Recently, Washington state’s largest environmental, wildlife and natural resources agencies recognized 43 large forest landowners for their “exemplary efforts” to upgrade forest roads and stream crossings which improved salmon habitat and water quality.
After investing more than $300 million collectively, these landowners rebuilt 25,000 miles of forest roads, replaced over 6,000 in-stream barriers to migrating fish, and opened in excess of 3,500 miles of previously blocked spawning habitat.
The recognition is milestone in collaboration and a remarkable turnaround from nearly a half-century ago when regulators, fishermen and loggers were at each other’s throats.
It took a couple of visionary leaders from vastly different backgrounds to set up the problem-solving framework which is in place today.
Billy Franks, Jr., the legendary Nisqually tribal leader, was a fisherman with an engaging personality and an abundance of common sense and wisdom. Even though he fought bitter fish wars and was arrested, he wasn’t resentful. To him, the battles weren’t about the past, they were about the future.
Stu Bledsoe was a World War II Navy fighter pilot who saw combat in the Pacific Theater. He had the same warmth, engaging manner, and genuine commitment to settling a feud which many thought unresolvable.
Bledsoe was a rancher, former legislator and state agriculture director in the Evans Administration, and head of the Washington Forest Protection Association---the powerful organization representing private forest landowners.
Together, they were the “calmer heads” which were needed to reduce tensions and set a respectful tone. They started bringing other leaders together to listen to one another’s perspective and conduct research to determine what would work.
At that time, Judge George Boldt, a Tacoma federal jurist, issued game-changing rulings which were upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.  However, the landmark decisions didn’t settle differences, they only exacerbated them.
Boldt ruled that natural fish spawning and rearing habitat must be restored. That meant reducing silt in spawning beds, curbing soil erosion from logging roads, and reducing harvest areas along streams to keep water temperatures low.
The overriding fact was wild salmon and steelhead runs were declining. Something dramatic needed to happen outside the court room and legislative chambers. 
Bledsoe understood that forest landowners were in for dramatic and costly changes, but his members could not afford another round of prolonged litigation nor to be shut out of the woods.
Frank felt the same way. He would repeatedly say that while the lawyers argue, fish runs decline. Litigation meant paralysis for everyone.
Both took enormous risks and recognized they had a hard sell with their constituents. The talks were emotionally charged and at times, were on the verge of unraveling. Somehow, Frank and Bledsoe kept the train from derailing.
After a decade of hard work, the forests and fish agreement was ratified by the state legislature and signed into law by Gov. Gardner in the 1980s.  It led to streamside buffer zones, road culverts revisions which allowed migrating fish to pass, and put sensitive areas off limits to logging.
The bottom line was simple. Frank wanted fish runs restored and Bledsoe wanted timber landowners to be able to plant, manage and harvest trees. They soon realized their interests were compatible.
To Bledsoe and Frank respectful relationships mattered as did the words they wrote and spoke. They realized that unless they brought people with diverse views together and found ways to work out their differences, everyone would lose.
Too bad Frank and Bledsoe aren’t around today. We could all use a good dose of their common sense, wisdom and good manners.  It’s the best way to build public trust and solve problems.

Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at theBrunells@msn.com.

The six protesters who were arrested last week after they reportedly chained themselves to construction equipment at the construction site of Puget Sound Energy’s 8 million-gallon liquefied natural gas facility at the corner of East 11th and Alexander Avenue East on the Tideflats have been released.
The protesters were booked into Pierce County Jail after they were arrested last Wednesday and originally faced felony charges of malicious mischief in the first degree, criminal trespass in the first degree and obstruction in the first degree. Those charges were downgraded to misdemeanors during a hearing Thursday that ended with them bailing out of jail to cheers from supporters.
Sarah Morken, Jake Grote, Marilyn Kimmerling, Irene Morrison, Jeff Johnston and Cynthia Linet were identified by protest organizers as the “Super Six,” who were arrested for what the group called acts of non-violent civil disobedience. Redline Tacoma, Direct Action Tacoma and Rising Tide Seattle are promoting an effort to pay for their attorney fees.
The six entered the 30-acre construction site and used bike locks to chain themselves to an auger used to drive deep holes into the ground. Construction crews were not allowed to start work for the day, so they called police to have the protestors removed from the private property.
A few dozen protestors were on hand to wave signs and stream live video of the arrests on Facebook. The six protesters were removed from the site about 10 a.m. and the protesters on the sidewalk outside the fence line disbursed. No one outside the fence line was arrested.
Protests at the site have been increasing in recent weeks as PSE moves forward with construction of the facility as it seeks final permits under legal challenges. The site is projected to provide LNG to TOTE ships sailing between Tacoma and Alaska as well as provide storage for residential and business use during times of extreme weather.
Environmental groups have questioned the environmental impact of the facility on the waterway, the safety of a natural gas facility being located so close to residential areas and the overall impact of dependence on fossil fuels.
They are not alone.
The City Council and Port of Tacoma Commission are finalizing a path for the tideflats to undergo a multi-year review plan that would examine zoning and land-use rules for the industrial and commercial hub of the region that is home to shipping terminals, heavy industrial businesses and fuel refineries. One glitch in the review effort is who should also sit at the discussion table alongside the city and port. The city’s proposal also lists the Puyallup Tribe, since much of the tideflats lies within its reservation. The port wants the tribe only listed as a stakeholder alongside other business and agencies with ties to the waterfront but also wants the Pierce County Council as a partner because activities on the waterway impact the region. Shipping activities on the waterfront provide some 29,000 direct and indirect family-wage jobs and $223 million in state and local taxes.
A comprehensive look of the tideflats will likely take upwards of four years once the effort starts. City and port officials will now negotiate the difference in their resolutions.

With Memorial Day weekend upon us, Tacomans are finalizing their plans for packing as much fun and sun into their three- and four-day weekends as possible. Some will load up the S.U.V. and make a beeline for the woods where they'll reset with a few relaxing days of hiking and camping. Others dropped 300 bucks for tickets to Sasquatch Festival which will bring the likes of The Shins, Chance the Rapper and LCD Soundsystem to Grant County's breathtaking Gorge Amphitheatre.
Still others will get the biggest bang for their buck at the 46th annual Northwest Folklife Festival which will again take over Seattle Center Friday through Monday, May 26 through 29. The event is expected to draw 250,000-plus attendees for a full slate of international and home-grown music, dance, food, fashion and more. Best of all, it's technically free to attend, though organizers are asking for donations to make sure they can keep it that way. Recently, we caught up with event Program Director Kelli Faryar to get the skinny.  
Tacoma Weekly: When you started 40 some odd years ago, folk had a more specific meaning. What does Folklife mean in 2017, and what does the festival encompass?
Kelli Faryar: Northwest Folklife regards the word folk as “of the people,” and that's exactly what you'll see at the festival; 25 stages with over 800 different performances. The festival is curated with over a hundred different community leaders that are coming to showcase and promote what's going on in their communities through music, dance, workshops and food tastings.
TW: What percentage of the talent is homegrown. These are pretty much people who live in the community, right?
Faryar: Exactly, these are your neighbors. We have master artists coming in who have been performing for the Northwest region; for example, Maurice Rouman who plays the Egyptian oud (and) up-and-coming great bands, like the Black Tones. The festival really does run the gamut of up-and-coming, cutting edge artists to cultural bearers in different communities.
TW: You've managed to keep Folklife free all these years. In the context of some of Bumbershoot's troubles with their budget in recent years, how have you managed to keep that going?
Faryar: It's interesting that you bring that up. Right now, Northwest Folklife is at a crossroads where we've had this particular model of all access for all folks that are coming; and what we've found is probably about 17 percent of folks who attend the festival actually donate.
If the community is looking to see Northwest Folklife continue for another 45 years, we need to change that dynamic. … We need everybody to participate in supporting the festival in order for it to survive.
TW: What is your budget?
Faryar: Our total budget (is) $350,000. Normally, what we see over the course of the four days, is somewhere around the 200K; and that's about half of how we sustain throughout the year (with) individual donations that come in through different campaigns. …
We do a great partnership with Seattle Center who offers us some in-kind (donations) as far as stages and the infrastructure of putting on the all-access festival. But it really does come down to the individual donor; whether it be at the festival, and you're chipping the suggested donation of $10 to $20, or throughout the course of the year and you can offer sustaining gifts.
TW: In the past, I seem to recall you'd have themes for each year. What is the theme for this year's festival?
Faryar: The theme – which we call the cultural focus, which is a year-round program – is celebrating 20 years of Seattle Center's Festál. Festál is the larger umbrella organization that makes up all of the 24 different ethnic and multicultural festivals that happen on Seattle Center grounds. Northwest Folklife is underneath that umbrella.
TW: What is the process of coming up with the theme?
Faryar: The 20th anniversary just seemed like a perfect time to showcase this particular program that Seattle Center has, and how it is truly a one-of-a-kind program. Otherwise, we hear from the communities that we work with through our community coordinator program. That's really how the festival is curated.
A small programming team here of two connects with over a hundred community coordinators to put together two- to three-hour showcases representing that specific community's culture, music and dance. So the cultural focus really comes from those conversations and that year-round engagement.
TW: One of the things that Folklife seems to be about is showcasing the diversity of this region. I wonder if conversations were different this year given what has been going in the news; for example, with Seattle being a “sanctuary city” and that sort of thing.
Faryar: Now more than ever we're hearing back from the communities that we work with that there's fear out there, and there's a lot of misunderstanding. What better time to come together; not over a computer screen, but face to face to really showcase who we are; to come together as a neighborhood of many different backgrounds and ethnicities and break down those barriers.

