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Inside | Diehard 12s flock to Hawktoberfest [16]
Inside | Senior resource guide, special section
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2015
Light rail station to go up east of Pacific Highway BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
When light rail comes to Kent’s West Hill in eight years or so, Sound Transit proposes to build an elevated station near 30th Avenue South on the east side of
Pacific Highway South. Sound Transit staff, along with key stakeholders, including representatives from the cities of Kent and Des Moines, recommended on Oct. 22 to the agency’s Board of Directors that 30th Avenue
opportunity here,” said Ben Wolters, city of Kent economic and community development director, to the board. “This is game changing….We are going to create a new community in an area in need of investment.”
South should be the preferred location rather than a station on the west side of Pacific Highway closer to Highline College. The station would be just south of Kent-Des Moines Road. “We’re very excited about the
The board directed staff in July to work with stakeholders about a best location for a station in Kent. The board picked a west side of Interstate 5 alignment in July [ more LIGHT RAIL page 5 ]
B&O tax to pay for James Street repavement BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
Patch work
Izzy McDonough, 7, collects her pumpkins during a family visit to the sun-splashed Carpinito Brothers U-Pick Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze off West Valley Highway in Kent last week. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter
Program puts special people to work BY MARK KLAAS mklaas@kentreporter.com
She’s a bundle of energy on a mission to deliver drinks, clear tables and clean windows. Betty, to the regulars. The job is challenging, sometimes overwhelming, but it is ev-
erything to the 66-year-old Auburn woman. “I like being friendly to the visitors, picking their things up,” said Betty Ugland, taking a break from her shift at Panera Bread at Kent Station, her part-time job for the past seven years. “I’m doing well here … they want me to stay.”
Ugland is one of the many men and women who have found hope, purpose and a steady job with the help of Trillium Employment Services, a nonprofit organization that’s committed to integrating people with intellectual disabilities [ more TRILLIUM page 4 ]
With DJ/Karaoke host.
Accommodations are available for 20 - 130 people.
AVAILABLE
[ more REPAIRS page 4 ]
Busy at work: For seven years, Auburn’s Betty Ugland has been a part of the Panera Bread staff. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter
GOLDEN STEER CAN THROW YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY! PRIVATE PARTIES HOLIDAY BANQUETS: AVAILABLE GIFT CARDS IN THE LOUNGE!
Kent drivers late next year will have a much smoother ride up and down the James Street hill once crews finish a $1.7 million project to repave the road. Crews will repave all lanes along James Street, also known as South 240th Street, between Central Avenue and 94th Avenue South as part of the $4.6 million raised each year for street repairs from the business and occupation (B&O) tax. The City Council approved the B&O street project list at its Oct. 20 meeting. The council also approved $2.4 million in residential street repair projects paid for by an increase this year in the solid waste (garbage) utility tax paid by customers. The tax rate on each bill jumped to 18.3 percent from 7.8 percent. “We will do a full asphalt overlay after landscaping
23826 104th Ave. SE Kent Suzanne & Jim Berrios, Owners
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