BY ANDE DUNN for WEEKLY VOLCANO | 11/6/2026
Neighborhood News
6th & Orchard Village Relocates
- After six years, the tiny home village at 6th Avenue and Orchard Street is being wound down, with the site set to close completely by Nov. 16. The village isn’t disappearing, though. It’s relocating to a former tiny home village site near South 69th Street and Proctor Avenue. The 6th & Orchard property is being prepared for the proposed Tacoma Community Cancer Center. Councilmember John Hines, who fielded plenty of nervous calls when the village opened in 2020, says it ended up being a quiet, well-run neighbor and credits First Christian Church and the Low Income Housing Institute. More at tacoma.gov.
Spud’s Pizza May Not Reopen
- Bad news for square-cut pizza loyalists. Spud’s Pizza Parlor, the retro South End haunt that’s been around since the early 1960s, won’t reopen under the operator who had been trying to bring it back after a Labor Day kitchen fire. Owner Tracie Paul bought the business in 2022 and promised to keep its time-capsule charm: the dark Trophy Room bar, the karaoke nights, and the walls of old team photos. No word yet on what happens to the building at 7025 Pacific Ave.
Dutch Bros Eyes South Hosmer
- Dutch Bros Coffee has filed a pre-application permit to turn a former Jack in the Box at 7605 S. Hosmer St., empty since 2024, into its first Tacoma location. It would be the PNW-based chain’s sixth in Pierce County, joining Fife, Puyallup, Graham, and Lakewood. No opening date yet.
Tacoma Mall Adds More Eats
- Potato Corner just opened in the Tacoma Mall dining pavilion, serving flavored fries. More are on the way: Fat Zach’s Pizza is moving into the former MOD Pizza space, and Clove Indian Cuisine is also coming, with more restaurants, coffee, and retail lined up for the mall’s Village through next spring. Your next mall trip just got snackier.
UW Tacoma Students Fight Scams
- A UW Tacoma team won HuskyHack with Scout, a tool that listens for fraud tactics during phone calls and can connect users directly to Sound Credit Union. The win came with $15,000 and a CoMotion Labs membership to keep building it. Grandma’s phone is about to get a bodyguard.
Pearl Youth Residence to Close
- Comprehensive Life Resources is closing Pearl Youth Residence at 1201 S. Proctor St., one of Washington’s four long-term inpatient mental health programs for kids ages 12 to 17. A state WARN filing lists 92 layoffs effective Nov. 21, and CLR reports $3 million in operating losses since 2020. Reports note that the closure removes about a quarter of the state’s long-term psychiatric beds for children.
Island Ferry Service Restored
- Anderson Island and Ketron Island residents spent most of last week without mainland ferry service after the Steilacoom II car and passenger ferry was damaged Oct. 24. Pierce County has since restored service. If you ride it, sign up for Pierce County Ferry rider alerts.
Narrows Bridge Lanes Reopen
- Gig Harbor commuters, rejoice. All westbound lanes of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge reopened more than a week ahead of schedule after crews installed a new partial joint, helped by good prep and dry weather. The two lanes had been closed around the clock since Oct. 24, with the closure originally set to run through Nov. 8. This is the 1950 bridge’s latest repair after years of trouble with its joints. Check current conditions at wsdot.wa.gov/travel.
SoundView Team Honored
- The SoundView Little League team, the first squad from Tacoma ever to reach the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was honored at a recent Tacoma City Council meeting. Hat tip to the players, coaches, and families who made the whole city proud.
Clover Park Tech Adds Six Planes
- Clover Park Technical College’s aviation students are getting six new Cessna aircraft. The college is financing the planes through the State Treasurer’s office, which just sold $39.3 million in low-cost Certificates of Participation. These are pooled loans repaid through lease payments, and they let schools and local governments borrow under the state’s strong credit rating to get cheaper interest. The same sale is paying for a fire engine for Manson Fire, school buses in Clarkston and Ocean Beach, and a baseball field upgrade at Lower Columbia College. More pilots coming soon to a Lakewood sky near you. Visit tre.wa.gov.
