The McKinley Hill neighborhood in Tacoma is unveiling a series of temporary public art pieces as part of an ongoing creative placemaking initiative. The latest installation, “Welcome to McKinley Hill,” designed by local artist Liz Morrow, joins previous works like Katrina Van Strein’s “Zine Library” outside Lux Coffee. These artworks are funded by a $100,000 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant, which supports the McKinley Neighborhood Plan aimed at celebrating the area’s culture and heritage through artistic expression.

The McKinley Hill Neighborhood Plan was developed through extensive community engagement, including over 1,500 interactions with residents. In addition to temporary installations, the initiative will bring permanent artworks to the area, such as a decorative fence by Morrow and public seating by artists from the Puyallup Tribe, slated for installation at the McKinley Overlook in 2025. Future projects include a mural by Rick Bisol at McKinley Elementary and banners by Delaney Saul in the McKinley Business District next spring.

This initiative reflects the city’s commitment to creative placemaking and aims to enrich the community with public art that reflects Tacoma’s unique identity. More details on the project are available through the City of Tacoma’s website.

Tacoma Creates, Washington state's pioneering cultural access program, recently completed its fourth funding cycle, awarding $5.8 million to 65 organizations dedicated to advancing arts, culture, heritage, and science in Tacoma during the 2023-2024 period.

Approximately one third of the programs supported were youth education programs, including programs offered in partnership with Tacoma Public Schools. In addition to classes and workshops at Tacoma Public Schools’ campuses, Tacoma Creates supported bus transportation for 245 field trips for Tacoma Public Schools’ students, broadening horizons and supporting experiential learning in arts, culture, heritage, and science. Tacoma Creates also partnered with the Tacoma Public Library and supported over 100 programs at branch locations across the city.

Nearly 80 percent of the programs and events produced with Tacoma Creates funding support were offered free of charge to the community, and there were over 300,000 attendees at free, in-person cultural events. In addition to programming that brings people to cultural facilities downtown, over 65 percent of organizations’ funds were allocated towards producing programs and events in neighborhoods across the city. An interactive map is available on the Program Locations page of the Tacoma Creates website.

Tacoma Creates funding helps cultural organizations build long-term sustainability and broaden access to their programs. Throughout the 2023-2024 program year, organizations utilized funding to invest in staffing, forge collaborations both within and outside the cultural sector, and strengthen their infrastructure. These investments help organizations expand their impact and foster more inclusive and equitable environments. Importantly, Tacoma Creates has enabled many organizations to increase paid work opportunities for artists and other cultural workers, who are vital contributors to the local creative economy.

A copy of the Tacoma Creates’ full 2023-2024 Annual Report, including a Spanish version, is available along with other details at tacomacreates.org.

Voices of Tacoma: A Gathering of Poets is the work of eighty poets, with another ten arts professionals serving as Editorial Review Board members, Editors, Advisors, and - of course - Mauricio Robalino, Artist and Illustrator.

The creative energy that this project was built around will continue. The next scheduled Gathering of Poets events: December 4, January 15, and February 4. These Gatherings will be held from 6pm to 7:30pm at Swasey Library, 7001 Sixth Avenue. These Gatherings are an opportunity to connect, read, and/or just listen to others. The intention of these events is to help create long-term coalitions of like-minded folk in our community. As are all of our events, these are free and open to everyone!

There are also a couple of upcoming opportunities to get a signed copy (or copies) of the book and meet Burl and Mauricio. They will be at Tacoma Arts at the Armory on December 7 and 8.

Upcoming Events

Bring a poem to read, or just come listen to the #VoicesOfTacoma, at A Gathering of Poets.

6pm-7:30pm at Swasey Library:

• Wednesday, December 4th

• Wednesday, January 15th

• Tuesday, February 4th

Saturday and Sunday, December 7th and 8th, join us at Tacoma Arts at the Armory • 11am-5pm

For nearly 30 years, Bates Technical College Welding students have crafted over 130 festive displays for Spanaway Park’s Fantasy Lights. This year, they’re unveiling a giant 30-foot ferry to honor a key mode of Pacific Northwest transportation. The ferry, built in just one week from three sections, will be part of this year’s enchanting route. This project is a collaboration between Bates and Pierce County Parks, providing students with hands-on experience in welding and design.

