Tacoma Weekly - Current The Daily Mash-Up Stories

Poll Time: On the rebound?

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 11:33:21 -0800

News from Wall Street suggests that the economy is on the mend after the almost three-year “Great Recession” that saw savings accounts, retirement plans, homes and jobs disappear for many Americans.

Check back on Friday for the results.

Wilson can’t overcome Nelson-Henry, falls to Lake Washington

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 10:50:42 -0800

Being able to overcome size differentials all season long has been a staple of the Wilson Rams. That came to an end on Friday night at Rogers High School, and so did the storybook season for the Narrows 3A champions as the Lake Washington Kangaroos beat the Rams by a score of 51-40 in the 3A regional behind the 27 points of 6-foot-10 center Darien Nelson-Henry.

“We lost all our energy in the second quarter, scoring only the five points for the entirety of the eight minutes,” said Wilson head coach Dave Alwert of his team that many gave no chance to compete with the likes of Lincoln and Foss in the division.

The Rams would vault out to a five point lead at 13-8 as Jaiden Martin would have his way against the slow-footed Nelson-Henry in the low post, scoring six points. But the Kangaroos came back to score the final six points in the quarter to take a 14-13 lead and would never look back. As the Lake Washington lead increased, so did the Kangaroos’ defense, putting the clamps on both Phoenix Waters and Kevin Johnson. The duo combined for one field goal and four points total in the first half as Lake Washington took a 30-18 lead into the locker room.

“They did a great job of pressuring them and denying them the ball all night,” said Alwert. The Rams would make a run at the Kangs midway through the final quarter as Martin, Johnson, and freshman Ivy Smith keyed a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 40-34, but Nelson-Henry countered that with eight fourth-quarter points to help put the game out of reach.

As the horn sounded, there were long faces and tired bodies on the Wilson side, but after a little time for reflection, senior Kevin Johnson looked back at his four years at the north Tacoma school.

“It’s been a great experience playing for coach Alwert, he’s a great coach who I’ll miss very much…we tried to establish a goal to get to state, it’s a legacy we wanted to leave.” As the locker room was all but cleared out, Alwert added to the sentiments of the post game Wilson locker room. “I’m really proud of my kids, an I can’t say enough of the 20-win season that they accomplished.”

Lincoln comes out flat, falls to O’Dea to end season

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:47:18 -0800

Despite a monster performance from Tre’Shaun Lexing, Lincoln struggled to find other contributors as O’Dea took a 10-point first-half lead and cruised to a 67-48 win over the Abes in the 3A state regionals at Jackson High School tonight.

“We were just asleep,” said Abes head coach Aubrey Shelton. “That was the most lethargic I’ve ever seen our guys. I don’t know if they were a little nervous or scared or what, but we looked dead in warm-ups and we played dead in the game.”

Lexing finished with a game-high 29 points and 11 rebounds, but the Abes combined to shoot just over 30 percent from the field – including just 2-for-17 from three-point range – while also committing 20 turnovers.

Lexing hit two quick shots to get the game off to a 4-4 start, but O’Dea’s Jalen Ward nailed a three-pointer and Sekou Wiggs followed with a jumper to answer for the Irish. Jacob Lampkin’s layup made it 22-11 late in the second, and Wiggs’ three-point play with a minute left in the half gave O’Dea a 25-14 lead. Lincoln scored 14 of the Abes’ 16 points in the first half, as they went into the locker room trailing 26-16.

“O’Dea was ready to play, they jumped on us,” Shelton said. “But I can’t explain why we had no energy…it was disheartening.”

The Irish shot out to a 40-23 lead to start the second half before Lexing converted a three-point play, but O’Dea kept pouring it on. Wiggs and Ward each finished with 19 points, while Dana Abe had a team-high 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Irish. O’Dea also went 21-for-29 from the free-throw line, helping salt away the game in the fourth quarter. Ar’Mond Davis tallied seven points, five steals and two rebounds for Lincoln.

Say Good bye to Occupy: music to mark end of Occupy Tacoma

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:46:51 -0800

Now that the Occupy Tacoma effort downtown was formally served a 72-hour eviction notice on Thursday, the effort is throwing a final-day bash on Saturday before cleanup begins on Sunday.

