TACOMA MAMA: ADOPT A SCHOOL >>>

Hunt Middle School in Tacoma opened in 1958. The school's plywood based flat-roofed design was hailed in the press at the time as "imaginative" and "cost-saving."  Today the roof lies in shreds, as mold and mildew seep through fresh coats of paint.  Teachers report frequent illnesses, and suspect the school-wide mold may be to blame. Kids take rusty showers in the school's decrepit locker rooms, while their librarian shifts freshly donated computers around the library, dodging leaks.

This is the state of one of the schools in our community, in 2009.  It wasn't destroyed by a hurricane or a terrorist attack, but by our failure to invest in our own future.

Editor note: For more information on how to adopt Hunt Middle School, read Tacoma Mama here.

Tacoma Mama also snapped shots of Baker and Stewart middle schools. Not pretty.

MATT DRISCOLL: FUNDING TACOMA SCHOOLS IS VITAL>>>

This just in from Marty Campbell, who's leading the charge to pass the Tacoma School Bond Measure on March 10.

TACOMA, WA, FEBRUARY 23, 2009: Today the Tacoma-Pierce County Association of Realtors have endorsed the Tacoma School Bond Measure on the upcoming March 10th ballot.

Cheryl O'Brien, 2009 President of TPCAR said "We realize that Schools are an important part of our community and we are proud to be supporting this bond measure."

In addition to their endorsement, they sent a $1000 check to fully show support for Tacoma Schools and the Tacoma Community.

They believe, as do many other groups and organizations, that this measure will provide much needed renovations and upgrades to schools in the Tacoma School District that are rapidly deteriorating.

Check out the Weekly Volcano this Thursday for our stance on the Tacoma School Bond Measure. (Here's a hint: We think reading is important.)

MICHAEL SWAN: FIVE-POINT INWARD-FACING CRUSH STRATEGY >>>

Public Image Ltd./Killing Joke/NIN/Pigface drummer and owner of Invisible Records Martin Atkins give his, well, energetic seminar on how to tour, make money and basically survive in the music business.

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight

MATT DRISCOLL: WE'RE FINALLY BECOMING ORGANIZED >>>

Believe it or not, the fine folks down at Tacoma School of the Arts have sent us an intern. We’re not exactly sure what they’re thinking, but we’ll take it. There’s no sense fighting free work. Our intern is Krista Curry, and for the next three weeks she’ll part of the Weekly Volcano family â€" meaning she’ll be writing a little, taking some pictures and fetching coffee when our caffeine levels fall below desired thresholds. This is going to be awesome!

We thought we’d give Krista a chance to introduce herself. Here’s what she had to say:

Welcome aboard, Krista!

STEPH DEROSA: URBAN GOURMET CLASS >>>

At least six times a month Urban Gourmet & Garden opens its back kitchen for normal people like you and me who like to pretend they can cook. Local chefs from all areas of culinary expertise don the white apron, roll up their sleeves, and pound out some recipes for basic instruction that anyone on any cooking level can follow. Themes such as “Handmade Ice Cream,” “Grillin’ Lite,” and “Italian Seafood Dinner” are just a few among their wide selection of creative cooking classes.

This Saturday Urban Gourmet hosts a hands-on “Handmade Pasta” class with Chef Traci Garrett for an all-inclusive fee of $65. The classes have a history of feeding you more food than Michael Phelps’ daily diet and more wine than a bored housewives’ book club meeting; so don’t go thinking the $65 isn’t worth every penny. Bring your mom or bring a date, but you better hurry in to Urban Gourmet and reserve a spot for one of their upcoming classes â€" there are only 12 spots per class, and they fill up quicker than lager turns to piss.

[Urban Gourmet, 2602 B Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.3111]

SUZY STUMP: PLANT A BEER NUT DAY >>>

Is your wisteria wilted? Your monstera morose? Has your beer tree toppled?  Take that problem plant down to Rusty George Creative. Today is Plant A Beer Nut Day and the downtown Tacoma advertising agency has tips to help your beer tree grow.

Show off the fruits of your labor at their Beer Garden Party Aug. 22 at their office. They want to see your crop.

MATT DRISCOLL: GRANT WRITING 101 >>>

If Bates Technical College in Tacoma doesn’t offer a grant writing program, they probably should. It seems they’re pretty good at it.

Bates just sent out a letter to all press types in the area with the news that several recent grants the school has received are going to change and improve the work the technical college is able to do.

Thanks to a grant from the state, on May 1 Bates will begin implementing IBEST (Integrated Basic Education and Skill Training) into their career education programs. Basically, IBEST allows qualified basic skills students to complete basic education, get their GEDs and learn English as second language while at the same time working towards a degree from Bates and preparing for employment.

“Basic skills students often struggle to follow lectures and textbook assignments in the technical classroom.  In the I-BEST program, basic skills instructors and career education faculty will work together to integrate basic skills competencies into technical programs to better ensure student success,” says the press release. “Many of Bates programs require trades-related skills, such as welding.  In the I-BEST program, students can concentrate on improving their math skills while acquiring welding competencies and apply those credits toward a certificate and degree to transition more easily into a skilled trade such as machining, welding, boat building,  sheet metal or  HVAC maintenance.”

Bates also announced today that they’ve received an opportunity grant from the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges that will allow the school to offer a second full-time swing-shift machinists program beginning in the Fall 2008 quarter. This grant is designed to allow low income adults receive training intended to lead to high demand jobs.

A third and similar grant will go towards supporting low income adults enrolled in Bates’ welding, facilities maintenance engineer and truck driving programs â€" all considered fields of high demand.