Region: Planes, Rockets, Trains
- Alaska Airlines plans 10 new nonstop routes through June 2027, including Seattle flights to Paris, Athens, Osaka, and Papeete, and is building a new lounge complex at Sea-Tac set to open in late 2027. Blue Origin is planning a manufacturing facility in Des Moines expected to employ hundreds at full capacity, and Kent-based Stoke Space has a conditional commitment for a $150 million Pentagon loan to build a second launch pad in Florida. If you’re riding Amtrak Cascades to Vancouver, B.C., your ticket will show a different trip length starting Nov. 1 because of the clock change, but the ride is still four hours.
Local Governance
Slow Down Move Over Rally
- Tow operators, first responders, public officials and neighbors are rallying at the Tacoma Dome to remind drivers about Washington’s Slow Down Move Over law, which requires you to slow down and change lanes for vehicles stopped on the roadside with flashing lights. Organizers at Auburn’s Frank’s Towing & Recovery say recent roadside crashes injuring tow operators and law enforcement make the message more urgent than ever. The event ends with a procession. Everyone working the shoulder has someone waiting for them at home, so give them the lane. facebook.com/slowdownmoveoverwa Saturday (Nov. 7), 9 a.m.
Tacoma Budget Puts HOPE at Risk
- Tacoma City Council is in the final stretch of its 2027-2028 budget, working to close a $40 million structural deficit in the General Fund caused by expenses growing nearly twice as fast as revenue. Among the proposed cuts: eliminating the Fire Department’s HOPE behavioral health team and shrinking the Police Department’s Community Service Officer program. In an October 28 statement, Police Chief Patti Jackson and Fire Chief Sionna Stallings-Ala’ilima said both programs struggled with staffing and that 99% of HOPE calls since July 2023 still needed paramedics, police or firefighters. Advocates including Tacoma On the Go have been pushing council to protect walking, biking and transit money from the voter-approved Safe Streets & Sidewalks levy. The second and final public hearing is Tuesday (Nov. 10) at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 747 Market St., before council adopts the budget later this month. Budget materials: tacoma.gov.
City Tightens Property Code
- Tacoma City Council passed Ordinance 29125, folding International Property Maintenance Code standards into city code and adding tools to deal with repeat and chronic violators. It takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. The city handles about 4,500 property cases a year with what staff call patchwork rules. But don’t expect overnight change: the beefed-up enforcement program won’t start until at least nine months after the council funds it. Councilmember Sandesh Sadalge was blunt that residents won’t see a difference without money for enforcement. Visit tacoma.gov/IPMC.
County Expands Veterans Aid
- The Pierce County Council voted 5-2 to expand its veterans assistance program to low-income veterans with “Other Than Honorable” discharges. Until now, those veterans qualified only if they received VA benefits such as disability pay. The program covers short-term emergency help with food, shelter and utilities. An amendment to exclude veterans with domestic violence or child abuse records failed. Ordinance O2026-562 becomes law once the County Executive signs it. piercecountywa.gov/council.
Speed Cameras Log 400K Violations
- Tacoma’s new speed cameras on Norpoint Way and Marine View Drive in Northeast Tacoma logged nearly 400,000 violations in their first month. The city caps enforcement at 100 tickets per camera per day. Tickets carry a $145 civil fine that doesn’t hit your insurance or driving record, and the revenue must go to safety upgrades like bike lanes, crossings and lighting. Ease up, Northeast. Visit tacoma.gov.
Homelessness Growth Slows to 3%
- The 2026 Point-in-Time Count found 3,045 people experiencing homelessness in Pierce County on a single January night, up 3% from last year. That’s a much slower climb than recent years. Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello called it a sign of stabilization, not a decline, and pointed to wraparound services and faster affordable housing construction. Housing costs have more than doubled over the past decade, and homelessness among youth and young adults is still rising.
Tacoma Lags on Housing Goal
- Tacoma has added more than 7,000 homes but is behind the pace needed to hit its 2044 housing target. It has plenty of company: most major Puget Sound cities are struggling to meet their growth goals.
Guard Monitors Ballot Drop Boxes
- Pierce County accepted help from the Washington National Guard to monitor ballot drop boxes ahead of Election Day. Unarmed members in plain clothes watched overnight and did not handle ballots or interact with voters. piercecountywa.gov/elections.
