Kent-area calendar of events | March 7

Events

Kent luncheon with State Attorney General Rob McKenna: 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m., March 16, ShoWare Center, 25 W. James St., Kent. Pacific Printing Industries in partnership with the Kent Chamber of Commerce and Carlson Advisors present the luncheon with McKenna, a Republican candidate for governor. Registration is from 11:30-11:45 a.m., lunch at 11:45 a.m. with McKenna speaking at 12:15 p.m. A question and answer session goes from 1-1:15 p.m. This is not a fundraising event but an opportunity to learn, ask questions of McKenna and join with others in the region with similar business interests, according to Pacific Printing Industries. Tickets are $35 per person. RSVP by calling Pacific Printing at 877-762-7742; email events@ppiassociation.org or go to ppiassociation.org.

Washington’s 9th Congressional District help: 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., March 20, large meeting room, Kent Library, 212 Second Ave. N. Appointments are not necessary. Highly experienced Constituent Services Representatives from Congressman Adam Smith’s office will be on hand to discuss resolving issues with federal agencies and receive help on accessing federal government resources including: • Social Security; • Internal Revenue Service (IRS); • Immigration; • Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); • Department of Defense. For more information, call Smith’s district office at 253-593-6600.

Green Kent Steward Orientation: 9 a.m.-noon, March 24, Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E. Smith St. Are you interested in restoring your forested parks and natural areas with training and support from Green Kent Partnership staff? Would you like a rewarding way to help the environment and participate in your community?  The training will provide attendees with an understanding of the goals, structure and benefits of the Green Kent Partnership. Attendees will gain a basic understanding of “tree-iage” and the four phases of restoration, plus some hands-on practice. Register at greenkent.org.

Fiesta in the Valley: 7-8;30 p.m., March 29, Kent Elementary gym, 24700 – 64th Ave. South, Kent. A celebration of school music, which highlights performances of elementary students from Kent Elementary, Meadow Ridge Elementary, Neely O’Brien Elementary and Scenic Hill Elementary. Special guests from the Rainier Youth Chorale singers. Admission is free.

23rd annual Puyallup Spring Fair: April 19-22, Puyallup Fair & Events Center, 110 9th Ave. SW. Hours: 2-10 p.m., Thursday (free kids admission, ages 0-18); 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday. Free activities range from Motorsport Mayhem with monster trucks and demolition derbies to baby animals, the Garden Show, 4-H and FFA students showing animals in the Northwest Junior Livestock Show, Fiesta Mexicana, and Junior Poultry Show. Hours: 2-10 p.m., Thursday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday. Admission: $9 adults; $7 students (6-18), free on Thursday; 5 and under free. Advance gate tickets and discounts information available online. Visit www.thefair.com for an updated list of activities and times.

Sunrise Elementary School PTA Spring Craft Fair: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., April 28, 22300 132nd Ave. SE, Kent. A variety of local artisans will be on hand selling their items – original art, jewelry, wood crafts and more. For more information, contact sunrisecraftfair@gmail.com.

Benefits

An Evening at the Derby dinner auction: 5-10 p.m., March 24, Emerald Downs, 2300 Emerald Downs Way, Auburn. 24th annual dinner auction to raise money for children with special needs. Evening includes dinner, the Dessert Rush, silent and live auctions and learn how your donations will help children with special needs and their families in South King County. Dinner will be served at approximately 7:10 p.m., followed by the ever popular dessert and live auction with auctioneer Keith Robbins. Tickets: $65. Order online through ctcauction.wordpress.com.  For more information, contact Lois Maier, events manager, 253-854-5660.

Kent Rotary Escapades Dinner & Auction: 5:30-9:30 p.m., March 31, ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St., Kent.   Theme: “Viva Las Escapades!” Funds raised benefit scholarships, Kent schools programs and international programs. Tickets online at auction.kentrotary.com.

Light My Fire Auction: 6 p.m., March 31, Rainier Room, above Oddfellas, 102 W. Main St., Auburn. A benefit for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Dinner, drinks, full night of entertainment, featuring classic rock band 3rd Degree Burn, and the chance to meet firefighters featured in the 2012 Firefighter Calendar, some of whom are volunteering as individual auctionees. Winners in the live auction gain either four hours of labor from one or more firefighters or a four-hour date from an individual firefighter. Auction sponsors: Professional Union Firefighter; Oddfellas; Washington State Council of Firefighters Burn Foundation. Admission: $30 donation for an individual, $50 donation for a couple. Online tickets are available at: wa.support.llsevent.org/lightmyfire. Included is dinner, a drink and 10 raffle tickets.