Instructor Eric Johnson highlights the real-world learning opportunity, while Dr. Lin Zhou, President of Bates, underscores the importance of this long-standing partnership. Past displays have included creative themes like a Kraken, Sasquatch, and a pirate ship. This holiday season, visitors can enjoy the students' work, which continues to add magic to the annual Fantasy Lights display.

Fantasy Lights is open daily 5:30 - 9:00pm | November 29th - January 5th.

At the upcoming Tacoma Planning Commission meeting, they will be discussing the Neighborhood Planning Program (NPP) work on the South Tacoma Neighborhood Plan. The Neighborhood Planning Program (NPP) in Tacoma is an award-winning initiative aimed at fostering strong, vibrant, and diverse communities. It offers planning and development support to neighborhoods in order to help them create a vision for their future and implement strategies to achieve it.

Purpose

The NPP is working with the South Tacoma neighborhood over the next 18 months to support its identity, vitality, and future growth. This process will result in the South Tacoma Neighborhood Plan, a guiding document that outlines community-driven projects and actions to enhance the neighborhood. The plan will be developed in collaboration with residents, businesses, and organizations in the area.

Process

In 2024, the City Council selected South Tacoma for the third Neighborhood Plan. The development of the plan will involve input from community members through surveys, meetings, and events, all guided by a Steering Group made up of local residents. The plan will continue to evolve in 2025 and beyond as the community works on implementation.

Project Focus Area

The plan will concentrate on the core commercial areas, including the South Tacoma Business District and nearby Mixed-Use Center (near S Tacoma Way, S Washington St, and S Puget Sound Ave, between S 47th St and S 58th St). Efforts will also involve engaging residents from surrounding neighborhoods to improve access to key amenities and destinations.

The Tacoma Neighborhood Planning Commission meeting will be hybrid allowing you to attend in person at Council Chambers, 1st floor of the Tacoma Municipal Building, at 747 Market Street or on Zoom at https://www.zoom.us/j/84416624153.

The City of Tacoma faces a projected $24 million deficit for its 2025-26 budget, prompting proposals to cut costs, including eliminating 16 "rover" firefighter positions. These rovers, implemented last year, help address employee leave by filling in at different stations, reducing mandatory overtime and helping maintain staffing levels. Eliminating these positions would save $4.2 million, but critics, including the firefighters' union, argue it would lead to more overtime, station closures, and a decrease in service quality.

Firefighters are already concerned about chronic underfunding, outdated equipment, and insufficient personnel. The Tacoma Fire Department is short on resources, and while the proposed budget includes a rise in funding, there are disagreements over how the money is allocated. For instance, $3 million is designated for the HOPE program, aimed at handling behavioral health crises, but union members argue it is underperforming and diverting resources from critical fire services.

Firefighters have voiced frustration over years of unmet needs, and some are even considering leaving the city's jurisdiction to form an independent fire district. Union leaders emphasize the urgent need for steady funding to address staffing, equipment, and facility issues to ensure the safety of both the public and the department’s personnel.

After more than three years of work, the City Council passed the Home in Tacoma Phase 2 ordinance at their November 19 Council Meeting. John Hines has been working on Home in Tacoma with his colleagues since joining the City Council in 2020. This milestone reflects their collective effort to address Tacoma’s housing needs while preserving the elements that make Tacoma special, including the unique character of our neighborhoods and our vital tree canopy.

This initiative is about more than zoning changes--it’s about making Tacoma a more inclusive city. As the population grows, it’s preparing to welcome more families, young professionals, and seniors by creating a range of housing options. Whether duplexes, triplexes, or accessory dwelling units, Tacoma and the council have focused on providing choices that meet the diverse needs of the community. Hines and the council are also committed to ensuring that infrastructure improvements, such as roads and public transit, keep pace with this growth.

Hines recalls that in many of his conversations with residents, “housing costs and homelessness come up again and again.” Home in Tacoma is a huge step toward trying to address both these concerns. While the changes will not take effect overnight, we should see more places for people to live over time.

