Category Archives: Culture

A Covid Journal, Day 5, Sunday, March 15, 2020 – Welcome to the Great American Coronavirus Self-Quarantine

Posted on March 15, 2020 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith Columns like this one are beginning to appear throughout our newspapers and online, detailing the saga of so many of us in the early stages of self-protection at home. Geoffrey Fowler of the Washington Post is … Continue reading →

Posted in Covid-19, Culture, Eatonville News, Health, Politics, Self Reliance, Spirituality | 3 Comments

A Covid Journal – Day 2 of Self-Quarantine

Posted on March 12, 2020 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith March 12, 2020, 8 pm. Today has been peaceful. It’s been like a snow day without shoveling. Plus, the sun was shining – again (!) – and temperatures in Eatonville hovered near 60 degrees. So, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Covid-19, Culture, Eatonville News, Environment, Family, Politics, preparedness | 2 Comments

A Covid Journal – a report from the nation’s initial epicenter of the coronavirus

Posted on March 8, 2020 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith Friday, March 6, 2020 Since the world is freaking out about the Covid-19 virus, I thought I share a perspective on what is happening here in Washington. To begin, the epicenter of the outbreak in Washington … Continue reading →

Posted in Covid-19, Culture, Environment, Health, Politics | 5 Comments

The Bernie Revolution comes to the Tacoma Dome – and perhaps the entire nation

Posted on February 27, 2020 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith Senator Bernie Sanders came to the Tacoma Dome on Monday, Feb. 17 and spoke to a Standing-Room Only audience of nearly 20,000 folks, revealing the powerful momentum his presidential campaign has developed. Sanders was in town … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Environment, Events, Politics | 5 Comments

Philmont – the National Boy Scout Ranch cherished by millions of Americans – is put in hock to pay BSA debts

Posted on December 6, 2019 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith I was a camper at Philmont Scout Ranch when I was sixteen-years old, and it was one of the most meaningful experiences of my youth. As a kid growing up in suburban New York, I had … Continue reading →

Posted in Boy Scouts, Campfire Tales, Culture, Nature, Wauwepex | 4 Comments

Life in a Boy Scout Camp – More tales from Camp Wauwepex

Posted on November 4, 2019 by brucesmith49

By Clifton Lamar Jones Special to the Mountain News-WA The following was written after reading Bruce Smith’s accounting of his scouting history.  After reading his article I was so taken back with his heartfelt words of Camp Wauwepex and my … Continue reading →

Posted in Boy Scouts, Campfire Tales, Culture, Environment, Family, Stories from the Jounrey, Wauwepex | 17 Comments

Fatherhood in a New Age – a tale of alien abduction coming to RISK!

Posted on August 23, 2019 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith I do not know if this story is true, at least in the usual sense of that word. What I do believe is that this story has a truth, a compelling truth that lies behind the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alien Abductions, Campfire Tales, Culture, Entertainment, Environment, Folk tales and stories, Stories from the Jounrey | 7 Comments

“Giving” – A sprawling display of Nancy Hillman’s theatrical legacy – playing at the Triad Theater

Posted on July 20, 2019 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith “Giving,” Nancy Tribush Hillman’s first and only effort at writing a complete musical production, is in production this month at the Triad Theater in Yelm. It is a fitting tribute to Ms. Hillman, who has taught … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Entertainment, Yelm News | 2 Comments

Nancy Hillman – Iconic Leader of Yelm’s Theater Community – Dies

Posted on July 13, 2019 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith Nancy Tribush Hillman, the long-time director of Stage Struck Productions and the Drew Harvey Theater in Yelm, died of a stroke this week. Forever the trooper, she collapsed during a rehearsal in the Triad Theater last … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Entertainment, Yelm News | 2 Comments

Impact of murder among family members revealed in interview with Manny Silva, father of slain Tacoma woman

Posted on April 22, 2019 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith Manny Silva, the father of Lisa Melancon, a Tacoma woman killed in 2011 during a drive-by shooting, contacted the Mountain News this week to describe the impacts of his daughter’s murder. His testimony reveals how vast … Continue reading →

Posted in Bethel News, Cops and courts, Culture, Events, Family, Graham News | 4 Comments