The Kent Downtown Partnership last week gave out its “Community Stars” award to three local citizens who have contributed their time, energy and resources into developing and promoting downtown Kent.
“It’s an opportunity to thank those who gave so much,” said KDP Executive Director Jacquie Alexander.
This group of awards, which are given three times a year, went to Jesse and Kirstin Torres of Goju Karate Center, Dea Drake from the city of Kent and Greg Bartol of Studio B Custom Design.
Bartol is an artist who works in metal, and who has created projects for a number of stores along First Avenue, including the sign at Earthworks Gem Design as well as window boxes at Wild Wheat, among others.
This year, Bartol created for the KDP a series of signposts for the Spring into Art festival as well as the current sculptures and posts advertising the “Wine, Women, Wow!” event.
Bartol said he took each event as inspiration for the posts, which can be used again next year in anticipation of each event.
“I think it makes the event that much more personal if it has some art with it,” Bartol said.
“We loved the idea,” said Alexander of Bartol’s stands, adding that she was “flabbergasted” when she saw the finished products for the first time.
“We’re probably the only downtown that has such a thing!” she said.
The Torreses chaired this year’s Spring into Art event in March. Their work included gathering the entertainment, which featured everything from demonstrations by Goju as well as Polynesian Fire Dancers, Rock Bank, a home-school choir and the Bug Chef.
More than 700 attended the annual event, according to the KDP.
“It quickly became a very exciting event,” Alexander said of the Torreses’ involvement. “They gave lots and lots of time to it.
“They just brought us a brand-new Spring into Art,” she said.
Jesse Torres said he and his wife enjoy promoting their city.
“We like Kent,” he said. “We like where we live and we love the downtown area.”
Jesse Torres said the award was unexpected, but a nice honor and that they would continue to be involved.
“We’re very grateful. We certainly don’t do anything we do for accolades, but it’s certainly nice to be recognized,” he said, adding, “If regular people don’t get involved, then a community can turn sour and we don’t want to see that.”
Also receiving an award this year was Drake, the city’s multi-media manager. Drake was honored for loading the city’s sound system for KDP’s after-hours events and breakfast meetings.
“The downtown is important for the city,” she said, adding that she likes Alexander and everything the KDP does.
“It made me feel good,” Drake said about getting the award, which as in all the cases, was unexpected.
Alexander said it was Drake’s kindness in helping out with the sound system as well as printing for the KDP’s newsletter, that led to her award.
“Nothing would be happening if these people weren’t on board and making things happen,” Alexander said of the winners.
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