Tacoma’s Frisko Freeze has taken its first step on the long road to achieving historic landmark status. According to the Tacoma Daily Index, North Slope Historic District board president Marshall McClintock is working with building owner Penny Jensen on the application to be included on the city’s landmark’s register. The Weekly Volcano thinks their burgers taste like they are made by beautiful, greasy angels. Let’s keep it around forever. PLUS 2



Frothing and ridiculous opponents of gambling in Lakewood began a petition drive to rid the city of mini-casinos this week. For their part, the Lakewood City Council has already passed regulations that make operating a mini-casino in many places within the city a fairly unattractive business venture. But that’s not good enough for the zealots. They want mini-casino blood. MINUS 2



Monday an annual state audit was released concluding the Tacoma School Board twice violated the state’s open meeting law by making decisions in nonpublic executive sessions. The violations are said to have occurred in March and July of 2007, and both have something to do with former superintendent Charlie Milligan. The audit says the Tacoma School Board decided in a nonpublic forum to extend Milligan’s contract in March of last year, and in July decided in a nonpublic forum to eliminate former deputy superintendent Ethelda Burke as a possible interim replacement for Milligan — who by that time was history. Oh, sneaky, sneaky Tacoma School Board. When will you learn? MINUS 3



Danish architect Lars Genzoe — co-author of the books Public Spaces, Public Life and New City Spaces, Strategies and Projects strolled around downtown Tacoma Tuesday then met with the Tacoma City Council in the afternoon to share ideas on how to make downtown Tacoma’s Tollefson Plaza less vacant. Among his suggestions were benches, trees and outdoor cafes. Yay, more coffee! PLUS 2



Depending on what area of Pierce County you live in, there are different requirements for the ever-growing cell phone tower erections. Gig Harbor requires the towers be green, while some areas of Puyallup require images of evergreens to be painted on the sides. They call this “making the tower look esthetically pleasing to the eyes.” Feels good to live in a county that cares so much about what you see. (Or is it that they care not to show you how much money they’re taking in?) PLUS 1



Click!Network announced recently that it has added Rainier Connect to its roster of Internet Services Providers. Rainier Connect is a 100-year-old company, which doesn’t mean jack in the Internet game. But choice is good, and competition often helps drive down prices. PLUS 1



Total  Pluses: 6       



Total  Minuses: 5



This Week’s Total:  PLUS 1     



Last Week’s Total:  PLUS 1