Weekly Volcano Blogs: Walkie Talkie Blog

Posts made in: September, 2014 (79) Currently Viewing: 41 - 50 of 79

September 16, 2014 at 2:03pm

Joint Base Lewis-McChord battalions to participate in the Great American Picnic in Puyallup

Friendly rivalry is alive and well in the South Sound and next week, it'll ramp up in Puyallup.

"We are very excited to be hosting the 2nd Annual Great American Picnic this year," said Sarah Harris, Puyallup Parks & Recreation director.

The picnic, which will occur Sept. 27, is a joint effort between the city of Puyallup and the city of Sumner when they also partner with the 504th Military Police Battalion and 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion from Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Attendance will be divided by city of residence and military affiliation so that two teams will face off in flag football, softball, basketball and volleyball, as well as a tug-of-war. Puyallup residents and members of the 504th MP BN should wear a black T-shirt, while Sumner residents and members of the 13th CCSB should wear a white T-shirt. 

"We have asked city staff and members of the community to come out and play or cheer on the city of Puyallup and city of Sumner teams in order to support the troops and help welcome them into the community," stated Harris.

The afternoon will also have field games, from sack races to a water balloon toss, and even a delicious scone eating content. Food and drink will be available for purchase but everyone is also welcome to bring their own picnic lunches.

Pre-registration is recommended for each event and should be completed by Sept. 19. Residents can compete in multiple events. Puyallup residents can register at http://tinyurl.com/pk79tks and Sumner residents can register at www.ci.sumner.wa.us.   

The Great American Picnic will kick off at noon at the Puyallup Valley Sports Complex, 808 Valley Ave. NW. For inclement weather updates, call 253.841.5519 after 8 a.m. the day of the event. For more information, call the Puyallup Recreation Center at 253.841.5457.

September 16, 2014 at 2:55pm

Remembering Our POWs and MIAs: JBLM hosts commemorative ride

Thirty-three bikers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord took part in a ride honoring the 2014 POW/MIA Remembrance Week. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

The bikers showed up.

Some rode in individually; others rode in groups of two or three.

All represented Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

"It's one team, one fight, right?" commented Senior Master Sgt. Kenneth Morain as we stood in a parking lot next to Memorial Grove at McChord Field and watched as the riders gathered.

Morain welcomed the airmen and soldiers as they climbed off their Harleys and Hondas.

"I wanted to do something here at JBLM in honor of POW/MIA Recognition Day, and the opportunity to do so just presented itself," he added.

Traditionally observed across the country on the third Friday of September, it is a time for Americans to remember those who were prisoners of war (POWs) or are still missing in action (MIA) and their family members.

The symbol of the day is the POW/MIA Flag.

Designed in 1971 during the Vietnam War by Newt Heisley to honor POWs and MIAs, he created a simply black and white flag featuring a guard tower, barbed wire and the visage of a gaunt young man.

Other than the American flag, the POW/MIA flag is the only one to ever fly over the White House.

More than 78,000 Americans are unaccounted for from World War II; more than 8,100 are unaccounted for from the Korean War, and over 2,500 are unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.

"We gather here today to remember our POWs and MIA individuals," said Senior Master Sgt. Sean Judkins.

"They have displayed the core values of our Armed Forces - loyalty, duty respect selfless service, honor courage, integrity commitment, excellence and devotion to duty."

After a short safety briefing by Judkins, the riders headed out to share hot dogs and stories with veterans at the Washington State Soldiers Home in Orting.

>>> Spc. Benjamin Thibodeau, 551st Medical Logistics Company, prepares for a Remembrance Ride to the Washington State Soldiers home in Orting. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

"We ride in their name and honor," said Spc. Benjamin Thibodeau, 551st Medical Logistics Company.

For a schedule of events for POW/MIA Remembrance Week, visit www.lewis-mcchord.army.mil/calendar.html.

September 16, 2014 at 4:59pm

Nerd Alert! - Destiny City Comics, Wolf in White Van, The Trip to Italy

Michael Fitzgerald will offer a daily 15 percent discount on all graphic novels at his Destiny City Comics, opening Oct. 1. Courtesy photo

Destiny City Comics

The first day of October will find a welcome new resident to the Stadium District: Destiny City Comics. Located near Tacoma's foremost hub for literature, King's Books, Destiny City Comics will be starting out of the gate as one of the city's premier spots to find illustrated creativity. The shop will be joining newcomers such as zine-distributor the Nearsighted Narwhal in bringing more independent and varied sources of the written word to Tacoma.

