"From Ruins to Renaissance: The Architecture of Downtown Tacoma" tells the story of the city's architecture from its founding 125 years ago to today.

In a small space at the Tacoma Historical Society's Exhibit Center, the exhibit walks visitors through the early days of boom and bust, the post-war decline, the mixed effects of Urban Renewal and the more-recent investments of public and private money.

It also displays several artifacts from buildings that have been lost.

The exhibit was designed by Mary Bowlby and curated by Heather Straub. Bowlby describes Straub as a newcomer to the city "who wanted to learn more about her new home and fell in love with its history in the process."

"From Ruins to Renaissance" was developed in partnership with GeoEngineers, Inc. The Exhibit Center is at 747 Broadway and is open between noon and 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Steilacoom Mayor Ron Lucas directed today that American flags on city buildings remain at half mast through next Tuesday to honor a local soldier who died last week in Afghanistan.

He also encouraged city residents to do that same thing.

Governor Chris Gregoire directed flags on public buildings throughout the state be lower Wednesday to honor 1LT Brian Bradshaw, 24, who died June 25 in in Kheyl, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when an improved explosive devise was detonated near him.

Bradshaw grew up in Steilacoom and graduated from Bellarmine Preparatory School and Pacific Lutheran University.

Bradshaw was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division in Fort Richardson, Alaska. His unit deployed in stages to Afghanistan beginning in February and Bradshaw arrived in March.

Bradshaw is the first Pierce County service member to die in Afghanistan in more than a year.

Funeral services will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Lakewood. He will be buried later that afternoon at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent.

We didn't run a picture of the actual roadside sign advertising "Nearly Naked Fireworks" in the story we ran on the business today. The sign, not the scantily-clad women inside the tent, is what's got neighbors really ticked off, said one resident, Annie Starwich Claeys.

What do you think? Take a look.

Claeys posed the following question this morning: "Is this something you want in your neighborhood?"

Earlier this month, the Key Peninsula got its first Blue Star Memorial Marker.

It was first unveiled at the Bay Shore Garden Club's 60th anniversary celebration, in which the group dedicated a memorial garden at the Longbranch Fire Department.

Here is an e-mail Cheryl Ozbirn sent to The News Tribune on June 15 (She also sent us this picture of the memorial to the right):

=> Read more!

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray will stop in Gig Harbor tomorrow to discuss the national shortage of nurses.

Her office sent out a press release if you want to attend:

Sen. Murray will hold a news conference at St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor to bring further attention to the local and national shortage of nurses and other critical health care workers.

She will also discuss her efforts to include federal funding in national health care reform legislation that will address workforce issues of tomorrow. As access to health care is broadened through national health care reform, even more nurses and other health care workers will be needed locally and across the nation in the future.

=> Read more!

The body of Lt. Brian Bradshaw, 24, of Steilacoom, who died June 18 in in Kheyl, Afghanistan, will come home Wednesday to Fort Lewis.
Paul Bradshaw said his son will be flown to Gray Army Air Field from Dover Air Force Base. His parents flew to the air base to be there when their son was returned to the United States.
A funeral service is scheduled for Monday at 11 a.m. at St. John Bosco Catholic Church, 10508 112th St. SW, in Lakewood. There will be a reception at the church and burial will follow later in the afternoon at Tahoma National Cemetery. The public is invited.
Bradshaw was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division in Fort Richardson, Alaska.
He died when an improvised bomb went off near him.
His unit deployed in stages to Afghanistan beginning in February and Bradshaw arrived in March.
Bradshaw is the first Pierce County service member to die in Afghanistan in more than a year. The last local casualty of that war, Marine Sgt. Michael Washington of Tacoma, was killed in a bombing of his vehicle on June 14, 2008.
The New Tacoma Cemetery and Funeral Home in University Place is handling funeral arrangements.
Mike Archbold: The News Tribune

Good news, dog owners who’ve wanted an off-leash area in University Place. Your wait is over.

On Thursday, Pierce County will set aside a temporary, one-acre area next to Chambers Bay Golf Course for canines to roam free.

The grand opening is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday at the Central Meadow area along the Soundview Trail. The area will be fenced off, and owners will be required to pick up after their animals.

But the park is only temporary, and won’t be around come 2015, based on a contract between the county and University Place. The county has identified three areas in the Chambers Creek Properties master plan for off-leash dog areas.

The county will dedicate an off-leash area when a pedestrian overpass in the property’s North Beach area opens late next year. A six-acre, off-leash area on the south side of the property, the largest and most-anticipated of future off-leash areas, won't be completed for another five years.

The SUNDogs group (Safe, Unleashed, Natural Dogs), which partnered with Pierce County and University Place to open the temporary park, said local dog owners couldn’t wait another five years.

The group raised $12,000 to prepare the site and help monitor the interior of the fenced area.

Thursday’s grand opening will feature informational displays for Chambers Creek Properties, SUNDogs, University Place animal control and the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County.
For more information or to donate money for the temporary park, visit www.updogpark.org.