Dan Hill had to face an awful truth as a student at the University of Puget Sound.
It was the '60s, and he'd graduated from Stadium High School then began his college career as an art major.
“As an artist, I had a great eye,” Hill said. “But I was never a great draftsman. I could see what I wanted to do but not quite get it there the way I saw it.”
Hill took up photography and loved the medium. Again, reality put a grip on his ambitions.
“I was 23 in 1966, and went to Canada and bought a hippy-dippy coffee shop,” Hill said. “I stayed there seven years.”
Whenever possible, he'd head out for free concerts, find musicians in a park or on the street corner and take photos. He plastered the walls of his coffee shop with them.
The shop was a success. Hill's American girlfriend came for a visit and didn't leave – they wound up having a baby together and getting married.
When they all came home in 1973, Hill realized life had changed dramatically. He had a family and responsibilities.
Art school was a distant memory. His camera wasn't going to pay his rent if what he did with it was take shots of street musicians.
“I took a job in Seattle selling used and new camera equipment, and over the years I probably worked for every shop in Seattle or Tacoma,” Hill said.
The closest thing to a gig behind the camera was a job taking portraits for Yuen Lui studios.
Most of the portraits turned out to be of infants or young children, some with a parent, some with a pet.
“It eventually drove me crazy,” Hill admitted. “I'd work eight hours a day, and was supposed to have 30 minutes between appointments to get to wherever the next family was going to be photographed.
“I wound up with less time, was always behind and dealing with kids who could ruin shots without even trying. It was just no fun.”
The only way he made money with photography was by selling cameras and lenses and all the bells and whistles photographers love.
The years piled up. Hill is now single. He has three grown children, six grandchildren. He has seen the days of brick and mortar camera shops die.
And somewhere around the turn of the century, Hill found an unexpected gift at age 57, a long-lost passion.
It began with a move to Tacoma's Old Town district, right across from The Spar, the area's oldest saloon and cafe.
“I moved into an apartment about 60 feet from the front door, and the memories came back,” he said. “My parents used to hang out there. It was right in their neighborhood.
“They'd walk down some evenings and play a game of pool, have a beer, talk to neighbors and friends.”
Hill found musicians at The Spar two nights a week. Blues Night was Sunday. Saturday was eclectic.
“You might get old rock and roll, folk or blues,” he said.
And that reminded Hill of his days in his Canadian coffee shop.
“I'd always loved photographing musicians, their instruments, their body language, their expressions,” Hill said.
“I come over on weekends with my camera, wander around and take photographs. I was here so often that they actually put an engraved plate with my name above a chair at the end of the bar,” he said, delighted with the development.
Hill discovered artistic photo filters he loved, ways in which he could use them to create newer images built upon the original.
“I shoot the image, duplicate it on computer, paint the background with a program and then strip that away,” Hill said. “I use a sketch filter and work on the opaque background.
“I use a little program from JPIX.”
Visit Dan Hill on Facebook, where he's posted hundreds of shots of musicians, bands, flowers and himself.
Or try Flickr, where he has more than 4,000 shots online.
“I haven't made a dime with them,” Hill said, shaking his head. “I figure if I take one of a band, it's as much their photo as mine.
“If they want to use it for their next appearance or whatever, I give it to them.”
Plenty of artistes would argue that what Hill does isn't art, that anyone with a digital camera and a couple of filters might produce the same effect.
Now 74, he doesn't care what anyone wants to call it.
“I tell people who ask just how I do it, even what filters I use,” Hill said. “You can't make a bad photo look good with it, so you start with a good shot and go from there.”
The photos look as if they're sketched, and people are always complimenting him. Meet him at The Spar, he's likely to take a quick photo of you – and have it “sketched” and on your Facebook page before you get home.
It may be computer-generated eye-candy to some, an art form to others. All Hill knows is that it changed his life.
“I've taken tens of thousands of photos at The Spar, filled eight hard drives with them all,” Hill said. “It keeps me happy, vital.
“I put a lot of shots or images of myself online, but then I'm the perfect model. I don't care how silly I look or what costume I might wear, I'm enjoying It.”

Imagine your family members and friends begin to die for unknown reasons. When HIV/AIDS is revealed as the cause, the deaths continue. Even when medicines come out, they are too expensive, and the deaths continue. Tuberculosis complicates the problems and often brings death to people with weakened immune systems caused by AIDS. This is the story of many countries during the 1990’s and early 2000’s, Zambia being a sad example of this scenario. One Peace Corp volunteer told me, when he worked in Zambia during these times, there was little hope, only one person he met talked about the future. Finally, thanks to PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, people began to survive. The anti-retro viral drugs these programs provided were giving hope to people who had been resigned to die. Even better, these drugs help stem the spread of HIV/AIDS.  
The PEPFAR program is America’s answer to the AIDS epidemic begun under President Bush. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria is a multinational program that battles these three plagues. America’s robust support of the Global Fund ($4.3 billion over the next three years) has inspired other nations and private donors to give, helping to turn the tide against these epidemics. Recently there has been talk of an AIDS free generation. In fact, while I was in Zambia this month, the PEPFAR coordinator for the region said that the AIDS free generation is only three to five years away in Zambia. Of course this depends on continued funding from the United States and other donors. But Zambia of the present day is one of hope and confidence. The reality is that the AIDS epidemic is not the killer it once was. Yet nearly every family has been touched by it. Everyone has had family members or friends who were taken by the disease. The Zambian people I met always thanked me for the hope the new medicines from America brought.
What can we do to make sure this work of hope continues? Right now in the halls of Congress our elected representatives are deciding about the budget for next year. Even though President Obama pledged the money to the Global Fund for a total of $4.3 billion over the next three years, each year it requires funding by Congress. The same is true for the monies for PEPFAR, which the current administration is questioning. What can we do to make sure these programs continue? Each of us can help by calling or writing our representative and senators to make sure they understand that these programs are a matter of life and death to millions in our world. The AIDS free generation is possible if we continue investing in these programs. As Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund, has said on many occasions, if we fail to keep up this battle, all of these diseases will come back quickly and it will be even harder to stop them in the future. Our voices can make sure this doesn’t happen and that the aids free generation becomes a reality.

Willie Dickerson is a former Tacoma resident where he taught school for 16 years (and he still visits family often). Retired now, he is a volunteer with RESULTS (results.org) working to end hunger and the worst aspects of poverty in America and our world.

B SHARP COFFEE: Brett Benton (blues, country) 8 p.m., $7, AA
EMERALD QUEEN: Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds (R&B, pop) 8:30 p.m., sold out
G. DONNALSON'S: Cara Francis (jazz) 7:30 p.m., NC, AA
GREAT AMERICAN CASINO: Nite Crew (dance) 9 p.m., NC
JAZZBONES: The Iron Maidens, Second Sting, Patitude (Iron Maiden, Scorpions  Pet Benatar tribute) 8 p.m., $15-$20
KEYS ON MAIN: Dueling pianos, 9 p.m., NC
LOUIE G'S: Jethro Tull Experience with Leah Tussing and Rafael Tranquilino (Jethro Tull tribute, blues, rock) 7 p.m., $10, AA
MARKEE (OLD TOWN): Gene Sievers (covers) 7 p.m., NC, AA
REAL ART TACOMA: Popsicle, Kowari, Slog, Johnny & Ethan (emo, indie-rock) 8 p.m., $7-$10, AA
STONEGATE: Guilty Smoke, Steel Grit (rock) 6 p.m., NC
THE SWISS: '80s Invasion ('80s covers) 9 p.m., $10
TACOMA COMEDY: Jonathan Kite (comedy) 8, 10:30 p.m., $16-$22, 18+ early show
UNCLE SAM'S: SOB Band (classic rock) 8 p.m.
THE VALLEY: Blotterz, Dopers, Cheap Sweat (punk, garage-rock) 6 p.m., $5; Brewfish (alternative, reggae) 9 p.m.

