MAWP BENEFIT

We now have a lineup for the May 31 Music and Art in Wright Park fundraiser at the New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma. The Dignitaries, Ranchero and CFA will play, and your $5 cover charge will benefit the popular local music festival, which will go on Aug. 10 at Wright Park.

ROCKET RECORDS REDUX

Get ready for Rocket Records, version 2.0. Recently, Tacoma Weekly dropped in on owner Steve Gaydich as he was prepping the new version of his popular Tacoma record store, recently relocated to 3823 Sixth Ave. He was forced to move at the end of April when a mixed martial arts studio took over the old spot, just a few doors down. He's planning a June 1 opening.

JAZZ FEST

Greta Matassa, Thomas Marriot Sextet and McTuff are among the many talented performers booked for the Pierce College Jazz Expo, which will be held from 1 to 10 p.m. June 2 on the college's campus, located at 1601 39th Ave., SE, in Puyallup. Tickets are $10, and you can learn more by calling (253) 912-3635.

BLOCK ROCKIN’ FIDDLE

Victoria, BC-based musician Kyla LeBlanc – a.k.a. Kytami – is known for her “violinistextremist” aesthetic, which melds classical violin virtuosity with bass heavy elements of hip-hop, drum n' bass and other electronic styles, as heard on last year's “Kytami” disc. She'll headline Jazzbones on June 7. Tickets are $8, and music starts at 10:30 p.m.; http://www.jazzbones.com.

THE LARAMIE PROJECT

Tacoma Little Theatre ends its 94th season with “The Laramie Project,” directed by Brie Yost, by Moisés Kaufman and the Members of the Tectonic Theater Project. In October 1998, a 21-one-year-old student at the University of Wyoming was kidnapped, severely beaten and left to die, tied to a fence in the middle of the prairie outside Laramie, Wyo. “The Laramie Project” is a breathtaking theatrical collage that explores the depths to which humanity can sink and the heights of compassion of which we are capable. The Laramie Project will run June 7-23 on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 online at http://www.tacomalittletheatre.com, or by calling the box office at (253) 272-2281.

Stadium knew it was in for a tough test against Ballard in the second round of the lacrosse playoffs, having tied with the Beavers earlier in the season. For 20 minutes it looked like it would be the same type of game, but Ballard took control with three goals late in the first half and held on for a 10-5 win on May 22 at Stadium Bowl to end the Tigers’ season.

Tied 2-2 with just over three minutes until halftime, Ballard’s Josh Schwartzenberger struck for two goals in under two minutes, and Thomas Christensen added a goal from a wide open look with 1:40 left to give the Beavers a 5-2 lead at the break.

“I think once they scored that first goal we kind of hung our heads,” said Stadium senior Aaron Park. “We definitely let up. We lost our morale. It just went down the drain from there.”

Schwartzenberger had given Ballard a 1-0 lead just over two minutes into the game, but Noah Leonard answered for Stadium with 5:34 left in the first quarter with a goal from 20 yards out. Jacob Marks regained the lead for the Beavers late in the first quarter, and Stadium was unable to equalize despite several good chances early in the second quarter.

“They went into a little bit of a zone (defense) there,” said Stadium head coach T.J. Serrianne. “The passes weren’t clicking…(Ballard) definitely played very well, but I think we lost some of it on our own.”

Park equalized midway through the period for Stadium, skipping a shot past Beavers keeper Alex James from 15 yards away.

“Not by any means was their defense weak, I don’t want to take anything away from them, but I knew their goalie wasn’t the strongest,” Park said. “If I could get those open looks, even from 15 yards out, I knew I could take them and get some goals in.”

But the Beavers responded quickly with their three-goal run at the end of the period.

The Tigers looked to get back in the game quickly in the third quarter when Harry Dillman threw in a shot from a tough angle on the right side just 11 seconds after the break. But Kyle Garrity regained control for Ballard by scoring just over a minute later, and John DeGarmo added his second goal for the Beavers to make it 7-3 with 7:38 left in the third. Brendan Raschke and Park again responded for Stadium with goals to cut it to 7-5 at the end of the third, but Ballard rattled off two early goals in the fourth to put it away.

“We didn’t get the bounces we’re used to getting, but we played hard until the very end,” Serrianne said. “I’m very proud of the guys, it just wasn’t our night tonight.”

The Tigers finished the season with a 10-2-1 overall record, having beaten Lynden 12-7 in their playoff opener on May 17.

“We did what we wanted to do,” Park said. “We established a program here. We got it going for the younger guys, and they’re looking forward to next year. They can’t wait.”

The Sounders U-23s are quickly realizing the adversity they need to overcome in order to repeat as league champions. After taking a 3-0 lead in the first half against Kitsap, the U-23s gave up three second-half goals – including two in the final five minutes – to settle for a 3-3 draw against the Pumas in their PDL home opener on May 24 at Curtis High School.

“I think we just came out flat in the second half,” said U-23 midfielder Aodhan Quinn, who scored two goals. “They got an early goal, so that kind of put us on our heels…we’ve got to work on that, we’ve got to finish the game off.”

Quinn put the U-23s up 1-0 in the 19th minute when a deflected shot fell to his foot on the right side of the box, and he curled a shot over Kitsap keeper Dustyn Brim and into the far post.

“I saw the keeper was (on the) near post a little bit,” Quinn said. “So I just tried to bend it (to the) back post, it went over and went in.”

It was nearly déjà vu in the 26th minute, as Quinn took a short pass off a corner kick on the right side and again drove a shot over Brim into the far post to make it 2-0.

“Aodhan is a special player,” said U-23s head coach Darren Sawatzky. “He will be a pro someday. The reality is, though, that if you have to lean on special players pulling stuff out all the time, and not the group doing it, then you’re not going to do as well.”

But Kitsap quickly turned the tables five minutes after halftime, as Shane Malcome got a header on a cross and sent it over charging keeper Zac Lubin to cut it to 3-1. Despite facing a relentless attack by the Pumas the rest of the way, the U-23s were able to maintain that lead for the next 35 minutes. But the Pumas got a lucky bounce in the 86th minute when a shot was deflected in the box to the foot of Sebastiaan Jansen, who drove a low shot past Lubin. Just when it looked like the U-23s would escape with a narrow victory, they committed a foul in the box in the 89th minute, and the Pumas’ Neil Shaffer converted the penalty kick to equalize.

“In the second half, our boys, some of them didn’t come to fight,” Sawatzky said, but also noted that the draw showed some progress. “I’m happy with the point. We’ve got to fight our way up the table and we’ve had some adversity. The boys have been on the road for two weeks. Now it’s time to take the point and build on it.”

The U-23s will next host the Washington Crossfire at the Starfire Sports Complex Stadium in Tukwila on May 31 at 8 p.m.

Some of the best in local blues music – solo acts, duos and bands – will be gathering at Jazzbones on June 2 for the South Sound Blues Association’s (SSBA) Eighth Annual Back to Beale Street Blues Preliminary Competition. This showcase is different from any other music event in the South Sound, and the public is invited to come out and enjoy it for a steal of a price: $10 general admission, $8 for SSBA members and active duty military, and kids under 12 get in free. The music begins at 4 p.m.

