Tacoma School of the Arts (SOTA) will be trading places in downtown Tacoma this fall.
The Tacoma School Board on Thursday approved a lease for added space for the school to occupy the second floor of the historic Post Office/Courthouse building at 1102 “A” St. The space will house SOTA classrooms and administrative offices, which are now located at 1818 Tacoma Ave. S. and in another downtown building.
The school board agreed to lease the space from Power Property Consultants, Inc. for just over $1 million over the course of five years.
School district Operations Officer Sam …

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It’s time to waddle on over to University Place for the annual Duck Daze Celebration on Saturday, June 2, in the heart of the community.

New this year is the Race-A-Duck event to benefit the University Place Volunteer Center and the nonprofit group that raises money for the city parks and recreation department.

Organizers created a 160-foot-long manmade pool on the gravel parking lot in front of the library to race the ducks for prizes.

David Gallagher of the volunteer center said about 100 ducks have been entered so far; this year’s goal is more than 500. Click here …

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South Tacoma Farmer’s Market is moving out of the parking lot and into the park.

It opens for the season Sunday in its new spot on the grounds of Metro Parks’ STAR Center, 3873 S. 66th St. Market hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday through September.

On opening day, expect barbecue and baked goods, blueberry bushes, bunches of early crops from around the Sound, and bluegrass by Barleywine Revue.

The cooking demonstrations, a market favorite, will move from a tent to the STAR Center’s deluxe demonstration kitchen and will feature healthy and affordable …

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Parents Across America Tacoma (PAAT) hosts another viewing of “The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for Superman,” a documentary created in response to the pro-charter school film “Waiting for Superman.”
This film shares the stories of parents, students and teachers impacted by the introduction of charter schools to high-poverty neighborhoods.
The movie will be shown at 2:45 p.m. Saturday June 2 at the Moore Public Library, 215 S. 56th St., Tacoma. A discussion of the movie will follow. PAAT asks for a non-perishable food donation as admission to the viewing.
PAAT previously hosted a screening of the movie …

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The state Department of Fish and Wildlife no longer is in talks with a commercial seafood company interested in leasing the Puyallup Trout Hatchery.

A Fish and Wildlife official confirmed Thursday that the agency has suspended negotiations with Pacific Seafood. Heather Bartlett, state hatcheries division manager, said the action was taken because of  ”the strong negative reactions we received from the community” about the potential pact.

Officials from the state agency were set to visit Puyallup next week for a community meeting on the potential lease; it’s now been canceled.

The state has said the lease could save money at …

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Lincoln High School hosts a Hip Hop Arts Showcase Friday June 1 at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium, 701 S. 37th St., Tacoma.
The event features rappers, step teams, singers, dance crews and Lincoln High’s Drumline. Performers include Tymeless Crew, Blix Blazers Step Team, Baby Bosses, TTF-MG, Zhonzell Watson, Rajah Cartright, Erica Dennis and Julie Nguyen.
Proceeds from the evening help support the drumline and the group’s trip to Drumline Summer Camp at Central Washington University.
Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Kids under 5 are free.
For ticket and info: …

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Nearly 9 acres of forested wetlands in Puyallup now officially is in the city’s hands and will be conserved.

The property, south of the city’s Decoursey and Clarks Creek parks, includes a portion of Dead Man’s Pond. The area is home to wildlife such as the endangered western pond turtle.

The city obtained the land through the Pierce County Conservation Futures Program, which uses money from a county property tax to purchase threatened natural areas or the rights to develop those areas in the future.

A longtime Puyallup family owned the property; the Puget Sound conservation group Forterra helped …

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A District 1 neighborhood meeting is planned 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday at the Merrill Gardens assisted living facility at 123 4th Avenue N.W., in Puyallup.

Puyallup City Council members John Knutsen and John Hopkins, who represent District 1, are hosting the session. The district covers the city’s north end.

Other City Council members may also attend.