This Week in Renton

A-
A+

This Week in Renton

Posted on 09/18/2024

Have a story idea or comments? Email: [email protected].

This Week in Renton is also translated and posted on the City of Renton’s website. For additional translation services, contact [email protected].

Not a subscriber? Please sign up and get up-to-date news and information from City Hall.

Wednesday, September 18, 2024 | Vol. IX | Issue 38

September 18 This Week in Renton photo Hispanic Heritage Month

This week, the city celebrates the start of Hispanic Heritage Month to honor the diverse Latin heritages within the city's Spanish-speaking community. This month-long celebration, from September 15 to October 15, pays tribute to the independence of several Latin countries.

The theme for this year is "Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together." Renton exemplifies this theme through leaders like Ted Rodriguez, who was a pioneer in bringing Mexican cuisine to the Pacific Northwest and strengthening trade relations between the US and Mexico, establishing Jalisco, Mexico and Washington as sister states, and Renton and Cuautla, Mexico, as sister cities.

Spanish is among the top five foreign languages spoken in Renton, and approximately 15% of residents identify as Hispanic.

The city hosted a reception for community leaders prior to Monday night’s city council meeting, where a formal proclamation was read to acknowledge Hispanic Heritage Month. At the reception, guests savored authentic Mexican cuisine from local restaurant Santa Fe Mexican Grill, and Mayor Armondo Pavone spoke about the rich traditions and backgrounds of the community that combine to make Renton the city that it is today.

During the council meeting, Mayor Armondo Pavone officially designated September 15 through October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month in Renton. Isidro Rojas, the owner of Santa Fe Mexican Grill in the Sunset Neighborhood area, received the proclamation.

The celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month continues through October in Renton, with various events such as a story walk event at the Renton Highlands library focused on Hispanic Heritage Month – presented by Renton’s Parks and Recreation Department, the King County Library System, and Puget Sound Energy Services.

StoryWalk panel at the September 14 community event at Sunset Park

Kick off event for the latest story walk in Sunset Neighborhood Park combines culture, wellness, and reading

Last weekend, the city's Parks and Recreation Department teamed up with Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and King County Library System (KCLS) to host a fun kickoff event for the new story walk at Sunset Neighborhood Park.

Guests enjoyed free books for the first 100 visitors, tasty tacos and quesadillas, live music by Marco Cortes, and information from PSE. The event was hosted as a way to introduce the community to the new story walk and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

The main story at Sunset Neighborhood Park is "The Wild" by Yuval Zommer, which can be read in English and Spanish. This story encourages working together to protect the planet, showing the city's commitment to sustainability.

Since 2021, our city has worked with the King County Library System to offer story walks at Sunset Neighborhood Park and Liberty Park. These walks promote reading, health, community involvement, and highlighting our parks.

Come take a leisurely walk at Sunset Neighborhood Park and enjoy reading "The Wild" until October 14.

Renton Farmers Market graphic

Renton Farmers Market’s final day is next week

It has been an amazing 23rd season of the Renton Farmers Market, and fortunately for everyone, there is still time to shop the market and its 60+ farmers, vendors, food trucks, and artisans one last time.

The last farmers market of the season is Tuesday, September 24, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Piazza Park. Biff Moss will help close out the final market of the season from 4 to 6 p.m. Free 10-hour parking is available at the City Center Parking Garage, located off South 2nd Street between Burnett and Logan.

With only one last market, it is the perfect time to stock up and store produce for the upcoming fall.

Thank you to the Renton Farmers Market staff, Parks and Recreation Department, volunteers, and all the dedicated farmers, vendors, and sellers for showing up each and every Tuesday for the past several months.

Renton Halloween Costume Swap

Trade last year’s Halloween costume for something new (to you)

Is there anything scarier than only using a Halloween costume once? If you have any Halloween costumes you no longer need, consider donating them to the hungry costume monsters lurking around Renton City Hall and Renton Community Center.

Please donate gently used and clean costumes, hats, masks, and accessories at either location by September 27.

From infant to adult, costumes of all sizes are accepted. Items should be clean and in good wearable condition (e.g., no broken zippers, not mildewed or musty, torn only if intentional). Accessories in good condition are also accepted.

Help prevent unnecessary waste while helping the community get into the spooky season in preparation for the Costume Swap event on Saturday, September 28 at Renton Community Center, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Each costume donated will go into a monster bin, find a new home, and make Halloween more enjoyable for everyone! Renton City Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Renton Community Center is open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For questions, email [email protected].

Graphic: Events and Activities

Around Renton

September 24 - Renton Farmers Market Final Day, 3 p.m. Piazza Park, 233 Burnett Ave. S. Hosted by Renton Parks and Recreation.

September 26 – Pitch Workshop & Coworking, 1 p.m. Renton Library, 100 Mill Ave. S. Hosted by the City of Renton’s Community and Economic Development Department and Startup 425. Free.

September 27 – Senior 50+ Resource Expo, 9 a.m. Don Persson Renton Senior Activity Center, 211 Burnett Ave. N. Hosted by Renton Parks and Recreation. Free.

September 28 – Halloween Costume Swap, 9 a.m. Renton Community Center, 1715 Maple Valley Highway. Hosted by Renton Municipal Arts Commission and the City of Renton’s Public Works Department. Costume donations requested. Free.

September 28 – Community Celebrations: Good Neighbor Day, 11 a.m. Benson Hill Elementary, 18665 116th Avenue SE. Hosted by Renton Parks and Recreation.

September 28 – Food Truck Festival, 11 a.m. Benson Hill Elementary, 18665 116th Avenue SE. Hosted by the City of Renton’s Community and Economic Development Department.

October 2 - Emergency Feeding Program Lunch Pop-Up, 12:30 p.m. Sunset Neighborhood Park, 2680 Sunset Lane NE. Hosted by Emergency Feeding Program, in partnership with Renton Parks and Recreation. Free.

October 10 - 2025 Tourism Promotion Grants: Virtual Q&A, 4 p.m. Online. Hosted by the City of Renton's Community and Economic Development Department. Free.

October 16 - Emergency Feeding Program Lunch Pop-Up, 12:30 p.m. Sunset Neighborhood Park, 2680 Sunset Lane NE. Hosted by Emergency Feeding Program, in partnership with Renton Parks and Recreation. Free.

Graphic: News