Moving forward, additional discussions about impact fees, traffic safety through Vision Zero, and a dedicated focus on tree protection will take center stage. Change will happen gradually, but we are all eager to see how Tacoma evolves to meet the needs of all its residents. 

Another hot dining spot opened up in Hilltop and it provides a coffee shop inspired relaxed atmosphere with scratch-made pastries, sourdough loaves and desserts as well as nostalgic brunch and lunch favorites.

This is the brainchild of two couples Jeff and Maggie Hellis, who serve as the pastry chef and marketing manager respectively and their friends Will Eder, the coffee, bread and beverage guy and his wife Jenah Garrett. All together they make Three Hearts a space that is easy to fall in love with.

Whether you are looking to dine on a sweet or savory Dutch Baby, a delicious sandwich like the chimichurri steak, this group is making a community through their food.

The group also decided to hire executive chef Jordan Mason, all three men alumni of Wooden City. Both Hellis and Eder wanted to continue to share Mason with the world, make people happy and let their food build a positive community.

Check out their menu and get more information at https://www.threeheartstacoma.com/

This holiday season, consider supporting Pierce County families in need by donating toys and food to Pierce County Santa Cops. You can drop off new, unwrapped toys and non-perishable food at the South Hill precinct through Dec. 13. For online shopping, scan the QR code (screenshots) or visit the Amazon Wishlist link.

Deputies will volunteer to deliver the donations to nominated families in time for Christmas. Pierce County Santa Cops, a volunteer-run non-profit organization, is dedicated to helping families by providing food, gifts, and clothing during the holidays. Thank you for supporting this cause.

Crews have started removing polluted pilings from the former Dickman Mill site on Tacoma's waterfront, as part of a larger environmental cleanup initiative. The site, one of "The Filthy Four" designated by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), is being cleaned up with $3.5 million in funding approved by the Washington state legislature in 2023. The pilings, once used to support structures like sawmills and piers, are contaminated with creosote, a toxic wood preservative now banned for aquatic use.

The project, which began last week, involves using cranes to pull the pilings from the water and load them onto barges. The Dickman Mill site, which operated from the 1890s until 1979, was heavily industrialized and has been a source of pollution, with sawdust and wood waste harming aquatic life. The funding, part of a broader $10.8 million legislative package, allows DNR to expand its cleanup efforts beyond Puget Sound to include other polluted sites like those in Seattle and the lower Columbia River.

The effort is also targeting other environmental hazards like tire reefs, derelict boats, and abandoned docks.

Hunt's Services, Tacoma’s trusted leader in heating, cooling, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical solutions, is thrilled to announce the continuation of its impactful Hunt's Helping Hands program. This initiative is dedicated to giving back to residents of Pierce, King, and Thurston counties by providing essential heating and cooling services at no cost to families in need.

At Hunt’s Services, our HVAC services include both traditional and environmentally friendly heating and cooling solutions.  We install and repair heat pumps, ducted or ductless, clean air ducts, replace and sell air filters, improve home air quality, install mini-splits as well as repair and replace furnaces.

Hunt's Services began its journey in 2012 as a small local business with a clear mission: to deliver high-quality repairs and installations at affordable prices. Over the years, under the leadership of founder Jason Hunt, the company has grown into a multi-trade powerhouse, serving communities throughout the Puget Sound region. Now, with a team of fully licensed and certified technicians, Hunt’s Services is known for its exceptional workmanship and customer care.

Giving back has always been at the heart of Hunt's Services. From supporting local charities to community-focused projects, Hunt's has consistently prioritized its role as a neighbor who cares. In 2021, the team sought to deepen their impact by launching the Hunt's Helping Hands initiative — a program aimed at ensuring that every family has access to a safe and comfortable home, regardless of financial hardship.

Stories of Hope: Real Impact in the Community

Hunt’s Helping Hands initiative has already made a profound difference. For example, in February 2022, Hunt’s technician Glen Ashford encountered a Tacoma resident, Ted Tennison, whose furnace had stopped working. Struggling with financial challenges worsened by the pandemic, Mr. Tennison couldn’t afford a furnace replacement. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Hunt’s team, in partnership with Gensco, Inc., stepped in to provide a brand-new American Standard furnace at no cost.

