The Point Defiance Zoo just announced that Beethoven, the zoo's remaining beluga whale, will be leaving after the recent death of Qannik.

Here's the press release:

TACOMA – Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium’s beluga whale Beethoven will return to his home at Sea World in San Antonio, Texas to participate in a cooperative whale breeding program, zoo officials announced today.

A date for Beethoven’s relocation has not been determined but could be as early as April 29, according to zoo officials. With no whales available to replace Beethoven in the short-term, zoo staff are making plans to move California sea lions into the vacated whale pool during the summer months.

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Tonight's the big night for South End and East Side residents who've yearned for celebrity treatment from the City of Tacoma.

The city will roll out its Community Based Services program at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 22,at Stewart Middle School, 5010 Pacific Ave. The new CBS area will stretch from Interstate 5 to 68th Street between Sheridan and McKinley avenues.

Tacoma Police community liaison officers Don Williams and Bert Hayes have been spreading the word (and the e-mails, and the flyers) that everyone is welcome to come and help set the program's priorities.

The CBS program aims to cut crime and blight and to encourage residents' involvement. To do that, it dedicates a community liaison officer, a code enforcement officer and a program development specialist to the neighborhood.

It promises residents "full support from the City of Tacoma as a whole."

City officials will be there this evening to listen to the problems that most concern residents. Street repairs? Gangs? Drug houses? Overgrown lots? Dangerous dogs? Speeders? Burglaries? Noise? Tagging?

The aim is to set preliminary priorities, and to give people the tools to join the partnership.

One more incentive: There will be snacks.