Celebrating Black History Month
At its meeting Monday the Lakewood City Council will issue a proclamation celebrating February as Black History Month.
As part of the celebration and recognition of this important month, the City of Lakewood is once again highlighting the “Hidden Heroes” of our community. The campaign kicks off Monday, Feb. 5. It includes a e-newsletter sent weekly for the month of February with the names of three Black or African American professionals in the community who are making a difference. Short write ups about who they are will also be featured on the city’s website each Monday, and shared to the city’s Facebook page and the city’s Instagram account.
A short video will accompany the write-ups. The videos feature members of the Harrison Preparatory School Black Student Union. The students share why it is important for them to see people of color in various professions and career fields.
Join the city in recognizing the significant contributions Black and African American residents have made in our community and please check back weekly to learn about those making a difference locally.
Sign up to receive the weekly Hidden Hero email with this link.
Wellness program sessions 2 & 3 registration closes Feb. 3
Register today for the next round of wellness programming.
From martial arts to meditation, Sessions 2 and 3 of the city’s recreational program offer a diverse selection of classes. Session 2 begins next week for most classes. Sign up now for both sessions and secure your spot through March.
Not able to commit to a full session? Most classes offer a drop-in option for $12 per class. This also allows you to try the class first, to see if it’s the right fit before you commit to a multi-week session.
The registration period closes Feb. 3, 2024.
Find the full class lineup and registration information online.
MLK Committee Presents its final video
The City of Lakewood MLK Committee commissioned three videos for its annual recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year’s videos ask students to reflect on this famous King quote:
“If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. But no matter what, you have to keep moving forward.”
The first video aired Jan. 15 and can be watched here. The second episode aired Monday, Jan. 22 and can be watched here.
The final video aired Monday, Jan. 29 and featured students from Clover Park School District sharing their thoughts on Dr. King’s quote. You can watch it below.
Sound Healing Workshop is Feb. 24
Registration is now open for a Sound Healing Workshop, held in the peaceful setting of the Pavilion at Fort Steilacoom Park. The workshop is Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 from 1 to 4 p.m.
At this workshop participants will spend an afternoon immersed in healing sound and Kirtan chanting, crystal singing bowls, restorative yoga and connection. Attendees will explore the powerful expansion of the voice and connection to others through Kirtan, a guided meditative journey of call and response chanting.
The group will then enter a space of quiet integration as they experience the song of healing vibrations from the crystal singing bowls, while being guided through a series of slow and gentle restorative yoga postures. Register here.
Want to try Kirtan chanting before the workshop? Drop in for $12 on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024 for Yin/Yang Yoga class with Patrea and experience what it’s all about. The class starts at 5:45 p.m. at the Pavilion. Find the class description online.
Council Corner: What’s on Deck?
The Lakewood City Council did not meet Jan. 29 because it was a fifth Monday and Council holds its regular meetings the first and third Monday of the month and its study sessions the second and fourth Monday of every month.
The next meeting is Monday, Feb. 5, 2024 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Tentative agenda items include:
- Proclamation declaring February 2024 as Black History month
- Reports by the Lakewood Youth Council and Clover Park School District
- Authorizing the execution of an agreement with KPG Psomas, Inc., in the amount of $532,715.68, for design services related to the 100th Street SW project
- Authorizing the execution of an agreement with Parametrix, Inc., in the amount of $353,115.01, for design services related to the Military Road project
- Authorizing the execution of a collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME for the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2027
- Authorizing the execution of an agreement with EDX for the Nisqually Partnership Project
- Authorizing the execution of an agreement with AHBL, Inc., for planning and development engineering review services
- Resolution setting a public hearing on March 4, 2024 to consider the vacation of the 20 foot wide alley abutting Lots 1 through 14, Block 69 Town Plat of Lakeview
- Ordinance granting a (5) year, nonexclusive telecommunications franchise to Zayo Group, LLC; providing for severability; and establishing an effective date
How to attend: Attend in person at Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main Street SW; Join via Zoom (or dial 253-215-8782 and enter meeting ID: 868 7263 2373), or watch live on the city’s YouTube channel.
