Kent Reporter, January 03, 2014

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Sports | Under new coaches, Falcons take flight [8]

Friday, January 3, 2014

Medical marijuana operator applies for recreational pot license

2013 PERSON OF THE YEAR

BRINGING

IT BACK TO KENT

By Steve Hunter shunter@kentreporter.com

The operator of a medical marijuana collective garden in Kent has applied for a state license to sell recreational marijuana at the same location. Deryck Tsang, who runs Herbal Choice Caregivers at a North Kent strip mall, is one of the latest of three more Kent applicants who hope to get recreational marijuana business licenses from the state Liquor Control Board, bringing the total number of applicants up to 21 in the city. Tsang has run a medical marijuana collective garden

Under Heinisch, KYFS makes impact on the lives of many BY MARK KLAAS mklaas@kentreporter.com

T

he challenges are great, the opportunity to help others even more significant today. Mike Heinisch knows as much. As the leader of the Kent Youth and Family Services (KYFS), Heinisch understands the call and responsibility to help the disadvantaged. The nonprofit organization, a vital cog in the community’s human and social services wheel, has reached out and touched so many people. “What’s particularly rewarding is we change people’s lives,” said Heinisch, 60, KYFS’ executive director since 1999 and the Kent Reporter’s 2013 Person of the Year. “We change for the better children and families’ lives on a daily basis here in Kent. “Kids and families … have had

Michael Heinisch has worked wonders at Kent Youth and Family Services for 14 years, improving the quality and availability of programs. MARK KLAAS, their lives changed in a positive way so they can contribute to the community, so they can be successful in school, so their kids can grow up and contribute to the community,” Heinisch said. “Ultimately, that’s what we want for all of our kids.”

[ more operator page 2 ]

Court date continued for City Councilman-elect Sharp Kent Reporter

For more than 41 years, KYFS has provided professional counseling, education and support services to children, youth and their families by developing innovative programs in culturally [ more HEINISCH page 7 ]

in Kent since 2011. He has fought the city in King County Superior Court and state courts to stay open. The city of Kent bans medical and recreational marijuana businesses. City officials plan to change land use codes in 2014 in order to have a permanent ban against marijuana businesses rather than an ordinance with a six-month ban. Other new Kent applicants on the list posted Dec. 24 by the liquor board include Heaven Bound 420 Cannabis Boutique, 1734 Central Ave. S., for a retail store; and Indoor Organics, LLC,

By Steve Hunter shunter@kentreporter.com

The King County Superior Court hearing for Kent City Councilman-elect Ken Sharp on his first-degree theft charge has been continued to Jan. 13. Sharp, 66, will take his

oath of office Jan. 7 at the first council meeting of 2014 as he begins a fouryear term after winning the November election. “We’re still reviewing the discovery we’ve received and the prosecutor [ more SHARP page 7 ]

Playing on in pursuit of his dream K-M senior auditions at Berklee, eyes career as a composer BY ROSS COYLE rcoyle@kentreporter.com

Sporting a suit with a bright red shirt, Arries McQuarter stands out from his peers at Kent-Meridian High School. He says he wears suits for a number of reasons, one of

which is to look the part of a piano player. If he can look the part, he can certainly play the part. McQuarter recently returned from an audition for the Berklee College of Music in Boston, a prestigious conservatory that accepted

only 19 percent of its 2012 applicants. The school set McQuarter up with an audition two days after he applied. He’ll be the first person in his family to attend a four-year university if he is accepted. [ more PIANIST page 2 ]

Arries McQuarter taught himself piano when he was in seventh grade, and may apply his talents to get into the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he plans to study composition. ROSS COYLE, Kent Reporter


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