After losing an appeal of its license revocation, Bel Air of Tacoma has decided to close.

The Department of Social and Health Services revoked the nursing home's license on Feb. 19, based on significant, on-going regulatory violations that included issues such as infection control, pressure sores and administration of the facility.

The Washington State Department of Transportation is planning a busy weekend of construction in Pierce County. Scheduled construction work is weather-dependent and crews are closely monitoring forecasts.

Crews are shifting southbound Interstate 5 traffic in Fife onto a recently widened segment of median. Striping and barrier removal reduces southbound I-5 to a single lane beginning at West Hylebos Creek Bridge overnight Saturday.

The Thurston County Chamber of Commerce and the Seattle District Small Business Administration are presenting free bi-monthly business loan briefings for anyone interested in knowing how to get a loan to start, expand or buy a small business. The next session, from 1 to 2 p.m. March 16 at 809 Legion Way SE, Olympia, conducted by Carol Andersen from the Seattle SBA District Office. Topics covered include how the SBA loan program works, the eligibility and credit requirements, what lenders are looking for when approving loans, who can help you with a business plan or a loan proposal, what other financing options are available and  the enhancements to the SBA lending programs under the federal Recovery Act. Space is limited. For more information, call Tammy (360) 357-3362 or  Carol at (206) 553-7315.

Small businesses make up 90 percent of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber's membership base. Join other small business owners to brainstorm and have open discussion about issues facing small businesses during the Small Business Committee meeting at noon March 16 at the Adriatic Grill Italian Cuisine & Wine Bar, near The Tacoma Mall. Lunch cost on your own. For more information or to RSVP, contact Judy Singley at (253) 627.2175.

Temporary, part-time jobs remain available at numerous census offices in Washington, including Pierce and Thurston counties.

2010 census questionnaires are scheduled to begin arriving in the mail March 15. The U.S. Census Bureau has asked that each household fill out the form and mail it back in the postage-paid envelope as soon as it arrives, ensuring that the nationwide headcount is accurate.

If it's true that beauty is only skin deep, then those of us calling Tacoma home are starting out with a bit of a disadvantage.

At least if you believe the folks at totalbeauty.com, who rank Tacoma as No. 12 on their list of "The 13 Worst-Skin Cities."

Construction of the Center for Health Sciences at the University of Puget Sound will begin in May. The 42,500-square-foot interdisciplinary center is expected to open in time for the fall 2011 school semester.

Key features of the center include outpatient clinics for the 300 patients referred for occupational and physical therapy services each year by local physicians. A 6,000-square-foot outdoor mobility park will allow patients to be assessed and rehabilitated in spaces fitted with ramps, curbs, stairs and other potential barriers. An indoor simulated apartment will give patients a place to practice the activities of daily living.

Should the Wedge neighborhood become a historic district? The public will have an opportunity next week to provide feedback about the matter to the Tacoma Planning Commission.
 
The area of the proposed district extends from Division Avenue to South M Street to Sixth Avenue and to Sprague. The North Slope Historic District – established during 1994 and listed on the Tacoma, Washington and National registers of historic places – borders the proposed Wedge District.

The Tacoma Rainiers will host a job fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 13 at the Hotel Murano. There are a number of different positions that need to be filled, including parking, ushers, concessions, gift shop and ticket takers.
 
Last year's job fair saw a record turnout of almost 800 people and 1000 applications. This year, the Rainiers will be looking to hire between 150 and 200 employees.

The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation is one of three recipients for this year's "Leadership Legacy Award," given by the Center for Ethical Leadership. The foundation is being recognized for their work on the Youth Against Violence initiative.

The Community Foundation began meeting with a group of Pierce County funders and service providers during 2006 to explore the root causes of youth violence.

Allen Realtors will be conducting free home buying seminars at 7 p.m. tomorrow and 1 p.m. March 14 at their office in Lakewood. Information will be available about the local real estate market, the home search and buying processes, and financing. Call 582-6111 for more information.

Nonprofit organizations will be shown how to effectively use the rapidly growing Internet social media to benefit their organizations in a special workshop from 9 a.m. to noon March 10 at Thurston County Community Television, 440 Yauger Way SW, Olympia. The South Sound Partners for Philanthropy will host the workshop, "There's An App for That: Social Media and Community Development" presented by Laurie Cirivello. Seating is limited.  Call TCTV at (360) 956-3100 to purchase tickets. The training is free to South Sound Partners for Philanthropy member representatives. Member organizations can send additional staff for $12.50 each. Non-member tickets are $25. Click here for more information.