Starting at noon, Jose Sanchez, John Nichols and a growing list of folks will take to the stage for a celebration that is open to the public.

Work to clean up the park will start after dawn on Sunday since the camp has to be clear out by nightfall.

Register for Kindergarten March 1

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:56:20 -0800

Enrollment for all-day kindergarten at all Tacoma Public Schools elementary sites will begin March 1 for children who will be five years old on or before Aug. 31.

Parents should contact their school of choice for enrollment purposes. Parents are required to provide a birth certificate or other document to verify the age of their child and proof of immunization when they register for kindergarten.

Parents can find details regarding the 2012 kindergarten registration and all necessary forms here or they can pick up hard copies at each elementary school.

This year, parents whose child will turn age 5 between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31 can have their child screened during August for an early entrance into kindergarten. Families can contact the Early Learning department at (253) 571-1415 for an appointment.

For more information about kindergarten registration, contact Early Learning Director Minh-Anh Hodge at (253) 571-1415 or via e-mail.

Poll Results: Obama wins in a landslide

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:47:26 -0800

With the Republican primary season grinding on with "Super Tuesday" set for March 6, three days after Washington's caucus, the Tacoma Weekly asked readers who they would vote for if the election was held today.

Barack Obama won with 96 percent of the vote. Mitt Romney came in a way-distant second with 4 percent. No other candidate received a single vote.

Check back on Monday for next week’s poll question.

Poll Time: Presidential politics

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:32:19 -0800

The Republican primary season is grinding on with "Super Tuesday" set for March 6, three days after Washington's caucus. So before the campaign season kicks into high gear this week, we thought we would ask a simple question.

Rams fall to Kennedy in district final

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:40:03 -0800

With an uncharacteristic slow start behind them, the Wilson Rams rallied behind the 21 points of Kevin Johnson but came up short, losing 65-62 to the Kennedy Catholic Lancers in the championship game of the 2012 West Central District 3A title game at the Showare Center in Kent on Monday afternoon.

“We recovered from that slow start but could not get it done in the end,” said fourth-year Ram head coach Dave Alwert of his team, which will advance to the sub-regionals at Rogers next Friday night against Lake Washington at 6 p.m.

Mitch Penner, the all-everything for Kennedy got the Lancers off to a quick start with 14 of his game-high 31 points as the Lancers opened up a 21-12 at the end of the first quarter. The Rams got back into it in the second quarter as Andraell Fountain and Ivy Smith combined for 13 points to cut the Kennedy lead to 32-27 at the half.

Wilson started the third quarter where they left off in the second with Phoenix Waters, Smith, and Fountain leading a charge to cut the Lancer lead to 50-48. With the Kennedy lead trimmed to two with two minutes left, Wilson missed three consecutive opportunities to get even or go ahead on

two turnovers and a missed jump shot by Smith.

Trailing by three with 12 seconds left, Smith leaned into a three-pointer and appeared to be hit, but no call was forthcoming as time ran out. The Narrows League 3A champs look forward to their matchup with Lake Washington on Friday night at Rogers.

“This game was a real challenge,” said Smith, as the talented freshman continued to impress as he has all year long.

“Our kids are tough as they have been all year long, they’ll bounce back from this,” added Alwert.

Zoo seeking input on plans for new aquarium complex

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 10:15:17 -0800

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium officials are announcing plans for a new aquarium complex, and they want to hear from you! Community members are invited to provide feedback at two public meetings in Tacoma on Feb. 21 and 22.

A PDZA press release states the zoo's single biggest challenge is developing a long-term plan for the nearly 50-year-old North Pacific Aquarium and the 30-year-old Rocky Shores/Arctic Tundra exhibit. Both facilities are showing typical signs of deterioration and corrosion due to salt water.

Drafts of conceptual renderings, based on input from public meetings last April, show a modern aquarium and exhibit complex, with more up-close animal experiences, improved breeding facilities, and many unique visitor experiences. For example, visitors would be able to stand inside a crashing wave and not get wet, examine a sea lion's belly from an underwater tunnel and watch sea turtles and rays from a gigantic viewing window.

The former North Pacific Aquarium would then be transformed into a South America exhibit, which would link thematically to the nearby South Pacific Aquarium. Conceptual drawings show visitors journeying into a village high in the Andes Mountains surrounded by a lush jungle filled with jaguars, monkeys, bats, lizards and insects while Andean condors fly overhead.

