Happy Friday Newsletter 11.21.25 -

Neighborhood News

Lightcurve Opens New Tacoma Headquarters and Retail Store
- Lightcurve, the fastest-growing broadband provider, has relocated its headquarters to downtown Tacoma at 1145 Broadway and opened a new walk-in retail store next door at 1135 Broadway. The shop is open 9am to 5pm, offering customers direct, in-person support. The move strengthens Lightcurve’s presence in Pierce County as the company continues expanding service across the South Sound and Central Washington. A ribbon cutting celebration is set for Thursday December 4 at 4pm, followed by a holiday reception.

Tacoma Rescue Mission Plans Large-Scale Community Thanksgiving Dinner
- With more than 100,000 Pierce County residents recently losing government food assistance, the Tacoma Rescue Mission is calling for urgent community support ahead of Thanksgiving. In partnership with the Tacoma Dome, the Mission will host a community Thanksgiving dinner on November 27 from 3 to 6pm, aiming to serve more than 1,000 individuals and families facing food insecurity. The Mission is seeking financial donations, food items, cold-weather gear, hygiene essentials and volunteers to help prepare and serve the holiday meal. Food donations can be dropped off at 425 South Tacoma Way daily from 6am to 6pm and clothing and essential items can be delivered to the Donation Center at 504 South 30th St, Monday through Saturday. Volunteer sign-ups and financial contributions are available at trm.org/meals.

Peninsula Transit Pilot Expands Key Peninsula-Gig Harbor Access
- Starting December 2025, residents of the Key Peninsula will have a new free transit option connecting them to Gig Harbor. The Peninsula Transit Pilot Program will operate Monday through Saturday through August 2026, offering no-cost rides for families, seniors, students and workers traveling for jobs, healthcare, shopping and community events. The eight-month pilot is a collaboration between Pierce County, Around the Sound Transportation, and the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce. To kick off the launch, the service will partner with the Key Peninsula/Gig Harbor Holiday Shuttle to offer seven-day-a-week transportation from November 28 through December 26, helping residents navigate the busy holiday season. Local leaders are calling the new connection a major win for access and community. The route includes stops at Longbranch Improvement Club, the Red Barn, the Purdy Park and Ride, St. Anthony Hospital, downtown Gig Harbor at Skansie Brothers Park.

Pierce Transit Earns National and Local Sustainability Honors
- Pierce Transit has received two major awards recognizing its leadership in environmental stewardship: the American Public Transportation Association’s national Silver-level Sustainability Commitment award and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s Environmental Steward Award. Only two transit agencies in the country earned APTA sustainability recognition this year. The accolades highlight Pierce Transit’s long-standing commitment to greener transit solutions, from pioneering compressed natural gas buses in the 1980s to advancing its zero-emission strategy today. The agency has cut total emissions by 19 percent since 2017, shifted its fleet to renewable diesel, and aims to transition to a fully zero-emission fleet by 2042. Other sustainability achievements include providing more than one million free rides through the Youth Free Ride program, reducing wastewater use by 90 percent at bus wash facilities and designing new transit centers with full stormwater infiltration. More information is available at piercetransit.org/sustainability.

Vote on 10,000 Dollar Community Center Projects Through November 30
- People’s, Eastside, Norpoint and STAR community centers are inviting the public to help decide how each center should spend $10,000 set aside for a community-led project. After months of narrowing down options, the final choices are now open for a community vote. Residents can cast their votes through November 30th at parkstacoma.gov/cast-your-vote.

Local Governance

SharedWork Program Helps Employers Avoid Layoffs
- Washington’s SharedWork program offers businesses a way to retain employees during economic downturns by allowing reduced work hours instead of layoffs. Participating employees keep their jobs while receiving a prorated share of unemployment benefits. The program is open to most industries and is designed to support both the employers and workers by maintaining staffing levels, preserving morale, and easing financial strain. Applications take ten minutes to complete. More information is available on the Employment Security Department’s website.

