The Renton Reporter is thankful to celebrate two years of being back in print after our relaunch in October 2022.

Thank you, readers and advertisers, for supporting local journalism. It is an honor to serve Renton with news and stories that help make the community a better place.

On that note, we would love to meet you and learn more about what’s happening in local neighborhoods. The Renton Reporter is hosting “Read All About It” from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at Drum Roll Wine, 911 S. 3rd St. in downtown Renton. This is an opportunity for informal conversation about all things Renton with your local news team.

Our guest speaker will be Jarod Drozdowski, development director from Birthday Dreams, a nonprofit organization that has been working since 2009 to bring birthday parties to homeless children in Renton. We hope to see you there.

The Reporter hosted a similar event on Sept. 23 at Berliner Pub in downtown Renton. Thank you again to our guest speaker from that evening, Vision House Executive Director Derek Sciba, who spoke about how his organization helps unhoused families in Renton and King County.

If you are a local business owner interested in hosting the next Read All About It, please let us know.

• The Renton Reporter news team — including reporters Bailey Jo Josie, Joshua Solorzano and Benjamin Leung — recently met with a classroom of student journalists at Renton High School. Led by adviser and editor Lisa Richards, the class produces the Renton Hawk Eye. The Renton Reporter team also has previously met with the student newspaper class at Liberty High School, which produces The Patriot Press and is led by Kris Daughters. In both scenarios, the students asked thoughtful questions while learning what goes on behind the scenes at their local community newspaper. We are happy to speak about the newspaper with more classrooms in the Renton School District and beyond. Just drop us a line and let’s see what we can work out.

• I have bittersweet news: reporter Benjamin Leung’s last day with the Renton Reporter was Nov. 27. He is leaving to pursue a career in nursing. For the past two years, Ben has been covering crime and public safety in Renton and South King County. Some highlights include “Student’s assault on Renton teacher raises district safety concerns” about the school district’s response to a violent attack on a teacher by a 12-year-old girl at Dimmitt Middle School, along with his ongoing coverage earlier this year of Reyna Hernandez, a Renton business owner who was reported missing and later found dead in Mexico. Ben, your diligent reporting will be missed. Good luck on your next chapter!

• The Renton Reporter welcomes guest columnists and letters to the editor about local news, issues and people. Please reach out if you have questions on what that entails, such as length and subject matter. As always, thank you for reading.

Renton Reporter Editor Andy Hobbs can be reached at andy.hobbs@soundpublishing.com.