Police Chief’s Corner
Each week Lakewood Police Chief Patrick D. Smith shares a summary that includes a look at total calls for service the Lakewood Police Department responded to for the prior week. The intent of the summary is to share a snapshot of how the department works to keep the community safe. To see quarterly statistical analysis, visit the Lakewood Police Department crime statistics page on the city website.
Weekly Summary, Jan. 23-30, 2024
- Calls for Service: 957
- Arrests: 63
- Violent Crime: 39
- Property Crime: 75
- Traffic Stops: 99
- Collisions (reportable): 21
CERT Training registration now open
West Pierce Fire & Rescue (WPFR) invites community members who live or work in Lakewood, University Place and Steilacoom to register now for the next session of CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) classes.
Classes are free and are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 6-9 p.m. March 5-23, 2024. The program culminates with a practical exercise on Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information or to register, visit the WPFR CERT website.
Community events
Valentines for Veterans
U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland is again collecting “Valentines for Veterans and First Responders.” Residents, schools, and organizations are invited to make handmade valentine’s cards and drop them off on or before Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. Once received, valentines will be distributed to veterans and first responders living and working across Washington’s 10th Congressional District. Residents can bring their valentines to Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main Street SW, to be delivered to the Congresswoman’s office.
Sign up for Lakewood Alert
The City of Lakewood uses an alert service to notify residents of important information. If there is an emergency in the city that requires public notification, we will use Lakewood Alert as one way to communicate. We will also post information to our website and social media channels.
Subscribers can sign up to receive text and email alerts. People can also sign up for important non-emergency updates including information about road impacts from large events in the city or information about special events.
Find out more and sign up today.
Work for the city of Lakewood
We’re hiring! Looking to change careers? Looking for a new job? Ready to re-enter the job market?
Join the city of Lakewood! We have a variety of positions open across multiple departments. Lakewood offers a competitive benefits package. We are part of the state retirement system (PERS). And the city is a beautiful place to work.
Find a current list of open positions online.
Road project updates
Washington Boulevard
Concrete pours were completed on Tuesday and Thursday this week. The rain Tuesday caused a minor efficiency issue that will require the contractor to come back one last day in the coming week depending on weather conditions. Landscaping is nearing completion as well. They should be completed next week, if not the following week if there are weather delays. Mailboxes will be installed the following week after the concrete gets a chance to cure. Hydroseeding will occur in March. Striping is the final item for the project. For striping to go down, the temperature must be 45 degrees and the surface must be completely dry for 24 hours to apply the plastic pavement marking. This will occur in late April.
Ardmore/Whitman/93rd
Lakewood Water and Tacoma Power finished relocation of their facilities in the intersection of Ardmore/Whitman this week. Storm drainage was also completed this week. The contractor continues to grade for curb and sidewalk throughout all three roads. Paving is expected to take place in March and the road will reopen at that time with a four-way stop sign-controlled intersection at Ardmore/Whitman/93rd. This will be in place until delivery of the new traffic signal bridge at the intersection, expected in late 2024. The bridge will require closure of the intersection for a week at that time.
Hipkins Road
Water main replacement has completed to 88th Street Ct SW. They will extend the new water main to and across Steilacoom Boulevard where they will stop for a few days to test for pressure and purities before making the connections to the live water mains. This process is expected to take the next three weeks. A second crew has been digging in the 82 water services/fire hydrants that would have required an extra four weeks of time to complete had this been done following the connections to the live mains. Grading of the roadway will begin with a third crew within the next few weeks in preparation for curb and sidewalk.
Union Avenue
Street light pole installation is expected to start next week. The service cabinet has been electrified and lighting will be on once the poles are installed and wired. Expect minor traffic impacts in the vicinity of the pole installation.
84th Street and Pine Street
Storm drainage is complete. Crews are grading for curb and sidewalk and installing conduit for the traffic signal and street lighting. Paving remains scheduled for late March.