City Council Approves Continuation of Tacoma Creates
- The Tacoma City Council has voted to reinstate a local 1/10th of 1 percent sales and use tax, securing another seven years of funding for Tacoma Creates — the city’s Cultural Access Program supporting arts, culture, heritage, and science nonprofits. First approved by voters in 2018, Tacoma Creates has become a cornerstone of the local creative economy, delivering more than $30 million in funding to over 100 organizations. Those groups have produced more than 5,000 programs and events, reaching more than four million participants across the city. The renewed measure also expands Tacoma Creates to include capital investments, giving local cultural organizations new opportunities to grow, improve facilities, and strengthen long-term stability. The program continues to focus on increasing access, reducing barriers, and ensuring diverse, high-quality cultural programming citywide. More information is available through Tacoma Creates.

Community Event Explores Ranked-Choice Voting in Pierce County
- Pierce County residents are invited to an informal Ranked-Choice Voting Demonstration and community discussion hosted by Kate Ginn, Maricres Castro, Latasha Palmer, Bronwyn Clarke, Devin Rydel Kelly, FairVote Washington, and the Institute for Black Justice. The event aims to unpack Pierce County’s complicated history with RCV and create space for conversation, questions, and fresh ideas ahead of the 2026 Pierce County Charter Review and the upcoming state legislative session. Attendees can expect snacks, community connection, and access to voting-reform experts. The event is free, but advance registration is requested. Bring a friend and help shape the future of local democratic reform. Discussion is December 7, 1pm at WorkSphere located at 1120 Pacific Ave, Tacoma.

Arts & Entertainment

Screaming Butterflies Theatre Announces Production of The Prince
- Screaming Butterflies Theatre will bring Abigail Thorn’s The Prince to Dukesbay Theater September 11 to 27, 2026. The sharp, Shakespeare-inspired play, written in iambic pentameter and known for its blend of sword fights, queer romance and questions of power and identity, will be directed by Jen Tidwell. Aligned with the company’s mission to uplift underrepresented voices, the production will prioritize casting trans-feminine actors and actors of color. Auditions are planned for March 2026, with details to come.

Opportunities

Hilltop Urban Gardens Seeks Teaching Artists and Facilitators
- Hilltop Urban Gardens is looking for teaching artists and drop-in facilitators whose work centers around justice, care, community, and creativity. HUG aims to collaborate with artists ready to teach and share alongside Black, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, youth and immigrant communities in Tacoma. Music, dance, storytelling, herbal medicine, visual arts, and other community-based practices are all welcome. The position pays $65 per session. Proposals can be submitted to events@hilltopurbangardens.org.

Parks Tacoma Seeks Volunteers
- Parks Tacoma is recruiting new members for its volunteer Nature and Environment Advisory Council, inviting community members passionate about environmental education, marine and shoreline issues, open space and garden management. More information and applications are available at parkstacoma.gov/volunteers/advisory-councils.

William Factory Incubator Seeks Input on New Small Business Capital Program
- The William Factory Incubator is responding to potential cuts in small business support programs by developing a new, stable capital initiative for Pierce County entrepreneurs. To shape the proposal, the incubator is convening a focus group to gather detailed information on local business owners’ financing needs, challenges, and pain points. The goal is to create an accessible and affordable capital impact fund that strengthens long-term support for small businesses in the region. Entrepreneurs interested in participating in the capital research group can email info@williamfactory.com

Recreation

Cranksgiving Returns to Tacoma on November 22
- Tacoma cyclists are invited to hit the streets for a good cause as 2nd Cycle and Tacoma On the Go host Cranksgiving on Saturday November 22 at noon. Riders will meet at the Lincoln Park picnic shelter, 801 South 37th Street, before pedaling through the city to purchase groceries and supplies for Eloise Food Bank. Cranksgiving blends a group ride with a community food drive, offering participants a chance to give back while exploring Tacoma by bike. Riders should bring a bike, helmet, lock, pen, and a way to carry purchased items. All donations collected during the ride will support local families heading into the holiday season.

Gig Harbor Will Get National Spotlight for SUP Championships in 2026
- The Narrows Challenge will host the 2026 USA SUP National Championships in Gig Harbor, bringing the nation’s top stand-up paddlers to the Pacific Northwest September 18–20, 2026 for Technical, Distance, and Sprint races. Known for its stunning views and demanding 20K course, the event will spotlight Gig Harbor as a premier venue for elite competition and serve as a qualifier for future international teams. Race Director Tod Cole and USA SUP’s Ethan Huff will co-lead the championship, promising a world-class experience for athletes and spectators. More details and registration updates will be available at narrowschallenge.com and usasup.org.