Three solo/duo acts and seven bands are lined up to hit the stage and give it their all at this judged competition in which the competitors will get 25 minutes to show their stuff. A three-judge panel (kept under wraps until the contest) will rate the acts on an established set of criteria: talent, vocals, blues content, originality and showmanship. The solo/duo act winner will be announced that evening, and the top four bands will advance to the finals at the Tacoma Freedom Fair and Air Show on July 4 on the Duke’s Chowder House Blues Stage. Winners in both categories will then go on to the International Blues Challenge held on Beale Street in Memphis in January 2014.

The International Blues Challenge is the largest gathering of blues bands in the world. Bands and solo/duo acts from more than 10 countries are chosen to represent their states and countries. Last year more than 125 bands and 75 solo/duo acts competed. Each band performs in front of an international panel of music industry professionals who judge the event.

Gary Grape is CEO/president of SSBA. He said Back to Beale Street has grown in popularity to the extent that it’s standing-room-only at Jazzbones, so those who plan at attend this years contest will want to arrive early to get a good seat.

“Since we started in 2005 it’s grown each year,” Grape said. “The last couple of years we peaked out for attendance.”

The preliminary line-up for Jazzbones is as follows:

4-4:20 p.m.– Blue Mud, a duo with the strong and sassy blues vocals of Mary McPage (of Mary McPage and the Assassins) and guitarist Jevon Powell with whom McPage has made music for more than 10 years.

4:30-4:50 p.m.– Bob McCluskey, an avid blues harmonica performer who is also the longtime general manager of KLAY radio.

5-5:20 p.m.– Arthur Migliazza, a recent transplant from

Tuscon recognized throughout country as a leading boogie woogie keyboardist. He’s been inducted into the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame and was a finalist in the 2010 International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

5:35-6 p.m.– Delta 88’s, a five-piece blues band featuring the powerhouse voice of Tery Bishop.

6:15-6:40 p.m.– Randy Oxford Band featuring a new configuration of band mates, some new and some veterans. This band was a past finalist at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

6:55-7:20 p.m.– Blues County Sheriff, a solid, old-school, local tavern style blues band from Olympia (think Muddy Waters and BB King).

7:35-8 p.m.– Crazy Texas Gypsies are Billy Barner and Doug Skoog (of Blues Redemption) with Kenny Williams and Kevin Fraser, all seasoned players.

8:15-8:40 p.m.– Cody Rentas Band, a young soul among the blues scene in the Pacific Northwest. Rentas has made it to the finals in Back to Beale Street a few times, but hasn’t won it all yet.

8:55-9:20 p.m.– Palmer Junction. With three different singers, dual lead guitars and one of the best rhythm sections around, Palmer Junction plays a “new style” of blues with more of a cutting edge. This popular young band made the finals at Freedom Fair last year.

9:35-10 p.m.– The RoadDogz, a very popular and solid blues band that’s been around for a long time. Their Facebook page says it best: “The RoadDogz are a fun, festive, full service live band extravaganza. Combining the best of danceable classics, rockin' blues and smoky soul, The RoadDogz stand out on the Seattle blues scene. These dogs may look a little grizzled, but on stage they play like pups: fun to watch with an irresistible rompin' sound.”

EMERALD QUEEN: Notorious 253 (Top 40) 9 p.m., NC

C.I. SHENANIGAN’S: Collaborative Works Jazz, 8 p.m.

DAWSON’S: Rock ‘n Roll Magic (Classic rock) 9 p.m., NC

EAGLES LOUNGE: Darrell Data (Vocals/guitar) 6 p.m.

GREAT AMERICAN CASINO: The Boinkers (Rock covers) 9 p.m., NC

JAZZBONES: Dan Reed, Nick Moss and the Lush Tones, 7 p.m., $10

LOUIE G’S: Mechanism, Fail Safe Project, Windowpane, Riot In Rhythm, Jason Kertson & the Immortals (Rock) 7 p.m., AA

MAXWELL’S: Lance Buller Trio (Jazz) 7 p.m., NC

NEW FRONTIER LOUNGE: Cody Foster Army, Ranchero, the Dignitaries, 9 p.m.

SWISS: Kry (Rock covers) 9 p.m.

UNCLE SAM’S: WTF Band, guest, 8 p.m.

UNCLE THURM’S: Gary Cook (Jazz guitarist) 5:30 p.m., NC, AA

UNCLE THURM’S: Kareem Kandi Band (Jazz)

VARSITY GRILL: Rock-Bot live band karaoke, 8 p.m., NC

GREAT AMERICAN CASINO: The Boinkers (Rock covers) 9 p.m., NC

C.I. SHENANIGAN’S: Collaborative Works Jazz, 8 p.m.

DAWSON’S: Rock ‘n Roll Magic (Classic rock) 9 p.m., NC

EMERALD QUEEN: Notorious 253 (Top 40) 9 p.m., NC

NEW FRONTIER: Gaytheist, Argonaut, guest, 10 p.m., $5

UNCLE SAM’S: Church Of Hate, All The Hellbound, Progenitor, Jack Havoc, Trioxin, 8 p.m.

VARSITY GRILL: Rock-Bot live band karaoke, 8 p.m., NC

DAWSONS: Tim Hall Band (Blues jam) 8 p.m., NC

ANTHEM: Taxi Driver (Jazz) 7 p.m.

JAZZBONES: Blue Mud, Bob McCluskey, Arthur Migliazza, Delta 88s, Randy Oxford Band, Blues County Sheriff, Crazy Texas Gypsies, Cody Rentas Band (Blues) 4 p.m., $10, AA

LOUIE G’S: FISH Food Benefit featuring Audentia, Champagne Sunday, Nolan Garrett, Rikk Beatty Band, Tin Man, Kim Archer, Rafael Tranquilino, Mr. Von, Late September Dogs, Lynn Sorenson, Heidi Vladyka, Dave Hannon, James Coates, 3 p.m., $10, AA

NEW FRONTIER: (Bluegrass jam) 3 p.m.

STONEGATE: Bobby Hoffman & All-Star Band, 8 p.m.

UNCLE SAM’S: Remedy (Rock jam) 7 p.m.

STONEGATE: Rafael Tranquilino (Blues jam) 8 p.m.

JAZZBONES: Rockaraoke, 9 p.m.

SWISS: TBA (Blues) 8 p.m.

UNCLE SAM’S: Bill Pease, Paul Buck, Chris Gartland (Blues) 8 p.m.

STONEGATE: Leanne Trevalyan (Acoustic open mic) 8 p.m.

ANTIQUE SANDWICH SHOP: Open mic, 6:30 p.m., $3

DAVE’S OF MILTON: Jerry Miller (Blues) 7 p.m., NC, AA

DAWSONS: Jho Blenis, Shelly Ely (Blues jam) 8 p.m.

LOUIE G’S: (Acoustic open mic) 6 p.m.

NEW FRONTIER: (Open jam), 9 p.m., NC

UNCLE THURM’S: Blenis/Ely Band (Blues jam) 7:30 p.m., AA

DAVE’S OF MILTON: Rubber Band (Jam session) 8 p.m.

DAWSONS: Crazy Texas Gypsies (Jam session) 8 p.m.

GIBSON’S (STADIUM DISTRICT): Ephraim Richardson (Open mic) 7 p.m.

STONEGATE: Dave Nichols, 9 p.m., NC

OLIVE BRANCH CAFÉ: Michelle Beaudry (Jazz guitarist) 4 p.m., NC, AA

DAWSON’S: Billy Shew Band (Jam session) 8 p.m., NC

EAGLES LOUNGE: Biff Moss (Ukelele/guitar) 6 p.m.

