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REPORTER
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
FRIDAY JANUARY 20/12
OUR VIEW | Vote yes for the three school measures on the Feb. 14 ballot [6]
Highlands Library | The public got a chance Off to a good start | The Renton to see the plans that are taking shape for a new girls basketball team is perfect in league play so far [11] REPORTER NEWSLINE 425.255.3484 library to serve the Highlands [3]
Winter hits region hard; schools close BY DEAN A. RADFORD dradford@rentonreporter.com
Renton Culinary Club members, from left, artistic adviser Kizztophe Asuncion; Tyree Bryant; treasurer Jazmine Burciu-Curry; secretary Nailah Eubanks; vice president D’Andre Johnson; president Nick Mobley, and vice president Christina Gryniv made “buck eyes,” a chocolate-covered, peanut butter dessert. CHARLES CORTES, Renton Reporter
They’re cookin’ up a family BY TRACEY COMPTON tcompton@rentonreporter.com
Family is the one word that students in Renton High School’s Culinary Club use to define their relationship. The tight-knit group has become an in-demand business with the success of their student-run catering company, An Essence of Renton. The students have catered at least 20 to 30 events in the area. Past events have included a Swedish Hospital fundraiser that they partner with Seattle’s Wild Ginger restaurant to work. They have also done events for the Renton Chamber of Commerce, Piazza Renton, Skills USA, Seattle Internation-
al Film Festival, events for the district and Renton High School. Their company has a core group of 12 to 14 students and a maximum of 35 for large events. Formed four years ago, the club and business have “I don’t think there’s taught the teens anyone in there who not only practidoesn’t have a plan cal lessons in for their future.” Nick the kitchen and business, but in Mobley, club president life too. It is pressing them on to pursue their future dreams whether they are in the culinary arts or something else. “I don’t think there’s anyone in there who doesn’t have a plan for their future,” said Nick Mobley, a Renton High senior and president of the club. Originally, Mobley started taking classes at the school because he wanted
to one day be a chef. He’s learned hard work, dedication and responsibility throughout his experience with the club and now wants to be a surgeon. “I started coming in and showing up every day. I got to working hard,” he said. “And after a while culinary wasn’t exactly what I wanted to do, but I got so close to everybody in here that I couldn’t leave. There was no option, it’s like I couldn’t separate myself from my family because that’s who they are.” In their interactions there is screaming, crying and yelling as they all work to better their culinary skills, Mobley said. He credits his instructor, Aleta Konkol, for a lot of his development and says many of the students call her “mom.” Konkol tries to capitalize on the students’ enthusiasm and hard work [ more CULINARY page 10 ]
[ more SNOW page 4 ]
206.949.1696 www.marciemaxwell.com Marcie Maxwell Associate Broker, Realtor & CRS
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Renton High’s Culinary Club in demand by those looking for tasty treats
Renton got hit with several inches of snow Wednesday, maybe not as much as was expected but easily enough to close schools and snarl the commute. The snow closed some businesses; those that were open had a scarcity of customers. The storm wasn’t a surprise, as forecasters had been tracking it closely for days. However in the end as it got closer it became apparent that the snow wouldn’t fall as deeply as predicted. The storm arrived from the south, with deeper snow amounts in south Puget Sound southward. For many Wednesday was a day of play. Todd Schlegel of Renton brought his two kids, Mason, 5, and Mira, 7, to Liberty Park for a some sliding at the Skateboard Park. Mira Schlegel, 7, is all smiles as she “The kids have slides down a ramp at Skateboard Park been waiting Wednesday at Liberty Park. Garren for it,” Schlegel Turner helped her and brother Mason said of the snow. get set up for the runs. DEAN A. RADFORD, They started Renton Reporter asking about the snow on Tuesday. The snow was turning to a freezing rain while they were there in the late morning. All garbage, recycling and yard/food waste had been collected in the city through Tuesday, accord-