August 13,
2007
News You Can Use
Spirit of Washington Dinner Train now leaving from Tacoma
On Friday, August 3, the Spirit of Washington Dinner Train took a
thrilling, successful maiden voyage on Tacoma Rail tracks from Freighthouse
Square in Tacoma to Lake Kapowsin and back. Now open to the public, the
3½-hour excursion provides beautiful scenery, along with a great meal, at
prices ranging from $53.99 to $78.99 per person, not including sales tax or
gratuity. Occasionally, Dinner Train "Mystery Events" will be scheduled at
$83.99 per person. The Dinner Train runs at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays through
Fridays, at noon and 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and at 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on
Sundays. For more information and reservations, call 1-800-876-RAIL (7245).
Read about the Dinner Train being featured in TV Tacoma's August CityScape
later in this section.
August
15 Power Talk features T&D summer college interns
A special edition of Power Talk — at noon Wednesday, August 15, in
the Auditorium Conference Room — will feature the
Transmission & Distribution summer college interns. Wei Zhang, Hajow Edin,
Daniel Ward and Ruly Parikesit will present overviews of the projects
they’ve worked on this summer and offer observations on their internship
experiences. Bring your lunch to munch on during the presentation. Cake and
a farewell reception for the interns will follow their presentation. Stop in
and say goodbye!
Take
new PayStation prototype for a test drive August
16
Get the
lowdown on TPU’s future PayStations at a Customer Service open house on
Thursday, August 16. Customer Service’s Information Technology team created
a test machine with such features as more payment options and extra
verification for accounts. To try out the new machine, stop by the
Auditorium Conference Room between 2 and 4 p.m. this Thursday. Snacks,
beverages, door prizes and test credit cards will be provided. For details
and to let them know to expect you, contact Lori Phillips, 502-8090, or
visit the Web site at
http://ascswssprod-sr3/default.aspx. |
What's Cookin'
the Week of Aug.
13
Cup of Soup & Sandwich — $2.63
Cup of Chili or Chowder & Sandwich —
$2.81
Salad — $2.76
Hot Special — $3.03
Share the news
The deadline to submit items for Newsline is
10
a.m. Fridays. E-mail Newsline, or call editor Laurel Willoughby,
502-8754, if you don't have e-mail access.
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Where is your
access control/employee ID card?
Security reports that more and more employees are forgetting their
employee ID/access control cards that allow them to enter the Administration
Building Complex and other specific areas. The TPU Management Guide reminds
us that “employees must have their employee identification/access control card
with them at all times while on duty but are not required to wear or display
them.” Lost ID cards should be reported as soon as possible to Human
Resources, because they can be a security problem if they fall into the
wrong hands. Human Resources can deactivate lost cards and issue new ones.
Bad microwave set off fire alarm — but evacuation went well!
On
Wednesday, August 8, an electrical malfunction in a microwave oven on the
third floor set off the fire alarm. Employees completely evacuated the
facilities in just four minutes. The Tacoma Fire Department responded, and
the facilities were cleared for re-entry a scant 11 minutes later. “TPU can
take pride in its professional, efficient response to this event. Well
done,” said Bob Durkee, Building Maintenance.
Park carefully in Lot D, or ditch the trailer hitch
If the
vehicle you drive to work has a trailer hitch that sticks out a ways, please
avoid using the back-to-back stalls in Parking Lot D (between the Power
Warehouse and Union Avenue), or consider removing the hitch. Some employees
have complained that they've damaged their vehicles by backing into a space
when the vehicle in the opposite space has a trailer hitch that sticks out
too far.
August CityScape: Tacoma Rail welcomes the Spirit of Washington
Dinner Train
This month’s Tacoma Public Utilities segment captures the enthusiasm for the
Dinner Train’s historic move to Tacoma. It also reviews some of the ideas
under consideration to move more passenger trains closer to Mount Rainier in
the years ahead. John Phillips, TV Tacoma, produced the piece, featuring
interviews with Paula Henry and Alan Hardy, Tacoma Rail, as well as Ryan
Petty, Community & Economic Development. CityScape airs all month on Channel
12 on Mondays at 10 a.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.;
Tuesdays at 8 a.m., 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.; Wednesdays at
3 p.m. and midnight; Thursdays at 8 a.m. and 8
p.m.; Fridays at 2 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 1 a.m., 11 a.m.
and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 4 a.m., 8 a.m., noon and 7 p.m. Check local
listings for replay times outside Tacoma.