Staff hope to finalize the zoo's long-term master plan this spring. The zoo master plan update continues a comprehensive plan update for all of Point Defiance Park, which Metro Parks launched in conjunction with the park's centennial.

Zoo officials will host two public meetings to solicit community input: from 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Tacoma Nature Center (1919 South Tyler Street) and 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at Metro Parks Headquarters (4702 South 19th Street)

Unable to participate in a public meeting? Submit your input by email, on the zoo's Facebook page, by telephone at (253) 591-5337 or by mail at 5400 North Pearl St., Tacoma WA 98407.

Late three lifts Lady Rams over Camas

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 08:20:55 -0800

It’s been said that if you live by the three-pointer, you die by the three-pointer. The Wilson Lady Rams died many a death on Friday night, missing their first 15 tries from behind the arc until Emily Bohlen drained a three with 32 seconds left to break a 40-40 tie and propel Wilson to a 43-40 win over Camas on Friday night at Clover Park High School – clinching a berth in the state regional playoffs. The Rams will take on Auburn-Mountainview in the 3AWest Central District semifinals at Clover Park at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday night.

“It wasn’t our best night from the field and we did not attack the basket on offense very well but we found a way to win in the end, it’s great to be going to state,” said Wilson head coach Michelle Birge.

Not attacking the basket was one thing, but making only 15 out of 66 attempts from the floor was another for a Wilson team that could not shake the pregame jitters that accompany these postseason games.

Bethany Montgomery got the Lady Rams out of the gate fast with 10 first-half points as Wilson took a 30-24 lead at halftime. From there the Lady Rams would manage only five field goals the rest of the way, including Bohlen’s winning trey as Sydney Allen and Jenka Stiosna would lead a second-half charge for Camas that would tie the game at 40 on Allen’s mid-range jumper with 39 seconds left.

Waiting for somebody to step up and hit the big shot, Bohlen answered the call for Wilson, and the defense would take it from there.

“Coach told me to take it if I was open and I did. It felt good,” said Bohlen. “It feels so good going to state, we’re all so excited about it.”

“I’m happy for these girls, they stepped up on the defensive end when the offense was not there and they were rewarded for it,” said Birge.

Bellarmine outlasts Federal Way for state berth

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 08:14:17 -0800

Bellarmine coach Bernie Salazar wondered what team he would see on Friday night at the Mount Tahoma Gym, would it be the one that beat Olympia for the Narrows League top seed or the one that saw number nine-seed Kentridge take them down to the wire on Tuesday. He would receive his answer with his team missing star forward Sefo Liufau for a good portion of the second half to foul trouble.

The Lions rallied for a 48-45 win over the Federal Way Eagles behind Liufau’s 17 points and the 14 points from sharpshooter David Smith to advance to the state playoffs and semifinals of the 4A West Central District against Curtis on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Auburn High School.

“I’m extremely proud of these guys, they really played tough tonight against a good Federal Way team,” said Salazar, as he saw his team overcome the complacency they showed on Thursday night against Kentridge.

The Eagles would turn a nip-and-tuck first half into a seven-point lead early in the third quarter as D’Londo Tucker – who led the Eagles with 16 points on the night – would jumpstart the offense and the Lions’ backs were against the wall.

Having very little success scoring in the paint in the first half, Liufau and Lucas Meikle began to find success and Bellarmine would fight back to tie it at 40. Following a missed mid-range jumper by Tucker, Isaiah Flynn drilled a three-pointer to put the Lions back on top at 43-40 with a minute left in the game. Leading 48-45 late, Flynn missed four consecutive foul shots, but the Eagles could not respond and the Lions celebrated the narrow win that propels them to state.

“ It was a mugging underneath the hoop,” said Lucas Meikle. “They weren’t calling anything.” As for the trip to state, Meikle added “we’re so excited about the opportunity.” Salazar would not look that far ahead. “We’ve got a tough Curtis team to deal with tomorrow afternoon, it should be a great contest.”

As for the Vikings, they beat the Union Titans by a score of 59-51 with Rodrick Smith leading the way with 13 points and Cameron Howell chipped in with 12.

