Remember the ice skating scene in A Charlie Brown Christmas? The whole Peanuts gang glides over the ice of a small pond as jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi sets the tone. Like Charlie Brown's fictional hometown, Tacoma boasts a great place to skate right in the heart of downtown. The Franciscan Polar Plaza ice rink at Tollefson Plaza hosts hours of public skating sessions across the street from the Tacoma Art Museum. While you won't catch many snowflakes while skating at Polar Plaza, you'll get the benefits of a nicely maintained ice surface while still enjoying the fresh outdoor air - something even Snoopy would appreciate.

To accompany the new "Art of the American West" exhibit in the new Haub Family Collection wing at TAM, the Weekly Volcano presents live bluegrass, country and old-timey bands every Saturday night at the ice rink. The Cottonwood Cutups kicked off the music series Saturday, performing a mix of country, old-time, ragtime, punk, bluegrass, rock and jazz while skaters fell on their asses. It was a hoot.

If your memories of skating date back to the original airing of A Charlie Brown Christmas, make this holiday season your year to get out on the ice again. Strap on those sturdy rental skates and step gingerly onto the ice. Feel the live music and the burn in your thighs as you circle the rink. Just ignore those creaky knees for now and let yourself be a kid again.

Southern rock band SweetKiss Momma is up at the ice rink next, performing from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29. In the meantime, enjoy a few photos from the past Saturday's down home holiday hoedown.

SEE ALSO

The backstory and band schedule for the Weekly Volcano's Rhythm & Ice music series at the Franciscan Polar Plaza ice rink

Financial stress comes almost as easily as the joy and happiness holidays bring to families. Reducing financial stress was the primary reason dozens of members of the Washington National Guard and Washington Military Department came together this morning at Camp Murray to get some exercise and help provide meals to accompany the turkeys arriving at Murray next week. Operation Turkey Drop provides complimentary holiday turkeys to servicemembers during the Thanksgiving week. The Washington National Guard's Family Programs has been a major recipient for this program and, for the third year in a row, has once again added in all the "fixings" - with the help from their guardsmen. The annual Turkey Trot 5K run for the Washington National Guard encourages all participants to bring a non-perishable food item to the run.

After this morning's run, the Family Programs staff staged bags with the donated food items as "sides" to accompany the forthcoming Operation Turkey Drop turkeys.

"The event is a great way to start Friday off on the right foot and it truly is amazing to see all of the canned goods piling up," said the Turkey Trot's NCOIC and Washington National Guard Suicide Prevention Program manager, Staff Sgt. Adam Zangenberg. "I know the soldiers really enjoyed dressing up in their hunting gear as well."

"Wear Your Favorite Hunting Gear" was this morning's theme - and there were plenty of outfits that weren't hard to miss, even if they did blend in to the scenery. These ongoing themed-runs are a low-pressure way to encourage physical fitness and assist in building the morale of the Washington National Guard.

"There were plenty of smiles from the sergeant majors down to the specialists," said Zangenberg. "I even had one civilian, who retired a while ago, tell me he hasn't ran this long in years."

With plenty of hunting outfits and even a break in the morning rain during the run, the Camp Murray Turkey Trot provided the perfect venue to conduct physical fitness in a fun setting, all for a meaningful cause.

"Military families will get to benefit from all the food collected and even just one can of food makes the run worthwhile," Zangenberg said. "We support our service members throughout the year and this was a great way of saying thanks during the Thanksgiving holiday season."

2014 CAMP MURRAY TURKEY TROT RESULTS

5K around the perimeter of Camp Murray

MALES:

1^st: Sgt. 1^st Class Sappington - 18:34

2^nd: Sgt. 1^st Class Rushing - 18:35

3^rd: Capt. Goertzen - 20:35

FEMALES:

1^st: Sgt. Waponoski

2^nd: Sgt, 1^st Class Schlueb

3^rd: Master Sgt. Bluff

The traditions of military Thanksgiving dinners were borne out of necessity. In earlier times when travel options were limited and the continuation of training took precedent over time off, most servicemembers remained on duty during the holidays.
With times of war and overseas duty as exceptions, most military members today are afforded the opportunity to travel home for the holiday and gladly oblige. Still, some are required to work, and some choose to remain at installations for various reasons. Those who do are the objects of a longstanding and rich military tradition.