B SHARP COFFEE: Velocity (funk, jazz, Latin) 8 p.m., $7, AA
DOYLE'S: Stay Grounded (reggae) 9:30 p.m., NC
G. DONNALSON'S: Nancy Erickson (jazz) 7:30 p.m., NC, AA
GREAT AMERICAN CASINO: Nite Crew (dance) 9 p.m., NC
JAZZBONES: Almost Human, Hellbelly, Anti Hero (Kiss Tribute, rock) 9 p.m., $12-$15
KEYS ON MAIN: Dueling pianos, 9 p.m., NC
LOUIE G'S: Salem Knights, Sons of Mercury, Mosgila (rock) 8 p.m., $10, AA
MARKEE: Steven's Rocket (rock) 7 p.m., NC, AA
REAL ART TACOMA: Spiller, Dagne Gorham, Save Bandit, Fed by Ravens, Coach (punk, hardcore, indie-rock) 7:30 p.m., $7, AA
RIALTO: Symphony Tacoma presents “Beethoven & Mozart” with pianist David Fung (classical) 7:30 p.m., $19-$80, AA
THE SPAR: The Whirlies (indie-rock) 8 p.m., NC
STONEGATE: Dysfunctional Kaos, Crossing Crusades (metal, rock) 7:30 p.m., NC
THE SWISS: Harmonious Funk (R&B, funk covers) 9 p.m., $8
TACOMA COMEDY:“Clean Comedy” with Zoltan Kaszas (comedy) 4:30 p.m., $10, 13+; Jonathan Kite (comedy) 8, 10:30 p.m., $16-$22, 18+ early show
TACOMA DOME: “The Spin Stops Here” with Bill O'Reilly, Jesse Waters and Dennis Miller (comedy, political spoken word) 5 p.m., $65-$95
THEATER ON THE SQUARE: Davina & The Vagabonds (jazz, blues) 7:30 p.m., $19-$49, AA
UNCLE SAM'S: Trainwreck (rock) 8 p.m.
THE VALLEY: Ex-Gods, Old Foals (alternative, noise-rock) 5 p.m., $7-$10; Infinite Flux, Mammoth Salmon (sludge, stoner-metal) 9 p.m.

DAWSON'S: Tim Hall Band (open jam) 8 p.m., NC
G. DONNALSON'S: Jazz and blues open mic, 5 p.m., NC, AA
NEW FRONTIER: Bluegrass jam, 4 p.m., NC
REAL ART TACOMA: Season of Strangers, Lume, Love Moon (emo, indie-rock) noon, $5, AA; Crimex, Acracy, Gidrah, Isolation Chamber (punk, hardcore) 6 p.m., $5-$8, AA
THE SPAR: Blues County Sheriff (blues) 7 p.m., NC
THE SWISS: Dace's Rock N' More Rockcital (rock) 12:30 p.m.
TACOMA COMEDY: Zoltan Kaszas (comedy) 8 p.m., $10-$16, 18+

DAWSON'S: Heather Jones and the Groove Masters (R&B, soul, funk) 8 p.m., NC
G. DONNALSON'S: Jazz and blues open mic, 5 p.m., NC, AA
JAZZBONES: Rockaraoke (live band karaoke) 7 p.m., NC
REAL ART TACOMA: I'm Glad It's You, Glacier Veins, Quieter, Ivan the Gorilla (indie-rock, punk) 7:30 p.m.,
STONEGATE: Michael Langdon (acoustic jam) 8 p.m., NC
THE SWISS: Chuck Gay (open mic) 7 p.m., NC

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: Billy Stoops and Leanne Trevalyan (acoustic jam) 8 p.m., NC
G. DONNALSON'S: James Haye (blues) 7 p.m., NC, AA
METRONOME: Open mic, 6:30 p.m., NC, AA
NORTHERN PACIFIC: Stingy Brim Slim (blues) 7 p.m., NC, AA
ROCK THE DOCK: Dustin Lefferty (open mic) 8 p.m.
THE VALLEY: Jerry Miller (blues, rock) 7 p.m., $5

DAWSON'S: Linda Myers Band (R&B, blues, jazz) 8 p.m., NC
G. DONNALSON'S: James Haye (blues) 7 p.m., NC, AA
JAZZBONES: Murder Weapon (rock) 8 p.m., $5
NEW FRONTIER: Open mic, 8 p.m., NC
NORTHERN PACIFIC: Open mic, 7:30 p.m., NC, AA
REAL ART TACOMA: Hideout, Hannah Racecar, Stay Up (indie-rock) 8 p.m., $7, AA
STONEGATE: Leify Green (open mic) 8 p.m., NC
TACOMA COMEDY: Comedy open mic, 8 p.m., NC, 18+

DAWSON'S: Billy Shew Band (open jam) 8 p.m., NC
G. DONNALSON'S: Kristi “Lady Mellow” Gray (jazz, blues) 7 p.m., AA
JAZZBONES:“Ladies Night” with DJ Mack Long (DJ) 10 p.m., $5
KEYS ON MAIN: Dueling pianos, 9 p.m., NC
STONEGATE: Comfort and Call (rock jam) 8 p.m., NC
TACOMA COMEDY: “Ladies Night” with Leif Skyving (comedy) 8 p.m., NC-$16, 18+
TACOMA ELKS: Terry West (Latin DJ)  6:30 p.m., $6-$10

Since Feb. 28, 2007, Jonz Catering (pronounced Jones) has happily served South Sound catering and event needs. Elegant and locally sourced menu options may flawlessly be presented to you and your corporate staff at an upcoming luncheon, or you may be feeling more free – maybe an outdoor gathering is more your style? Either way, Jonz Catering and their staff will easily assist with every aspect of the event’s planning.
“We do it all – organizing and catering events from 15-1,200 people, social to corporate,” says Angie Mingus, director of catering for two years and running. “Even if we have a worry about an upcoming event or an issue, clients will be hard-pressed to recall a time when we were anything but professional and collected.” It boils down to their collective experience and drive to obtain rave reviews from their clientele, which has led this company right into a perfect recipe for savory business practices and flawless execution, persistently.
Owners Linda Dagley and David have been in and around the restaurant industry for a fair share of their lives, undoubtedly lending itself to a comprehensive understanding of the landscape being navigated. “David and I have both been in restaurants in some manner for most of our adult lives,” Linda said. “I’ve served food, been a bartender serving up drinks, and eventually worked management in several restaurants. David has typically been interested in back of house functions, like cooking.”
On March 21, Point Ruston Ferry played host to an important event catered by Jonz, the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE).  Prior to the event Linda said with a laugh, “And I am quite nervous about how it is lining up. Not so much the function, per se, but the minute details that may be criticized by professional peers. The toughest ones to serve are your peers.”
Jonz Catering recently received an invitation to be on the preferred list with LeMay Car Museum, “which is quite a proud moment for us,” gleams Dagley. This invitation was in response to an upheld set of standards through previous catering services for LeMay, now paying off for a potentially long-term relationship.
It truly is remarkable just how flexible Jonz is, from having completely customizable menu options, ranging the wide array of allergies and aversions, to even catering to several different allergies under one roof. “We once hosted and were lucky enough to have 10 different dietary restrictions stipulated in one event. While it was a learning experience, it was so much fun for those involved!” says Mingus.
When asked whether corporate clients, like Franciscan, Mary Bridge, or Habitat for Humanity, were easier clientele to appease as opposed to weddings and private affairs, Dagley was happy to squash it. “They both present their own challenges and joys,” she stated. “Corporate events tend to be more open to our creative input. Weddings are just so much more personal, and as a woman I feel so much happier at an event like that, not that I don't enjoy my corporate clients too.”
For more information or to book an event with Jonz Catering, visit www.jonzcatering.com or call (253) 274-0443.

(Editor’s note: This is the first in a series about the Northwest Detention Center and immigration policies as they affect Tacoma. Next week, inside the detention center itself.)

