News Front
A late morning breeze last Thursday tugged at the balloons as the sun shone brightly. Nearby, children played on the large grassy area comprising Puyallup's Pioneer Park as vendors set up their tents and arranged their materials in front of the pavilion. In the parking lot to the west, next to the
Bars & Clubs
Visiting six great breweries with historic and personal connections to the Puget Sound area was very rewarding work. The lagers I sampled weren't bad, either. From the gritty patriotism of Wingman Brewers, to the service orientation of Top Rung Brewing, followed by the sense of community of Three Magnets Brewing Company, mirrored
Outdoors
A nice and easy two-hour drive away, the city of Ocean Shores is my idea of a great day trip - or weekend getaway - destination. A 6,000-acre peninsula located on the north side of Gray's Harbor on the Washington coast, the municipality a busy commercial center complete with family-friendly restaurants,
News
Change comes hard. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the century-plus-old organization that advocates for America's veterans, must change in order to remain relevant and solvent. Since 1995, the organization's membership has dropped by nearly half. In almost 15 years of combat from the Middle East to Africa - and the more
News Front
Bringing an attitude of an appreciation for compassion full circle has resulted in a Joint Base Lewis-McChord family receiving national recognition. Earlier this month, Blagoy and Stacie Pogoncheff were notified that they and their children - Kelbie, Kailie and Andon - are to be recognized by the Association of the United
Military Life
Mark Twain once opined that the game of golf is a good walk spoiled. Ryan Coghill, a reservist with the 446th Airlift Wing, doesn't think so. "I picked up a golf club when I was eight years old," he told me as we sat in the clubhouse at McChord Field's Whispering Firs
News Front
Like top-of-the-line Mercedes Benzes, Ken Thoburn and Scott Wagner are first class. Both know beer - Thoburn is the founder of Wingman Brewers; Wagner is a managing partner of the Narrows Brewing Company. Both listen to what their patrons say. Some are soldiers. "A soldier from 1st Battalion, 214th General Support Aviation Regiment came
News
It takes serious attitude to participate in the Ragnar Relay Northwest Passage. The relay is 200 miles long, and it features six- or 12-person teams whose members must run three legs of the relay. The distance members run averages between three and 14 miles per leg. "It's crazy," explained Kristin Proffitt, a member
News Front
The Pointe du Hoc Foundation plans on tacking hard into the wind, putting as much canvas into the wind as it sails on Puget Sound. You are invited. The foundation invites all interested parties and individuals to join it on Aug. 27 as it hosts the "Ranger Regatta" on Puget Sound at
News Front
Sports are a unifying concept. Just ask the cities of Lacey and Lakewood and their big neighbor Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Beginning with this past weekend's Black Hills Triathlon in Lacey, competitors from around the Puget Sound area competed in the first leg of a triple triathlon threat. Let's set the table about triathlons. For
News
Lt. Harry Spieth was one unhappy B-17 bomber pilot. He was transferred to the Philippines in 1942. As he flew to his duty station, his personal items were shipped by boat. Among the items were his prized golf clubs. There was a mix-up, and his belongings wound up in Java, never to
Travel
The green right arm of Tom Barry caught my eye. I wondered if he had some sort of medical condition, so I whimsically asked him. "No," he said with a smile. "This is what I've collected today working out here, and it's darn good work, too." Since March of 2014, the leadership
Military Life
The Steilacoom Historical School District made history last Friday. On the sun-drenched Blair Taylor Athletic Field at Steilacoom High School, more than 120 differently abled children from the district's schools participated in the first Day of Champions' track and field event. "We're so proud to be doing this," exclaimed Kathi Weight, the
News
In the very back row of chairs sat Albert Cortes. I sat down next to him. "I feel I should be here to pay my respects," the veteran of the Korean War and 21 years of service quietly said to me. "There are guys here who gave their lives for us, and
Jobs & Education
Fundamentals shape destinies. For many members of the Joint Base Lewis-McChord community transitioning from active-duty to civilian duty, understanding the basics of the career they want to pursue is vital. "The program we're in here at Clover Park Technical College is about fundamentals, the basics," explained Spc. Jeff Rosser, 2nd Battalion, 1st
News Front
You may not be interested in cyber warfare and all that it embodies, but it is certainly interested in you. By the end of 2013, this country entered the era of the mega-breach when Russian-speaking hackers stole 40 million credit-card numbers after penetrating Target Corp. computer systems. Cyber-attacks are commonplace; companies like
News Front
In 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day. That was a great idea. On May 20, 1950, the idea was first celebrated. The theme of that first celebration was "Teamed for Defense," and it was celebrated with military exercises that allowed the public to
News Front
The word "contact" is both a noun and a verb. It means that thought can become an action, like reaching out to soldiers when they've come home from Iraq and Afghanistan. "It does feel good to make contact with the Joint Base Lewis-McChord community and thank them for all they do,"
News Front
The talk about a land swap between the City of Lakewood and Joint Base Lewis-McChord to move businesses out of McChord Field's dangerous clear zone is still just that. Talk. "The land swap is still in its conceptual stages; it is by no means a done deal," wrote John Caulfield, Lakewood's City
Guides
The banner said, "History is not for wimps." Nothing has changed since officials at the Washington State History Museum took the signage down. The histories contained within the 106,000-square-foot edifice challenge and engage the interests and intellects of the young and old who enter. "The visitor experience is very important to us,
