🌱 Patch AM: Where Lakewood parents can find new free preschool spots next year

Greetings Lakewood! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Where Lakewood parents can find new free preschool spots next year
• Will you join Lakewood's Filipino American History Month proclamation Monday?
• How BECU's South Sound growth could change banking in Lakewood

Also on today's calendar: Sunday Sound Bath and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Partly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 70 and low of 50 degrees.
• Friday: Low clouds, temps: high: 74, low: 52.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny and nice, with a high of 69 and low of 49 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• New Early Learning Sites To Expand Free Preschool Access In Tacoma And Surrounding Areas (seattlemedium.com) — Lakewood families will gain new free preschool options next school year at Just Like Home Daycare Center and Pierce College's Milgard Child Development Center through Washington's expanded Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program. The state is adding about 2,400 ECEAP slots for 2026–27, funded by a public‑private partnership, giving more local low‑income three‑ and four‑year‑olds access to early learning and family support services.
   

• October events calendar (iexaminer.org) — Lakewood residents can head to City Hall on Monday, Oct. 5, as the city formally proclaims Filipino American History Month and honors Filipino American contributions locally. That event is part of a packed October calendar featuring cultural festivals, galas, workshops, and family activities across Lakewood, Tacoma, Seattle, and the region, many of them free or low‑cost.
   

• BECU expands with new branches in South Sound as merger vote continues (thenewstribune.com) — Lakewood residents already have a BECU branch at 10011 Bridgeport Way SW, and the credit union is continuing to grow nearby with a new Frederickson location planned for spring 2027. As BECU adds more South Sound branches and pursues a major merger with SAFE Credit Union, local members could see expanded services, more ATMs, and broader access to in-person financial help.
   

📸 Around Lakewood

Subscribe

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Lakewood

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Sunday October 4
• Sunday Sound Bath →
  Urban Grace: The Downtown Church, 902 Market St, Tacoma
  6:30 pm
Saturday October 17
• The SisterFriend Gathering →
  STINK Cheese-Meat and El Tufo Wine Bar, 909 A St, Tacoma
Saturday November 14
• 24th National Fine Art Show →
  1108 26th Ave NW, Gig Harbor
  9:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Saturday October 3
• Weekends at The Penalty Box Sports Bar in Lakewood, WA →
  The Penalty Box, 2510 S 84th St, Lakewood
  7:00 pm
• Speed Pool Saturdays at The Penalty Box →
  The Penalty Box, 2510 S 84th St, Lakewood
  7:00 pm
• Speed Pool Saturday's at The Penalty Box w/ Chris Aldridge →
  The Penalty Box, 2510 S 84th St, Lakewood
  7:00 pm
Sunday October 4
• Tour Historic Fort Steilacoom museum →
  Historic Fort Steilacoom, 9601 Steilacoom Boulevard Southwest, Lakewood
  1:00 pm
Wednesday October 7
• Play to Learn | Lakewood Library →
  Lakewood Pierce County Library, 10202 Gravelly Lake Dr SW, Lakewood
  10:30 am
Friday October 9
• Operation Connection: Military Couples Workshop →
  The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Valley Cities, 6103 Mount Tacoma Drive Southwest, Lakewood
  8:30 am
Saturday October 10
• CPR, First Aid & AED Class →
  West Pierce Fire & Rescue Station 20, 10928 Pacific Highway SW, Lakewood
  9:00 am
• Erina McLaren at McGavick Conference Center →
  McGavick Conference Center, Lakewood
  5:00 pm
Sunday October 18
• Caramel Apple Sunday →
  10402 Kline St SW, 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!

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

• Mike's Mobile Mechanic Services – Greater Tacoma Area
  Services Offered: Oil Changes Brake Replacements Battery Replacements Suspension Work Electrical Repairs Custom Exhaust Builds Minor Dent Repair … (Nextdoor Pacific St/Lakeview Ave)
• There's a man that's been walking his two dogs around a Dekovan and Alfrata It's a small black dog that almost looks like a dachshund mix with a Pomeranian and maybe white pit bull mix.
  While on the leash went after a Neighbors black black-and-white Frenchie while they were in their yard. The Frenchie has bite marks on his ears and… (Nextdoor Lakewood Towne Center)

• Luxury Bath Technologies posted a job opening for In-Home Design Consultant in Lakewood. Apply here.
• Starbucks Corporation posted a job opening for shift supervisor - Store# 11156, 83RD AVE & STEILACOOM BLVD, LAKEWOOD in Lakewood. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Lakewood here.

🗞 Nearby News

Steilacoom

• Steilacoom Historical School District (businessviewmagazine.com)

Parkland

• Man arrested after trying to sell stolen excavator in Pierce County (kiro7.com)
• Man gets 14 years for shooting at Pierce County, WA deputies (fox13seattle.com)
• Priscilla Featherstone Obit (mi-reporter.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 waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook