PLEASE vaccinate your kids. Untreated children can suffer brain infection or pneumonia or put newborns at risk. There are measles cases south and north of us. Ten states have now reported measles outbreaks since the *beginning* of the year. A refusal to vaccinate is hoping for ‘herd immunity’; not much use when all are refusing…
An Open Letter to Lakewood Police Chief Mike Zaro
Not even two weeks into 2019 and Lakewood has another mental health death on its hands. Distressing, but we know it is not the first. At my very first meeting at the Public Safety Advisory Committee, I asked about non-lethal options. We discussed that all LPD officers are trained in proportional force progression and non-lethal […]
One Term… Your Turn
In the City of Lakewood, our mayor lives in a gated community. Over half of our council members live within a mile of each other in an affluent suburb. One senior council member makes about half of the meetings. Recently, Lakewood laid off 20 City personnel, then next year the council accepted the largest raise […]
New Year, New You
Many will say that their favorite holiday is Christmas. Visions of family, memories of cherished values, moments of life and light captured in time and tenderness. Some will say their favorite holiday is Independence Day (every country has a Fourth of July, after all). I have realized that the dawn of a New Year holds […]
2018; The Year In… A Few
JBLM turns 100. It has survived two world wars and a police action or two and a few BRAC panels. I’ve spent many a night in those rickety North Fort barracks. They were built for the second war to end all wars which were intended to be destroyed antebellum; says the Pentagon… ‘nuh-uh’. Kids gave […]
Marine Corps Ball, Nov. 10; Guest Speaker Rep. Denny Heck
This Saturday, November 10th, the Pierce County Detachment #504 of the Marine Corps League will observe the 243rd birthday of the United States Marine Corps with a Marine Corps Ball. The Ball will be held at the Puyallup Elks, 314 27th St NE, Puyallup, Washington. The formal ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. The Guest Speaker […]
Now Is The Time…
Lakewood has around a dozen resident-staffed voluntary committees. If you have a neighborhood interest, there’s probably a committee that affects you. And none of the meetings overlap any other committee meeting.
The Drums Fall Silent
It must have been 25 years ago that I saw my first live performance of taiko drums at Pierce College. The rhythm is like the physical component of fireworks as the reckless heartbeat of war drums beats up against your chest- drums that have resounded nearly 1500 years.
Politicking in Pierce
Earlier this week, Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom offered a Civics Week student activity. The guest speaker was Maia Espinoza, running for the 28th District representative seat in the state legislature.
Homeland Security coming soon… for you?
Apr5, 2018 The Honorable Patty Murray 950 Pacific Avenue, Ste. 650 Tacoma, Washington 98402 Dear Senator, I am a 56-year-old retired US veteran of 20 years combined service in the Marine Corps and National Guard. I understand that politics swings conservative and liberal and sometimes swings to the extreme.
2017, The Year In Pewww
The year started off with an inauguration crowd that was ‘yuuuuge’, the biggest ever, really. Everybody says so… I’m joking. I was being sarcastic. I’ll keep you in suspense.
MG Timothy Lowenberg; We Remember
During a heavy, persistent mist outside, hundreds gathered Friday, Sept 29, to say goodbye to Major General Timothy Lowenberg (Ret.) and express their own bereavement. MG Lowenberg died working in his garden only a couple weeks before his 71st birthday and the day before his 49th anniversary.