Bellarmine girls ousted by Emerald Ridge

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:10:50 -0800

Despite taking a five-point lead with three minutes to go against Emerald Ridge thanks to an eight-point run, Bellarmine couldn’t hang on in the end, falling 48-44 to the Jaguars in the 4A district consolation bracket to end their season.

“We did some good things out there,” said Lions head coach Kevin Meines. “They made the plays when they needed to and we didn’t.”

Senior guard Taylor Buie led the Jaguars with 28 points, including four three-pointers, to almost serve as the only offensive option for Emerald Ridge.

Jasmyne Holmes helped lead Bellarmine to a 9-7 first-quarter lead with five points and a nice dish to Ionna Price for an easy layup, and Nhyze Primas built the lead to 17-11 with two early baskets in the second.

The Lions held a 21-17 lead at the half, and Sydney Swofford’s three-pointer halfway through the third gave Bellarmine a 26-22 lead. But Stephanie Riley – who scored 15 points for Emerald Ridge – followed with a three of her own, and Buie’s three with two minutes left in the quarter gave the Jaguars their first lead at 28-27.

“She’s one of the best scorers in the state,” Meines said of Buie. “We didn’t have an answer for her, and you can only hope to contain a kid like that for so long.”

The seesaw battle continued into the fourth quarter, as Swofford’s three-pointer and Petty’s put-back capped an 8-0 run to put the Lions back on top 41-36 with three minutes to go.

But Buie responded with another three and gave the Jaguars the lead at 43-41 with a driving layup with a minute to go. Primas’ three-pointer with 13 seconds left put the Lions within 46-44, but Riley clinched it with two free throws at the other end.

Petty was dominant inside for Bellarmine, as the senior led the Lions with 13 points and 17 rebounds.

“She’s going to be a tough one to lose,” Meines said. “She’s one of the hardest workers we’ve ever had, and does the little things that really don’t get a lot of attention. She’s the heart and soul of this team.”

Primas had eight points and five rebounds, Holmes finished with seven points and Price had four points and 11 rebounds for the Lions.

Wilson dominates second half to overcome Mountain View

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:38:51 -0800

Overcoming a poor offensive and defensive first half that found them trailing by 12 points, Wilson came out of the gates hot in the third quarter, executing on offense and shutting down the Mountain View offense to emerge with a 55-46 win over the Thunder to advance to the 3A district semifinals on Saturday.

Mountain View’s Zach Torson scored 17 of his 19 points in the first half to help give the Thunder a 34-22 halftime lead. Wilson’s Jaiden Martin helped make up for a quiet half from leading scorer Kevin Johnson by scoring 11 of his 15 points in the first half.

“If one of us doesn’t step up, the other one has to,” Martin said. “So I guess tonight was my night to step up.”

Martin helped the Rams make a huge run in the third, adding two early buckets, and Pheonix Waters hit three free throws and stole two passes in a minute span to help close the gap to 39-37 with two minutes left in the third. Daviyonta Booth then gave the Rams their first lead by draining a three-pointer with a minute left in the quarter.

“Our pressure and our tempo brought us back in it,” Waters said. “Everybody just got confident, we all got together and said ‘let’s do this, we’re not going out like last year.’ Everybody got that fire in their heart.”

After Torson tied it at 42 with five minutes to go by scoring his only bucket of the second half, Waters answered with another bucket inside and Johnson hit a clutch three-pointer to put Wilson up 47-42 with four minutes to go.

“The seniors stepped it up in the second half, picked up the pressure on them,” said Rams head coach Dave Alwert. “We finally stopped (Torson). The scouting report said he could shoot, but it took a half before they realized he really could.”

Andraell Fountain, who finished with a game-high 18 rebounds, banked in a three-pointer for his only points of the game to clinch it for the Rams, putting them up 50-43 with a minute to go.

Waters finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, Booth added eight points and five rebounds and Martin added eight rebounds for the Rams. Wilson advances to the semifinals against Decatur on Saturday at 6:15 p.m. at Franklin Pierce High School.

Poll Results: It was quiet ... and lonely ... for Valentine’s Day

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:43:33 -0800

With Valentine's Day activities slated for all of this week, we thought it would be a good idea to ask "What do you have planned for Valentine's Day?"

