Asia Butler, 33, has been determined to provide stability for her five children by furthering her career. After finishing a dental assisting program last year, the Kent, Washington, resident decided to take the next step and complete her prerequisites for dental hygiene.

But years of commitment to her education journey have brought another massive responsibility: figuring out child care for her young kids.

Butler lost her husband in 2022, two years after their family relocated from New Orleans to the Seattle area, where she found few options for full-time day care in Kent. In 2023, she learned about the nonprofit Kent Youth and Family Services through a preschool.

The organization specializes in counseling, education and other support for adolescents and their loved ones. Among its initiatives are early learning and after-school programs, as well as mental health services.

Since Butler and her family became clients of KYFS, the nonprofit has provided them with much more than child care. It has improved her children’s development and built a support system, setting them up for success.

“Each of my kids that have been in the program have needed support in different ways,” Butler said in a phone interview. “They were able to meet them where they were and make sure that they adjusted. Now, it’s like they’re doing great in school. They love it.”

The social service agency is one of the 13 nonprofits supported by reader donations to the Seattle Times Fund for Those in Need. This year, the Times’ annual holiday fundraiser aims to collect $3 million in donations.

‘Our goal is to never turn anybody away’

For 56 years, KYFS has endured as a community pillar.

The organization was founded in 1970 by local residents and parents in the Kent School District, who sought to create more resources, said Ashley Gregory, community engagement and marketing director.

She estimates that, today, the nonprofit – made up of about 120 employees – serves around 2,200 kids annually.

“Our mission is to help people reach their goals for a better future,” Gregory said. “A lot of the ways we’re doing that is by kind of helping with some of these immediate needs, so that kids can focus on learning, focus on their mental well-being and really move into healthier spaces.”

The nonprofit provides mental health care, with counseling available for participants up to 25 years old and their family members in South King County and nearby areas. It is mostly funded through Medicaid, though KYFS uses subsidies, grants and partnerships to ensure people in need can receive those services.

“Our goal is to never turn anybody away,” Gregory said in a phone interview.

The Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Program targets parents and children through 5 years old, while the Perinatal Mental Health Program is for expecting and new parents.

Support groups include the LGBTQ+ youth group, a free drop-in group held weekly. It is the organization’s longest-running group and has needed more support as of late, Gregory said.

An initial area of focus for the organization’s counselors and therapists was serving youths seeking substance abuse disorder treatment, which was then offered at Kent School District schools. It remains one of the largest programs at KYFS, Gregory said.

Now, it includes 26 counselors and 10 interns, with in-school services expanded to Renton and Sumner-Bonney Lake school districts, Executive Director Trista Helvey said. More than 1,100 clients were served over the first three quarters of 2025 through the behavioral health program.

The nonprofit’s substance use disorder counseling is available for youth ages 11 to 24. Clients with mental health and substance use challenges can turn to co-occurring disorders counseling.

Separately, Gregory highlighted the early learning program as the largest initiative at KYFS in terms of staff and the number of children regularly served on a weekly basis. It spans 21 classrooms and six sites.

The initiative incorporates preschool learning for low-income children ages 3 to 5 in the Kent School District, along with family support, such as job placement and rent resources.

But the early learning program is not immune to ongoing macroeconomic squeezes.

While the Head Start Program is federally funded, the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program is state funded. Due to state budget cuts, KYFS was forced to eliminate 40 spots from its early learning program this school year, Gregory said.

Still, “we’re helping fill voids and create just safer communities – for not just the kids that we’re serving but the families,” Gregory said. “Community support has been how we’ve gotten this far in being able to have the kind of impact we’ve had.”

Building connections with students

Every Monday through Thursday, Melissa Pravalpott has a plan in place for her students, ages 3 to 5, at KYFS.

At the start of each day, Pravalpott, who is the lead teacher for the nonprofit’s Head Start and Early Childhood Education and Assistance Programs, commutes from her home in Lynnwood to her workplace in Kent.

Before her students arrive, she sets the tables and prepares the classroom. Then, Pravalpott welcomes her morning group. As part of the program’s focus on oral health and nutrition education, the kids eat breakfast and brush their teeth together.

