Neighborhood News
- Operation Warm Soles
- Tacoma Youth Theatre and neighboring business Mad Hat Tea have partnered to support Operation Warm Soles, a winter outreach led by Kwabi Amoah Forson. Through January 19, the community is invited to donate new warm socks, blankets, sleeping bags, and shoes to help people experiencing homelessness in Tacoma and Seattle stay warm during the winter months. Donations can be dropped off at either location at 924 Broadway in Tacoma’s Theatre District during Mad Hat Tea’s regular business hours or during Tacoma Youth Theatre events, including Winter Break Camp and public performances of Snow White in late December and early January.
- Zoo Welcomes New Friends
- Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium has welcomed a new addition to its Asian Forest Sanctuary with the public debut of Bintang, a 7-year-old Sumatran tiger whose name means “star” in Indonesian. The 250-pound male, affectionately known as Bini, arrived in Tacoma from Wildlife Safari in Oregon in November and will be visible to guests starting in December as he begins rotating through the sanctuary’s habitats. Zoo officials say Bini has adapted quickly to his new home and will plan an important role in the Association of Zoos and Aquarium Species Survival Plan, with plans to gradually introduce him to female tiger Mawar as part of a carefully monitored breeding effort. With fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers remaining in the wild and fewer than 75 in accredited North American zoos, Point Defiance Zoo says Bini’s arrival supports critical conservation work both locally and abroad.
- Puyallup Tribe Trust Board Awards Over $850,000 to Community Organizations
- The Puyallup Tribe Charity Trust Board and Puyallup Tribal Council have awarded a combined $856,150 to 60 local nonprofit and charitable organizations, according to a recent Puyallup Tribal Community Newsletter. The awards were celebrated as a gathering Monday at the Emerald Queen Casino Events Center, where Tribal Council Chairman Bill Sterud thanked recipients for their work serving the community. The donations are funded through 2024 casino revenues under the Tribe’s agreement with the State of Washington, which also supports smoking cessation, problem gambling programs, and payments to local governments for services such as fire and police protection. Since 2020, the Charity Trust Board has distributed more than $9 million to community organizations, with additional millions donated directly by the Tribal Council. The Tribe says preference is given to projects that provide direct benefits or services to Native people.
- Pierce County Libraries Expand Hours in 2026
- The Pierce County Library System will introduce new operating hours beginning Sunday, January 18, 2026, expanding weekend access at several locations to better serve busy families and community members. Under the updated schedule, Bonney Lake, Graham, and Summit libraries will add Sunday hours and be open from 10am to 6pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with extended evening hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Parkland/Spanaway, South Hill, Sumner and University Place libraries will operate seven days a week, with the change adding more weekend hours at the Lakewood and Sumner branches. Smaller branches, including Buckley, DuPoint, Eatonville, Fife, Key Center, Milton/Edgewood, Orting, Steilacoom, and Tillicum will continue weekday and Saturday service with evening hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Library officials say the new hours are designed to make it easier for customers to plan visits and access library programs and services.
Local Governance
- Local Ballots Will Be Jam Packed for Special Election in February
- Voters across Pierce County can expect a crowded ballot in a special election on February 10, 2026, with 10 of the county’s 15 school districts submitting tax measures by the December 12 deadline. All proposals are levies or bonds aimed at funding educational programs, operations, technology, safety, and capital projects, many of them renewals of existing measures set to expire after four years. The election follows a challenging budget year for several districts, including Tacoma Public Schools, which recently navigated a multi-million dollar deficit. According to Pierce County Elections, ballots will be mailed January 23, must be postmarked by election day, and results will be certified February 20. Measures will appear on ballots in the White River, University Place, Peninsula, Franklin Pierce, Puyallup, Tacoma, Orting, Fife, Dieringer, and Bethel school districts, with levy rates ranging from about $.20 to $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value and one major bond proposal in University Place reaching up to $295 million.
- Tacoma Has a New Friendship City
- The Tacoma City Council has officially designated Kochi as a Friendship City, formalizing a growing relationship between the two coastal communities and opening the door to potential Sister City status in the future. The designation was approved through Resolution 41815, which calls for a review of the partnership within five years. The move follows a memorandum of understanding signed during a Tacoma delegation visit to Kochi in November 2024. District 4 Councilmember Sandesh Sadalge, the resolution’s sponsor, said the designation reflects Tacoma’s commitment to inclusion and global connection, while Mayor Victoria Woodards highlighted opportunities for cultural, educational, and economic exchange. Planned collaboration areas include maritime and port operations, climate resilience and clean energy, and partnerships between schools, universities and arts organizations.
- Transportation Impact Fees in Tacoma
- The Tacoma City Council has approved a new funding tool aimed at supporting a safer, more connected transportation system, passing Ordinance 29082 to authorize transportation impact fees beginning June 1, 2026. The fees, assessed one time on new residential, commercial and industrial development, will help fund sidewalks, bike lanes, intersection upgrades, and other capacity improvements needed as the region grows. At-large Councilmember Kristina Walker said the program was carefully tailored after more than a decade of planning and community engagement to ensure new growth helps pay for infrastructure without shifting costs onto existing residents. The city expects the program to generate about $16 million annually, with funds directed to projects identified through Tacoma’s Transportation and Mobility Plan, Capital Facilities Program, and Equity Index. The ordinance includes exemptions and reductions for affordable housing, child care facilities, transit-oriented development, and existing homeowners and requires public annual reporting on revenue and funded projects.
