South King County residents and businesses should support the ShoWare Center by attending events there. This remarkable facility, completed in 2009, was jointly envisioned and funded by the Seattle Thunderbird Hockey Team and the city of Kent. With additional funding provided by the Washington State Legislature, this venue provides comprehensive entertainment services for the South Sound area.
The Seattle Thunderbirds have made ShoWare Center their nest. Their administrative offices and training facilities are located here. They have signed a long-term lease, so hockey will be the mainstay of the center for many years. In addition, traveling performances like the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the Harlem Globetrotters, Cirque Sublime and The Pink Floyd Experience are scheduled throughout the year.
Since the facility is a community-sponsored building, many local activities take place there as well. Some of these include: high school graduations, technology expositions and hoop-shoot competitions; business trade shows, catered receptions and Predator football games. Any local organization is able to lease space in the building, if it is available.
Why do we need to involve ourselves in the event held by the ShoWare Center?
• First, we used tax money to build the structure. We need to fully utilize the facility to justify the expense.
• Second, the venue provides opportunities for us to participate in community programs, thereby strengthening our ties with our fellow Kent citizens. The more we socialize with each other, the easier it is for us to communicate, thus allowing us to reach consensus on civic issues.
• Finally, families who spend wholesome time together develop strong bonds. Teenagers and young adults have local activities that they can enjoy, so they don’t have to travel long distances. This reduces the risk of car accidents, assaults, kidnappings and other unpleasant possibilities.
It is essential that we, as the residents of South King County, encourage each other to utilize the services and involve ourselves in the entertainments and educational activities provided by the ShoWare Center. We should take pride in having a building of this quality in our community.
Fatima Malik, age 13
Kent
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