Tacoma City Council wants answers and reassurances from Geo Group America, the private operation of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on the tideflats that is home to some 1,500 detainees who are facing possible deportation.
The council passed an emergency ordinance earlier this month that put a stall on any expansion plans at the Northwest Detention Center for the next six month, although no such plans are officially known. Mayor Marilyn Strickland pressed the point further by raising concerns about detainee treatment at the center by sending a letter to the private prison operator that included a note that said the city could suspend or revoke the facility’s business license if violations are found.
“We are writing to express concern about the current operations of the Northwest Detention Center. More specifically, we are concerned about the possible detention of individuals in violation of due process rights, the violation of the status of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients and other established and relied upon Federal Immigration enforcement  priorities,” the letter stated. “It is the City of Tacoma’s firm position that detention of individuals in violation of state and federal due process rights bears a direct relationship to the conduct of the business for which you are licensed with the City of Tacoma, and will result in danger to the public health, safety and welfare of the individuals involve as well as the community as a whole.”
Councilmember Marty Campbell introduced the emergency ordinance at a time the center has been gaining national attention following President Donald Trump’s executive orders to step up enforcement of illegal immigrants and following the arrest of Daniel Ramirez Medina, who is a recipient of the deferred action program started under former President Barack Obama. Medina has been detained at the Tacoma facility for more than a month over allegations that he has gang ties which would violate his DACA conditions. He has denied any gang affiliation.
The anticipated uptick in ICE operations against undocumented residents coupled with the fact that the detention center only occupies five of the 17 acres of land it bought from the Port of Tacoma raised the question of future expansion plans, Campbell said.
“They own more land than what they are using,” he said.
The center opened in 2004 with 500 detainees and has since expanded to its current capacity of 1,575. It is now one of the largest facility of its kind in the nation. That fact and the empty land it leases raises the broader questions of the land-use policies of industrial land and the role private prisons should have in the city.
“Our community has not had that conversation,” Campbell said. “The purpose of our port is to move cargo in and out, so what does it say when we put a bunch of people down there?”
He noted that the council has been working on getting a tour of the facility, but have not yet been able to schedule a visit or have discussions with Geo Group or ICE officials about the operation and future of the facility.
“They hold their cards very close to their vests,” he said. “But we are certainly interested in their participation in the conversation.”
Strickland toured the detention center with state and federal officials in 2014, when the center was in the headlines when more than 1,000 detainees stages a hunger strike for 56 days over conditions in the facility that included allegations of mistreatment by guards, poor food quality and the slow pace of legal hearing schedules. She continues to have questions about detainee treatment as well as the work environment for the guards and staff at the facility, particularly as the federal government has sights on stepping up efforts against undocumented residents.
“Given the comments by the administration and a more strict stance on immigration, it is clear they want to step up enforcement,” she said.
More enforcement around the nation means more detainees, which could mean more detainees coming to Tacoma. That reality juxtaposes the city’s official stance as a “Welcoming City,” by providing legal referrals for undocumented residents and vowing to not ask a resident’s immigration status during police questioning or for other city services.
“Regardless of someone’s views on immigration, everyone agrees on due process,” she said.
The non-profit group Advocates for Immigrants in Detention Northwest has helped detainees who are released from the center with emergency food and clothing as well as free phone calls and friendly smiles by parking an RV filled with supplies outside the center each weekday afternoon.
Kaye Marshall is one of those volunteers. She drives down from Seattle twice a month to show compassion and Christian love for the newly released detainees who are often hundreds if not thousands of miles from where they were arrested and may have received just a few hours of notice that they were being released.
“I’m sure it’s upsetting. They are scared,” she said. “We just want to be able to encourage them and be friendly to them.”
The Geo Group owns or manages 104 correctional and detention facilities around the globe with 87,000 beds, including idle beds in inventory and projects under development. The private company has 64 facilities just in the United States, with 75,152 beds under its management. The Northwest Detention Center specifically is a short-term minimum, medium and maximum security facility that houses people facing immigration charges. The average stay is 30 days. The complex encompasses 277,000 square feet and is accredited through the American Correctional Association, most recently in 2015, with a score of 100 percent in compliance with industry standards and practices.
The Geo Group responded to Strickland’s letter of concern with four-paragraph retort that mentions the center employs 360 guards and staffers, who make a wage above $12 an hour.
“The warden and GEO appreciate the opportunity for a continuing conversation to address questions as they arise,” the letter concluded. “You have an open invitation to visit the site to view operations first hand at your convenience, which can be arranged with fairly short notice.”

TACOMA GOLF LEGEND KEN STILL PASSES AWAY AT 82

The Tacoma and South Sound sporting world is mourning the passing of one of our own this week. Kenneth Allan Still (February 12, 1935 – March 19, 2017) has passed away at the age of 82 and the world is a little lesser because of it. However, the impact Still had upon the world of golf, especially here in the Tacoma area, will hold strong for generations to come.
Born in Tacoma, Still graduated from Clover Park High School, and decided to turn professional golfer just five months later. It would be a decision that would mark his path for the rest of his life. Still was a member of the PGA tour until the age of 50, when he decided to move his game to the Senior PGA Tour where he continued to play for nearly 15 more years.
Still, was the first golfer from Tacoma to win a PGA tournament championship. He notched three PGA wins in his career; all over some of the biggest names the sport of golf has ever known. On March 9, 1969, Still defeated Miller Barber by one stroke to win the Florida Citrus Open Invitational. Five months later, Still would finish two strokes ahead of runner-up Gary Player to capture the Greater Milwaukee Open. On Oct. 25, 1970, Still would defeat Lee Trevino and Bert Yancey in a playoff to add the Kaiser International Open Invitational to his win list.
During this run of excellent play, Still was selected to represent the United States team at the 1969 Ryder Cup where the USA retained the title with a 16-16 draw against the British. It would be the first draw in Ryder Cup history.
Still's best finishes in PGA major tournaments was a fifth place finish in the 1970 U.S. Open and a tie for sixth place in the 1971 Masters Tournament.
In 1964, Still also captured the British Columbia Open, followed by the Washington Open in 1966.
An avid fan of Tacoma's Triple-A baseball and the Seattle Mariners, Still was also instrumental in the creation of a Jack Nicklaus designed set of nine holes at American Lake Veteran's Golf Course. February 12 is set aside by the city of Fircrest as Ken Still Day.
Still is survived by his wife, Linda Still (Evans); his son, Mark Evans; and his brother, Fred Still.
A public funeral is set for 11 a.m. on Friday, March 31 at St. Charles Borromeo, 7112 S. 12th St. in Tacoma, with a reception to follow at Fircrest Golf Club. Donations can be made in Still’s memory to St. Charles Church or American Lake Golf Course.

PLU'S HUNKIN EARNS NWC HONOR AS FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

The Northwest Conference office released its weekly award winners for women's track & field on Monday, March 20 with Pacific Lutheran University's Vakeaemanu Hunkin securing NWC Field Athlete of the Week.
Hunkin earns the accolade after a strong showing over the weekend at Lewis & Clark College's Spring Break Open in Portland. The first-year from Spanaway, Washington was the top finishing Division III competitor in the shot put, recording a season-best throw of 42 feet, 7.5 inches. Her throw was good for fifth overall amongst a field of several Division I and Division II competitors and her toss currently is the best in the NWC and ranks third nationally in Division III. Hunkin additionally finished 14th in the hammer throw (126' 1.75") and 17th in the discus throw (108' 4.25").
PLU returns to action on Saturday, March 25, making the short jaunt across town for the Peyton Scoring Meet hosted by the University of Puget Sound. The meet begins at 10:30 a.m.

PLU WOMEN EARN SECOND STRAIGHT NWC CREW HONOR

The Pacific Lutheran University women's rowing team's varsity eight is the Northwest Conference Crew of the Week for the second consecutive week after claiming a pair of decisive victories at the Hagg Lake Invitational.
The Lutes' 1V8+ boat dominated host and NWC rival Pacific University in its first race of the day on Saturday, finishing in seven minutes, 9.05 seconds and owning a 64-second buffer on the Boxers. As an encore, the 1V8+ clocked a 6:44.33 against Lewis & Clark College for the boat's second win over a NWC squad with the Pioneers trailing by nine seconds.
The 1V8+ boat was crewed by Alison Wriggle, Molly Mastrorilli, Hannah Peterson, Sarah Stafford, Madeline Woods, Molly Ivey, Alex Moore, and Sydney Otey with Madison Sanders serving as coxswain.
PLU returns to the water on April 1, competing up in Seattle at the Husky Open.

LOGGERS' BENKO NAMED NWC LACROSSE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK

Ally Benko has been named the Northwest Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the NWC announced on Monday.
Benko, a Livermore, California, native, was 2-0 as goalkeeper for the Loggers in their two-game Spring Break trip to Texas. The freshman allowed just 11 goals in 120 minutes, while making 15 saves. In a 10-3 victory over Carroll in a neutral-site game, Benko made five saves. The following day, she made 10 saves in a 14-8 win at Dallas.
The Loggers next host George Fox on Saturday, April 1. The game is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.

