Kent-area community calendar | May 29

Events

American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Kent: 6 p.m., May 30, continues May 31, Kent-Meridian High School’s French Field. Community comes together to celebrate those who have survived cancer, support those who are fighting it, and remember those who have been lost. Visit www.RFLKent.org for additional information and team registration. Follow the relay at www.Facebook.com/RFLKent.

Sixth annual Kent International Festival: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. May 31, ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St., Kent. “Learn from Each Other” is a celebration of cultural diversity. Generations walking together, ethnic food, cultural and crafts booth, cheer hand carried float contest and new festival finale in the evening. Free admission. For more information, visit www.kentinternationalfestival.com.

Highline Community College Portfolio Show: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 2; 5-8 p.m. June 3, Mount Constance and Mount Olympus rooms of Building 8 on campus, 2400 S. 240th St., Des Moines. Featuring the work of graduating students from the Fine Art, Visual Communications (Graphic Design), Interior Design, Drafting Design and Photography departments. Public is invited to view and celebrate the work and achievements of graduating students. For more information, visit hccportfolios.highline.edu.

Community awareness meeting: 7 p.m. June 5, Totem Middle School, 26630 40th Ave. S., Kent. Kent Police Department invites the public. The goal is to provide residents with more information to make their neighborhoods safer. Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas and agency administrators will be present to answer questions about department operations and community safety concerns. Members of the department’s Neighborhood Response Team and the department’s Community Education unit will be present to answer questions and take input regarding specific issues or concerns within the community. There will even be a special presentation hosted by SWAT members. Additional information can be found at www.kentwa.gov/police or on its Facebook page. 

Kent Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, June 7 through Sept. 27, Town Square Plaza Park, corner of Second and Smith. Kent Lions community service project. Vendors offering a variety of fresh locally grown farm-based foods, hand-crafted items, live entertainment and more. Free admission. Information: 253-486-9316, www.kentfarmersmarket.com.

Third annual Juneteenth celebration: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. June 21, Morrill Meadows Park, 10600 SE 248th St., Kent,. Community-wide event features programs, information, vendors, food, entertainment and speakers while commemorating African American freedom and emphasizing education and achievement. Free and open to the public. To learn more, call 253-852-0614 or visit www.kentblackactioncommission.com.

Nordic Fest: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. June 21, Messiah Lutheran Church, 805 Fourth St. NE, Auburn. Sponsored by Vesterdalen Lodge of South King County Sons of Norway Lodge 2-131. Vendors, food and craft demonstrations, bake sale, lunch samples, cultural displays, children’s corner. Lunch available for purchase. Lodge meetings are held the first Mondays of each month at 6 p.m. except for July and August at the church. Anyone interested in Scandinavian heritage is welcome. For more details visit our website at www.vesterdalen.org.

Benefits

St. George International Food Fair: 1-8 p.m. June 7, Maple Valley Community Center, 22010 SE 248th St. Sponsored by St. George Episcopal Church. Admission $10 adults, $20 family. For more information, call 425-432-5481, email admin@saintgeorgemv.org or visit midd.me/LSTQ

Health

Cascade Regional Blood Center drives:  For more information, call 1-877-242-5663 or visit www.crbs.net/home.

Puget Sound Blood Center drives:  For more information, call 253-945-8667 or please visit www.psbc.org.

TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly): 6 p.m., Thursdays, Swanson Court Clubhouse, 12200 SE 207th St., Kent, near Kentridge High School. Nonprofit weight loss support group. For more information, call 253-709-5098 or visit www.tops.org or www.whywelovetops.com.

Southeast King County Parkinson’s Disease support group: Meets on the third Tuesday of the month, 10:30 a.m., St. John The Baptist Catholic Church, 25810 156th Ave. SE,Covington. Group’s monthly lunches are on the first Tuesday of the month at the Auburn Senior Activity Center, 808 Ninth St. SE, Auburn. For more information, contact Stephanie Lawson at 206-579-5206.

