We here at Word on the Street are always interested in Africa news, so I’m passing this along: The Save Darfur Coalition is teaming up with Doyle’s Public House and King’s Books to host a public benefit to help raise awareness for the genocide occurring in western Sudan.

Here’s the schedule:

Friday, 6:30-8 p.m. – Community discussion at King’s Books at 218 St. Helens Ave. in Tacoma.

Saturday, 2-11 p.m. – Live music, silent auctions and raffles at Doyle’s Public House at 208 St. Helens Ave. in Tacoma. The local bands scheduled to play include Blanco Branco,

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Think the the folks in Bonney Lake are the only ones battling (shock! outrage!) bikini espresso stands?

Apparently some people in Snohomish County equally have way too much time on their hands.

I received this neat picture from a reader last week. Don’t know if this is common or not, but an osprey has apparently built its nest atop one of the light standards at the South End Recreation Area.

He watched it leave the nest and return with dinner for its little hatchlings. One of the other spectators at the game he was attending said the lights might keep the little ones warm.

Kinda neat, huh?

Tonight I’m going to be on a ridealong with the Larchmont Safe Streets neighborhood patrol.

It’s part of a bigger story I’m writing for Thursday’s paper about the patrol academy that trains residents and about how they work with authorities to make their neighborhoods safer.

Want to know if your block (or your buddy’s) lies within the boundaries of the new Community Based Services area?

Click the map to find out.

Garet and Leyda Greenwood are heading on a family camping trip to southwestern Utah in a few weeks. That means plenty of walking and hiking lie ahead.

"We thought we should do something to get them used to walking around a lot," Leyda said Saturday. "This is our team-building experience today,"

So the couple led their 13-year-old son, Zane Lindsay, and a family friend, 13-year-old Tucker Wilde, on a search for various checkpoints throughout Gig Harbor as part of the Read more »

I’ll be at the Gig Harbor Street Scramble this morning. Check back for some photos and the story.