2008 Entertainment Book sales benefit Utilities People
Travel, dine, dance, bowl, go to movies, all for half price when you buy the
2008 Entertainment Book for just $20 from Utilities People. It more than
pays for itself after just a few uses. The book contains hundreds of
two-for-one offers and discounts up to 50 percent on almost everything you
like to do. As a bonus, each book comes with vacation coupons ($9.95 value)
that provide additional savings on dining out, entertainment, shopping and
more. The 2008 book is valid now through November 1, 2008; the 2007 book is
still valid until November 1 this year. To purchase your Entertainment Book,
contact Rick Herrmann, Generation, 502-8226; Liz Larson, Director's Office,
502-8769; or Jan Pieper, Customer Service, 502-8452.
Get
Smart
TPU employees are invited to register for a free parenting class
held across the street at 3408 S. Union Avenue, at the Tacoma Pierce County
Health Department’s Oakland/Madrona family support center. “The Incredible
Years,” a series for parents of kids ages 4 to 10 years, is designed to
enhance parenting skills, decrease power struggles and defiance, and
increase structure and consistency in the household. The class is held from
6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays from September 26 to December 5. A light dinner
will be served from 5:30 to 6 p.m. before each class, and childcare is
provided for children up to age 12. To register, call Klara at 697-8408;
space is limited. Sponsors include the Tacoma Pierce County Health
Department and the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound.
For
Your Benefit
What does your health plan pay for immunizations?
August is Immunization Awareness Month. Here is how your City
of Tacoma immunization benefits work for you:
• Regence PPO plan pays at 100%, subject to a $20 co-pay.
• Regence
Selections plan pays at 100%, subject to $15 co-pay.
• Group
Health pays at 100%, subject to $5 co-pay.
For more information about immunization benefits, contact
Shannon Hoffman, 591-5823; or Regene Halfmoon,
591-5411, Human Resources.
Get educated about childhood immunizations
Because parents today rarely see the devastating effects of diseases such as
polio and whooping cough, they might wonder why immunizing their children is
still important. Is immunization necessary? Are vaccines really safe? The
Washington State Department of Health provides the following information to
help answer those questions:
• Children should have 80 percent of their immunizations by age two.
• Infants are often more vulnerable to disease than older children and
adults because their immune systems cannot
easily fight off bacteria or viruses.
Often, the effects of disease are more serious in
infants than in older children.
• Many vaccine-preventable diseases have no cure or treatment.
• Ten serious childhood diseases are preventable. Among unimmunized
populations of the world, 600,000 children die
each year from pertussis (whooping cough).
In 1995, King County had 251 cases of pertussis,
its highest level in
30 years.
• 55,000 cases of measles and 130 deaths were reported during the 1989-91
measles epidemic in the United States.
Nearly half the deaths were of children
under age two who had not been immunized. The
biggest cause of the
epidemic was failure to vaccinate children
against measles on time, between 12 and 18 months
of age.
Giving Back
Donated PTO or sick leave
is greatly appreciated
Sherilyn Christian, Field Operations,
sent along thanks to all who recently shared their PTO
and sick leave with her. One
employee could still use co-workers' help:
Cinda Johnson, Cushman Project,
is
eligible to receive donated PTO or sick leave. To donate, contact your
timekeeper or Public Utilities Human Resources, 502‑8158, for a PTO/sick
leave donation form. You also can download the form from the Human Resources
section of CityWeb.
What's Happening & When
August 6-24
Community Connection’s School Supply Drive. Contact
Barb Werelius,
Management Services, 502-8764, for information. Donation
boxes are in the Cafeteria, Click! Southwest
Annex, Energy Control Center, Water Distribution Building and at the Water
Counter on second floor.
August 24
United Way Basket Raffle donations due.
1)
Select a theme
for your basket and let Patty Gillingham, Fleet Services, 502-8651, know
what it is.
2) Create your basket with new items donated by your colleagues.
3) Attach a list to the basket containing the name/theme of the basket; name
of the donating section, work group or individuals; itemized content list;
and approximate retail dollar value.
4) Deliver completed baskets to Patty by Friday, August 24.
Bargain Shopping
Have
something to sell? Submit
your ads to Newsline
Ads run in two issues of Newsline.