Find out who is "walking the talk"and rising to the top by supporting employee health and wellness programs and doing their part in health care awareness.

Eight WorkWell designation awards will be presented during the fourth annual Healthy Breakfast Showcase, scheduled for 7:30 to 10 a.m. March 23 at the Hotel Murano, 1320 Broadway, Tacoma.

The Tacoma Regional Convention and Visitor Bureau has selected international tour and travel, social media and culinary tourism as the topics for its Spring Industry Expert Panels.

The event is scheduled for 8:30 to 10 a.m. April 8 at the Pierce County Environmental Services Building, 9850 64th St. W., University Place. Admission for TRCVB members is $10; nonmembers $15.

Individual help with foreclosure issues will be available to the public during a free workshop from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 6 at the Evergreen College Tacoma Campus, 1210 6th Ave. Attendees should bring current photo identification and Social Security Number, last two years of W-2s and most current tax return; last two pay stubs and two months worth of bank statements; and complete file for first and/or second mortgage. More information is available at www.makinghomeaffordable.gov and www.mortgagehelpnow.org.

Lift your glasses and toast to a fun-filled evening of jazz and wine at the 7th Annual Old Town Jazz & Wine Festival from 4 to 10 p.m. March 6 at Slavonian Hall,  2306 N. 30th St., Tacoma. Proceeds from the festival and silent auction will support the Tacoma Old Town Park Performance Stage Project, headed by the Old Town Business and Professional Association, with the goal of building a permanent outdoor performance stage in Old Town Park. Click here for more information.

There's an interesting equation on Exit 133 this week: Running + Beer + Friends = The Tacoma Runners.

Check out the BIA Blog for more information about the City of Tacoma seeking advice about paid on-street parking.

Horizon Lines has extended its agreement to call at the Port of Tacoma for at least six more years. The company's prior agreement with APM Terminals was scheduled to expire Dec. 10.

The new agreement confirms continued stevedoring and terminal services with APM Terminals in five North American cities, including Tacoma. The agreement keeps about 150 terminal-related jobs in Pierce County.

During today's Tacoma City Council study session, the Cheney Stadium Advisory Panel and design team Mortenson, Populous and Belay revealed details of Cheney Stadium's first full renovation in 51 years.

The $30 million, multi-party funded project is scheduled to be completed by opening day of 2011.

As a result of the closure of Ranier Pacific Bank, Rainier Pacific Financial Group Inc.'s stock will be delisted from the the NASDAQ Stock Market on March 11.

Trading in the company's common stock was halted by NASDAQ on Monday.

The City of Tacoma has released its 2009 Performance Management Report to Citizens, which provides an overview of the measures and efforts under way to achieve the City Council's strategic goals.



As part of the strategic direction for 2008-2012, the council established three priorities: a safe, clean and attractive community; a diverse, productive and sustainable economy; and a high-performing, open and engaged government.

State and federal regulators swooped in early Friday evening to terminate the extended agony that was Rainier Pacific Bank and install new owners. Perhaps it is a sign of the times that the public barely noticed.

Umpqua Bank, a subsidiary of Roseburg, Ore.-based Umpqua Holdings, acquired the banking operations of Rainier Pacific in a purchase and assumption agreement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. It had participated in a competitive bid process and the accepted bid included a 1.04 percent deposit premium on non-brokered deposits, and a negative bid of $13.1 million on assets acquired.

The Arts Commission of the City of Olympia invites local artists and arts organizations to join a free monthly community arts roundtable that will give participants the opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences and create strong local support for their work.  The next meeting is at 6 p.m. March 1 in the Olympia Timberland Library meeting room, 313 8th Ave SE.  The topic is Costume Design and the guest speaker is Mishka Navarre-Huff, costume shop manager at the University of Puget Sound. 

Saint Martin's University is hosting a Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges – Army Department on March 2 at the University's Norman Worthington Conference Center. The one-day workshop will discuss elements of degree networks, outreach, recruiting, and "after service" opportunities. The workshop will be limited to 70 institutional attendees so advance registration is recommended. For more information, or to sign up,  contact Judith Loomer or Cruz Arroyo.