Gamblers Anonymous: For meeting times and locations, call toll free the Gamblers Anonymous Hotline 1-855-222-5542. Visit www.gawashington.org or www.gamblersanonymous.org for additional information.

Faith

“Life Is Good”:  11:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m. June 18. Golden Steer Restaurant, 23826 104th Ave. SE, Kent. Monthly luncheon sponsored by Stonecroft Christian Women’s Connection. Enjoy the food, an uplifting program and the opportunity to meet new friends. Free child care available by reservation. Cost: $16.50. Information: 425-235-1047.

“Snap, Crackle and Pop”: 11:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m. July 16, Golden Steer Restaurant, 23826 104th Ave. SE, Kent. Monthly luncheon sponsored by Stonecroft Christian Women’s Connection. Enjoy the food, an uplifting program and the opportunity to meet new friends. Free child care available by reservation. Cost: $16.50. Information: 425-235-1047.

Volunteers

14th annual National Trails Day: 9 a.m.-noon, June 7, Old Fishing Hole, 24945 Frager Road S., Kent. Each year residents help build and maintain 26-plus miles of trails. This year, volunteers are needed to create a new trail at the Old Fishing Hole. Volunteers should dress for the weather (no sandals or flip-flops) and bring a shovel and work gloves if they have them (tools are limited). Republic Services donating a yard-waste dumpster. Starbucks providing coffee and hot chocolate. Water will also be available. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own water containers and refill from our cooler to reduce waste in our landfills. Volunteers are asked to register by noon June 4: www.KentWA.gov/ComeVolunteer.

Camps

Resident Camp at Waskowitz informational meetings: 6:30-7:30 p.m. June 11, July 9, Kent Commons, 525 4th Avenue N. Opportunity for parents and campers to meet the camp director and staff. Kent is one of the few cities to offer a summer resident camp for boys and girls entering the fifth, sixth or seventh grade this fall. The Aug. 4-8 camp, now in its 35th year, offers a wide spectrum of activities and professional management. Eighty-five percent of the camp counselors return. The camp, at the base of Mount Si in the Cascade foothills, is four miles east of North Bend. It is nestled in the woods on 360 acres of land. Cost for the camp is $320, which includes transportation, cabin accommodations, supervision and all meals, field trip and camp shirt. Scholarship monies are available for Kent residents on free-and-reduced lunches. For more information or to register, please call 253-856-5030 or visit www.kentwa.gov.

Clubs, programs

Finding a Life of Purpose Explored: 7 p.m. Mondays, Lifetree Café, Community Room, First Christian Church, 11717 240th St. SE, Kent. For questions about Lifetree may be directed to Bob Brooks at 206-653-6532 or pastorbob@kentdisciples.org. More information is available at Lifetreecafe.com.

Community garden p-patch: Season runs April 1-Oct. 26, corner of James Street and 64th Avenue South. Gardeners may rent a 20-by-20-foot plot for the season for $45 plus a refundable $25 deposit. There are 44 plots available, assigned on a first-come, first-served basis once the rental fee has been paid. Returning gardeners are allowed a maximum of two plots per household. Open registration. For more information, call 253-856-5110.

Kent Black Action Commission Action Up Meeting: 3-6 p.m., every fourth Saturday from September through June. November and December meetings are on the third Saturday, Kent Commons, 525 Fourth Ave. N. Welcome all who live, work, or attend school in Kent or the South King County region to join us. For more information, call 253-852-0614 or visit www.kentblackactioncommission.com.

Kent Evening Toastmasters: 7 p.m., Wednesdays, The Lodge, Arbor Village Retirement Center, 24004 114th Place SE, Kent. Are you interested in practicing and improving your public speaking skills? Boosting your self-confidence? Making yourself heard in that weekly meeting at work? Come practice your oratory skills with a friendly and informative group of people. With members ranging from beginners to experts, Kent Evening Toastmasters welcomes people of all skill levels. For more information, visit www.kenteveningtoastmasters.net.