Here are 10 acts with Tacoma ties that you can support at the 46th annual Northwest Folklife Festival.
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio (soul, jazz, funk): 3 p.m. Friday at KEXP Gathering Space, 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Fountain Lawn Stage; preview online at www.reverbnation.com/dlo3music.
Holy Pistola (soul, hip-hop, funk): 9:25 p.m. Friday, Mural Amphitheatre; www.holypistola.com.
Barleywine Revue (red-hot Tacoma bluegrass): 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Mural Amphitheatre; barleywinerevue.bandcamp.com.
Kabuki Academy and Tacoma Fuji Taiko (Japanese traditional music and dance): 4 p.m. Saturday at Exhibition Hall; www.kabukiacademy.org and www.tacomabt.org.
Torpoise (electronic dance, experimental): 5:45 p.m. Sunday at The Vera Project; torpoise.bandcamp.com.
Trio Guadalevin (Latin American meets Mediterranean): 11:02 a.m. Sunday, Charlotte Martin Theatre; www.trioguadalevin.com. 
Cowgirl's Dream (Western swing, country western): noon Sunday at Fisher Pavilion; cowgirlsdream.sknebel.com.
Bunny Holiday and the Highball Boys (vintage swing for dancers): 3:15 p.m. Monday at the Armory Court Stage; www.facebook.com/thehighballboys.
Cosmo's Dream (Americana): 6:15 p.m. Monday on the Back Porch Stage; cosmosdream.sknebel.com.

AIRPORT TAVERN: Jordani & The Sun Kings, Sotaria & The Gravities (soul, pop) 9 p.m.
G. DONNALSON'S: Eugenie Jones (jazz, blues) 7:30 p.m., NC, AA
GREAT AMERICAN CASINO: Nite Crew (dance) 9 p.m., NC
JAZZBONES: Kutt Calhoun, Off the Dome, Automatic, Kithihawk, Cole Z, DJ Don Gee (hip-hop) 8:30 p.m., $20-$25
KEYS ON MAIN: Dueling pianos, 9 p.m., NC
LOUIE G'S: For the Likes of You, Follow the Lights, Monsters Among Gods, Pure Earth (metalcore) 8 p.m., $10, AA
MARKEE (OLD TOWN): Angie Lynn (acoustic, singer-songwriter) 7 p.m., NC, AA
PACIFIC BREWING: Kareem Kandi Band (jazz) 8 p.m., NC, AA
REAL ART TACOMA: Nice Fest featuring Seacats, Rookie Town, Dead Lakes, Marrow Stone, Itemfinder, Forget It, Save Bandit, Supervision and Cursed Crows (rock) 3 p.m., $10, AA
THE SWISS: Rusty Cleavers (bluegrass, country) 9 p.m., $8
TACOMA COMEDY: Tim Meadows (comedy) 7:30, 10:30 p.m., $20-$27, 18+ early show
THE VALLEY: Into the Storm, A God or an Other, Ergo I Exist, Joseph (doom metal) 8:30 p.m.
UNCLE SAM'S: Law Dogg Music Night/Roger Capps cancer benefit (rock) 6 p.m.

AIRPORT TAVERN: APDA benefit with Big Wheel Stunt Show, Planet of Giants (hard rock) 9 p.m., $5
B SHARP COFFEE: Redshift (jazz) 8 p.m., $7, AA
G. DONNALSON'S: Eugenie Jones (jazz, blues) 7:30 p.m., NC, AA
GREAT AMERICAN CASINO: Nite Crew (dance) 9 p.m., NC
JAZZBONES: Kry (rock covers) 9 p.m., $7-$8
KEYS ON MAIN: Dueling pianos, 9 p.m., NC
MARKEE (OLD TOWN): Erin McGann (singer-songwriter) 7 p.m., NC, AA
METRONOME: The Far Field with Paul Handelman (folk) 7 p.m., NC
REAL ART TACOMA: Zach Norris, Matt & Asher, Seth Bernard, Strawberry Blonnde, Josiah French (rock) 1 p.m., $5, AA
THE SPAR: Red (classic rock) 8 p.m., NC
THE SWISS: '80s Invasion ('80s covers) 9 p.m.
TACOMA COMEDY: Tim Meadows (comedy) 7:30, 10:30 p.m., $20-$27, 18+ early show
TACOMA DOME: Tim McGraw, Faith Hill (country) 7:30 p.m., $22-$315
THE VALLEY: Ike Fonseca, Sharky Waters (singer-songwriter, folk) 8 p.m.
UNCLE SAM'S: Majik's Music Night, 8 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
JAZZBONES: Foamfest with DJ Indica Jones (DJ) 9 p.m., $10-$15
NEW FRONTIER: Bluegrass jam, 4 p.m., NC
THE SPAR: Brian Lee & The Orbiters (blues) 7 p.m., NC
THE SWISS: Kareem Kandi Band (jazz) 5 p.m., NC
TACOMA COMEDY: The Dope Show (comedy) 8 p.m., $14.20-$24.20, 18+

G. DONNALSON'S: Jazz and blues open mic, 5 p.m., NC, AA
JAZZBONES: Rockaraoke (live band karaoke) 7 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: Leanne Trevalyan (acoustic jam) 8 p.m., NC
G. DONNALSON'S: James Haye (blues) 7 p.m., NC, AA
JAZZBONES: Deathbed Confessions, Armed for Apocalypse, Witchburn (metal, hard rock) 9 p.m., NC
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.
TACOMA COMEDY: New Talent Tuesday (comedy) 8 p.m., NC, 18+
THE VALLEY: Jerry Miller and friends (blues, rock) 7 p.m., NC

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: Lyon Pride Music festival auditions (rock) 8 p.m., $5
NEW FRONTIER: Open mic, 8 p.m., NC
NORTHERN PACIFIC: Open mic, 7:30 p.m., NC, 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: John Maxwell (blues) 7 p.m., AA
JAZZBONES: Ladies Night (DJ) 10 p.m., NC-$5
KEYS ON MAIN: Dueling pianos, 9 p.m., NC
STONEGATE: Comfort and Call (rock jam) 8 p.m., NC
TACOMA COMEDY: Auggie Smith (comedy) 8 p.m., $10-$16, 18+
TACOMA ELKS: Michael & Leslie (ballroom dance) 6:30 p.m., $6-$10
UNCLE SAM'S: Jerry Miller (rock, blues) 7 p.m.

