Outdoors
Orcas have been spotted in the South Puget Sound near the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, and as far south as Priest Point in Olympia in recent weeks. Farther afield, a few humpback whales have been seen in the Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Rare still this time
Travel
Joint Base Lewis-McChord is an adventurous person's dream duty station. It's a short distance to the Puget Sound and Pacific Ocean for the water lovers, and close to the beautiful Cascade Mountains for hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. Unfortunately, skiing can be a costly sport, especially for a big family without
Reviews
ANNOUNCER: Located in the heart of downtown Tacoma, you'll find the Murano Hotel. Inside, up just one set of stairs, you'll find locally crafted foods for locals and visitors alike. And this week, Dutch and Jackie weave through the busy shopping traffic to get their teeth into what BITE has
Arts
Former Tacoma Mayor Brian Ebersole is a painter and owner of Art Above Gallery, located upstairs in the back of Minka on Pacific Ave. Ebersole pursued painting in his 20s, and after entering politics, he started collecting art in his travels around the world. The current show at Art Above
Stage
A Christmas Carol is one of the most frequently retold stories in all of modern literature, receiving endless adaptations for film, TV, comic books, the stage, and practically any other medium you can imagine. It's easy to see why a story about a rich curmudgeon who lives on a steady
Music
It was a sad day when news began to emerge that Tacoma's long-running, family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration First Night would be going dark this year. Several weeks ago, the event's organizers released a statement saying that, due to a lack of funds, 2018's transition into 2019 would have to
News Front
Five years ago, Chief Master Sgt. Mark E. Cherrix sat in an early morning commander's call when the emcee played the National Anthem from a CD. "I'm watching and there is no one really motivated," said Cherrix, assigned to the 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "I thought to myself, there are a
News Front
Students from Elk Plain School of Choice visit McChord Field during a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) event Dec. 14 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. During the STEM event, the students received the opportunity to see a C-17 Globemaster III and visited the Air Traffic Control Tower. While visiting the
News
It was a somber yet celebratory scene Saturday morning at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) -- chill air still hanging in the wooded grove into which the small Camp Lewis Cemetery is set. Echoes of snare drums lightly repeated back from woods encircling the carpet of green lawn. The bugler's "Taps"
Military Life
Christmas Wish is a program that brings the magic of the holidays to the families of wounded warriors. Heartbeat Serving Wounded Warriors (HSWW) began the program in 2009. "Christmas is a magical time of the year," said Janice Buckley, founder and president of HSWW (a 501c3 nonprofit). "But for some of
News Front
The Warrior Transition Battalion welcomed its new commander during a change of command ceremony Dec. 7 at Madigan Army Medical Center in Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Lt. Col. Michael Dengler took command of the WTB from Lt. Col. Julie Craig; he is now charged with leading the healing and transitions of about
News Front
By now, you have probably heard of the sayings, "it takes one to know one" or, "who better to speak to veterans, than a fellow veteran?" These sayings are the basis for a new approved VA Puget Sound and University of Washington Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences Workshop that is now open
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If you missed TRICARE Open Season, you still have time to enroll. For this year only, you can enroll in or change your TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select plan through Dec. 31 for coverage starting Jan. 1, 2019. You may also change your type of enrollment, like switching from individual
News Front
Leaving for or returning from a deployment can challenge the resiliency of 62nd Airlift Wing airmen. They have to say goodbye to their families and friends and be apart from them for a considerable amount of time. Then, when they return, they could have undergone times of great stress during
Attractions
At 25 by 95 feet, the Washington State Historical Society's model train exhibit is the largest in the state, boasting a mainline run of 250 feet. Its construction began in 1996 before the Washington State History Museum building was even finished. Freight and passenger cars from four railroad companies run
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Erica Jong, an American novelist, satirist and poet, once wrote that "Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love. They depart to teach us about loss." Maiko, a 7-year-old multi-purpose canine (MPC) assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, lived and died by those words. "He
News Front
Editor's note: Last week we published Part One of this story. Part Two continues here. "MORE SUCCESSFUL" The 22-week training cycle, in addition to being novel for the trainees, was also new for the instructors and leaders of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry Regiment; and Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 19th
News Front
Calculate your 2019 BAH rate here. Basic Allowance for Housing rates will increase an average of 2.55 percent beginning on January 1, 2019, the Department of Defense announced late Friday afternoon. "The 2019 BAH program expands the member cost-sharing element (out-of-pocket expense) while continuing to balance the growth
Housing
So, you’ve decided to purchase your first home! That’s so exciting! With financial awareness and a trusted loan expert by your side, your dream home doesn’t need to be a dream anymore – it can be real and within reach. There’s a few things you need to
Reviews
ANNOUNCER: New to Gig Harbor is Brimstone, a smokehouse that hasn't seen a meat it won't smoke, or a style, or flavor for that matter. This is a place for people who truly love anything smoked and are willing to try a multitude of flavor palettes. Dutch and Jackie jumped