UPS WOMEN STEP CLOSER TO .500 WITH SWEEP OF PACIFIC

Jordan Hirae knocked in the game-winning run in the seventh inning as the Loggers (8-10, 4-5 NWC) won a back-and-forth battle over the Boxers, 5-4, in the first game on Sunday's doubleheader March 19.
With the game tied, 4-4, Connor Dunn led off the seventh inning with a double. Hirae immediately followed with a single to right field to score the go-ahead run. David Follett earned the win with two shutout innings, and Michael Warnick shut the door on the Boxers (9-12, 4-11 NWC) for his fifth save of the season.
The Loggers took a 2-0 lead in the third inning, when Hirae got the rally started with a leadoff single. Layne Croney beat out a bunt single, and Cal Muramaru followed with a bunt single that was compounded by a throwing error by the pitcher that Hirae and Croney score.
The Boxers evened the score in the fourth inning, but Puget Sound truck for two more runs in the sixth thanks to a two-run single by Tyler Brazelton. Pacific tied the score once more with a pair of runs in the home half of the sixth, but Hirae's second hit of the game stood as the winner.
The Loggers scored all three runs in the first inning and Joe Brennan was stellar out of the bullpen in a 3-0 win over the Boxers to secure the two-game sweep.
Cal Muramaru was hit by a pitch with one out in the opening frame, and Corey Roberts followed with a single. Mason Quinlan walked to load the bases for James Dejesus, and the centerfield lifter a sac fly to give Puget Sound a 1-0 lead.
Quinlan and Roberts executed a double steal to put the Loggers' lead to 2-0, and Tyler Brazelton's RBI single to left field scored Quinlan. Brennan tossed 5.2 shutout innings in relief of Tyler Huling, and Michael Warnick notched his sixth save of the season.
The Loggers return home to host Whitworth with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 25, starting at 12 p.m.

SOUNDERS WOMEN AND U23 SET FOR HOME BROADCASTS

The Sounders U23 and Sounders Women teams have signed on with Bootstrapper Studios to broadcast the home game schedules for each team in 2017. Bootstrapper is well known in the area having broadcast the Seattle Reign and S2 games over the past few years.
As the game of soccer grows in the United States, so too does the developmental pyramid that feeds the growth of the professional game. For nearly two decades, the Sounders Women have helped produce professional and national team players including Rose Lavelle who most recently played for the US Women’s National Team after playing the 2015 season for the Sounders Women. The Sounders U23 have helped produce more than 60 professional players and will continue the Player First Initiative this summer with another crop of top amateur players looking to make the jump.
Broadcasting games via webstream through Bootstrapper Studios makes sense for each of these players as coaches from across the country can now tune in to watch the future professionals if they are unable to make games. This opportunity also gives the parents and friends of the top players playing amateur soccer a chance to see these young guns compete during the summer as they prepare to make the jump to the next level.
“The Bootstrapper team have been incredible in helping us put together a package that makes sense for our business,” said Darren Sawatzky, General Manager for Sounders Women and General Manager and Head Coach for Sounders U23, “With the ability for players to be seen in real time across the country, it further expands the reach and exposure for these kids.”
Bootstrapper Studios has been working in the Seattle soccer community since the 2013 inaugural season of NWSL and the Seattle Reign. They have produced four seasons for NWSL, and enter their third season with USL, and have broadcast multiple Open Cup games and press conferences for the Sounders.
Schedules and tickets for both clubs can be found at www.soundersu23.com and www.sounderswomen.com. The Sounders U23 will kick off the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on Wednesday, May 10 with the opponent to be determined and the Sounders Women open against Vancouver on Saturday, May 27.

Just as the sun began to poke its head out of some rather tenacious rainclouds Saturday afternoon, Girl Scout Troop #43242 set up shop at the Westgate Safeway on North Pearl Street. Girl Scout Cookie season was almost over.
This was to be their last, final push.
It was cold and blustery, but the girls were bright, cheerful and ready to do some business. Selena, one of the Girl Scouts primed for action, held up a sign” “Ask Me About Girl Scout Cookies - $5 each box.” As soon as the cookie boxes were displayed, they had customers.
The Girl Scouts of the United States of America celebrated its 100th year of selling cookies for fundraising in 2017. And while the price may have changed throughout the years (25 cents could get you a dozen in the 1920s), the entrepreneurial spirit and sense of community the Girl Scouts has instilled in young women has remained the same. “Girl Scouts is a great way to get girls together,” said Nicolette Vaas, one of the troop mom volunteers braving the elements that day. “They learn about teamwork, proper etiquette, how to behave.”
Byrne DeMoss, a five-year volunteer and former-Girl Scout herself, agreed. “It’s about carrying on the tradition,” she said. “I love seeing the girls mature, learning skills they may not have known before, like camping, and cooking.”
The vast majority of the money raised from Girl Scout Cookies goes directly back to the troops that sell them. This, in turn, helps pay for registration, summer camp, big trips across the world, and a variety of other events hosted throughout the year. And while not mandatory, troops also have the option of donating a portion of their net earnings to charity.
Troop #43242 could have easily kept all of the money and could have saved for one of those big trips across the world. Instead, they decided to give back. They agreed that a chunk of the proceeds from this year’s cookie sale go to a charity of their choosing, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
“Donating is a great way to learn about giving and thinking selflessly,” added Vaas.
The choice of charity was not one that was taken lightly. One of the troop leader’s friends has a daughter with juvenile diabetes. She held a talk to educate the troop about the possible dangers and inconveniences of the disease, from checking blood sugar through sometimes painful finger pricks to making good choices about nutrition.
“Deciding on Juvenile Diabetes Relief Fund was made by the girls themselves,” said Troop Leader Brenda Snyder. “The girls were able to connect with someone their age having this disease. The decision was unanimous.”
“[Selling cookies for Girl Scouts] gives these girls a chance to be a part of something bigger than themselves,” added Snyder. “They’re able to bring a community together for an important cause through a simple box of cookies.”
As for the girls themselves, being in the Girl Scouts is a way to both do some good and have some fun at the same time. “My favorite thing about Girl Scouts is they have sleepovers sometimes,” said Maddy, one of the  energetic cookie sellers. She thought about her answer for a moment, then added “And the cookies.”

After so long, we have to assume that Percival our beloved Pothole Pig has simply vanished. However, there are still potholes in the city that need attention, so we simply – and sadly – must hire someone to handle his workload.
The list of candidates continues to change, with Carter the Crater Gator, Charles the Chuckhole Chicken and Blighty the Blight-Seeking Beaver still in the running.
Several people have voted to have Percival’s replacement stay in the pig family, particularly considering Percival’s blood relatives: Peyton lives in Portland and Perry lives in Parkland. But a new candidate has entered the running with a resume from Ruddy the Road Rut Reindeer, who is a brother in law of Tacoma Rainiers mascot Rhubarb.
Send your thoughts to stevedunkel@tacomaweekly.com.

March 24, 7:30 p.m.
"No Passport Required"
Schneebeck Concert Hall

This Woodwind Quintet plays as part of the Jacobsen Series. Performers: Jennifer Nelson, clarinet; Karla Flygare, flute; Shannon Spicciati, oboe, guest; Francine Peterson, bassoon; Rodger Burnett, horn. The group will perfrorm; Cambini: Quintet No. 1 in B-flat Major, Piazzola: Libertano, Piazzoloa: Oblivion, Shabalala: Mbube “Nansi Imali,” Abdel-Rahim: “Bohayrat Al-Lotus” (The Lotus Pond,) Persichetti: Pastoral, Opus 2 and Ibert: “Trois Pieces Breves”
Tickets: $15 general; $10 seniors, students, military, Puget Sound faculty/staff; free for Puget Sound students, available at WIC, 253.879.3100, and online at tickets.pugetsound.edu and at the door. Contact: Office of Public Events, (253) 879.3555, events@pugetsound.edu. Info: www.pugetsound.edu/news-and-events/events-calendar

March 25, 7:30 p.m.
Adelphian Concert Choir "Home Concert"
Schneebeck Concert Hall

The beauty of music and the wonder of nature will both feature large in this year’s Adelphian Concert Choir spring tour, which will take the acclaimed student ensemble up the West Coast and on into Canada. University of Puget Sound’s long-standing choral ensemble will give free public concerts in Puyallup and Bellingham in Washington state, and in Victoria, British Columbia, before returning home to Tacoma, where friends and neighbors regularly stream in to hear its concerts. The program of choral music will include Johann Sebastian Bach’s Motet VI: Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden (Praise the Lord, all ye nations), with its famous extended alleluia at the end. The music composed for a cathedral includes Exsultate Justi (Rejoice O ye Just) and Ave verum corpus (Hail, true body). Bringing in some musical fun will be Country Dances and Ronda Catonga, a Uruguayan folk dance. The Bluebird will add a dreamy and contemplative element to the concert, and Good Night, Dear Heart a tenderness fitting to the Robert Richardson poem it is based on – a poem inscribed on the headstone of the daughter of Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), who died in her youth. Steven Zopfi, conductor. Free. Info: www.pugetsound.edu/news-and-events/events-calendar