As Washingtonians prepare for upcoming summer travel, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission emphasizes the simplest step in keeping families safe: buckle up. The national “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement campaign is taking place now through June 4, concurrent with Memorial Day, one of the busiest travel and holiday weekends of the year.
“It’s more than just putting your own seat belt on in the car; it means making sure everyone else in your car is properly restrained, especially children,” said Cesi Velez, Project Manager of Washington’s Child Passenger Safety Program.
During the Click It or Ticket campaign, in Pierce County, the Bonney Lake, Dupont, Fife, Fircrest, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Milton, Puyallup, Ruston, Steilacoom, Sumner, Tacoma and University Place Police Departments, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, and the Washington State Patrol will be placing special emphasis on seat belt and proper child restraint use.
Motor vehicle crashes continue to be a leading cause of unintentional death among children. From 2011-2015, almost half (48 percent) of child fatalities caused by a vehicular collision had unknown or no restraint use; 15 percent of those were under 13 years of age and illegally riding in the front seat; and 21 percent were riding without a booster – restrained only by a lap/shoulder seat belt. The majority of these tragedies likely could have been avoided had these children been properly restrained. Unfortunately, Washington’s current child passenger safety law can be difficult to interpret.
Washington’s child passenger safety law (RCW 46.61.687) says:
Vehicle occupants of any age must be “properly” restrained:
· Under the age of 8 or 4-feet, 9-inches tall must ride in an appropriate car safety seat. It must be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
· Age 8 or taller than 4-feet, 9-inches tall must use the seat belt correctly or continue use of a child safety seat.
· Under the age of 13 must ride in the back seat “where it is practical to do so.”
Safety advocates strongly encourage a child remain rear-facing in their child restraint until at least age 2; this provides them with the best protection of their spine, neck and head.

There's nothing like a little friendly competition to capture a community's attention.
Two community organizers do just that with another round of the Fife Milton Edgewood Food Fight. Rather than the typical lunchroom action of slinging mashed potatoes and hamburger buns through the air, this food fight more constructive, a food drive with all proceeds benefitting the Edgewood FISH Food Bank and the families in need the nonprofit serves.
Mill Ridge Village Executive Director Jennifer Reich and April Balsley, Director of Membership Development at the Fife Milton Edgewood Chamber of Commerce, make up "Team Red" (Reich) and "Team Blue" (Balsley).
The idea is simple. Each team has their barrels placed around Fife, Milton and Edgewood. Folks can choose who walks away champion by placing non-perishable food into the bin of their choice. The campaign runs from June 1 to June 17, with bins located at Mill Ridge Village, Fife Milton Edgewood Chamber of Commerce, Edgewood Community FISH Food Bank and other local businesses to be determined.
At the end of the competition donations of nonperishable food will be weighed to determine the winner. But really, everyone wins when they join forces for a good cause.
You can find out more about FISH Food Bank, what items are needed most and other ways to give at fishfoodbanks.org.

The upcoming Food Fight will benefit the Fish Food Bank and run June 1 to June 17.

The Gallery at Tacoma Community College, a vault of visual delights, is hosting its annual, “Student Art Exhibition” a display of work by students that have passed through one or several of the school’s art courses. The show follows hot on the heels of the arts faculty show. TCC’s arts program offers courses in a variety of media including digital design, photography, printmaking, drawing, painting, sculpture and ceramics. TCC’s arts program is blessed with a dynamic faculty whose members are skilled practitioners of the various media that they teach. Work in the show is grouped, for the most part, according to teacher.
The entry area, for example, displays work by Anthony Culanag’s graphic design students. Design concepts for posters and bumper stickers as well as the postcards and signage for the current show are on display. Samuel Layton did a nice “Godzilla” poster. Carlos Ernesto Mendoza’s “Dune” poster is also eye-catching.
A similar vein of work is exhibited by students of Alice Di Certo’s course in 2D-Design. For most of these works, students used arrangements of the printed word to construct an image or design composed of font and script. A prime example is Miranda Washington’s “Gun-Blood,” an image of a handgun shooting a bullet. The gun is made of words like “violence, warfare and blood” while the bullet itself is made of the word “bullet.”
The versatile Kyle Dillehay, meanwhile, is something of a contrarian in regards to photography. He teaches techniques of photography that go back to earlier centuries in which the first photographic processes were being developed. Among his students we find the likes of Adrianna Herrera, Samantha Andrade, Megnan Chico, Marina Santos, Heidi Redford and Don Redford, all of whom did gelatin silver prints.
Dillehay is also one of the school’s sculpture instructors. Some of his students show off the results of his teaching in bronze casting. Kadie Lawson’s “Empty Homes” is a cluster of tiny, detailed little buildings clustered together like a village on a throwing stone. Lavonne Hoivik’s bronze, “Three Showoffs & One Clown,” is a comical scenario of two little doggies and a clown with ballooned-out pants that are way too big. Dillehay is also a proponent of the use of nontraditional materials when it comes to sculptural self-expression. The school’s sculpture studio is a place where the most disparate objects congregate and are made to coagulate according to the cogitations of his students. Ayana Gilbert’s “My Hands” is a pair of disembodied hands – cast in a rubbery material – that are holding onto plastic Starbuck’s cups that contain photographs.
Melinda Cox teaches both drawing and painting.  Other courses in drawing are taught by Jenny Roholt. Their students have come up with some wonderful examples of their teachings. Denise Levine’s “Taking on Water, Little Pond, Catskills,” is a charming acrylic painting of figures in a little boat. The image looks as if it were based on a vacation snap shot. The figures are simplified and the colors are a harmony of pastel tones that are straying into the gray zone. The scene of figures in a boat using water bottles to bail excess water is both active and quiet. Other vivid acrylic paintings include Villa Kerr’s “Citrus” and David Thacker’s “Rhubarb.” Giyeon Kim’s “Curiosity” is a well-crafted scene of an orange and white cat gazing down into a goldfish bowl.
There are a great number of drawings in the show, made in ink, graphite, charcoal, chalk, and color pencil. Karen Doten’s drawing students are showing some great studio still lifes. Rachel Lewis’s example features a cowboy boot, among other items. Melinda Cox’s drawing students ad color to the mix, with some stunning results. Katherine A. Tylczak’s “Claudius Striking a Pose,” is an image of a cat laying in regal manner on a blue blanket. Giyeon Kim’s color pencil “Self Portrait” is eye-catching, as is Denise Levine’s “Self Portrait with a Glass Earring,” in which the artist poses herself as Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring.”
Year after year, the most consistent performs in TCC’s student show are the printmaking students of Marit Berg. Katie Friend’s relief print “Rising from the Deep” is a dramatic image of a giant octopus towering over a sailing ship. The image has crisp edges and is colored with a rich gradient running from blue to purple. A quartet of red, black and white prints by W. Wachtler, Monique Ford, Parker A. Lucey and Izzy Tucet make a nice set. David Thacker’s “Eat Your Greens” is a screen print of leafy vegetables that has a painterly quality.
Last but not least are the works by students that have been fortunate enough to be involved with the School’s ceramics program, which is presided over by Reid Ozaki and Rick Mahaffey. There is a diverse selection of ceramic works like Jimmy McDonough’s faux African masks or some of the trompe l'oeil (“fool the eye”) pieces that are made of clay and painted to look like something else. Kellie Schumacher’s “Red Delicious” is so realistic that I thought someone had left a real apple on the podium in jest. Brigette Bates’ “Apples and Bananas” is a group of fruit slices in a bowl that look ready to eat. Though new to the ceramics department, Joe Godfrey made his own miniature woodfire kiln to fire the small bottle and cup that are on display. Crystal Reunanen is making some amazing work with a wide range of surface effects. Her “Dragon Skin” bottle has a bubbly texture, whereas “Fall Wind” is a vessel with a gold luster rim and a relief decoration of autumn leaves. Kendyl Chasco works with densely worked surface effects. Susan Strobel, earthy tones are captured in a beautifully made teapot. Nocola Woon’s “Sun and Moon” orb is decorated with a scene that has all the allure of a painted miniature. Rowena Forde’s “Puffins,” with beaks full of little fish, continue that artist’s fascination with making birds and critters in clay. Kazumi Divens-Cogez’s “Tall Vase with Floral Carvings” has an autumnal feel. Dave R. Davison, your show reviewer, has a pair of weird ceramic sculptures glazed in pastel majolica tones. I could go on and on about how brilliant they are, but modesty bids me exercise self-restraint. (Wink.)
TCC provides a valuable service to our fair city with an arts program that helps usher in a new crop of students and provides inspiration, instruction and facilities for life-long learners. For this review, space does not allow for a discussion of each and every artist featured in the exhibit. There was room only to give a few examples from each cluster of work. The 2017 Student Art Exhibition runs through June 8. The gallery if open Mon. through Fri., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For further information visit www.tacomacc.edu/thegallery or call (253) 460-4306.

As if the Rainiers schedule wasn't crowded enough as they prepared to enter a stretch of 16 games in 15 days, it was further compressed when last Tuesday's showdown with the Omaha Storm Chasers was canceled due to rain and rescheduled for just two days later. With the rescheduling, the Rainiers would be forced to cram sixteen games into just two weeks, beginning with a four-game series against Omaha, crunched into two doubleheaders.

