Pierce College News

Sally Perkins, marketing manager
(253) 964-6587
sperkins@pierce.ctc.edu

Brian Benedetti, acting director, district
college relations, (253) 964-6549
bbenedet@pierce.ctc.edu

PUYALLUP: On April 24, Pierce College Puyallup dedicated the $2.45 million Garnero Child Development Center which will provide on-site child care for up to 64 children between the ages of one and five.

The center was partially funded from a $717,000 bequest from the late Catherine Garnero, the largest gift in the college’s history.

Hosted by the Pierce College Foundation, a dedication ceremony began at 3 p.m. Following the dedication, there were tours of the 6,500-square-foot facility which was constructed by MSGS Architects. The contractor was Lincoln Construction. The dedication ceremony included remarks by Jerry Korum, president of the Korum Automotive Group, who was co-chair of the foundation’s Campaign for Childcare along with James Washam, retired KeyBank president. Also on the program was Michele L. Johnson, Ph.D., chancellor of the Pierce College District; and Cherry L. Tinker, foundation executive director.

Dr. Johnson said, “We are very pleased that students at our Puyallup campus, like those at the Fort Steilacoom campus, now have affordable, quality child care available while they are pursuing their educational and career goals.”

In March, the foundation hosted a dedication ceremony for the Milgard Child Development Center at Fort Steilacoom. Both centers were constructed with a combination of public and private funds.

The contemporary design of the Garnero Center features a glassed-in, landscaped courtyard (a “winter garden”) as well as other sources of daylight which conserve energy by reducing the need for artificial light. A pathway through rolling terrain links the outdoor classroom and adjacent play areas. Designed with input from the college’s early childhood education faculty, the center will be part of the hands-on training opportunities provided in the associate degree programs related to early childhood education. Classrooms in the center will be named for donors Jerry and Germaine Korum, Steve and Joane Moceri, Don and Audrey Thomas and Waste Connections.

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Brian Benedetti, acting director, district
college relations, (253) 964-6549
bbenedet@pierce.ctc.edu

Pierce College and the Grand Cinema will co-sponsor the Tournees Festival, a celebration of French film, culture and community, Thursdays, April 5-May 3, at the Grand Cinema, 606 S. Fawcett in Tacoma.

The festival is made possible by a grant from the French American Cultural Exchange (FACE) with support from the cultural services of the French Embassy and the French Ministry of Culture. For more information about FACE programs, please visit www.facecouncil.org.
Showings at the non-profit art house cinema will be at 2:15, 4:30, 7 and 9 p.m. Post-film discussions (in English) will follow the 7 p.m. showings. They will be led by French faculty from local colleges and universities, with refreshments provided by Corina’s Bakery, Metropolitan Market, Stadium Bistro, Stadium Thriftway and Trader Joe’s.

Tickets are $8 general admission, $6 matinees, seniors, students, military and children. Discounts for Grand Cinema members.

Margaret Payne, chair of the Humanities Division at Pierce College, who wrote the grant, said, “The festival is providing a diverse group of individuals from around the county–from language teachers and students to movie buffs–with opportunities to enjoy French films and celebrate French culture.”

Payne, a member of the Tacoma Arts Commission, pointed out the Grand is a special venue since it is one of only two non-profit art house cinemas in the United States.
Festival films and discussion leaders are as follows:

April 5: 8 Femmes (8 Women, 2002) Three generations of France’s greatest actresses gather for a campy murder mystery in which the stars occasionally break into song. Starring Danielle Darrieux, Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Emmanuelle Beart, Fanny Ardant, Virginie Legoyen, Lidivine Sagnier. (Rated R). Johanna Needham, Tacoma Community College.

April 12: Les Choristes (The Choir, 2005) Set in 1949. Through the power of music, a compassionate teacher transforms students at a repressive school for delinquent boys. (Rated PG-13). Dan Skeldon, Pierce College.

April 19: Etre et Avoir (To Be and To Have, 2002) A full-length documentary that is, by turns, funny, moving, and inspiring. In a remote, one-room village school, a teacher of extraordinary dedication teaches all subjects to a dozen students, ages 3-11. _(Not rated, for general audience). Michel Rocchi, University of Puget Sound.

April 26: L’Enfant (The Child, 2005) A harsh, ultimately redeeming tale of a directionless young couple who survive on welfare checks and petty thievery. After Sonia gives birth to their child, Bruno sells the baby for some quick cash, then gains maturity as he desperately tries to get the baby back. (Rated R, brief language). Scott Taylor, Pacific Lutheran University.

May 3: Les Invasions Barbares (The Barbarian Invasions, 2003) Winner of the 2004 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. This French-Canadian comedy/drama celebrates life at the moment of death. An estranged son navigates Quebec’s health-care system and gathers a colorful cast of family, friends, and ex-lovers to his father’s bedside, where they discuss philosophy, politics, and sex.(Rated R). Mark Jensen, Pacific Lutheran University.

For more information contact The Grand Cinema (253) 572-6062 or visit www.pierce.ctc.edu/art/Tournees.

Media Contact Information
Sally Perkins, marketing manager
(253) 964-6587, sperkins@pierce.ctc.edu

Brian Benedetti, acting director, district college relations
(253) 964-6549, bbenedet@pierce.ctc.edu

Pierce College District offers a variety of arts, entertainment, and educational events to enrich the lives of the community members we serve. In addition, some departments like Pierce College Theatre and Music offer hands-on learning opportunities for our students.

