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Letter to the Editor: Joyce McDonald

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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Merry Christmas! As my time as your Pierce County Council District 2 Representative comes to a close on Dec. 31, 2016, I want you to know it has been an honor to serve as your Pierce County Councilmember.
During my past eight years on the Council, I was pleased to serve on the board of the Crystal Judson Family Justice Center, where I worked to protect women and children who are the victims of domestic violence. Also, I have kept my promises to you to help make Pierce County a great place to live, work and play by supporting our farms and farmers, building the new accessible playground at Meridian Habitat Park, and supporting funding to complete two missing links of the Foothills Trail.
Furthermore, the Council recently passed the 2017 Budget and once again made public safety our number one priority. We have added five new Deputy Sheriffs, increased the budget for the Corrections Bureau, added electronic monitoring services for the pre-trial services program, provided additional support for South Sound 911 dispatch services, and funded two positions in the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for pro-active property crime cases.  
Please go to www.piercecountywa.org/Index.aspx?NID=94 for more 2017 budget details.
I value the trust you have placed in me to represent you on the Pierce County Council. As always, if there is anything I can do to assist you, please feel free to email me at Joyce.McDonald@co.pierce.wa.us or call me at my office (253) 798-6694 until Dec. 31. After Dec. 31, you can reach me down at the State Legislator as the 25th District Representative! I look forward to hearing from you.

Best Regards,
Joyce McDonald
Pierce County Council District 2


Our view: Heroes among us

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Reginald “Jake” Gutierrez went to work on Nov. 30, just like any other day during his 17 years of wearing the blue uniform of the Tacoma Police Department. The dispatch to a domestic disturbance at a home along the 400 block of East 52rd Street that day was not unusual either. Gutierrez was known for defusing emotionally tense situations, and this one started like the hundreds of other calls he resolved.
Then chaos erupted. Bruce R. Johnson II fatally shot Gutierrez, who other officers managed to pull from the house to be rushed to Tacoma General Hospital for emergency surgery. Gutierrez later died. Johnson used his own children as human shields during a police standoff that ended with a bullet from a Pierce County Sheriff's deputy.
Gutierrez was a hero. But he was not a hero because he was killed in the line of duty. He was a hero for the 17 years of reporting for duty with the knowledge that he could be seriously hurt or killed each and every day since he took his oath to protect and serve.
He was a hero for continuing to serve as the nation’s streets become increasingly dangerous for those who volunteer to protect citizens from criminals seeking to do harm for their own gain or enjoyment. The nation has experienced 134 police murders just this year, a 14 percent jump from last year. More than half of those were victims of gun violence.
It takes a special soul to willingly run toward danger while every fiber, instinct and common sense scream for self-preservation. But police officers, firefighters, other emergency responders and members of the military put others over themselves every day because they are made of special stuff that drives them to serve others at all costs, up to an including their very lives. 
Clearly, not everyone can do that. But we can all do what is right, by serving our neighborhoods with whatever time, talent or treasure we have so others benefit. None of us can do everything, but everyone can do something. Maybe that is volunteering to serve as a citizen safety patrol by walking nearby streets. Maybe it is being a supportive ear for someone struggling with the daily grind of life or depths of depression. Maybe it’s tutoring a neighbor with English lessons or just helping them with their shopping bags rather than silently watching them struggle as they walk across the parking lot.
We can’t all be heroes to the community, but we can all be heroes to someone.

Find apocalyptic ales at Dystopian State Brewery Co.

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Dystopian State Brewing Company is the new kid on the block of Tacoma's continuously growing beer scene. The historic building that used to be home to the Arctic Bottling Company, and Wagner Motors, has now been overhauled to be a Dystopian-themed microbrewery and 10,000 sq. ft. tap room – yet keeper of the old world charm. While a utopian state represents a place with perfect qualities, the dystopian state does just the opposite.
The idea of operating a brewery started about a year ago when co-owners Shane McElwrath, Lana Adzhigirey and Chris Bradley combined business knowledge, the desire to create a family-friendly place and McElwrath's home brewing experience.
“We are going to make a lot of styles and do it right here in the Pacific Northwest with local ingredients, try to keep it real and do something original,” says McElwarth who also acts as the head brewer. “We think our beer is outstanding, and it's only going to get better. The brewery is a very cozy and intimate space,” he says about the living room-like atmosphere.
The decision to open the brewery in Tacoma was an easy one. “Never mind Seattle and their hundred breweries, neve rmind Portland. Tacoma's got a cool scene, they've got innovative new beers, let's go there and try it out,” says McElwrath.
In addition to wrapping up the permit side of the brewery, the multi-talented owners also took a shot at exploring their woodworking skills, building tables from spools and crafting the centerpiece counter top.
The three flagship beers include a broad range of flavors: Helmet Breaker, a double IPA on the malty side; the Gold Sigil Honey Wheat Ale made with coriander honey from California; and the Red Queen Red India Pale Ale, aromatic and earthy. There are 18 taps with flagship and seasonal beers.
“One of the things that we can do that other breweries can't is doing pretty complex step-mashing with our system, meaning that we can do beers that are very true to style for German beers,” says McElwrath. “That's something this town doesn't have a lot of.”
“I always recommend the Red Queen first,” says Adzhigirey who likes to "interrogate" guests about their preferred tastes to help with the perfect match. “The Coconut Cream Ale is very popular, but it's very divisive – people either hate it or love it.” As no artificial flavors are used in any of the products, the guests are in for a flavorful experience.
“Tacoma has really accepted us with arms wide open,” says Adzhigirey. During the initial opening on Nov. 4, about a thousand thirsty guests were in line for a new taste. Although the brewery is off to a good start, the Dystopian State team already has big plans for the future. Making kegs available to businesses and starting to bottle beers in February are next on the agenda. “We're just excited to get going with the full-swing production in the brewery,” says McElwrath.
Live music comes to the microbrewery on Thursdays and Fridays, and events like the Sounders MLS Cup Party on Dec. 10, with more event planning underway, will keep guests of all ages entertained. This brewery, however, is not your new neighborhood sports bar, as only a few select events are shown.
“We like to keep it about beer, conversation and literature. Back to basics,” says Adzhigirey. “We're a brew town; this is where you can get the best craft beer.”
Even McElwrath's daughter Isla, 8, was an eager helper during the growing process and instrumental in deciding if the artwork would be appropriate for other kids. With families as patrons in mind, the Dystopian State team wanted to create a space where everyone feels included. While snack food is available, the brewery plans to book food trucks on Fridays and Saturdays to keep patrons fed. A small café is expected to open as a separate entity within the brewery during the next year.
The brewery is located near the intersection of 7th Street and St. Helens. Business hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. Cheers to that!

Wilson doing it again

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The world of high school basketball is a mixed bag in the early season. Some teams have already got it, while it’s clear that some other squads are probably going to be working toward some success in the next year or so. Occasionally, a school will jump out immediately as a team on the rise and you’d better keep an eye on them. The Wilson Rams boys’ team has had a long stretch of success, so the newest version may not be on the rise; so much as they have the look of another contender under Wilson head coach David Alwert.

This is the fourth season of high school basketball for this writer, and at first blush, this Wilson team shares some similarities to recent squads.  They’re fast, athletic and can whip up some defensive pressure that can turn an opponent’s game plan into mush.

They also have a new look about them that is a little difficult to put a single finger on. With two juniors standing taller than 6-7, the Rams have some size that is going to produce some matchup problems for opponents. While they haven’t exactly been towering in the past few years, Wilson has had some moderate size on their teams. Emmitt Matthews, Jr. (6-7) and Nathaniel Stokes (6-8) can get after it inside the paint and stretch the defense beyond the three-point line. It’s hard to imagine a more potent pair of juniors in the city of Tacoma.

After a year off from basketball, former Tacoma Weekly All-City Team selection Londrell Hamilton has found a new home as the point guard for the Rams. The senior is a playmaker and a game changer when he plays within himself, and a full season playing inside Alwert’s program is probably going to do wonders for Hamilton’s game, and subsequently the fortunes of the Rams overall.

Wilson graduated one of the best basketball players the city has ever produced in David Jenkins, Jr. If there were questions as to who was going to fill his shoes, the answer is there’s no way to reproduce the sort of scoring exploits Jenkins delivered in his career. However, this just may be the sort of balanced team that isn’t going to need someone dropping an occasional 50-point game on opponents to secure a win.

While some local teams had already played three games, Wilson began the season a little late this year. With their home gymnasium still under remodel, the Rams will be playing their home games at the University of Puget Sound’s Memorial Fieldhouse. Up first on the season’s schedule would be more like an exhibition game for the Rams.

The Melbourne Magic paid a visit to UPS on Tuesday, Dec. 6 to finally give the Rams a full-game opponent. A team made up of talented players from three schools in Australia, the Magic were undersized versus the Rams and following a 71-58 loss to class 2B Life Christian the previous night, it felt safe to say that the next 32 minutes were going to be rough on the boys from down under.

