This month’s spotlight is incredibly special to me. I had the privilege of sitting down with a very good friend of mine and an absolute staple of the Tacoma community: Ron Swarner. Ron has a tremendous heart and an endless passion for cultivating community here in Tacoma. We talked about his leap from journalism to hospitality, the reality of building a neighborhood "living room," honoring old friends, and what makes Tacoma’s spirit so resilient.

August in Tacoma is packed with local events to help you make the most of late summer! Music lovers can catch the Summer Concert Series, Nisqually Live, or the Downtown Tacoma Blues Festival. Cultural gatherings abound with the IN THE SPIRIT Festival and E Komo Mai, alongside lively street fairs like Art on the Ave and the Lincoln District Food Fest. Plus, enjoy outdoor flicks at Motors & Movies and a live shadowcast of Little Shop of Horrors. There's so much to do in Tacoma!

If you’ve spent any time exploring the edges of Southeast Tacoma where it blurs into Puyallup, you’ve probably driven right past one of the most serene hidden gems in Pierce County: Jade Mountain Nursery. My connection to the nursery goes back a ways. In 2005, my friend Chris Davidson and I took over the reins from the original founders, Phil (Chris' father) and Dale Chesnut. After about 5 years of hard work and great business building, I parted ways, on friendly terms, with