April 4 – 27: Pierce College Fine Arts Gallery exhibits Ben Frank Moss paintings
Landscape paintings by Ben Frank Moss are the April exhibit at Pierce College Fine Arts Gallery. Moss’s small-scale work takes the landscape as a reference point. He is especially noted for his deft handling of paint and use of rich color. The works are on loan courtesy of the Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle. Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Fridays. Pierce College Fort Steilacoom is located at 9401 Farwest Drive, S.W., Lakewood. The Pierce College Fine Arts Gallery is located in the Olympic Building, Room 265. The exhibit is free and open to the public. To request disability accommodation, contact the Access and Disability Services Office at least 10 days in advance at: (253) 964-6468/V, (253) 964-6228/TTY, or dssaccess@pierce.ctc.edu. For more information, visit www.pierce.ctc.edu/art or call (253) 964-6718.

April 5 – May 3: Tournees Festival of French film
You are invited to The Tournees Festival, a celebration of French film, culture, and community, Thursdays, April 5-May 3, at the Grand Cinema. The festival is presented by Pierce College and The Grand Cinema, and made possible by a grant from the French American Cultural Exchange (FACE). For more information about FACE programs, please visit www.facecouncil.org.
Show times
Showings at 2:15, 4:30, 7, and 9 p.m. Post-film discussions (in English) following 7 p.m. showings, led by French faculty from local colleges and universities, with refreshments provided by Corina’s Bakery, Metropolitan Market, Stadium Bistro, Stadium Thriftway, and Trader Joe’s.
The films
April 5: 8 Femmes (8 Women, 2002) Three generations of France’s greatest actresses gather for a campy murder mystery in which the stars occasionally break into song. Starring Danielle Darrieux, Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Emmanuelle Beart, Fanny Ardant, Virginie Legoyen, Lidivine Sagnier. (Rated R).

April 12: Les Choristes (The Choir, 2005) Set in 1949. Through the power of music, a compassionate teacher transforms students at a repressive school for delinquent boys. (Rated PG-13).

April 19: Etre et Avoir (To Be and To Have, 2002) A full-length documentary that is, by turns, funny, moving, and inspiring. In a remote, one-room village school, a teacher of extraordinary dedication teaches all subjects to a dozen students, ages 3-11. (Not rated, for general audience).

April 26: L’Enfant (The Child, 2005) A harsh, ultimately redeeming tale of a directionless young couple who survive on welfare checks and petty thievery. After Sonia gives birth to their child, Bruno sells the baby for some quick cash, then gains maturity as he desperately tries to get the baby back. (Rated R, brief language).

May 3: Les Invasions Barbares (The Barbarian Invasions, 2003) Winner of the 2004 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. This French-Canadian comedy/drama celebrates life at the moment of death. An estranged son navigates Quebec’s health-care system and gathers a colorful cast of family, friends, and ex-lovers to his father’s bedside, where they discuss philosophy, politics, and sex. (Rated R).

The discussion leaders
Following the 7 p.m. showing, a discussion of each film will be led by French faculty from the following colleges & universities:
April 5: Johanna Needham, Tacoma Community College
April 12: Dan Skeldon, Pierce College
April 19: Michel Rocchi, University of Puget Sound
April 26: Scott Taylor, Pacific Lutheran University
May 3: Mark Jensen, Pacific Lutheran University

Tickets are $8 general admission, $6 matinees, seniors, students, military and children. Discounts for Grand Cinema members. For more information contact The Grand Cinema (253) 572-6062 or visit www.pierce.ctc.edu/art/Tournees. The Grand Cinema is located at 606 South Fawcett, _Tacoma, WA. The Tournees Festival is made possible with the support of the Cultural Services of the French Embassy and the French Ministry of Culture. For more information about the French American Cultural Exchange (FACE) and its programs, please visit www.facecouncil.org.

April 5: Pierce College Theatre Auditions for Talk Radio
Five parts for men and five parts for women are being cast on Thursday, April 5, 2 p.m. at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom Theatre, Cascade Building, for the spring production of Talk Radio, a play about Cleveland’s controversial radio host Barry Champlain. Funny, moving, off beat and outrageous, Talk Radio by Eric Bogosian had a long run at New York’s Public Theatre. The play will be directed by Pierce College faculty Patrick Daugherty. Auditions are open to the public. Performances are May 11, 12, 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. and May 16 and 17 at 10 a.m. For more information, call: (253) 964-6710.

April 12: Eleventh Annual Distinguished Alumni Awards
Presented by the Pierce College Foundation, the 2007 Distinguished Alumni banquet will be held on Thursday, April 12, 6 – 9 p.m. at Pierce College Puyallup College Center. The awards honor five alumni who have distinguished themselves through academic accomplishments, professional achievement, college service, personal triumphs or community service. Reservations are required. Tickets are $25. For more information, contact (253) 864-3261.

April 13: Family Movie Night at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom
Bring the entire family to see Happy Feet Friday, April 13, 7 p.m. at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom Performance Lounge. The student program sponsored event is free and open to the public. For more information, call: (253) 964-6598. To request disability accommodation, contact the Access and Disability Services Office at least 10 days in advance at: (253) 964-6468/V, (253) 964-6228/TTY, or dssaccess@pierce.ctc.edu.

April 24: New, Garnero Child Development Center Dedication
The Pierce College Foundation will host dedication ceremonies on Tuesday, April 24 , 3 p.m. at the Puyallup campus for the Garnero Child Development Center.
Tours will be available following the ceremonies. For more information, contact: (253) 864-3261.

April 25: Fort Steilacoom Employment & Education Fair Pre-Employment Resume Review Workshop
Bring your resume and learn helpful hints to get employers attention Wednesday, April 25, Olympic Bldg, Room 302, 9-10:30 a.m. For more information, call: (253) 964-6265.

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