Tacoma Wins Federal Port Funds
- Sen. Patty Murray announced more than $50 million in federal grants for Washington port projects, including upgrades in Tacoma to handle larger ships and move containers more efficiently. The Port of Tacoma supports more than 42,000 jobs. murray.senate.gov.
Lakewood Eyes $2M Street Work
- Lakewood City Council took up a $2 million contract for “Green Street” upgrades at Kendrick Street and 111th Street this week. The project will add new pavement, curbs, bike lanes, sidewalks, storm drainage, water main replacement and street lighting. Construction is slated to begin in December or January.
Gig Harbor Funds Trees, Tourism
- Gig Harbor adopted a partnership with the Morning Rotary Club to plant trees in public spaces. Rotary will fund and run the planting, and the city will pick locations and species. Council also approved $612,000 in 2027 Lodging Tax grants for tourism groups, from the Waterfront Farmers Market to Harbor WildWatch’s Marine Life Center. gigharborwa.gov.
Rail Plans Seek Public Input
- Pacific Northwest officials are taking public comment on plans to improve Amtrak Cascades service, restore the Pioneer Line, and study high-speed rail. Funding is the big hurdle for all three. wsdot.wa.gov/rail.
Fircrest Budget, Water Hearings
- Fircrest City Council holds two public hearings Tuesday night, one on the preliminary 2027 budget and one on a proposed water rate adjustment. Both start at 7:15 p.m. or shortly after. Separately, Fircrest’s Civil Service Commission moved its meeting to a special session Monday (Nov. 9) to certify the police sergeant eligibility list. Tuesday (Nov. 10), 7:15 p.m.
Arts & Entertainment
Museum of Glass Honors Veterans
- Museum of Glass honors veterans with a color guard ceremony, the Path with Art Veterans Choir, and certificates and commemorative glass coins for graduates of its Hot Shop Heroes program. At 6 PM, guest speaker Saul Velez talks about going from the Army and Air Force to a career in glass. Veterans, active-duty military and their families get free museum admission all day. RSVP at museumofglass.org/veterans-day-celebration. Saturday (Nov. 7), 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Grit City Comic Show Returns
- Trade chores for capes. The Grit City Comic Show fills the Convention Center with comics, toys, gaming and creators, and the dealer room is big enough that your white whale might finally surface. Kids 12 and under get in free. Saturday (Nov. 7), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Stone Cold and the Jackal
- General Hospital’s Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson bring their Stone Cold and the Jackal holiday show to Tacoma, with holiday songs, comedy and audience participation. Platinum tickets add early entry, priority seating, the sound check, selfies, and autographs. tacomacomedyclub.com Saturday (Nov. 7), 2 p.m.
Josefina Muñoz Torres at MOG
- Catch the last weekend of Chilean artist Josefina Muñoz Torres’s Hot Shop residency. She’s working glass and ceramics into landscapes inspired by her fieldwork in the southern Patagonia islands. museumofglass.org/visiting-artist-lineup Through Sunday (Nov. 8).
Seahawks Tailgate at EQC
- KISW’s The Men’s Room hosts a tailgate watch party in Tacoma, with a $35 brunch followed by Seahawks football on the big screen. Wear your blue and green. Sunday (Nov. 8).
Native Heritage at Libraries
- Pierce County Library celebrates Indigenous stories and art all month. Highlights: IndigiQueer artist Eileen Jimenez (Ñätho) teaches Mexican tin embossing (repujado) at Gig Harbor on Saturday (Nov. 7), 1 to 3 p.m. Poet Laura Da’ leads a writing workshop on maps and place at Parkland/Spanaway on Sunday (Nov. 8), 3 to 5 p.m. Vaquero Azul’s Borikén Taíno petroglyph watercolor workshop is at Bonney Lake on Tuesday (Nov. 17), 5:30 p.m. Graham hosts a screening and talk on Native women reclaiming foodways Wednesday (Nov. 18), 3 p.m., and Jimenez returns to South Hill for printmaking Saturday (Nov. 21), 2 p.m. Most workshops are 18+. Register at mypcls.org.
