REPORT DAMAGE TO PIERCE COUNTY DAMAGE ASSESSMENT CENTER
The Pierce County Emergency Operations Center will continue collecting damage information from homeowners and business owners affected by the ice and snowstorm. Pierce County residents and business owners who suffered damage should call the Pierce County Damage Assessment Center at 1-866-798-6363 (toll free) Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Callers should have the following information available:
Name and address of affected property
Contact information
Type of insurance (homeowners or business) and deductible amount
A description of damage and losses, even if uninsured
Estimates of the fair market value of the damaged home or business (it is not necessary at this point for property owners to have a contractor's estimate)
Individual lost wages due to impact of the storm
Business inventory and revenue losses
The findings from this assessment will be used by the governor to request a possible disaster declaration and federal disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
This process could take up to a couple of weeks or more. FEMA disaster assistance, if and when it becomes available, only covers uninsured losses.
Among the immediate steps that individuals and families should take include:
Call your insurance agent to check on your coverage
Keep detailed records of all clean-up and repair costs, including photographs
When the time comes to make repairs, be aware of local permit requirements and do a thorough check of potential contractors at https://fortress.wa.gov/lni/bbip/Search.aspx.
Visit Pierce County's blog for up to date emergency information: http://blog.piercecountywa.org/emergency/.
STEVE APLING MEMORIAL
A memorial service for the late Steve Apling will take place at 3 p.m. on Feb. 4. Apling lived on Hilltop. He was involved in much volunteer work and was active in Hilltop Action Coalition and Central Neighborhood Council. His many friends and loved ones will celebrate his life. The event will be at Peace Community Center, located at 2106 S. Cushman St.
KALAKALA TAKING ON WATER
The historic ferry Kalakala began taking on water as a result of last week's storm and is in such bad condition it could be towed away and dismantled. The ship, which has been docked on Hylebos Waterway for six years, began listing badly earlier this week. The Army Corps of Engineers may end up removing the vessel to keep it from blocking navigation of operating ships. Last month former owner Steve Rodrigues announced he had sold Kalakala to an anonymous buyer for $1.
TWO TACOMA SCHOOLS AWARDED GRANTS
Stewart Middle School and Science and Math Institute have been selected as two of the six science, technology, engineering and math mentors to schools around the state. Known as Lighthouse schools, they will each receive a grant of $20,000 to promote and develop science curriculum, including technical assistant and advice for middle and high schools. The selection was made by the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. The legislation that created this designation calls upon the Lighthouse schools to form active partnerships with businesses and the community to connect learning beyond the classroom and to develop an interdisciplinary curriculum focused on math and science delivered through a project-based instructional approach.
ECONOMIC INDEX ON TELEVISION
Bruce Mann and Doug Goodman, professors of economics at the University of Puget Sound, recently presented their annual Pierce County Economic Index during a breakfast organized by Tacoma/Pierce County Chamber of Commerce. TV Tacoma filmed the event and is broadcasting it at the following times: 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Jan. 26; 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Jan. 27; 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Jan. 28; 1 a.m., 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Jan. 29; 4 a.m., 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Jan. 30; 4 a.m. and 11 p.m. on Jan. 31.
VISITING ANGELS NAMED BEST OF HOME
Visiting Angels has won recognition as 2012 "Best of Home Care" for their second consecutive year. Awarded by Home Care Pulse to the top 25 percent of agencies in client and employee satisfaction scores, Visiting Angels of Tacoma continues to rank among the select few of the best agencies in the country.
Home Care Pulse, a leading third-party source of client satisfaction surveys, created the Best of Home Care award to identify agencies in the private duty home care industry that demonstrate a passion for providing the highest quality service to their clients, as well as their employees. Home Care Pulse believes that honoring such companies helps to educate our community, and aids families in making better care decisions for their loved ones.
"Earning this award again is the result of everyone's efforts in making our clients, their families and our caregivers feel valued. Thank you!" said Jeff Chambers of Visiting Angels.
To learn more about Visiting Angels in your area, call (253) 537-3700 or visit http://www.visitingangels.com/tacoma.
SMOKE-FREE RENTAL HOUSING
Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department has launched an initiative to promote smoke-free rental housing around the county. It has convened a task force made up of rental property managers and business people. Managers can register their properties as smoke-free with the department. Renters are encouraged to refer to the registry when looking for apartments or houses to rent.
"Everyone deserves the change for a healthy life, including living in a smoke-free home," said Dr. Anthony L-T Chen, director of the department. "Our smoke-free housing initiative, developed in collaboration with the rental community in Pierce County, will help residents experience a healthy home free from both the health and physical threats of secondhand smoke.
BELLARMINE AEROSPACE SCHOLARS
Bellarmine Prep students Sydney Swofford, Alexis Harroun, Devi Johnson and Jessica Hernandez have been selection by Washington Aerospace Scholars to participate in a program for high school juniors from around the state.
It emphasizes science, technology, engineering and math. It encourages students to consider careers in these fields. They will participate in a summer residency, with room and board provided at no cost to them.
They will be guided by engineers and educators as they design a human mission to Mars, tour engineering facilities, receive briefings from experts and compete in hands-on engineering challenges.
DASH CENTER NEEDS DONATIONS
The Performing Arts Excellence Project scholarship program at DASH Center for the Performing Arts is growing by leaps and bounds. Tacoma youth are getting the opportunity to get fully immersed in a major of study in either dance, multimedia, artist development or music. The music program is growing faster than the center's budget is allowing, so Executive Director Candi Hall has issued a call for help.
DASH Center is in desperate need of keyboards for piano classes. The center has about 20 students who are attempting to learn on a piano, and one keyboard (which has a broken white key). Hall said her goal is to have 10 keyboards set up in the center's music studio so that its wonderful instructor, Michael Cole, can really bring out the talent and desire in these future musicians.
Any way you can help would be appreciated: donate a keyboard and stand, monetary donation to buy a keyboard and stand, gift card to music store…whatever you can think of to help. DASH Center also offers guitar and drum lessons and are always in need of these items.
To donate, and for more information, contact Hall at (253) 507-9466 or e-mail her at mailto:chall@thedashcenter.org.
GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE.
The city of Tacoma and the Urban Studies Program at the University of Washington-Tacoma have teamed up again to offer the Government Leadership Program. Students take the class for college credit. The Monday sessions, which run from 5:30-7 p.m. from Jan. 30 through March 5, are open to the public at no charge. The first session will cover intergovernmental cooperation and coordination. Subsequent topics are: Feb. 5, urban economic development; Feb. 13, the port and the city; Feb. 27, urban governance and citizen participation; March 5, urban power and decision-making. Sessions will feature presenters from various agencies and organizations. No registration is required. The class takes place in the Keystone Building Auditorium on campus.
