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Hell cannot triumph over the human spirit. Born in 1922 on Vashon Island, Benjamin Wilson grew to personify the above words. After dropping out of Vashon High School, he joined the Army in 1940 and eventually was stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. After the attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941, he
Music
For many casual fans of music, there can be a rigidity to the ways in which a musician is allowed to express themselves. Without necessarily being conscious of it, the listener will pay deference to tradition and professionalism: music is made by guitars, drums and pianos, that look demonstrably how
Arts
Juried art exhibitions inevitably include a few clunkers, a few so-so works, and -- if we're lucky -- some excellent art. Sometimes the inconsistency in quality is because there were not enough good entries to choose from, and sometimes it is because the juror feels compelled to include a variety
Stage
The Cat in the Hat at Olympia Family Theater is a fun, little play that breezes through non-stop and almost constant motion for under 40 minutes with no intermission. As everyone who remembers the book by Dr. Seuss knows - and who doesn't remember the book? - there are not a
Reviews
ANNOUNCER: This week, Dutch and Jackie are transported from Olympia's bustling, Bohemian downtown to a true speakeasy style joint as they crossed the threshold into Dillinger's Cocktails and Kitchen Rum Room. JACKIE: The ambiance is delightfully swanky. A rich and plush character is set with beautiful hanging chandeliers, a distinguished
Arts
Since the Museum of Glass opened in Tacoma in 1992, it has brought cutting-edge, contemporary art to audiences each year. The museum's tilted, steel and glass cone has even become a symbol of creativity as artists collaborate in the glassblowing studio beneath it and audiences look-on nearby. The museum draws
Music
For those of you that have a mom, you know she tends to be right more often than you are. She says things like clean your room and asks you if you ate today, and when your 9-to-5s become 9-to-midnights she fights you to give yourself some of what we
Arts
Olympia, with just shy of 50,000 citizens, will spend this weekend enjoying its biannual, downtown celebration, Arts Walk. With over four times as many residents, Tacoma needs more. That's why October is Tacoma Arts Month -- but even that's not enough. The 16th annual festival stretches over six weeks, from
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Three Air Force combat controllers had been left behind. In May 1968, two North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regiments attacked the Army's Special Forces camp at Kham Duc in South Vietnam. The base had a 6,000-foot asphalt runway; wooded hills surrounded the area. In early May, the NVA occupied the hills and began to
Music
Concept albums have existed for decades, utilizing a record's full length and capabilities to tell one unifying story. Usually, though, these albums function like short stories: a band or artist gets a bug of an idea and crafts a narrative through 40 or 80 minutes of music. At their most
Arts
When walking into the art gallery at South Puget Sound Community College, the first thing to greet the eye is a curtain of hanging white porcelain shapes suspended by clear monofilament line. It is like a bead curtain, but it is not beads. It is a representation of genome sequencing.
Stage
I enjoyed opening night of Footloose at Tacoma Musical Playhouse. It's a rocking good, high-energy show with great music and dancing. The music is mostly up-tempos rock and roll blended with a touch of gospel and show tunes, and an occasional sweet love song such as the beautiful "Almost Paradise,"
Reviews
ANNOUNCER: The Southern Kitchen's downhome scratch Southern cooking is hardly a secret to anyone that's been in town long enough to ask, "where's a good place to eat?" This week, Jackie and Dutch visit what has been a mainstay since 1995 to enjoy what is often boasted as a favorite
Features
Harmon Brewing and Restaurant Company will celebrate its 20th anniversary during its annual weeklong Oktoberfest. The highlight of the week is a German-themed Brew Master Dinner Thursday, Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m. (reservations required). Owner Pat Nagle invested in the future of Tacoma 20 years ago. "Reflecting back on twenty years
Stage
"Back in the day when I was your age." This was something Grandpa always told you when he was about to tell you an epic story about something great. It was usually about how he walked to and from school, uphill both ways in the snow. Either way, you sat
South Sound Cinema
We've survived the cruelly sun-filled dystopia of summer, and have come out on the other side in the slightly darker autumn. Movies suddenly become better. With big theaters soon filling up with Oscar bait, the Tacoma Film Festival (TFF) also returns, celebrating its 12th year of existence, and its selection is
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With his security blanket over his shoulder, Linus van Pelt, the loveable Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts comic strip character, lives on in the work of Project Linus. The project got its start on Christmas Eve, 1995. In a Parade Magazine article entitled "Joy to the World," readers were introduced to a 3-year-old
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Being outside is freedom by another name. "The outdoors, a lot of times, is about freedom," Ed Bronsdon, the executive director of Outdoors for All, said in a recent news article. Begun in 1979 at Snoqualmie Pass in order to teach 15 children with disabilities to ski, the Seattle-based foundation is dedicated
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The two Fisher Houses on Joint Base Lewis-McChord are a Godsend. Families that stay at the Fisher House are under stress, perhaps far from home, and always worried about the outcome of a loved one. "Once the family truly understands that they do not have to worry about covering the cost of
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The Washington State Animal Response Team (WASART) is built for speed, comes with technical know-how, and is not afraid to get wet or go over a cliff. Comprised of volunteers, WASART is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps companion animals and livestock out of immediate crisis and dangerous situations. Originally founded in