Schools
"This started simply as an answer to the dramatic school budget cuts that eliminated many arts classes," said Paula Lemmon, founder of the Ovation Academy in DuPont. "Clearly, based on our rapid growth, this was a need that wasn't being met before." Lemmon arrived at Joint Base Lewis-McChord three years ago.
Military Life
As a mere mortal you are charged with another human life that you have to teach how to eat, walk, talk, play, and learn. You are responsible for teaching the child morals, values and the difference between right and wrong. But for some mothers, caring for your child goes well beyond
Focus
When one thinks of a fire base typically, images of a lone hilltop in Vietnam come to mind, cannoneers slinging empty canisters while packing the breach with powder bags to send another round out in support of their infantry brethren in the valleys below. Fast forward to 2010 Afghanistan, where C
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Born Warren Anderson Mathis, Bubba Sparxxx grew up in Georgia, where a black friend turned him on to New York mail-order mix tapes. His introduction to rap was dominated by the booty-shaking grooves of 2 Live Crew and the brutal truths spit by N.W.A. Later, when he discovered ATL pioneers
Focus
The word professional defines the soldiers who serve in the I Corps Command Honor Guard. "We are the professional representation of the Army," said Sgt. Alex Silva as he sat in the guard's ready room next to a cabinet containing highly shined belt buckles. "We are what the public sees." The measured
Focus
On a recent trip back to Washington from an assignment at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, Lt. Col. Adam Torem was passing through Sea-Tac Airport wearing his military uniform. He immediately felt the love of the region for servicemembers. "I still had the TSA guys shaking my hand and telling me thanks
News Articles
The investigation into a civilian worker at Joint Base Lewis-McChord spying on anti-war activists in Olympia is nearly done, according to a report in The Olympian, Wednesday. Lewis-McChord spokesman Joseph Piek wrote The Olympian in an e-mail Tuesday that the results of the investigation into JBLM civilian John J. Towery "have
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Want to participate in a dairy goat milk tasting? Or maybe enter your kid in a youth tractor pull? How about witnessing a poultry costume contest? You can find it all at the Thurston County Fair. The fair starts Wednesday and provides five days of activities including musical entertainment, home
Stage
I often hear people defend flawed productions by protesting, "It's community theater," thereby entitled to amateur errors. I get that, and do assess productions according to what I know their participants can accomplish. The catch is I've seen some mighty fine community theater over the years. Scan my Carvy year's-best
Schools
It's official, there's a school in Lakewood serving civilian and military students that is on the cutting edge of education. Clover Park School District's (CPSD) Idlewild Elementary School recently announced its has authorization as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School that implements the Primary Years Program (PYP). Idlewild is the third
Arts
There's a community brewing in Tacoma, and it's not beer. Tacoma's fashion-loving Gritizenry are roaming our urban streets looking for the next fix in the form of crazy-good vintage shoes, jeans that are pure perfection and lovingly worn concert tees that just beg to be snapped up. The best part? We
Archives
The first year of A Cook’s Tour, Jessica Corddry recalled that the Junior League of Tacoma had to look within for homeowners willing to open their doors to up to 300 ticket holders. But by the following year, individuals walking through the tour saw how the event was organized and
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Northwest Harley Davidson in Olympia (way more like Lacey) is teaming up with the Breast Cancer Network of Strength to raise money and awareness on the day before Mother's Day. Believe it or not, there'll be a pink-themed fashion show and raffle Saturday afternoon - in addition to the
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Mention Ralph Nader's name around the Weekly Volcano and the chagrin is palpable. Matt Driscoll can be heard openly cussing, Owen Taylor just shakes his head in regret. Right or wrong, Nader is often blamed for the debacle that put George W. Bush in office in 2000. If only
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The Tacoma Bike Swap is back with booth after booth of folks selling used parts or looking to swap rides, plus plenty of industry reps, an REI Bike Basics Class, free helmet fitting - and bike stuff, lots of bike stuff. If you've thought of buying a bike, improving on
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The Tacoma Farmers Market doesn't do the pledge and tote bag thing, they just throw a Rodeo Barn Dance to keep the farmers market culture moving forward. Admission includes the musical stylings of The Oly Mountain Boys, a free drink ticket and all night access to the mechanical bull.
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Guitarist David Lester and singer Jean Smith are the underground musical duo Mecca Normal. They are also visual artists, and they have curated and are featured in a month-long exhibition at the all-ages club Northern in Olympia. The show is called The Black Dot Museum: Political Artists from Vancouver. In
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Mere weeks after their last Tacoma appearance, Seattle's Wild Orchid Children are set to return to town, where, presumably, they'll dole out mind-melting jams with typically persuasive pizzazz. The six-member band has perfected a recipe for psychedelic rock that's wholly unique - and derives, at least in part, from
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Elizabeth Lord's most recent endeavor is playing two different therapists in D.R. Anderson's Crazy and a Half, a play comprised of six shorts that take a satirical look at patients and their relationships with therapists. From New York crazy to California crazy, the list of characters is amusing; there's crazy
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When you see him perform it's not quite the plate spinning we usually associate with one-man-bands. When you watch Andrew Bird utilize the loop pedal, it's an awful lot like a high-wire act; but Daniel Francis Doyle approaches his songs like a trail of dominoes. You watch him lay