After they play outside, it’s back indoors for music and movement. The students gather in small groups for individual teaching time before breaking for lunch.

Once the first set of children heads home, Pravalpott repeats the agenda with her afternoon class.

Pravalpott, who has worked at KYFS for over a decade, was drawn to the nonprofit’s mission and values when she first applied.

“It just really gives me an opportunity to really, truly connect with families on a more personal level,” she said in a phone interview.

Her goal as a teacher: to lay down positive foundations for education before her students age out of the program.

“There’s a lot of people who do have negative experiences with education, so we try to build that bridge and build that relationship,” she said.

Some of her students are trying to better understand their disabilities.

Each child goes through screenings and assessments at the beginning of the program, with instructors observing them throughout the year to gauge their progress. If a student experiences any developmental lags, Pravalpott quickly consults their parents and partners with referral services to secure the proper support.

For Butler, that’s been a game changer. Pravalpott has taught the two youngest of Butler’s five children.

Butler explained that her daughter suffered severe anxiety in the classroom, and the first six months took some adjusting. Butler and Pravalpott worked together to put her at ease.

Butler also noticed some delays with her son. She said Pravalpott took her concerns seriously, and they’re moving forward with relevant evaluations.

At KYFS, some students are learning English as a second language. Pravalpott instructs a multicultural classroom, with children hailing from all corners of the globe – Afghanistan, Vietnam, Mexico and Russia among them.

In a phone call, Pravalpott reflected on one child, a Punjabi-speaking boy. As she remembers it, his mother relayed her fears that he might not make friends because he didn’t understand English.

But recently, when they met for a parent-teacher conference, that mom had good news to share: She’d since noticed her son’s grasp of English was improving substantially – and he was exhibiting more caring and nurturing qualities, too.

For Pravalpott, those moments mean the world. Teaching can sometimes leave her feeling burned out, and she’s caught herself wondering if she’s making a difference.

Interactions like that prove to her that she is.

“Every day, every little victory, every hug, every smile, every laugh,” Pravalpott said, “it builds that connection.

Sign up for choirs — Timpanogos Singers and Youth Choirs are now enrolling for January. Join the group for Celtic Crossroads and Broadway Favorites concerts. For Timpanogos Singers, visit https://americanforkarts.com/timpsingers. For youth choirs, visit https://americanforkarts.com/timpanogos-youth-choirs.

“Disney’s Camp Rock: The Musical” — Timpanogos Youth Theater will present “Disney’s Camp Rock: The Musical” from Thursday, Jan. 15, to Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Valentine Theater. The musical is a high-energy, family-friendly show with unforgettable music, friendship and discovering your true voice. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://timpanogosarts.org/timpanogos-youth-theater.

CEDAR HILLS

Christmas tree recycling — Drop-off for live Christmas trees will be from Friday, Dec. 26, to Monday, Jan. 5, in the marked areas at Mesquite Soccer Park, Heritage Park and Harvey Park. Attachments, including stands, must be removed from the trees. Neither artificial nor flocked trees will be accepted.

Youth theater — Cedar Hills Youth Theater will be performing “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” from March 12-14. Registration opened Dec. 1 and the first class will begin Jan. 1. For more information, visit https://cedarhillsrec.activityreg.com/selectActivity.

Karate — One-hour multi-level classes for people age 6 and older, including adults, will be held Mondays and Wednesdays. The next 10-week session begins Jan. 12. For more information, visit https://cedarhillsrec.activityreg.com/selectActivity.

Ski and Snowboard Club — A self-drive option is open for the Ski and Snowboard Club at Brighton for ages 10 and up. All levels are welcome. Classes are based on skill level and the number of participants Four Saturday classes are included, beginning Feb. 21 and concluding March 14. Each class includes transportation, a two-hour lesson and a night lift pass. For more information, visit https://cedarhillsrec.activityreg.com/selectActivity.

LINDON

Senior bus — The Lindon Senior Center has a bus and is able to offer rides to and from the center on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This is available for Lindon resident seniors. Pick-ups are between 10 and 11 a.m. Drop-offs are between 1 and 2 p.m. Reservations must be made at least one day in advance. Contact the Senior Center front desk at (801) 769-8625.