March 27, 7 p.m.
Taiko Performance and Taiko Workshop
Kilworth Memorial Chapel

Taiko master Tsutomu Shinozaki will perform on Monday, March 27, at 7 p.m., and will lead a Taiko workshop on Tuesday, March 28 at 6:45 p.m. Both events will be held in Kilworth Memorial Chapel, and are free and open to the public. Sponsored by Asian Studies Program and the Catharine Gould Chism Fund. Info: www.pugetsound.edu/news-and-events/events-calendar/

March 27, 7:30 p.m.
Violinist Grace Youn '13 in Recital
Schneebeck Concert Hall

Grace Youn '13 with pianist Chien-Lin Lu. Works by Tartini, Grieg, Stravinsky, and Gershwin. Info: www.pugetsound.edu/news-and-events/events-calendar

March 28, 7:30 p.m.
An Evening of Art Song
Schneebeck Concert Hall

Michael Seregow, piano, and guest artist Harry Baechtel, baritone, guest artist, Portland State University Program: Gabriel Faur​é: Cinq melodies 'de Venise'Ralph Vaughan Williams: Songs of TravelRobert Schumann: Dichterliebe. Free. Info: www.pugetsound.edu/news-and-events/events-calendar

March 30, 7:30 p.m.
Sage Genna (Class of ’19), violin
Schneebeck Concert Hall

Sophomore violin recital. Info: www.pugetsound.edu/news-and-events/events-calendar

Work to construct a ramp from Commerce Street into the parking garage under the Greater Tacoma Convention Center – as well as additional dock space adjacent to the existing ones on Market Street – is now scheduled to begin on March 27. 
Sidewalks in the vicinity of the new Convention Center A garage entrance on Commerce Street will be closed beginning March 27 to enable ramp construction, and a fence will be placed to secure the development site on April 20 blocking access to the surface lots and the Carlton parking structure at South 17th and Commerce streets. Heavy construction equipment will be stationed at the development site during that time in preparation for construction of the building.
Construction work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and high noise activities as well as construction truck traffic will be managed by Absher Construction to minimize impact to the surrounding neighborhood to the greatest extent possible. Construction workers will also be directed to park at off-site locations to minimize impacts on parking for the University of Washington Tacoma and area businesses.  
From April 20, for the duration of construction through the summer of 2019 when the new hotel is projected to open, access from the south of the Convention Center as well as the exterior parking lots A, B and C will be closed. Convention Center guests would enter the facility through the doors at Commerce and 15th streets, and guest parking will be available in the A garage, within the Convention Center building. The A garage would be accessible via the newly constructed ramp at Commerce Street. Additional guest parking will be available throughout the construction period at the D and E garages off Court C. There are also several privately owned and managed facilities in the area that may have additional parking capacity available for visitors. As parking availability will be limited depending on event timing, type and size, guests are encouraged to plan for, and allow themselves, more time to park.
The Convention Center will continue to host events during construction, and project-related construction updates will be available at tacomaconventioncenter.com.

Whole Foods Market has a reputation for providing an elevated grocery shopping experience that highlights fresh, organic produce and artisan goods. Their tidily lined shelves feature familiar and funky products that make eating healthy, and often even locally sourced, easy but what many don’t know is that their vision of providing a wealth of nourishing products goes beyond what you see during a visit to the store.
Whole Foods also provides funding on a national level to schools and non-profits with their Whole Kids Foundation. This foundation is an independent non-profit based in Austin, and has a vision to help children reach optimal health by helping to empower kids and their families to make healthy dietary choices through education and immersion. They do this with a number of different programs, one of which includes their garden grant, which has just recently awarded the $2,000 grant to six Pierce County Schools: Tacoma’s Clover Creek Elementary, Seabury School, Summit Olympus and Whitman Elementary, and University Place’s Evergreen Primary and Curtis High School.
Nona Evans, executive director and president of the Whole Kids Foundations, says, “We are passionate about providing students with the opportunity to engage in learning outside of classrooms, and educational gardens do just that. The joy and gratitude that come from funding these programs for students never dulls.”
Evans said that at the root of the Foundation’s motivation to support schools in hosting gardens is the idea that when children grow and eat plants, they develop an understanding about what “real” food is. “Too often, kids (and adults) think food comes from a can or a box. Once they discover the magic of planting a seed and seeing a plant they can eat emerge, their curiosity is peaked! We know from our experience and research that when children grow food, they are more willing to try dozens of vegetables. Our approach to improving children’s nutrition is simple: eat a rainbow of natural color, eat greens first and eat as close to nature as possible. All of that can happen in a school garden.”
It is the foundation’s belief that community gardens have been shown to improve a student’s behavior and performance at school and improve their attitudes toward their academic environment. Furthermore, it’s said that a measly two percent of children eat enough fresh produce. Given these facts, the Whole Kids Foundation hopes that by helping provide these gardening hubs, students can learn more about nutrition and make better decisions throughout their lifetime.
While the garden grant sometimes provides the foundation funds to begin a school garden, in some cases it can be used to simply provide more opportunities in one that already exists. Such is the case in University Place’s Evergreen Primary. “We are really blessed to already have a community garden on campus,” said Principal Chris Backman. “The PTSA was responsible for applying for and acquiring the Whole Kids Foundation Fund and we are really excited to receive such a great grant.” Since the grant was just recently received, how they plan to put the grant to use is still in the developmental stages but Evergreen Primary has some great ideas about how they hope it will help engage the student body.
Backman tells me the school is excited about developing a partnership with Whole Foods since it’s right there in their very own backyard and goes on to say, “We hope to allow the students more opportunities to learn about planting seeds and harvesting nature and maybe even plan on purchasing a couple plots for the students to plant their own produce. We are looking forward to establishing more structure and resources to help students recognize that a simple backyard garden can make a big difference.” The very best ways for adults to support this work are:
1.) Plant something! Start with an herb or tomato in a pot on the patio and grow from there.
2.) Connect with your local school. Volunteer to share your good food experiences by doing a vegetable tasting in the cafeteria or reading books from the Book Club.
3.) Thank a teacher for lending their energy to the health of our next generation.
Whole Foods Market is located at 3515 Bridgeport Way W., University Place. Open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sales, coupons, events and more are available at www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/chambersbay.

When the Battle at the Boat boxing series hits the Emerald Queen Casino every couple of months or so, it’s always an enjoyable evening at the fights, even if the action comes in a little bit below expectations. With a full card of bouts spread out over a few hours, there seems to always be something exciting, fun or remarkable to hang one’s hat on by the end of the night to make it all worthwhile.

On Saturday, March 18, it would be the 110th offering of Brian Halquist’s promotional series and on face value; the boxing card looked like it would be a quality, if not spectacular night ahead for fight fans in Tacoma. However, this ended up being a case of “you can’t judge a book by its cover.”

In three years of covering the fights at the EQC I have yet to see a string of fights, starting from the beginning that immediately grabbed the audience’s attention and fire, and nearly held it strong all the way to the final bell of the evening.

On tap were six, four-round bouts, followed by a six-round, semi-main event. The main event of the evening would be a 10-round affair, and when it was all said and done, the two fighters would use up every last second of those rounds.

A pair of professional debuts kicked off the night’s festivities. Jesse Barich out of Port Orchard would face Zach Skinner, fighting out of Olympia in a 147-pound contest. The action came swiftly following the first bell as Barich looked hell-bent on trying to finish his debut with a cascade of haymakers. The onslaught began moving Skinner around the ring with a succession of jabs and big shots. However, in the final 10 seconds, Skinner flipped the switch and hammered Barich with some strong shots that left the youngster bleeding from the nose.

Skinner found himself in trouble in the second round with his back to the corner and ate several shots by Barich. The barrage left Skinner with a short spell of rubber chicken legs, but Barich couldn’t close the deal. Skinner got in some more of his own work, and by the end of the second round, Barich was bleeding from the nose as well as above his left eye.

The third round was all Skinner as he seemed to sense his foe’s fatigue. A relentless combination of lefts and rights had Barich in big trouble on the ropes and the referee decided that he had seen enough and stopped the fight 35 seconds into the round for a TKO win by Skinner. The crowd absolutely loved the fight.

Up next was a matchup of 200-pounders, pitting Jon Jackson (2-0) of Olympia against Kevin Roberson of Seattle, who was making his pro debut. I knew the fight might be trouble when Roberson refused to touch gloves to begin the fight. Karma has a weird way of coming back on fighters who do this, and I can’t tell you how many times it happened quick and sudden. Jackson, would send Roberson down to the canvas twice in the round, the second time being enough for the referee to call it a day for the newcomer. Again, the crowd loved this fight.