Melbourne was undersized, but they were certainly quick and scrappy. Midway through the first quarter, it looked as though Wilson was going to put the blowout into motion as they approached a double-digit lead. A three pointer and a couple baskets by Melbourne pulled the Aussies within a couple of points and suddenly there was a ballgame going on at UPS. Wilson held a small 19-17 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter started with a flurry from Wilson junior guard Hunter Allen. After scoring on a short baseline runner, Allen then stole the inbounds pass and muscled the ball into the basket. The next inbound pass was nabbed by senior guard Michael Doss, who dished it quickly to Allen for a layup. It was six points by Allen within about a 10-second window, and the Rams were off and running with a 25-17 lead. A little over two minutes later, the Rams lead had exploded to 36-18, as they ramped up the full court pressure and defensive traps. Melbourne had no answer for it, and could only hang on for dear life. Wilson would go on to take a 52-28 lead into halftime.

At the 2:26 mark of the third quarter, the Wilson lead had hit 41 points at 69-28. The state of Washington has a mercy rule that begins running the clock during all dead ball stoppages (other than time outs or injuries) once a team reaches a 40-point advantage. It truly was a mercy for Melbourne, as Wilson could have made a legitimate run at a 100-point finish. The 82-36 final score was result of two solid quarters by the Rams. Wilson’s second and third quarter output was frenzied, wild and exciting. It will be quite the sight to see when these Rams put together a solid four quarters of action.

The Rams were led in scoring by Matthews’ 19 points. Doss added 14, while Hamilton and Allen added 10 apiece. In all, nine players scored for the Rams in the contest.

Every year, the biggest basketball games in the city are the two showdowns between the Lincoln Abes and the Wilson Rams. League and district champions are often the result of who comes out on top between these two teams. Mark the calendars for Friday, Dec. 16 as the Rams will host Lincoln at UPS at 8 p.m. As the games are always a standing room only affair, the expansive Memorial Fieldhouse should be the perfect setting for what could prove to be a titanic matchup.

TACOMA’S HOT TICKETS DEC. 9 - 18

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THURSDAY, DEC. 8 - BASKETBALL
Girls - Lindbergh vs. Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce HS - 7 p.m.

THURSDAY, DEC. 8 - BASKETBALL
Girls - Puyallup vs. Curtis
Curtis HS - 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, DEC. 9 - BASKETBALL
Boys - Evergreen vs. Washington
Washington HS - 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, DEC. 9 – BASKETBALL
Boys – Fife vs. Foss
Henry Foss HS – 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, DEC. 9 – BASKETBALL
Boys – Stadium vs. Lincoln
Lincoln HS – 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, DEC. 9 – BASKETBALL
Girls – Lincoln vs. Stadium
Stadium HS – 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, DEC. 9 - BASKETBALL
Girls - Span. Lake vs. Mt. Tahoma
Mt. Tahoma HS - 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, DEC. 10 - BASKETBALL
Boys - Rogers vs. Bellarmine
Bellarmine HS - 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, DEC. 10 - BASKETBALL
Boys - Olympia vs. Curtis
Curtis HS - 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, DEC. 10 – MASL SOCCER
Ontario Fury vs. Tacoma Stars
ShoWare Center, Kent – 7:35 p.m.

SATURDAY, DEC. 10 - BASKETBALL
Boys - Eastside Catholic vs. Lincoln
Univ. of Puget Sound - 8:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, DEC. 13 - BASKETBALL
Girls - Puyallup vs. Bellarmine
Bellarmine HS - 7 p.m.

TUESDAY, DEC. 13 - BASKETBALL
Girls - South Kitsap vs. Curtis
Curtis HS - 7 p.m.

TUESDAY, DEC. 13 -  BASKETBALL
Girls - Evergreen vs. Foss
Henry Foss HS - 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14 - BASKETBALL
Boys - Bethel vs. Mt. Tahoma
Mt. Tahoma HS - 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14 - BASKETBALL
Girls - Bonney Lake vs. Lincoln
Lincoln HS - 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14 - BASKETBALL
Girls - Spanaway Lake vs. Stadium
Stadium HS - 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14 - BASKETBALL
Girls - Lakes vs. Wilson
Univ. of Puget Sound - 8 p.m.

FRIDAY, DEC. 16 - BASKETBALL
Boys - Olympia vs. Bellarmine
Bellarmine HS - 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, DEC. 16 - BASKETBALL
Boys - Sumner vs. Curtis
Curtis HS - 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, DEC. 16 - BASKETBALL
Boys - Bethel vs. Stadium
Stadium HS - 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, DEC. 16 - BASKETBALL
Girls - Wilson vs. Lincoln
Lincoln HS - 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, DEC. 16 - BASKETBALL
Boys - Lincoln vs. Wilson
Univ. of Puget Sound - 8 p.m.

SATURDAY, DEC. 17 - WISL SOCCER
Snohomish vs. Tacoma Stars Reserves
Tacoma Soccer Center - 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, DEC. 18 - MASL SOCCER
San Diego Sockers vs. Tacoma Stars
ShoWare Center, Kent - 3 p.m.

Excitement on the flat track

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The flat track was the place to be Dec. 3 as the Dockyard Derby Dames, Tacoma's Roller derby league, held its third bout of its 11 season. Dubbed “Wreck the Halls,” the event was a double header.
The evening's first match-up saw the DYDD's own Marauding Mollys square up against the Rodeo City Rollergirls from Ellensburg. The contest turned out to be one of the most exciting brawls seen on the flat track for quite some time.
Rodeo City pulled out to an early lead by virtue of their wily jammers Yo-Yo Mauler, Lady Colt and Master Bouter. Not to be outdone, the swashbuckling Mollys fought back, led by Bones and SkatezOphrinic, the team's two main jammers. In the 18th Jam of the first period, Bones swept the track repeatedly, taking advantage of a power jam (a situation in which the opposing jammer is in the penalty box.) She was able to chalk up a whopping 27 points to put the Mollys into the lead.
In the second period, the Mollys were able to hang onto their lead, but with only a narrow margin. The marauders in purple seemed poised to win the bout, going into the final jam with an 18 point lead and only 3 seconds left on the clock. In roller derby, the last jam is allowed to run its course even after the clock has expired. The Rodeo City Rollergirls placed their slim hopes on Yo-Yo Mauler, who won the lead jam position and proceeded to go on a scoring rampage. When the dust settled, Rodeo City had put up 20 more points bringing them a 2-point victory with a final score of 171-169. The feat had the crowd up and cheering wildly for the galloping mavericks from Ellensburg.
The second bout of the night was a rematch between the two teams that met in last season's championship, in which the Femme Fianna defeated the Trampires. In this meet-up, the Trampires were thirsty for blood and there were multiple lead changes through much of the first period.
The Femme Fianna, however, had several big jams like that of graceful Slainbow Brite who racked up 27 points in the eighth. Slainbow scampered, leapt, and spun her way as she made several scoring runs through the chaos of the pack.
Nevertheless, the Trampires managed to keep things close, due in large part to the efforts of jammer RZA Mortis, who had a nearly perfect lead jam percentage rate throughout the first period. The second period of the bout, however, was not as kind to RZA Mortis. She was kept bottled up by opposing blockers and rarely if ever saw herself in the lead jam position. Meanwhile, Trampire jammers Nine Inch Snails and Foxy Opossum had only modest success throughout the contest. Boioing always managed to win lead in her jams, but she was used as a jammer only sparingly.
In addition to Slainbow Brite, the Femme Fianna deployed Penny Tration, Hannibal Deck'er, Chronic Tush and Paulie Pocket Knife with great success. Over the course of the second period, the Femme Fianna pulled steadily away and were able to win victory over the Trampires, a repeat of last season's championship bout. The final score was 195-121 in favor of the ladies of the Emerald Isle.
Roller derby bouts are family friendly affairs with fans often dressed in colors or regalia of favorite teams. Mascots pass out candy and prizes. Skaters are at tables selling memorabilia or fanning out through the stands selling raffle tickets. There is a party pier for those over 21 to enjoy adult beverages. There is also a trackside, VIP seating area where the action can be viewed up close.
At “Wreck the Halls,” there was a moment of high hilarity when one of the night's announcers tried to leap over the championship trophy before the second match-up. He was unable to make a clean leap over the towering trophy and ended up turning the cherished object into a ruined relic. One can only hope that the damage can be repaired. The next home bout is slated for Jan. 28 at DYDD home track, which is located in the gymnasium of Pierce College in Lakewood. For further information visit www.dockyardderbydames.com.