Wednesday, as comics fans know, is the day when new arrivals appear at stores, waiting to be pounced on by hungry readers. The first day of Destiny City Comics falls on Wednesday, Oct. 1, so plan on coming early and often to nab product from your favorite major or indie imprint.

Wolf in White Van

In other literature news, John Darnielle has released his debut novel, Wolf in White Van. As the frontman (and often sole member) of The Mountain Goats, Darnielle has been delivering devastating indie rock for more than 20 years. For those familiar with his work, the idea of Darnielle eventually releasing a novel is far from unexpected - one only wonders why it didn't happen sooner. As a lyricist, Darnielle excelled at painting beautifully heartbreaking pictures that hinted at characters' long, deep backstories. He creates worlds with his music.

Now, for the legions of frighteningly devoted Mountain Goats fans, there is a chance to see what Darnielle can do with a more long-form expression. Already garnering overwhelmingly positive reviews, Wolf in White Van follows Sean Phillips, a man who deals with the agony of his own life by creating a sort of endless, by-mail role-playing game with players around the world. Reviewers have been mum about the lengths that this scenario might descend into the psyche, but it seems clear that tight-framed idea extends far beyond its boundaries.

Plus, role-playing games? How could Nerd Alert not cover it?

The Trip to Italy

In less intense nerd news, The Grand Cinema will be bringing The Trip to Italy to its theaters, this Friday. A sequel to the beguiling comedic travelogue, The Trip, Italy finds us once again in the company of British comedy legends Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon as they tour through Europe, tasting food and trying to prove which one has the better Michael Caine impression.

The Trip was a supremely funny and laid-back quasi-documentary, perfectly content to ride the wave of its two stars' remarkable affability. Simply put, the movie is basically just watching two funny dudes being funny together in beautiful locales. What's not to like? This is what a sequel should be: you want to spend more time with these guys? Well, here you go.

Filed under: Nerd Alert!, Books, Tacoma, Screens,

September 17, 2014 at 8:14am

5 Things To Do Today: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day, Bunco, Jazz Sound Trio, Easy Star All Stars ...

Doyle's Public House parties tonight.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 17 2014 >>>

1. It is not too early to be planning your St. Patrick's Day celebration - March 17 is six months away. To help you get in the mood - and another reason to drink a bunch of Jameson whiskey - Doyle's Public House will host its annual Halfway to St. Patrick's Day Party. The party begins with Doyle's Guinness Club toast at 5:17 p.m. All the members gather before Grand Poobah Russ Heaton, who recognizes members who have hit milestones, such as 500 pints of Guinness, while the other members tear up. After the announcement, Heaton raises a glass of the Irish Mother's Milk and toasts the members. The next Dublin On Doyle's finalist will be drawn at 8 p.m., followed with the Irish drinking bluegrass band The Rusty Cleavers. From 8-10 p.m. the weekly Knowledge Night trivia contest waits for no party, with shotty rewards.

2. Thousands of people across the country, mostly women, play Bunco, which originated as a British parlor game and came to the United States as a gambling game in the 1800s. More recently, Bunco was prevalent among housewives who would play at lunchtime while their husbands worked. Today, it has evolved into an evening social event, such is the case every third Wednesday at Morso wine bar. Kicking off with a social hour at 6 p.m., the dice roll at 7 p.m. Morso will serve a Bunco Bites menu. Expect prizes for the biggest winner and loser. Space is limited; RSVP at 253.530.3463.  

3. If you'd like to see and hear what the Arctic Circle is before it melts away, as well as Norway, Finland, Sweden and Iceland, the World Affairs Council Tacoma hosts Beth Willis and Becky Bianco who will recount their journey to theses locales, which included encounters with reindeer, hot springs, geysers and a traditional Sami Village. Their "Places You Never Expect To Go: Crossing The Arctic Circle and Above" lecture begins at 7 p.m. in Annie Wright's Great Hall.

