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INSIDE | Kentridge cast presents ‘Legally Blonde’ [9] Sports |
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Playoff scramble begins for SPSL baseball teams [14]
School board follows a great plan [6]
FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2012
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
Kent snags international figure skating competition BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
Kent is expected to be named Friday as the host city for the 2012 Skate America international
from around the world to the cityowned arena that opened in 2009. Gov. Chris Gregoire, King County Executive Dow Constantine and Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke were scheduled to help
competition that will feature 52 world-class figure skaters in men’s, ladies, pairs and ice dancing. The Olympic-style competition scheduled for Oct. 19-21 at the ShoWare Center will draw visitors
make the official announcement Friday morning at a media conference at the ShoWare Center. Skate America is part of the International Skating Union’s Grand Prix Series, now in its 18th
season, that consists of six international events. Skaters are eligible to compete in two of the six events to earn points to advance [ more SKATING page 4 ]
Paid parking could be coming to ShoWare Center BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
Planting party Brendan Ryu, 4, and his mom, June Oh, take a piece of cardboard to surround a newly planted tree during the annual Kent Parks Arbor Day event at West Fenwick Park last Saturday. More than 70 volunteers, including 30 from Highline Community College, took part in the work party, a Green Kent Partnership event. CHARLES CORTES, Kent Reporter
Paid parking might replace free parking at Kent’s ShoWare Center in an effort to raise additional revenue at the moneylosing arena. “We’re looking at that,” said Ben Wolters, city economic and community development director, who helps oversee arena operations. Wolters is spearheading a committee to look at ways to raise revenue at the 3-year-old arena that has lost more than $1.3 million since it opened in 2009. The city-owned arena lost another $12,389 the first three months of 2012. No decision about how much to possibly charge has been decided, but Wolters knows
the elimination of free parking could cause a backlash. “One of our key selling features is free parking which is unlike many other facilities and that has helped to grow interest in this building, especially during the recession,” Wolters said. But with losses of $457,480 in 2011, $398,013 in 2010 and $451,723 in 2009 at the center, changes are under consideration. “We discussed a number of possible ideas but I’m not ready to talk about (all of) those yet,” Wolters said. “If we take these steps, we need to look at what additional revenue might be created and confirm that. We also need to understand what if any ramifications it might have [ more PARKING page 4 ]
ACCELERATING EARLY LEARNING Program engages, challenges young minds BY ROBERT WHALE rwhale@auburn-reporter.com
All is fierce concentration on the face of 4-year-old Lily Wrubelski, seated at a computer terminal alongside her father Brandon,
matching yips and yaps, squeaks and howls, mewling and woofing she hears to the animals she’s seeing on the screen. For Lily and other children on the evening of April 26 at Au-
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Pet
burn’s Arthur Jacobsen Elementary, it was all about fun. Little did Lily and all the other kids there know it was all coming courtesy of a grant from the Washington State Department of Early Learning, making
[ more LEARNING page 5 ]
Lily Wrubelski, 4, matches critter sounds to critters at the Accelerating Young Minds event at Arthur Jacobsen Elementary School on Lea Hill. Looking on is her father, Brandon. ROBERT WHALE, Reporter
Now in Progress! Voting starts Thurs. May 3 ontest PRIZES for 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place C
Go to: KentReporter.com Click on ““Contests” and enter!
Sponsor
Winners published Sat. May 19 in the People & Pets 10am - 5pm GAME FARM PARK Section May 18