Since its inception, Hunt's Helping Hands has partnered with local manufacturers and suppliers to deliver over $50,000 worth of heating and cooling systems to families in need. Each year, Hunt’s Services selects a deserving family to receive a new HVAC system, ensuring they experience the comfort and peace of mind they deserve.

How the Community Can Get Involved

The success of Hunt's Helping Hands relies on the community. Residents are encouraged to nominate families who could benefit from a free heating or cooling system. Nominations can be submitted through Hunt’s Services’ website at www.huntsservices.com/hunts-helping-hands, detailing why the family deserves this support.

Looking Ahead

As Hunt’s Services prepares for another year of Hunt's Helping Hands, the team is eager to expand its reach and impact more lives. By working together with the community, local manufacturers, and partners like Johnstone Coleman and Bosch, Hunt’s is helping to build a stronger, more compassionate Puget Sound.

Tacoma Little Theatre and The University of Washington-Tacoma are holding auditions for their joint production of Lorca in a Green Dress! This production will be directed by Maria-Tania Bandes B. Weingarden, and choreographed by Marisela Fleites-Lear.

Auditions will be held Tuesday, December 3rd at The University of Washington Tacoma. Auditions on Sunday, December 8th and Monday, December 9th will be held at Tacoma Little Theatre (210 N I Street, Tacoma WA 98403), and Tuesday, December 10th at the Star Center (3873 S 66th St, Tacoma, WA 98409). Audition appointments will be set starting at 6:00pm on Sunday and 7:00pm on Monday and Tuesday. Callbacks will be held on Wednesday, December 11th at Tacoma Little Theatre. All actors must schedule their appointment using Casting Manager at the link below.

Lorca in a Green Dress pays homage to Federico García Lorca, writer of Gypsy Ballads, Mariana Pineda, and Play Without a Title.  Lorca was killed by fascist forces on August 19, 1936 in the opening days of the Spanish Civil War. Upon his death, the great Spanish poet arrives in the “Lorca Room” in purgatory where he learns he will be quarantined for the next 40 days. With dramatic and sensual flamenco flair, Lorca in a Green Dress is a spellbinding exploration of the life and death of Lorca. Five different actors portray aspects of the poet’s personality in a surrealistic landscape that questions what it means to die, to live, to create and to love.

Anyone and Everyone is invited to audition for any production at Tacoma Little Theatre regardless of any physical attribute, gender, race, age, ability, body type, ethnicity, expressions, or experience.  All roles for this production are available to all.
Please note the show contains LGBTQ+ content, descriptions of violence, some simulated violence, limited physical intimacy (prolonged eye contact, some physical touch).

Auditioners are asked to prepare a one-minute dramatic monologue and one of the Federico Garcia Lorca poems included in the audition posting.

All actors cast receive a travel reimbursement up to $150.00.

To reserve an audition time, follow this link (http://castingmanager.com/audition/info/ZsVowctesmkH7kW) or call the Box Office for assistance at (253) 272-2281.

Once cast, Lorca in a Green Dress will begin rehearsals in January of 2025. The production will run from Friday, March 7th, 2025, to Sunday, March 23rd, 2025 for a total of 10 performances.

Dana Hill, a philanthropist affectionately known as "Mama Doll", founder of The Black Doll Affair (TBDA), is rallying members of the Tacoma community to support young people experiencing homelessness at Tacoma’s Beacon Youth Shelter.

Through a new initiative called Beacons of Light, Hill invites community members to use their unique skills, resources, and time to uplift young people aged 18-24 as they navigate life’s challenges and work toward stability.

Though these kids have some complex challenges, most of their needs are very basic. While one need may be a pregnant woman having no idea what to expect, more often needs are things like transit passes, help with resume writing, or someone to mentor a youth. The kids have escaped, run away or have been placed in the shelter for various unfortunate circumstances, but you are being invited to be their Beacons of Light.

Hill's Beacons of Light initiative encourages community members to step in and provide practical support, resources and mentorship. Her goal is to bring hope and tangible assistance to these young adults during a critical time in their lives.

