Outdoors
Nothing is more disheartening than arriving at a new duty station, seeing all the new things to do and explore, and realizing it will be months before you can afford to go anywhere because you're broke from the move. There certainly are plenty of worthwhile activities in the area that
Attractions
Some military installations around the world seem to luck out with their proximity to awesome amusement parks. If you're lucky enough, you may end up within a short drive from Six Flags, Seaworld, Busch Gardens, or even a Disney Park. Here in Washington state, the national parks and forests are
Features
More than any other warm-weather, childhood treat, milkshakes seem to stay with us as we grow up. Many adults who have long outgrown Popsicles and ice cream cones don't have to think twice about ordering a thick, creamy, cooling shake on a hot summer day. As an ageless indulgence, shakes
Outdoors
The greatest perk of being stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) is its ideal proximity to, well, everything. With the Pacific Ocean to the West, and the Cascade Mountains to the East, and loads of forest and beaches in between, it's easy to connect with nature every day. Northwest Adventure
Outdoors
If you're still sitting on the couch thinking about hiking as the rain patters outside your window this weekend, you're not taking advantage of living in the Pacific Northwest. Serious hikers across the region are already shaking the melancholy from their bones, readying themselves to hit the trails, and we
Features
Get out your shades and SPF 50, tis the season when we all feel obligated to worship that fiery orb in the sky, while spending time frolicking in grassy fields and exploring all that the PNW has to offer. You already know all the waterfront locales will be bursting at
Outdoors
One of my favorite things about the Pacific Northwest is how much better the food tastes. Words like fresh, local and farm-to-table epitomize the food culture in this area. One of the best ways to experience this is by visiting summer food festivals. Hood Canal Shrimp Fest, May 25-26 This fun, family-friendly
News Front
The Ranger and Airlifter newspapers in partnership with event sponsors USAA and US Family Health are hosting Military Game Show Day, Saturday, April 27, at the Capital Christian Center in Olympia. The huge day of fun for the entire family includes the opportunity to compete in eight game shows and
News Front
The Air Force announced details of the expanded fiscal year 2019 Aviation Bonus program, intended to increase the number of air battle managers April 22. The fiscal 2019 Aviation Bonus program continues to support aircrew retention efforts across the Air Force by offering experienced aviators bonuses for signing tier-based contracts, ranging
Attractions
There has been a lot of buzz in local news lately about the new airport at Paine Field, but it is also the home of five unique aviation-themed attractions. You can learn about historic aircraft at the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum or watch state-of-the-art Boeing planes being assembled
News Front
Standing behind the massive tail wing of the Boeing C-17 Globemaster, Command Sgt Maj. Alfonso Cadena can only say one thing. "If I had to do it all over again, I would think about the Air Force, this is really impressive," said Cadena, a 37-year Army veteran and Command Sgt. Maj.
Attractions
After sitting empty for more than 20 years, the historic 1916 Elks Temple has been restored and brought back to life by brothers Mike and Brian McMenamin. The two are passionate about saving important community buildings. Their family-owned company, McMenamins operates 55 pubs, restaurants and historic hotels in the Pacific
News
Nestled in the upstairs of the Marksman Indoor Range, is Summit Arms Services, a gunsmith shop owned by former Marine sergeant Millard Hixson. While in the Corp, Hixson was a helicopter mechanic and an Admin Chief for a Force Recon Unit. "I purchased Summit Arms in 2013 to have a storefront
News Front
To assist in reaching out to these remote locations, a U.S. Army medical outreach team educated the populations of Angaur and Peleliu, at their local elementary schools and city centers, during scheduled Global Health Engagements April 15-16. The engagements are a part of Pacific Pathway's Exercise Palau that runs from April
News Front
Command contracting officials are making every effort to ensure their customers and supported units at Joint Base Lewis-McChord are trained on the changes to the use of virtual contract management systems. The Army vice chief of staff issued a memo in June 2018 outlining the mandatory use of virtual contracting enterprise. To
News Front
May is Military Appreciation Month and Nike wants to thank all military families and veterans by offering a 40 percent discount at their Nike Company Store in Oregon. Throughout the month of May, all servicemembers, veterans, National Guard, Reserves and their families will save up to 40 percent off of their
Arts
The Evergreen State College graduate Ashley Miller has returned with a photography exhibition called Sweet Things in Galerie Fotoland, first floor Library Building. The press release and a printed statement on the gallery wall refer to her pictures as still-life photography, but although they are formally like traditional still-life arrangements, they
Stage
Plays about incompetent theater companies putting on bad plays are so common as to be practically a genre of their own. Some are as bad as the absurd performances they satirize, but there have been a few on stage and screen that are outstanding. The classics of this type are
Features
I'm spiraling this year. The Easter Bunny visited our house a day early, you know, because Sunday was such a busy work day for us. You'd think the kids would be excited about such a thoughtful bunny hopping through the house with plastic eggs full of sugary sweet snacks and