Dope music festival returns to Tacoma

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The Dope Music Festival – a locally produced showcase of hip-hop, fashion and cannabis culture – will return to the Tacoma Dome next week, this time as a two-day event featuring some of the biggest names in rap music starting at 5 p.m. on Dec. 16 and 17.
The inaugural event, produced by Tacoma record label and production company Sky Movement, brought Chris Brown, Schoolboy Q and more to the Tacoma Dome in 2014. After a year up north in Everett, production duties will be split between Sky Movement and Tacoma marijuana retailer Two Five Trees, which will produce the opening half of this year's festival.
Themed “Old School Night,” the Dec. 16 show will be headlined by Busta Rhymes who will be joined by fellow hip-hop veterans DMX, E-40, Method Man, Redman, Too Short, Kokane, Da Brat, The Pharcyde and Money B and Young Hump from Digital Underground.  
Sky Movement has put together a roster for night two that focuses on artists popular among milliennials, the likes of Gucci Mane, Meek Mill, Jeramih, Lil Uzi Vert, William Singe and Russ. Comedian Nate Jackson, a Lacey native who is part of the new cast of Nick Cannon's “Wild'n Out” on MTV, will be back to emcee, as he did in 2014. Homegrown talent will also include Tacoma rappers Yodi Mac and Clemm Rishad. The latter is half of Tacoma songwriting team the Writer's Block (also sing-songwriter Will Jordan), which is best known for co-writing Nicki Minaj's 2010 hit “Fly.”
“There are so many high-quality people and artists involved that their knowledge and experience really helped,” said Two Five Trees spokesman Dan Curtis. “It was our vision to merge cannabis, music and education into a full-on festival, and I think we’re going to achieve that.”
Not that planning the event was without obstacles. “There were some ‘nos’ at first,” Curtis said. “We needed help from Sky Movement to secure the venue. Then those ‘nos’ became ‘yeses’ after we were able to show that this is going to be a big community event with amazing music and top-notch education and knowledge of the cannabis industry.”
The lineup for the old-school half of the festival is stacked with high caliber artists that span the '80s to the present.
“These are legends in music,” Curtis said. “Their name recognition is huge, and we are trying to pack as many people into the Dome as we can. We wanted as many people as possible to be exposed to the music and the education, and these artists.”
Busta Rhymes – born Trevor Smith, Jr., and best known for “Dangerous,” “Wooh Ha!!! Got You All in Check” and other hits  – seems especially re-energized at the moment. He is liberally featured on “We Got it From Here … Thank You 4 Your Service,” the new, critically acclaimed album from A Tribe Called Quest, the veteran rap group that helped launch his career by featuring his old group, Leaders of the New School, on the classic, 1991 album “The Low End Theory.” And, fittingly, Busta's fierce delivery recalls the days when he “roared like a dungeon dragon.”
Rapper DMX (aka Earl Simmons) is mounting a comeback of his own. He became one of the few artists to ever have two No. 1 albums in the same year in 1998 when “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot” and “Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood” each topped the charts. He's had ups and downs since then, including struggles with addiction and bizarre arrests, the latter lampooned by his hilarious cameo in Chris Rock's 2014 comedy “Top Five.”
The other Earl, Oakland's Earl “E-40” Stevens, has had a seemingly timeless career as he's dropped an unbelievable 24 albums since he debuted with “Federal” in 1994. He remains as relevant than ever on his latest discs, “The D-Boy Diary” books one and two. 
Then there is fellow West Coast rapper Jerry Long, a.k.a. Kokane. “Kokane was a big help and inspiration for this show,” event publicist Lori Pacchiano said. “He is an incredible family man who is married with eight children. He lives in the Pacific Northwest now, but he was an instrumental part of the early Los Angeles hip hop scene. ... He helped bring the show to fruition by using his connections and relationships to get some of the other artists on board.”
Topping the bill for the second night of the Dope Music Festival are Gucci Mane and Meek Mill. Gucci Mane – real name Radric Delantic Davis – has helped spark a renaissance in the Atlanta hip hop scene as he's popularized the hip hop subgenre, trap music.
Meek Mill is currently the most popular MC out of Philadelphia. In 2011, XXL named him to its "Freshman Class of 2011." He is primarily known as a battle-rapper, having survived huge battles with some of hip ßhop's biggest names including Cassidy, Drake, The Game, and Beanie Sigel.
Tickets are on sale now with prices ranging from $30 to $120 each night and $97.50 to $202.50 for two-day passes. To learn more, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

The Things We Like

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JAZZY CHRISTMAS

Seattle guitarist Michael Powers will return to Marine View Church on Sunday, Dec. 11, for his eighth annual Christmas show, billed as “Frosty's Funky Holiday.” Describing his own style, Powers said it is “rooted in the jazz tradition that keeps pace stylistically with pop, R&B and blues, with blues being at the core of my inspiration." Music starts at 5 p.m., and admission is free and open to all ages. Marine View Church is located at 8469 Eastside Dr. NE; www.marineviewpc.org.

FANTASY LIGHTS

The dazzling spectacle of Pierce County Parks and Recreation's 22nd annual Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park will be on display through Jan. 1 at Spanaway Park, 14905 Gus G. Bresemann Rd S., in Spanaway. During the beautiful, two-mile drive along Spanaway Lake, visitors of all ages will be treated to the magical world of animation and imagination where bears fly kites, Santa and Rudolf sail a tall ship, snow boys kick field goals, penguins slide down an igloo, and reindeer leap over your car. Hours are 5:30 to 9 p.m. daily, and admission is $14 per vehicle, $45 per bus (25 or more passenger capacity.) Learn more by visiting the event page on Facebook.

SANTA-THON

It may be a bit nippy out this week, but that won't stop hundreds of participants from joining the eighth annual Santa Runs Tacoma race, which kicks off at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 10. There will be three distances on a race course that includes a brisk trot across the Murray Morgan Bridge: Tiny Tim’s 1K, Frosty’s 5K, The Scrooge 10K and Donner & Blitzen's 21K. Find registration details, a course map and other details at www.santarunstacoma.com

30 AMERICANS

The critically acclaimed exhibit “30 Americans” will continue through Jan. 15 at Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave. The exhibit showcases an influential group of prominent African-American artists who have emerged as leading contributors to the contemporary arts scene in the U.S. and beyond. Admission $15 for adults, $13 for senior citizens and members of the military, $40 per family and free to children ages 5 and under. Admission is also free from 5-8 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays; www.tacomaartmuseum.org for further details.  

TOTALLY TUBULAR!

Get ready to party hearty at the “Best '80s Party Ever” which kicks off at 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at Jazzbones, 2803 Sixth Ave. Nite Wave will be on stage kicking out new wave and pop jams from the Reagan Era. Stuff like Duran Duran, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and INXS. The event also doubles at a toy drive for Family Relocation Shelters, so unwrapped gifts for the kids will be accepted. Admission is $15 at the door, but tickets are also available for $10 in advance online at www.ticketfly.com. Will it be totally radical? Like, duh.


Culture Corner, A Guide to Cultural Organizations

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Events of the Week:

‘The Nutcracker & The Tale of The Hard Nut’
Dec. 9 and 16 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 3 p.m.
Tacoma City Ballet
Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway, Tacoma
Box Office: (253) 591-5894
www.broadwaycenter.org

This season, Tacoma City Ballet celebrates its 33rd production of “The Nutcracker & The Tale of The Hard Nut” at the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts. This timeless holiday classic, first presented in 1892 in St. Petersburg, has entertained generations for over a century. Now, told in its entirety, “The Tale of The Hard Nut” is presented alongside the traditional Russian “The Nutcracker” creating a glorious production filled with dancing, live music, grand scenery and lavish costumes. Under the artistic direction of Miss Erin M. Ceragioli, with the Tacoma City Ballet Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Bernard Kwiram, in the beautiful Pantages Theater, “The Nutcracker & The Tale of the Hard Nut” promises to enchant your entire family this holiday season. Experience the wonder and magic of this magnificent production. See Tacoma City Ballet’s “The Nutcracker & The Tale of The Hard Nut” at the Pantages Theater for the VERY LAST TIME! Next season, Tacoma City Ballet will perform this beloved production in the new Federal Way Performing Arts and Events Center.
Ticket prices $25 through $100.

‘Romeo and Juliet’
Dec. 8, 9, and 10 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 11 at 2 p.m.
Studio Theater, Karen Hille Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Pacific Lutheran University
www.plu.edu/theatre

When the children of two rival families fall in love, they must keep their new and budding romance a secret. In this reimagining of Shakespeare's most well known work, the conventions of time and sequence have been manipulated to reposition the original plotlines and dialogue in order to highlight new connections and themes for a modern audience.
Only printed tickets will be accepted. No refunds. Tickets are also available at the door or by calling Campus Concierge at (253) 535-7411.
Proceeds support Student Theatre at PLU. Learn more at www.plu.edu/theatre.
Intended for mature audiences.

Magical Strings' 38th Annual Celtic Yuletide Concert
Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m.
Urban Grace Church, 902 Market St., 3rd Floor, Tacoma
magicalstrings.com
For many in the Northwest, it wouldn't be the holidays without the harps, dulcimers, and energetic Celtic sounds of acclaimed family ensemble Magical Strings. The tradition continues this year, as Magical Strings announces its 38th triumphant year of annual Celtic Yuletide Concerts taking place throughout Puget Sound in Dec.
Advance tickets:  $22 adults, $12 children (12 and under), general seating and $28 for all seats in the Reserved Section. (Tickets are $3 more at the door).
Enter the timeless realm of Celtic Yuletide!  Three generations of the Boulding family set the stage ablaze with the Tara Academy Irish Dancers, lively fiddling of Jocelyn Pettit, soulful songs with brilliant Dublin guitarist Colm MacCarthaigh, powerful vocals and singalongs led by Prescott Breeden, and dynamic percussionist Matt Jerrell.  Philip and Pam's Celtic harp and hammered dulcimer sing mysteries from their recent sojourn in Ireland, augmented by cello, violin, whistles, accordion and concertina.  This festive gala of music, dance, storytelling, juggling, a colorful costumed processional and songs of the season brings warmth and joy into the heart of winter.