- New Opioid Use Disorder Resource Library in Washington
- The Washington State Health Care Authority and the Washington State Department of Health have launched a new Medication for Opioid Use Disorder resource library aimed at helping health care providers and emergency medical services personnel confidently prescribe and administer life-saving treatments. The online library offers practical guidance, videos, printable tools, and conversation prompts to reduce stigma and address common barriers that have kept effective medications such as buprenorphine and methadone underused, despite evidence showing they can cut opioid-related deaths by up to 50 percent. State officials say the resource builds on recent policy changes, including the removal of the federal X-waiver requirement in 2023, and is part of Washington’s broader opioid response strategy funded by opioid settlement dollars. The library, hosted through the state’s ScalaNW program, is designed to make evidence-based opioid treatment a routine part of care and expand access to recovery-saving options statewide.
- Learn About Top Priorities From Our Elected Leaders
- Community members are invited to a panel discussion previewing the upcoming 2026 legislative session, featuring leaders from both parties in the Washington State Legislature. The conversation will include the House Speaker Laurie Jinkins of the 27th District and Senate Republican Leader John Braun of the 20th District, who will outline their parties’ priorities and discuss how proposed policies could impact Washington residents and local communities. The discussion will be moderated by award-winning journalist Austin Jenkins of Pluribus News and longtime host of Inside Olympia on TVW. The event takes place Tuesday, January 6, 2026 from 6:30 to 8pm at the University of Puget Sound in Schneebeck Concert Hall and is Open to the public.
Arts & Entertainment
- Vote for Best of Blues Awards
- The Washington Blues Society has updated and clarified eligibility guidelines for its annual Best of the Blues Awards in response to feedback from musicians, members, and current and former board members. The revisions include modest category changes, most notably combining Best Blues Band with the Little Bill Best Traditional Blues Band and adding a new Best Blues Rock Band category. Updated rules also provide clearer criteria for band eligibility, songwriting, recordings, visual arts, media, festivals, and lifetime honors, while reinforcing long-standing requirements such as Washington residency for individual categories and minimum performance history for bands. The society says the changes are intended to improve transparency and fairness in the nomination process while continuing to celebrate the depth and diversity of Washington’s blues community.
- Spend the Holidays at the Museum of Glass
- Spend some of your holiday weekend at Museum of Glass. They will host performances in the Grand Hall at 1pm throughout the week and weekend. Additionally, the Museum is offering By the Furnace: Hot Shop Experience workshops 12/27-12/30, as well as educational activities in conjunction with Wolf Haven International. Some of the performances include Friday, December 26: Lakewood Playhouse performs Seussical the Musical; Saturday, December 27: Kareem Kandi World Orchestra; Sunday, December 28: Wolf Haven International Educational Activity, Monday, December 29 & Tuesday, December 30: Jason Christian in the Hot Shop, Tuesday, December 30: YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties Dance Troupe; Wednesday, December 31: Rob Sabado Saxophone Performance.
Opportunities
- Casting Call for UW Student Film Roles
- A crew of film students from UW is producing a short film as part of their winter quarter assignment. They are looking to fill a few roles for their film Snout to Tail. The character descriptions include a Pastor: male, 50s, Methodist pastor, wife: female, 50s, pastor’s wife and part time butcher, and Sarah: female, late 20s, accountant. The film does come with a content warning and the commitment includes a 10-12 hour shoot on January 25, 2026. To learn more click here.
Recreation
- Plan Hunting and Fishing for 2026-2027 Seasons
- Hunters and anglers can start planning ahead, as 2026–27 hunting and fishing licenses are now on sale through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. License-year products, including hunting and fishing licenses, multi-season tags, and special hunt applications are available online, through WDFW’s mobile apps, by phone, and at licensed dealers statewide. The 2026 license year runs from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027, with current 2025–26 licenses expiring March 31, 2026. Popular options include the Fish Washington package for anglers, combination hunting licenses for big and small game, and the all-in-one Get Outdoors package for residents who plan to spend time both on the water and in the field. The Discover Pass is also available year-round, providing vehicle access to Washington state parks and recreation lands for at least one full year from the month of purchase.
- Read This Before You Polar Plunge
- Health officials are cautioning Polar Plunge participants about bacteria in the water. Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department issued a marine beach warning advisory Dec. 23 after Dec. 19 water samples showed elevated bacteria levels at three popular waterfront sites in Commencement Bay: Thea’s Park beach and Jack Hyde Park in Tacoma, and Jerisich Dock in Gig Harbor. Officials say contact with the water could increase the risk of gastrointestinal, ear or eye infections. Signs are posted at each location, and testing continues; people are urged to avoid swimming or wading until levels return to safe ranges. Health tips include keeping heads above water, rinsing off after exposure, and avoiding bay water ingestion.
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