A small, thriving, popular, locally owned coffee shop is rumored to have big plans of opening a second coffee shop location in Tacoma’s downtown corridor within the next year. The owner of said coffee shop is in the process of location consideration. Seeing the doors open to another downtown locally owned business will definitely be a huge F-U to the steadily dilapidating economy. PLUS 1

For the last four years Meadow Park Golf course has begun and ended each year in a $14 to $43 thousand deficit. Metro Parks has a proposed budget for 2008 that predicts Meadow Park to come out $61,000 dollars ahead by the end of it’s fiscal year. With the past budget’s track record, I have one question for Metro Parks: Seriously? PLUS 2

Commercial real estate market analysts Reis Inc. has reported that, on average, apartment rental rates in Tacoma have gone up more than any other city in the entire country during the past year. Rents in Tacoma have gone up by more than 7 percent during the past 12 months, topping Seattle, which came in second, and San Francisco, which placed third on the list. The rise is good news, insofar as rental rates are usually buoyed by job-market stability. But when it comes right down to it, skyrocketing rents suck for people who need a place to live and can’t get a home loan. Which is pretty much everyone at this point. MINUS 2

Well, a bit of bright news — gas prices are plummeting. AAA reports that average gas prices in Tacoma were $3.539 — lower than in most of the state. If you really look for it, you can find gas for $3.30 per gallon — that’s a steep drop from averages of more than $3.85 per gallon a month ago. Try the Flying J on Port of Tacoma Road and ARCO on Portland Avenue. PLUS 2

George Reed-Harmon and Neil Harris, both fixtures of Tacoma’s budding indie rock scene, opened a new club and music venue last week. Known as the New Frontier — located in Tacoma’s Dome District — the club draws on Western themes — not to mention that old New Frontier Lanes sign from the bowling alley that once called Center Street home — to create one of the more inviting atmospheres for live music T-town has to offer. It won’t be long before the New Frontier is the toast of Tacoma’s indie scene — we just know it. PLUS 2

Two dead birds from Pierce County tested positive for the dreaded West Nile Virus this week — proving West Nile doesn’t just reside in Podunk farm towns east of the mountains, bubba. It’s everywhere! Spread by blood sucking mosquitoes, West Nile has the potential to lead to meningitis and encephalitis in humans, and, well, kill the hell out of some crows and magpies. Bad week to be a bird in Pierce County. MINUS 2 

Total Pluses: 7            Total Minuses: 4

This Weeks Total: PLUS 3          Last Weeks Total: MINUS 2