Mark Your Calendars: Frank Ocean at Sasquatch Festival

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Frank Ocean is the first artist to be announced for Sasquatch 2017. The popular music and comedy festival will return to Grant County's Gorge Amphitheatre from May 26 to 28, and Ocean (born Christopher Breaux) will be there performing songs from his new, critically acclaimed album, “Blonde.”
Promoter Live Nation will announce the rest of the line-up in early 2017. Meanwhile, a limited number of three-day passes are on sale at discounted, holiday rates of $275 to $295. Visit www.ticketmaster.com for further details on that and these other shows, except for where otherwise indicated.
▪ Miranda Sings: 8 p.m. Jan. 11, Pantages Theater, $39.50 to $75; www.broadwaycenter.org.
▪ Smokey Robinson: 8:30 p.m. Jan. 13, Emerald Queen Casino, $70 to $170.
▪ Steve-O: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 to 15, 10:30 p.m. Jan. 13 and 14, Tacoma Comedy Club, $22 to $35; www.tacomacomedyclub.com.
▪ Margaret Cho: 8 p.m. Jan. 27, Tulalip Resort Casino, Tulalip, $45 to $55.
▪ Northwest Sinfonietta presents “Prokofiev & Tchaikovsky” featuring Joseph Swensen: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11, Rialto Theater, $20 to $50; www.broadwaycenter.org.
▪ Air Supply: 8 p.m. Feb. 14, Emerald Queen Casino, $30 to $75. 
▪ Eric Burdon & The Animals: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18, Pantages Theater, $29 to $85.
▪ Blake Shelton: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25, Tacoma Dome, $29.50 to $65.
▪ Tommy Castro and the Painkillers: 8:30 p.m. Feb. 25, Temple Theatre, $22.50.
▪ “Lingerie Masquerade Ball”: 7 p.m. Feb. 25, Cultura Event Center, $20 to $30; www.brownpapertickets.com.
▪ Chris Botti: 8 p.m. March 17, Tacoma Dome, $26.50 to $196.
▪ John Cleese: 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. March 17, Pantages Theater, $39 to $110; www.broadwaycenter.org.
▪ “The Rock and Worship Road Show” with Steven Curtis Chapman, Francesca Battistelli and more: 7 p.m. March 17, $10; www.theroadshowtour.com.
▪ Eric Church: 8 p.m. March 18, Tacoma Dome, $20 to $86.
▪ Lewis Black: 8 p.m. March 18, Pantages Theater, $59.50 to $75.
▪ “The Spin Stops Here” with Bill O'Reilly, Dennis Miller and Jesse Watters: 5 p.m. March 25, Tacoma Dome, $65 to $125. 
▪ Regina Spektor: 8 p.m. April 3, Paramount Theatre, Seattle, $28.50 to $68.50.
▪ The Weeknd: 7:30 p.m. April 26, KeyArena, Seattle, $35.50 to $121.
▪ Soul 2 Soul Tour with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill: 7:30 p.m. May 27, Tacoma Dome, $66.50 to $1,249.
▪ Chris Stapleton with Maren Morris: 7 p.m. March 28, KeyArena, Seattle, $30 to $65; on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 28. 
▪ Chris Tomlin: 7 p.m. May 4, KeyArena, Seattle, $13 to $65.75.
▪ Roger Waters: 8 p.m. June 24, Tacoma Dome, $55 to $199.50.
▪ Bruno Mars: 7:30 p.m. July 24, Tacoma Dome, $45 to $125.
▪ Neil Diamond: 8 p.m. July 26, KeyArena, Seattle, $145; pre-sale begins at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 5.
▪ Coldplay: 7 p.m. Sept. 23, Century Link Field, Seattle, $25.50 to $185.50.

SPORTSWATCH

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TACOMA WEEKLY 2016 ALL-CITY GIRLS SOCCER TEAM

F - Madeline Garcia, Bellarmine, Jr.
F - Samantha Putnam, Stadium, Sr.
F - Taylor Crawford, Bellarmine, Sr.
M - Anna Kerrone, Stadium, Sr.
M - Morgan Greene, Wilson, Sr.
M - Haley Lepkowski, Bellarmine, Jr.
M - Janaisia Smith, Wilson, Jr.
M - Naloi Haskins, Mt. Tahoma, Jr.
M - Katie Varela, Stadium - Jr.
M - Lindsay Rudd, Bellarmine, Soph.
D - Scotti Russell, Wilson, Sr.
D - Sydney Donnelly, Stadium, Sr.
D - Mallory Price, Bellarmine, Sr.
D - Lisi Brooks, Lincoln, Fr.
D - Ruby Gellner, Stadium, Sr.
D - Nora Riches, Wilson, Sr.
GK - Isabelle Davis, Bellarmine, Soph.

TAKARA MITSUI FIRST PLU SOCCER ALL-AMERICAN IN 21 YEARS

Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer student-athlete Takara Mitsui added yet another award to her mantel this week, earning Second Team All-American honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Mitsui is the first Lute to earn All-American accolades at the NCAA Division III level and is the first NSCAA All-American since Cree DeWitt landed First Team NAIA honors back in 1995.
The senior goalkeeper was the lone Northwest Conference representative on the All-American Team which included a First, Second, and Third Team, all comprising of 15 players from the 433 member institutions of Division III.
Mitsui lands the honor after finishing the regular season ranked fifth nationally in minutes played, ninth in save percentage, and 11th in goals against average.  The nursing major wrapped up the record setting 2016 campaign with 16 shutouts and 65 saves, playing all 1,982 minutes with a 0.32 goals against average.
The Lynnwood native helped the Lutes win its first NWC crown in 24 years in 2016 while ending her career with a 56-13-12 record on the pitch. Mitsui owns the school record for minutes played by a goaltender (6,375), sits second all-time in school history in career shutouts (39), and career goals against average (0.44), while sitting fifth in career saves (269).
In addition to earning All-American honors, Mitsui was a First Team All-West Region, First Team All-NWC, CoSIDA Academic All-American, CoSIDA Academic All-District, and the NWC Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 while also securing NWC Defender of the Week honors on three occasions.
PLU finished the 2016 season with a 16-1-4 record and a 13-0-3 mark in NWC action. The Lutes won their first conference title since the 1992 season and earned a bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in program history.

PLU'S EDDIE NA NAMED TO D-III ALL-WEST REGION SOCCER TEAM

Pacific Lutheran University men's soccer student-athlete Eddie Na hauled in another major award for his stellar 2016 season, earning a spot on the NCAA Division III All-West Region Team released this week by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
The junior forward secures a spot on the 12-player Third Team and was one of four Northwest Conference players to earn All-Region accolades. Na, the NWC Offensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-NWC selection, led the conference in goals (15), assists (nine), and points (39). The University Place, Washington native had five game-winning scores for the Lutes (10-8-2, 7-6-1 NWC) and was a two-time NWC Offensive Player of the Week in 2016, snagging the award on Sept. 6 and again on Sept. 26.
His five game-winners and 39 points rank third and fifth respectively on the school's all-time single season lists. Na additionally sits fourth on PLU's all-time list in game-winning goals (10) while ranking sixth all-time in career goals (34), assists(18), and points (86).

PLU WOMEN CRUSH FIELD AT LOGGER SWIM INVITATIONAL

Securing victories in four events, the Pacific Lutheran University women's swimming team dominated the field over the Dec. 2-4 weekend at the Logger Invitational, running away with the team title to cap off the fall season.
"It was a fun weekend to wrap up the fall season with," said Head Coach Matt Sellman. "We swam really well as a team, put up a lot of season-best times and a few personal bests, which is always what you hope for."
The Lutes accrued 872.5 points in the team standings, blowing away the field at the seven-team invitational and owning a 157-point advantage on runner-up and host University of Puget Sound. Whitworth University was a distant third with a team tally of 526.
Erica Muller tallied a pair of wins in the distance events, owning a four-second cushion over the rest of the field in the 500-yard freestyle, touching the wall in five minutes, 10.19 seconds with teammate Taylor Bingea fourth in 5:20.48. Muller's second win came in the 1,650 freestyle, finishing in 17:57.96 with Bingea netting a runner-up showing (18:05.27) and owning a 15-second gap on the third place finisher. Muller additionally secured a third place finish in the 400-yard individual medley (4:47.85) while Bingea was fourth in the 200-yard butterfly (2:18.91).
Victoria Nguyenle secured the victory in the 100-yard breaststroke, clocking a 1:07.65 while placing second in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:26.12). Reese Ackman prevailed in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 59.30.
"Erica Muller just had a great weekend and as good a fall meet as she's ever had. Victoria Nguyenle as well."
Kylie Webb logged runner-up finishes in both the 200-yard individual medley (2:13.26) and the 400-yard individual medley (4:38.58) while also placing third in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:28.88). Danielle Booth was second in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:08.54) and fourth in the 50-yard freestyle (25.10) while Sarah Stafford placed third in the 100-yard freestyle in 55.41.
PLU had a strong showing in the relays, placing second in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:40.42), 400-yard free relay (3:40.98), and the 400-yard medley relay (4:02.88).
"It was a grueling weekend with the swimmers competing in a lot of races and testing our toughness. We showed well in that category and overall it's a measuring stick as to where we are in our training and what we need to do and focus on as we prepare for the championship portion of the season in January and February."
The Lutes take the rest of the month off and return to the pool on Jan. 14, hosting Southwestern Oregon Community College in a dual meet at the PLU Pool.

