Hitting the home front

Bill Hutchens, for the Northwest Guardian

Welcome home, servicemen and women. And thank you, thank you, thank you, for all you do.

Now that you’re home and ready for some much deserved rest and relaxation, you might be wondering: “What’s new? What’d we miss?”

A lot has changed in the year and half that you’ve been away. We’re here to bring you up to speed.

For starters, you might have noticed a new bridge next to the old Narrows Bridge. Yup, they got ’er done. Not that you’ll want to drive over it any time soon. The price of gas here is well above the national average. Plus, if you don’t have a Good to Go transponder installed on your vehicle, you’ll need to pay a $3 toll as you hit the new pavement on your way back from the peninsula. Oh yeah, that jumps to $4 next month.

If you’re a golfer you might have been reading about “Ladenberg Links” before leaving for your tour of duty. You’ll be happy to know that the completed Chambers Bay course has been well received in the international golf community and has won tons of recognition for design. It costs a pretty penny to play there, but we’re told it’s worth it. Didn’t get enough water views at FOB Normandy? Check out oh-so-blue Puget Sound from the course’s 3.8-mile-perimeter trail. By the way, the 2010 U.S. Amateur Championships and 2015 U.S. Open Championships are booked for the course.

Baseball fan? The Mariners have lost about 700 games in the past 15 months. Pretty impressive since their schedule only allows for 162 games per year.

Let’s see, what else is new?

The Fabulous Firwood, a beloved roadhouse in Fife burned down. That’s one less place to grab a beer and listen to some live music. But there are some new clubs around. Juno is over on Market Street downtown. It was called the South Sound Garage for about a minute, right around the time you left. City Lights, a favorite pool parlor, changed its name to Malarkey’s. Club Vertigo is a new place.

No matter where you go for your evening and weekend entertainment, make your calls before you get behind the wheel. As of July 1, it’s illegal to use a cell phone while driving in Washington unless you have some kind of hands-free setup, just like it’s been on all military installations for the last year. Tickets will run you $124. And don’t even think about texting your buddies about how great this story is. That’s already illegal.

While we’re on the subject of driving, Interstate 5 looks different now, what with the new distributor-collector lanes near the Tacoma Dome. The magic starts around 38th Street and heads north. If you’re headed to Seattle, stay left or you’ll end up on Highway 16. Even our beloved Fort Lewis is different now, what with the reopening of the rebuilt North Fort gate and the closure of the I Street gate while you were gone.

Also, all those airplanes flying into the military bases remind us to remind you that civilian flights are much different than chartered military flights. If you’re planning to travel, expect a gajillion surcharges on everything from your bag of peanuts to extra checked bags.

There are tons of other changes, but we’re thinking you also want to know about fun stuff you can get into. Many South Sound hot spots offer military discounts, so at least it’ll be easier on your wallet. Here’s a short list of some of the places that offer deals for members of the military:

The Tacoma Art Museum has free Art Access Passes available at Fort Lewis libraries. Using a valid library card, check out a pass (one per person) and then use it at TAM within 14 days for as many as four free admissions.

Lakewood Playhouse offers a $3 military discount. The current show, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” runs through Sunday. Show times are 8 tonight and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Show your military ID, and pay $17 for admission. For more info, go to lptheater.qwestoffice.net or call 253-582-0042.

Regal Cinemas Lakewood 15 is one of several local multiplexes that offer military discounts. These guys have stadium seating, digital picture and digital surround sound. Your discounted tickets for movies after 6 p.m. are $8 each. For more info, call 253-983-5019.

The Museum of Glass offers a $2 military discount. Admission to the museum, at 1801 Dock St. in Tacoma, is $8 with your military ID. For more info, go to www.museumofglass.org or call 1-866-468-7386.

The Washington State History Museum, at 1911 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma, offers a $2 discount. Member of the military pay $6 for admission. For more info, go to www.wshs.org or call 253-272-9518.

Station 56 at 5602 S. Washington St. in Tacoma is one of many local bars that waive cover charges for those who show military ID. For more info, call 253-474-2639 or go to www.station56.com.

Maggie O’Toole’s, at 6006 100th St. S.W., shaves a few bucks off the cover charge on Fridays and Saturdays for those who show military ID. And they also take half off your tab Sundays through Thursdays after 9 p.m. For more info, call 253-584-3278 or go to www.maggieotooles.com.

The Schooner Pub & Galley, 5429 100th St. S.W. in Lakewood, features Military Appreciation Night every Wednesday with discounts on well drinks and a free raffle for those with military ID. For more info, call 253-584-1919 or go to www.schoonerpubandgalley.com.

Grand Prix Raceway, 11015 Pacific Highway in Lakewood, offers a $3 discount on 20-lap races. With your military ID., you pay $17. There’s also a 10-percent military discount on memberships, group events and accessories. For more info, call 253-272-9000.

Point Defiance Go-Karts and Batting Cages just outside the entrance to Point Defiance Park offers a military special: For every $10 you spend on the go-carts, you get one free token for the batting cages. For more info, call 253-752-6413.

The Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium offers a $1 discount for Pierce County residents. And be sure to mark Nov. 10 on your calendar. For Military Appreciation Day, the zoo will honor active duty military, veterans and their families with free admission. For more info, call 253-591-5337 or go to www.pdza.org.

Tacoma Little Theatre, 210 N. I St., is playing “Broadway’s Fabulous 50s” through June 29. Military-discount tickets are $20. For more info, call 253-272-2281 or go to www.tacomalittletheatre.com.

Tacoma Rainiers offer military discounts on games at Cheney Stadium. General admission for servicemen and women with ID is the standard $6, but reserved seats are discounted at $8, and box seats are discounted at $15. For info, call 253-752-7700 or go to www.tacomarainiers.com.