If I was going to put a star next to a bout on this fight card before the night started, the third matchup was probably the one for me. Giovanni Cabrera-Mioletti made his debut in stunning fashion just about a year ago, and has since ran his record to 5-0. The speed in the southpaw’s hands has been eye-opening, and the Chicago transplant has been quickly building up a following here in the South Sound. His opponent for the night would be Niko McFarland out of Portland for this 135-pound affair.

While McFarland entered the bout with just an 0-2 record, he certainly looked as though he should stick around for some time. He was fast, showed quite a bit of fire and landed more punches on Mioletti than I had witnessed in previous fights. However, a solo or quick combination wasn’t going to be enough to keep up with the string of points Mioletti was surgically ringing up throughout their four rounds as the kid from the Windy City took the unanimous decision. This was yet another bout that the crowd loved.

Probably the biggest surprise fight of the night was up next. Making his return to the EQC was Cameron Sevilla-Rivera who at one time was building up a considerable following around these parts. Even after his lengthy absence, his return was greeted with a warm round of applause. Facing Rivera would be Kian Heidari making his pro debut, fighting out of Vancouver, B.C.

From the opening bell, Heidari came at Rivera like a man possessed. With a healthy height and reach advantage, the newcomer was able to connect on a multitude of shots, but Rivera was able to weather the storm through the first, while delivering some of his own punishment. The second round saw Heidari continuing his maddening pace, while Rivera began to find openings to the body that began to slow Heidari down.

By the third round, the body shots by Rivera had changed the flow of the bout as the taller fighter winced openly at a few shots to his side. However, Heidari was able to match Rivera blow for blow through the end of the round. By the middle of the fourth round, the action had slowed down a bit, as both fighters had already expended an incredible amount of energy. The fight went to the judges, and personally, I was unable to decide upon a winner myself. The result was a split decision draw. It felt like a fitting conclusion, as both fighters seemed to match each other’s efforts. Can I put my order in for a rematch yet?

A draw usually elicits a large round of boos from any crowd following a fight. After this bout, there was a smattering of them, but mostly it was applause and appreciation for what was easily the fight of the night.

The semi-main event would pit Jacob “the Saint” Szilasi of Spokane against Andres Reyes of Yakima in a 140-pound contest. Reyes looked at ease and ready to work at the beginning of the fight, while Szilasi appeared wound up and tight. By the end of the first round, Reyes was already in control of the bout. Reyes would put Szilasi on his back early in the second, and then shortly after peppered Szilasi was a bevy of shots that sent him to the canvas again and the referee stopped the fight. This was another fight that the crowd loved.

We finally came to the main event of the evening, and the 157-pound battle between Dashon Johnson and Aaron Coley was rather tedious for the first seven rounds of the bout, as neither fighter could connect on much. Coley was able to get things going in the eighth round, and picked up the pace through the tenth. The late effort scored him the unanimous decision, as it was still a wide-open fight to be won after so many middling rounds. As the night went, it was not the fan favorite. However, five out of the six fights were stellar, and I would rate Battle at the Boat 110 as one of the best cards that I have witnessed so far.

Battle at the Boat 111 is set for Saturday, June 3 at the Emerald Queen Casino. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with the first fight beginning at 7 p.m. Cagesport MMA also returns to the EQC on Saturday, April 22 at 7 p.m.

The Tacoma and South Sound sporting world is mourning the passing of one of our own this week. Kenneth Allan Still (February 12, 1935 – March 19, 2017) has passed away at the age of 82 and the world is a little lesser because of it. However, the impact Still had upon the world of golf, especially here in the Tacoma area, will hold strong for generations to come.
Born in Tacoma, Still graduated from Clover Park High School, and decided to turn professional golfer just five months later. It would be a decision that would mark his path for the rest of his life. Still was a member of the PGA tour until the age of 50, when he decided to move his game to the Senior PGA Tour where he continued to play for nearly 15 more years.
Still was the first golfer from Tacoma to win a PGA tournament championship. He notched three PGA wins in his career; all over some of the biggest names the sport of golf has ever known. On March 9, 1969, Still defeated Miller Barber by one stroke to win the Florida Citrus Open Invitational. Five months later, Still would finish two strokes ahead of runner-up Gary Player to capture the Greater Milwaukee Open. On Oct. 25, 1970, Still would defeat Lee Trevino and Bert Yancey in a playoff to add the Kaiser International Open Invitational to his win list.
During this run of excellent play, Still was selected to represent the United States team at the 1969 Ryder Cup where the USA retained the title with a 16-16 draw against the British. It would be the first draw in Ryder Cup history.
Still’s best finishes in PGA major tournaments was a fifth-place finish in the 1970 U.S. Open and a tie for sixth place in the 1971 Masters Tournament.
In 1964, Still also captured the British Columbia Open, followed by the Washington Open in 1966.
An avid fan of Tacoma’s TripleA baseball and the Seattle Mariners, Still was also instrumental in the creation of a Jack Nicklaus designed set of nine holes at American Lake Veterans Golf Course. February 12 is set aside by the city of Fircrest as Ken Still Day.
Still is survived by his wife, Linda Still (Evans); his son, Mark Evans; and his brother, Fred Still.
A public funeral is set for 11 a.m. on Friday, March 31 at St. Charles Borromeo, 7112 S. 12th St. in Tacoma, with a reception to follow at Fircrest Golf Club. Donations can be made in Still’s memory to St. Charles Church or American Lake Golf Course.

Country and southern-rock legend Hank Williams, Jr. is the latest superstar to be announced for the Washington State Fair concert series. Williams – known for “Born to Boogie,” “Young Country,” “Family Tradition” and a slew of other hits - will headline the Fair's 11,000-seat grandstand at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 16 with support from The Cadillac Three.
Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. March 24 with prices ranging from $45 to $70. Find further details online at www.thefair.com; and to learn more about these other upcoming shows, visit www.ticketmaster.com except for where otherwise indicated.
▪ Kyle Kinane: 7:30 p.m. April 20 to 22, 10:30 p.m. April 21 and 22, Tacoma Comedy Club; www.tacomacomedyclub.com.
▪ Jake “The Snake” Roberts with Susan Jones: 8 p.m. April 26, Jazzbones, $15 to $20; www.jazzbones.com.
▪ Gabriel Iglesias: 8:30 p.m. April 29, Emerald Queen Casino, $45 to $110.
▪ U2 “Joshua Tree Tour 2017”: 6:30 p.m. May 14, Century Link Field, Seattle, $35 to $280.
▪ Tim Meadows: 7:30 p.m. May 25 to 27, 10:30 p.m. May 26 and 27, Tacoma Comedy Club, $20 to $27; www.tacomacomedyclub.com.
▪ “Sasquatch Music Festival” featuring Frank Ocean, The Shins and more: May 26 to 28, Gorge Amphitheatre, George, $275 to $295 festival pass.
▪ Soul 2 Soul Tour with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill: 7:30 p.m. May 27, Tacoma Dome, $66.50 to $116.50.
▪ Def Leppard: 7 p.m. June 9, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn, $59.50 to $139.50.
▪ King Crimson: 7:30 p.m. June 13, Moore Theatre, Seattle, $37 to $147.
▪ “United We Rock Tour” featuring Styx, REO Speedwagon and Don Felder: 7 p.m. June 21, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn, $27.50 to $99.50.
▪ Roger Waters: 8 p.m. June 24, Tacoma Dome, $55 to $199.50.
▪ Queen featuring Adam Lambert: 8 p.m. July 1, KeyArena, Seattle, $170.
▪ Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals: 7:30 p.m. July 21, Pantages Theater, $55 to $129; www.broadwaycenter.org.
▪ Bruno Mars: 7:30 p.m. July 24, Tacoma Dome, $45 to $125.
▪ Watershed Festival featuring Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker and more: July 28 to 30, Gorge Amphitheatre, George, $199 festival pass.
▪ Ed Sheeran: 7:30 p.m. July 29, Tacoma Dome, $36.50 to $86.50
▪ Green Day: 7 p.m. Aug. 1, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn, $41.50 to $81.50.
▪ Lady Gaga: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5, Tacoma Dome, $46 to $251.
▪ Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers with The Lumineers: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 19, Safeco Field, Seattle, $49 to $149.
▪ Honda Civic Tour featuring One Republic: 7 p.m. Aug. 22, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn, $25 to $135.
▪ Steve Miller Band with Peter Frampton: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5, White River Amphitheatre, $20.25 to $101.
▪ Metallica with Avenged Sevenfold and Gojira: 6 p.m. Aug. 9, CenturyLink Field, Seattle, $55.50 to $155.50.
▪ Nickelback with Daughtry: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 1, Washington State Fair, Puyallup, $80 to $100; www.thefair.com.
▪ Lionel Ritchie with Mariah Carey: 7 p.m. Sept. 5, KeyArena, Seattle, $35 to $295.
▪ Foreigner with Cheap Trick: 7 p.m. Sept. 9, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn, $19 to $223.
▪ Thomas Rhett: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20, Washington State Fair, Puyallup, $70 to $90; www.thefair.com.
▪ Jason Aldean: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24, Washington State Fair, Puyallup, $100 to $150; www.thefair.com.
▪ Depeche Mode: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21, KeyArena, Seattle, $45.50 to $124.50.
▪ Andre Rieu: 8 p.m. Oct. 28, Tacoma Dome, $39 to $99.

