REBEKAH CORCORAN: LOCAL VETERAN'S ARTWORK ON DISPLAY FOR VETERAN'S DAY >>>

Tacoma Art Place - the nonprofit art center located in Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood - hosts the bronze and copper works of local veteran Charles Minton through the end of the month. His work is amazing. He first draws the artwork on transfer paper by hand and then hammers and crafts every detail into intricate designs.

As a veteran, Minton is well aware of the struggles and joys of military life. He gives back to the military community in several ways. One of the ways he does this is by honoring military members who are killed in action. He donates his time and his artwork to create individualized pieces for these heroes and provides them to Fort Lewis.

TAP will be honoring all veterans during Minton's reception on Veteran's Day from 5:30-7:30 p.m. TAP encourages veterans and their families to come to the reception as well as check out what TAP has to offer.

If you are a TAP member, you are invited to a special member's only viewing of Minton's work with Washington state's First Gentleman, Mike Gregoire at 1 p.m. on Veteran's Day. If you are not a member, you can join at the door.

[Tacoma Art Place, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1 p.m. members only reception, 5:30-7:30 p.m. public reception, 1116 11th St., Tacoma, 253.238.1006]

NEWS TEAM: GOOD MORNING SOUTH SOUND >>>

Mixed-use Centers: Tacoma approves regulations to allow taller buildings.

Bob Olsen Comes Clean: He punked City Hall back in ’59.

Military Family Leave Act of 2009: Proposed legislation guarantees time off for military families.

Google Gang up: Microsoft and Yahoo strike deal.
http://www.techflash.com/microsoft

Ticker: Top Dem aide denies secret deal.

Dr. Conrad Murray: Issues!

Photograph: swallow flies through two-inch gap at 35 miles per hour.

This Probably Will Not Help…

NEWS TEAM: GOOD MORNING SOUTH SOUND >>>

Not Good: U.S. Geological Survey found earthquake fault stretching from Victoria, B.C., to Yakima, crossing the Cascade Mountains.

Flexible Tolling: The key to solving our congestion.

Obama Nation: Bah humbug grumbles Cheney.

North Korea: Warns ships to stay away from coastline missile base.

Try To Run Us Over Will Ya: Five police officers caught on videotape beating a suspect following a high speed chase.

Catholics Should Protest This Instead: Nine-year investigation discovers rampant sexual abuse, humiliation and beatings in Catholic-run Irish reform schools.

Your Daily Inspiration

STEPH DEROSA: FORT LEWIS ROLLER DERBY >>>

Three words for you: blood, bitches and beer. No, I’m not talking about my last evening out with The KAke, I’m talking about Ft. Lewis’ newest weapon of choice â€" the Fort Lewis Rollergirls. We’ve got a new roller-kid in town, and she’s not about to skate in quietly.

The league will be composed of females interested in skating, but that doesn’t mean you have to know how to skate. It also doesn’t mean you have to live inside the Fort Lewis gate. Nov. 29 from 6-8 p.m. in the post’s Summit Arena, the Fort Lewis Rollergirls will hold their first official “meet & greet.” They are looking for rollergirls, referees, and volunteers.

Hailing from Fayetteville, N.C.’s Rogue Rollergirls, Tamazon is one of the masterminds behind this new group of vixens. I spoke with Tamazon about what the girls can expect during the informational meet & greet.

“We will show the girls a little demonstration of roller derby, tell them what they'll learn and answer questions,” she explained.

She is looking into how civilians will be able to get past the Main Gate, and is willing to pass on her phone number to anyone who needs it in the meantime for admittance that evening. And by “anyone” I don’t mean “perverted men.” Brad Allen â€" I’m looking at you.

MICHAEL SWAN: DISSECTING FORT LEWIS >>>

The SR 704 Cross-Base Highway Project is underway. Ceccanti, Inc. Construction will be dodging Humvees as it builds the new highway that will connect Spanaway with Interstate 5. Follow the fun here.

DANIEL BLUE: MEET DREW SAPIRO >>>

Drew Sapiro moved to downtown Tacoma in July of 2007.  He is currently a staff sergeant in the Air Force stationed at McChord Air Force Base right here on the outskirts of our lovely city. He parks his silver sporty Volvo in the garage of the Court 17 condominiums near the Tacoma Convention Center Downtown and seems to disappear for "work" for several weeks at a time. 

Drew and I have a mutual understanding about the military, we talk about it in respectful tones, each curious as to the others opinions and careful about how we are coming across.  The Fact is, Drew places his life on the line. He is willingly entering into danger.  While neither of us seem sure about the reasons our government has for putting him into that danger, Drew seems sure that he is doing it for people he meets in America. 

I found on a sunny day in the park with a Frisbee that Drew is an empathetic and generally peaceful person.

Some may argue that our way of life isn't worth protecting, but Drew is a real person who is protecting it with his own.  I'm glad I live in a country where our differing opinions don't put us on different sides of the law.  I hope he comes home safe.

KEN SWARNER: GO AIR ARMY >>>

Though it seems to be “all quiet on the Western front” at Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base, officials announced earlier this month that the two installations will merge in 2009.

According to a law passed in November of 2005, Fort Lewis and McChord, as well as 10 other active duty installations, will be combined with one base of the combined pairs assuming responsibility for base operating support functions and the operations and management portion of sustainment, restoration and modernization. Here, that installation is Fort Lewis.

For years, comments from Fort Lewis and McChord fell along the lines of everything is still in the planning stages with Base Realignment and Closure.   

In a performance work statement issued by Fort Lewis’ Contracting Office in 2006, the report stated that a “Joint Base Lewis-McChord implementation study was accomplished between 28 July and 15 November 2005.”

Results of that study have yet to be made public.