4. The Jazz Sound Trio, aka Pacific Lutheran University jazz faculty members David Deacon-Joyner on piano, Clipper Anderson on bass and Mark Ivester on drums, perform at 8 p.m. in Lagerquist Concert Hall.

A year ago this week the Easy Star All Stars performed their opus, Dub Side of the Moon, at Jazzbones. Replacing of the cash registers on "Money" with rhythmic bong rips was brilliant. "Us and Them" was an utter showstopper in reggae. The reggae collective is back at Jazzbones to blend reggae, classic rock, dub and indie rock into one big stone groove at 8 p.m. The band with the greatest name in the world is also holding court at Jazzbones. Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad is a young group of fantastic musicians who kerplunk the one-drop pure and beautiful. Yeah sure, it's reggae, but there's no Rasta-posturing in the group's original tunes, just good, original, fun music - danceable as hell, too.

LINK: Wednesday, Sept. 17 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

September 17, 2014 at 10:18am

Moss Brothers Band to release second CD Saturday

The seeds of the Moss Brother Band were sown in in rural south Alabama when singer, songwriter, guitarists Jeff and Troy Moss plugged their guitars into amps sitting on the front porch of their family home. Courtesy photo

The Moss Brothers Band is unmistakably Southern rock, but with a surprising funk twist. The songs feature whiskey-rattled vocals telling stories of betrayal and re-connections and phenomenal guitar solos break through, just to make sure you are still paying attention to what bad-asses these musicians are.

But just because they're bad-ass, doesn't mean they're not good-hearted. In fact, "Family, Friends, Love" is their motto, and because they come from a musical family, they've affectionately named their off-stage music sessions, "Fam-Jams."

"That's how we learned to play as kids - we would get together with neighbors and just play," explains guitarist Troy Moss. "So we're continuing that with our kids and our spouses.

"Our goal is to make our music and bands a little more polished and practiced - an extension of what we do with our families," he said.

Signed last year to Maurice The Fish Records, The Moss Brothers Band celebrates their second record release, Monarch Jubiliee, at Jazzbones Saturday.

Expect musical surprises and special guests, and as Moss says, "It's going to be a wonderful party."

THE MOSS BROTHERS BAND RECORD RELEASE PARTY, 6 p.m. meet and greet, 8 p.m. show, Saturday, Sept. 20, Jazzbones, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, $10-$15, 253.396.9169

Filed under: Music, Tacoma,

September 17, 2014 at 1:03pm

Trail To Western American Art: Checking in with the Tacoma Art Museum

Remember the Tacoma Art Museum Haub Family Collection wing groundbreaking celebration last September? The new wing will officially open Nov. 15, 2014. Photo credit: Pappi Swarner

Construction of the new Tacoma Art Museum wing featuring the Haub Family Collection of Western American Art is in the final stages and the grand opening is set for Nov. 15, 2014. Leading up to the big opening, the museum continues to build enticing art experiences. The walls of the galleries are finished and have been painted a fresh white color; the new maple floors have just been finished; lighting is installed and will be customized for each gallery over the next two months. The new entry portal on Pacific Avenue with its tall bronze-framed glass doors has already opened, and new art already on view includes Andy Warhol's "Little Red Book #135," Rick Bartow's "A Mask For My Brother's Worry" and Sherry Markovitz's "Eternal Vigilance" from the ongoing "Northwest in the West" exhibition. Her sculpture is an amazing paper mache and fiberglass moose head finished in oil paint, acrylic, beads and sequins.

The museum store is operating a pop-up shop in the newly expanded lobby. The cafe is operating a snack bar on the third floor mezzanine, as construction of a new store space and restaurant renovation is ongoing.

Olson Kundig Architects assisted with the pedestal design for the Pamela Mayer Sculpture Gallery. TAM is now hard at work constructing the pedestals in house.

Julie Speidel's sculpture, "Kinetic Repose," will be installed in front of the new glass vestibule entrance on the museum's parking lot level. Speidel affectionately calls the largest sculptural component, at 13 feet tall, "Big Red" for its painted red surface.