ROCK THE DOCK: (Open mic) 8:30 p.m.

STONEGATE: Billy Stoops (Jam) 9 p.m.

UNCLE SAM’S: Jerry Miller (Blues) 7 p.m.

A group of South Sound teenagers has formed a nonprofit theater group that will stage its first show June 1 and 2 as a benefit for the American Cancer Society.

Propbox Theatre Group, an all-teen theater troupe that strives to create a safe and fun environment for teens to express themselves through quality theater as well as receive the benefit of supporting local charities, is prepping for a show in what could be a regular addition to the local theater landscape.

The group will stage D. M. Larson’s "Beauty IS a Beast," a comical twist on the standard “princess story” that involves castles, kings, princes and princesses and all things happily ever after by the time the lights go dark for a curtain call. Beauty might be beautiful on the outside, but she's ugly on the inside. Comedy follows when her fairy godmother turns her inside out in this spoof of "Taming of the Shrew” from freedrama.net.

The cast includes Cailin DeFlitch, Seth Stecker, Olivia McDougall, Miranda Milton, Sophia Guffey, Siobhan Wells, Caitlyn Daniels, Giovanni Baglio, Isabella Baglio, Sierra Hutton, Andrew Redford, Colin Nestegard and Kathryn Dunkelberger. Costumes and props were provided by Tacoma Youth Theatre, Tacoma Little Theatre and Lakewood Playhouse, theaters where many of the teens first took to the stage.

“Beauty IS a Beast” will have a two-night run, at 7 p.m. Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2 at the Pythian Temple Hall at 925 Broadway, across the street from the Pantages Theater. All tickets are pay-what-you-can (suggested is $5-$15) and available at the door.

Harmon Brewing Company is expanding to Gig Harbor.

On May 1, the local craft beer brewer – which operates the Harmon Brewery & Eatery, the Harmon Hub and the Harmon Tap Room in Tacoma – signed a lease to take over a space that is owned by Pierce County and located at 1202 26th Ave., in Gig Harbor.

The company has since applied for a new liquor license and begun renovating the building, which formerly housed Reflections and is located next to Tacoma Narrows Airport. Co-owner Pat Nagle hopes to be open by mid-July.

“We've really been looking at Gig Harbor for a long time,” he said, “but timing hasn't been right, the location hasn't been right. And we just kind of fell in love with the airport. It's a little bit off the beaten track, but it has a uniqueness that makes it kind of special.”

Nagle said the new menu will be patterned after the one at Harmon Hub, with an emphasis on pizza, pasta and fresh sandwiches.

It isn’t often that you get to see 12 smokin’ hot bands for a suggested donation of $10 and do something good for others in need, but that’s exactly what’s on tap for June 2 at Louie G’s in Fife for the sixth annual FISH Food Benefit Concert, presented by Maurice The Fish Records, 3-7 p.m.

A fundraiser for FISH Food Banks of Pierce County, this all-ages, family-friendly showcase offers music from many genres on two stages – rock, pop and blues, instrumental, acoustic, Americana and country, soul and hip hop – making FISH Food a night out that will suit practically anyone’s taste in music. There will also be a silent auction with some valuable items on the auction block, a raffle and games.

Raymond Hayden is CEO of Maurice the Fish Records. “Every year is different and every year we try to learn from the year prior,” he said of the concert. “This year we wanted to take it to the next level with even more music to give people a real bang for their buck. Last year we had more bands than normal and people really enjoyed that, so with the economy still recovering and a lot of people out there watching their pennies, I wanted to put together a concert covering as many genres as we can.”

Appearing on the main stage will be bands and solo performers: Audentia, Champagne Sunday, Nolan Garrett, Rikk Beatty Band, Tin Man, Kim Archer and Rafael Tranquilino, Mr. Von, and Late September Dogs. The acoustic stage will feature Heidi Vladyka, Dave Hannon, James Coates and a very special featured guest Lynn Sorenson of Spike & the Impalers and formerly of Bad Company. “To wrap the whole thing up and put a nice bow on it we have (Sorenson) who will perform his own set and with Nolan Garrett and Tin Man,” Hayden said. “He’s a great dude. When I asked him to do it, he didn’t even hesitate.

Add to this the impact of what FISH Food Banks can do with the money raised: for every $1 donated, FISH can distribute $7 worth of food. FISH Food serves individuals and families at seven food bank locations as well as a mobile food bank that visits five locations each week. In 2012, FISH Food Banks served more than 556,000 individuals, or more than 140,000 families.

During the past five years, the FISH Food concerts have raised just a shade under $20,000. Approximately $7,000 was raised last year, and this year the goal is $10,000.

“We are so grateful to Maurice The Fish Records for their support and friendship over the last six years,” said Emily Happy, director of development and communication for

FISH Food Banks of Pierce County. “FISH Food Banks are about people – families, volunteers, community and powerful stories. Raymond, Maurice the Fish Records, and other community-minded businesses truly help transform lives. It is a privilege to have their enthusiastic and caring assistance, which makes it possible for us to carry out our mission of serving people in need with compassion, dignity and respect, despite the need being greater than ever before. Every dollar, hour or kind act makes a real difference to a family in need.”

“It’s important to give back,” Hayden said. “The community comes out and supports us as artists, they buy merchandise and tickets… I decided six years ago that we needed to give something back in a way that’s essential and a basic element of survival.”

The silent auction offers one-of-a-kind items that will appeal greatly to musicians and music lovers alike – local recording studio time, private concerts, guest spots on radio shows, $500 earbuds donated by Shure, CDs and T-shirts from local bands, a consultation with Grammy nominated engineer Ben Chang, a Heart autographed box set, original autographed merchandise from Bad Company, gift certificates for Rehearsal Works in Auburn, and much more. There’s other stuff too, like numerous gift certificates to local clubs including The Harmon and Hard Rock Café, Rainiers tickets, Seahawks merchandise and more.

Sponsors of the FISH Food Benefit Concert include Maurice The Fish Records, Sweatbox Entertainment, The Lenderman Academy, NWCZ Radio, John L. Scott North Tacoma, The Corbenic Group, Flat Hat Productions, SHURE and In Tune Guitar Picks, Inc.

Louie G.’s is located at 5219 Pacific Hwy. S. in Fife.

VACANT HOME BURGLARIZED

A woman who had lived in a house outside the Tacoma city limits was a victim of a burglary that occurred after she moved into a nursing home. On May 22, neighbors noticed the front door of the house was open and called 911. Pierce County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrived and found four people inside. One man claimed he had been asked to help a friend’s grandparents move out of the house. The victim’s son was contacted. He went to the house and identified items stolen from his mother, which included belt buckles, a television and an ivory walking cane. The victim’s truck, which was in the driveway, was missing along with the keys, which had been hanging on the wall in the garage. Three men and one woman were charged with residential burglary. They pleaded not guilty on May 23.

ARREST WARRANT ISSUED

A warrant was issued on May 21 for a man suspected of robbing a convenience store on May 10. The robbery happened at the 7-Eleven store in the 5600 block of South Birmingham Street. A man with a shotgun entered the store and demanded cash. An officer who responded interviewed Steven Tongue but thought he was a witness rather than a suspect. Later the officer recognized Tongue after reviewing surveillance footage. Tongue is also a suspect in a robbery of a 7-Eleven store in Parkland. He has been charged with two counts of first-degree robbery. Tongue’s last known address was in Portland. He has a driver’s license issued by the state of California.