Ways to Become a Beacon of Light:
Hill emphasizes that everyone can contribute in their own way. Examples of support include: Barbershop Owners: Offer free haircuts to boost confidence. Daycare Providers: Mentor soon-to-be young mothers. Transportation Services: Provide rides to job interviews, classes, or medical appointments. Career Coaches: Assist with resume writing and interview preparation. Financial Advisors: Teach budgeting and financial literacy. Health Professionals: Volunteer for check-ups or mental health support. Small Business Owners: Provide part-time employment or job training. Restaurant Owners: Host meals to teach dining etiquette. Apprenticeship/Internship Hosts: Offer skill-building opportunities.

Jessica Johnston, a fellow Tacoma community organizer, Ambassadoll of The Black Doll Affair, and friend, was one of the first to join the initiative by providing the fifty youth living at the Beacon Center with complimentary ORCA transit passes. Additionally, she has taken meaningful steps to send out an announcement about the program to her sizable network and she's promising more resources and mentorship to youth at the shelter.

Hill describes this program as another step in building her legacy of philanthropy, inspired by two of her favorite quotes. “If not you, then who? If not now, when?” by Hillel the Elder and John Wesley’s call to action: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.”

Tacoma businesses and private individuals have already begun answering the call, offering free food, haircuts, and clothing to those in need. To join Dana Hill in making a difference and becoming a Beacon of Light, email hillgirlinc@gmail.com.

Make a tax-deductible gift between now and December 31, 2024

Museum of Glass will be busy in the coming year as we act on our ambitious goal to improve our facility, most notably with the addition of a permanent Lino Tagliapietra Legacy Gallery featuring statement pieces from the maestro’s personal archive. In addition to this major project, the Museum continues to support artists, expand educational initiatives, and provide a dynamic experience for all visitors.

Donating today means: 

Increasing visitor accessibility to innovative Museum programs 

Broadening youth field trip and hands-on capabilities 

Expanding our Visiting Artist Program and uplifting new and emerging artists 

Maximizing imaginative exhibition experiences

Your investment in the Museum enriches all facets of our core programming as well as our larger community. Your gifts position us for success in our major building endeavor. 

Put simply, you are making an extraordinary impact! Thank you for making a tax-deductible contribution to the future of Museum of Glass.

Museum of Glass is a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization. Gifts are tax-deductible, as permitted by law. Tax ID#91-1669422

Pierce County is opening applications for its 2025 Art Grant Program beginning Dec. 2.

The county said in a release that it's looking for applications from nonprofit organizations in unincorporated Pierce County that offer arts education and programming or experiences dedicated to lower-income youth or those in underserved areas of Tacoma city limits.

Those eligible must have their programs and projects take place between Jan. 1-Dec. 31.

In 2023, the Pierce County Arts Commission awarded nearly $27,000 in grants with funding for seven projects, the release noted.

Grants will range from $500 to $5,000. Applications must be received by Jan. 21.

A virtual workshop will be held at 3 p.m. on Dec. 10 to help prospective applicants with the application process, the release noted.

The Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium's annual Zoolights event is returning from Nov. 29 to Jan. 5 (closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). This year’s event will feature over 30 colorful light displays, including new designs and classic favorites like a giant octopus and a tiger face. The zoo's cafe will offer seasonal treats such as hot cocoa floats and fried apple fries. While zoo animals won’t be on display, visitors can enjoy a special Groovy Goats experience, where they can interact with goats dressed in holiday sweaters for an additional fee.

Ticket Information: Tickets are online only and required for everyone aged 3 and older.

Between Nov. 29th and Dec. 15, prices are $14 (Mon-Thurs) or $20 (Fri-Sun), with member prices at $7 and $10, respectively.

Starting Dec. 16, ticket prices will rise to $20 for general admission and $10 for members.

Flex tickets ($26) allow entry on any date.

BECU members can save $2 by purchasing tickets via the BECU website.

The Groovy Goats experience offers a 30-minute private session with the goats for $30 (members) or $50 (non-members), with tickets including Zoolights admission. All participants, including children under 2, must have a ticket. ZooLights runs through January 5th.