Laura Fry, Haub curator of Western American Art, continues her development of the inaugural exhibition of the Haub Family Collection. She is planning to include approximately 130-140 works from the collection of 295. The inaugural exhibition will be titled "Art of the American West: The Haub Family Collection."

Watch this space every Wednesday for updates leading to the grand opening.

TACOMA ART MUSEUM, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. third Thursday, 1501 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, $8-$10, 5 and younger free, 253.627.6031

Filed under: Arts, Tacoma,

September 18, 2014 at 7:21am

5 Things To Do Today: Funk Night, "Fantastic Guts," Art Bus, Art + Science: Re-Purposed ...

DJ Slimrock will spin at The Brotherhood Lounge tonight. Photo courtesy of Facebook

THURSDAY, SEPT. 18 2014 >>>

1. Every third Thursday DJ Slimrock showcases the gems discovered at record shops and garage sales at The Brotherhood Lounge, beginning at 9 p.m. Tonight, Slimrock invites his favorite music teacher to rock with him: Johnny Funk Fuzz. Funk Fuzz is the owner/operator of Funk Fuzz Records inside Dumpster Values and according to Slim, Fuzz "has the deepest crates" around. Come and get a dose of some dope music and discover why Weekly Volcano voted Slimrock "Best DJ" in the 2013 Best of Olympia edition.

2. Spaceworks Tacoma welcomes its latest "Creative Enterprise," Mod Curio, with a reception from 5-9 p.m. at 313 S. 9th St. in downtown Tacoma. Mod Curio is a gallery space showcasing the work of artists Jon and Heather Almeda. Together they work in a variety of mediums ranging from photography to pottery and recycled mixed media pieces.

3. An opening reception for "Fantastic Guts: Drawing & Illustrations by Noah Josiah Struthers" will be held at Fulcrum Gallery from 6-9 p.m. "We are but bones and squishy bags of meat, a true collection of 'Fantastic Guts.' Considerable time and space were spanned to produce these works, many of which I don’t feel compelled to explain; the commonalities are evident." - Noah Struthers

4. Noel Roberts, owner of Sixth Avenue's first legal and most posh marijuana retail store Mary Mart, will host tonight's Art Bus from 5:45-9 p.m. Roberts will lead bus riders to the Maritime Festival Exhibit at Foss Waterway Seaport, Rampart Antiques, Brick House Gallery, SPUN Clay arts studio, Concrete Market, Mod Curio, Moss + Mineral, Etc and Woolworth Windows, while Miss Angie and Miss Jackie raffle off fabulous prizes. The bus departs in front of the Marriot Courtyard on Pacific Avenue.

5. Art+Sci Salon presents "Art + Science: Re-Purposed," a Pecha Kucha style event with artists and scientists at 6 p.m, in Kittredge Gallery. Pecha Kucha is actually a Japanese presentation format for speakers in which 20 slides are shown for 20 seconds each. Tonight, the format will be four talks at 10 minutes a piece. Each speaker is an artist or scientist who works in the realm of re-purposing, re-using and recycling. They are: Marita Dingus, a national artist who works with discarded material; Susan Digby, a geography professor at Olympic College; Dan Burgard, a chemistry professor at UPS; and EcoMandala creators Maia Raeder and Rachel Kalman, two UPS students.

LINK: Thursday, Sept. 18 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

September 18, 2014 at 4:07pm

Comedian Emo Philips sent the Weekly Volcano a postcard

Love, Emo

Every week the Weekly Volcano presents a round-up of the nerdy events and news happening in the South Sound and around the world. Scribes Rev. Adam McKinney and Christian Carvajal trade weeks penning the week in geek. The two actually wanted to settle it with 10 paces and turn. The trade-off was a more civilized solution.

Anyway McKinney previewed Emo Philip's Tacoma Comedy Club show in the Aug. 19, 2014 Nerd Alert! column.

Whenever a legend of comedy comes to Tacoma, it shouldn't go unheralded. Emo Philips has been in the business for almost 40 years. Since the beginning, he's been a true original, inspiring a whole generation of absurdist joke-centric comedians such as Mitch Hedberg, Demetri Martin and Patton Oswalt. His style is frequently copied, but never matched, with his odd falsetto and wandering way of delivering jokes. Emo Philips is like Steven Wright, countering Wright's philosophical deadpan with an impish, singsongy surrealism. This is not to be missed. Witness it at 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24 at the Tacoma Comedy Club.