PAYSON

Volunteer at the library — Friends of the Payson Library notes that residents can volunteer for an hour or less each month to help the library meet the needs of children and patrons. Volunteers are asked to offer ideas and support the group’s yearly book sale. People interested in volunteering may contact library director Dona Gay, Brittany Johnson at (801) 609-4078, Ann Humpherys at (801) 465-0941, or Steve Southwick at (801) 822-1705.

PROVO

Provo Police historical snapshots discussion — The Utah Valley Historical Society will present Provo Police Chief Troy Beebe and his presentation on “The Provo Police Department: Historical Snapshots of Interest” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 13, in Room 201 at Provo City Library. Beebe will share stories from the privately published collection of police officers’ memoirs held by the Police Department. This event is free and open to the public.

SARATOGA SPRINGS

Community Orchestra — The Saratoga Springs Community Orchestra holds practices on the first and third Thursdays of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. at the city offices, 1307 N. Commerce Drive. The orchestra will be preparing for Saratoga Splash Days and the December holiday concerts.

UTAH COUNTY

Volunteers sought to help at warming centers — Community Action Services is seeking volunteers ages 18 and older to support warming center for the homeless each night. Volunteers will help with set-up and clean up, safety and security, and provide friendship and fellowship under the supervision of trained staff. Shifts run from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.; 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m.; and 4:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Volunteers must sign up for one or more shifts and complete online and in-person training modules. For more information and to sign-up, visit https://app.vomo.org/opportunity/warming-center.

Mental health support groups and classes — NAMI Utah County offers free in-person and online support groups and classes for adults and teens living with mental health conditions and for family members of loved ones living with mental health conditions. For more information, contact Angela Peterson at (801) 400-3516.

Volunteers to help Kids On The Move — Each Friday and Saturday, Kids On The Move offers Respite Care, providing a free break to parents with special needs children. Families drop their children off at locations in Orem, Lehi and Springville where they are paired one-on-one with a volunteer to play for the evening. A nurse or behavior technician is also present to help oversee. The group is seeking 10 volunteers 16 years and older from 5:45 to 9:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday to help make this happen. For more information or to sign up, visit https://kotm.org/volunteer-portal. Coronavirus measures are being taken, including requiring masks, taking temperatures and frequent hand sanitizing.

Foster grandparents sought — Utah County is seeking senior volunteers to serve as foster grandparents. Volunteers must be limited-income individuals at least 55 years old and able to serve 15 or more hours per week. Volunteers serve as mentors, tutors and caregivers for children and youth at schools, hospitals, youth centers and similar organizations. Volunteers receive a non-taxable stipend, paid personal leave, transportation reimbursement, ongoing training and more. For more information or if you or someone you know would like to participate, call (801) 851-7784.

Utah County Home Visit Programs in need of donations — Utah County Health Department home visit programs are running low on donated resources such as baby blankets and diapers. The health department is asking Utah County community members to consider donating items or organizing service projects to assist in providing donations. The items most needed are new receiving blankets or small quilts and diapers. Other welcomed items include: infant “onesies,” knit hats and infant-appropriate board books. Items should be in new condition. Donations may be dropped off Monday to Friday (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at the following health department locations: Provo — 151 S. University Ave., Suite 1610, American Fork — 599 S. 500 East. Questions about the home visit programs should be directed to Bonnie Hardy at (801) 851-7026.

To submit notices or events from your city, email rolson@heraldextra.com.

A New Jersey youth sports coach who co-owns a trampoline and tumbling school was charged Thursday with impersonating a police officer at a Starbucks in Denville, authorities said.

Roger H. Walker, 57, used his cellphone to take pictures of girls inside the Main Street business at 10:40 a.m. on Nov. 30, Denville police said Friday.

Walker, of Rockaway Township, also displayed what appeared to be a badge and told several people in the Morris County coffee shop that he was a police officer, authorities said.

After an investigation, Walker was charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer and harassment. He was issued a summons and released.

