submit a Language Assistance request for interpretation or translation service at no cost to you on our website as well.  The city also approved its first Language Access Plan last August, and we are continually taking steps to identify and translate vital and essential documents for residents. You can learn more about these resources and our progress on our Race & Equity page. Thank you for your question!

Don't forget to check out this week's KentNOW podcast!  This week, Josh, Kyle and Tracy talk to Infrastructure & Security Operations Center Manager James Endicott about cybersecurity.  It's prime golf season, so the team checks in with Josh Immordino the Head PGA Golf Professional at Riverbend Golf Course to see what's happening.  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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