Leadership seminars, workshops: Noon-2 p.m. Saturdays, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Room 1, 310 3rd Ave. S., Kent. Parents encouraged to attend and participate with their children. Topics to be discussed: leadership; advocacy within the school system; college readiness; job readiness, preparation skills; community service; public speaking and presentation skills; accounting class; robotics; mathematics, reading and writing. Free. If you have any questions, please call the parish office at 253-859-0444, ext. 14, or Antonio M. Morales at 915-252-7874. Fore more information, email moralesantoniom@gmail.com.

Autism Support Group: 6:30-8:30 p.m., second Wednesday of the month, Kent Covenant Church, main conference room, 12010 SE 240th St. Share resources and encouragement. Childcare available with 72-hour advance reservations by calling Fabiana Steele at 253-631-0222, ext. 325. For more information, visit www.kentcov.org.

NAMI Support Groups: 6:30-8 p.m., every second and fourth Tuesday of the month,  515 W. Harrison St., Kent.  Friends and family support group for family members and friends who are affected by mental illness. Free. For more information, call 253-854-6264 (NAMI)  or email namiskc@qwestoffice.net, or visit www.nami.org.

Valley Mothers of Multiples Club: First Christian Church of Kent, 11717 SE 240th St. Free. Inviting new and established parents/guardians of multiple order children to attend monthly meeting for support, resources and social activities. Club has monthly speakers and group sharing sessions. 425-445-7845. www.valleymomc.org

Network

The Kent Chapter of Business Network, Int’l (BNI): Meets every Wednesday morning at 7 at the Old Country Buffet, 25630 104th SE, Kent.  Chapter is growing.  Currently have 38 members.  Do you want excellent, personal, word of mouth referrals for your business?  Then come join us.  For more information, contact Dr. Allan McCord at 253-854-3040.

Kent Community Foundation annual scholarship awards: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. June 4, ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St. Cost: $20 for Kent Chamber of Commerce members, $25 for non-members, $30 for non-members guests. Sponsored by Kent Youth and Family Services. Call for tickets at 253-854-1770.

Kent Downtown Partnership Auction: 5-9 p.m. June 6, ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St. Ticket: $65- $85. www.showarecenter.com.

Speed Networking: 5-7 p.m. June 19, Meridian Valley Country Club, 24830 136th Ave. SE, Kent. Presented by the Kent Chamber of Commerce. Free to chamber members, $20 for nonmembers. Register at www.kentchamber.com, by calling 253-854-1770 or by email at info@kentchamber.com.

Reunions

Kent-Meridian Class of 1959: 5 p.m. Aug. 15, 16, Hilton Garden Inn, 1800 NW Gilman Blvd., Issaquah. 55th reunion. Events on Friday and Saturday. Contact Reunions Unlimited at 360-866-8842 or www.reunionsunlimited.com for details and to pay.

Kent-Meridian Class of 1984: 6 p.m.-midnight, Aug. 23, Meridian Valley Country Club, 24830 136th Ave. SE. Cost: $40 per person.For payment and more information, visit www.kmclassof1984.com.

Libraries

Kent Public Library: 212 2nd Avenue N., Kent. 253-859-3330. Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday; 1-5 p.m., Sunday. Library events include:

CHILDREN & FAMILIES

Play & Learn: 10:30 a.m. Fridays. Kaleidoscope Play & Learn is an organized play group for newborns to age 5 and their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, nannies, brothers and sisters, and other people who take care of them. Have fun learning together while we play, sing songs and create art.

Spanish Story Time: Noon, June 28. Family program. Ages 2 and older. Please join Miss Xiomara for an interactive Story Time in Spanish that includes Early Literacy fun with books, songs and finger plays. Speakers of all languages welcome.