Walker is listed as managing partner and head coach at CAVU Trampoline & Tumbling, a gym in Mountain Lakes, according to the business’ website.

In a phone interview with NJ Advance Media, Walker said the allegations are “wildly untrue.”

Walker, who said he is a regular at the Starbucks, said he was seated in the shop with his iPad open and his phone in his hand when another customer approached him.

“A woman who I’ve seen before and I had a run in with previously said to these girls, ‘I think that man is taking pictures of you.’ I said, ‘Please don’t say that, that’s not true, that just isn’t true.’”

Walker said he is one of the few African-American business owners in the Mountain Lakes area and was targeted with false allegations.

“There are people who have seen me coming (to Starbucks) for years and now my name is being smeared. I’ve been given a very hard time. I think this is an unfortunate situation,” he said.

Walker’s attorney was not listed in court records on Friday. He declined to provide the name of his lawyer and said he has not been given a date for a court appearance.

Former Durango star averaging nearly 18 points per game

Colorado Mesa University women’s basketball player and Durango native Mason Rowland looks to make a play against Central Washington on Nov. 3, 2023, during her freshman year. (Courtesy of CMU athletics)

A lot of players return from an ACL tear as a diminished version of their former self, but Durango’s Mason Rowland is not one of them.

The former Durango High School girls basketball star tore her ACL on Nov. 15, 2024, while playing for the Colorado Mesa University women’s basketball team and missed the rest of her sophomore season after winning Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in 2023-2024.

Now a redshirt sophomore, unknowing bystanders would be hard-pressed to know she was coming off a torn ACL. Rowland is averaging 17.8 points per game, as of Friday evening, for a 13-1 Colorado Mesa squad that is dominating its opponents.

“We’ve had a great start to the year and are just looking to build off that coming out of Christmas break,” Rowland said. “We were a new group starting with so I think just trying to find the pieces and making sure everyone gelled with each other. But once we found that, we are going to be pretty tough to beat. So it’ll be exciting.”

Rowland averaged 14.6 PPG as a freshman and averaged 15.7 PPG in three games as a sophomore before getting hurt. It was a long recovery process for Rowland, as it is for all athletes who tear their ACL, and she returned to action in the summer.

The Mavericks tipped off the 2025-2026 season with the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic in British Columbia on Oct. 31. It’s a tournament Rowland enjoyed as a freshman, and it was a successful trip for the Mavericks with three wins. Rowland had a great experience getting on the court, getting through those games and realizing she can still play. Those first three games were building blocks for Rowland and the rest of the team.

Rowland said it took her about five games to not be hesitant to drive with her repaired ACL like she would in the past. Even with that hesitation, Rowland averaged 16.6 points per game in the first five games.

The Durangoan is the third-leading scorer in the RMAC with her 17.8 PPG. She’s continued to be an elite rebounding guard with 5.9 rebounds per game. Her name pops up in a lot of the RMAC individual statistical categories, including being fourth in the conference with 3.6 assists per game; she’s eighth in the RMAC with a 1.1 assist to turnover ratio; Rowland is ninth in the conference with a 43.1 field goal percentage and third in the conference with an 81.5 free-throw percentage.

“Since her injury last year, she’s been determined, and she did her rehab as best as she could and was in the gym all the time,” Colorado Mesa head coach Taylor Wagner said. “She’s one of those kids who has put her heart and soul into everything, and that’s what’s helped her bounce back a little bit quicker than maybe some of the other kids that we’ve had that have had ACL injuries.”

One area that Rowland has really improved in is her 3-point shooting. Known as an elite driver coming out of Durango High School, Rowland shot 33% from 3-point range as a freshman and 25% on limited attempts before her injury as a sophomore.

This season, Rowland is shooting 41% from 3-point range. She’s turned into one of the top 3-point shooters in the conference, ranking second in 3-point field goal percentage and third in 3-point field goals per game. Through 14 games, Rowland already has more 3-point attempts and makes than in her entire 32-game freshman year.

