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Friday, March 9, 2012
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
Mayor says sandbags coming down By Steve Hunter shunter@kentreporter.com
The giant sandbags along the Green River trail in Kent are coming down. That’s one of the messages Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke delivered during her seventh annual State of the City address Wednesday at
the Kent Chamber of Commerce monthly membership luncheon at the ShoWare Center. “We know the giant sandbags will come down this summer,” she said. Cooke admitted, however, that the city still needs to figure out how it’s going to pay for the estimated $3 million project to
Now hear this: Mayor Suzette Cooke delivers her State of the City address Wednesday at the ShoWare Center. STEVE HUNTER,
remove the sandbags. “We can all celebrate that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced it can operate (the) Howard Hanson (Dam) at full capacity,” she said. “But we do have work to do to find $3 million to take the sandbags down and open [ more MAYOR page 4 ]
Kent Reporter
A CHANGE OF
HEART, BY DESIGN Marlatt finds fulfillment with fashion work By Sarah Kehoe skehoe@kentreporter.com
Earning her stripes
more story, photos online… kentreporter.com
Joanna Jimenez, a sixth-grader at Emerald Park Elementary School, gets her face painted by Jasmeen Kaur, 14, an eighth-grader at Meridian Middle School, during the 25th annual Kent Kids’ Arts Day last Saturday at Kent Commons. The Kent Parks, Recreation & Community Services celebrates March as National Youth Arts Month by bringing kids, creativity and diversity to the community at the day-long festival. The event featured hands-on art projects led by professional artists for kids ages 4 to 14. DENNIS BOX, Kent Reporter
Cindy Marlatt woke up one day and decided it wasn’t too late to go for her dreams. The 59-year-old Kent woman owned a funeral home with her husband and had two children, but felt something was missing. “I had this wonderful life, but I just didn’t feel fulfilled,” Marlatt said. “I have sewn all my life and thought now was the time to try and design clothes. I needed a creative break. I’d been a funeral director nonstop for 23 years and it was time to be bold.” Marlatt enrolled at the Art Institute of Seattle for fashion design. She’s been in the program for almost three years now and showed nine of her designs at the school’s fashion show on March 8. “The theme for my clothing set is office to evening,” Mar-
Second career: Kent’s Cindy Marlatt, a former funeral director, has found creative life as a fashion designer. COURTESY PHOTO latt said. “Going to work in comfort is my main focus. [ more DESIGNER page 5 ]
City looks into tree-cutting case By Steve Hunter shunter@kentreporter.com
The city of Kent is negotiating with three West Hill property owners about how to settle the illegal topping of nearly three dozen tall trees last fall on city property.
“We’re working with the three owners to resolve the matter,” said Tami Perdue, city chief prosecuting attorney, during a phone interview Monday. “We have a process we are going through.” The city property is along a steep slope near [ more CASE page 4 ]
The city of Kent is negotiating with West Hill property owners about how to settle the illegal topping of trees last fall on city property. Courtesy photo