In the first doubleheader, the Rainiers sent Kyle Hunter and Chris Heston to the mound to face off against Yender Caramo and Eric Skoglund, respectively. As has been the case with many of the Rainiers contests this season, both games were decided by the successes and failures of the men squaring off on the pitcher's mound (the Rainiers own a 21-1 record when leading after six innings, while they're just 3-12 when trailing after six), as Hunter (5 IP, 1 R) outpitched Caramo (4 IP, 5 R) in the opener, but Heston (4 IP, 2 R) couldn't match Skoglund's two-run complete game in the nightcap, giving the Rainiers a split in the first doubleheader.

The next day the Rainiers again squared off with the Storm Chasers for a doubleheader, and the results were similar. As had been the case the day prior, they won the opener but were stymied by an excellent pitching performance in the nightcap, courtesy of right-hander Christian Binford. Leaving Omaha after the double-doubleheader, the Rainiers headed to Des Moines, Iowa for a four-game set against the Iowa Cubs. This time, at least, they'd have a full four days to complete the series. In typical Rainiers fashion, the opener against Iowa was a pitcher's duel, as Rob Whalen tossed a fantastic eight innings of two-run ball (one earned), fanning five, but was saddled with the loss as he ran up against Jake Buchanan's seven scoreless innings.

With just two runs in their previous three ballgames, the pressure was on the Rainier bats to wake up in time for the rest of the series. Things didn't look too promising on that front through the first eight innings and change, as they trailed 4-3 despite a nine-strikeout outing from right-hander Andrew Moore and were down to their final out in the ninth with no one on base against Iowa closer Justin Grimm. That's when the long-awaited offensive explosion finally struck for Tacoma, starting with a two-out double by Leonys Martin. Seth Mejias-Brean was able to reach via a walk, putting the go-ahead run on base, and Dario Pizzano followed with an RBI single to tie the game. Catcher Mike Zunino topped off the rally with a three-run opposite field blast to give the Rainiers a 7-4 lead. Though Omaha was able to scrape across a run in the ninth to cut the deficit, they weren't able to claw all the way back, evening the series at one game apiece. Four Rainiers had multiple hits, including Zunino, who fell a triple shy of the cycle, collecting a single, a double and a game-winning home run.

The Rainiers were able to carry some of that offensive momentum from the two-out rally into the penultimate game of the series, as the Rainiers once again saw four hitters with multiple hits (among them were Martin and Zunino, who had also accomplished the feat the night before) en route to eight runs. For Zunino, it was not only a multi-hit outing but a multi-home run outing, as he launched two long balls, giving him three in two days and prompting a call-up back to Seattle.

In the finale against Iowa, the Rainiers saw four multi-hit batters (this time Steve Baron, Dario Pizzano, Zach Shank and Tyler O'Neill) for the third night in a row and were able to put up six runs on 12 hits. It was all for naught, however, as starting pitcher Chase de Jong was roughed up for seven runs over five innings, and the Rainiers took the loss.

Having completed half of their grueling sixteen games in fourteen days stretch, the Rainiers returned home on Tuesday for a four-game set against the Fresno Grizzlies. They kicked off the short home stand in style, plating four runs in the first inning, including a two-run home run from Daniel Vogelbach and a two-RBI double from DJ Peterson. They continued to pile on through the next seven innings, with Vogelbach picking up an additional RBI on a single to right field, Tyler Smith hitting his fourth homer of the year (a line drive solo shot), and an RBI double by Pizzano. Meanwhile, the Rainier tandem of Tyler Cloyd (5 IP), Nick Hagadone (2 IP), Ryne Harper (1 IP) and Mark Lowe (1 IP) combined to silence the Grizzlies’ lineup, racking up nine strikeouts and holding Fresno to just six hits.

After the four-game set against Fresno, the Rainiers will head to Salt Lake City for yet another four-game series, after which they'll finally receive a much-needed day off. The rest will be short-lived, however, as they'll begin a stretch of 11 games in 11 days the next day. Tacoma will return home for a seven-game home stand beginning on Monday, June 5, against Reno.

Up with the big club:
It's been tough sledding in Seattle recently, as they've lost eight of their last ten and have fallen to the cellar of the American League West. With five starting pitchers on the disabled list, the Mariners patchwork rotation has been lackluster, allowing twenty-six runs in a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox. Despite the struggles, the Mariners have finally started to receive some good news on the injury front: Robinson Cano returned from his quad injury on Tuesday, while James Paxton and Mitch Haniger appear ready for rehab assignments. If recent play is any indication, the reinforcements are much-needed.

Elsewhere on the farm:
After starting off the month exceptionally poorly (including an eight-game losing streak), the Double-A Arkansas Travelers appear to have finally found some momentum, winning four of their last five, clawing to within six games of the division lead. Though remaining scorching hot, with five multi-hit games in his last six, left fielder Chuck Taylor finally saw his hitting streak snapped at twenty-two games. With a monstrous .360/.467/.488 slash line, it seems inevitable we'll see the 23-year old in Tacoma sometime this season. The lineup for the Class-A Modesto Nuts has been scorching hot, with 47 runs in their last five games, but the results haven't quite matched, as they've gone just 3-2 in that stretch. On the strength of their hitting (four Modesto hitters rank in the top 12 of the California League in batting average), the Nuts rank first in the Northern division, three games ahead of the Visalia Rawhide. After a four-game winning streak, the Low-A Clinton LumberKings momentum has ground to a halt, as they've now lost five of their last six. 21-year old outfielder Anthony Jimenez has continued to rake for Clinton, slashing .321/.384/.481 on the season.

The Emergency Food Network (EFN) wrapped up its first official Hunger Awareness Month on Saturday, May 20, with a Hunger Walk and 5K Run fundraiser. More than 650 runners and walkers took advantage of a beautiful sunny morning at Lakewood’s Fort Steilacoom Park to show support for a noble cause that affects one in seven people in Washington.

“We could not have been more pleased with the event,” said Helen McGovern-Pilant, Executive Director at the EFN. “The turnout was perfect. We had teams who had not participated before and teams who had been doing it for decades. We had individuals who next year want to form teams!”

To support those running and walking, over 100 volunteers helped make the event run smoothly. Volunteers included two bands, The Possible Solutions and The Derivatives, and Deena the Zumba Instructor, who helped warm everyone up before the race began.

Saturday’s Hunger Walk and 5K Run was the first of its kind since the Associated Ministries transitioned the event over to the EFN.

“For 35 years, EFN has benefited from the generosity of our community and Associated Ministries,” explained McGovern-Pilant, “and taking it over could have resulted in less financial support than we have received in the past.  Saturday’s success solidified that it is indeed a relay race.  Associated Ministries handed the baton to EFN, they ran their strong leg. Now it is our turn and the community continued to support, or race, to provide nutritious food to our neighbors.”

The proof of the event’s success can be seen in the numbers. While donations are still flowing in, the EFN boasted $110,000, which was leveraged into an additional $65,000 grant from the Safeway/Albertson Foundation for dairy purchases. “This was the first Hunger Awareness Month in Pierce County,” said McGovern-Pilant. “We couldn’t be more grateful to our community as we heard so many talking about it, raising money and awareness to help. We are already planning for a bigger success next year.”

Even though Pierce County’s first Hunger Awareness Month is drawing to a close, work at the EFN continues. McGovern-Pilant said that with the school year ending, the need becomes even greater for children. “While May was Hunger Awareness Month, we want folks to know that the numbers relying on food pantries will go up through the summer as many of the 58,000 students who rely on free and reduced lunch programs at school will not have access to summer meals.”

The EFN also plans to take advantage of the warm weather at their Mother Earth Farm, an organic 8-acre farm in Puyallup Valley that distributes 80,000 pounds of food to local food banks and meal sites. Volunteers are welcome to stop by Friday through Sunday to help with planting, weeding, and harvesting.

The need for volunteers doesn’t end at the farm either. “There are many ways that our community can help,” said McGovern-Pilant. “They can plant an extra row in their own garden and donate to a food pantry.  [They] could host a food or fund drive.  How about a spice drive?  When it is buy one get one free, choose the free one to donate!  Spices are expensive yet still needed to make your food taste as it should.”

Those interested in donating their time and/or money, go to www.efoodnet.org/ for the most up to date information.