CISA Coming Together for Kids: 6-9 p.m., April 20, Lindbloom Center at Green River Community College, 12401 SE 320th St. Annual dinner and auction fundraiser to support CISA’s efforts to help students in need and foster educational excellence. Live and silent auctions, dessert table and raffle are part of the program. The benefit includes packages for a weeklong stay in exotic Bali, a wine-tasting party for eight at premier winery Airfield Estates, a coastal vacation in Westport, among other items and packages. Deloitte LLP is this year’s presenting sponsor. KOMO 1000 News Paul Tosch hosts. Tickets are $50. To register for the event or for information on becoming a sponsor, visit www.auburn.ciswa.org.

“Teddy Bear Patrol” Donation Drive: Ongoing, at all Bartell Drugs locations, including 12946 SE Kent Kangley Road. Seeking new or gently used teddy bears to provide to children involved in traumatic and stressful situations. Teddy bears are put in the hands of area police departments, hospitals and emergency response teams.

Communities In Schools of Kent Fundraising Breakfast: 7:30-9 a.m., May 24, Kent Phoenix Academy, 11000 SE 264th St.  The fundraising goal of $30,000 provides much-needed services to at-risk Kent School District students. These services include mentoring, college prep, academic support, internships, food, clothing, and access to other needed support.  School success helps make the entire community a safer, healthier, and more vibrant place to live. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, be a table captain, or simply attend the breakfast as an individual or group, please contact David de la Fuente, executive director, at 253.867.5637 or ddelafuente1@ciskent.org.

Health

Kent4Health presents ShoWalk: 9-11 a.m., Monday and Wednesday (except on event days and holidays, through April 25), ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St., Kent.  Two levels for walking including stairs for extra cardio. Free monthly health screenings on the second Monday of the month. Stretching area for warm up and cool down. Info: www.kentwa.gov.

Cascade Regional Blood Center drives:  For more information, call 1-877-242-5663 or visit www.crbs.net/home.

Puget Sound Blood Center drives:  For more information, call 253-945-8667 or please visit www.psbc.org.

Classes, programs

Community Garden P-patch plots available: 7 a.m.-5 p.m., 64th & James St., Kent. Kent’s community garden P-patch contains 44 20-by-20-foot plots. Unclaimed plots are opened up for rent to the public. Cost: $40 for water usage from April 1-Sept. 30, plus a $25 refundable deposit. To register and pay, please call the Kent Commons (253-856-5000) or stop by in person at 525 4th Ave. N. (Note: different location from last year).

Composter & rainbarrel sale: 9-10 a.m., March 24, Russell Road Park, 24400 Russell Rd., Kent. Save money. Make your own compost to enrich garden soils and catch rainwater to water your plants.Purchase a composter for $25 and a rainbarrel for $35, while supplies last. They sell out quickly, so be there at 9:00. For more information, visit KentRecycles.com.

Kent Community Police Academy: 6:30-9 p.m., March 28. Start of the academy. Six weeks informative classes, taught by experts of the Kent Police. Optional tours of the 911 center and the City Jail. For all persons interested in how police work. Bring your questions. No cost.

Libraries

Kent Public Library: 212 2nd Avenue N., Kent. 253-859-3330. Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday; 1-5 p.m., Sunday. Library events include:

CHILDREN & FAMILIES

Ready-Set-Read: If you are in elementary school, take the Reading Challenge! Read at least 20 minutes per day for 20 days within a month and choose a new paperback book at your community library. Forms are available at the library or online.

Spanish Story Time: Noon-12:30 p.m., March 24, 31. Ages 2 and older, 5 and younger with adult. Enjoy an interactive Story Time in Spanish that includes Early Literacy fun with books, songs and finger plays. Speakers of all languages welcome.

Play & Learn: 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m., March 26. Kaleidoscope Play & Learn is an organized play group for newborns to age 5 and their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, nannies, brothers and sisters, and other people who take care of them. Have fun learning together while we play, sing songs and create art.

Study Zone:  3:30-5:30 p.m., March 26. Grades K-12. Volunteer tutors can help with homework questions, writing and math. Kent Library has Study Zone hours five days a week. Ask at the library for more details.

Sleepy Story Time: 7-7:30 p.m., March 27. All ages welcome, ages 5 and younger with adult. Wear your pajamas and bring your teddy bear for this 30-minute bedtime Story Time.

Preschool Story Time: 10:30-11 a.m., March 28. Join us for an alphabet adventure that will feature stories, finger plays, songs and a simple craft activity for your preschooler.

Russian Story Time: 6-6:30 p.m., March 28. All ages are welcome. Please join Natalia for stories, songs and rhymes in the Russian language.

Baby & Toddlers Story Time: 10:30-11 a.m., March 29. Newborn to ages 2 1/2 with adult. Early Literacy fun with simple stories, songs and rhymes.