As we have somehow survived one of the wettest winters in Puget Sound history, sooner or later something has got to give. The clouds will part, the sun will remind us all of how wonderful it is to live here next to the water, and the baseball will begin flying through the air with more regularity.
Though the Mariners and Rainiers are still in preparation mode for the upcoming season, high school baseball season is already in swing for the Curtis Vikings and sixth year head coach Brian Robinson. With two former Division I pitchers (Robinson, who pitched two seasons at New Mexico State and junior varsity coach Danny White, who pitched four seasons at perennial college baseball powerhouse Cal State-Fullerton) and one former professional (pitching coach Jeff Martin, who was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 10th round of the 1991 MLB draft and spent eight years in their minor league system) on the coaching staff, it’s no surprise that pitching is the strength of this Vikings team.
The team’s pitch to contact philosophy lines up perfectly with its strength in the field, where an exceptional infield and speedy outfield turn those balls in play into outs with exceptional efficiency. The pitching staff is highlighted not so much by one or two standout stars, but rather by its depth, featuring hurlers such as Jack Horn, Sammy Abbott, and AJ Morioka.
Though the strength of the team is their pitching, they aren’t without some impressive position players:
Senior 1B/3B/P Sammy Abbott (whose mother was an Olympic swimmer) was named 2nd team all-4A SPSL as a designated hitter during his sophomore season and has continued to produce at the plate since, earning an honorable mention last season. A multi-sport star who has spent time in the USA Water Polo program, Abbott recently signed on to play water polo at Long Beach State, where he also hopes to continue his baseball career as a walk-on.
Also earning all-SPSL 4A honors last season was senior AJ Morioka, who was named to the first-team as a shortstop. Morioka and junior second baseman Cody Russell will each reprise their roles from the 2016 season, giving Curtis some valuable continuity up the middle.
Though highlighted by standout seniors like Abbott and Morioka, this Curtis team is a youthful bunch, with four freshmen at the varsity level, led by infielder Kyle Russell (younger brother of starting second baseman Cody Russell) and outfielder Jude Rowley. Both Russell and Rowley are players to watch for Curtis both now and in the future; the latter for his hitting ability and the former for his all-around skillset and as a potential replacement for Morioka next season. In addition to Russell and Rowley, freshmen Noah Claxton-Ward and Kyler Stancato will also look to make contributions at the varsity level. The Vikings’ youth also shows up in the form of their two sophomore catchers, Tyrique Lewis and Jason Tutton. “There’s obviously a learning curve there,” said Robinson, “but they’re improving steadily.”
As with any young team, plenty of responsibility falls on the senior class to train and teach the younger players. Abbott described it this way: “We have a good group of guys, really young, that’s what I really like. Us seniors, we have to take them under our wings and teach them the way of Curtis Baseball and I believe all of the seniors really acknowledge that task, so it’s a really good goal for us to get these guys ready and to be the best team we can be. We can’t control any other team, we can just control each pitch, each mental aspect of the game, and then we’ll see the results.”
In a league with perennial powerhouses such as Puyallup, Emerald Ridge and Rogers, the Vikings will have their work cut out for them this season. However, don’t let their tough league cause you to underestimate them. Robinson and his coaching staff have assembled a solid ballclub, and as always he’ll have them ready to compete this spring.

When Ty Satiacum originally brought his son Ty Satiacum Jr. out to a children’s wrestling practice last year, the number of kids in attendance overwhelmed his son and it wasn’t happening for him. After hearing about Coach Ben Hawk and a wrestling program with fewer kids per coaches, they tried it again and the younger Satiacum was suddenly in his element at the ripe age of six years old.

Not to be left out by his big brother, Ty Satiacum’s four year old son Jaxon Satiacum began wrestling as well.

Now, a year later, the two Satiacum brothers, members of the Puyallup Tribe, are not only wrestling champions, but they have been learning life lessons that most kids their age have no idea about.

“There is no long term career with wrestling,” said Satiacum, a member of the Bethel School District Hall of Fame via wrestling. “You’re not going to land a million dollar deal at the end of the day. It’s about life lessons and discipline. It’s lessons about competing and learning how to win with grace and lose with grace. When I was their age, I was out playing hide and seek and tag.”

It’s become a true family affair for the Satiacum family.

“We’re showing up at the gym at seven in the morning sometimes and not leaving until six at night,” said Satiacum. “Stephanie (Satiacum) has fallen in love with it and has become a proud wrestling Mom.”

This season was fantastic for the brothers. Ty Satiacum Jr. was the sub-Division champ, the Divisional champ, the Tour of America Bigfoot champ and he placed fifth at state. His younger brother Jaxon claimed the Bigfoot title and then went on to capture the state championship at 70 pounds.

“In his two years of wrestling, Ty has only been pinned one time,” said Ty Satiacum. “And that was against a nationally ranked kid. Ironically, he was pinned by Ty’s own signature move that he pins everybody with now.”

See, they’re already learning.

Northwest indie-rock heroes Modest Mouse and Built to Spill are headed to the Washington State Fair. The bands – hailing from Issaquah and Boise, Idaho, respectively – will share the stage at the Fair's 11,000-seat grandstand on Sept. 21, with show time set at 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 1, with prices ranging from $58 to $85. Click here for further details.

