By Don DinAlpha XR
For the Kent Reporter
Life is great in Kent. We have everything that we need in this growing town of ours for a successful future.
In the past I have complimented our police department. They are conscientious, friendly and helpful. That still is the case.
Our police chief, Ken Thomas, is a superb example of what a leader in such an organization should be. The chief is locally grown and truly cares for the people he serves.
When I was in Seoul, Korea a few years ago, I noticed how all of the police cars had their lights flashing all of the time. I asked a Korean police officer what the purpose of the continued flashing was and he told me, a little snippy, unlike American police, the Seoul Police “protect and serve,” just like it says on the door of their squad cars. He said that they want the people to know where they are, all the time, in case someone needs them.
That is an interesting concept, but our officers seem to be everywhere, all the time, with a knack for being where they are needed, without the lighted distraction.
Our mayor, Suzette Cooke, is everywhere all the time as well. I think she has cut more ribbons for opening businesses and other occasions than all of the other mayors, nationwide. To lead a growing city, as ours is, has got to be an excruciating job to begin with, but she does it very well.
She also is seen at every program that some officials would only attend when it was time to run for office. I watched her at the Kent Chamber Business Expo recently as she just wandered and shopped like she really cared about the people she serves, without fanfare just friendfare.
Our town is a city of diverseness to the extreme and still growing. That is a careful way of saying, we are all kinds of people all over the city and multiplying. I just love it.
At 18, I joined the Navy because I just wanted to see the world, and I did. I stayed as long as they would let me and saw more lands in person than I have since seen on TV.
My travel time is over, but I now can go to many places in Kent and get the same feeling that I did around the world for years. I enter one of the many shopping areas, or walking and strolling locations or the city fountain in downtown and close my eyes, open them quick, and I’m young and overseas, again. It’s wonderful. Well, maybe not young.
And what is also wonderful is the way people treat each other in Kent. Diversity is accepted, feelings are considered and Kent’s people just seem to want to work and play together.
When I was in Thailand I was photographing a golf tournament and had noticed that everywhere in the country the Thai people smiled and were friendly and were very helpful wherever I went. I ask my guide about it and she said that Thailand is known as the “Land that Smiles.” She said that actually 85 percent of the people smile and they are actively working to remove the 15-percent grouches.
I know all of the members of the Kent City Council by photographing them at events like the Cornucopia Parade and other affairs over the years. I can say that they are the best of people who work pretty well together, and we are lucky to have them.
I know that this may sound like a rooting section for various organizations and individuals in our town, but in truth, we are a great city. I think a bit of the reason is we have chosen leaders who reflect our desires and act upon them.
Kent, the city that smiles, and I live here.
Don DinAlpha XR contributes to the Kent Reporter.
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