Weekly Volcano

Weekly Volcano is a weekly entertainment newspaper associated with Tacoma, Washington, and the wider southern Puget Sound region. Its editorial coverage has focused on local and regional cultural life, including film, theater, food, art, and music. Rather than operating as a general daily newspaper, the publication has occupied a niche centered on arts, entertainment, events, and community-oriented cultural reporting. The newspaper began publishing on November 1, 2001, under founder and publisher Ron Swarner. During its earlier period of operation, it developed a substantial local distribution network. At its peak, the publication was distributed through approximately 670 locations extending from Federal Way to Tumwater and was reported to reach more than 92,000 readers on Thursdays. These figures positioned Weekly Volcano as a significant regional alternative publication despite its weekly frequency. The publication also became associated with local food promotion through Tacoma Restaurant Week, an annual event it organized beginning in 2008. The event connected the newspaper's editorial and promotional role with Tacoma's restaurant community and provided a recurring platform for local dining coverage and participation. Weekly Volcano's publishing history also intersected with other regional niche publications. The newspaper published Northwest Military, a publication serving military families. In April 2013, Weekly Volcano was merged into the Ranger and Northwest Airlifter, where it continued as an entertainment supplement rather than as a fully independent newspaper. Its last article through that merged arrangement was published in 2021. The brand later returned to independent publication. In February 2023, it was purchased and relaunched by Angela Jossy, who had been a longtime writer for the publication. The relaunch restored Weekly Volcano as a distinct local entertainment-news brand after the period in which its content had been incorporated into other publications. Available reference material does not specify its current circulation, staffing, ownership structure beyond Jossy's purchase, or whether the revived publication follows the same print distribution model as its earlier incarnation. The brand's principal identity is therefore rooted in local cultural journalism and event-related community engagement. Its historical significance in the Tacoma media market comes from its combination of entertainment reporting, broad regional distribution, food-related programming, and ties to specialized publications serving military and community audiences.

Weekly Volcano began publication on November 1, 2001, in Tacoma, Washington. It was founded by Ron Swarner, who also served as its publisher. From the outset, the newspaper was oriented toward entertainment and cultural coverage rather than general daily news. Its subject areas included film, theater, food, art, and music, giving it a role as a regional guide to the cultural and social life of Tacoma and the southern Puget Sound. The publication expanded its reach during its original independent era. At its peak, it reportedly maintained 670 distribution points between Federal Way and Tumwater and reached more than 92,000 readers each Thursday. This distribution footprint reflected the newspaper's regional ambitions and its reliance on broad free or community distribution. Ron Swarner's brother, Ken Swarner, later took over as publisher, continuing the publication's presence in the local media landscape. Weekly Volcano's activities extended beyond newspaper articles. Beginning in 2008, it organized Tacoma Restaurant Week, an annual food-focused event that connected participating restaurants with local audiences. The event complemented the newspaper's coverage of dining and helped establish the brand as a promoter of Tacoma's restaurant scene as well as a publisher. The brand was also connected to Northwest Military, a publication serving military families. This relationship broadened the publication group's local audience and linked Weekly Volcano's entertainment role with specialized community publishing. In April 2013, Weekly Volcano was merged into the Ranger and Northwest Airlifter. It was retained as an entertainment supplement within those publications, meaning that its identity and content continued in an adapted form even though it no longer operated as the same fully independent newspaper. The last article published through that merged arrangement appeared in 2021. In February 2023, Weekly Volcano returned under new ownership. Angela Jossy, described as a longtime writer for the publication, purchased and relaunched the brand. This revival marked a new phase after the publication's years as a supplement. The available reference material does not establish the exact scale, frequency, distribution system, or staffing of the relaunched operation. It does, however, confirm the continuation of the Weekly Volcano name as a Tacoma-area entertainment and culture publication. Across its history, Weekly Volcano has been defined by local cultural reporting, regional distribution, dining promotion, and an ability to operate in different publishing formats. It began as an independent weekly newspaper, became an entertainment supplement through a 2013 merger, and re-emerged under new ownership in 2023.

• 2023

  Independent relaunch

  [1]Weekly Volcanoen.wikipedia.org

  Angela Jossy purchased and relaunched Weekly Volcano in February 2023.

• 2021

  Last article through the merger arrangement

  [1]Weekly Volcanoen.wikipedia.org

  The last article associated with Weekly Volcano through its merged publication arrangement was published in 2021.

• 2013

  Merger into regional publications

  [1]Weekly Volcanoen.wikipedia.org

  In April 2013, Weekly Volcano was merged into the Ranger and Northwest Airlifter as an entertainment supplement.

• 2008

  Tacoma Restaurant Week begins

  [1]Weekly Volcanoen.wikipedia.org

  The newspaper began organizing the annual Tacoma Restaurant Week, extending its role into local dining promotion.

• 2001

  Publication begins

  [1]Weekly Volcanoen.wikipedia.org

  Weekly Volcano began publishing on November 1, 2001, in Tacoma, Washington, founded by publisher Ron Swarner.

A local alternative entertainment publication focused on the cultural life, dining, arts, and events of Tacoma and the southern Puget Sound region.

• Entertainment newspaper · 2001

  Weekly Volcano

  The core Weekly Volcano publication is a Tacoma-area weekly entertainment newspaper covering film, theater, food, art, music, and related local cultural activity. During its earlier independent period, it achieved wide regional distribution across the southern Puget Sound. After its 2013 merger, the brand continued as an entertainment supplement before being relaunched under separate ownership in 2023.

• