🌱 Patch AM: Why Lakewood’s VA hospital was hit with a six‑figure state fine

Cheers Lakewood! We're back, helping you stay up to date with what's happening. Let's take on the day together! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Why Lakewood's VA hospital was hit with a six‑figure state fine
• What happened when workers protested the governor in Lakewood?

Also on today's calendar: Free Health Fair and 4 more events.

Today's riddle: What gets bigger the more you take away? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Sunday: Clouds breaking for some sun, with a high of 71 and low of 52 degrees.
• Monday: Clouds giving way to some sun, temps: high: 78, low: 55.
• Tuesday: An afternoon shower in spots, with a high of 75 and low of 58 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• WA fines VA hospital for violations that could have caused 'dangerous fuel leak' (thenewstribune.com) — State regulators have fined the American Lake VA Medical Center in Lakewood $130,000 for improperly installing an underground fuel tank and repeatedly violating fuel‑storage rules, raising concerns about potential leaks. Ecology officials say the hospital has logged more than 18 violations since 2019, and the VA now has 30 days to appeal the penalty.
   

• WA governor met with state worker protest at hospital construction ceremony (dailyfly.com) — A major construction milestone at Western State Hospital's new psychiatric facility in Lakewood drew both celebration and protest, as Gov. Bob Ferguson spoke while state employees chanted over stalled contract talks. The nearly $1 billion, 350‑bed project aims to reduce mental‑health wait times but is unfolding amid tense statewide labor negotiations that include Lakewood‑based workers.
   

📸 Around Lakewood

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Lakewood

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Wednesday September 2
• HUNKS The Show at Lakewood Elks Lodge 2388 (Lakewood, WA) 09/02/26 →
  Lakewood Elks Lodge #2388, 6313 75th St W, Lakewood
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Sunday August 30
• Free Health Fair →
  Fort Steilacoom Park, Shelter #1 (Near Playground)
  1:00 pm
Tuesday September 1
• Pioneer Back to School Open House
  Saltar's Point Elementary Pioneer Middle School
  4:00 pm
Thursday September 3
• SHS New Student & Family Night
  Saltar's Point Elementary SHS Theater
  6:00 pm
Tuesday September 8
• SHS Class of 2027 Senior Family Night
  Saltar's Point Elementary SHS Theater
  6:00 pm
Friday September 11
• PIO Picture Day
  Saltar's Point Elementary Auxiliary Gym
  8:30 am
Saturday September 12
• Ratapalooza - Lakewood, WA 2026 →
  McGavick Conference Center | Clover Park Technical College, 4500 Steilacoom Blvd SW Bld 23, Lakewood
  10:00 am

📣 Lakewood Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Monday August 31
• Workforce Grants & Application Workshop
  Tacoma Community College 6501 S 19th St, Tacoma, WA 98466
  10:00 am
Tuesday September 1
• Pioneer Back to School Open House
  Saltar's Point Elementary Pioneer Middle School
  4:00 pm
Wednesday September 2
• Stewart Open House
  Stewart Middle School
  4:00 pm
• Wainwright Panther Night
  Wainwright Middle Tacoma, WA 98466
  4:30 pm
• Geiger Meet & Greet
  Geiger Montessori
  4:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• I need help cleaning few sensors in my car like the PVC ,map sensor and oxygen sensor also the maf sensor can someone help me on this can't effort to break in the road with my child now I am on a budget and it's not even the first but my car is slow
  acceleration and it's getting worse so please let me know . How much just to clean those part (Nextdoor Woodbrook)

• Old Navy, Inc. posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Sales Associate - Lakewood Town Center in Lakewood. Apply here.
• Premium Retail Services, Inc. posted a job opening for Seasonal Walmart Merchandiser in Lakewood. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Lakewood here.

🗞 Nearby News

Steilacoom

• High school football season preview: Fife Trojans (theolympian.com)

University Place

• Women's Golf Announces 2026-27 Schedule - University of Washington Athletics (gohuskies.com)
• Tacoma set to lose another Fred Meyer, this time in West End shopping center (thenewstribune.com)

Parkland

• Large brush fire prompts evacuations in Parkland, WA (fox13seattle.com)
• Krista Perez got a DUI. How does this impact the election? (thenewstribune.com)

Ok Lakewood! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A hole (Thank you Netty W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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