Rowland and Wagner both said the time Rowland had off due to injury helped her improve her shooting. It took a while for Rowland to compete against others, but she could work on her shooting a lot sooner. Wagner said the coaching staff didn’t do anything to her shot; the improvement has been because of the time she put in.

The improvement in Rowland’s game has certainly helped the Mavericks get off to such a great start. Since Colorado Mesa’s lone loss to West Texas A&M on Nov. 14, the Mavericks have had one close win, a 57-49 win, the next game on Nov. 16. Other than that, Colorado Mesa has won eight of its last nine games by at least 25 points. The Mavericks are 11th in the WBCA NCAA Division II Top 25 women’s basketball coaches’ poll.

Besides Rowland, the Mavericks have arguably the best player in the conference in back-to-back RMAC Player of the Year, Olivia Reed Thyne. The senior forward is averaging 18.6 PPG and 10.6 RPG to create a dynamic duo for the Mavericks.

“Mason’s taken a lot of pressure off Olivia scoring-wise,” Wagner said. “Last year, Olivia seemed like she always had to be the girl the go-to girl. With Mason’s ability to get a bucket, that one-two punch has been really good this year. They’re starting to feed off each other a little bit better and playing off each other. So they’ve evolved.”

Durango fans won’t get to see Rowland and the Mavericks this season in Durango, as the Fort Lewis College vs. Colorado Mesa game will be in Grand Junction. However, after going 50-13 the last two seasons with two NCAA tournament appearances, the Mavericks will likely have plenty of big games remaining this season.

“The sky’s the limit for us right now,” Rowland said. “We are definitely a team that focuses on one game at a time, but we want to win the RMAC regular season championship, host the RMAC tournament, win the RMAC tournament, hosts regionals and win regionals all the way up to a national championship.”

bkelly@durangoherald.com

Copy article link

FRANKLIN, Wis. (WTMJ) – A Wisconsin man is really passionate about hockey. He is so into the sport that he’s even built a massive ice rink in his own backyard.

The ice rink isn’t just for his sons. It’s for the team of 10-year-old players he coaches.

“It is just a fast-paced, high-energy game that I have always loved,” Jake Howell said.

Now, the Howells’ backyard is filled with strikes and screams, and the Shaw Timberwolves have a rink all to themselves.

“I don’t have to go to a rink to skate. I can just go to my backyard and mess around,” Emmett, Jake and Jamie Howell’s son, said.

Now, the coach and his wife, Jamie Howell, host the practices, and they have grown the rink year after year.

“This is the biggest it’s ever been and I don’t think it can get bigger unless we tear the deck down,” Jamie Howell joked.

The rink is 80 feet by 40 feet. While kids skate, parents stay warm by the fire and watch.

“Seeing their love and passion for the game is probably one of the best things I’d say in life, especially for my son,” Jake Howell said. “We have our own little microcosm of culture here, but we would love to see that grow in the community.”

For the coach and his team, the backyard rink does more than build memories. It’s something they depend on.

In their area in Franklin, the team only has access to one indoor rink and they often share that ice with two other teams.

“When it comes down to it, there just isn’t enough ice for the kids,” Jake Howell said.

The Southeastern Hockey Association of Wisconsin is raising funds for a new rink, according to Jake Howell.

“It takes a lot of money and desire from the community,” he added.

But for now, the personal rink is bringing the Timberwolves together.

“They are all my friends, and every time, they have my back,” Emmett said.

The rink also sparked a lifelong love for the game, from the backyard to beyond.

“That’s what I hope they get out of it, that passion, that fun, and then when they grow up, they think back to this and how much fun it was,” Jake Howell said.

Copyright 2026 WTMJ via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.

When the city of Kent leaders agreed to pay about $11 million toward the construction of a $36.6 million YMCA in town, they formed a partnership to help make sure the nonprofit became a community asset.

So far, that partnership seems to be thriving based on a recent update on the facility’s overall operations and its performance under the city’s 50-year operating memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the YMCA of Greater Seattle.

The Kent YMCA, 10828 SE 248th St., on the East Hill, opened in 2019. The nonprofit facility has 3,216 memberships and more than 7,500 individual members, according to a Dec. 9 report to the Kent City Council by Jenna Montoya, branch executive. Over half of those are family memberships. There are about 1,500 senior memberships, or active older adults, as the YMCA prefers to call them.

