Military Life
A little over a year ago, an unwanted diagnosis set local military spouse, Alyssa Luczak, on a whole new career path. Luczak, who is a Registered Behavioral Technician at L.E.A.P.S. and Beyond, Inc., is the mother of three boys: Nathaniel (age 9), Colin (age 7) and Peyton (age 5). When
Military Life
"Coffee's for closers only." So said malevolent real estate agent Blake (Alec Baldwin) in 1992's Glengarry Glen Ross. That's the entirety of my real estate knowledge. And forget about VA loans; I'm not a veteran. I'm completely clueless, or at least I was ... Last Wednesday, I attended Veterans National Lending
Arts
The annual juried art exhibition at Tacoma Community College is usually a sampling of much of the best art created by South Sound artists. There is always admirable art to be seen, and this year is no exception; there are works worthy of admiration by such artists as Lois Beck,
Music
Fame can have a drastic effect on anyone that approaches its proximity. Some people slam up against brick walls trying to capture fame, and some retreat into the shadows in an effort to avoid it. There are artists that languish in fame's thick sludge for decades, their limbs atrophying, growing
Stage
The Hound of the Baskervilles at Lakewood Playhouse is not the spooky version of the story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle but a spoof on it by Stephen Canny and the British comedy troupe Peepleykus (pronounced people like us). It is a Monty Python-style skit expanded to about two-and-a-half hours
Travel
The month of September is flying by, and that can only mean one thing: It is almost time for Oktoberfest celebrations in the South Sound to begin! So dust off your favorite Bavarian clothing and help kick off the fall season with food, drinks and entertainment. On Saturday, Oct. 1,
Stage
Tacomans already know Creative Colloquy as a monthly literary event, two-going-on-three annual print publications, and a thriving website (CreativeColloquy.com) full of locally-written poetry and prose. Last fall, founder Jackie Fender added a pick-and-choose "lit crawl" to Colloquy's already-impressive roster. It returns this year to spread stories and other live entertainment
Arts
The newest exhibition at Museum of Glass is "Into the Deep," an exhibition of glass art that, according to a nicely worded press release, "connects the fragile beauty of marine environments to the delicate nature of glass." That statement was written either by communications manager Alex Carr or assistant curator
News Front
For this game, fans won't just be sitting in the stands, cheering. They'll also be out playing. On Saturday afternoon at Tacoma's Cheney Stadium, fans will get to cheer for their favorite team in a softball game featuring Navy and the Marines/Coast Guard. Fans will also get a chance to roam
News Front
Soldiers measure themselves by the seven values of loyalty, duty, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. Each of these values focuses the actions of soldiers. One of those values is integrity, a word that demands the doing of what is right in a legal and moral sense. Every so often integrity becomes
Archives
Remember when you were in junior high and you’d go to the mall and see this rad shirt that just might turn you into the coolest person alive? Just looking at it took your breath away, and the price tag did the same to your mother. What happened to that
Online Newspapers
The Community Alternatives for People with Autism, or CAPA, and Keystone Employment Services work to build tolerance and understanding of autistic and other challenged individuals. "We are one agency working to improve the lives of those we serve," emphasized Deborah Vaughan, Keystone's program director. "Absolutely," added Johanna Reed-Werner, CAPA's executive director. "Our
Online Newspapers
The United Service Organizations (USO) is all about pitching in and helping servicemembers and their families. In other words, the USO is a helping hand. "The USO Northwest established the Helping Hands Program to help provide our servicemembers and their families stationed in the Pacific Northwest with the opportunity to spend time
Online Newspapers
The Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County is a happy place. "The Humane Society is a happy place for families to find lost pets, adopt a new furry child or find resources for the pets they already own and love," wrote Kathleen Olson, the society's executive director. The Humane Society is
Online Newspapers
The generosity of strangers is staggering. "Our families are consistently amazed at the generosity of strangers that provide this wonderful home for them," wrote Jodi Land, the business manager of the two Fisher Houses on Joint Base Lewis-McChord. "The Fisher Houses are all about comforting; about providing a place that offers a
Online Newspapers
At Catholic Community Service of Western Washington, the values of compassion, diversity, excellence of service, justice and stewardship live and breathe. So, too, is the value of flexibility. Money received from the federal government is restrictive; there are ways in which it can and cannot be used. On the other hand, money
Online Newspapers
"Will you be there?" A little girl asked that question of Caroline Stein 16 years ago. She stayed and offered the child moral support. Since that day, the Sponsorship and Special Projects Director for the Washington State Science & Engineering Fair (WSSEF), Stein has been "there" for students representing grades 1-12. Every youngster at
