Submitted by Greg Alderete. While many Americans are debating whether the Department of Education should even exist, I’m less concerned with its dismantling than I am with the fact that — long before this moment — it wasn’t doing its job. If the Department disappears, what replaces it must be stronger, not weaker. We must […]
To Ponder
Letter: The Words on the Wall, The Heart in the Window
By David and Charlotte Anderson The sign said “Exit.” The words on the wall below it spoke of God’s faithfulness. As we exited the church, tears were in abundance. It was the conclusion of another class on grief, folks who had gathered united by sorrow. Is God faithful when we have experienced loss, our world […]
Searching for the Right Singer
A Short Story. Carlos was irritated. Traffic was bad and he was running late. He was driving up from Los Angeles. In reality, being hundreds of miles away, there was nothing he could really do about it. To be truthful he was already a target of stupidity as far as the Seattle night club was […]
A Letter to Lakewood
Submitted by Bob Warfield. The meeting of City Council Monday evening, April 21, 2025 at Lakewood City Hall was impressive. In the space of ninety minutes, it captured the best of community, local governance and our contemporary dilemma, one facing every town and city across Washington. From opening citations, a celebration of Daffodil traditions, improving public […]
Bug – the latest live production at Tacoma Little Theatre
Submitted by Don and Peg Doman. “Letts exploits audience uncertainties and the play benefits enormously from the claustrophobic intimacy of a space capable of making scripts seem more convincing than they might play out elsewhere.” Peg and I got to see the final dress rehearsal Thursday night with our Rotary friend Jan Brazzell. Our front […]
Letter: Dear moms and dads
Submitted by Greg Alderete. One of the unspoken truths about growing up in the early 1970s—especially as a teenager overseas—was how easily alcohol found its way into our lives. It was everywhere. At every base function, every social gathering, every weekend hangout. No one asked our age. No one really watched. It wasn’t just accessible—it […]
Let’s Talk! – An Unexpected Switch in the Dark
Are you ready to switch off your screens and ponder or discuss another writing/conversation prompt during dinner tonight? You want to know about my thoughts on it? Here’s my take: At first it had just been a dare. There was this chapel by the road side that was allegedly spooked. Some claimed to have seen […]
Letter: Get Home
By David and Charlotte Anderson “HOME” Decorative Rustic Letters declared the label on the box. Someone had rearranged the letters to spell MEOH which, as it turns out, apparently wasn’t viewed with amusement as a return to the store proved. The letters had been rearranged as originally intended. Turns out, MEOH isn’t a word. As […]
Letter: Comments on April 21 Lakewood City Council Meeting
Submitted by Cindy Gardner. I would like to address the comments that Mayor Whalen made at the City Council meeting on April 21, 2025. First I would like to thank the Mayor for his detailed and heartfelt speech regarding the housing dictates from the State of WA. It must be so frustrating to be on […]