We had a change in venue this past week with graduations being held at different venues instead of having them all in one Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. I wonder what the community thought about the change. The Truman campus held their graduation Thursday evening at the Federal Way Performing Arts and Event Center, while the Technology Access Foundation at Saghalie held their graduation last Friday at the new Federal Way High School theatre; both instead of a convention room at the Tacoma Dome. The traditional high schools at Thomas Jefferson, Decatur, Federal Way and Todd Beamer held their graduations Saturday at the Showare Center in Kent instead of the main dome.

Freighthouse Square offered a convenient meal at the Tacoma Dome, but each of the new venues provided free parking. Food is also available near the PAEC, Federal Way High School and there is Kent Station near Showare. The families all seemed to enjoy their events no matter where they were held, but given a new place as a point of comparison, I wonder what folks thought about the new venues. I’m pretty sure the PAEC didn’t offer their beautiful facility as a public service and enjoyed some added revenue too. So, families saving some parking money and more money spent in our own community was hopefully a good thing.

Hiroshi Eto

Federal Way