UNBEATEN UPS WOMEN KNOCK OFF EIGHTH-RANKED GEORGE FOX

The Puget Sound women's basketball team upset No. 8 George Fox, 86-85, in Memorial Fieldhouse on Saturday, Dec. 3. The win is the Loggers' first over the Bruins since Jan. 21, 2011. Puget Sound's victory also snaps the Bruins' 33-game win streak against Northwest Conference opponents.
George Fox (6-1, 1-1 NWC) held an 82-81 lead with 31 seconds left in regulation when Alexis Noren drove baseline for two points and a foul. The senior converted the three-point play to give the Loggers (6-0, 2-0 NWC) a two-point edge.
Following a defensive stop, Claire Fitzgerald hit two free-throws to give Puget Sound an 86-82 lead and put the game out of reach for George Fox.
Noren posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while shooting 11-for-11 from the charity stripe. As a team, Puget Sound shot 30-for-36 from the free-throw line.
Samone Jackson drained a career-high 27 points, shooting 6-for-8 from 3-point range. Elizabeth Prewitt finished with 21 points and seven boards, and Fitzgerald chipped in 11 points and six rebounds.
The Loggers' monumental win was far from easy, as Puget Sound committed 31 turnovers and shot just 41.7 percent from the floor.
The Loggers took an early 6-4 lead when Noren connected on a pair of free-throws two minutes into game, and Puget Sound didn't allow George Fox to get a lead until it went up, 52-51, with four minutes left in the third quarter.
The Loggers held a 43-37 advantage at halftime.
Puget Sound returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 17 against Trinity Texas at the two-day PLU Holiday Tournament at 2 p.m. The following day, they will face Buena Vista at 2 p.m.

Make a Scene: SSBA to ring in holidays, recruit members at Swiss

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The South Sound Blues Association Holiday Party will return next week to the Swiss Tavern, 1904 S. Jefferson Ave. The event will kick off at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14.
It is free and open to the general public; but it also serves as a membership drive for the 11-year-old SSBA, which is, according to its mission statement, “a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the blues as an American art form on behalf of its performers and fans through education, community and performances.”
“Our membership is down, so we want to kind of open it up for other people to come down and see what we're all about,” SSBA President Gary Grape said this week.
“This is a real good area, the Pacific Northwest, for true blues fans and performers,” he said. “There's a lot of 'em still around, so we try to bring the blues as best we can to all those folks. On the other hand, we're trying to teach and bring in the younger generation.”
Toward that end, SSBA has worked in conjunction with Ted Brown Music Outreach and Randy Oxford Entertainment to put together a Youth Instrument Gift Program which gives donated instruments to local kids. The group is also affiliated with Puget Sound Music for Youth, another non-profit group started by local businessman Paul Manuel that hosts a monthly, all-ages jam at the Swiss.
Puget Sound Music for Youth band Groovy Voodoo will represent SSBA in the youth portion of the International Blues Challenge, a competition that will take place from Jan. 31 to Feb. 4 in Memphis. The group held a fundraiser to cover travel expenses last month.
“You hear that term all the time, 'keepin' the blues alive,'” Grape said. “How better to keep it alive than to get young people involved in playin' it? It's hard get kids steered in that direction 'cause they listen to radio and they wanna play all of the rock tunes of the day and all that.”
At next week's party organizers will hand out certificates to individuals and groups that have helped the cause of spreading the blues; there will be free free hors d'oeuvres; and there will be performances by the Sterling Payne and Al Earick bands.
“The Sterling Payne Band is a local group of seasoned musicians,” Grape said. “The band has just been around for just about a year, I guess; but some of the players have been around for numerous years and played with many different bands. They're very entertaining, but I'd say they're more on the rockin' edge of blues.”
Grape described the Al Earick Band as more of a traditional take on the blues. “His band's been together for as long as I've been around,” he said. “It's not always the same players, but the Al Earick Band has been playing around the Pacific Northwest for over 25 years. It's a very established, great blues band.”
Call (253) 230-6851 or visit www.southsoundblues.com to learn more about the South Sound Blues Association.

Nightlife

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Friday, Dec. 9

B SHARP COFFEE: Greta Matassa (jazz) 8 p.m., $7, AA
JAZZBONES: Kim Archer Band and The Paula Boggs Band (blues, rock, soul) 6 p.m., $10-$12
CULTURA:“Azul Fridays” with DJ Mauro (DJ) 10 p.m., $5-$10
G. DONNALSON'S: Johnaye Kendrick (jazz) 7:30 p.m., NC, AA
KEYS ON MAIN: Dueling pianos, 9 p.m., NC
LOUIE G'S: Moretta, Arisen from Nothing, Bleed the Stone, Sunshine Wall (metal, rock) 8 p.m., $10, AA
REAL ART TACOMA:“Project Hollywood” hosted by DJ Phresh (DJ dance) 8 p.m., $3-$5
THE SWISS: Cypress Grove (blues, rock, jazz) 9 p.m., $5-$10
TACOMA COMEDY: Andy Woodhull (comedy) 8, 10:30 p.m., $17-$23, 18+ early show
UNCLE SAM'S: SOB Band (blues) 8 p.m.
THE VALLEY: Baby Gramps, Bazooka Benny, Ghost Train (blues, jazz, folk)

Saturday, Dec. 10

CULTURA: Curtis Salgado (blues, soul) 8 p.m., $25
G. DONNALSON'S: Johnaye Kendrick (jazz) 7:30 p.m., NC, AA
JAZZBONES: Nite Waves ('80s covers) 9 p.m., $10-$15
KEYS ON MAIN: Dueling pianos, 9 p.m., NC
LOUIE G'S: Andrew Landers and The Mainstreet Struggleville (singer-songwriter) 8 p.m., $10
THE MULE:“Lunatic Fringe” dance party with DJ Doll Face (pop, wave, funk DJ) 9 p.m., NC
REAL ART TACOMA: Xasthur, Aaron Turner, Novemthree (black metal, acoustic, rock) 8 p.m., $11
RIALTO: Seattle Men's Chorus (choral) 3, 7:30 p.m., $32-$55, AA
THE SPAR: Richard Allen & The Louisiana Experience (zydeco) 8 p.m., NC
THE SWISS: The Spazmatics ('80s covers) 9 p.m., $5-$10
TACOMA COMEDY: Andy Woodhull (comedy) 8, 10:30 p.m., $17-$23, 18+ early show
THE VALLEY: Harlis Sweetwater Band, Billy Stoops (blues, soul, rock, Americana) 9 p.m., NC

Sunday, Dec. 11

DAWSON'S: Tim Hall Band (open jam) 8 p.m., NC
G. DONNALSON'S: Soulful Sundays (blues, gospel) 6:30 p.m., NC, AA
JAZZBONES:“A Street Blues Benefit” with Ayron Jones, Kim Archer, Brien Feist, James Harlan, The Hillbaileys and Steve Stefanowicz (blues, rock, Americana) 5 p.m., $10
NEW FRONTIER: Bluegrass jam, 4 p.m., NC
REAL ART TACOMA: True Crew, Keshawn the King, Voodoo Chile, Creo Vonyae, The Astral Bodiez, X-Ray (hip-hop) 4 p.m., $10, AA
TACOMA COMEDY: “Permanent Comedy” with Todd Armstrong (comedy) 8 p.m., $10-$16, 18+
THE VALLEY: Mos Generator, Year of the Cobra, Ancient Warlocks (hard rock) 8 p.m., NC, AA

Monday, Dec. 12

DAWSON'S: Heather Jones and the Groove Masters (R&B, soul, funk) 8 p.m., NC
G. DONNALSON'S:“Guitar Going Monday” (blues, jazz guitar) 7 p.m., NC, AA
JAZZBONES: Rockaraoke (live band karaoke) 7 p.m., NC
THE SWISS: Chuck Gay (open mic) 7 p.m., NC

Tuesday, Dec. 13

ANTIQUE SANDWICH CO.: Open mic, 6:30 p.m., $3, AA
DAVE'S OF MILTON: Jerry Miller (blues, rock) 7 p.m., NC
DAWSON'S: Doug Skoog and Brian Feist (blues) 8 p.m., NC
G. DONNALSON'S: James Haye (blues) 7 p.m., NC, AA
NORTHERN PACIFIC: Stingy Brim Slim (blues) 7 p.m., NC, AA
REAL ART TACOMA:“Torrey Pines” film screening with Kimya Dawson and Sonic Obsession (animation, indie-rock, folk) 7 p.m., $7-$10, AA
ROCK THE DOCK: Dustin Lefferty (open mic) 8 p.m.
STONEGATE: Leanne Trevalyan (open mic) 8 p.m., NC

