Community Spirit

Lincoln alums seek class of 1972 grads

Lincoln alums seek class of 1972 grads

Drivers on S. "G" St. got an eyeful this Saturday, when four graduates from Lincoln High School's class of 1972 decided to recreate an old class picture.

Cindy Walton, Brian Baldassin, Vincent "Stretch" Stewart and Karen Franklin Cochrane assembled Saturday afternoon, with rags, brushes and sponges, determined to give "Abe" a bath and in the process rustle up some class of 1972 alumni.

Walton, who's been doing much of the planning for their upcoming 40th reunion, says she got the idea after stumbling back across an old photo of their sophomore class cleaning the statue of Abe.

"This is a tradition in our sophomore class," she said, "[and now] we're trying to unearth more people for our upcoming 40-year reunion Sept. 29."

The reunion committee has already been working since 2010 to find alumni, but says it still has many people left to find.

Cochrane, who was known as Karen Franklin during her Lincoln days, says the further out the reunion, the better it is to reconnect with old classmates. 

"All that other crap is away," she said Saturday with a laugh, after dismounting from her perch at Abe's side.

Angry Birds maker to launch new game - from Tacoma!

Angry Birds maker to launch new game - from Tacoma!

A little piece of Tacoma is just months away from appearing on mobile devices around the world.

Finnish mobile games developer Rovio announced today that it will launch a successor to "Angry Birds" in the next few months.

The game? Casey's Contraptions, from none other than Tacoma company Mystery Coconut.

The man behind Mystery Coconut is Tacoma resident Miguel Ángel Friginal.

The Mystery Coconut website describes the company as "a multimillion dollar international corporation wannabe, that for now employs (as in giving work, not as in paying for their subsistence) a guy and his wife (to the right), three cats (below) and the many supporters, family, and friends that now suffer never-ending questions about each minor beta release."

Rovio CEO Mikael Hed told Finnish YLE TV that the game will be renamed "Amazing Alex."

The game has players helping a young boy get his toys back by building crazy contraptions, creating "Rube Goldberg-like machines," and solving puzzles and scenarios.

Cash mob Sixth Avenue today

Cash mob Sixth Avenue today

Rumor has it there'll be a luau on Sixth Avenue today.

The details are sketchy, but one this is for certain: this is another installment of the grassroots, Tacoma-loving, local business-supporting Tacoma Cash Mob.

We first told you about Tacoma Cash Mob back in March, when the group was first forming. Since then, the (sort of) mysterious organization has gained more than 1,000 Facebook "likes," and held two mobs - gifting Proctor's Teaching Toys and Antique Row's Millesime Designs.

The businesses are kept secret, with mobbers given only a time and location in advance. Today's instructions have mobbers meeting at 4 p.m. at Taqueria Las Torres (known more commonly as the Sixth Ave taco truck) for a cash mob. Or a luau. Or a party. Or all of the above.

Lost dog returns to owner after six years missing

Lost dog returns to owner after six years missing

Adrienne Snipes was skeptical when she pulled up to Federal Way's Crestwood Animal Hospital last Tuesday.

She couldn't believe that the little brown chihuahua she'd believed was dead for the past six years could really be waiting for her inside.

"I expected when I got to the vet that this was going to be some sort of a hoax," she said.

But when Snipes walked through the door, "Lil Man" recognized her instantly.

"I think he recognized me sooner than I recognized him," said Snipes, who says she got teary when she realized the dog was really hers.

Lil Man went missing six years ago, while a family member was dog sitting. Snipes' family has assumed ever since that Lil Man was hit by a car.

Snipes had Lil Man micro-chipped just weeks before he went missing, but in the six years he was gone, the phone call never came.

Until last Tuesday.

Amber Ellis was just starting her morning last Tuesday when she looked outside of her Federal Way home and spotted a dog in the yard that wasn't hers.

Local drag queen vying for reality tv spot

Brian Daniel Peters has a plan. 

He's going to use everything in his arsenal as "fierce and fabulous" alter ego "Mama Tits" to land himself a spot on the next season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Then, he's going to hit the world with his message.

"My whole goal ... is to shine a light here and help build the drag community and the queer community and just help everybody equally," said Peters.

Peters lives in Seattle, but performs regularly at downtown Tacoma's The Deltan Club, as well as various venues in Seattle.

He says he thinks he has the charisma to introduce the Northwest drag scene to the rest of the world, and at the same time, advocate for his community.

"The whole idea of Mama Tits is ... she’s a little motherly, she’s a little slutty and she’s a little bit of Betty Crocker all rolled in. She’s over the top and fun. She’s not trying to be a “lady” but she is an elegant diva that cares about her community and cares about the people in her community," says Peters.

Dine out for life today!

Dine out for life today!

Hungry? It's time to change your lunch plans, because today is Dining Out For Life.

This annual fundraiser pairs diners and restaurants in the fight against AIDS, as participating restaurants donate 25 percent of diners' food and non-alcoholic beverages bill.

In Pierce County, proceeds benefit the Pierce County AIDS Foundation, helping pay for prevention, care and advocacy services right here.

This year, more than 70 South Sound restaurants have signed on to participate. Find yours here.

One word of caution - Pierce County is chock-full of Dining Out For Life supporters, which means restaurant wait times can sometimes be longer than usual. Be prepared to be patient, or make a reservation if your chosen restaurant is accepting them!

You can also donate online at this link.