The top vote getter in the poll was "Nothing. I'm single and love it," with 60 percent of the vote, followed by "Nothing. I'm single and hate it," which received 20 percent of the responses.

Rounding out the list was "bar hopping around town" and "quiet time at home," which both received 10 percent of the vote.

Check back in on Monday for next week's Tacoma Weekly poll question.

Share your thoughts on new aquarium possibilities

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:12:08 -0800

Imagine standing inside a crashing wave without getting wet, examining a sea lion's belly from an underwater tunnel, or watching sea turtles and rays from a gigantic window. All these ideas and more are being bandied about for a new aquarium at Point Defiance Zoo, and the public is invited to take part in the brainstorming. Two public forums will be held to hear what folks have to say – on Feb. 21 at Tacoma Nature Center (1919 S. Tyler St.) from 6-7:30 p.m.; and Feb. 22 at Metro Parks Headquarters (4702 S. 19th St.) from 6-7:30 p.m. Learn more at www.pdza.org or call (253) 591-5337.

It’s official, Munn takes the limelight at Playhouse

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:10:08 -0800

The Lakewood Playhouse has announced that John Munn can take the "temporary" off his title. He is now the theater's managing artistic director after a year of serving at the post. He took over operations of the nonprofit theater when Marcus Walker announced he was battling cancer. Walker has since died, but the roadway in front of the theater now bears his name.

Munn was born and raised in Tacoma and graduated from Charles Wright Academy. He attended the University of LaVerne in California and Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland.

He started his theatrical career in the Young Actor's Program at Tacoma Little Theatre when he was eight years old. This year marks both his 30-year anniversary of his acting debut at the Lakewood Playhouse, during a production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." It is also his 15th anniversary as a director for the Playhouse.

Munn has some 100 local stage productions to his credit and has served on the boards of both the Playhouse and Tacoma Little Theatre.

He is also the founder, and CEO, of Comic Book Ink, a 9-year-old award-winning comic shop located in Lakewood.

A 50-year tradition: Tacoma Buddhist Temple holds annual sukiyaki dinner

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:45:17 -0800

The Tacoma Buddhist Temple will hold its 50th annual sukiyaki dinner fundraiser on Sunday, March 4, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. The golden anniversary of this popular community event will once again feature the dinner's namesake, sukiyaki – a one-pot meal of thinly sliced beef, saifun noodles, tofu, green onions and other vegetables, all lightly sautéed in a flavorful broth. Also on the menu: teriyaki chicken, teriyaki beef shish kabobs, mochi ice cream, rice and drinks. Items cost $1 to $11. The dinner debuted as a two-day weekend event in 1962. Back then it wasn't easy to buy Japanese specialty cookware. After members decided to hold the fundraiser, the temple's minister at the time, the Rev. Sadamaro Ouchi, on his next trip to Japan bought scores of aluminum pans designed to cook individual portions of sukiyaki. The temple still uses those pans, along with additional ones purchased over the years. Temple cooks also have been using virtually the same sukiyaki recipe, from the late temple member Martha Yoshioka, all these years. The secret? "It's the broth," said Toyoko Nakagawara, a temple member who has volunteered since the first sukiyaki dinner. Temple cooks boil beef bones starting the night before the event, and then strain the juice, providing a flavorful base for the broth. The broth is key, she said, because the sukiyaki is cooked quickly. Kats Fujita said she notices people spooning the broth over the rice to enjoy it as much as possible. Fujita and her husband Hiroshi "Fudge" Fujita served as general co-chairmen of the first dinner. "Our sukiyaki has always had real good taste, real good flavor," she said. Tacoma Buddhist Temple is located at 1717 Fawcett Ave. Visit www.tacomabt.org.

Burlesque show pays off for nonprofits

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:47:21 -0800

The financial gamble of staging a burlesque fundraiser for the YWCA-Pierce County and Broadway Center for the Performing Arts has apparently paid off.

The local Gritty City Sirens andOlympia's Tush troupe did their tassle-twirling thing to a huge crowd and a warm reception during the Valentine's Day show at the Pantages. Organizers hope it will be become an annual event.

