Community Corner

🌱 How Tacoma is celebrating Willie Stewart Sr.’s 90th birthday of service

And check out SANTA at UNITY! on the Tacoma Patch calendar

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Hey hey Tacoma! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Tacoma is celebrating Willie Stewart Sr.’s 90th birthday of service
  • How a $2.5 million Bezos grant could reshape Tacoma homelessness work
  • Thinking of riding Amtrak Cascades? Here’s why to stop in Tacoma

Also on today's calendar: SANTA at UNITY! and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in Tacomafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did one tuna say to the other after getting caught stealing files from work? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Tacomafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Thursday: Periods of rain, with a high of 52 and low of 48 degrees.
  • Friday: Remaining cloudy, temps: high: 57, low: 46.
  • Saturday: Intervals of clouds and sun, with a high of 54 and low of 50 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. How These Pierce County Nonprofits Are Celebrating a Community Leader's 90th (southsoundmag.com) — Tacoma residents are invited to honor longtime educator and civic leader Willie C. Stewart Sr., the city’s first Black principal, through a “90 Time & Treasure” giving and volunteering campaign. Four Pierce County nonprofits are teaming up, with early $90 donations matched by two foundations, to celebrate his decades of service in Tacoma schools and the wider community.
   

2. Bezos grant aims to fuel innovation for Tacoma-based homelessness nonprofit (thenewstribune.com) — A Tacoma-based nonprofit, Associated Ministries of Tacoma-Pierce County, just landed a flexible $2.5 million Bezos Day 1 Families Fund grant to fuel new approaches to family homelessness. Over five years, leaders plan to test innovative ideas, support navigation help for families, and explore permanent affordable housing partnerships with local congregations, while still relying on community support to sustain core services.
   

3. This Amtrak Route Is Even More Beautiful During the Winter for a Snow-covered Trip Through the Pacific Northwest (travelandleisure.com) — Tacoma gets a spotlight as a quieter, artsy stop on Amtrak’s scenic Cascades route, with museums, waterfront walks, and glass art just steps from the tracks. The article pitches a winter rail trip between Vancouver and Eugene, encouraging riders to hop off in Tacoma for car museums, craft beer, and hands-on glassblowing before continuing south.
   

4. Pierce County drug raids uncover illegal cannabis operation, over 2,000 plants (thenewstribune.com) — Pierce County investigators say they uncovered a large unlicensed cannabis growing operation spread across homes in Frederickson, Spanaway, and near Puyallup, seizing more than 2,000 plants and cash. Seven people now face multiple felony drug charges after a months-long investigation involving the Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police, and federal agents. The case highlights how illegal grows persist despite Washington’s legal marijuana market.
   

5. Man reportedly injured by ICE agents during Salem arrest taken to Tacoma immigration facility (salemreporter.com) — A man injured during an ICE arrest in Salem, Oregon, has been transferred to the federal immigration detention center in Tacoma after treatment at a local hospital. Advocates say his family struggled to get information on his condition, and records show he has no criminal convictions. The case raises questions about how immigration enforcement is carried out and who ends up detained in Tacoma.
   

📸 Around Tacoma

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Tacoma

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

    Sunday December 14
  • SANTA at UNITY!
    Unity of South Sound, 710 S Anderson St, Tacoma
    12:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Tacoma Shout Outs!

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Please use caution…it is dark almost 16 hours of the day, it is rainy and gray, and we have so much on our minds.
    There is shopping to be done, parties to attend, school and work and church to go to, errands to run, decorating to do, wrapping of presents and… (Nextdoor UPS East Side)
  • Hey if anyone has seen this little fella in the S Monroe area he’s been missing since Friday!
    Please contact me if you have any info please! He is 12 years old and is very shy but sweet! We love him very much! (Nextdoor South Mason Ave)
  • O'Reilly Auto Parts posted a job opening for DC Materials Handler - Outbound in Tacoma. Apply here.
  • Tempur Sealy International, Inc. posted a job opening for Material Handler in Tacoma. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Tacoma here.

Ok Tacoma! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I could get canned for this!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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