Tacoma rappers Terry “Capital-T” Maxwell and Anthony “B-Dub” Turner didn’t expect to be working with one of their idols at this stage in their careers; but there they’ll be Friday night, playing Jazzbones with Kansas City’s Kutt Calhoun (né Melvin Calhoun.)
Calhoun is best known as the hype man for popular hardcore hip-hop artist Tech N9ne and the founder of Black Gold Entertainment, and he shocked the duo – which performs under the moniker Off the Dome – by responding to one of their emails.
“We were like, ‘Hey, man, check out our video; and hopefully, if you want to work with us let us know,” Maxwell recalled. “Sure as s---, he wrote us back. It was just like, wow, we used to listen to this guy every day with Tech N9ne. We used to bump their CDs all day, and he actually wrote us back. Let’s get the ball rolling. Then we started talking to him, and now we’re on a friendship basis.”
Sure to be on the set list Friday is the first Off the Dome/Calhoun collaboration, a frenetic cut called “Pass the Beat.” A video for the song has been viewed more than 24,000 times since it was published in March, massive exposure for a local hip-hop act.
“It happened real fast,” Maxwell said. “We flew him out, and we pretty much shot a video the whole time he was out here. It’s very humbling - it really is - to sit back and look at it and see how far we’ve come from just an idea to where we are now within a short amount of time. It’s just surreal.”
Off the Dome can be traced back to Lakewood’s Hudtloff Middle School, where Maxwell and Turner bonded over their love of Grammy Award-winning rap group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.
“I forget who was listening to some Bone,” Maxwell said, “but that’s how we hit it off: Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Tech N9ne, Twista and stuff like that. The double-time rapping with the harmony is something that we’ve been incorporating more and more into our music. We just said, ‘Let’s take this style and make it our own. So, we added a couple of different things here and there; we slow it down, speed it up. It’s just fast-paced fun.”
Later, the duo would draw crowds with freestyle verses they would perform at parties. “People would gather around us,” Maxwell said. “It just clicked right there. ‘Dude, what if we really did this, and what if we can add a different element to this music scene and whatnot?’” Among Off the Dome’s biggest performances to date are appearances at last year’s Seattle Hempfest and with rap act Dirty Nasty at Seattle’s Nectar Lounge.
Recently, the duo added guitarist Tony Bennington with plans to expand its sound further. “It’s just a different element,” Maxwell said. “Now, we’re gonna probably start adding drummers and stuff like that. There’s no limits right now.”
Through their label, Off the Dome Records, Maxwell and Turner plan to release a CD called “Tacompilation” later this year featuring their collaboration with Kutt Calhoun, a possible track with Strange Records recording artist Wrekonize and contributions from hip-hop artists around the region. “We’re just putting together an album where everybody gets some kind of shine,” Maxwell said. “If everything works out, it should be the end of summer. If things get backed up, it’s probably gonna be late fall. But the album will be done this year.”
The music starts at 8:30 p.m. Friday night. Tickets are still available with prices ranging from $20 to $25; www.jazzbones.com. To learn more about Off the Dome visit www.facebook.com/otd253.

THURSDAY, MAY 25 - TRACK
4A, 3A, 2A State Track Meet
Mt. Tahoma Stadium - 3 p.m.

THURSDAY, MAY 25 - BASEBALL
Fresno Grizzlies vs. Tacoma Rainiers
Cheney Stadium - 7:05 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 26 - TRACK
4A, 3A, 2A State Track Meet
Mt. Tahoma Stadium - 9 a.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 26 - BASEBALL
Fresno Grizzlies vs. Tacoma Rainiers
Cheney Stadium - 7:05 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 27 - TRACK
4A, 3A, 2A State Track Meet
Mt. Tahoma Stadium - 9:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 27 - SOCCER
1A State Championship
Sumner Stadium - 12 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 27 - SOCCER
3A State Championship
Sparks Stadium - 3 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 27 - SOCCER
2A State Championship
Sumner Stadium - 5 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 27 - SOCCER
4A State Championship
Sparks Stadium - 5 p.m.

SUNDAY, MAY 28 - SOCCER
TSS ROVERS vs. Sounders U23
Starfire Stadium, Tukwila - 2 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 3 – SOCCER
Vancouver vs. South Sound FC
Washington Premier Complex – 3:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 3 – FOOTBALL
Renton vs. Puyallup Nation Kings
Chief Leschi Stadium – 6 p.m.

MONDAY, JUNE 5 – BASEBALL
Reno vs. Tacoma Rainiers
Cheney Stadium – 6:05 p.m.

TUESDAY, JUNE 6 – BASEBALL
Reno vs. Tacoma Rainiers
Cheney Stadium – 6:05 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7 – BASEBALL
Reno vs. Tacoma Rainiers
Cheney Stadium – 11:35 a.m.

THURSDAY, JUNE 8 – BASEBALL
Reno vs. Tacoma Rainiers
Cheney Stadium – 7:05 p.m.

FRIDAY, JUNE 9 – BASEBALL
Las Vegas vs. Tacoma Rainiers
Cheney Stadium – 7:05 p.m.

FRIDAY, JUNE 9 – SOCCER
Lane United vs. Sounders U23
Sunset Stadium, Sumner – 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 10 – FOOTBALL
Thurston Cty. vs. Pierce Cty. Bengals
Sunset Stadium, Sumner – 6 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 10 – BASEBALL
Las Vegas vs. Tacoma Rainiers
Cheney Stadium – 7:05 p.m.

SUNDAY, JUNE 11 – SOCCER
Fuerza FC vs. South Sound FC Women

SUNDAY, JUNE 11 – BASEBALL
Las Vegas vs. Tacoma Rainiers
Cheney Stadium – 1:35 p.m.

SUNDAY, JUNE 11 – SOCCER
Bellingham vs. South Sound FC
Washington Premier Complex – 3:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 17 – BASEBALL
Las Vegas vs. Tacoma Rainiers
Cheney Stadium – 7:05 p.m.

SUNDAY, JUNE 18 – BASEBALL
Las Vegas vs. Tacoma Rainiers
Cheney Stadium – 1:35 p.m.

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.
We decided to give the candidates a trial run to see how they do in the field.
This week Carter the Crater Gator gave it another shot by finding a crater that would make Percival proud. But frankly, Carter might just not have the celebrity power to take on such a high-profile role. What are your thoughts? We have other candidates in the works that we might try out: Charles the Chuckhole Chicken and Blighty the Blight-Seeking Beaver, but several people voiced their opinion that a permanent replacement should be one of Percival’s relatives, namely Peyton, who lives in Portland, and Perry, who lives in Parkland. And now 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.

The sun shone bright Friday, May 19. Perfect weather for those who looked to the skies in admiration of the F4U Corsair fighter plane that flew overhead Lincoln High School in honor of the unveiling of the Pappy Boyington, Perpetual Garden Memorial monument. The festivities led by Master of Ceremonies, Charley Land of KLAY Radio boasted a hearty turnout. People of all ages filled the seats, sidewalks and grassy knolls to celebrate a bit of Tacoma history in Gregory “Pappy” Boyington. A child, his mother’s fingers interlaced with his own in one hand, a blue toy plane in the other stood among history enthusiasts and a bevy of military veterans awaiting the unveiling of the marble monument who had at last found its permanent home on the grounds of Lincoln High School.
Though the F4U Corsair, flown by pilot Jim Martinelli was a highlight for many, the festivities as a whole, encompassed the spirit of the gathering. During the National Anthem, the performer faltered for just a moment, a brief pause, the start of the line again and another pause, invited the entire audience to join in unison and support to finish the song to its end. Perpetual Garden Memorial Board Chair, and former Lincoln Vice Principal Connie Rickman began with an untraditional invocation reciting a passage written by Jim Curtis about eagles and a former military colleague of his. The words, “His spirit lives in my heart and I often think of him when I see an eagle,” seemed to resonate as we were witnessing the placement of a permanent tribute to the sacrifice and hard work of another American hero.
Many took the stage including Rickman, Land, Dick Muri and Trish Holmes. Each remembering Pappy’s legacy, telling stories of the hard partying, gruff Boyington. They spoke about his days as a football player and wrestler at Lincoln, known then as Greg Hallenbeck, his step-father’s surname. He later discovered his original given name was Boyington and adopted that to join the military. Humor was sprinkled throughout these stories as one joked that Boyington’s experience as a wrestler later served him well throughout bars in Pierce County. Many giggled at the fact that Greg was given the moniker of “Pappy” at a mere 31 years of age, being a decade older than his cohorts.
During the war, Pappy was shot down and held prisoner in a Japanese prison for over a year. He survived the experience and returned home to a hero’s welcome and the Medal of Honor. Later at a dinner, Boyington saw the pilot that shot him down and approached him a smile on his face. When asked why he wasn’t angry with the pilot that led to his imprisonment, Pappy was reported as saying, “Pilots never hold grudges. It’s a worldwide brotherhood.” Another famous quote from Pappy that gives us just a glimmer of why the man was such a character, was in regards to his love of flying. He said, “Flying is hours of boredom sprinkled with a few seconds of sheer terror.”
Tacoma City Council Member, Marty Campbell spoke more about the importance of this memorial speaking of Boyington’s time as an engineer and his ability to look at things from a unique perspective. A perspective of innovation, something he hoped would serve as an inspiration to the students who walked past the Perpetual Garden Memorial, through the doors of Lincoln High School. Campbell thanked the veterans and police force in attendance for their service and brought the point home when speaking on honoring the veterans and their stories before doing the honor of lifting the veil and exposing the marble piece at last. You can visit the Perpetual Garden Memorial yourself by visiting the 37th Street side of Lincoln High School.