The Association of the United States Army and Pacific Lutheran University would like to honor and thank those troops celebrating Thanksgiving in the South Sound. The university based in Tacoma's Parkland neighborhood will host 120 Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldiers for Thanksgiving dinner at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26. AUSA will pay for the meals.

Here's what PLU has to say in regards to the special dinner. ...

Read more...

Volunteering as tribute, this is Nerd Alert, the Weekly Volcano's recurring events calendar devoted to all things nerdy. I myself am a Star Wars fan, mathlete, and spelling bee champion of long standing, so trust me: I grok whereof I speak.

THURSDAY, NOV. 20

Despite the enduring success of Chess and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, perhaps no geek musical ever has been more popular than Little Shop of Horrors. Let's face it, Audrey (I) and Seymour speak to the dweebs in all of us. He just wants to grow a man-eating plant, and she just hopes she'll survive another date with her sadistic boyfriend. OK, so maybe they're not terrific role models. The point is, I for one never get tired of seeing it live on stage, perhaps because the original finale is grimmer than the version we know from the 1986 film adaptation. Frank Oz, Muppeteer, Jedi Master and director of that movie, even shot the stage ending, but it tanked with preview audiences. (A black-and-white workprint of that reshot conclusion was unearthed a few years ago and included in recent video releases.) Anyway, North Thurston High completes its run of the show this weekend. It's always fun to watch fresh-faced adolescents evoke bloodlust and sadomasochistic relationships on stage. "That thing went bang, kaboom, and he's havin' some fun now." 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, North Thurston High School, 600 Sleater Kinney Rd. NE, Lacey, $6-$10, 360.412.4800

When last we left our heroine Katniss Everdeen, she'd just been yoinked by insurgents and informed storm troopers under the command of President Snow (Donald Sutherland) burned her home state, District 12, to the ground. This was followed by some of the finest eyeball acting in cinema history, courtesy of America's klutziest sweetheart, Jennifer Lawrence. Fellow Hunger Gamers Peeta and Johanna (Jena Malone, in a memorably sexy performance) were captured and taken to the Capitol, where they'll be used as pawns against a rising rebellion. The success of this series' previous installment, Catching Fire, was good news for anyone who wanted book three, Mockingjay, to be lavishly envisioned, bad news for anyone who wanted it to fit into a single holiday movie. So Thursday night marks the sneak opening of The Hunger Games Colon Mockingjay Em Dash Part Numeral 1 Comma Electric Boogaloo, and thank Suzanne Collins and Lionsgate we only have one year to wait till the grand conclusion in Part 2.

Speaking of long, goofy titles, Disney recently announced Star Wars, Episode VII will be henceforth known as Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The phrase "Episode VII," in fact, appears only in the December 2015 installment's iconic opening crawl. It's hard to complain about that subtitle, actually, to the extent that even Internet haters have given up trying. Instead they've returned to making troglodytic fools of themselves over Gamergate.

This being MY last Nerd Alert before Black Friday, it's time to offer geeky gift suggestions. And hey, if you've enjoyed this column these last few years, far be it from me to restrain you from buying any of this fine swag for your humble commentator!

Let's start with the Blu-ray of the year: Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy comes loaded with hours of special features, including more of respawned Groot and another '70s classic from Star-Lord's Sony Walkman. True, the movie won't hit video till Dec. 9, but feel free to preorder it for me, I mean a loved one, right now.

If for some bizarre reason your gamer buddies don't yet own Titanfall, now's your chance to pay it forward till Halo: Spartan Strike hits Dec. 12. Wort, wort, wort!