“There’s a lot of fun and exciting things happening at the Kent YMCA, especially in partnership with the Kent Parks Department,” Montoya said.

Council President Satwinder Kaur agreed.

“I absolutely love our Y and I love that it’s in the partnership we have with our Kent Parks and community swims,” Kaur said. “I do take my kids there for the little pool. I’m a member, but still I see families there taking advantage of that.”

People can join the YMCA under a household membership (two or more at same household) for $154 per month or an individual membership for $91 per month. The facility offers a gym, pools, fitness facilities, classes and programs.

In addition, the YMCA will pay up to $1 million per year to provide financial aid to families who cannot afford the full membership fee. Montoya said the YMCA was expected to pay about $730,000 towards memberships and programs by the end of 2025.

“And we’ve expanded our financial assistance programs this year compared to years past where we increased the award based off of income,” Montoya said. “We also expanded the awards to additional income brackets. So we expect to see that number increase with those changes.”

Kent has added more programs, too.

“We have also grown in our offerings and enrollments for all of our programming,” Montoya said. “In addition, we had some new youth sports additions this year (2025). We’ve added ballet and expanded soccer programs, added volleyball, doubled our youth basketball league programming, which is the biggest participation base that we have. So, we’re excited to see that grow in 2026.”

While the city of Kent contributed $11 million toward construction of the two-story, 50,000-square-foot facility, the YMCA covered most of the rest of the costs through state grants, major donors and community contributors.

The city kicks in about $95,000 annually to help fund operations, mainly for the aquatics program, City Parks Director Julie Parascondola told the council.

City leaders for decades sought to build a community pool, but abandoned that idea because of the high costs. That led to the search for a partner to help build the pool, which is how the agreement came about with the YMCA of Greater Seattle.

With the renovations to Morrill Meadows Park, which sits next to the YMCA, that has given the city and nonprofit even more opportunities to partner.

“It’s been great to kind of see that flourish, to see all of the new neighbors and families join together,” Montoya said. “We have lots of special programming and events. We work closely with the parks team to ensure that that space is safe and enriching for everyone. We support steady use of the bathrooms in our buildings for those using the dog park and the parking lot and the parks outside and just protecting those spaces including the parking for those attendees.”

The park/YMCA events included the change of venue last summer for the city’s Spotlight Series Thursday evening concerts from Lake Meridian Park to Morrill Meadows Park.

“It was a huge success,” Montoya said. “There was hundreds, if not thousands of attendees to that event and we hosted the performers and bands inside the building. That was very exciting for our staff. We felt like we were meeting local celebrities. So, that was a great opportunity this year. We hope to continue that and we made a lot of new great relationships and partnerships with the city of Kent team through that.”

As far as aquatics programming, the YMCA added a third day per week for free community swim days, which was two days per week. The facility also serves as the practice pool for the high school swim teams from Kent-Meridian and Kentwood. The city used to operate a pool at Kent-Meridian, but closed the aging facility with the opening of the YMCA.

The YMCA also offers social impact programs, and has doubled its participants in programs like behavioral health and foster care support, Montoya said.

The Kent facility, with other community partners, offers a food pantry called Pantry of Hope that operates every Friday from about 1 to 4 p.m. to provide kind of a stigma-free food access point for community members, Montoya said.

“We see lots of people come in on a regular basis when we have this every Friday on a first-come first-served basis with nonperishables and fresh produce for families,” Montoya said. “We’ve had at least 20 families a week who have been partaking in the food pantry and we expect to expand this and shift this depending on community need and desires as we move forward.”

The YMCA opens its facility as a warming or cooling center during extreme temperatures.

• For more information about programs and financial assistance, go to seattleymca.org/locations/kent-ymca.

People enjoy the pool at the Kent YMCA, 10828 SE 248th St., on the East Hill. COURTESY PHOTO, YMCA

The Kent YMCA has fitness areas, pools and a gym. COURTESY PHOTO, YMCA