Sultan shines spotlight on volunteers

Every month, the city of Sultan's Volunteer Spotlight program honors someone in the community for above-and-beyond volunteerism. The program recognizes individuals, groups, organizations and committees. Along with the Volunteer Spotlight is the city's Business Spotlight, a parallel honor that recognizes and highlights local businesses.

Last week, Sultan resident and Snohomish County Fire District No. 5 firefighter Steve Tonkin was recognized as the September Volunteer Spotlight. The Business Spotlight recipient was Atsuki Toritani, owner of Atsuki's Food Truck, a Japanese-style mobile eatery.

Both honorees were recognized by Sultan Grants and Economic Development Coordinator Donna Murphy, and presented with certificates of appreciation by Sultan Mayor Pro Tem John Seehuus.

Atsuki's Food Truck

Atsuki Toritani was born in Hiroshima, Japan. He moved to Seattle in 1983, and stayed with a host family while completing English as a Second Language (ESL) courses at Edmonds Community College. In 2009, he settled in Gold Bar. He left his job as a sushi chef at the Tulalip Casino in 2013 to start his own business.

Murphy said it was Atsuki's dream to transform his love for sushi and Japanese cuisine into a viable business opportunity, serving customers from all over the area using a mobile kitchen.

He opened his business in March, spending six months in the parking lot near GROW Washington in Sultan. His bright purple food truck is now typically found in the parking lot of the Mountain View Chevron in Sultan, 33902 U.S. 2. Atsuki also serves at numerous farmers markets throughout the region.

"When Atsuki talks about moving around, he means taking his food truck to serve his customers at the farmers markets in Monroe, Snohomish and Marysville three days a week, the King County Bothell Industrial Park for lunch and events that usually take place on weekends,GÇ¥ Murphy said.

Atsuki's menu includes bacon fried rice, sushi, yakisoba and eggrolls. He is the sole-proprietor, employing two part-time staff members to help with farmers markets. In the next two to five years, he hopes to expand his menu to include additional Japanese items and add two more food trucks.

Atsuki told council business was a struggle during the first three months, but having such a supportive community helped turn things around. He said he enjoyed participating in events like Shindig and Gold Dust Days, both of which really helped him become more established. He thanked the councilmembers and the community for supporting his business.

"I want to return everybody's support,GÇ¥ Atsuki said. "If I can do something, please let me know. I'm not rich, but I have food.GÇ¥

Tonkin

Born and raised in Kirkland, Steve Tonkin has lived in Sultan since 2001. Tonkin joined the United States Navy after graduating from Lake Washington High School, retiring after 23 years of service. He works full time as an outside sales representative at the Monroe NAPA Auto Parts store, and he joined Snohomish County Fire District No. 5 in 2008, originally signing on as a volunteer.

Tonkin has been recognized as an asset to the Sultan Fire Department. In February of 2014, he was presented with a leadership award during the Sky Valley Community Awards Celebration. This year, he served on the committee responsible for coordinating the purchase of the district's new fire engine. Plans for the new unit were underway for more than a year, as firefighters worked to prioritize the engine's features and determine what they needed most in an apparatus.

The fire department received the new engine over the summer.-á

Last winter, Tonkin received a splash of media attention after rescuing a small alligator and a tarantula during a house fire that took place in Sultan.

He has also been an asset to the city of Sultan, Murphy said.

"Steve began volunteering in Sultan in the early 2000s as a Cub Scout leader, and after he joined the fire department, he convinced his colleagues in the fire association to become involved in Sultan's Adopt-a-Street program,GÇ¥ Murphy said. "They adopted U.S. 2 from Old Owen Road to Wagley Creek Automotive.GÇ¥

Every December, he drives Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus to Sultan's Christmas Tree Lighting celebration in a fire engine, and every March he escorts the Easter Bunny to Sultan's Easter Egg Hunt. He was involved in Sultan's new National Night Out event this summer, allowing numerous children the opportunity to sit in the fire truck.

"Steve also volunteers with Snohomish County Critical Incident Stress Management,GÇ¥ Murphy said. "It is designed to help people deal with their trauma one incident at a time, by allowing them to talk about the incident when it happens without judgement or criticism.GÇ¥

Tonkin helps instruct and train new firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMT), is a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) instructor and serves as the backup chaplain for the fire department. He coordinates the Bicycle Helmet Program, an incentive program that offers rewards to kids for wearing their helmets.

He chaired the inaugural Battle of the Badges police versus fire charity softball tournament this summer, a Sultan Education Foundation fundraiser that took place June 28. The event raised nearly $2,000 in scholarship money that will be awarded to students interested in pursuing a career in fire service or law enforcement.

He has been active in the fight against cancer, participating in two Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Walks while dressed in full firefighting gear. He's also accomplished the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Big Climb for leukemia, where firefighters wearing full firefighting gear climb 69 flights of stairs. The March event at Seattle's Columbia Tower includes navigating a narrow hallway for 1,311 steps and 788 feet of vertical elevation.

After the conclusion of Murphy's presentation, Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce Director Debbie Copple came forward and thanked Tonkin for his service to the community. She presented him with a handcrafted thank-you card made by community volunteer Elizabeth Emmons, to honor Tonkin for all his hard work.

"We appreciate all of your help,GÇ¥ Copple said. "We really, really thank you.GÇ¥