Programs seek funding to continue changing tribal members’ lives

When the Puyallup Tribe opened its Restorative Correctional Facility three years ago, the plan was to make it not just a place for incarceration but also a bridge to help guide inmates on a path to creating better lives for themselves. The word “restorative” was taken to heart, presenting a different way of treating Native American people – with compassion and respect rather than locking them up to do their time then be released back into the world no better equipped for life than they were before. Through programming including Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings, and classes in which inmates can get help with domestic violence issues or earn their GED, success stories are happening more and more, proving that the Tribe’s method is working to help those who need it most.
In addition to these programs, there is one more that is having an inspiring effect on inmates that in some cases is nothing short of miraculous. Partnering with the Puyallup Language Program, any inmate who wishes can participate in classes to study and learn the Puyallups’ native language Lushootseed and take part in cultural arts and crafts that have deep meaning and bring about a heightened sense of pride in being Native American.
“Our whole goal with starting the language program is to reconnect the offenders with their heritage and integrate them back into society and be a part of the community,” said Sgt. Winnette Young (Apache). “We want to get them interested in what’s currently going on in the community and making them feel that they’ve got more of a vested interest versus just being a throwaway.”
Working for the state of Washington for 15 years, and with the Puyallup Tribe for five years, Young is the coordinator behind these programs at the Tribe’s Restorative Correctional Facility that were launched in 2016. She said that while working with the state was rewarding, she didn’t feel that she was having impacts on communities outside the prison walls. “But working for the Tribe, I can see the benefits all around us. We’ve had several gentlemen who have signed on to the (Tribe’s) maintenance program from little things we’ve taught them here that they didn’t know they were interested in,” she said. “We don’t want to just be a containment or housing unit – we want to show people that there’s more than this regardless of how you’ve been treated or what you’ve been told.”
The population at the Restorative Correctional Facility is made up of not just Puyallups but also Native American offenders from Skagit County, Chehalis, Nisqually, Quinault, Swinomish and other areas. Inmates are there from having committed misdemeanor-level offenses, and tend to stay for days, weeks, months and sometimes up to a full year in some cases.
Amber Hayward of the Puyallup Language Program is the lead instructor for the women’s classes and Chris Duenas, Archie Cantrell and Zalmai Zahir from the Language Program work with the men. Hayward said the idea for the classes came when Puyallup Tribal Police Department Lieutenant Alec Wrolson took a pack of Lushootseed playing cards into the facility for the inmates to use. Wrolson has been instrumental in not only establishing the language program, but the other programs as well.
“I thought that was a good idea,” Hayward said, “but then later I realized that the inmates probably didn’t know how to speak or read Lushootseed. Months later I thought more about it and contacted Alec about coming in.” Playing fun card games like Go Fish, no English is allowed throughout the game and Hayward hung pronunciation posters in the classroom for inmates to refer to. Card games, and traditional bone games, provide a way for the inmates to open up more, relax and talk about why they came to be incarcerated. That the inmates have had a chance to get clean of drugs and alcohol while in the facility is a big help for thinking clearly and being more honest.
“They’ll say things like, ‘I had a bad attitude and now I see I have to get my stuff together.’ Then they start talking about their kids in foster care and how they need to get their kids back by going to the classes,” Hayward said. “Language is very therapeutic – you’re sitting close to people and talking face to face and they start talking about their lives and what they’re going through. People really start to open up because it ties all things together.”
In addition, informing the judge that they are participating in classes for AA/NA, domestic violence, GED or language helps show that they are taking ownership of their condition and doing something positive to help turn their lives around.
“With the language program, it not only teaches them to interact while they’re in here with the folks they’re housed with, it also encourages them to go out and be more active in the community,” Young said. “That’s a big part of what we want to do here is make everyone feel included.”
Another plus about learning language is the cultural aspects it offers, and this is being shown through the making of ceremonial necklaces and drums at the Puyallup Restorative Correctional Facility. With beading supplies generously donated by Chief Leschi Schools Culture Teacher Teresa Harvey, inmates have made hundreds of necklaces for Chief Leschi Culture Day, elders lunches and the First Fish Ceremony. Hayward has also purchased beading materials out of her own pocket for inmates who have shown impressive artistic bead-working skills. Tribal Veteran Ron Simchen donated drum kits that the male inmates took to right away, with help from Clinton McCloud of the Tribe’s Culture Program who showed them how to make the drums. Reaching out to the inmates in this way is a gift itself, showing the inmates that tribal members care about them and that they can be part of the tribal community on the outside. Another example is the Tribe’s Community Domestic Violence Advocacy Program Director Billie Barnes who runs the domestic violence classes for women. Through drum circles and worksheets, the women focus on their own value and on healthy behaviors that would result in positive relationships.
“There’s always a chance for improvement and a way to make a difference,” Young said. “Even if you’re doing something like making necklaces for the Canoe Journey, for the elders or a wedding or any big event like that, it’s still a part of you that’s going out there and being involved. Because they know they’re making them for community events, when they get out they’ll be more inclined to join in and take part. Several of them (inmates) already want to volunteer at (Chief Leschi) school and there are several inmates that want to sign up to participate in the Canoe Journey for the first time in years. This is something they haven’t done before because they didn’t feel that they had anything to contribute.” Young said that one inmate in particular has shown a real gift for beading and she’s enjoying it so much that when she gets out she wants to start a beading business. 
Allowing the inmates to bead in their cells fills their time with something meaningful, a meditative exercise that helps heal the mind and soul like nothing else could. It also brings a sense of accomplishment and contributing to their Native community in ways they hadn’t been able to do before.
“They put value into what they’re doing rather than just sitting in their pod all day,” Young said, as beading brings out stories of beading with grandparents, going to powwows and good things the inmates remember. Some have sent necklaces home to family members to show what they’re learning. “For these folks, something as simple as a beaded necklace puts them back in touch with families that they not have spoken to in years. Some of them have been disconnected for a very long time.”
Young said she has also gotten inmates interested in keeping a journal to express themselves and not keep their thoughts and feelings bottled up inside. “At first they were writing about how they were feeling each day and what agitated them, then suddenly they started doing poetry and stories, things they had never done before,” she said.
Hayward follows suit in her language classes, asking inmates thought-provoking questions that cause them to reflect within themselves on the good things they want to bring out. “These folks have never been asked these kinds of questions. It works out to be a marvelous avenue to get them to not only try different things but to also be vocal and quit keeping everything inside.”
It takes a special person to work with inmates, and Hayward is that person, Young said. “It’s been wonderful to have Amber coming over. She is just amazing to work with and all the inmates love being around her. The way she teaches – she does it with humor so everybody picks up on that so they’re not nervous or tense. She makes it fun to learn.”
Funding for materials and programs continues to be an issue, both women said, and hopes are that funding will come through so that Hayward and others can go to the correctional facility more often and have the money to provide more classroom materials.
“It’s made a very, very big difference in the way the inmates interact with each other and how it’s gotten them to start thinking about the community versus just themselves. This is something that I really hope we can continue and if we can get more funding in here, we would be able to fund projects and things for them to do,” Young said.
“When we have programs like this, Amber and her associates come in and say it doesn’t matter what you’ve done, you can always improve and these are some of the avenues you can take to make life better, make different choices and be included. They (inmates) know that their relatives are in the community doing things but they’ve either ostracized themselves or their families have ostracized them to where they don’t see a way back in. Some of this allows them that opportunity to say hey, I can show them I’ve learned something and I can do something.”
Volunteers at the correctional facility are always in need to help with the programs. Call Winnette Young at (253) 680-5666 or e-mail winnette.young@puyalluptribe.com.

The Washington State Patrol arrested Kelsea Bernhardt Friday night, March 24 in Tacoma. Troopers say she was a passenger in a car when they attempted to make a traffic stop on I-5 and 56th. It quickly became a pursuit. According to the driver, she told him to run because she saw herself on “Washington's Most Wanted.” Other law enforcement agencies joined the chase and Bernhardt exited the moving vehicle and ran on foot. Troopers and Tacoma Police were able to catch up to her. She led them to the location of the driver who had also bolted on foot. Because she is nine months pregnant, she was taken to the hospital to be medically cleared and then booked into the Pierce County jail.
Bernhardt appeared in Pierce County Superior court and was charged with 14 counts of identity theft, theft and forgery. Bail was set at $260,000 because of her 13 prior felony convictions. The prosecutor’s office has classified her as a high priority offender.
“Our High Priority Offender Program uses data, technology and intel to identify and target the small percentage of offenders who are causing a large percentage of crimes,” said Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. “The goal is to reduce crime and make our community safer.”
Tacoma Police say Bernhardt’s victim put two checks in his outgoing mail to pay his bills on Dec. 16, 2016. The next day, Columbia Bank notified him that someone had cashed one of the checks for $750. Detectives say bank surveillance video shows Antonio Overby and Bernhardt enter the Spanaway branch. Each went to a different teller with the forged checks. Detectives say Overby successfully cashed a stolen check.
Police say Bernhardt tried to cash one that had been altered to read $1,000.
“The teller actually called the owner of the check and determined the check had been stolen. Before Kelsea could obtain any money, she realized that the teller was checking on her so she fled the bank leaving the check behind,” said Officer Loretta Cool with Tacoma Police. Overby was arrested on Jan. 17 and remains in the Pierce County jail charged with numerous I.D. theft and forgery cases.
Mail theft is a widespread problem for many communities in Washington. “It’s unfortunate that you can’t leave things in your mailbox but we do have a lot of thefts just from unsecured mailboxes,” said Officer Cool.
Police encourage everyone to sign up to pay bills online whenever possible to avoid having checks stolen. “We advise people not to put written checks out in their mail, especially if their mailbox isn’t locked. When you clip your mail to your mailbox and the mailbox is open and people walking by or driving by can see you have five or six letters clipped to the mailbox, they know people are paying their bills and then you’re increasing your opportunity of becoming a victim,” said Officer Cool.

Friends and family of Terry Northcutt have been out in Tacoma posting Crime Stoppers flyers offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in his murder. Tacoma Police need your help to identify the suspect(s) responsible for killing Northcutt and Voravangso “Two” Phanmama on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. The two were friends and Northcutt's family believes he was there helping Phanmama work on his motorcycle. At approximately 1 a.m., witnesses reported hearing gunshots outside Phanmama’s house in the 3600 block of Portland Ave. E. Officers found Northcutt and Phanmama in the yard. There is no motive for the shooting and police say they have no idea why someone would target the men.
“What we continue to say among our family is somebody has to know something and regardless of what happened at the scene, or the circumstances, there are other people that know and sometimes it takes many years and time for specifics to come out, but at some point they will,” said Northcutt’s daughter Tracy.
Detectives are looking for information on any suspicious persons or vehicles seen near Phanmama’s house on the night of Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016 or the early morning of Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. Detectives are also looking for information on any possible motives for the homicides. If you have any information, call 1 (800) 222-TIPS. You do not have to give your name.