POLICE SEEK ROBBERS

Tacoma Police Department detectives need your help to identify the suspects responsible for an armed robbery of a convenience store. At 3:10 a.m. on May 6 the suspects robbed the 7-Eleven store in the 3100 block of South Tyler Street. The suspects entered the store, displayed a gun and demanded cash from the clerk.  The suspects took the money, cigarettes and scratch tickets before fleeing the store. The first suspect is described as a Pacific Islander male in his 20’s, 5’11”, with a heavy build and black hair. During the robbery he was seen wearing black shorts, a red T-shirt, black sandals, a black and white checked hooded sweatshirt and had a red bandana covering his face. The second suspect is described as a Pacific Islander male in his late teens, 5’6”, with a medium build and short black hair. He was seen wearing gray pants, a white t-shirt and had a red bandana covering his face.

ROBBERY SUSPECT SOUGHT

Tacoma Police Department detectives need your help to identify the suspect responsible for a bank robbery. At 3:50 p.m. on May 6, the pictured suspect robbed a Key Bank located in the 8400 block of Pacific Avenue. The suspect entered the bank and handed the teller a robbery note written on a piece of cardboard. The note demanded cash. The suspect took the money and walked out of the bank. The suspect is described as a white male in his 50s, approximately 6’2” and 200 pounds, with black chin-length hair worn in a short ponytail and a black mustache. The suspect’s hair and mustache may be fake, in an attempt to conceal his identity. During the robbery he was seen wearing blue jeans, sunglasses, a black T-shirt with a large design of a skeleton riding a motorcycle on the front and a black Marlboro baseball hat.

Bucky’s Complete Auto Repair at 4802 Pacific Ave. has it all: Expert mechanics, state-of-the-art tools and diagnostic systems, financing, tattooed staff, foxgloves, petunias, day lilies and dianthus.

Jason Mortensen and his colleagues have planted a flower garden under the big Bucky’s sign. Set into a cinderblock frame, spring bulbs and perennials are bowing out and splashy annuals are recovering from the rain, ready to bulk up the color.

The auto mechanics are considering what to add next, and how to expand the display.

“It looks great for the area,” Mortensen said. “We are actually going to put in more.”

There’s a whiskey barrel planter by the wall facing 48th Street, and Mortensen thinks that would be a good place to expand. Plants, he said, are good for the neighborhood.

“They just pick up everything. They clean the air,” he said. “People go by and see the area clean and pretty, and they’re surprised.”

They shouldn’t be.

The Pacific Avenue Business District used neighborhood improvement funds a few years back to install concrete planters along the stretch near Stewart Middle School. Every spring the daffodil and tulip bulbs erupt, then go to sleep under evergreen shrubs. From late May onward the planters reveal the businesses and residents that invest in roadside beauty. Some plant and water annuals. Some allow the planters to become expensive ashtrays. Bucky’s is an investor. It has a plus-size planter in which employees have planted colorful, fragrant lavender. Now that the bulbs are dormant, Mortensen will include the planter in his urban landscaping.

He’ll also invite the restaurant managers on either side of his shop to get with the plant plan.

“It makes a major difference,” he said.

How does your workplace garden grow? Are you and your employer up for the challenge of a workplace garden? If so, we want to hear from you.

Tell us the kind of space you have, the work you do, and why you think a garden is a good fit.

Let us know how you decided the size and form. Are you going raised bed or in-ground? What is your planting medium? Will you go with food, flowers or a combination? What will you do with the things you grow?

What’s your position on garden art? Do you fear gnomes? How about clown gnomes?

Over the summer, we will share tips and award prizes.

Let us know what you’re growing at work at kathleen@tacomaweekly.com.

“It makes a major difference.” Jason Mortensen, Bucky’s Complete Auto Repair

Even for the most seasoned and accomplished veterans, the state track meet provides a stern challenge. For local athletes looking to defend previous titles, Star Track at Mount Tahoma on May 23-25 proved to be another good test.

Winding down a career filled with accolades, Foss senior Marcus Chambers was after the state record in the 400-meter dash on May 25, and it seemed as if nearly everyone in the stadium knew it. With the support of the crowd growing as he neared the finish line, Chambers – who will run at the University of Oregon next year – fell just 0.13 seconds short of the 16-year old record but still set a season best of 46.36 in winning by over two seconds.

“Everybody was pulling for me, hoping I could get the record,” said Chambers, noting that he was satisfied in again claiming the top time in the nation this year. “I’m back on top, which is what I wanted. There’s nothing I could complain about. I ran great. I had all my friends and family supporting me. Nothing could go better.”

Chambers set another season best in later winning the 200-meter dash in 21.30 seconds, getting a stern challenge the whole way from Bellevue’s Myles Jack.

Bellarmine Prep junior Hannah Derby also got a tough challenge in the 4A girls 400-meter dash, which she had won at state the previous two years. But in one of the closest finishes of the day, Derby edged Todd Beamer’s Chante Spotser by three hundredths of a second in winning in 55.84 seconds.

“Obviously I had fantastic competition, and I didn’t think I had it,” Derby said. “I was glad I pulled it out at the end…the competition has gotten so much better this year.”

Derby also took fourth in the 800-meter run and teamed with Daryl Phill, Cathryn Casey and Larisa Robic to take fourth in the 4X400-meter relay to help the Lions’ girls take 12th overall.

The weekend was even busier for Curtis senior Kennadi Bouyer, who was part of a competitive field in both the 4A girls 100- and 200-meter dashes. But Bouyer successfully defended her titles in both events, capping the meet by winning the 200 in 24.84 seconds.

“It was a perfect way to finish it off,” said Bouyer, who also took second in the long jump. “In my head I was thinking ‘this is my last race of high school, just leave it out there. I don’t have to save myself (for later).’”

Bouyer helped the Curtis girls – who also won the 4X200-meter relay – tally 41 total points to place second as a team, just one point behind Federal Way.

Chambers helped Foss tie with Wilson for the highest team finish for a local boys squad, as each tallied 20 points.

Wilson senior James Sivonen – one of several local athletes getting their first taste of the state meet – helped the Rams’ effort with a fourth-place finish in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 40.58 seconds.

“It was kind of nerve-wracking, because I’ve never been at this level before,” said Sivonen, who finished one tenth of a second faster than Lincoln fellow first-timer T.J. Randle. “Seeing all these fast times, it was pushing me to do better…it feels great. It just shows that hard work pays off.”

Sivonen was also part of the Rams’ 4X400-meter relay team – along with Devon Phillips, Dontae Smith and Brandon Montgomery – that claimed sixth place. Smith, Montgomery, Phillips and Rickey Perry also took third in the 4X100-meter relay. The Rams’ Connor Patterson took third in the discus throw with a toss of 153 feet and eight inches.

The Lincoln boys tallied five team points, led by Randle’s fifth-place finish in the 300-meter hurdles and Ronald Carter’s eighth-place finish in the high jump by clearing six feet.