Wednesday, Dec. 14

DAWSON'S: Linda Myers Band (R&B, blues, jazz) 8 p.m., NC
G. DONNALSON'S: James Haye (blues) 7 p.m., NC, AA
NEW FRONTIER: Open mic, 8 p.m., NC
NORTHERN PACIFIC: Open mic, 7:30 p.m., NC, AA
PACIFIC BREWING: Stingy Blues (blues) 7 p.m., NC
STONEGATE: Dave Nichols' Hump Day Jam, 8:30 p.m., NC
TACOMA COMEDY: Comedy open mic, 8 p.m., NC, 18+
TCC: “A Big Band Christmas” with Groovin' Higher Orchestra and Steve Stefanowicz (jazz) 7:30 p.m., $20-$25, AA
TOWER BAR & GRILL: Michelle Beaudry (jazz guitar) 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 15

B SHARP COFFEE: Keith Henson Octet (jazz) 8 p.m., NC, AA
CHAPEL HILL PRESBYTERIAN: Symphony Tacoma presents “Messiah” (classical) 7:30 p.m., $30-$48, AA
CULTURA:“Ladies Night Out” with DJ K-Phi (DJ dance) 10 p.m., $5-$10
G. DONNALSON'S: John Maxwell (blues) 7 p.m., NC, AA
KEYS ON MAIN: Dueling pianos, 9 p.m., NC
REAL ART TACOMA: “Slam: Let the Poets Be Poets” (spoken word) 7 p.m., NC, AA
TACOMA COMEDY: Andrew Rivers (comedy) 8 p.m., $10-$16, 18+

Guest Editorial: Focus on the Silver Lining

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The election is over and Trump won. In a country with a sane election system, he would not have, but we have the Electoral College, so he did. In Joe Hill’s immortal words, “Don’t mourn; organize!”
 
Organizing Everywhere
Hidden in those words is one of the silver linings that surrounds Trump’s cloud. Look around. People are organizing as they have not done since 2003, when the Iraq invasion was imminent, and maybe even not since the 1960s anti-war efforts. People are coming together to protect each other from racist attacks, support the water protectors at Standing Rock, counter hate speech with love, sustain the environmental gains we have struggled for, continue efforts to halt climate change, reorganize the Democratic Party, protect a woman’s right to choose, and more.
In addition, protests have sprung up spontaneously all over the country, some of them involving people not old enough to vote. While complaining about the election results will not change anything, such protests offer a path to building a movement that can make serious change. Stress planning, humor, newsworthy positions, and connections to basic societal values so your campaign will resonate with mainstream Americans.
Seattle, San Francisco and other cities have affirmed themselves as Sanctuary Cities, where human rights are respected and protected.
Others are demonstrating outside the banks that fund the Dakota Access Pipeline. When I did that with a local group recently, one of the banks immediately locked its doors and its customers could not get in!
In my home town of Salem, Ore. a city councilor posted flagrantly racist materials on his Facebook page. The spontaneous uproar that ensued was immediate and intense, leading to his resignation.
There is encouraging news on the foreign relations front as well. Trump’s website reported shortly after the election that Trump and Vladimir Putin “discussed a range of issues including the threats and challenges facing the United States and Russia, strategic economic issues and the historical U.S.-Russia relationship that dates back over 200 years.” Rather than pursuing the tense relations that have steadily worsened in recent months giving rise to fears of nuclear war, “President-elect Trump noted to President Putin that he is very much looking forward to having a strong and enduring relationship with Russia and the people of Russia.” Putin’s militarism in Ukraine, his administration’s recent repression and his reported assassinations of dissidents, are no doubt reprehensible, but finding common ground where we can is an inoculant against nuclear aggression.

The Struggle of Our Lives
All that said, we all know that we are about to face the struggle of our lives if we are to avert disasters for the environment, human rights, good government, equity, healthcare, workers’ rights, human decency, politics and a host of other controversial issues. We need to acknowledge that Trump’s candidacy and victory did not cause any of these crises. All were there before. We fear that his administration will make them worse -- because his candidacy already has; it is our job to see that he does not succeed.
We stand at a crossroads from which things can get a whole lot worse, but they can also get a lot better. Let us choose the latter course!
Each of us will be drawn to the issues and tactics that resonate for us. Please don’t try to convince others that your cause is “the most important.” They are all important. Instead, thank each person who is working on any of them – even those you never thought about or thought were important. Come to appreciate how intimately interconnected they all are. They are varying forms of resistance to domination, and efforts to replace it with cooperation. Replacing domination with cooperation has a short name – “nonviolence.”
No one is saying this is going to be easy. It’s not. It’s going to be one of the hardest things our country has ever attempted, if not the hardest. However, the stakes have never been higher either. The reward of success will be happier, more secure, more fulfilled, healthier people living together more peacefully and gracefully. The price of failure could well be the extinction of our species from this planet, taking many other life forms with us.
 
100 Days of Peace and Justice
So here’s a specific suggestion, recently offered by a friend: as Donald Trump follows his inauguration on January 20 with 100 days of revealing to us what his administration’s agenda is going to be, let us begin 100 Days of Peace and Justice during which we reveal what our agenda is going to be. Never in the history of the world has there been a leader who was able to govern without the cooperation – or at least the acquiescence – of the governed. Let us make it clear that we will only accept governance that meets our needs and aspirations. Under the umbrella of 100 Days of Peace and Justice we can speak with a unified voice on all the issues we care about by demonstrating what we want and resisting what we do not want. Initiate projects that fire your enthusiasm and refuse cooperation with those that do not represent you. No overall coordination is required. Just Do It.
 
A Few Examples
Initially protests will come to mind. Protest if you wish, but I believe we must go beyond protesting to demonstrating what we want and how to refuse what we do not want. For example:
·   Wear the safety pin (meaning: commitment to everyone’s safety) and be ready to back it up. It says you are a person who will not accept mistreatment of others in your presence and will help resist it. That involves intervening if violence is threatened, of course, but also if racial slurs, misogyny, bullying or any kind of personal domination appears in your environment.
·   Set an example of ecologically conscientious behavior. Don’t waste resources. Choose ecologically sound products, resist unsound ones, and cultivate behaviors and attitudes that protect the planet and its systems. Let others know what you are doing.
·   Take an interest in, and become better informed about, foreign relations. Don’t trust everything you receive from the mainstream media. Seek out alternative sources to balance them.
·   Support local businesses, boycott irresponsible marketing and marketers, reward good corporate citizens with your business. Tell others.
·   Turn up at government hearings that concern you, let your representatives at all levels know what you want and what you do not want, support candidates you like, and demand action on important issues. Object when money is used to pervert the democratic process.
·   Resist the violence that flows into our homes, schools, workplaces and lives on a daily basis via entertainment, video games, language and attitudes. Interrupt it and replace it with healthier alternatives.
 
Nonviolence
In closing, a word about nonviolence – it is crucial to ultimate success in this endeavor for a number of reasons:
·   If we use violence, or threats of violence to coerce cooperation, we are selling out the fundamental paradigm shift we need to achieve.
·   Recent research has shown that nonviolence is twice as likely to be successful as violence, and is much more likely to have lasting results.
·   Any form of social change requires only about 3.5 percent of sustained actively involved people in order to be successful. Violence turns many people off and thus is counter-productive. It also makes it much more difficult for very young, elderly and alter-abled people to become involved.
·   Violence is often initiated by oppressors hoping to tempt their opponents to violence in order to discredit them. Think of the difference in public reaction to the recent window-breaking demonstration in Portland, Ore., vs. the determined nonviolence of the Standing Rock water protectors, even in the face of massive provocation.
We won’t know how much power we can wield until we try. Now is not the time to err on the side of timidity.

Peter Bergel is a lifelong peace, justice, environmental, and indigenous rights activist and organizer.

Tacoma gathers to mourn loss of officer

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Tacoma came together on Friday, Dec. 9 at the Tacoma Dome to celebrate the life and mourn the loss of officer Reginald “Jake” Gutierrez.
Gutierrez was a 17-year veteran of the department and a devoted father, brother and fiancé. He was slain during an 11-hour standoff on Nov. 30. A Police Procession brought Gutierrez to the dome from JBLM, where officers from around the state, city officials, friends, family and the public gathered to honor Gutierrez’s sacrifice
“On behalf of the city of Tacoma, its residents, the Tacoma City Council and the numerous elected officials that are here today, we offer our sincerest condolences to his family, his loved ones and all his colleagues, both past and present in the Tacoma Police Department,” said Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland. “I have witnessed an amazing outpouring of support from every corner of the United States, and every corner of our community in this difficult and challenging time. People of all backgrounds lined the streets to show support. This community held not one, but two candlelight vigils in the pouring rain to show respect and gratitude for our fallen officer.”
Donations can be made to the Jake Gutierrez Memorial Fund at any Wells Fargo location. On Saturday, Dec. 17 Jimmy Johns in the Tacoma area will be donating 100 percent of its profits to the fund from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.


