Graham’s EXPO 2011 a sweet success

Posted on March 5, 2011 by brucesmith49

 

 

 The 8th annual Graham EXPO was a stellar success, with a well-attended festival Saturday that showcased many solid performances from local musicians, along with high-quality art from south Pierce County artists and artisans. Continue reading →

Posted in Bethel News, Culture, Eatonville News, Entertainment, Events, Graham News | Tagged , | 2 Comments

“I Shall Not Hate” – a book review

Posted on March 3, 2011 by brucesmith49

A book review by Judy Spiers:

“I Shall Not Hate – A Gaza Doctor’s Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity”   

by Izzeldin Abuelaish

Izzeldin Abuelaish, a Palestinian obstetrician who, despite witnessing the death of his three daughters and a niece when Israeli tank shells blasted through their home, has written a riveting account of his life’s work to forge peace between Israelis and Palestinians. 

 It is titled, I Shall Not Hate – A Gaza Doctor’s Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity. Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews, Culture, Entertainment, Remarkable men and women | Tagged | 1 Comment

Graham Fire honors its hero – Aaron Tang

Posted on March 1, 2011 by brucesmith49

 

The Graham Fire and Rescue Department lauded one of its own Monday evening when it bestowed its highest award, the Medal of Honor, to fire fighter Aaron Tang for his bravery in rescuing a wheelchair-bound woman from her burning home last September. Continue reading →

Posted in Graham News, Remarkable men and women | Tagged | 1 Comment

The Oscars – a commentary

Posted on February 27, 2011 by brucesmith49

 

For reasons I don’t fully understand, I’m drawn to watch the Academy Awards show tonight.  Perhaps it is a combination of factors – one, I don’t have a TV so I tend to watch a lot of movies.  But even more, movies in general, and certainly the stuff that was in the multiplexes this year, spoke to me more than anything else offered by the pop culture. Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Entertainment, Events | Tagged | 3 Comments

Snow and Sun reveal the Mountain in its full glory

Posted on February 26, 2011 by brucesmith49

 

The sun and clear skies that thawed-out the frozen slush on our roads Friday, also brought out the splendor of Mount Rainier.  About a foot of snow now graces the lower elevations of Mt. Rainier National Park, creating superb conditions for all winter sports, particularly snow-shoeing. Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Mount Rainier, Nature | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Record cold turns roads treacherous

Posted on February 25, 2011 by brucesmith49

 

A record-setting cold has turned two day’s worth of snow and slush on our roadways into dangerous slabs of ice. 

 Olympia Airport recorded a record-low of 8 degrees at 6:54 am on Friday morning.  The previous low had been 12 degrees, in 1962. Continue reading →

Posted in Eatonville News, Environment, Graham News, Nature, Roy News, Yelm News | Tagged | Leave a comment

Snow blankets area

Posted on February 24, 2011 by brucesmith49

 

Maybe the snow stuck to the road in your neighborhood, or maybe it didn’t – or most likely it did both – but where ever you live the Great White Stillness probably descended upon you over the past two days.  Generally, the main roads stayed passable, commuting was a little tougher, and now we go into a period of deep cold, with tonight’s temperatures forcasted to be in the teens. Continue reading →

Posted in Eatonville News, Graham News, Roy News | 3 Comments

Roy group looking for increased police protection

Posted on February 23, 2011 by brucesmith49

 

Lynn Brewer, a community activist from the Roy area, has announced several pieces of action by her group, the Roy Watch Dogs, that show some promise in gaining increased police protection for the troubled neighborhoods of rural southwest Pierce County. Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Roy News | Leave a comment

Kucinich speaks at Peace Rally in Olympia

Posted on February 23, 2011 by brucesmith49

 

US Congressman Dennis Kucinich spoke before 800 enthusiastic supporters – and hundreds more standing outside in the streets – Monday, at the Capitol Theater in Olympia.  Kucinich was the featured speaker at a Peace Rally sponsored by the Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation and the Olympia Chapter of Veterans for Peace.  Kucinich’s topic, “The True Cost of War,” was well-received.

   

Throngs waiting outside the Capitol Theater, Monday, hoping to hear Congressman Dennis Kucinich.

  Continue reading →

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Beautiful music scheduled for Bethel

Posted on February 23, 2011 by brucesmith49

 

As the Graham reporter for the Eatonville Dispatch I learned that the music programs in the Bethel School District, particularly at Graham-Kapowsin High School and Frontier Junior High, are superb.  Many concerts that I heard were at professional levels, and I enjoyed them immensely.  In fact, one night at Frontier during their Jazz Festival, I wished that the FJH all-star ensemble would re-take the stage for the Grand Finale rather than the “ringers” BSD had brought in – a competent but boring group of adult professionals and music faculty from PLU.  They could – and should – have learned something from the kids. Continue reading →

Posted in Bethel News, Events, Graham News | Leave a comment