TEENS

Game On!:  3:30-5 p.m., March 27. Open play video game time for teens in our large meeting room. Test your skills on Ninetendo, Wii and PlayStation.

ADULTS

Tax-Aide: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., March 24, 28, 31. Basic income tax assistance from trained volunteer tax counselors. Registration for the week’s appointments begins each Monday at 10 a.m. Register in person or by phone, 253-859-3330.

Imagine That! Creative Reuse in the Yard & Garden: 11 a.m.-noon, March 24. King County’s Tom Watson, the EcoConsumer columnist for The Seattle Times, will show you how to use salvaged materials in the garden, from bricks and boards to old tools, broken statues and even wine bottles. These items can be used to make raised beds, pathways, trellises, garden art-save money and have a on-of-a-kind garden.

SCORE (Service Corps Of Retired Executives): Free counseling for small businesses. Please call 206-553-7320 for appointments.

eReader Demonstration: 2-3 p.m., March 24; 7-8 p.m., March 29; 10 a.m., March 31. Drop in to learn how to download KCLS eBooks to your eReader or computer. Look at some of the more popular eReaders and find out how to get started at home.

Talk Time: 5-6:30 p.m., March 27. Improve your speaking and listening skills in this English conversation group. Learn more about American culture and meet people from around the world.

Citizenship Class: 7-8:30 p.m., March 27. Get help with the Citizenship interview process, including civics and government questions, reading and writing English and practicing your interview skills.

Computer Class: Registration required beginning two weeks before the class, 253-859-3330. • Introduction to Computers, 7-9 p.m., March 29. Practice the skills necessary for using a computer including using the mouse, selecting items and text, arranging windows, browsing the Internet and library catalog.

Pioneer Quilts and the Oregon Trail: 2-3 p.m., March 31. The thousands of women and their families who braved the dangers of the Oregon Trail in the mid-1800s left an amazing legacy found in their quilts. Learn how these women coped with harsh frontier conditions and kept their connections to home through their quilt-making.

Network

Business Community Forum: 5-7 p.m., March 14, ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St. Business owners invited. The Kent Chamber of Commerce and Kent Downtown Partnership present the forum about the potential homeless shelter at 315 E. Meeker St. Meeting includes a short presentation and business panels are planned at the information-gathering meeting to find out what business owners think of the proposal. The Union Gospel Mission is interested in leasing the former city Resource Center to run a homeless shelter. For more information, call the Chamber at 253-854-1770 or the Downtown Partnership at 253-813-6976.

Dawn of Development Quarterly Breakfast: 7:30-9 a.m., March 15, Down Home Catering, 211 1st Ave., Kent. Sponsored by Commercial Waste Reduction and Recycling Company. Guest speaker: Vanessa Vanderbrug, employment law attorney with Hanis, Irvine Prothero, gives insight and key tips to the vital employee/employer relationship. Cost: $12 for Kent Chamber of Commerce members; $20 nonmembers. Register by calling 253-854-1770, emailing info@kentchamber.com or go online at www.kentchamber.com.

Valley Cities Community Awards & Auction, “Celebrating Hometown Heroes”: 5:30 p.m., March 30, Emerald Downs, 2300 Emerald Downs Drive, Auburn. Recognizing outstanding individuals and organizations that have had a positive impact on the community. Silent auction to raise funds for Valley Cities’ housing program. Since 1965, Valley Cities has operated community mental health centers throughout South King County.  To register or learn more, contact Gabriela Sawrey at 253-205-0494 or gsawrey@valleycities.org or visit www.valleycities.org.

Kent Chamber of Commerce President’s Gala & Business Leadership Excellence Awards: 5:30-11 p.m., April 28, ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St., Kent. Theme: Big Band with the Kings of Swing. Awards, dinner, entertainment, live and silent auction, dancing. Full-event tickets: $65 individual, $550 table of eight; dancing only, 9-11 p.m.: $15 general, $10 Arthur Murray students. For more information, call 253-854-1770 or visit www.kentchamber.com.

Seniors

Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E. Smith St. 253-856-5150 or webreg.ci.kent.wa.us. Hours: Monday (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.); Tuesday (8:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Wednesday (8:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Thursday (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.); Friday (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.); Saturday (closed except for special events); Sunday (closed).

Senior activities include:

• Recycled greeting cards: 1-4 p.m. Mondays.

• Wii sessions: 12:30 p.m., Mondays, Fridays.

• Poetry Club: 10:45-11:45 a.m., first and third Fridays.

• Karaoke with Marlene: 10-11:30 a.m., second Fridays.

• Kent Café Karaoke Club Lunchtime Serenade: 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., second Fridays.

