Explore
Warm weather heading this way and the family is clambering for an outdoor experience. Grab that picnic basket, basketball and skateboard. Pierce and Thurston counties are loaded with unique parks! Pierce County American Lake ParkWhere: 9222 Veterans Dr., S.W., LakewoodWhat: Swimming beach, picnic areas, play structures. Once home to the amazing seaplane
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I remember the time my family camped in the Olympic National Park and we saw a black bear on the High Divide trail. What a thrill to be amongst beautiful alpine meadows with their multi-colored wildflowers and see one of nature's infamous predators grazing on berries at the same time.
Deals
For those active duty and retired military personnel who enjoy the spectacular camping opportunities Washington State has to offer, discounts abound! Both the government and proprietors of privately owned campgrounds wish to sincerely thank our soldiers for their faithful service. Listed below, find several great deals for family vacations. The Seattle/Tacoma
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It's time to get out the poles, tackle boxes and nets and head for nearby streams and lakes where fresh and saltwater fishing is rich with rainbow and silver trout, perch, bass and salmon. Salmon Fishing is going well in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, where the season opened Feb. 13.
Explore
It's a cheap thrill, considering the scenery to be had. Try hopping aboard a ferry for a day of pure Northwest pleasure, for as little as $4.25. Riding a Washington state ferry is both unique, historic, and adds a whole new dimension to the pleasure of living life in the
Focus
Staff Sgt. Mark Brauner Hayward, 46, a reservist on Joint Base Lewis-McChord with the 494 BSB was inspired to write a children's story, "I See Without My Eyes," while serving in Iraq two years ago. Hayward, married and the father of a 9-year-old son, tells the story of a young blind
Support
When Norma Melo learned that her 47-year-old husband, Julian Melo, was killed in northern Iraq along with 18 others from his Stryker Brigade Dec. 21, 2004, her life as she knew it was over. “I was devastated,” said Melo, now a volunteer with T.A.P.S., which stands for Tragedy Assistance Program For
Deals
It's winter. It's raining/snowing/hailing/dripping. But the kids are restless, everyone has cabin fever, and the woods are beckoning. Get outside and explore area trails that hold the promise of pure air, the scent of pine and perhaps the sight of an eagle, owl, herd of elk, or den of beavers.
Veterans
Wayne Bier stands quietly in front of a case housing memories of his son, Joseph Phillip Bier, who died in Iraq five years ago, when a woman rushes in and taps him on the shoulder. What comforts Bier and thousands of others is a wonderful building that is dedicated to remembering
Veterans
It's a passionate pastime for thousands who want to safeguard the memories of men and women who served this country. Collecting these items also allows a way to remember America's rich history. Collecting historical American flags is just one avenue that can bring joy and satisfaction to a collector. Most collectors
Jobs
You don't have to be a scientist to enjoy the green job movement that is sweeping the country. Thanks to President Obama's $787 billion stimulus package, more than $40 billion will be spent on the creation of ‘green jobs' - defined as jobs that make a positive impact on the
Jobs
It's the sort of job that has that ‘feel good' factor. From firefighting careers to health care, those in public service universally claim that working with, and helping others, has given them both a sense of purpose and increased their feelings of self worth. Getting employed in such jobs as raising
Jobs
Rather than a receiving a two-year or four-year degree, a certificate of completion shows that an individual has completed a specific task or received instruction. For example, a massage therapist might complete a certificate program in order to become educated and licensed to practice reflexology; psychologists can take classes in
Jobs
If you have always yearned to help people apply makeup, get a perfect haircut, want to ply your skills behind a community bar, or sell real estate, area instruction abounds! Beauty The Salon Professional Academy Tacoma, (3702 S. Fife St., Suite B102), helps students pursue a career in cosmetology. Training programs
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Although there is conclusive proof that the sport of bowling dates back to ancient Egyptian times, America didn't take to the game until late in the 1800's. Moving from clipped lawns to indoor alleys, bowling has enjoyed advancements due to technology. Bowling balls were constructed of rubber until 1914 when Brunswick
Veterans
According to a recent study, female veterans have a higher tolerance to pain than their male counterparts. Researchers from the VA Connecticut Healthcare System and the Yale University School of Medicine conducted the first study examining pain suffered by male and female soldiers as result of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi
Guides
Same ‘ol, same ‘ol? Is that how your significant other feels opening the bottle of after shave, the slippery nightie, the handyman’s how-to guide? Break out of the shopping doldrums and visit these unique places to find something truly special for those on your list.Clown around!At Lakewood’s Clown Shop, buyers
Veterans
The numbers are staggering. Nearly 40 percent of the women who assist their country, wear a uniform, and put themselves — selflessly and willingly — in harm’s way, are sexually harassed, assaulted or raped, according to numbers that continue to be assessed by the U.S. Department of the Veterans Affairs.
Housing
Driving through one of Pierce or Thurston counties’ roads, one might think the area is somewhat rustic, what with all the creeks, lakes, and wide expanses of saltwater, not to mention prairies and towering forests. But amid this natural beauty are dozens of communities — housing developments just ripe for
Veterans
A plethora of activities and services are open to veterans and in many cases, their spouses and dependents, right here in our own back yard! Annual Free Dental Care Day Dental services, by appointment, for disabled veterans and their caretakers.When: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov 25Where: 22516 SE 64th Place,