Stay tunes for details from Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's spectacular return to the Tacoma Dome. Meanwhile, here are a few of Bill Bungard's photos and a set list for those who missed out. 

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill set list (May 27, 2017, Tacoma Dome): “I Knew You Were Waiting for Me” (Aretha Franklin & George Michael cover); “Felt Good on My Lips” (Tim McGraw); “The Lucky Ones” (Faith Hill); “I Like It, I Love It” (McGraw); “The Way You Love Me” (Hill); “Like We Never Loved at All” (Hill); “Break First”; “Telluride”; (begin Faith Hill solo set) “Free”; “This Kiss”; “Breathe”; “Wild One”; “Stronger”; “Piece of My Heart” (Janis Joplin cover); (begin Tim McGraw solo set) “Angry All the Time”; “One of Those Nights”; “Real Good Man”; “Hungry Heart” (Bruce Springsteen cover); “Shotgun Rider”; “Humble & Kind”; “Live Like You Were Dying”; (Faith Hill returns) “Speak to a Girl”; “It's Your Love”; “Mississippi Girl” (Hill solo, goes into crowd); “Something Like That” (McGraw solo, goes into crowd)
Encore: “I Need You”
 

Confession time: I am a self-professed creature of habit, allowing many of my enthusiasms to be governed by the turning of the seasons. Classical music and dark beer are for winter. Baseball and bicycles are for summer. Football is definitely a thing of autumn. The Memorial Day weekend opening of the Washington State History Museum’s football exhibit, “Gridiron Glory,” therefore struck me as odd. Why open a football show at the beginning of summer? It did not take long among the artifacts, exhibits and media installations from the history of “America’s favorite sport,” however, to set me in an appreciative mood.
“Gridiron Glory” is a travelling exhibit comprised of materials from the National Football Hall of Fame (based in Canton, Ohio) and WSHM is its only stop in the Pacific Northwest. It will be on view through Sept. 10. Some 6,000 square feet of the museum’s space is given over to the show, which is divided into a number of distinct sections: “The Pioneers” pays homage to the early days of the sport; “The Great Players” zeroes in on legends of the game like Johnny Unitas, Jim Brown, Joe Namath and Lynn Swann; “The Dynasties” has displays that run decade by decade showing mementos associated with the dominant teams of each era, beginning with the Chicago Bears of the 1930s to the mid 1940s; “The Road to Equality” explores the opening of the sport to nonwhite players and the entry of African Americans into the ranks of the coaching staffs of NFL teams. “Football in the Media” and “Football as a Way of Life” examine the role that football plays in pop culture and in the everyday lives of its fans.
“Champions” takes a look at championship games via objects and images associated with memorable events. Meanwhile, “The Great Moments” utilizes multiple screens, arranged in-the-round, to show the moments themselves as they were captured by film and video. “Records are Made to be Broken” exhibits specific artifacts associated with record-breaking moments in the history of the sport.
“The Science of Football” shows how science and technology have played a role in the evolution of the game. Finally, “Hometown Team” is a section entirely devoted to the Seattle Seahawks. Visitors can have a peek into the lockers of Russell Wilson and Richard Sherman. There is a section on the Seattle players who have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame. There is a jewel-encrusted Seahawks Super Bowl ring as well at the Seahawks’ championship Lombardy trophy from Super Bowl XLVIII (this trophy will only be on display through June.)
“Gridiron Glory” has something for everyone, no matter their level of interest in football. There are funky old jerseys; strange, early helmets; ornate, antique trophies and even the peculiar, hoof-like kicking shoe of Tom Dempsey, a player who was born without toes on his feet, yet was a great kicker. Some of the artifacts have a status that approaches that of holy relics. There is, for example, a splintered, eightinch portion from one of the goalposts of the “greatest game ever played.” Visitors can communicate via the coach-to-player helmet system or experience an authentic instant replay booth.
“Gridiron Glory” runs through Sept. 10 at WSHM, at 1911 Pacific Ave. in downtown Tacoma. For further information visit www.washingtonhistory.org or call 1 (888) 238-4373.

A number of movie screenings, panel discussions and other special events are scheduled to coincide with this exhibit:
Friday Football Flick: “Brian’s Song” June 23, 7 p.m.
Flash back to the 1970s with this classic true-to-life tale of friendship and bonding between NFL players in the face of heartbreaking circumstances. Starring James Caan and Billy Dee Williams. Rated G, but bring your tissues. Pay what you can; concessions will be available for purchase.
Football 360: An All-Angles Look at the NFL Experience June 29, 7 p.m.
WSHM presents a panel discussion exploring what it’s like to be part of the NFL. Learn about getting drafted, the team experience, trading, and refereeing.
Included with museum admission, or $5 for program-only admission.
2-Pint Conversion July 13, 7 p.m.
Adults-only tailgate-style party at the History Museum. Tickets include two beverages from a local craft brewery, a collectible beverage cover, indoor lawn games and other fun activities, plus an opportunity to explore the exhibit. $15 advance registration, $20 at the door. Check back here for registration information. Admission fee includes entrance to the exhibits and activities, two football-themed beers, and a commemorative beer cover.
Friday Football Flick: “Invincible” July 28, 9 p.m.
Gather in the museum’s outdoor amphitheater for “Gridiron Glory” exhibition trivia. Then, get inspired by the true story of Vince Papale (played by Mark Wahlberg), a lifelong football fan and bartender whose wildest dream comes true when he becomes a Philadelphia Eagle. Rated PG. Pay as you can, concessions available for purchase.
Gridiron Gauntlet Aug. 5, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This youth activity day will test kids’ skills through the same athletic activities used to test future NFL pros. The event kicks off at the History Museum at 10 a.m., and the activities are held on-site at the History Museum and at the University of Washington-Tacoma’s Y Student Center. Each kid athlete will receive a “player profile” card to record their scores. Drop in anytime during the event to participate in the free activities. Partners include YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
To the Limit: Health and Safety in a High-Impact Game Sept. 7, 7 p.m.
Join WSHM for a panel discussion focused on the evolution of safety in sports, particularly football. Included with museum admission, or $5 programonly admission.

