Military Life
After more than four years of planning and construction, the dazzling, new 35,000 square-foot Pacific Seas Aquarium at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium will open Friday, Sept. 7, with a program and dedication at 9:30 a.m. The showpiece of the new facility is Baja Bay, a 280,000-gallon tank with
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There are many options for medical treatment through Tricare Prime while stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM). Tricare Prime is the medical plan that has no enrollment fees or copays for active-duty military families. In the JBLM area you have two options, the Puget Sound Military Health System which includes
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Quaint towns and fun activities surround Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Traffic can be challenging and its nice to have places to visit that don't involve getting on Interstate 5. Most people are familiar with the city of DuPont, but they are thinking of the modern, planned community of Northwest Landing with its
Military Life
Spc. Mary K. McKeand is a Stryker Systems Maintainer with 1-14 Calvary Warhorse, D Trp, FST. She visited Wolf Haven International in January of this year and fell in love with it, and their mission to preserve the habitat. "I learned about the volunteer opportunities after my first tour and Wolf
Family
Moving to a new location can be a daunting experience, especially when leaving your friends and family behind. The Lewis Community Spouses' Club (LCSC) is a great resource for military spouses to meet new people and contribute to their local community. The new year kicks off Tuesday, Aug. 21, with
Travel
A visit to the Hanford Unit of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park located in Richland, is enriching and offers a fascinating STEM tour for children, and a greater insight for adults to understanding the complexities of nuclear negotiations with North Korea and Iran. The B-Reactor National Historic Landmark is
Music
Members of the 133rd Army Band of the Washington Army National Guard spent six days in Vernon, British Columbia, rehearsing and performing in the 5th annual Okanagan Military Tattoo, which took place at the Kal Tire Place arena July 28-29. The 133rd's G7 Dixieland Band rocked it out of the
News Front
Camo2Commerce is offering two new training programs for military spouses. "Camo2Commerce is honoring the year of the spouse by launching two competitive cohorts for training in two different focus areas: nonprofit fundraising and entrepreneurship," said Michele Helfgott-Waters, Camo2Commerce Education/Special Projects Program Manager. "There is no charge to participate in these cohorts.
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Weekly Volcano readers have selected Hotel Murano as the Best Staycation. It is easy to see why. This beautiful hotel sits in the heart of downtown Tacoma in the midst of all the action. The hotel takes Tacoma's love of art glass to a new level with its museum-quality art
Features
Editor's note: The town of Steilacoom was selected by our readers as Best Hidden Gem. Our writer selected Topside Coffee Cabin as a reflection of the town's vibe. Topside Coffee Cabin, located in historic, downtown Steilacoom, is my favorite hidden gem. I began coming here before the sun started peeking out
Travel
Military families often talk about what the future holds after the military, and those talks often include owning your own business, like a bed and breakfast or restaurant. On Whidbey Island, you can find many veteran-owned businesses you can support with your vacation dollars. It also gives you a chance
Jobs & Education
Commander (R) Greg Martinez, owner of Holmes Harbor Cellars, is not your typical winemaker. He served in the United States Navy for 28 years as a pilot and flight instructor for the EA-6B Prowler and the EA-18G Growler. His call sign was "Elvis" for his musical abilities. His service in
Jobs & Education
In 2010, 1st Sgt. David Morley began working at Spanaway Fitness Center upon his return from his 2nd deployment to Iraq. He immediately felt at home in its warm and welcoming environment. "It felt like a community of members. Everyone was nice and supportive. You feel at home the first
Travel
The Eastern Washington towns of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland are situated around the confluence of the Yakima, Snake and Columbia Rivers and are known as the Tri-Cities. All those rivers make this a mecca for watersports, and with almost 300 days of sun a year, there is plenty of time
Travel
Walla Walla is a beautiful town in Eastern Washington. It's internationally renown for its more than 140 wineries. The downtown area is charming and there is such a family feel about the area. "It feels like what it was like when I was a child, riding your bike to school and
Military Life
New United States Military Academy (USMA), Cadet Candidate Rachel Forbes, began her Plebe summer, July 2, after graduating from Steilacoom High School. She is the fifth member of her immediate family to consider the Army as a career and will be the fourth to attend the academy. Her father, Col.(R)
News Front
The 133d Army Band of the Washington Army National Guard is scheduled to perform at the Okanagan Military Tattoo in Vernon, British Columbia, July 27-28. The event is a demonstration of military drumming, piping and musical skills. The 2018 event features over 500 performers from all over North America. This
Military Life
The Lewis Community Wine Club recently hosted their last event of the year with a wine dinner cooked by Chef Jan Parker, who is also a member of the club. The wine pairings were selected by members Angie Melnyk and yours truly, who have headed the club for the past
Military Life
Clover Park High School (CPHS) graduates Tiffany Gail Martin and Marcus Dion Freeman II excelled during their years at the Lakewood school. Both have military parents and thrived despite the many obstacles they faced such as frequent moves and their parents' deployments. Tiffany Gail Martin, known by her friends as Stormy,
Travel
Wenatchee, the apple capital of the world, is situated on the banks of the Columbia River and makes a great family getaway which can include the family dog. Plan to stay at the Holiday Inn Express Wenatchee, which is the most pet-friendly hotel we have ever visited. All rooms are