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Mayor's Update



November 17, 2023




leaves wet

Happy Friday Kent,

Can you believe Thanksgiving is next week? I'm really looking forward to spending some time with family, and I hope you are too!

Just a reminder, check on storm drains in your neighborhood and clear leaves if you notice blockage. That will help prevent any localized flooding in your area!

It’s also a good time to get your windshield wipers, tires, and emergency kits looked at as we head into wetter and colder weather.

We’ll be publishing our updated 2023 Winter Weather Guide soon to help you out!

We have some fantastic holiday celebrations and activities for Kent families to enjoy that I'm thrilled to share with you below.

Hope you enjoy this week's update and have a great weekend!

Dana Ralph, Kent Mayor

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*Weekly Roundup *

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School of Rock guitar

Congratulations School of Rock at Kent Station on your official grand opening!

As mayor, I have cut a few ribbons. I have never been asked to smash a guitar! So much fun!

One of the students who performed said School of Rock had changed her life. I truly believe music is powerful and can change lives.

Check out School of Rock - they are pretty amazing!



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Last week, I attended the 58th Annual Auburn Veterans Day Parade. 

This parade is a wonderful THANK YOU to those that have served.

auburn vets parade

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apartment complex

On Thursday, I joined the Kent Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of Alexan Gateway. It's a beautiful complex with one of the best views in Kent. Welcome to the neighborhood!



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Happy 70th East Hill Elementary School!

Last night East Hill hosted an event for families and students, past and present, celebrating their 70th birthday.

The evening featured food and performances and a little walk down memory lane. They had to look way back in the archives but look what they found!

I have wonderful memories of all of my teachers from my elementary school days.

East Hill has been an active partner in making this community amazing for many years. I am so proud of the great work they continue to do for our students and families!

Mayor Ralph elem

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hockey

Catch the T-birds game against the Victoria Royals Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. at accesso ShoWare Center!  



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Kent City Council 

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Here's the recap on what the Kent City Council has been working on! 

Special council recap special council 2

*You can also see the full meeting agendas, minutes and livestream recordings on our website. [ http://kentwa.iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]*

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Employee of the Month

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october_eom

Quenten began working at the city in 2000 at the IT Help Desk, and many years of service and promotions, he works as a System Operations Engineer today.

He implements, documents, and maintains various computer programs and network-based systems, assists customers, IT staff, and city officials.

Born in California, Quenten’s family moved to Utah when he was very young and then to Las Vegas. Quenten and his family moved again, this time to Washington State, when he was 12 years old.

He attended Auburn High School, Green River Community College, and Olympic College. He later returned to school through BYU Pathway Worldwide and then moved on to BYU Idaho online. He has several certifications including in ITIL foundations in IT Service Management, A+, and Network.

Quenten says the people here at the city are good, exceptional, caring people, and he is grateful for the close friendships he has that have sustained him through the years.
Quenten says that the IT Department is a great place to work as they give ample opportunity to learn and grow in a variety of ways.

Quenten was nominated because he is one of the backbone employees of the IT department. He is frequently called upon to ensure the priorities of the department are moving forward.
Quenten always takes care of the customers he is assisting; for example, adjusting his work schedule to ensure that work that needs to be done is not done during "mission critical" times for the customer.

Quenten is an example to all who work with him. He is always upbeat and ready to take on the day. Quenten is incredibly dedicated and can always be relied upon to do the right thing. He genuinely wants to help his co-workers to make sure everyone is successful. His achievements during his tenure at the City of Kent are too numerous to mention.

He also enjoys his church service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he currently serves as the 1st Councilor in the Elder’s Quorum presidency, serving his fellow priesthood brothers and his community.

Quenten continuously embraces our values, and we celebrate him as October’s Employee of the Month.

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national educators week

Happy American Education Week! This week we celebrate and express our gratitude toward all educators, support staff and administrators in our school district and beyond!



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Officer Storytime

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officer story time

Kent friends of the library are holding a fun story time with our Kent Police officers! 
This is your chance to get to know your community helpers and check out the inside of a patrol car! 

