I was fortunate enough to grow up in this great community. My family moved here in the early ’80s and it was a wonderful lifestyle. Me and my sisters played in our cul-de-sac with neighbor children, we made life-long relationships with neighbors and community members, we benefited from the wonderful schools and have had great success in our lives because of it. Most importantly, my family laid down roots in the community and have continued to prosper because of it. Mainly because of my father, John Strok, who has owned a small, humble, prosperous, well-loved, established business called Kenmore Jewel Box.

Kenmore Jewel Box has been a staple in this community for over 50 years. My dad was able to realize his dream of a small business owner in the ’80s when he bought the shop from the previous owner. An immigrant to this country, striving to make a better life for himself and his family. He prided himself in being an honest, genuine, trustworthy person – a solid contributor to the community. He has made friends, been a wonderful resource, helped others in time of need, a staple.

In the recent months, we have seen the growth of the city and watched with anticipation how Kenmore is evolving. We have seen a jump in business, new customers and new friends to build relationships with. We have also seen the downside. Mainly as it pertains to my father’s business.

Unfortunately, within the past months, I have been very concerned with the ugly side of this prosperous adventure. Within the past few months, Kenmore Jewel Box has been the target of criminal activity. The first, being an attempted robbery in the middle of the night. But more importantly a bold attempt of an armed robbery with someone wielding an axe, demanding money and threatening the life of my dad during the middle of the day, the police were never able to catch the perpetrator. Thankfully my dad was able to defend himself but obviously this causes great concern on a personal level.

My dad is 73 years old, he works six days a week and only takes Sunday off so he can attend church. He now has to fear and worry about armed robbers coming into the place he so lovingly worked hard to build and protect. This is unacceptable to me and I worry about him constantly. He is now contemplating locking his doors forever because the risk is so great, this is unacceptable to me.

We can’t let the bad guys win.

My ask is that you pay attention to this. My ask is that you listen to this plea and don’t turn a blind eye. And, more importantly, my ask is that you have a plan to deal with these ever increasing threats to not only his business, but to his personal health and safety and all the other small business owners in Kenmore that work so hard every day to make a living and give this community breadth and life. Kenmore Jewel Box and so many others like it, are a dying breed. They should be cherished, celebrated, protected and loved. Like so many others, Kenmore Jewel Box is a loyal, small, family owned businesses that has literally put their blood, sweat and tears into making Kenmore the amazing community it continues to be.

Please increase police presence into these small businesses that continue to struggle in the midst of the growth. Please don’t turn a blind eye and forget that Kenmore was built on independent business owners that have always had faith and hope and trust in the community. Please increase police patrols in the area, please bring this topic up in your city council meetings, please make this a priority.

My biggest fear is to get a call one day, saying my father was robbed (again) or injured or, God forbid, killed trying to protect his livelihood, his life. My family and my life, depend on in it. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Ruth Strok, Kenmore