Happy Friday Newsletter 1.2.26

Neighborhood News

• Tree-Cycling Events Return After the Holidays
  • Steilacoom will host its annual Christmas tree-cycling drop-off on Jan. 3, 2026, from 9am to 3pm at the Public Works utility yard, 1030 Roe St. The event serves as a community recycling fundraiser for Steilacoom Boy Scout Troop No. 71. A suggested minimum donation of $3 per tree will be collected. Only natural Christmas trees are accepted and must be free of decorations, lights, tinsel, garland, and nailed-on bases. Flocked trees, wreaths, and other vegetation will not be accepted. In Tacoma, undecorated, unflocked natural trees are accepted for tree recycling at the Tacoma Recovery and Transfer Center from Dec. 26 through Jan. 11. Artificial trees are not accepted. Trees are not collected curbside unless cut to fit completely inside a yard waste bin with the lid closed. Unusable holiday lights are accepted year-round at the center. More information is available at tacoma.gov/recycle.

• Artists & Craftsman Supply is Not Giving Up But They Need Your Support
  • Artist & Craftsman Supply announced it voluntarily initiated a Chapter 11 bankruptcy process effective Dec. 21, 2025, as a part of an effort to restructure liabilities and strengthen the business for long-term success. The company emphasized it is not closing and will continue operating normally throughout the process, including honoring A&C gift cards and its rewards program. Citing higher real estate costs and softer consumer spending amid a challenging retail environment, the 40-year-old art supply retailer said Chapter 11 provides a path to stabilize operations while continuing to serve artists, crafters, and creatives. Company leaders thanked customers and employees for their continued support, noting the strength of A&C has always been its creative community and staff.

• Otter Family Grows at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
  • Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is celebrating new additions to its Asian small-clawed otter family with the arrival of a new male otter, Yuki, and the recent birth of a healthy otter pup. Yuki joined the zoo through a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan and has been successfully introduced to female otter Arista in the Asian Forest Sanctuary. Meanwhile, first-time parents Sebastian and Pintar welcomed a pup in mid-November that recently passed a one-month wellness exam and is developing normally. The new family will remain behind the scenes until the pup is older and weather conditions improve.

• Residency Program at Risk After VMFH Ends Training Agreement
  • Community Health Care says a decision by Virginia Mason Franciscan Health to terminate its training agreement will significantly impact health care access across Pierce County. The move removes Community Health Care’s Family Medicine Residency from all VMHC facilities, including St. Joseph Medical Center, threatening the future of a program that has trained primary care physicians for underserved communities since 2014. The residency has graduated 55 family doctors, with nearly 80 percent remaining in the region or serving in the military. Community Health Care leaders warn the decision will worsen already long wait times for primary care in a medically underserved county. In 2024, Community Health Care served more than 54,000 low-income and uninsured patients through more than 200,000 visits.

• Sub Pop at Sea-Tac Closes
  • The Sub Pop store at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport closed Dec. 31, 2025, ending a 12-year run that brought Seattle’s independent music culture to one of the region’s busiest travel hubs. Opened in 2013, the airport outpost became a popular stop for travelers, offering records, apparel, and merchandise from Sub Pop artists alongside locally inspired items. In announcing the closure, Sub Pop thanked customers, artists, and employees fir transforming the shop into a community space filled with “heart, soul, curiosity, and laughter.”

• Seasonal Winter Shelter Opens in Tacoma
  • The City of Tacoma and Pierce County Human Services are partnering with Tacoma Rescue Mission to operate a seasonal winter shelter at the RAIN Center for the 2026 winter season. The shelter will be open from Jan 1. through March 31, 2026, providing 65 beds with 24-hour seven-days-a-week sheltering. Referrals will be limited to City of Tacoma residents and coordinated through partner organizations, including Community Resource Centers, HEAL and the Shelter Access Hub. During periods of extreme weather, the city will add up to 15 additional beds when Tier 2 or Tier 3 cold weather thresholds are met. Those beds, supported by Pierce County, will be available to all Pierce County residents.