"Originally, we were going to debut at Theater on the Square, but sold out two weeks ago," YWCA Marketing Director Kelly McDonald. Even that move proved too small since the plans were to keep the audience on the lower level, but that changed as the sale of $40-a-seat tickets kept climbing. The event raised about $20,000 between the two nonprofits.

"Next year, we're hoping for a sellout," McDonald said.

Tacoma Fire makes call for Emergency Response members

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:51:39 -0800

The unthinkable happens, a major quake devastates the greater Tacoma area, first responders are unable to get to your neighborhood to help - would you know what to do?

The Community Emergency Response Team Program educates participants about the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, utility safety, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

The Tacoma Fire Department invites citizens who live or work within the city limits of Tacoma to become certified members of the team through completion of the free CERT program. The spring training begins March 6.

For more details about the course schedule and meeting dates register online.

Walmart releases economic impact report on Tacoma location

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:45:39 -0800

Hebert Research, Inc., a Bellevue-based international market research firm, released an economic impact case study for the proposed Walmart in the City of Tacoma on behalf of the retail giant.

Conclusions: "Walmart projects that its Tacoma site will employ approximately 300 total people (full-time, part-time and management). In addition to the 300 jobs that this will directly create, the wages earned by these Walmart employees will be spent in the local economy, creating an effect beyond the raw value of the wages paid.

By employing approximately 60 percent of its workforce at full-time (about 180 associates working on average at $12.79 per hour), an analysis using IMPLAN economic modeling projects that, of the $4,788,576 that will be paid annually to these Walmart employees, an average of $3,987,949 of that money will be spent in the local economy each year.

Indirect effects, reflecting changes in inter-industry purchases caused by increased consumer demand, amount to an additional $1,120,295 per year." Induced effects will add a further $1,216,352 per year. This represents additional changes in household spending caused by the increase in money flowing through the economy. "In total, the jobs created by the Tacoma Walmart will add approximately $6,324,596 to the local economy per year."

To download the full study, click here.

Pierce County receives $450,000 for Puyallup River flood study

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:42:50 -0800

Pierce County announced today that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers allocated $450,000 to continue studying strategies to address significant flooding issues along the Puyallup River.

Known as the Puyallup River General Investigation, the study is a six-year, cooperative process involving local jurisdictions and partners. The study is now in its second year, and the allocated funds will allow the study to continue with no delays.

"Thousands of jobs in Pierce County's flood plain depend on minimizing flood risk and protecting vital resources," said U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA). "This investment will go a long way in building a plan that best protects against loss of life and property in the Puyallup River basin."

The Puyallup River Executive Task Force, established by Pierce County in 2008, is providing regional coordination for the General Investigation. The Task Force includes most local jurisdictions in the Puyallup River Basin as well as Pierce County, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the Port of Tacoma, King County, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Washington Department of Transportation and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce.

"The funding being allocated to the Puyallup River General Investigation is a result of hard work by Task Force members and the entire delegation of Washington state's congressional representatives," said Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy. "This project is a high priority."

The Puyallup River basin includes the Puyallup, Carbon, and White Rivers. All begin on Mount Rainier and eventually flow into the Puyallup River and Commencement Bay in Tacoma.

"The Puyallup River basin covers more than 1,000 square miles and is home to about 280,000 people," said County Council Chair Joyce McDonald (District 2). "Much of our economy, particularly as it relates to the Port of Tacoma, is within an area that would be dramatically affected by flooding. With so many jobs dependent on activities at the port, it's vital that we continue this study."

With Valentine’s Day activities slated for all this week, we thought it would be a good idea to ask

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:41:19 -0800

Smith wants your thoughts, questions

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:10:36 -0800

The Tacoma Weekly has been chatting with Ninth Congressional Districtc Rep. Adam Smith about ways to find out your thoughts on issues and help answer your questions about all things Congressional.

Here is the first question that was submitted by a reader for that ongoing effort:

Question: Pierce County faces some high-budget infrastructure work with floods and roads, what sort of federal assistance should we expect for them or from the state level for the crumbling infrastructure?

Smith: Transportation and water infrastructure projects are funded by the federal government through a combination of multi-year programmatic funding, annual appropriations by Congress, and through grants that provide supplemental funds to specific water and transportation initiatives.

