Leslie's Tacoma

08/24/2026

Grand Park 2 Fire Update – 8/24/26

The Grand Park 2 Fire is located in the northeast area of Mount Rainier’s backcountry. It is currently 168 acres with 67% containment.

Due to new lightning-caused fires in the area, the backcountry closure is extended to include the entire Northern Loop Trail. The Wonderland Trail remains open.

Check Grand Park 2 Fire on Inciweb for the full report: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/wamrp-grand-park-2-fire

NPS graphic

08/24/2026

On August 24, 1962 was the date for the grand opening of three new Food Automation Centers at 6th and Madison, South 38th and Cushman, and 3821 Steilacoom Blvd. The coin-operated vending machine food centers offered a variety of both hot and cold food. The centers were owned and managed locally by Tommy Burch, Robert Russell and Dale Johnson under the name of the Big Three Food Automation Co.

Photograph courtesy Tacoma Public Library

08/24/2026

Dr. Sheri Tonn is our 2026 Greater Tacoma Peace Prize Laureate!

https://tacomapeaceprize.org/laureates/dr-sheri-tonn-is-our-2026-gtpp-laureate

The Greater Tacoma Peace Prize is honored to announce Dr. Sheri Tonn as the 2026 Laureate. Dr. Tonn has committed her career, volunteerism, and life to environmental justice, demonstrating an exceptional dedication to community health, conservation, and peace-building throughout the Puget Sound and beyond.

The selection committee was deeply inspired by Dr. Tonn’s enduring work connecting environmental stewardship directly with durable peace. Environmental justice supports peace initiatives by addressing the root causes of conflict - resource scarcity, inequality, and environmental degradation. As peace efforts increasingly incorporate natural resource management to ensure long-term stability and equity, Dr. Tonn’s life’s work serves as a powerful model of grassroots and institutional leadership.

A professor emerita from Pacific Lutheran University, where she served on the chemistry faculty from 1979 to 2019, Dr. Tonn has long focused on cleaning up hazardous chemicals from the marine environment of Puget Sound. In 1990, she co-founded Communities for a Healthy Bay, where she continues to chair the Policy and Technical Committee while serving on the board. In 1991, she was on the founding board of People for Puget Sound (now a program of Washington Conservation Action).

Beyond her scientific and environmental advocacy, Dr. Tonn has provided vital leadership and resources across local, state, and national organizations. Her extensive service and volunteer leadership include:

• Tacoma–Pierce County American Leadership Forum (Board Member and Treasurer)

•Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (Founding Board Chair)

•Greater Tacoma Community Foundation (Board Chair)

•American Chemical Society, (Puget Sound Section Executive Committee Chair and Treasurer)

•Washington State Board of Pilotage Commissioners (Chair for the past 10 years)

Dr. Tonn’s contributions have been widely celebrated by her peers and community. In 2021, she received the State Association for Women in Science Award for Science and Leadership, and in 2025, she was honored as Volunteer of the Year by the American Chemical Society Puget Sound Section.

The Greater Tacoma Peace Prize recognizes Dr. Sheri Tonn for her profound care for the environmental and physical health of our community, her visionary leadership, and her lifelong dedication to building a healthier, more peaceful world.

Save the date! We will be celebrating Sheri's award on November 12th, 2026 at PLU in Parkland, WA. Stay tuned for an official invitation.

https://tacomapeaceprize.org/laureates/dr-sheri-tonn-is-our-2026-gtpp-laureate

https://tacomapeaceprize.org/get-involved/donate/

08/22/2026

08/22/2026

💚🩷🤎