Our view: Dooming the dome

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Tacoma City Council set aside $21.3 million in the next biennial budget to renovate the iconic, yet extremely dated, Tacoma Dome in hopes that sprucing up the 33-year-old structure will make it more attractive to event bookers and concert planners.
Maybe it will. Heck, nothing could really hurt at this point. But there is a better way.
Renovations that include new seating systems, updated bathrooms, improved landscaping and back-office changes to the loading docks and security systems are not set to begin until next summer. At the end of the “updates,” the wood-framed dome will structurally be 35 years old, at or at least nearing the service life of other concert venues. The King Dome was deemed obsolete after just 24 years.
The Tacoma Dome is more tired and more dated now than the King Dome was when it was demolished 15 years ago. No matter how much is updated and renovated will likely change that. We should talk retiring it and replacing it something bigger, better and more befitting a city on the rise.
Imagine, if you will, a new landmark dome on the front porch of the city that is surrounded by a coordinated Dome District roster of attractions that includes LeMay - America’s Car Museum, a commuter rail hub at Freighthouse Square, hotel rooms within walking distance and everything-under-one-roof amenities at the Emerald Queen Casino nearby.
Much of those tourism–related changes are already on the way, so now imagine the tired and soiled dome in the middle of that. The picture isn’t particularly attractive to the thousands of drivers who stream by Tacoma on their routes along Interstate 5 or the half million people who attend concerts and performances at the Dome each year.
The Tacoma Dome plays an important role in the region’s tourism industry and so its curb appeal should reflect that. And new bathrooms and sprinkler systems just don’t have that “wow” factor a venue of its stature deserves. The Dome has served us well, and it should be allowed to retire with dignity rather than be kept alive with an infusion of new chairs, no matter how state-of-the-art they are.
The “Dome of Our Own” campaign in 1980 to build the $28 million facility passed voters with 70 percent of the vote. Certainly a bond measure to raise at least that could get a fair shake from the electorate, particularly if the city already has $20 million to match a bond drive.

Guest Editoril: An Open Letter to the Harry Potter generation

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When my son and I were reading the Harry Potter books together, in 2009-10, I had told him that the imaginary world created by J.K. Rowling represented the very real world of dictatorships and authoritarian regimes in many countries in Asia, in Africa, in the Middle East, where people were arrested, tortured and killed for their ideas or for who they were, for their differences, the color of their skin, the way they worship God, or their ethnic origin.
If someone had told me then that six years later the death eaters would be roaming wild all over America, I would have laughed in disbelief. Not here. Not possible.
But it is now plainly and painfully obvious that the broken, monstrous soul of Lord Voldemort has incarnated itself in an orange looking, pathetic wizard named Trump who has been able, through fear and dark magic, to ensnare the souls of millions of Americans blindly casting their votes for him to make him their leader. He has surrounded himself with pale looking, blond Slytherins calling for a general whitening ethnic cleansing of America where all those who do not look like them, the mudbloods and muggles, are in grave danger of being singled out, silenced, arrested, deported and even worse. This is only the beginning. America is entering the opening chapters of book 5, the “Order of the Phoenix.” And all of you kids, whose childhood has exalted the adventures of Harry, Hermione and Ron, know exactly what I am talking about.
So it is to you that I am addressing this letter – to my son, to all of his friends, to all their generation. You, kids, know better than the older generations that have failed you and have brought upon this curse on our beloved country. Now is the time for you, young and brave Gryffindors, to roar. Now is the time for you to form Dumbledore’s army, and to train yourself in the art of nonviolent civil resistance. All the spells of Stupefy, Expelliarmus and Expecto Patronum, to name just a few among the most important used to dispel the deatheaters and dementors, have all real life equivalent in the world of civil resistance and strategic nonviolent conflict.
As you all know, Harry, Hermione and Ron never used the unforgivable curses that cause mental or physical pain (Crucio, the torture curse) and death (Avada Kedavra, the killing curse). Their resistance uses exclusively nonviolent means – they immobilize their adversaries, or disarm them, or build protective shields against their enemies’ spells. And they use the comic relief of “Riddikulus” to dispel their own worst fears.
My children, we are going to need all of this toolbox of non-lethal but powerful spells against the hordes of white supremacists that are feeling empowered by their master to roam freely and wreak havoc in this country. We will need to build our inner strength, our Patronumto to protect our souls from their spells. We will need to learn how to attack them in their most vulnerable spots, how to debunk their lies and destroy their horcruxes, how to use the power of our adversaries to knock them down, using their own spells against them, to disarm them – this is called backfire in the language of civil resistance, in particular through the use of dilemma actions (more on this in the future trainings in strategic nonviolent action that all of you will be taking. For instance,  check this site for online trainings: https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/).
And we will need a lot of humor to ridicule them continuously and delegitimize them without any respite, to make them look small and pathetic, because we should never be afraid of them. And all of this will help us gain in strength to build our own power, the power of love and friendship, and the power of community. Our strength will come from the solidarity we are building among ourselves as we are entering the darkness. We will be the lights, the flames of hope, for one another. We will build our courage even if deep down we feel scared. We will do this because we care for each other beyond all difference in religion, ethnic background, sexual orientation, gender or color of skin. We will help and protect each other at all times. We are all one, and we will fight as one to dispel this darkness.
And we are not alone. I nominate in the role of Albus Dumbledore, our fierce Senator of Vermont, champion of the 99 percent and leader of the Revolution, Bernie Sanders. Not only does he look the part, he has both the wisdom and the humor of Professor Dumbledore, whose bright velvet hats would fit perfectly on his silver white hair! The elder wand is his, and Lord Trumpdemort will definitely feel the Bern!
And as our equally fierce Professor McGonagall, I nominate none other than Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who is a fearless warrior and Gryffindor leader, slayer of all Wall Street 1 percent Slytherins. For the moment I am not sure who the double agent in our story will be – a Republican Snape who will pretend to work for Trump and his apocalyptic crew, but in reality will be sabotaging in secret their whole evil plan.
And let us put pressure on Republican Senators and Congressmen at the state level, to push them to defect and not cooperate or at least show no particular zeal in serving their master, in the same manner as the Malfoys. There are Republican governors, and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker is one of them, who might eventually join the ranks of the resistance. Let us work on winning him over and some of his peers.
So, the stage is set for the biggest fight of all. The grownups, whose tears are starting to dry and who have enough strength left in them, will be reforming the ranks of the Order of the Phoenix to help you in any way we can. But we cannot win this without you, kids – without your passion, your vision, and your fierce commitment. This fight will make you mature early and make you wise beyond your years. This is a fight for the ages, and it will define your generation.
From the greatest crises emerge the greatest opportunities and to be 16, 18, 20 years old today, in 2016, is a mighty gift that history is offering you. It is a chance that cannot be missed. This is your chance to change this country and the world for the better. It will be hard and the road might be long. But remember: the darkest hour is just before the dawn.
So, young and brave Gryffindors, are you ready?
One of your proud moms,
Mrs. Weasley

A.M. Codur is a scholar, educator and performing artist, an environmentalist and peace activist, academic advisor at the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict, and co-founder of the University of the Middle East Project.

Holiday Giving

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When thoughts turn to giving during the Holidays, it can sometimes be confusing to find just the right charity to donate to given that there are so many to choose from. An informal polling of the Tacoma Weekly staff revealed the following list of 10 suggestions that we’ve put together to help provide ideas to thoughtful Tacomans. There are a lot more where these came from – check out greatnonprofits.org/city/tacoma/WA where you can search area charities by category.

Tacoma Rescue Mission

It seems that everywhere you go these days, people of all ages are living on the streets or standing on a corner holding a sign in the hopes that someone will help them out with a dollar or two. And now that the weather is turning cold, places like the Tacoma Rescue Mission are a godsend. In addition to offering more than 250 people a warm and dry shelter every night, the Mission provides 1,200 meals a day to homeless and low-income people, a nurturing Family Life Program to keep families together during recovery, and more than 300 children every year call the Mission their home while their families heal.  Their Veterans Resource Center assists homeless veterans in partnership with the U.S. Veterans Affairs Administration and the Mission also helps students to achieve high school credit toward their high school diploma. Tacoma Rescue Mission can really stretch a dollar too – less than $20 provides a meal, shelter and care this Christmas. Learn more at www.trm.org or call (253) 383-4493.

New Phoebe House

Since opening in 2002, New Phoebe House Association has helped to reunify more than 450 Pierce County mothers and their children who had been torn apart by chemical dependence. By providing housing, services, more than a dozen programs and ongoing support, women heal, learn self-sufficiency and clean and sober living, which in turn gives them the tools to raise their children and break the cycle of substance abuse, homelessness and incarceration. When others had given up on them, a group of concerned citizens banned together with the City of Tacoma and Pierce County to address this need and the non-profit New Phoebe House Association was born. As residents are assured that their day-to-day needs for food, shelter, referrals for medical, mental health, dental care, and clothing assistance are met, they can focus on remaining clean and sober, developing job skills, gaining education, becoming financially literate, building a resource network, and increasing parenting skills. This comprehensive approach allows the women and children to live in the New Phoebe House for up to two years. At the end of this time period, the program goals aim for each woman to be self-sufficient, more resilient, able to parent in a loving and safe manner, and transitioned to more permanent housing.
There are all kinds of ways to give to New Phoebe House, from financial donations to volunteer time and practical items like new mattresses, pillows and towels. Learn more by calling (253) 383-7710 or visit www.NewPhoebeHouse.org.

