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‘A Funny Thing’ | Renton Civic Theatre closes their season with “A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum,” opening Friday. [Arts, 3]
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renton
FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013
Final bell at Renton Presbyterian By TRACEY COMPTON tcompton@rentonreporter.com
On June 30, the first church ever established in Renton will hold its final service before closing forever. First Presbyterian Church of Renton, started in 1885 and now
Bell from the church’s days on Main Street in Renton. Tracey compton, Renton Reporter
called Living Faith Presbyterian Church, is closing, unable to build membership, fund rising building costs and provide the amenities and experiences church staff want for their congregation. “The reason we’re closing is not financial pressure, although, it gets to a point where it’s abusive to ask people to pour money into a build-
ing that is beyond their means to take care of,” said Rev. Tom Masters. “It’s more of the fact that for the health of the body of Christ, you want the adults to be able to meet new people that they can share their gifts with. And the new people can share with them and everybody can have a better fellowship and a more faithful expression
in that body of Christ that way.” Masters has been the pastor of the church for the last 20 months but was involved with the congregation many years prior. 2013 marks the church’s 128th year in Renton. The founding pastor was George Whitworth, a former University of Washington [ more church page 8 ]
Investigators say church fire is arson By DEAN A. RADFORD dradford@rentonreporter.com
The chase begins!
The investigation is continuing into a $1 million fire June 6 that caused extensive damage to the Church of Grace at the Ukrainian Community Center on Hardie Avenue Southwest. Renton fire investigators determined the blaze was intentionally set and ruled it an arson. It is one of five suspicious
With the 12th Man flag flying proudly over the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, the Seahawks players and coaches descended on the city this week to open their first minicamp of the season. Right, starting quarterback Russell Wilson looks downfield for a receiver during Tuesday’s offensive drills. The Seahawks will return to Renton in August for their full training camp. Brian Beckley, Renton Reporter
fires that have been set in the downtown and north Renton areas in the last month or so, said Deputy Fire Chief Greg Hartman. A Renton Police officer saw two juveniles running from the scene just before the fire was observed. Where the fire started is not easily visible from the street. Because the fire was at a church, the protocol was to [ more fires page 7 ]
Swimming areas open this weekend bbeckley@rentonreporter.com
In another sure sign that summer can’t be far way, this weekend marks the opening of the city’s swimming beaches as well as the Henry Moses Aquatic Center. This week at Henry Moses, lifeguards were busy training for the big opening weekend, learning and practicing lifesaving techniques for
adults, children and babies in all sorts of water conditions. The guards will take their places at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park and the Kennydale Beach Park, as well as the aquatic center, beginning at noon Saturday. According to Recreation Manager Kris Stimpson, the lifeguards will be on duty from noon to 8 p.m. every day through Labor Day at both swimming areas.
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Stimpson said lifeguards are mostly high school and college swimmers from the area and the city is still hiring. “We can always use lifeguards,” she said. This year is also the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Henry Moses Aquatic Center. The center, which features two water slides (“Blue Thunder” and [ more GUARDS page 2 ]
Lifeguards train Tuesday at the Henry Moses Aquatic Center for Saturday’s opening of the park and beaches. Brian Beckley, Renton Reporter
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By Brian Beckley