?? Tomorrow
⌚ 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
?? Kent Library

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Putting together an emergency kit is crucial for maintaining safety, health and comfort during an emergency situation.

In case of a disaster, you may need to shelter in place or evacuate quickly. If this happens, you won't have the time to gather everything.

That's why creating a kit ahead of time is so important: so that when you really need it, you can just grab and go!

Read more about what you need in the kit visit  *ready.gov/kit [ https://www.ready.gov/kit?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]*

emergency supply kit

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earthquake safety

The Great Shakeout may be behind us, but being prepared for an earthquake is a year-round best practice.

Washington is at greater risk to earthquakes than many other states, so be prepared.

Remember: if you feel an earthquake, get to a safe space as soon as possible!

If you are indoors, move under a sturdy desk or table and hold on to it. If outdoors, move to open space away from any possible falling objects. Stay away from windows or powerlines!



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Our city Neighborhood Matching Grant Program offers matching funds on a competitive basis to recognized neighborhood councils to develop and implement projects which will enhance the livability of their communities.

Our city provides some amazing opportunities with grant money to communicate and beautify neighborhoods.

Here [ https://www.kentwa.gov/guides/neighborhood-program/neighborhood-matching-grant-projects?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ] are some fantastic examples.

We have put together a neighborhood grant workshop on December 2 at the Kent Senior Activity Center.

Please email Tracy Taylor ttaylor@kentwa.gov to sign up

neighborhood grant workshop

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Conservation Events 

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conservation event

Earlier this month, our Parks team held their final Conservation Event of 2023 and we want to take a moment to thank all who volunteered at any of this year's events. With help from our community, we were able to do great work across the city!

This what we've done with your help this year:  


* 13 total events (5 Kent Parks events)
* 683 volunteers 
* 1,325 hours of labor 
* 65,300 square feet of land maintained.
* Planted 825 new plants. 
* 300+ plants mulched. 
* 17,000 square feet of blackberry shrubs removed.

The natural areas in Kent parks offer refuge from our urban environment and contribute to the health of our local ecosystem. Trees and green spaces can improve air and water quality, reduce erosion and water run-off, provide food and shelter for wildlife, increase overall quality of life, and create a beautiful community for us to live and work in. With help from volunteers, we remove invasive species, mulch, and plant native trees and shrubs at our annual events to help maintain a healthy, resilient ecosystem here in Kent.

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Kent Historical Society event

The Greater Kent Historical Society is having a fun Winter craft day! 

Create a winter decoration to celebrate the season!

?? Friday, December 22
⌚ Noon to 4 p.m. 
?? Kent Historical Museum



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Our November Bike Ride of the Month tours through East Hill neighborhoods with a mix of residential and arterial street riding! 

If you get a chance to go biking this month when the rain lets up, *check out this route [ https://bit.ly/3DVX5CH?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]*!

This 9.4 mile ride is for those up for a bit of traffic exposure, with a 544 ft gain in elevation and 6.6% max grade.

november ride of the month

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showalk

The Kent Parks ShoWalk program has returned to the accesso ShoWare Center!

This free, indoor walking program offers a warm and dry place to walk and stay active during the cold, wet months.

*Check out the schedule here!  [ https://www.kentwa.gov/departments/kent-parks/programs-activities/adult-fitness?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]*



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youth basketball

Don’t forget to sign your child up for Youth Basketball!

This program is open to all students in grades K-12, and provides participants with a fun and supportive environment to learn how to play the game and grow as both an athlete and teammate.

The registration deadline for Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grades 6-12 is Tuesday, December 12. The registration deadline for students in Grades 2-5 closed earlier this week. Late registrations are accepted, contact the Kent Commons with any questions! 253-856-5100

Register now at *MyKentParks.com/Register [ http://mykentparks.com/Register?fbclid=IwAR3CFWD05YqRTr79aWdjNX8ukdDZFvbWOmZqdpI6bk3H0Cehg66ovP4iLfo&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]*



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Spotlight Series 

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magical Strings

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The 2023-2024 Spotlight Series is underway! The Magical Strings 37th Annual Celtic Yuletide Concert is Sunday, December 3 at the Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center.

