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Sports | Experienced Krambule, newcomer Carlin lead Kentwood gymnasts [9]
Friday, DECEMber 28, 2012
Council approves state, federal lobbyist contracts
PERSON OF THE YEAR
By Steve Hunter shunter@kentreporter.com
The Kent City Council renewed contracts for state and federal lobbyists who play a large role to help bring funds to the city. The council approved an one-year contract on Dec. 11 for $66,000 with Outcomes by Levy to lobby the state Legislature. The council also approved a one-year contract for $56,000 with the firm Van Ness Feldman to work as a federal lobbyist. Doug Levy, who runs Out-
Kent’s Bill Westcott, a pilot for Alaska Airlines, fulfills many roles as a community leader and volunteer who makes a difference in the lives of others. steve hunter, Kent Reporter
By Steve Hunter shunter@kentreporter.com
B
ill Westcott covers a lot of ground as a pilot for Alaska Airlines. He might cover even more ground as a Kent community leader and volunteer.
When Westcott flies across the country, he takes an extra backpack filled with Kent Cornucopia Days information in the final weeks of preparation before the large street fair held downtown each July. He also uses his cellphone during layovers to handle the many details required to run the festival as well as the Kent Farmers
CASA seeks volunteers By TRACEY COMPTON tcompton@rentonreporter.com
They represent the voices of children who find themselves in dire situations. In court, they speak for children of drugand alcohol-addicted parents or children
living in volatile living situations. They are court-appointed special advocates, or CASA volunteers, and their program serves about 1,000 kids in the county. But with only 350 active volunteers, there
Market and the Kent Winterfest tree lighting ceremony and Santa parade. While Westcott, 56, didn’t create any of the Kent Lions Club events, he’s helped turn all of them into popular activities for residents and their families. He has chaired Cornucopia Days since 1993, Winterfest since 2000 and the Farmers Market since 2008. [ more WESTCOTT page 4 ]
Kent Reporter
Toys for Joy drive helps more than 2,000 families BY MARK KLAAS mklaas@kentreporter.com
is a great need to serve even more children. CASA will recruit volunteers at an open house Friday in Seattle, hosted by the King County Superior Court, Family Law CASA and Washington State CASA. If accepted to the program, new volunteers will get training on Jan. 18,
also in Seattle. The CASA Recruitment Party is from 4-7 p.m., at the 2100 Building, 2100 24th Ave. S., Seattle. For information on the program, visit www. kingcounty.gov/courts/ JuvenileCourt/depcasa. aspx.
more story online… kentreporter.com
[ more CONTRACTS page 3 ]
Special delivery: Kent firefighter Caitlin Corey was busy handing out sacks of toys to children and families waiting in the line at the food bank. MARK KLAAS,
A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS Versatile Westcott dedicated to making community better
comes by Levy, has worked as a contract lobbyist in Olympia for Kent since 2000. He also contracts as a lobbyist for five other cities. In 2011, Levy had a $66,000 contract with Kent. His other contracts included Everett at $66,000; Redmond, $61,200; Federal Way, $52,800; and Renton at $51,000, according to the Washington Public Disclosure Commission. He also had contracts for $27,800 with the Washington Recreation and Parks Association and for $17,000 with the Recreational
The line stretched beyond the block, bending the corner of West Harrison and Fourth Avenue North. Kids, families, mothers and grandparents stood in orderly fashion on the frost-glazed sidewalk on a chilly morning, waiting patiently for their chance to take home a bundle of toys. Kent indeed brings Christmas to those in need.
“It’s great to be a part of this program. I think we do a lot of good,” said Justin Schauer, a Kent Fire Department firefighter and event leader who joined the volunteer effort last Friday in the massive toy distribution at the Kent Food Bank. “It’s rewarding to get to see the way the public responds to needs in their community. We get such great support from the community. It’s really fun to see the community come together.” [ more DRIVE page 2 ]