Lincoln senior Jada Harvey lifted the Abes to 10 team points in the 3A girls meet, placing third in the shot put with a throw of 40 feet and five inches and also taking fifth in the discus. Wilson junior Jemila Leppard took seventh in the discus to account for the Rams’ girls points.

Bellarmine Prep sophomore Isaac Swillie – another newcomer to the state meet – was involved in another marquee race on the 4A side, placing fifth in the 100-meter dash in 11.15 seconds.

“I know I’ve got to get out and try to stay in front as much as I can and run my race,” said Swillie, who was the only sophomore in the finals. “I got the experience. I’ll try to do better next year.”

The Lions’ boys tallied 13 total points to tie for 18th place, as junior Jared Sinsheimer took seventh in the triple jump and placed third in the high jump by clearing six feet and five inches. Senior Doug Parker placed eighth in the javelin throw with a toss of 166 feet.

LIONS GET FIRST EVER STATE SOFTBALL WIN

A year after getting to the state softball tournament for the first time, the Bellarmine Prep softball team notched its first state win, but did not place at the 4A tournament on May 24-25 at the Merkel Sports Complex in Spokane.

The Lions fell 3-1 to Moses Lake in their opener on May 24, as Courtney Schwan pitched all seven innings and gave up just two earned runs on three hits, with 10 strikeouts.

But Schwan and freshman Alyssa McKiernan each homered twice as the Lions won 12-8 over Skyview in their second game on May 24. Schwan’s grand slam in the second inning tied the game 6-6, and Alexa Ostrander and McKiernan added bases-loaded walks to retake the lead. McKiernan helped put the game away with a two-run homer in the sixth inning to make it 12-7.

McKiernan added her third homer of the tournament – a three-run blast to left in the seventh inning – in the Lions’ next game against Newport, but Bellarmine fell 7-3 to be eliminated.

BELLARMINE GIRLS GOLFERS GET FOURTH STRAIGH TITLE

Led by Olivia Benzin and Alivia Brown, the Bellarmine Prep girls golf team captured its fourth straight team title at the 4A state golf tournament on May 21-22 at Club Green Meadows Golf Course in Vancouver, Wash.

Benzin tied for the tournament low two-round score of 151, shooting a 73 on the second day to lead the Lions. But she was topped by Lewis & Clark’s Sierra Kersten on the first hole of a sudden death playoff for the individual title. Brown had held a two-shot lead after the first day by shooting a 73, but settled for third place after shooting an 80 on day two. The Lions’ Lilly Navarre tied for 12th place with a total score of 167, Lindsey Gullickson tied for 13th with a 168, Tessa George placed 25th and Lisa Zelasko tied for 28th.

The Lions’ boys placed fifth as a team at Camas Meadows Golf Course, as Brett Manke led the way by tying for 12th place with a score of 154. After tying for the lead after day one by shooting a 70, Bellarmine’s Greg Gildea settled for 20th place, while Joe Lyon tied for 34th.

BENTLEY TAKES SECOND, FRIEND SIXTH FOR EAGLES

Life Christian Academy had two standout performances at the 1A girls and boys state golf tournaments on May 21-22 at Lake Spanaway Golf Course.

For the third straight year, the Eagles’ Madisen Bentley placed in the top ten at the girls tournament, shooting a 151 to take second place. Bentley, who will golf on scholarship next year at Portland State University, held a three-shot lead with a score of 71 on the opening day. But Goldendale’s Bree Wanderscheid shot a 71 on day two to win the individual title for the second straight year.

The Eagles’ Nick Friend, meanwhile, shot a 153 in the boys tournament to take sixth place. Friend, who had placed 24th at the state tournament last year, was fairly consistent in shooting a 75 on the first day and a 78 on day two.

LE, CABRERA TEAM UP FOR SIXTH PLACE

Winning their first two matches to advance to the semifinals, Lincoln’s Lily Le and Miriam Cabrera placed sixth at the 3A state tennis tournament on May 24-25 in Kennewick.

The sophomore duo won 6-4, 6-1 over West Seattle’s Amanda Licayo and Katie Lacayo in their opener, and followed that with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Enumclaw’s Kayla Zillbauer and Camille Clare in the quarterfinals. After playing much of the season as singles players, the duo won both the Narrows League and West Central District titles in the postseason. Le finished the season with a 19-3 mark in matches she played, while Cabrera finishes with an 18-4 record.

TIGERS’ PETERSON SEVENTH, LIONS PLACE

Stadium freshman Callan Peterson notched two wins at the 4A boys state tennis tournament on May 24-25 in Richland to place seventh.

Peterson swept through Richland’s Trent Prussing 6-0, 6-0 in his opener before falling to eventual state champ Mitch Stewart of Federal Way. He then beat Jackson’s Ben Mietzner 6-2, 6-1 in the consolation bracket before settling for seventh by falling to Olympia’s John Stormans. Stadium teammate Aaron Park fell in his first two singles matches.

The Bellarmine Prep duo of Chase Hassig and Henry Wurst won two straight matches in the consolation bracket before falling to Alex Wu and Brayden Hansen to claim eighth place. The Lions’ duo had beaten Union’s Andrew Bagherpour and Jacob Buckley 6-0, 6-2 in their second match and Gig Harbor’s Kyle Jiganti and Bjorn Brynestad 7-5, 6-4 in the consolation semifinals. Bellarmine’s duo of Kennedy Takehara and Lucy Meske won 7-6, 7-5 over Kamiak’s Zoe Jovanovich and Elizabeth Norris in their opener in the 4A girls tournament, but fell in their next two matches to be eliminated.

CRUSADERS GIRLS PLACE FOURTH, BOYS 15TH

Led by wins in the 4X100- and 4X200-meter relay, the Tacoma Baptist girls track team placed fourth overall at the 2B state meet on May 24-25 at Eastern Washington University in Cheney.

Senior Rebecca McDonald, junior McKenna Neufeld and freshmen Ashley Brooks and Jane Cooksley won the 4X100 in 49.92 seconds, and later won the 4X200 by nearly three seconds with a time of one minute and 46.6 seconds. Neufeld also took second in the 100-meter dash and eighth in the long jump, McDonald placed third in the 200-meter dash and Brooks took eighth in the 300-meter hurdles. Freshman Jessica Vanalstine added an eighth-place finish in the high jump for the Crusaders.

The Crusaders’ Austin Lutterloh placed second in both the 110- and 300-meter hurdles to score 16 points and give Tacoma Baptist’s boys a 15th-place finish.

TARRIER BOYS PLACE SECOND

Led by their top-notch sprinter and long distance runners, the Charles Wright boys track team tallied 52 points to take second place at the 1A state track meet on May 24-25 at Eastern Washington University.

Alexander Moore won the 400-meter dash in 49.99 seconds, while also taking second in the 200-meter dash and third in the 100-meter dash. The Tarriers’ Ruben Riordan won the 1,600-meter run in four minutes and 25.98 seconds and also took second in the 3,200-meter run, while teammate David Goldstone placed third in the 3,200. Wunmi Oyetuga used a toss of 50 feet and 4.5 inches to place fifth in the shot put.

Tarriers senior Katie Mayer placed third in the 400-meter dash in the girls meet, while Life Christian freshman Veronica Midgett took eighth place in the girls long jump.

The Sound Transit board has added its stamp on plans that would run Link light rail from the Theater District to Martin Luther King Jr. Way. The task now is to find a way to pay for it, particularly “local partners” willing to pay $50 million to make the funding package ready for federal grant consideration.