Kids Movie of the Month: 3:30 p.m. May 30; 2 p.m., June 27. Family program, all ages welcome.

Infant & Young Toddler Story Time:  10:15 a.m. June 26. All ages welcome, ages 5 and younger with adult.Stories, catchy tunes, puppets, finger plays and fun.

Family Story Time: 11 a.m. June 26. Family program, all ages welcome with adult.

Family Pajama Story Time: 7 p.m. June 24. Family program, all ages welcome with adult.

Study Zone: Grades K-12. Drop in for free homework help from trained volunteer tutors. Call the library for current hours.

Early Literacy Parties in Spanish: 6:30 p.m. May 29, June 5. Series of free workshops in Spanish for families to learn about Early Literacy and how to prepare their children for Kindergarten. www.kcls.org/fiestas/

Counteract the ‘Summer Learning Slide’ at the library: Kids and teens who spend their summer reading and learning, come back in the fall better prepared for school than those who don’t – so KCLS created a new summer learning program called Thinkology: The Study of Fun. Build robots, do hands-on science projects, learn magic, create puppets and, of course, read. For details, visit any KCLS library or kcls.org/kids/summer.

Gravity Catastrophe Show: 10:15 a.m. June 21. Presented by Alex Zerbe, the Professional Zaniac. Family program, all ages welcome with adult. Did you know you can demonstrate basic concepts of physics through the art of juggling? Learn about gravity, friction, center of mass and gyroscopic stability while being amazed by the skills of Alex. Kick-off Summer Learning 2014 with ice cream treats provided by the Friends of the Kent Library.

Octopuses-Eight Times the Fun: 3:30 p.m. June 25. Ages 5 to 12 with adult. What has three hearts, blue blood and eight arms? The giant Pacific octopus, a species that lives right here in Puget Sound. Learn about the behavior, adaptations and anatomy of this amazing underwater neighbor. Registration required.

TEENS

Teen Zone, Game On: 3:30 p.m. June 3. Play video games at the library.

Teen Zone: Manga Club: 3:30 p.m. June 10. New topics and activities each month

Teen Zone, Writers Club: 3:30 p.m. June 17. Monthly meeting to share inspiration, fun exercises and creative work time.

Teen Zone, Movie Time: 3:30 p.m. June 24. Call the library to find out what’s showing.

ADULTS

Computer Class: For a list of classes and to register for a class please call the library, 253-859-3330.

English as a Second Language (ESL): 6 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. No class on May 26. A formal class to learn English grammar, reading, writing and conversation skills.

Talk Time: 5 p.m. Tuesdays. Improve your speaking and listening skills in this English conversation group.

Citizenship Class: 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Get help with the citizenship interview process, including civics and government questions, reading and writing English and practicing your interview skills.

Drop-In to Learn about eBooks: 10 a.m. May 31, June 21, 28; 7 p.m. May 29, June 19, 26. Library staff are here to get you started with KCLS eBooks. Bring your eReader, tablet, phone or just your questions.

After Lunch Book Bunch: 1 p.m. June 11. “The Night Guest” by Fiona McFarlane.

Friends of the Kent Library Meeting: Noon, June 12

SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives): Free counseling for small businesses. Please call 206-553-7320 for appointments.

Computer Classes: Please register. • One-on-One Assistance, 3 p.m., Wednesdays; • Microsoft Excel Level 1, 7 p.m. June 4; • Introduction to Computers, 7 p.m. June 9; • Internet Level 1, 7 p.m. June 12; • Microsoft Word Level 1, 7 p.m. June 18; • Email Level 1, 7 p.m. June 23.

Start to Fitness, New Ideas about Physical Activity and Weight Management Success: 7 p.m. June 10. Learn the three phases of weight management including prevention of weight gain, weight loss and prevention of weight re-gain. Describe specific new guidelines for types of physical activity that lead to success for each phase.