Historically, Congress enacts legislation that appropriates gas tax revenue for highway and transit projects over several years. Funding for water projects has also traditionally been provided each year and in amounts necessary to maintain the nation's municipal water, flood control, inland navigation, and other water-related priorities.

Unfortunately, deep disagreements about how much funding should be provided to transportation and how to raise sufficient revenues to keep our nation's infrastructure in good repair have prevented consistent passage of long-term transportation legislation. Also, despite an ever-growing list of backlogged water projects in need of federal assistance, the annual funding provided for these priorities has not kept pace with needs.

Gas tax revenues that have not been adjusted for inflation or to account for changes in driving behavior that no longer generate the revenue necessary to maintain and improve our highways and transit systems. The systemic budget dilemma facing all areas of the federal budget where we don't collect enough revenue to cover our expenditures also makes costly but vitally important water projects difficult to afford. However, I will continue working with my colleagues to reform our federal transportation and water infrastructure efforts and to ensure that in the future, we adequately prioritize and fund vital infrastructure projects that support economic growth in our nation and the South Sound region.

Despite our infrastructure funding challenges, there are opportunities for our community to seek federal assistance for local projects. In 2011, Washington was awarded more than $30 million in Federal grants through collaborative efforts between the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), locally impacted cities and counties, and Washington's Congressional delegation. Traditionally, the state has been successful at making a strong case for local projects and securing federal support, and I remain committed to working with WSDOT, leaders in our community, and members of our state's Congressional delegation to secure federal assistance for projects that help address our local transportation and infrastructure needs.

Have a question for Smith? Send it to stevedunkel@tacomaweekly.com and I'll get it answered.

Traffic delays on Schuster Parkway

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:41:34 -0800

On Feb. 11 Schuster Parkway will experience short-term traffic delays while crews remove a potentially hazardous tree. Starting at 10 a.m., both northbound and southbound traffic will be stopped for up to 30 minutes for tree removal. Traffic may be reduced to one lane in the southbound direction until 12:30 p.m. to allow for debris cleanup. Northbound traffic will be stopped at South 4th Street. southbound traffic from North 30th Street will be stopped at Starr Street. Southbound traffic on Ruston Way will be stopped at McCarver Street. Alternate routes are advised.

Tacoma Philharmonic merges with Broadway Center

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:30:56 -0800

Two South Sound creative powerhouses, the Tacoma Philharmonic and the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, will permanently join forces as of April 30.

The new agreement will continue the Philharmonic's 75-year legacy of presenting classical music, touring artists and educational programs to the region, all under the Broadway Center umbrella. "The BCPA and Tacoma Philharmonic are both leaders in presenting world-class performances," said Broadway Center's Executive Director David Fischer. "This decision will allow both organizations to preserve what matters most - continuing great programs."

The merged operations will allow the groups to save on administrative costs and streamline operations as the economy improves.

"This partnership represents another exciting chapter in the Philharmonic's evolution," said Barry Benson, Tacoma Philharmonic's Board president. "The Philharmonic has changed in many ways these past 75 years, particularly from a producing organization to a presenting organization. Today, in our presenting role, we share a similar mission with the Broadway Center and so by combining forces, this new relationship will benefit our community in a big way."

Under this new structure, the Broadway Center will:

Present 4 annual performances with the best in classical touring artists, Host the annual Beatrice Herrmann Young Artist Competition including the awarding of scholarship funds, Continue classical music services to K-12 students, Manage all activities, -- and Steward the Tacoma Philharmonic Endowment to exclusively support these programs.

On May 18, the community is invited to attend a "Wedding Ceremony" at the Fircrest Country Club to celebrate the union of the two organizations, to honor the Tacoma Philharmonic's 75 Years, and to prepare for a great future. The party will include diner, music and a special fund raising drawing, all for $75 per person. You'll find more information at www.tacomaphilharmonic.org, or by calling the Box Office at 253.591.5894.

Poll Results: Historical Preservation

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:10:43 -0800

This week's poll question asked readers to ponder which of Tacoma's icons are too valuable to let go, even if saving them means spending tax dollars to preserve them.

The top pick was Old City Hall with 47 percent of the vote.

Coming in second was Union Station with 29 percent.

Third place was "Let the free market handle what should be saved and what should be replaced" with 12 percent.