“We need to have the local partner financing lined up and the next phase of environmental work complete before submitting the Small Starts grant,” Sound Transit spokesman Bruce Gray said.

The Small Starts guidelines require that projects cost less than $250 million, with grants not exceeding $75 million. Sound Transit is set to fund $50 million of the $133 million estimated for the Link routing work, then apply for about $50 million in Small Starts funding in mid 2014 and match that with the $50 million in local funding that could come from donations, cost sharing or Local Improvement District property taxes.

“On other projects, Sound Transit has worked with jurisdictions to nullify project costs such as permitting and other fees, or cover the cost of a requested project component, as another,” Gray said.

“Each project presents its own set of circumstances, and it’s too early for the agency to know at this point what the various models for the Tacoma Link will be, other than to say that we’ll be looking at public and/or private partnerships, and combinations thereof.”

Alongside the search for dollars, Sound Transit staff will be conducting an environmental review of the project that will include detailed schedules and milestones as well as scheduling another round of public meetings concerning the route selection and its projected benefits and community impacts. Specifically, engineers will define an actual route rather than a route “corridor” that could involve shifts and tweaks.

“Over the next few months, we will be identifying potential alignment options (routes) to be included in the environmental process,” Gray said.

As it sits now, the “North Downtown Central” corridor, also known as E1, will be a 2.3-mile run from the Theater District Station near the corner of Commerce and Ninth Street up to Stadium Way to Sixth Avenue before turning left onto Martin Luther King Jr. Way and continuing past Group Health, Mary Bridge and Tacoma General to 19th Street, at a station near St. Joseph Medical Center.

The route was selected from a roster that had been whittled down from 24 options that were pondered during the last two years.

"We are pleased to be moving the project forward to the project level environmental review phase, though there is more work to be done in finding a financial partner or partners,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy. “Still, the selection of E1 as the preferred corridor is an important step in bringing us closer to offering Link light rail to more Tacoma residents, commuters and businesses."

The board selected the corridor from four options that had risen as “finalists” and received more detailed study during an evaluation process that included community involvement from a citizens' stakeholder group and numerous public meetings. The E1 route received a boost when Tacoma City Council endorsed it last month, although the stakeholder group endorsed another route. That route would have run north from the Tacoma Dome Station to Portland Avenue and up from the Theater District Station to Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Sixth Avenue.

"The City of Tacoma is pleased with the work accomplished to date in selecting a preferred corridor for the potential expansion of Tacoma Link," said Sound Transit Boardmember and Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland. "Thanks to the active involvement of the City Council, a citizens' stakeholder group and city residents in an intensive, 10-month public process, we now have a clearer path for making light rail more accessible to more people as ridership on the line continues to grow."

The 2.3-mile route will be further defined and evaluated as part of the project-level environmental review process. Once this environmental review is complete, the board is expected to take final action on the project route, station locations and project funding.

Tacoma Link currently operates on a 1.6-mile route between the Tacoma Dome and Theater District stations.

Perhaps by coincidence or sparked by the routing debate, two large projects have recently been announced for sites along the routes that were being considered.

Tacoma Housing Authority, for example, announced development plans at the mixed-use, public housing community of Salishan along Tacoma’s stretch of Portland Avenue, which would have been served by the Link line. THA sold 143 lots in the development for $5 million to D.R. Horton. The nation’s largest homebuilder is set to being construction of three-and-four-bedroom, single-family homes as early as this summer that will largely sell for market rates. A few dozen of the homes will be sold for less-than-market prices to lower-income families.

Along the Martin Luther King Jr. Way route, another private developer is working on a deal to renovate the historic Pochert and Kellogg-Sicker buildings for apartments, while THA has plans for two parcels nearby. All of the land is city-owned property.

Someone has to tell you how good you are out there in Readerland.

Someone has to tell you fine people that you are bigger than the bad news, even news as bad as a jerk in Roy allegedly putting a baby in a freezer to stop her crying.

You are the antidote to that awful story, proof that the good news we do not hear about is more powerful than the bad stories we wish we could forget.

Your gifts have not merely helped children coming out of horrible homes; they have expanded the ways those kids get emergency supplies.

"We have to stand behind these children. They can't do it on their own. It's impossible."-Detective Lynelle Anderson

In February, after your chronic generosity made an annual sock drive more successful than any before it, we at Tacoma Weekly looked for another project. We wanted something that allows every gift to have a big impact. We wanted something that would catch people at a low point and remind them that even people who do not know them care about their welfare.

Enter the pea-green brontosaurus.

It was just over a year after Josh Powell murdered his boys, Charlie and Braden, on a visit while they were living with their mom’s parents. The detectives handling the case had found a drawing Charlie had done of a dinosaur. In that image, just a sweet piece of refrigerator art, they saw a way to help children going through awful family turmoil.

Kids taken away from neglectful or abusive homes often leave with nothing to tide them over their interim placement. They are away from their families, in a strange home with not one thing of their own.

That, the detectives decided, was the gap they could fill.

Working with Crime Stoppers and fellow Pierce County Sheriff’s Department deputies and detectives, they founded and got non-profit status for Charlie’s Dinosaur. The aim is basic: Give every child going into foster care a suitcase, duffle bag or backpack filled with the basics: pants, shirts, coats, toiletries, hoodies, jammies, undies.

By the way, that is how these special crimes unit detectives talk: Hoodies. Jammies. Undies.

They use only new items. The first day of foster care is no time to tell a traumatized child that she is worth hand-me-downs.

The detectives got space for storage and sorting and packed the bags for boys, girls, small, medium, large and sizes in between. They delivered them as children needed them. Their supplies fit comfortably in five rooms.

Then we at Tacoma Weekly launched our Charlie’s Dinosaur Drive, and you got to work.

Stores, shippers and distributors made good business decisions and sent their seasonal overstock to Charlie’s Dinosaur. That explains the holly jolly holiday jammies in every size. It explains the bulk school supplies and big stacks of young adult fiction books. Those big gifts built a fine foundation.

Law enforcement substations set out collection boxes, and cops, deputies and citizens filled them with coats, sweatshirts, jeans – all the individual items on the list.

Tacoma Weekly accountant Laura Winkelman crocheted a pink and brown camo-pattern blanket.

Young adults sorted through unused makeup, clothing and gifts.

Church youth groups, small businesses and non-profits picked a boy or girl of a certain age and filled rolling duffles for that imagined child.

At Associated Ministries, they collected the money to send Amy Allison, mother of girls, out to fill a duffel for a boy. She had no idea what boys like, so she bought by size.

The detectives do it the same way, according to Detective Teresa Berg.

“We put in a size eight shirt and size eight pants, but kids don’t necessarily come that way,” she said.

That is one of the problems you have solved, you turbo-donors.

Charlie’s Dinosaur has enough goods to set up a satellite office at the Department of Social and Health Services office by Sprague Avenue and South 19th Street.

“We have a pretty good-sized room with shelves, and we are going to stock it,” said Berg.

They will let the children pick what they need and what fits.

“I think it will make it a little more efficient and effective,” she said. “Not every girl needs a hair dryer.”

And not every foster child arrives with a county detective. This will ease the pressure on the detectives to break away from what they are doing and deliver a backpack.

You have cut that stress, Berg said. You are making the dinosaur nimble. You, said Detective Lynelle Anderson, are helping foster children with the items, and the caring message they need.