The Boulding Family’s musical celebration of the holiday season is a treasured tradition here in our community. Tickets for this incredible concert will sell out – be sure to get yours online soon!

Get tickets and *see the line-up of performances for the 2024 season online! [ https://www.kentwa.gov/departments/kent-parks/arts/spotlight-series?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]*

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The Christmas Rush is a beloved holiday event in our community, and I am looking forward to seeing those runners and walkers take to the course again this year! 

?? Saturday, December 9
⏲ 9:50 a.m.
?? Hogan Park, 25500 Russell Road

Learn more and register online at *KentWA.gov/ChristmasRush. [ https://www.kentwa.gov/departments/kent-parks/events/christmas-rush-fun-run-and-walk/-fbclid-IwAR36e6OWB6NsRILHehaVtbJYk23wvOpo1lQyDK_tnsTNqRxCqOVU7I0AYuI?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]*

christmas rush

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*Kent Winterfest *

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winterfest

I am so excited to celebrate the upcoming holiday season, and here in Kent, we have a month of holiday happenings planned throughout the city for you to enjoy.

From our annual tree lighting festival and the Christmas Rush 5k/10k run, to Santa photos and holiday shows, there is something for everyone in the family.

The Winterfest Tree Lighting & Parade will be held Saturday, December 2. Join us at Town Square Plaza for music, the Winterfest parade, Santa, holiday vendors and local food trucks, community booths, and our annual tree lighting! *Stay up-to-date on all of the details right here! [ https://www.kentwa.gov/departments/kent-parks/events/kent-winterfest?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]*

Thanks to the Kent Lions Club, Kent Station and Kent Downtown Partnership.

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Business Impact NW

Exciting news for Kent's vibrant business community! The City of Kent, in partnership with Business Impact NW, is excited to announce a three-year initiative designed to empower our local entrepreneurs.

If you are a small business operating in Kent, you will benefit from a network of connections and resources that are not only extensive but also easy to navigate, ensuring that businesses can focus on growth and long-term sustainability. To learn more and sign up for services, visit *Business Impact NW - City of Kent [ https://businessimpactnw.org/cityofkent/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]*



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Do you want to be more involved in your city? Consider joining the Bicycle Advisory Board, which advises our City Council, Mayor and staff on projects, policies and programs that affect bicycling conditions. ?? Learn more at *bit.ly/3rlOSBV! [ http://bit.ly/3rlOSBV?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]*

KBAB

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diversity

Applications are still being accepted for the city's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Board. The goal of the board is to increase engagement, integration and access to city services for all cultural communities in Kent.

You can learn about the city's work in these areas and the Equity Strategic Plan at *KentWA.gov/Race-Equity, [ https://www.kentwa.gov/government/race-equity?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]* and *apply to be on the board* [ https://www.kentwa.gov/government/boards-commissions?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ].



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We're hiring! Check out our featured jobs and great opportunities on our hiring page at *Jobs.KentWA.gov*! [ https://jobs.kentwa.gov/jobs?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]

HIring

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raskc

Get your furry friends licensed with *Regional Animal Services of King County [ https://kingcounty.gov/depts/regional-animal-services.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]* to help get them back to you if they're ever lost! 

Your license also helps fund RASKC's life-saving animal shelter work. They reunite lost pets 24/7 and provide shelter pet care 365 days a year.



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Don't forget to check out the new episode of the KentNOW podcast!  Tracy, Josh and Kyle talk to Mark Hendrickson and Ronda Billerbeck from our Parks Department to talk about Winterfest, Christmas Rush and how you can get involved with the Arts Commission. Listen to new and previous episodes on:
?? Apple Podcasts *apple.co/3J2UMkd [ https://t.co/kiMUAwAMdU?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]*
?? Spotify *spoti.fi/3GNCeli [ https://t.co/MccBJhOIlp?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]*
?? Amazon Music *amzn.to/3jjaOvU [ https://amzn.to/3jjaOvU?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]*

KentNow

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City of Kent, Washington

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