Rounding out the list was a tie at 6 percent for the former Russell Investment building and Freighthouse Square.

Check back at TacomaWeekly.com on Monday for next week’s poll question.

List of counter protesters to Westboro picketing of Powell funeral continues to grow

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:16:45 -0800

Within hours of the announcement that picketers associated with the controversial, anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church will protest the funeral of Charlie and Brandon Powell, two boys who died in a fire started by their father last Sunday, social media tweets and status updates lit up with calls for a "Tacoma style" counter protest so that the funeral can proceed peacefully.

The funeral is set for 11 a.m. Saturday at Life Center Church on Union Avenue and is expected to draw thousands of mourners, protesters, counter protesters and journalists from around the nation.

Westboro protesters, known for picketing the funerals of soldiers killed in combat with chants and signs that God is punishing the nation for its tolerance of homosexuality, have vowed to attend the funeral as a way to link the deaths to the state's efforts to legalize gay marriage.

A main counter-protest to the anti-gay picketers is being organized by NorthWest Music Scene. It's Facebook page went from a dozen or so supporters to more than 450 in a matter of hours after it was created. Occupy Tacoma and Seattle supporters have added their ranks to the counter-Westboro rally as has a roster of other local community groups and celebrities, including local musician Kim Archer.

Wilson beats Lincoln for perfect league record, number-one seed

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:47:20 -0800

Phoenix Waters poured in 24 points to lead a trio of Rams in double figures as Wilson completed a perfect league season by defeating the Lincoln Abes 64-62 on Wednesday night in front of an overflow crowd. The Rams led from start to finish to hold off a late charge by the Abes for their 10th consecutive win and a 10-0 league record.

"They're playing with a lot of rhythm right now and we have a tremendous amount of chemistry," said Wilson head coach Dave Alwert of his Narrows 3A champs, who will have nine days off before beginning West Central District play on Friday Feb. 17 at Franklin Pierce High School. Lincoln will play Foss on Feb. 10 to determine the numbers two and three seeds to the WCD and both will begin play on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at Franklin Pierce.

Both teams came out of the gate hot, as Waters scored 11 of his 24 on the night in the first quarter, with Wilson taking a 22-16 into the second. Tre'Shaun Lexing began to get the Abes back into the game in the second quarter, scoring seven of his game-high 25 points to keep Lincoln close at the half, trailing 33-27. Trailing 48-36 going into the fourth quarter, Lexing began to take matters into his own hand, scoring 10 points in the final stanza to cut the Rams' lead to five, at 56-51. But freshman Ivy Smith responded for Wilson with eight points of his own in the quarter to preserve the win for Rams.

"We definitely saved our best for last," said Alwert of his team's unblemished run through the Narrows 3A ranks. "Sometimes Ivy scares the daylights out of me but in the end he makes the plays when we need them."

With the aforementioned nine days to breathe, Alwert reflected on the just completed season. "Our toughness was established early by our seniors. Phoenix, Kevin, and Jaiden made sure the only thing the younger players cared about was not who scored but who got the open shot and making sure we won the game, regardless of the stats. I can't say enough about these kids." Lincoln will play Foss on Feb. 10 to determine the numbers two and three seeds to the WCD, and both will begin play on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at Franklin Pierce.

Broadway Center wants to hear from you

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:09:47 -0800

Broadway Center for the Performing Arts is conducting its 2012-13 Season Survey online. It takes only 10 minutes for you to help influence next year's events. Just click on the link below and have fun!

June 22 last day of school for Tacoma Public Schools

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:36:53 -0800

Tacoma Public Schools announced yesterday that TPS students will attend school June 20-22 to make up for the three school days lost to snow in January.

The Tacoma School Board previously approved those dates as official snow make-up days as part of a series of calendar revisions made last September.

At this time, the district will not seek permission or apply for a waiver from the state to avoid making up those schools days lost to snow.

"Our highest priority is giving our students as much instruction as we can," , Superintendent-elect (Interim) Carla Santorno said. "That's why, after looking at all our options and considering the length of the school year, we're opting for the extension through June 22."

However, should the district lose any additional school days to inclement weather, Santorno said she would reconsider asking the state Superintendent of Public Instruction for a waiver to prevent the Tacoma school year from running beyond Friday, June 22, and into another week of summer.