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Best of Renton | It’s that time again when our readers get to pick their favorite places and things to do or experience in Renton. [BALLOT PAGE 11]
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renton
FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2013
Climbing for the cure Local firefighters climbing to heights of Seattle tower to raise money in fundraiser for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
State of Renton is ‘very good,’ says Mayor Law in annual address By Brian Beckley
By Brian Beckley
bbeckley@rentonreporter.com
bbeckley@rentonreporter.com
Mayor Denis Law spoke of both the difficulties in overcoming the recent economic downturn as well as what he sees as a bright future for the City of Renton during his sixth State of the City Address Wednesday. “What is the state of our city?” Law said. “I think the state of Renton is very good.” Speaking before nearly 200 business and civic leaders at the event, organized by the Renton Chamber of Commerce and hosted by the Holiday Inn off South Grady Way, the mayor highlighted the city’s partnerships with local groups and Mayor Denis Law organizations throughout his 20-minute speech and focused on how the city has worked with its employees to find more efficient ways of doing city business. “The past several years have had a similar theme – finding new ways to provide city services with less revenue and fewer people,” Law said near the beginning of his speech. Law joked that most of his State of the City speeches have been similar in theme, noting that
“You want to know about the stairclimb?” asks Renton Battalion Chief Stan Engler with a gleam in his eye. “I know a lot about it.” Engler, 57, first ran up the stairs at Seattle’s Columbia Center Tower in 1992, part of the first group in the nowannual fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He says he has not done it every year, but his time in 2012 – 13 minutes and 29 seconds – was the fastest in the department and good enough for a thirdplace finish in last year’s “masters” division and a 13th-best time overall. Not only that, Engler’s brother, David Engler, a former member of the Shoreline department, started the event more than 20 years ago with a flyer Engler still has. The flyer features a picture of David in full firefighter gear. It opens with the phrase “I challenge you” and ends with a P.S. – “Wimps should stay home.” David Engler’s challenge grew out [ more Climb page 10 ]
Battalion Chief and stairclimb veteran Stan Engler offers Kevin Krystofiak, 8, some advice on how best to attack the stairs during an event at The Landing March 2. Brian Beckley, Renton Reporter
[ more law page 14 ]
Work to begin on a place of hope for women, children Demolition on the lower level of Renton City Hall could begin mid-March to transform the former jail into a place of hope. A new women and children’s shelter called the REACH Center of Hope is scheduled to open there this May. The space is being developed by the Renton Ecumenical Association of Churches. Tuesday the group announced
Linda Smith, center director. that Justin Jensen had been Salvation Army renovates “I’m just filled with joy and selected as the contractor to see page 14 overwhelmed at the fact that punch out holes and create the center is opening and new walls in the basement of that there will be a place for women and City Hall. After the demolition work and children who are homeless.” restructuring is done, it will take a team of Smith updated REACH members and volunteers to haul off debris, former bunks, others from the community on the Center bars and stainless-steel toilets to make way of Hope’s progress, as did other project for a supportive and safe environment for team members. The audience filled the families. room, seated around a group of tables “I’m excited; I’m amazed,” said Rev. Dr.
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configured in a U-shape in the Renton Salvation Army’s dining hall. There are two phases to the project: a day center and an organized shelter. The lower level of Renton City Hall will be used for the day center. Area churches are to provide accommodations for overnight shelter for families of women and children. Currently the group believes it will be able [ more Hope page 14 ]
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By TRACEY COMPTON tcompton@rentonreporter.com