HopeSparks

Since 1895, HopeSparks has been lighting the way in Tacoma and Pierce County through innovative programs that help children and families get the tools, resources and skills they need to lead successful lives and raise successful kids. Serving some of the most vulnerable families in Pierce County doesn’t always mean income-based but also their life experiences that a lot of these families have gone through or are currently going through. HopeSparks has 120 years of not just changing one family at a time but changing the community. Today HopeSparks comprises five core behavioral health programs that serve children and families in Pierce County who face trauma, abuse and overwhelming life challenges: Healing Hearts Counseling, Children’s Developmental Services, Relatives Raising Children, Eating Recovery (for eating disorders) and Family Support Services.
During 2014, HopeSparks served nearly 3,800 children and families, providing more than 27,000 family sessions and home visits agency-wide. If you would like to help HopeSparks continue this amazing record of success, call them at (253) 565-4484 or visit www.HopeSparks.org.

Northwest Leadership Foundation

In 1989 a group of faith leaders in Seattle began a series of conversations asking, “Do our leaders reflect the diversity of the community?” “Are these leaders equipped to tackle complex trends and entrenched social issues in collaboration and compassion?” “How will the leaders of our community continue to be trained and nurtured?” Subsequently, the Northwest Leadership Foundation was established in Tacoma in an attempt to respond to those questions. As a faith-based, nonprofit organization, NLF exists to encourage, develop and strengthen leadership for the spiritual and social renewal of the city. NLF believes that effective leadership sets the tone for a good city or community to bring about change through social entrepreneurship, faith and citizenship. NLF specifically invites youth to serve and resolve to participate in the world; not in ways that sustain the status quo but as change makers for the good. Programs include: mentoring to nurture a young person’s assets; full tuition, full-need urban leadership scholarships; Urban Leaders in Training to serve the city of Tacoma for one year; Proyecto MoLE to build academic, personal and cultural pride in Latino youth; Leaders in Women’s Health to impact health disparities in communities of color; and much more.
To give, call (253) 272-0771 or visit www.NorthwestLeadership.org.

Citizens for a Healthy Bay

With so much lately threatening Tacoma’s environment – methanol, liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants – Citizens for a Healthy Bay is needed now more than ever. CHB was formed in 1990 to represent Tacoma citizens in the Superfund clean-up of Commencement Bay, at the time one of the most polluted bodies of water in the country. Working side-by-side with local citizens, businesses and government, this non-profit’s mission is to clean up, restore and protect Commencement Bay, its surrounding waters and natural habitat to prevent water pollution and make our community more sustainable. CHB continues to be the community’s watchdog for toxic clean-ups, land use and other actions that can impact the health of our water resources. In addition, CHB offers engaging and educational presentations tailored to community organizations, concerned citizens, boaters and school groups of all ages. Keep Tacoma beautiful! Donate to the cause by calling (2530 383-2429 or visit www.HealthyBay.org.

The Dugan Foundation

The Dugan Foundation is founded on the principle that there is no reason to kill a companion animal for population control. Therefore, the Foundation does everything in its power to assist existing non-profit organizations to shelter, adopt and care for homeless companion animals. It also works to ensure that all of its programs have an educational component to allow people to learn what it takes to make a no-kill community, which is based on the development and implementation of a community-wide comprehensive animal welfare plan. Through community events like Happy Howlidays pet food drive, Woofstock pet adoption and music festival and Fur Ball fundraiser, the Dugan Foundation works to bring people together to care for our four-footed friends. Call (253) 572-7700 or visit www.DuganFoundation.org.

The Rainbow Center

As Tacoma’s only drop-in center for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning community, the Rainbow Center works to educate, advocate and celebrate individual identity for youth and adults alike. Oftentimes, those struggling with their sexual identity don’t know where to turn, or have nowhere to turn, but that’s not the case in Tacoma, as the Rainbow Center offers an open and welcoming atmosphere to find friends, resources and support. From organizing social events and educational opportunities to offering AA meetings and book clubs, the Rainbow Center is there to help. And thanks to receiving a Victims of Crime grant, trained victim advocates at the center can assist with the trauma and the long-term aftermath of victimization in marginalized communities, serving individuals who have been victims of: assault, child physical abuse, DUI/DWI crashes, elder abuse, fraud, hate crimes, identity theft, property crimes, robbery, vehicular assault, homicide/attempted homicide, bullying, human trafficking/exploitation, kidnapping and/or missing person, and other crimes.
Learn more by calling (253) 383-2318 or visit www.rainbowcntr.org.

Northwest Furniture Bank

Serving survivors of domestic abuse, people suffering loss from fire and natural disasters, and families coming from transitional housing, the Northwest Furniture Bank strives to give their clients a bed to sleep on, a sofa to sit on, and a table to eat from. Hundreds of volunteers use their time, talents and donated furniture to restore hope, dignity and stability to families that are working hard to rebuild their lives. As families move through the programs and transitional housing that helps them get back on their feet, they leave with little or nothing. Many can barely afford housing and food, let alone a bed to sleep on or a table to sit at. Furniture is a basic need that determines how people feel about themselves and also how well they will perform in the work place or at school. Northwest Furniture Bank even recycles mattresses and box springs. To find out how you can help, visit www.NWFurnitureBank.org or call (253) 302-3868.

FISH Food Banks of Pierce County

The beauty of donating to FISH Food Banks of Pierce County is that this non-profit distributes food to seven FISH Food Banks and mobile food bank sites across Pierce County to provide nutritious food to people in need with compassion, dignity and respect. This means that donations have a wide reach into communities miles around the greater Tacoma area. And it isn’t a hassle to access the food banks either – all operate on a walk-in basis and new clients are asked to provide I.D. with name, date of birth and current address and the names and birthdays of others in the household. That’s all! FISH serves more than 40,000 individuals each month with the assistance of 700 volunteers. There are numerous ways to help, from donating foods and funds to giving your time. Visit www.FishFoodBanks.org or call (253) 383-3164.

Team Backpack/Forgotten Youth Foundation

Team Backpack reduces some of the hardships homeless teen students face by providing support to keep them mentally focused and in school through what is said to be the most challenging years in life while facing the added stress of living without a permanent home. With the help of donors in the community, it provides backpack and shoulder bags filled with clothing, personal hygiene supplies, gift cards to food establishments, coats, blankets and gift items for the long holiday break and into the rest of the academic year.
Team Backpack started when founder and executive director Nicole Ward saw a need to help those in the community that seem to be forgotten. While working at Rock the Dock Pub & Grill in 2012, Ward was prompted by a random Facebook post from a friend and counselor at Lincoln High School asking for help with a charity for the holidays to assist in an immediate need. Ward posted it on her Facebook page challenging friends to support. Within 45 minutes she received her first backpack from a neighbor and the rest, as they say, is history. Learn how you can help by going to www.TeamBackpack253.org or call (253) 278-2892.

Pothole Pig remains MIA

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In another update in the case of our missing porker, Percival, his girlfriend Charlotte claims to have received a phone call from her long-time boyfriend. On Saturday, Dec. 10 at approximately 10:34 p.m., Charlotte answered her phone to hear breathing that was consistent with the patterns of Percival the Pothole Pig. After about 15 seconds, whoever was on the other line hung up. TPD traced the call to a Hilltop cell tower but have no additional information at this time.

Keep an eye on the Tacoma Weekly for additional updates , if you have any information about Percival, contact his roommate Derek Shuck at Derek@tacomaweekly.com.

Tacoma to receive support for transit development plan 

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As part of the second phase of their Transit Oriented Development Technical Assistance Ladders of Opportunity Initiative, the Federal Transit Administration and Smart Growth America announced recently that Tacoma is one of five cities from around the country to be competitively awarded with ground technical assistance supporting transit-oriented development, improving access to public transportation, and building new economic opportunities and pathways to employment for local communities. The other cities awarded include Birmingham, Ala., Omaha, Neb., Albuquerque, N.M. and Charlotte, N.C.
“When we make large investments in regional transit, we want to make sure local residents and small businesses benefit," said Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland, who also serves as the vice chairwoman of the Sound Transit Board. “As we work with Sound Transit, we want to ensure that the voices of our community members along the Link expansion route are equitably reflected. Smart growth strategies that make Tacoma an even better place to live and work, a solid transportation system, economic development – these things are all connected.”
The City of Tacoma will use these resources to enhance the work of its Links to Opportunity Project to include studies of economic development, housing, property trends and the potential of catalyst development sites in the Hilltop neighborhood. The Links to Opportunity Project is a two-part effort, funded by a $2 million Federal Transit Administration Transit Oriented Development Grant, to improve social and economic opportunity through planning for multi-modal mobility and economic development for communities along the Tacoma Link Expansion corridor. 
“Access to transit strengthens communities and spurs economic development,” said Sound Transit Chief Executive Officer Peter Rogoff. “We strive to facilitate transit oriented development because healthy communities and strong transportation networks go hand in hand.”
The Federal Transit Administration and Smart Growth America have been working together to bring smart growth practices to more communities nationwide.
More information about the Links to Opportunity Project is available here at www.cityoftacoma.org/cms/one.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=92286

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