It's a year old, but I for one would swoon over the gift of Battlestar Galactica Vault: The Complete History of the Series, 1978-2012, an abundantly illustrated coffee table compendium that follows the saga all the way from its origins as a cheesy Star Wars knockoff through Caprica and Blood & Chrome. And if you know what Blood & Chrome is, then you're probably a superfan who should just buy the frakkin' thing for yourself.

Until next week, may the Force be with you, may the odds be ever in your favor, and so say we all.

SUNDAY, NOV. 16 2014 >>>

1. Clay "Uncle Snap" Sharpe and Brian "Rooster" King are The Lacs (Loud Ass Crackers), a hip-hop duo from Georgia who proudly tout redneck ideals - blacking out on Wild Turkey, kicking up mud in their four-wheel drives, living in a country boy's paradise with "wild women in white T-shirts" - and infuse their sound with Southern pop rock swagger. They are joined by local country band Aces Up at 8 p.m. in Steel Creek American Whiskey Co. in downtown Tacoma.

2. Christmas is coming! You can tell because Sirius radio has turned the holiday carols switch on. Get into the Yuletide spirit early with Christmas carols by Karen Thomas and Seattle Pro Musica. Seattle Pro Musica, one of America's best choirs, brings a Gallic flair to Christmas with Christmas motets by Poulenc and Villette, medieval and Renaissance Christmas music and traditional French Christmas carols. If you're a fan of early music, come all ye faithful to St. John's Episcopal Church at 3 p.m. and listen to them ding dong merrily on high.

3. Brazilian soul/jazz collective EntreMundos Quarteto will bust out "diverse and groovy" tunes led by the silky vocal stylings of Adriana Giordano at 5 p.m. in the Marine View Church in Northeast Tacoma.  Leading with a deep passion for the Brazilian music of her homeland, Giordano sings with a mesmerizing lyricism that is infectious, enthusiastic and authentically heartfelt.

4. On the comedy spectrum, Hari Kondabolu sits far opposite from your Daniel Toshes and Dane Cooks. The former immigrants' rights organizer stays true to his progressivism with material aimed at that enlightening/entertaining sweet spot. He has staked a place in the smart-comedy revolution that refuses to attack marginalized groups for cheap laughs. Kondabolu is joined by comic Elicia Sanchez at the Olympia Film Festival's Closing Night festivities at 8 p.m. in the Capitol Theater.

5. Tacoma son Joe Rosati is back in town shooting a new film, Jack-A Short Film. In true Rosati fashion, "Jack has had a few major things not go the way that he expected them to. Now, he somehow gets away with those things you just ‘can't' do." Scenes will be shot at 10 p.m. in The Valley, the revitalized pub in the Tacoma Dome District. Rosati and the film crew invite the public to be a part of the film, with filming consuming the joint until closing. Go, be in a movie, but for heaven's sake, don't look at the camera.

LINK: Sunday, Nov. 16 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

First things first: Yes, this is a real movie. No, you did not pass out in a snow drift, the friendly visage of Kirk Cameron beckoning you toward eternal salvation. This is a production that almost certainly involved cameras and crew and some sort of catering company to keep said crew motivated to tell the story of how atheists and the government continue to crusade against your god-given right to say, "Merry Christmas."

I've personally seen two Kirk Cameron-starring religious vehicles (the first two Left Behind movies), so the sudden presence of Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas doesn't quite surprise me. What does surprise me is the tone of this trailer, which must set a record for the time it takes for our atheist strawman to get knocked down by our Christian hero's impeccable arguments. Christian movies, like this one, always have atheist strawmen who need to see the light, but this one seems to be depicting the debate at light-speed.

Kirk Cameron stars as Kirk, and Saving Christmas' writer/director Darren Doane costars as Christian, who is having a crisis of faith. Sitting in a car, together, Christian lays out all the things that are wrong with the holiday (the Christmas tree is based on a Pagan tradition, Jesus wasn't born in December, etc.), while Kirk Cameron condescendingly wonders about what phrases like "season's greetings" even mean. Doane's manic performance feels like a man doing his best impression of Robin Williams riffing, so I can now also blame Saving Christmas for making me think of how much I miss Robin Williams.