An art form like improvisational comedy requires its practitioners to possess a unique set of skills. In addition to needing the means to act out a variety of characters, they also need an ability akin to that of a writer, to be able to weave a story from nothing but their own fertile imaginations. And they have to be quick-witted enough to invent their stories on the fly. There is no time for reflection and rumination here; the audience is waiting! On top of all that, they need their comedic talent: a sharp sense of humor married to a keen sense of timing.
The form dates at least as far back as the Commedia dell’Arte of Renaissance Italy. As it is currently practiced, however, the form traces its roots to acting and comedic techniques generated in certain urban centers, most notably Chicago. (It was a group of Chicago-based improv comedic actors that formed the original cast of Saturday Night Live. Other notables from the Chicago improv works include such beloved entertainers as Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey and Steve Carell.) Tacoma has a group of improv comedians in its midst. Called Fools Play Improv, the group performs at Tacoma Little Theatre the fourth Saturday of each month at 10:30 p.m. Josh Hind is the group’s leader, facilitator or instigator. He introduces the other “fools” (and apprentice fools) and explains what is to transpire at the start of the evening’s entertainment. The Tacoma group works in long-form improv, in which the group comes up with a series of scenes that link together into a cohesive story (that’s where narrative skills come into play).
During the May 27 performance, the group came up with two stories of approximately 35 minutes each. For the first, a member of the audience shouted out a word and that word was used to get the juices flowing and to provide the seed for the story that unfolded. The second piece was generated spontaneously by the performers themselves.
The word from the audience member was “superhero.” The “fools” proceeded to perform a story in which capes and spandex become the rage of an insular corporate social group. One character is perpetually behind the trend line and keeps getting caught flatfooted and ends up losing his client’s money when he invests everything in spandex. The whole contraption of “Superheroes” was a marvel to watch. A high wire act pulled off with panache as the “fools” worked together to invent and build a story and characters, doing so with hilarious alacrity. The second story, “Puppies and Babies” (given its title after the fact – again by a member of the audience), involved an arson fire perpetrated by an Irish detective who assigns the unit’s dumbest cop, “Dumb Dave Davis,” to the case in the hopes that it won’t be solved. The group is somewhat fluid, with a core group and others who may or may not appear on given nights. The May 27 show combined the talents of nine different comedians. In addition to Hind, there was Dalton Elliott: wiry and fearless, who got the ball rolling in “Superhero.” Esa Hakkarainen, rubbery and bombastic, is prone to erupting into characters who have funny accents and flashy mannerisms and make some of the funniest parts of the show.
Katie Hohenstein-Van Etten is active and inventive. In one story, she made herself into a corporate schmoozer and in the next she became a dogged fire inspector. Liz Favreau has a talent for introducing oddball elements into the story, putting interesting kinks into the machinery. Steve Smith is also able to blend in elements that come out of left field.
The rest the of cast, Melia Wilber, Maria Aragon, Laramie Lundy and Andre Hill, ably keep up the pace and add their own measure of leaven to the mix. The result is akin to the alchemy achieved by a group of musicians; each one proves vital in the creation of the amazing performance that can only unfold live on stage.
“Fools Play Improv” takes to the stage again on June 24. Alcoholic beverages, other refreshments and concessions are available and can be taken into the theater to be enjoyed during the performance.
According to Hind, things look promising for the group to renew its contract to continue on at TLT through next year. Fools Play Improv is a wonderful, wild ride – thoroughly enjoyable. You’re sure to be hooked after just one experience of the show.
For further information on Fools Play Improv, visit foolsplay.net.

When you ask people in Washington state what their biggest concerns are, they’ll point to skyrocketing housing costs, Puget Sound clean-up, congested transportation infrastructure, and rising medical costs. President Trump’s budget proposal does not put forward reasonable solutions to any of these problems. Instead, the Trump budget attacks the very programs that address these critical issues, making deep cuts to agencies like the EPA, HUD, and DOT, while permanently cutting and capping the Medicaid program. This budget shows a callous disregard for the problems that keep Washingtonians up at night.
Further, the lack of resources dedicated to Western priorities such as water projects like the Yakima Basin Water Plan, salmon conservation, critical agricultural assistance for farmers and rancheWhen you ask people in Washington what their biggest concerns are, they’ll point to skyrocketing housing costs, Puget Sound clean-up, congested transportation infrastructure, and rising medical costs. President Donald Trump’s budget proposal does not put forward reasonable solutions to any of these problems. Instead, the Trump budget attacks the very programs that address these critical issues, making deep cuts to agencies like the EPA, HUD, and DOT, while permanently cutting and capping the Medicaid program. This budget shows a callous disregard for the problems that keep Washingtonians up at night.
Further, the lack of resources dedicated to Western priorities such as water projects like the Yakima Basin Water Plan, salmon conservation, critical agricultural assistance for farmers and ranchers, public lands programs like the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and wildfire prevention demonstrates a clear lack of understanding of the economic and environmental issues that affect Western states. Selling off our public infrastructure and raising Bonneville Power Administration rates only adds additional insult to injury.
President Trump’s budget is also a threat to Hanford workers, the Tri-Cities, and the Columbia River. We must have full funding for Hanford cleanup – especially after the recent tunnel collapse. Any cuts would be not only irresponsible, but would undermine the federal government’s moral obligation to clean up Hanford.
This administration’s reckless budget cannot be allowed to become law, and I intend to fight for a budget that moves every corner of our country forward.
How will President Trump’s budget proposal affect Washington?

MEDICAID
President Trump’s budget proposal would directly imperil healthcare for 1.7 million Washingtonians who get their health insurance through Medicaid, including about 600,000 Washingtonians who are covered thanks to the Medicaid expansion. Specifically, the budget proposal would cut $610 billion from Medicaid on top of the Medicaid cuts contained in the House Republican passed American Health Care Act (AHCA). In Washington, Medicaid is a lifeline for children, working families, seniors, young adults, people with disabilities, and veterans. Medicaid expansion in Washington has cut the uninsured rate, reduced uncompensated care, and yielded state budgetary savings.

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
President Trump’s budget proposal fails to address the aging infrastructure challenges facing Washington. The budget would eliminate a key transportation infrastructure program known as TIGER grants and means a $500 million cut to infrastructure. Washington has had 16 projects benefit from TIGER funding since 2009 and has several immediate projects which could qualify. West Vancouver Freight Access, the US-395 North Spokane Corridor, Tacoma LINK light rail expansion, the South Park Bridge replacement, Mukilteo multimodal ferry terminal, and the Mercer Corridor redevelopment are all examples of key Washington projects benefiting from TIGER funding.

HOUSING
President Trump’s budget proposal completely ignores the homelessness and affordable housing crisis in Washington. Under the budget proposal, nearly $800 million would be cut from housing assistance, meaning approximately 6,128 families in Washington would lose access to housing vouchers, further exacerbating our homelessness crisis. The proposal will hinder Washington’s ability to address the affordable housing crisis by cutting funding for public housing improvement projects by $1.8 billion, including $21.2 million in Washington as well as completely eliminating the HOME Investment Partnership program, which provided nearly $19 million to Washington communities to build affordable housing last year.

EDUCATION
President Trump’s budget proposal dismisses the education challenges faced by Washington, and puts higher education out of reach for many. Specifically, the budget proposal eliminates the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which provides $16.5 million to assist more than 15,000 Washington children through before-school, after school, and summer learning programs that serve urban, suburban and rural areas across the state. The budget also guts federal support for higher education, cutting $1.2 billion from federal student aid by eliminating the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants and reducing Federal Work-Study, which could mean a loss of more than $13,406,455 for Washington students. Additionally, the president’s budget proposal further burdens the more than 800,000 Washingtonians with federal student loan debt by completely eliminating the Direct Subsidized Loan Program.

PUGET SOUND CLEAN UP
Washington’s economy depends on a healthy Puget Sound and it is one of the more important waterways in the United States. Yet President Trump’s budget eliminates the Environmental Protection Agency’s program to clean up Puget Sound, putting at risk Puget Sound’s health, Washington’s $30 billion maritime economy, coastal economies, salmon and orca population, and the shellfish industry. Through EPA’s Puget Sound Geographic Funding Program, state and local stakeholders receive an annual $28 million to target the environmental decline that both Puget Sound and the Columbia River Basin have experienced. The elimination of those funds would have dramatic impacts on the state’s economy and Puget Sound’s health, making this program both an environmental and economic imperative.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
President Trump’s budget proposal turns a blind eye to areas more prone to disasters and emergencies, like Washington’s coastline or inland forests. The proposed gutting of some $37 million from the NOAA’s tsunami detection and forecasting programs endangers Washington’s coastal communities, which straddle the tsunami and earthquake-inclined Cascadia Subduction Zone. Inland Washington fares little better, with 50 percent of funding for FEMA’s pre-disaster mitigation grants on the chopping block. These grants help communities proactively plan for disasters like the wildfires that have plagued Central and Eastern Washington in recent years.

SALMON RECOVERY
President Trump’s budget proposal is catastrophic to salmon recovery, putting at stake our multi-million dollar maritime economy and thousands of fishing-related jobs. Specifically, the budget proposal eliminates the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF), which has provided $65 million for efforts to facilitate the recovery of Pacific salmon populations and the commercial, recreational and Tribal fisheries that rely on them. As of last year, PCSRF grants have funded 12,800 projects to restore more than 1,100,000 acres of essential fish habitat and restored more than 9,500 miles of streams. The Pacific salmon fishery is the third largest in the United States and without this critical funding there could be irreversible damage to the Pacific salmon population and the ecosystems they rely upon.

