In simple computer language, the three keys in the accompanying photograph are shortcuts. Pressed in conjunction with other keys, they enable various functions to be performed more quickly, almost without thought, thus making learning easier. Or so we think. Upon discovering my computer keyboard the other night, my almost-two-year-old granddaughter took the time to pry […]
Holiday gifts for foodies from 30+ food businesses in Tacoma & Pierce County
It’s always a good time to shop locally. Lucky us, we’ve got plenty of local food businesses producing fancy hand-decorated cookies, smoked landjaeger, boutique oyster packs, handmade ginger beer, hand-dipped truffles and pints of ice cream aplenty. Did I mention the hot cocoa bombs? There’s so much to buy from local food businesses, I don’t […]
Letter: The Church In COVID Crisis At Christmas
The Nativity on the shelf was missing all the usual figurines except for a single angel perched on the manger roof prepared to make an announcement that this year would not be heralded by it, much less by a multitude of heavenly host. A policeman guarded the entrance. There would be no admission. Not this […]
Verone’s Italian Kitchen & Sausage Company moving into Fircrest’s Viafore’s space
Verone’s Italian Sausage could be one of the oldest food companies based in Tacoma that you’ve maybe never heard of. But that’s about to change with the opening of their new retail location. The five-generation Tacoma sausage company is opening its first shop – after a 30-year retail hiatus – in Fircrest. It’ll be called […]
Time for Coffee Chat
A festive Christmas chat on Dec. 14 at 9 a.m. will feature special guests including Chef Anessa McClendon from the Canby, Ore. Event and Conference Center. Chef Anessa, formerly of Good Taste Unlimited of Lakewood will show us how to make a beautiful Christmas Treat box to be used as gifts for businesses or friends. She has also […]
People are still willing to share, but they have to have something to share
“St. Vinnie’s is here to help. If you need emergency assistance to help pay for basic needs, such as rent, utilities, gas, food, clothing or links to other resources, we want to help.” It’s December and winter will soon be here. Executive Director Tracy Peacock recently shared this request from a desperate young woman: “I’m […]
Toy Rescue Mission Needs Help for Young and Old
A life time ago, I was president of the Tacoma Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees). I was invited to a meeting about the economy and Christmas. Helen Mader and six or seven other people along with me gathered to discuss the situation. Our community was still in the doldrums with Boeing layoffs and on top […]
Christmas 2020: Restaurants with holiday meal take-out around Tacoma, Pierce County
Once again, Christmas dinner won’t look like it has in the past for any of us. Who could ever have predicted the most important ingredient during the 2020 holiday dining season would be Webex and Microsoft Teams? Big sigh. With pandemic guidelines suggesting we all skip big gatherings, diners likely will cook smaller meals. Or […]
Wide Open Spaces and the Love of Camp & Counseling
Campers and Camping means the enjoyment of nature and living! Growing up in the 1950s meant camping out. Usually we would travel to either the dunes and scrub brush near Ocean City with our Whitworth relatives, or to Packwood with our neighbors the Bidisons. Millersylvania State Park (just south of Olympia) was a great memory […]