Once Christian is shown that Christmas really is all about pretty lights and jubilant breakdancing, everything's in the clear. Which makes me wonder just what the rest of the movie is. If you want to see a truly batshit take on the "War of Christmas" genre of film, I'd suggest Last Ounce of Courage. That one has a cowboy Jesus ghost, so it's automatically better than this garbage.

Thanksgiving can be a difficult time for families struggling financially. The Yelm Food Cooperative is seeking to ease that burden for up to 125 local families during its annual "Feed a Family - Give the Gift of Gobble" campaign, which runs through the end of the month.

In its fifth year, the campaign raises money through donations, then purchases ingredients for a home-cooked turkey dinner for six, including a naturally grown turkey, organic vegetables and potatoes, stuffing mix, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, pie fixings and more.

"There's everything they need, even the onions and butter," said Andrea Levanti, outreach coordinator for the Yelm Food Cooperative.

The Thanksgiving dinner ingredients are delivered to nominated families by members of the cooperative, and the families prepare and enjoy the meals in their own homes and on their own schedule.

Last year, the co-op provided meals to 106 families, 20 of which were military. The organization is raising the bar this year and hopes to feed at least 125 families, including 25 military families.

To do this, the organization needs to raise at least $8,000. A contribution of just $65 provides ingredients for a hearty Thanksgiving meal for a family of six - with leftovers. All contributions - from individuals as well as area businesses - are welcome and appreciated.

In addition to raising funds, the co-op is looking for families who could benefit from the program this Thanksgiving. 

"We try to reach all parts of the community through Gift of Gobble, including people facing financial hardship, or people dealing with a serious illness or a death in the family," Levanti said. "We also support organizations that are dedicated every day to helping others, like churches, at a time of year when there's so much need that they can readily identify."

If you know of a family in need, nominate them by sending an email to yelmfoodcoop@gmail.com. The deadline to nominate families is Nov. 17.

The Yelm Food Cooperative is a nonprofit, 501 c(3) that includes the Yelm Food Cooperative, the Yelm Farmers Market and the Community Food Education and Community Gardens Programs. It works to create a "vibrant state of health for everyone by providing ways to obtain clean, wholesome and natural foods," Levanti said. Members strive to support a network of local, community and regional environmentally responsible farmers and small-scale sustainable food sources through farmer's markets, community gardens and more.

For more information about nominating a family or contributing to this year's Gift of Gobble, send an email to yelmfoodcoop@gmail.com or stop by the Yelm Food Co-op at 308 Yelm Ave. E., inside Gordon's Garden Center, in Yelm.

Military families needed!

Do you know a military family struggling financially this Thanksgiving? Is your battalion or unit looking for ways to help its soldiers? The Yelm Food Co-op would like to help.

"It's a priority for us to include many military families," Levanti said, "to show in some small way how much we appreciate what they do for all of us."

To nominate a servicemember or for more information about partnering with the Yelm Food Co-op to help soldiers in your unit, email yelmfoodcoop@gmail.com. Hurry! The deadline for nominations is Nov. 17.

Remembrance is a simple experience.

At exactly 11 a.m. at the War Memorial Park in Tacoma, several hundred veterans, family members, friends and a handful of elected officials met on a cold and windy morning overlooking the Narrows Bridges to remember all veterans.

"We are here to pay honor to those who have served," said Bill Baarsma, a former mayor of Tacoma.

The Tacoma Historical Society and the Edward B. Rhodes/Parkland, Post 2 American Legion presented the eighth annual Day of Remembrance Service.

>>> Cadet Senior Chief Petty Officer Chris Godfrey stood at attention during the service. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

"This is becoming a wonderful tradition," comment Col. Andy Leneweaver, USA (Ret). "It's also interesting to note that this ceremony is the only one being done within Tacoma."

Washington Army National Guard soldiers and Stadium High School Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps carried the colors.