Entertainment

SHOWARE CENTER

625 W. James St., Kent. 253-856-6777. Order at www.tickets.showarecenter.com. Events include:

Sonu Nigam – Klose to My Soul:  8 p.m. May 30. Sonu Nigam is an Indian singer whose songs have been featured mainly in Hindi and Kannada movies. He has also sung many songs in other languages. Tickets: $39-$500.

Led Zeppelin Experience featuring No Quarter: 8 p.m. June 28. The Led Zeppelin Experience takes you on an audio sensory ride, back to the mid-70s. The show is a combination of theatrical performance and a rock concert. The music is replicated with the accuracy and feel of the original composition. Presented by Lawless Harley-Davidson of Renton. Tickets: $20-$40.

Legends Football League: 8 p.m. July 26, Seattle Mist v. Las Vegas Sin. Tickets: $15-$65.

ELSEWHERE

Rainier Youth Choirs Time & Travel Concert: 3-5 p.m. June 1, First Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 19800 108th Ave. SE, Kent. Three auditioned RYC choirs, grades 4-14, celebrate Korea, Scotland, Zambia, Kenya, South Seas, and more through music with lyrics from the 1500s to 2008. Admission: $12 for adults, $10 for seniors/students if purchased advance; $15/$12 at the door. For more information, call 253-347-0180, email info@rainieryouthchoirs.org or visit www.RainierYouthChoirs.org.

The Frog Prince: 7-9 p.m. June 13, 14, 20; 3 p.m. June 14, 21. Green River Community College, Performing Arts Building, 12401 SE 320th St., Auburn. An hilarious musical theatre take on the classic fairytale. Presented by Heavier Than Air Family Theatre. Tickets: $8 advance, $10 at the door. For more information, call 253-833-9111, ext.2400, or visit www.heavierthanair.com

Bluegrass on the Chancel: 3 p.m. Sept. 21, Kent Lutheran Church, 336 2nd Ave. S. Held in conjunction with the Fall Seattle Guitar Show at Kent Commons. Performers include the Downtown Mountain Boys of Seattle. Tickets on sale at www.brownpapertickets.com. For more information, visit www.downtownmountainboys.com.

Live music: Reds Wine Bar @ Craft Beers, 321 Ramsay Way No. 110 Kent Station, across from the parking lot. Tuesday jazz jam (6-9 p.m.); Thursday bluegrass jam (6-10 p.m.); Saturday rotating local musicians (8-11 p.m.); Sunday open mic (4-7 p.m.). 253-277-1852, www.redswinebar-kent.com.

Theater camp

Heavier Than Air Family Theatre: Five-week camp begins June 23 and runs Monday through Thursday each week, Performing Arts Building, Green River Community College, 12401 SE 320th St., Auburn. For youth ages 3-17. Opportunity to experience the entire musical theatre experience, from the audition process to final performances. Camps culminate in live stage performances complete with costumes, music and choreography. Times, dates and cost vary by age group. For details and a registration form, visit www.heavierthanair.com.

Galleries, studios

Centennial Center Gallery:  400 W. Gowe St., Kent. Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Closed weekends and holidays. For more information, call 253-856-5050 or visit artscommission@kentwa.gov.

Michael Tolleson Savant Art Center: 25524 74th Ave. S., Kent. Art studio and autistic art mentoring center. To learn more about the center and its programs, call 253-850-5995, visit www.MichaelTollesonArtist.com or email michaeltollesonartist@gmail.com. The center also can be found on Facebook.

Museums

Greater Kent Historical Society: 855 E. Smith St., historic Bereiter House, Kent. Hours: noon-4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, and by appointment. Admission: suggested $2 donation; no tickets are required for entrance. Parking is available behind the house off East Temperance Street. GKHS is a nonprofit organization that promotes the discovery, preservation and dissemination of knowledge about the history of the greater Kent area. www.kenthistoricalmuseum.org