State of the Urban Forest
- Tacoma just logged its first-ever increase in tree canopy, and Tacoma Tree Foundation is throwing a party about it. Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello gives the keynote on the county’s land conservation plan and its new Community Tree Program with the foundation, followed by Executive Director Lowell Wyse and a toast to a tree-lined county. Stephanie Meredith’s painting series “All My Mothers” hangs in the lobby. 902 Market St. Tickets at tacomatreefoundation.org/sotuf26. Tuesday (Nov. 10), 7 p.m.
The Neuroscience of Magic
- University of Puget Sound biology professor Siddharth Ramakrishnan launches The Neuroscience of Magic, which uses full-color brain maps to explain how practicing ritual and spellwork actually rewires your circuitry. Skeptics and witches equally welcome. 218 St. Helens Ave. kingsbookstore.com Tuesday (Nov. 10), 6 p.m.
Artist Victoria Vesna at UPS
- UCLA artist and professor Victoria Vesna, director of the Art|Sci Center, talks about two decades of installations made with nanoscientists, neuroscientists and composers that explore how technology shapes the way we behave and see ourselves. Hosted by UPS’s Art + Science Committee. Bring a friend. victoriavesna.com Wednesday (Nov. 11), 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
National Fine Art Show
- The Peninsula Art League’s 24th National Fine Art Show brings juried work from across the country to the Gig Harbor Vintage Aero Museum. Details at peninsulaartleague.org. Nov. 14 to Dec. 2
Historic Tacoma Annual Meeting
- Historic Tacoma invites the community to its 2026 annual meeting. Preservation nerds, this one’s for you. Time and location at historictacoma.org. Saturday (Nov. 14).
Matador Tacoma Turns 20
- Downtown’s Matador is celebrating 20 years in Tacoma with $5 margaritas all day as a thank-you to the community. The anniversary also shows off a refreshed dining room and an upgraded private event space. Salud. matadorrestaurants.com Tuesday (Nov. 17), All Day.
Lino Tagliapietra: Maestro
- The new Lino Tagliapietra Legacy Gallery opens with Maestro, more than 50 works drawn from the 175 pieces the Italian glass legend gifted the museum when he retired. Tagliapietra made the Puget Sound his American home for 45 years and created much of his work right in MOG’s Hot Shop. Put it on the calendar now. museumofglass.org/lino Opens Saturday (Dec. 12).
JOEFISH Drops “God Complex”
- Tacoma hip-hop artist JOEFISH released his new single “God Complex” on Nov. 5, a hard-hitting track about policing, inequality and who gets to feel safe. Stream it and watch the video at joefish.netlify.app, or find him on your favorite music streaming app.
Autumn Flowers at Seymour
- Duck out of the drizzle and into the historic glass conservatory in Wright Park, where the Autumn Flower Show is in full fall color. Open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. metroparkstacoma.org. Through Nov. 29.
Opportunities
Help Shape Jefferson Park
- Parks Tacoma is designing a $1.2 million outdoor shelter, pumphouse and restroom building for Jefferson Park, replacing the restroom destroyed by two arson fires in 2021 and the porta-potties that followed. SHKS Architects has draft designs, with perforated walls and barn-door rollers for three-season use, and the parks department wants your take on the roof, windows and how open it should be. Construction is expected in late 2027, funded by voter-approved bonds. Take the survey at engagepiercecounty.com/jefferson-park. Survey Open Through Nov. 18.
Lakewood Seeks Planning Members
- Lakewood has three openings on its Planning Commission, which advises City Council on planning issues. Terms run five years, from Dec. 15, 2026, to Dec. 15, 2031, and members generally must live in Lakewood. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16. Get the form at cityoflakewood.us or call the City Clerk at 253-983-7705. Apply by Nov. 16.