>>> Approximately 250 veterans, family members, friends and elected officials attended the eighth Day of Remembrance Ceremony. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

The Brass Unlimited played one patriotic song after another, the notes sometimes becoming lost in the high winds.

Speakers were short and to the point as they thanked veterans for their service.

For one veteran, the ceremony by the Narrows brought a wistful smile.

"It is good to be remembered," said Charles Johnson, a 94-year old World War II veteran of Omaha Beach.

>>> Charles Johnson, a 94-year old Army veteran of World War II and Omaha Beach, smiled broadly during the ceremony. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

TUESDAY, NOV. 11 2014 >>>

1. The historical epoch of Armistice Day began with the Nov. 11, 1918, signing of a ceasefire between Germany and the Allied powers of World War I. President Woodrow Wilson initiated it. In the South Sound, we're reminded of war's impact more often than people in most other cities. But even so, it's not often enough. Our freedoms, our heritage and the way of life we enjoy today are made possible because of our military veterans. Today's 96th anniversary of Veterans Day honors all of America's veterans for their patriotism, service and sacrifice. And for their families, there is no better time than now to recognize them and give thanks for the remarkable sacrifices they have made. For stories and events honoring our local veterans, visit our Veterans Day section.

2. The opening line of Awake: The Life of Yogananda may serve as a general barometer of how viewers will receive this documentary about the revered titular yogi: "I was conscious in my mother's womb." Surely the film will be sought out by disciples of the meditative and (intendedly, at least) deeply spiritual practice of yoga, and they might drag along some skeptics. The former will gasp at the revelation; the latter will snicker. And those who thought they were open-minded will raise eyebrows that may remain continuously arched for the next 86 minutes. Catch the film at noon, 2:15 and 7 p.m. in The Grand Cinema.

3. Nov. 11, 1889, President Benjamin Harrison signed the proclamation admitting Washington to the Union and, with this year marking Washington's 125th anniversary, the Washington State Historical Society and the Office of the Secretary of State are hosting a celebration to honor the milestone from 1-4 p.m. in the State Capital Museum. The event will feature a re-creation of the telegram delivery that announced Washington's statehood at 3:09 p.m. making it precisely 125 years ago, along with music by The Total Experience Choir, Kim Archer and The Oly Mountain Boys, dancing by breakdancers and square dancers, plus speeches, exhibits, cake and more.

4. Have you been enjoy the 11 days leading up to tonight's 1111 Fest? Of course you have. The Peterson Bros. 1111 joint on Hilltop Tacoma has hosted a different brewery since Nov. 1. Tonight, it all aligns into one huge party with live music, raffles and beer.

5. If the music scene in Orange County, California, has one iconic figure, it's Social Distortion. From the first wave of OC punk bands, Social D were initially one of the more ambitious ones, recording several sides of what would become self-defining classics: "The Creeps (I Just Wanna Give You)," "Moral Threat," "1945," "Playpen," and the song (and album) that would've become archetypes no matter what county they were made in. Social D guitarist Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham and bassist Brent Harding will perform at 7 p.m. in Pint Barn.

LINK: Tuesday, Nov. 11 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Veterans Day can be described simply as the day set aside to honor our country's veterans.

"This is about service, about the sacrifices that give us our rights, liberty and environment," explained Lt. Gen. Stephen Lanza this afternoon to the student body of St. Francis Cabrini School.

Invited by the school to speak, the commander of I Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord arrived with his wife, Madeline, and without an entourage.

The first person he shook hands with was a veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

"Thank you for your service," Lanza said.

Soon surrounded by students wearing red, white and blue and waving flags, Lanza spoke about the need to remember the service and sacrifices of our nation's veterans. 

"This day of honor began on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918," he began.

During his remarks, a couple of first- and second-graders asked questions.

Without breaking stride and wearing a big smile, Lanza took the time to answer their questions - but with an enduring message to his young audience.

In talking about those who have sworn an oath to uphold and protect the Constitution, Lanza closed by quoting President John Kennedy.

"A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers."