South Tacoma's new STAR Center to debut this weekend

There's a new community center in town - and this one is bound to give the others a run for their money.

Metro Parks' brand-new STAR Center makes its debut Saturday in a day-long grand opening celebration.

The 32,000 square foot STAR Center (for reference, the same size as the old Borders building on S. 38th St.) features a fitness room, music and dance studio, a teaching kitchen with walls of windows so spectators can watch cooking lessons, a playground, party and rental space and more.

Beginning June 3, the South Tacoma Farmers Market will relocate to the STAR Center, running each Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday's festivities begin at 9 a.m. with a two mile adventure run, then continue from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with tours, a meet and greet with Olympic speed skating medalist J.R. Celski, dance lessons, basketball tournaments banjo bands and more.

Community Sponsors

South Tacoma's new STAR Center to debut this weekend

There's a new community center in town - and this one is bound to give the others a run for their money.

Metro Parks' brand-new STAR Center makes its debut Saturday in a day-long grand opening celebration.

The 32,000 square foot STAR Center (for reference, the same size as the old Borders building on S. 38th St.) features a fitness room, music and dance studio, a teaching kitchen with walls of windows so spectators can watch cooking lessons, a playground, party and rental space and more.

Beginning June 3, the South Tacoma Farmers Market will relocate to the STAR Center, running each Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday's festivities begin at 9 a.m. with a two mile adventure run, then continue from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with tours, a meet and greet with Olympic speed skating medalist J.R. Celski, dance lessons, basketball tournaments banjo bands and more.

Lakewood police launch new website, Facebook page

Lakewood police launch new website, Facebook page

The Lakewood Police Department has a new website and Facebook page.

The department is hoping the new sites will offer community members easier access to important information.

The Facebook page will be used to share information with the public and as a place where visitors can learn more about the Lakewood Police Department. 

LPD has been using a Twitter account since late 2010. 

Neighbors invited to community-wide workshop this week

Making Lakewood an even ‘better place to live, work and play’ – that’s the goal behind this week’s Community Building Workshop.

Residents and neighbors are invited to attend the city hosted event on Thursday, May 17 from 5 to 8:00p.m.

The city wants to provide support for neighborhood groups to help improve the community.

Cary Bozeman, former city leader for Bremerton and Bellevue, will provide the keynote speech. The city says Bozeman played a major role in planning and managing growth and community-based urban centers for both cities.

Lakewood leaders will ask residents for feedback on various issues affecting their neighborhoods and ways the city can help.

There will also be booths set up for folks to talk with city and community based groups.

The workshop will be held inside Lakewood City Hall. 

Community Sponsors

Mother's Day means more sun, continues through start of work week

Mother's Day means more sun, continues through start of work week

Happy Mother's Day! 

We are in for some wonderful weather for getting outside. 

Plan on sunny skies today with highs in the mid-70s to low-80s in many spots.  The warmest areas will be in the south Sound.

The strong ridge of high pressure will stay locked in for Monday with highs rising a few degrees.

Even Tuesday is looking mostly sunny with a few high clouds toward the end of the day.  It isn't until late Wednesday that the ridge breaks down enough to allow a stronger onshore flow to bring us more clouds and cooler temps.  By Thursday morning we could even have some areas of mist.

Theron Zahn
The KOMO4 Forecast Team

JBLM gets first shipment of Apache helicopters

Today Joint Base Lewis-McChord will welcome a new aerial firepower. The first of 10 Apache helicopters are expected to arrive from Fort Hood, Texas.

It’s the first time Apache’s will be stationed at the base.

The Army is relocating the 1st battalion, 229th aviation regiment to JBLM.

Another two dozen helicopters will arrive later this summer, adding approximately 500 soldiers to the base.