“Regardless of a bad economy, people want to open up their hearts to these kids,” Anderson said. “We have to stand behind these children. They can’t do it on their own. It’s impossible.”

You, gentle readers, are redefining the possible for them.

On Wednesday, June 5, Downtown On the Go will be holding a free Immigrant History Walk from noon to 1 p.m. led by Patsy Surh O’Connell, president and founder of the Asia Pacific Cultural Center. The walk, sponsored by City Grocer IGA, will highlight Tacoma’s immigrant history along a 1.6-mile route covering areas of downtown and Hilltop. The walk will begin and end at the corner of 11th & Broadway in front of the historic Woolworth Building. There is no need to pre-register for the event, simply join us at the meeting spot.

Tacoma’s Immigrant History Walk is part of Downtown On the Go’s 2013 Walk Tacoma series sponsored by Franciscan Health System. It is an eight-event walking series held on the first and third Wednesdays, from April through August. The fun, themed walks, now in their fourth year, encourage downtown employees and residents to exercise and enjoy the outdoors by discovering the different walking routes and parks in downtown Tacoma. The walks are scheduled at the lunch hour and just after work to encourage downtown employees to walk during their workday, whether it is to and from work, at a lunch break, or to a nearby meeting.

Walking maps of the routes are available at no cost at Downtown On the Go (950 Pacific Ave., Suite 300), at many downtown businesses, or by contacting Meagan Kula, Downtown On the Go Coordinator, at 253-682-1734 or dotg@tacomachamber.org.

For more information on the full Walk Tacoma Series, visit http://www.downtownonthego.org or find us on Facebook or Twitter.

Tacoma Housing Authority will accept rental assistance applications for the first time since 2008. Back then, 9,000 people stood in lines to fill out the forms that would give them a chance at a Section 8 voucher.

The rules have changed. There will be no lines, and the voucher coverage is aimed at readying those who can work to get the jobs that can make them independent.

THA will offer employment and job search services to all participants who are able to work. It also will set up a five-year limit on assistance for people who can work.

People will file their applications online only, at the housing authority’s website, http://www.tacomahousing.org, from 7 a.m. on, June 3, to 5 p.m. on, June 10.

“That will save us a lot of time and work, be more accessible and fairer to applicants and avoid the very long lines we had to ask people to stand in,” said THA Executive Director Michael Mirra.

He had one warning: When the Seattle Housing Authority ran applications this way, it worked well, with an exception.

“Some dishonest people set up phony websites that sounded similar to the Seattle Housing Authority. The phony websites invited people to apply by paying money,” he said. “When that happened, the people wasted money to apply and then found out that their ‘application’ did not count.”

After that, THA went proactive and bought up as many domain names as they could that might be confused with the agency’s.

There are changes, too in the old Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program.

It has a new name: Housing Opportunity Program, or HOP.

It will help low-income households pay the rent on private-sector homes or apartments. Under HOP, that sum will remain the same, and will not change with the participants’ income.

THA will offer employment and job search services to all participants who are able to work. It also will set a five-year limit on assistance for people who can work.

That limit will not apply to seniors or to people who cannot work because of a disability.

“We think this new program, will help us better serve three important goals,” Mirra said. “Encourage people who can work to increase their earned income; allow us to serve more people; save on the administrative costs of running the program.”

Signed to Elektra during the Great Grunge Feeding Frenzy of two decades ago, Sweet Water was among Seattle's most promising young bands in the 1990s, before “alt” gave way to “indie.” But the group had disbanded by decade's end, and took nearly another decade off before roaring back to life with album No. 4, “Clear the Tarmac,” in 2009.

Sweet Water now appears poised to make up for lost time. The band will return to Tacoma on June 8, where it will debut songs from its new, five-song EP, “Dance Floor Kills,” at Jazzbones. And the band's charismatic frontman Adam Czeisler checked in to talk about new tunes and the rock scene that was.

Tacoma Weekly: I didn't realize you guys played your first show with another band playing its first show, called Mookie Blaylock (which went on to become Pearl Jam). What do you remember about that first gig?

Adam Czeisler: We didn't know it would be this historic show or anything. We just thought it was a great opportunity since they were a part of Mother Love Bone and all that. Everybody who went out to shows was really excited to see what their next project was. So the show was packed because people were super interested and curious.

The show was at the Off Ramp, which is still around. It's called El Corazon, I think, now. I remember being pretty nervous because we had played as (previous band) SGM. But then we hadn't done anything for what felt like a really long time; it was probably a year.

That was the birth of the band; and, actually, a few other people in town helped us out with big shows. … We played a show opening up for Alice in Chains at the Paramount. I don't know if it was a Rising Stars show or something, but it was a big, packed show.

TW: You guys were all part of that Seattle explosion and all the craziness happened. Is it just weird looking back at that stuff from a distance?

Czeisler: I guess I didn't appreciate quite how unusual and special it was, 'cause there haven't been that many other Seattles. Minneapolis kind of had that at one point. I guess you could think of L.A. during the Guns N' Roses days as sort of a hotbed of rock, too. There have been some pockets, but I don't think I can point to … a particular local scene that's erupted in such a global way since then. So, that was really cool to be a part of, for sure.

TW: You went on hiatus for a while. What did you guys wind up doing during your time off? And what has been the highlight of Sweet Water, version 2.0?

Czeisler: We basically got as big as you could get without actually getting big. (Laughs) It was like a feat of magic. We had No. 1 hits in Seattle on the radio for weeks at a time. But we never translated that into true nationwide (recognition). At one point, we were just a little burnt out, so we kind of took a break and did regular stuff. But our drummer, actually, kept playing in bands, for the most part; and, about seven or eight years later, we were all just getting together … for dinner. We hadn't seen each other for a while. We were just hanging out, and then (drummer) Paul (Uhlir) said … he had a place where we could easily walk over and show up and jam, and so we did that. And it was so much fun that kind of started the 2.0, if you will.

We released (“Clear the Tarmac” in 2009) and played a bunch of shows. And then Paul, basically, had a third kid and was like, “Okay, I've got to take a break.” So we got another drummer, Chris Friel, who's also a local Seattle guy. He was in the band Goodness. … We started working on this latest EP and record with Chris, and it was cool. He definitely had a big influence.

TW: How do you feel you've built on the momentum or sound of “Clear the Tarmac”…?

Czeisler: We did one side project record right before we broke up or whatever – took a hiatus; and we called the band the Parc Boys, which stood for Paul, Adam, Rich (guitarist Credo) and Cole (bassist Peterson).

We wrote it all in a hotel room when we were recording and mixing our, quote unquote, real record (“Suicide”) in L.A. We did it with little keyboards and whatever you could find in the hotel room, on an eight-track. We all sang and all kind of traded (instruments.) That record was way more experimental and kind of new wavy, 'cause that's what we all grew up listening to when we were younger. And it was cool; we liked it a lot, but it was really hard to play the songs live, actually. But we did that record, and the way this “Dance Floor Kills” thing is almost a combo of building on what we learned from Parc Boys, and then what we learned from all the rock we've done for 20 years in Sweet Water, and then kind of pulling something together that's a little bit more modern. We used drum machines and sampling and things like that in the music mixed with real drums and real rock guitar.

TW: When and where did you record it?

