Kota Captured

This notice was posted today on the Bring Kota Home Facebook page. Kota started his run in Ruston several weeks ago and was finally brought to safety today. All's well that ends well.

I just have to say this community is awesome! The reported sightings from the posters we put up were so beneficial in determining his territory. I will be over in that area this weekend to do poster removal. If you happen to see a poster and can take it down before then, we would appreciate it. So here is how Kota's run came to an end. Drum roll please........Kota was captured in a fenced yard last night. Once contained the home owners were able to get a hold of him. He is safe and we are working out the details on where he goes from here. Stay tuned. We plan to have pictures of him posted tomorrow with an update. Many thanks to all of you who supported Kota and his recovery.

History Exhibit Opening Thursday

RSVP at TacomaSmelterHistory.com or (253) 752-2185 extension 235

New Local Restaurants

Two local restaurants are highlighted in The News Tribune's diner column. Read more about Two Town and soon-to-open Point Defiance Tap and Grill here.  And there is a picture posted on Facebook (here) about a new restaurant opening at the former Goldfish Tavern to be named Defiance Bar & Bistro. Is anyone hungry yet?

Help Capture Kota

This request from the Bring Kota Home page today. Contact Bonnie at 253 279 5943 or Jim 206 552 0304 if you can help.

I just received a call from a man who"s house Kota stops by regularly. He feeds cats outside and Kota stops there to eat. He was there at 7:35 a.m. I am hoping to try work on some kind of a plan with him. But understandably he doesn't want a trap where his cats could get in. As long as Kota has food sources outside the trap it is less likely he will risk going in the trap. We are certain he is staying in the area because he is either being fed or finding food. I would like to try set up a Kota feeding station in someone's fenced yard. Leaving the gate open and moving the feeding station further into the yard each day. Then coordinate a containment trapping where we would be out of sight, let him go in the yard and then close the gate behind him. We need the community to spread the word, if Kota is regularly seen near your home or a neighbor's home that is fenced will you allow us to try this? We have figured out he is often on the move and most likely looking for food between 7 am and 9am and 4pm - 6pm.

Point Defiance Tap & Grill Almost Ready!

Community blog Exit 133 is reporting that Point Defiance Tap & Grill on the corner of 51st and Pearl should be opening within the next few weeks. Furniture is in place and things are looking good. More details at Exit 133 here.

More Details on Kota - The Ruston Dog

Kota Urgently Needs Your Help!

Kota is a very sweet dog with a hard luck past. After being transferred from a high kill shelter in Eastern Washington, he was adopted from a local shelter but escaped from his petsitter in the Point Defiance area in mid August – and he has been on a terrified run ever since.

Volunteers from several different rescue organizations are now working to bring him to safety but need help from the community. Kota is a black lab mix with a white blaze on his chest and is wearing a blue collar. He has been using the area from Point Defiance Park to just South of Baltimore Park as home base. If you see Kota, please call Bonnie at (253)279-5943 or Amy at (206)755-3981 to report where you see him. Please DO NOT try to capture or chase him – just report the sightings.  Rescue volunteers have also asked for anyone in the area who is willing to help monitor a live trap that will eventually be set to contact them at the above numbers. You can also help by joining his facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bringkotahome

Lost Dog

Many of us have seen this dog mentioned in this Craig's List notice. If you know where the dog is, please respond to the ad (link here).

Did you see or find bk lab/pit mix? white on chest (Pt Defiance)

There are volunteers from three rescues trying to locate this dog. It has been reported roaming the Ruston / Pt Defiance area since the owner lost it on 8/14/14. NO one has been able to capture it. Last seen it had a color, when lost it had tags. It is very skittish, please just call us if you see it or have seen it recently. We believe it has moved out of the area or was captured by someone. We really would like to use our resources and time wisely. Please let us know if you have any information on this dog. He is a male, small in size, primarily black with a bit of while on his chest. He is not aggressive he is very scared and will continue to run if people try to "catch" him.

Downtown To Defiance This Sunday

 

The second annual Downtown to Defiance event is this Sunday, September 28th. Participants are encouraged to bike, run, walk, roller skate or other means of self-propelled transport from Point Defiance to downtown Tacoma and back again. Things kick off at 8am at the park with some road closures. The event is free but pre-registration nets you a cinch bag. Register here.

Local Bear Captured

The black bear roaming Point Defiance Park made her way downtown last night and was safely captured. She'll be released into the wild soon. The News Tribune has more details and pictures here.

Welcome Blue Octopus!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 8, 2014

FOR INFORMATION

Heather Joy, Spaceworks Manager

253-682-1722      

heatherj@tacomachamber.org

SpaceworksTacoma.com

Spaceworks Announces The Blue Octopus Grand Opening

Friday, September 12, 2014 ~ 11am-8pm
5013 N. Pearl Street, Ruston

Tacoma, Wash –

Spaceworks Tacoma is excited to announce the latest Spaceworks Creative Enterprise to open its doors, The Blue Octopus on Pearl. Grand opening festivities are set for Friday, September 12 from 11am – 6pm, plus a reception from 6 – 8pm, at 5013 N. Pearl Street in Ruston.

Nationally recognized artist Kerry Cole, owner of The Blue Octopus, offers painting parties, an art gallery, and a painting studio at her new location. Since early 2010, The Blue Octopus has been located in downtown Tacoma, first at Sanford & Sons, then at a co-operative space called The Saint Helens Ave Mercantile, where four women-owned businesses operate under one roof. Cole needed more space for her sought-after painting parties and has been working with Spaceworks since early in the year to find a larger home for her business. Regarding her new spot, Cole says, “This location has a lux, relaxed, beachy vibe which more accurately reflects the feeling you would have while painting in a cottage by the sea.”

Along with space, Spaceworks Tacoma has provided Cole with business training, one-on-one consultation and marketing support. Thanks to Spaceworks’ partnership with the property owners John & Karen Trueman, Cole has also been provided with 6 months free rent. The Trueman’s wanted to activate the first floor of their previously vacant building that until a year ago was Ruston’s liquor store. They knew with plenty of vacant space in Ruston that the Spaceworks program “was a good way to fill our space with something new to the area.”

“Looking at the Spaceworks success rate, which we understood to be 80%, we also felt that there is a very good chance that our Spaceworks tenant will sign a lease with us to continue the business when the Spaceworks lease is up. So to us, it’s a ‘win win’ situation and well worth the effort,” the Truemans said.

The Blue Octopus on Pearl’s business hours are Wednesday – Sunday from 11am – 7pm. One-on-one instruction, private or ‘Sips-N-Canvas’ painting parties can be scheduled any time. Details can be found at: www.theblueoctopus.com

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Vacancy to Vitality! Spaceworks Tacoma is a joint initiative of the City of Tacoma and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber designed to activate empty storefronts and vacant space in Tacoma. The initiative makes no- and low-cost temporary space, training, and technical assistance available to artists, creative entrepreneurs, organizations, and community groups in order to nurture successful projects that transform Tacoma into a stronger, more active city. Since starting in July 2010, Spaceworks has worked with over 150 artists and creatives in 31 spaces around Tacoma.