• Conversations Club: 1:30-2:30 p.m., second Fridays.

Entertainment

Spotlight Series Performance, soul singer Bettye LaVette: 7:30 p.m., March 10, Kentwood Performing Arts Center, 25800 164th Ave. SE, Covington. LaVette melds elements of country, soul, blues, folk, pop, jazz, gospel and R&B seamlessly. She is a 2011 Grammy nominee for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Tickets: $30 for adults, $28 for seniors (ages 55 and older) and $20 for youth (ages 25 and younger). Tickets are available at www.kentarts.com, by calling 253-856-5051 or at the Kent Commons (525 4th Ave. N.). Hours for phone and in-person sales are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Spotlight Series Performance, Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys: 7:30 p.m., March 21, Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center, 10020 SE 256th St., Kent.  Rescheduled event; the concert was cancelled Jan. 20 because of icy weather. Over Broussard’s 40-year career, he has gained the reputation as one of the greatest accordion players and vocalists to come out of the Creole culture. Broussard sings with emotion and soul, and his instrumental prowess includes range seldom seen in Zydeco. Tickets: $28 general, $26 for seniors ages 55 and older and $20 for youth ages 25 and younger. For tickets, go to www.kentarts.com.

“The Sound of Music”: 7 p.m., March 23, 24, 30, 31; 3 p.m., March 24, 25, 31, Auburn Performing Arts Building, Green River Community College, 12401 SE 320th St., Auburn. Heavier Than Air production. A cast of more than 40 performers and a live band make the all-volunteer group a unique community theatre experience. Cost: $10 per person; group discounts available. To order advance tickets, call 253-833-9111, ext. 2400, during business hours. For more information, visit www.heavierthanair.com.

Maia Santell and House Blend: 6-9 p.m., March 25, HD Hotspurs, 315 W. Valley Highway, Kent. Dance or dine to the swingin’ sounds of Maia Santell and House Blend, performing jazz, blues, Latin, swing, Motown and contemporary favorites. Free. For more information, call 206-226-6162, email Santellswings@comcast.net or visit www.MaiaSantell.com.

Spotlight Series Performance, Sister’s Easter Catechism: 7:30-9:30 p.m., March 30, Kentwood Performing Arts Center, 25800 164th Ave. SE, Covington. Celebrate the Easter Season with Sister as she answers time worn questions like “Who was Mary Magdalene?,” Why isn’t Easter on the same day every year like Christmas?,” and “Will My Bunny Go To Heaven?.” Part pageant, and holy hysterical, this latest of the sinfully funny Late Nite Catechism series unearths the origins of Easter bunnies, Easter eggs, Easter baskets, Easter bonnets, and of course, those yummy Easter Peeps. Bring the whole family, don your bonnet, and join Sister for this new seasonal treat. Tickets: $28 general, $26 senior, $20 youth. Purchase tickets online at kentarts.com or by phone at 253.856.5051. For more information call 253-856-5050.

Spotlight Series Performance, The Brubeck Brothers Quartet: 7:30-9:30 p.m., April 6, Kentwood Performing Arts Center – 25800 164th Avenue SE, Covington. Featuring Daniel Brubeck (drums)and Chris Brubeck (bass and trombone) – both sons of legendary jazz pioneer Dave Brubeck. Guitarist Mike DeMicco and pianist Chuck Lamb complete this dynamic quartet. The group’s creativity, technique and improvisation can be heard in their uncompromising music, which reflects their dedication to melody, rhythm, culture and the spontaneous spirit of jazz. Tickets: $28 general, $26 senior, $20 youth. Purchase tickets online at kentarts.com or phone 253.856.5051. For more information call 253-856-5050.

The Isley Bros & KEM: 8 p.m., April 13, ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St., Kent. KEM and the Grammy-award winning  Isley Brothers play one-night only as the “Smooth Grooves Music Fest.” Reserved seats range from $30 to $85. Tickets on sale at ShoWare Center’s Box Office (with no fees) or online at ShoWareCenter.com, Facebook.com/ShoWareCenter or 253-856-6999.

KSD Tech Expo: 6 p.m., April 24, ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St., Kent.

Barbershop Quartet Singing Competition: 7-9:30 p.m., April 28-29, Lindbloom Student Center, Green River Community College, 12401 SE 320th St., Auburn.  Featuring the top barbershop quartets and choruses in Western Washington. Finals on the second night. Admission: $15. For more information: 206-661-7038 or www.evgdivision2.com.

Galleries

Centennial Center Gallery:  400 West Gowe Street, Kent. Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Closed weekends and holidays. For more information, call 253-856-5050 or visit artscommission@kentwa.gov. Artists are selected by a panel during the annual Kent Summer Art Exhibit. Applications are due in March each year.