The deadline to submit ads is 10 a.m. Fridays. E-mail
Newsline, or call editor Laurel Willoughby, 502-8754,
if you don't have e-mail access.
Please include at least your first name,
and phone number or e-mail in your ad. Ads
for business activities, online auction ads and calls for charity
sponsorship are not allowed. About once a month, ads
will be borrowed from the Cafeteria bulletin board and included in
Newsline.
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3 beds, 2 baths home, 1814 S.
Tyler Street (S. 19th & Tyler), close-in. 2-car attached garage. All
appliances, including washer & dryer. Covered patio & fireplace. $236,500.
Scott, 502-8591.
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2000 Ford Mustang GT, 5 speed, PS,
PB, tilt, air, 43,000 miles, black with tan leather, $12,900. Mark,
360-620-5458, 360-307-8028.
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1999 Chevrolet Silverado pickup.
Long bed in great condition! Power windows, door locks, steering. Many
extras including bedliner, dual mufflers, upgraded stereo, tonneau cover
and more! $9,450. Barbara, 502-8415 or
846-8651.
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BMW Dinan 328is, $14,400. All
DINAN, front and rear polished strut-braces, suspension (stage 1),
software and exhaust! Thousands in DINAN parts. Power windows and seats,
dual climate control with AC, nice soft leather interior with minor wear
and no holes or rips. New Brembo brake pads and rotors. Kenwood
DVD/TV/navigation with 10" JL sub in small trunk box, a very nice
installation. This car literally has no dings and minor paint chips! It is
a beautiful white coupe with ATA wheels. I am a neat freak and this car is
very clean and well-maintained. I never had any problems with this car.
Adult owned, 93,000 mi. Runs strong and drives smooth and straight. Call
for more details, 253-961-5569.
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1996 Pontiac Sunfire. Automatic,
sunroof, 2-door, AM/FM CD, power steering, good condition, 122K miles,
aqua blue metallic. (See Kelly Blue Book Web site for pix.) Blue book
$2,055, asking $2,000 obo. Connie K., 502-8734.
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1988 Honda Prelude. Does not run.
New radiator, newer tires, new hoses, new timing belt, motor & trany in
good cond. $400 OBO. Bill Walsh, 502-8479.
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1978 Security Traveler Overhead;
Furnace, 3-burner stove/oven, ac burn or propane fridge. Toilet. 9½
ft. Jacks work but need TLC. $300 OBO. Gene Olson, 253-377-1876,
360-832-8894.
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Beach Cruiser girls' bicycle, new
with unique features. The color of the bicycle is black and white and
chrome, equipped with a basket and a bell and whitewalls. $80 or best
offer. Theres, 502-8942.
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Bell child carrier attachment for
bicycle, 2-seater with safety straps, $75. John, 253-405-5657.
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Seattle Mariners tickets, section
129, row 34 (behind home plate): Tampa Bay, Friday 9/14 (4); Tampa Bay,
Sunday, 9/16 (2). All seats $38 each. Sally, 565-2662.
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Leather sofa, loveseat, chair and
ottoman. Ottoman opens to a single bed. All new condition. Maroon & dark
brown, $2,500. Scott, 502-8591.
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Windows for sale. Metal framed
"white" double pane windows with screens: 3 windows, 4 ft. x 4 ft., $10
each; sliding door, 5 ft. x 81½
in., $15; 1 window, 8 ft. x 5 ft., $10; 1 window, 6 ft. x 4 ft., $10; 1
window, 5 ft. x 46½
in., $10. Call Ken, 206-304-0215.
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Cleaning Sale: 6-person Hillary dome
tent, $100 obo; 2-person dome tent, $25 obo; canvas 2-person folding chair
with carrier bag, $20 obo; flagging sign with PVC pole, $20 obo; near full
roll tar paper, $5. E-mail Connie at
cg_mackland@yahoo.com.
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Little Tykes race car bed, $125
with Sealy crib mattress and two sets of sheets, one Nascar and one Cars.
Bed is in excellent condition. Jayson, 253-312-0157.
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Two full-bred
Chihuahuas free to good home. They are
approximately 4 years old. Prefer that they go
together. E-mail
Francesca.heard@cityoftacoma.org for a picture of the duo.
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Weight Watchers food scale, $5. Bob,
502-8361.
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