Czeisler: That was kind of different, too. We usually record at this place called Litho Studios. It's in Seattle. It's a great place. They've got all vintage gear, and we usually track there, and that's where we did for “Clear the Tarmac” as well. Then we would take it to Martin Feveyear's studio, Jupiter Studios. …

We pretty much followed that same pattern, but the big difference this time is there are a bunch of the tracks that were recorded in my home studio. … Nowadays, with technology, you can get Pro Tools set up at your house for a reasonable amount of money; and of course knowing all the different producers over the years pointed me in the right direction for what mic to buy, and I was able to get something that actually sounds really good and do it at home. I mean, I can't record a whole band, but I can record vocals. So that was amazing. So we could take what we did in the studio, and then I could take it home and work on the vocals. And then we'd take it to Martin and he mixed it. So that was a totally different process.

In fact, we're really excited about this year moving forward because I think we'll be able to put out so much more music because we can actually do a lot of it ourselves.

Sweet Water in concert

8 p.m. June 8 Jazzbones, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma $10

(253) 396-9169 - http://www.jazzbones.com - http://www.sweetwaterrocks.com

Assemblage Theater is gearing up to offer Tacoma audiences a challenging play from a playwright likely unknown to most Americans. The drama group will present the West Coast premiere of “Bluebeard,” by Pericles Snowdon.

Director/Producer David Domkoski learned of the play while reading a review of a performance that was done in New York City. He was impressed by the tale from the English playwright, known for his scriptwriting for the British Broadcasting Corporation.

He could find little information about Snowdon. He sent an e-mail to a Canadian actress who was in the New York City production. She sent him a version of the script, edited down for time constraints, she had used.

Domkoski said the rich language got his attention. “I never expected to hear back,” he said. “After all, it is the Internet.”

She contacted Snowdon, who sent Domkoski the full script.

The setting is 25 years after an ice storm that caused the end of the civilization. Inside an abandoned church are four women who were taken there as young children by an old woman named Blue. Three are 25, the other 30.

They have never been outside, never read a book or watched television. “They have no concept of the outside world, except what she has told them,” Domkoski said.

The play examines themes of parenthood, political subjugation, gender roles, the environment, betrayal and the apocalypse. “It is a feminist play written by a man,” Domkoski said. It has its funny moments, “but when it gets serious, it gets very serious.”

It will be performed in the chapel at Urban Grace Church. It is a small space with 52 seats in two rows. The action will take place between the rows, creating the intimate setting Domkoski desired.

Featured in the cast are Kathi Aleman, Nicole Lockett, Heather Christopher, Kaylie Rainer, Annie Katica Green and Cherilyn Williams. Original music is by Stanley William. Production design is by Erin Chanfrau. Two members of the cast were in “Terminus,” the first Assemblage Theatre production, done in 2012.

Tacoma Arts Commission provided a grant of $2,500 for the production. Domkoski raised another $2,800 from a Kickstarter campaign.

Each performance will be followed by a discussion with Domkoski and the cast. “If theater is worth doing, it is worth talking about,” Domkoski observed.

The run begins on May 31. Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. June 15; with two pay-what-you-can performances scheduled for June 6 and 13. Tickets are $14 for adults and $7 for students and are available at the door, and in advance online at Brown Paper Tickets. For more information visit http://www.assemblagetheater.com. Urban Grace Church is located at 902 Market St.

Assemblage

Theater's

'Bluebeard'

May 31 - June 15

Urban Grace Church

Shows are Friday and

Saturday, 8 pm

(Pay what you can

performances June 6

and June 13)

Smile, you’re on cabby camera. Well, at least you will be soon.

Tacoma City Council is set to hold a first reading on June 4 regarding changes to the rules governing taxicabs that operate within city limits. The main change is the requirement for video cameras to be installed in taxis that show the driver and passengers when the car-for-hire is in operation.

Rules about putting car cameras in taxis were first introduced in 2006 and were set to go into effect last summer but were sidelined because of questions about cost and access to the videos. Cab owners wanted changes to the video specifications to allow for other vendors to provide the cameras and also wanted access to the videos as a way to alert drivers of problem passengers and customer disputes. The previous rules allowed the videos to be accessible to only law enforcement agencies investigating crimes.

“The digital security camera system shall be capable of retaining images for at least five calendar days; shall provide a clear view of the driver and passenger that is unobstructed; and shall have status indicator light so the driver knows whether the camera is functioning properly and when images are being taken,” the draft code change states. “Access to images shall be limited to the taxicab owner who owns the taxicab trade name and color scheme. Images shall also be provided to law enforcement personnel for the investigation and prosecution of crimes. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to remove a law enforcement agency’s obligation to comply with all applicable laws in obtaining access to digital security camera images, including the requirement to obtain a search warrant if needed.”

Signs on the taxi’s doors will alert passengers that they are being photographed by the security system to improve driver safety and are not retained other than for criminal investigations.

The code changes require each cab to be equipped with silent alarms that alert dispatchers if a driver needs assistance. Other changes to the cabbie code include: specifications of the display of the driver’s license, tweaks to the federal background and citizenship requirements and the addition of language that would allow cab drivers to be dispatched to customers through mobile apps on wireless devices rather than just through a dispatch center.

The changes largely mirror what Seattle and other cities around the nation have enforced for years in an effort to control crime. The rules affect the roughly 80 cabs that are licensed to operate within the city. Pierce County rules are less restrictive but officials from both governments are meeting to streamline the process so cabs have just one set of rules to follow.

Changes to the taxi rules come at a key time for taxi customers since transit services have been cut, leaving many people without cars few options to get groceries, go to appointments or otherwise travel around town, City Councilmember Marty Campbell said. Campbell added that despite the common perception that cabs are almost exclusively used by bar hoppers looking to avoid drunken driving convictions, the “standard” taxi passenger is someone without a car who needs to get to a doctor’s appointment.

“They really are the original Zipcar,” he said during a study session on the issue. “They are the service on demand. They really are needed by those most vulnerable in our community.”

Catholic Community Services is inviting the community to the groundbreaking ceremony for The New Nativity House at 11 a.m. June 5 at 1323 S. Yakima Ave.

The $16 million project will bring three programs that serve homeless people into one spot, and add 50 units of permanent housing.

Nativity House, Hospitality Kitchen and Tacoma Avenue Shelter will all relocate from their current locations on Tacoma’s Hilltop and Hillside. The aim is to give people who have been homeless for a long time better opportunities to become safe and stable.

To achieve that, The New Nativity House will offer mental health treatment, AA meetings, alcohol and drug abuse treatment, skills training, education and employment services, financial literacy classes, medical care, veterans services, legal services and benefit screening assistance.

The building will include a dining hall and day and night shelter with 169 beds, up from the current 145. It will have storage lockers, a therapeutic art room, laundry facility and expanded meal services. Community partners will donate haircuts and foot and dental care.

The 50 small apartments will give a permanent home, with social services, to men and women, including veterans, who are chronically homeless. They are designed on the Housing First model, which has been proven to save taxpayers millions of dollars by stabilizing people who would otherwise be burdening emergency services, hospitals, courts, jails and prisons.

Government grants and private tax credit investments will cover $11 million of the cost. Catholic Community Services is launching a $5 million campaign to cover construction and services.

A reception following the ceremony will offer refreshments, a chance to ask questions about the project and meet some of the people it will serve.