Briefly

Memorial service set for O’Brien

Residents are invited to a memorial service for Kent City Councilman Bob O’Brien at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Holy Spirit Parish, 310 Third Ave. S., in downtown Kent.

After the service, a public reception will run 1-3 p.m. at the Kent Senior Center, 600 E. Smith St. A graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Friday, May 9 at the Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 S.E. 240th St.

O’Brien, in his third year on the Council, died April 30 after a long battle with cancer. He was 76.

Voters elected O’Brien, who lived on Scenic Hill, in 2005 to begin a four-year term that expired at the end of 2009. A Kent resident for more than 30 years, O’Brien also served on the city Public Safety and the Planning and Economic Development committees.

He previously served as chair of the Kent Kiwanis Club and the Kent Youth Soccer Association. He retired after 30 years in the logistics business. He earned a masters of business administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Survivors include his wife, Dagmar, and three children.

Parks Department receives awards

The City of Kent Parks Department received the Spotlight Award for Best Special Use facility for its Arbor Heights 360 skate park from the Washington Recreation and Parks Association.

The Arbor Heights 360 park along Southeast 240th Street on the East Hill includes a skate park with a full circular pipe as well as a 39-foot climbing pinnacle, practice boulder, children’s climbing boulders, a walking trail, raised garden beds, benches, restroom, picnic tables and parking. When park users get to the top of the climbing pinnacle, they are at the highest part of the City of Kent.

City Parks Director Jeff Watling received the Spotlight award for the Arbor Heights 360 park at the Washington Recreation and Parks Association conference April 24 at Kennewick.

City Parks Superintendent Lori Flemm received a Citation of Merit from the state association at the conference to recognize her 23 years of public service.

Flemm has worked 11 years for the city of Kent.

She has overseen the development of 10 new parks in Kent and the renovation of five parks.

for story time

Author Suzanne Williams will read from her new “Fairy Blossoms” series during a story time at 1 p.m. May 17 at Children’s Bookshop, 225 W. Meeker St., Kent. The event is free. For details, call 253-952-0383 or visit www.childrensbookshoponline.com.

Library slates kids’ rock music

Kent Regional Library will play host to a music event with all-teacher rock band Recess Monkeys at 3 p.m. May 17.

Children of all ages are invited to join in the free event, titled “Rhyme Time!”

The library is located at 212 Second Ave. N.

For details, call 253-859-3330 or visit www.kcls.org.