Mayor Dana Ralph opened the weekly update by thanking military veterans and their families and wishing the community a happy Veterans Day.

"I want to say happy Veterans Day," Mayor Dana Ralph said, adding thanks to veterans and family members "because while our vets were off serving, our families were holding down the home front."

Ralph also thanked residents who returned ballots and directed listeners to King County Elections for the latest results.

The mayor recapped recent community events and announced several upcoming opportunities:

- City Hall food drive: City Hall will accept nonperishable food donations in the lobby Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; the drive runs through Tuesday, Dec. 2. Ralph described the drive as a response to neighbors who struggle with food access during the holidays.

- Show walk back (indoor walking): The city has launched indoor walking sessions at ShowWare Center on Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m.–11 a.m., to provide safe exercise during rainy weather.

- Speaker series: The Race and Equity team is hosting a speaker event on Nov. 12 featuring local chef Christina Eric Asami, described in the update as "the spice merchant's daughter." Tickets are free and the mayor said a link will be available in the city newsletter for those who cannot attend in person.

- Green Kent volunteer day: The final Green Kent work party of the season is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 15, 9 a.m.–12 p.m., at Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks Park; volunteers will remove invasive species and assist with planting. Sign-up information is available at mykentparks.com/greenkent.

The mayor also noted community policing outreach at a recent Hops with Cops event at Riverbend Bar and Grill and thanked partners at Kent Station for Kent’s participation in Haunted Boulevard, which went ahead despite heavy rain. No policy changes or funding decisions were announced in the update.