April 8, 2026
50¢
ISSUE 15
IT'S IN THE CLASSIFIEDS
Hunting for a job? In the market for a new home? Have something to sell? Turn to the Classifieds in The Dispatch and at dispatchnews.com
Free Dementia Araujo’s Hat Trick Leads Cruisers Education and in High-Energy Clash with Orting Support for Caregivers Staff Report
HEATHER QUIRIE
M
any older adults worry about memory loss—both for themselves and their loved ones. While forgetfulness doesn’t always indicate the onset of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, awareness is key. Each year, about 500,000 people receive a dementia diagnosis, leaving many caregivers and loved ones unprepared for the challenges ahead. Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources (ADR) is hosting a series of free seminars on dementia starting April 7, called “Oh My Gosh, Now What?” The discussions will help individuals, caregivers, and families understand the disease, manage behaviors, financial planning for care, and more. Starting next month, the following seminars will be offered in person on Tuesdays from 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. at The Mustard Seed Project, 9016 154th Ave. Ct. NW, in Key Center: • April 7 - Understanding dementia and its warning signs • April 14 - How the disease progresses and what to expect • April 21 - Starting the conversation and coping with the diagnosis • April 28 - Managing moods and behaviors • May 5 - Legal and financial planning for care • May 12 - Finding support and local resources “A dementia diagnosis often feels like stepping into the unknown, leaving families with more questions than answers,” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, manager of ADR. “This series will replace that uncertainty with a clear roadmap. By providing families and caregivers with expert guidance on everything from behavioral changes to legal planning, we ensure that no one in our community has to navigate the complexities of memory loss alone. Awareness is the first step toward confidence and better care.” These events are free and open to the public. No RSVP is required. Participants will hear from Jessica Girard and Kris Dowling, expert case managers with ADR, and leave with practical guidance for navigating memory loss. T his educational series is offered twice a year, in the spring and fall, in rotating locations across the county.
Eatonville’s Gui Vilaverde Araujo splits two Steilacoom defenders as he pushes the ball upfield. Araujo scored once against the Sentinels in a losing effort, however he recorder a hat trick in the Cruisers 4-3 win over Orting earlier in the week. By Skip Smith
T
he Eatonville Cruisers soccer team endured a demanding three-match stretch last week, showing flashes of attacking quality and resilience despite mixed results. Eatonville opened the week with a 3-0 loss to Franklin Pierce on Tuesday, March 31. The Cruisers struggled to generate offense. They bounced back Thursday, April 2, with an impressive performance against
Orting in a high-scoring, hard-fought match. The Cruisers struck quickly, taking the lead in the sixth minute when Gui Vilaverde Araujo finished a well-worked play off an assist from Nathan Christensen. Orting answered with a penalty in the 12th minute to even the score, but Eatonville maintained composure and controlled stretches of possession. Araujo found the net again in the 25th minute, this time assisted by Tony Backlund, to restore the lead. Goalkeeper Cypress
Pacatte played a key role in the first half, recording five saves to keep Eatonville in front. Orting equalized shortly after halftime in the 48th minute, but the Cruisers responded immediately. In the 50th minute, Ben Bernt scored on a header off a precise assist from Christensen. Araujo completed his hat trick just one minute later, again set up by Christensen, extending the lead.
ARAJOU, 4
Eatonville Boys Track Top Steilacoom as Pound Delivers Double Win By Skip Smith
E
atonville’s boys track and field team earned a 75-57 victory over Steilacoom on Wednesday, while the girls fell 84-51 in 2A SPSL action at Steilacoom High School. The Cruiser boys used a well-rounded performance and continued improvement across the roster to secure the team win,
highlighted by multiple event victories and a number of personal best efforts. Rogue Pound recorded two first-place finishes for Eatonville to lead the way. Jacob Simons opened the meet with a win in the 100 meters in 11.53. In the 200, Steven Haas took first in 23.70, while Oscar Lopez-Diaz placed sixth but showed consistency after a strong showing the week prior. Lopez-Diaz later returned to win the 400 meters in 55.19, improving on his secondplace finish from the previous meet. Phillip Buchholz added a fifth-place finish in the event. In the hurdles, Pound remained one of Eatonville’s top performers, winning the 110 hurdles in 17.50. The 300 hurdles saw a series of breakthrough performances as Landon Austin took second with a personal best 46.51, Pound placed fourth with
a personal best 47.93, and Hayes Sherrard added a fifth-place finish with a personal best 51.19. Josiah Smith also posted a personal best in the event. Eatonville’s distance group continued to show growth. Gabriel Kolsrud ran a personal best 2:17.75 to place fourth in the 800 and followed that with a second-place finish in
BOYS TRACK, 4