Apparently, this column moved Philips, who sent us this postcard. ...

Love and coleslaw. Nice.

Filed under: Comedy, Tacoma, In Their Words,

September 19, 2014 at 7:33am

5 Things To Do Today: il sogna del marinaio, whiskey tasting, Forest Beutel, Cody Foster Army ...

il sogno del marinaio performs tonight at the Capitol Theater in downtown Olympia. Photo credit: Hiyori Minato

FRIDAY, SEPT. 19 2014 >>>

1. Does it matter what Mike Wattdoes? The guy has so much cred that he could spend the rest of his career covering Hanoi Rocks! tunes in a crushed velour jumpsuit and the indie kids would still wet themselves. And for good reason - this is friggin - Mike Watt, dude. Founding member of The Minutemen. Founding member of fIREHOUSE. The guy who helped give a tongue to punk rock brings latest project il sogna del marinaio to the Capitol Theater. Watt joins fellow band members Stefano Pilia and Andrea Belfi for a night of rambunctious blend of punk-prog and avant garde jazz. Not progressive enough? Japanese instrumental quartet LITE opens with your standard prog rock injected with cinematic art rock compositions. Survival knife kicks the night off at 8 p.m.

2. Doyle's Public House will host guided whiskey tasting with Travis Zinkel from Heaven Hill Distilleries from 6-8 p.m. Learn what "Bottled-in-Bond" means as well as why some whiskies are called bourbon and others are not all while sipping on some wonderful examples. Space is limited to 16, so sign-up with the bartender to reserve your space

3. Blake Shelton's "Ten Times Crazier" tour will hit the Tacoma Dome at 7 p.m. with four hours of non-stop music by the headliner and openers Neal McCoy, Dan + Shay and The Band Perry. It's rumored that McCoy, a road-tested veteran who scored his initial hits in the early 1990s, will play three short sets as bridges between the other acts. Dan + Shay's countrified arena rock will continue to Tacoma's Steel Creek American Whiskey Co. after the concert. The Band Perry trio is rumored to have a flashy light show. Shelton, of course, is a mainstream celebrity now as a star of NBC's The Voice, so expect him to be chatty.

4. As a founding member of Barleywine Revue and a member of Rusty Cleavers, Forest Beutel has had his share of carrying the torch for old-fashioned folk and bluegrass in Tacoma. Armed with a banjo and a harmonica, Beutel is releasing his debut solo album, If You Label Me, You Negate Me. Even more so than his work in other bands, Beutel's solo work values the classicism of country and bluegrass form. His songwriting is ragged and humble, covering well-worn subjects and winking acknowledgments of the tropes of the genre (mentions of dusty trails, beer and good ol' boys are aplenty). Joining Beutel for his album release show at 8 p.m. in the B Sharp Coffee House will be Squirrel Butter, a duo that also explores the sounds of traditional bluegrass and jug band rave-ups.

5. Cody Foster Army, or C.F.A., will be re-leasing their first album, Smoking Gun, on 7-inch colored vinyl with additional art and download card tonight at The New Frontier Lounge. Otherwise known as the 7-11 album, the fast and heavy album will be the highlight of the 9 p.m. show featuring, of course, CF.A., Anticulture from Everett, Agonizer from Bellingham and Deathbed Confessions from Tacoma.

LINK: Friday, Sept. 19 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

September 19, 2014 at 9:18am

Senate extends VA Child Care Pilot Program, heads to President Obama

Yesterday, the Senate passed the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014 (H.R. 5404), which included a provision to extend the VA Child Care Pilot Program - including the facility at the American Lake Veterans Hospital campus that has become an integral resource for local veterans who need to attend appointments without their children.

H.R. 5404 will now head to the president and await his signature. Approval of the provision will extend the program through Dec. 31, 2015.

Read Melissa Renahan's report on the VA Child Care Pilot Program American Lake Veterans Hospital here.

Filed under: Legislature, Military, Veterans, Health,

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News and entertainment from Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s most awesome weekly newspapers - The Ranger, Northwest Airlifter and Weekly Volcano.

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