INNOVATION
President Trump’s budget proposal disregards the important role Washington research institutions play in securing America’s status as the world’s innovation hub. Cuts to the National Science Foundation research grant budget will severely impact the ability of Washington research institutions and universities to fund valuable research in science, technology, engineering and math fields. In the previous fiscal year, NSF provided 489 awards totaling approximately $150 million to 40 institutions in Washington.

RURAL WASHINGTON
President Trump’s budget proposal takes away the federal tools rural Washington communities need to thrive. The SRS program, which helps fund schools and police forces in areas that have been hit hard by decreasing timber production, will be completely eliminated. Programs that provide clean water, distance-learning, and building construction for rural areas are also entirely cut from the budget proposal.

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH)
President Trump’s budget proposal would hamper Washington’s position as world leader in medical research and innovation. Specifically, the budget proposal would cut $5.7 billion – about 20 percent – from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In fiscal year 2015, Washington organizations received $917 million in grants from the NIH. The budget’s NIH cut would be devastating to organizations like the University of Washington, Washington State University, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and the Benaroya Institute at Virginia Mason.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN LOW-INCOME AREAS
President Trump’s budget proposal pulls the rug out from under Washington’s most needy citizens. The proposal entirely eliminates the Community Development Block Grant program, which targets funds to low-income areas to stimulate local economies. Last year, the grants brought $51 million into high-need Washington communities to improve infrastructure, build affordable housing, provide meals to needy children, and promote economic development. Meals on Wheels, a nonprofit that delivers hot meals to 2.4 million senior citizens every year, is funded in part by the Older Americans Act and Community Development Block Grant funds. Trump’s budget would slash the federal programs that helped deliver 2,990,497 meals to 55,312 seniors in Washington in 2016.

Dear Editor,

(The following letter is in response to our May 26 guest opinion piece “Time to fire the VA health system” by Sally C. Pipes.)
TriWest Healthcare Alliance is privileged to work closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to administer the Veterans Choice Program in 28 states, and support its sacred mission to provide earned care and benefits for those who have “borne the battle.”
TriWest stands alongside VA in ensuring access to care for our nation’s heroes. We have not been about replacing VA, but giving VA the necessary elasticity to meet the needs it cannot meet directly. While the Veterans Choice Program faced real challenges and got off to a slow start a couple years back, Congress and VA have since made 70 contract modifications and four legislative amendments that have significantly improved the performance of the program. As a result, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) report referenced in the recent editorial, completed in 2015 but not released until 2017, is very outdated and does not reflect the current state of the program, especially in TriWest’s 28-state region:
• In the Washington state service area of Puget Sound, there are now nearly 14,000 community providers in the TriWest network who have scheduled 75,000 routine and urgent appointments in the community under the Veterans Choice Program for 36,000 Veterans;
• Nationwide, TriWest has partnered with over 185,000 health care providers to help 890,000 Veterans receive over 4.5 million medical appointments. Without these appointments, the wait at VA hospitals would be dramatically longer today;
• In the Puget Sound service area for the month of April, the average number of days to schedule an appointment in the community was three days, with the appointment occurring within an average of 13 days;
• TriWest is now processing and paying claims within 30 days for those receiving care through the network.
But our mission is not complete. With President Trump recently signing into law an extension of the Veterans Choice Program, Congress now has an opportunity to build on the progress and lessons learned over the past three years as it works with VA to create the next generation of the Choice Program. TriWest will continue to refine and strengthen the program, and ensure Veterans have greater access to high-quality care closer to home. They deserve no less.

Sincerely,
Frank “Mac” Maguire, M.D., FACP, FCCP
Chief Medical Officer
Navy Veteran

Dear Editor,

(Re: “City, port start talks for Tideflats review,” TW, May 18)
Our descendants will inherit the environment we leave them, and the Tideflats will be an integral element of that environment. I’ve observed the Puyallup Nation as a leader in planning for one’s descendants, and that the Port of Tacoma commissioners tend to embrace the philosophy of increasing the Port’s revenue whenever it’s feasible to do so, and for as long as possible. While both their efforts may be applauded, the Puyallup Nation is considering the port’s options at a higher, more objective level, and is far more than just another stakeholder in these planning discussions: they clearly should be a partner.

Alex Macdonald
University Place
 

AIRPORT TAVERN: Funk Jam Friday, 9 p.m., NC
G. DONNALSON'S: Little Bill Engelhart & Rod Cook (blues, jazz) 7:30 p.m., NC, AA
JAZZBONES: Dedset, Enloe, Descent (rock) 8 p.m., $6-$10
GREAT AMERICAN CASINO: Chapter 5 (dance) 9 p.m., NC
KEYS ON MAIN: Dueling pianos, 9 p.m., NC
LOUIE G'S: Nothing Sounds Good, Watch Rome Burn, Tremor Cats, Sapless (rock) 8 p.m., $10, AA
REAL ART TACOMA: Backbone, Exorcism, Dust Moth, Gravewitch (metal) 8 p.m., $7, AA
STONEGATE: Maxx Wattz (rock) 9 p.m., NC
THE SWISS: Tony & The Bologna Ponies, The High Rollers (rock) 9 p.m., $7
TACOMA COMEDY: Auggie Smith (comedy) 8, 10:30 p.m., $16-$22, 18+ early show
THE VALLEY: Symptoms (punk) 9 p.m.
UNCLE SAM'S: Clone-a-palooza tryouts (rock) 8 p.m.

AIRPORT TAVERN: Strangely Alright (power-pop, alternative) 9 p.m., NC
G. DONNALSON'S: Little Bill Engelhart & Rod Cook (blues, jazz) 7:30 p.m., NC, AA
JAZZBONES: Booboolala CD release with Power Laces, Haiku, DJ Torbjørn, Decent at Best (funk, soul, reggae, pop) 8 p.m., $10-$15
GREAT AMERICAN CASINO: Chapter 5 (dance) 9 p.m., NC
KEYS ON MAIN: Dueling pianos, 9 p.m., NC
LOUIE G'S: The Led Zeppelin Experience, Dire Fire (classic rock covers) 8 p.m., $15, AA
METRONOME: Sam Bogle, Trusty Sea Creatures, Big Sky Mind (indie-pop, folk) 4 p.m., NC, AA
REAL ART TACOMA: “Pause for the Cause” benefit show with Almond Roca, Don James, Boss Ghetto, Bobby Slicce and more (hip-hop) 6 p.m., AA
THE SPAR: Jesse James and the Mob (rock) 8 p.m., NC
STONEGATE: S.O.B. Band (blues) 9 p.m.
THE SWISS: Kry (rock covers) 9 p.m.
TACOMA ARMORY: Defiant Requiem Foundation presents “Verdi at Terezín” (classical) 7:30 p.m., $20-$50, AA
TACOMA COMEDY: Auggie Smith (comedy) 8, 10:30 p.m., $16-$22, 18+ early show
UNCLE SAM'S: Cancer benefit for Cindi, 8 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
TACOMA COMEDY: The Drunk Show (comedy) 8 p.m., $10-$16, 18+
THE SPAR: Mark Dufresne (blues) 7 p.m., NC
STONEGATE: Groovin' Higher Jazz Orchestra (jazz) 5 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
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 (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.
TACOMA COMEDY: New Talent Tuesday (comedy) 8 p.m., NC, 18+
THE VALLEY: Anthony Estrada Jam (blues, rock) 7 p.m., NC

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
STONEGATE: Leify Green (open mic) 8 p.m., NC
TACOMA COMEDY: Comedy open mic, 8 p.m., NC, 18+
THE VALLEY: Post Nothing (punk, hardcore) 9 p.m.

DAWSON'S: Billy Shew Band (open jam) 8 p.m., NC
G. DONNALSON'S: Rod Cook (blues) 7 p.m., AA
KEYS ON MAIN: Dueling pianos, 9 p.m., NC
STONEGATE: Comfort and Call (rock jam) 8 p.m., NC
TACOMA COMEDY: Dan Soder (comedy) 8 p.m., $10-$16, 18+
TACOMA ELKS: Casanova (dance) 6:30 p.m., $6-$10
UNCLE SAM'S: Jerry Miller (rock, blues) 7 p.m.