District 3's Top 3

Tacoma Maritime Fest - July 16 and 17

Tacoma's annual celebration of the waterfront will take place July 16, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and July 17, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., at 705 Dock St.  Admission is free, and includes admission to the Foss Water Way Seaport Museum, an opportunity to make toy boats, enjoy live music and boat rides, and much more. Free shuttles will also run from the Tacoma Dome Station Parking Garage. More details are available here. 

As part of the festivities, we will celebrate the 10-year cleanup of the Foss Waterway on July 17, from noon – 12:30 p.m. on the main stage at the Tacoma Maritime Fest.

Commencement Bay, including Thea Foss Waterway was deemed one of the most polluted sites in the nation in 1983.  Under a plan accepted by the U.S. Environmental Protectation Agency, the City of Tacoma cleaned up 80 percent of the Foss, while a group of private companies cleaned up the other 20 percent.  In 2006, the City, its partners and the citizens of Tacoma completed the $105 million dollar cleanup of the Foss.

More information about the cleanup effort is available here.

Know Your Ropes  Walks-July 13 and July 27

Know Your Ropes is a unique and informative neighborhood walking tour, marked by a continuous “rope” graphic painted on the sidewalk in temporary marking paint. Know Your Ropes uses creative placemaking and community building to promote walkability in Tacoma’s Hilltop Neighborhood.  It also collects information from neighbors about important routes they use, and where they feel safe or unsafe.

The first walk this month will focus on Business in the Hilltop-Live, Work and Play!  It will be held July 13 at 6:00pm, starting at the New Look Apartments (11th and MLK) and will led by Hilltop Business Association President Kevin Grossman.

The second walk will focus on Hilltop for the Next Generation.  It will take place July 27 at 6:00pm at the People's Community Center (16th and MLK) and be led by Hilltop Action Coalition President Brendan Nelson.

Tacoma Food Truck Fest-July 24

The annual food truck fest will be held July 24 in Wright Park (501 South I St) from 10:30am-6:00pm.  Admission is free.  Click here for a list of participating trucks.

What's Going On

Ethnic Fest - July 30 and 31, Wright Park

Since 1986, Ethnic Fest has grown to become the largest celebration of culture and community in Tacoma. Voted the best festival of the South Sound, this year's Ethnic Fest takes place July 30 and 31, from noon to 7 p.m. at Tacoma's historic Wright Park. This family-friendly, free festival has grown in size over the years, and features kids' zones, multiple entertainment stages, specialty arts and crafts, food and informational vendors. You are invited to apply to participate in Ethnic Fest and join us in celebrating 30 years of culture, community and festivities.

Tacoma Pride Fest - Now through July 16

Tacoma Pride Week is taking place now through July 16. There are various events throughout the week, and a kickoff and awards ceremony took place July 8 at 4:30 p.m. at the Pantages Theatre. Rainbow Center also hosted Out in the Park, a street fair with food, vendors, live performances and more.  Out in the Park took place July 9 from noon - 5 p.m. on Pacific Avenue (between 9th and 7th streets). More information is available here.

Reminder:

City Council Meetings Temporarily Held at Tacoma Public Utilities

While work is being done on our Council Chambers, City Council meetings will take place in the Tacoma Public Utilities Auditorium (3628 S. 35th St.). The first City Council meeting held in the auditorium was on July 12. Work is anticipated to be completed by late September. 

Community Spotlight: Hilltop Artists

Hilltop Artists started in the summer of 1994 with just 20 students. Since then, Hilltop Artists has expanded into nine different programs that serve over 500 students each year. Ages 12 to 20, Hilltop Artists students have the chance to explore the glass medium through fusion, mosaics, flameworking, and glassblowing. Hilltop Artists has hot shops at Jason Lee Middle School and Wilson High School, as well as a flameworking studio at Ford Middle School. All of Hilltop Artists programs are tuition-free.

Between 2007 and 2014, 96 percent of all eligible Hilltop Artists students graduated from High School. 58 percent have gone on to Postsecondary education, 50 percent are employed, and 25 percent are doing both.

More information is available here.

Youth of the Month - Daniel Cross

Daniel Cross was born in Tacoma on Oct. 4, 1992, and raised by Steven and Doris Cross. He attended Foss High School where he excelled in football, basketball, and track and field. His favorite subjects were psychology, English, and history. 

Daniel always had an interest in the theatrical arts. Between the ages of eight and 15, he performed in church plays that his father and youth pastor directed. Shortly after graduating, he was recruited by the International Academy of Design & Technology, where he starred in multiple short films done by students and helped co-produce a few scenes in those productions. 

Daniel currently serves as the president of the City of Tacoma Youth and Young Adult Council, which was created to help youth and young adults facing homelessness. He has been a member of this organization for three years. He is also a member of the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation's Youth Philanthropy Board, which offers grants to youth organizations in the greater Tacoma and Puget Sound area that specialize in youth homelessness, youth violence and youth empowerment. 

Daniel plans to continue working with youth and young adults to help decrease the number of homeless youth in Tacoma.