LeMay Wants Your Car Stories
- LeMay – America’s Car Museum is collecting vehicle and story submissions for its upcoming “Local Flavor” exhibit, which celebrates the cars and drivers of our corner of the world. The community call runs through December 14. americascarmuseum.org Through Dec. 14
Lakewood Water Blood Drive
- Lakewood Water District is hosting a blood drive. Roll up a sleeve and save a life. Tuesday (Nov. 10), 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Free Legal Help in Gig Harbor
- Got civil legal questions? Tacomaprobono volunteers will answer questions about eviction, family law, landlord-tenant issues and more at the Gig Harbor Pierce County Library, 4424 Point Fosdick Drive. It’s free, hosted by the City of Gig Harbor’s Housing, Health and Human Services program. gigharborwa.gov Tuesday (Nov. 10), 4 to 6 p.m.
Stock the Little Free Pantry
- The Lakewood YMCA’s holiday food drive is collecting nonperishables through the end of the year to keep its Little Free Pantry stocked for neighbors facing food insecurity. Drop donations at the Y. Nov. 1 to Dec. 31.
Free Property Fraud Alerts
- Owner Alert is a free service that emails you whenever a document is recorded in your name. It won’t stop title fraud, but it gives you a head start if something fishy hits the books. Sign up at piercecountywa.gov/auditor.
Book a Venue, Win a Getaway
- Reserve any Parks Tacoma room or venue by Dec. 1 for an event before March 31, 2027, and you’ll be entered to win one of four getaway packages at the Point Ruston Silver Cloud Inn. More info at metroparkstacoma.org.
Coffee With the Mayor
- Gig Harbor residents and business owners can book one-on-one time with Mayor Mary Barber on Tuesdays between 2 and 4 p.m. Sign up through gigharborwa.gov.
Recreation
Meadow Park Scoring Clinic
- Two out of three golf shots happen within 125 yards of the hole, so this 90-minute short game clinic with PGA Instruction and Cleveland Golf covers chips, pitches, bunkers and flops. Every attendee gets a wedge fitting and a new Cleveland wedge, a $25 range card and a dozen Srixon balls. The Williams 9 Winter Punch Card (10 rounds for $139) and 15% off green fees with code AERIFICATIONW9 both run through Sunday (Nov. 8). meadowparkgolf.com Saturday (Nov. 7), 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Learn to Shuck Oysters
- Learn how 19th-century folks got into a Puget Sound delicacy at this hands-on Heritage Skills workshop. Wear clothes you don’t love. metroparkstacoma.org Saturday (Nov. 14), 3 p.m.
DuPont Puzzle Competition
- DuPont Parks and Recreation’s annual puzzle competition takes a “Great American Road Trip” theme this year. Assemble your team and stretch those corner-piece muscles. Registration is required. For event details and registration, visit dupontwa.gov/195/Events. Friday (Nov. 13).
The Big Chill Pickleball
- The Grit City Gherkins host an indoor two-day tournament, with round-robin pool play Saturday and a playoff bracket Sunday. Teams play in pools of six, and the top three in each pool advance. Teams don’t need to be mixed, and costumes are strongly encouraged. Register through Parks Tacoma at metroparkstacoma.org. Dec. 12-13, Noon.
Norpoint Turkey Trot
- Tacoma’s original Thanksgiving fun run offers a chip-timed 5K and a 3K run or walk through Northeast Tacoma. Strollers and dogs are welcome, and kids 5 and under run free with a registered adult. Register by Sunday (Nov. 8) to save. Earn that pie. metroparkstacoma.org.
Zoolights Returns
- The holiday light tradition that’s dazzled Tacoma for 39 years returns. Online timed tickets are required and on sale now, and the good nights go fast. pdza.org Nov. 27 to Jan. 3, 4:30 to 10 p.m.
Holiday Cruises to Poulsbo
- FRS Clipper is running weekend holiday cruises from Seattle to Poulsbo, with festive onboard activities and time to wander the little Norwegian waterfront town. Lefse optional, but recommended. clippervacations.com Weekends, Nov. 27 to Dec. 20
Find Farms With Award-Winning App
- The free Washington Food & Farm Finder just won the World Agritourism Award for Digital Innovation. It maps more than 2,400 farms, fisheries and local food businesses, including 845 farms that welcome visitors. Right now it’s the place to find last-call u-pick apples and pumpkins, farm stands, and u-cut Christmas tree farms. eatlocalfirst.org