Local Governance

• Human Rights Commission Sets Special January Meeting
  • A special meeting of the Human Rights Commission will be held on Jan. 24, 2026 at 10:30am, replacing the regular Jan. 12 meeting. The agenda includes review and finalization of the 2026 work plan, committee selection, officer nominations, and items for the February agenda. The in-person meeting will be held at the Tacoma Public Library South Tacoma Branch meeting room, 3411 S. 56th St. The next regularly scheduled meeting is Feb. 9, 2026. Agendas, minutes, and notices are available at tacoma.gov.

• Pierce County Signs Biennial Budget
  • Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello has signed the county’s 2026-2027 biennial budget and Capital Facilities Plan, approving a $3.5 billion spending plan representing a 2 percent increase over the previous biennium. The budget prioritizes public safety, housing, youth services, and infrastructure, with 76 percent of the General Fund allocated to law enforcement and justice services. Investments include firearm safety and violence prevention programs, expanded affordable housing, the county’s first tiny home village in an unincorporated area, and increased support for behavioral health, opioid response, food security, childcare and youth programs.

• Tacoma to Launch “Missing Middle” Housing Permitting Pilot
  • The City of Tacoma will launch a one-year permitting pilot in January 2026 aimed at speeding up approval and construction of middle housing developments, a key component of the city’s Home in Tacoma housing strategy. The pilot will support residential projects with seven to 20 units and townhome subdivisions of 10 to 20 homes, commonly referred to as the “missing middle” between single-family housing and large apartment complexes. The program streamlines permitting by consolidating review authority within Planning and Development Services, assigning dedicated review teams and project coordinators, and strengthening upfront applications through free pre-application meetings and mandatory intake checklists. The city is also developing pre-approved townhouse plans, expected by the end of 2026, to reduce design costs and review timelines. Enhanced data tracking will monitor each phase of the review process to identify bottlenecks and evaluate which changes deliver the greatest long-term impact.

Arts & Entertainment

• Grit City Studio Expands Creative Vision in Tacoma
  • Grit City Studio, led by Syed Jamal, is working to position Tacoma as a global creative hub. With the support of several donors, the organization has received its first major donation, allowing it to expand programming aimed at amplifying stories, sparking creativity, and strengthening Tacoma’s creative economy. That support is helping launch new initiatives including the inaugural Tacoma Literature Festival, scheduled for May at the Tacoma Armory. Tacoma Lit Fest will bring together writers, poets, publishers, filmmakers, educators, and readers of all ages to celebrate storytelling in its many forms. Programming will begin in February, leading up to the main festival in May. Opportunities to participate as a vendor or sponsor are available through Grit City Studio’s Instagram page.

• Aging and Disability Resources Film Series Returns
  • A community film series hosted by Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources is returning to The Grand Cinema, offering seniors, adult caregivers, and care supporters, a space to connect through film. Centered on the theme “Journeys of Laughter and Love” the series features uplifting stories and includes complimentary small popcorn for attendees. Sponsored by Envision Home Health Care, the first screening will be Looking Through Water on Saturday Jan. 10, at 10am. The film follows a father and son seeking forgiveness during a fishing competition in Belize. Registration is now open with limited seating available.

Opportunities

• Tacoma Community College Scholarship Applications Open
  • Applications for Tacoma Community College Foundation scholarships will be open Jan 1 through March 31, 2026. Anyone planning to attend TCC during the 2026-2027 academic year may apply at tacomacc.edu/scholarships. The application includes an essay, and the Writing and Tutoring Center will offer drop-in workshops Feb 19, Feb 25, March 5 and March 11 from 2 to 3pm and March 31 from 11am to 2:30pm. Scholarships do not require payment.

• Redcedar Project Seeks Volunteers at Point Defiance
  • Researchers monitoring Western Redcedar health have identified more than 200,000 acres of forest statewide experiencing active dieback, but Point Defiance Park’s population remains largely healthy. Volunteers with the Redcedar Band, a Park Watch group led by Ray Lepore, meet weekly to monitor the tree health and contribute data to a publicly accessible database. The Point Defiance Western Redcedar Project is recruiting new volunteers. Interested participants can attend a Park Watch orientation at the Pagoda in Point Defiance Park on Saturday Jan. 31.

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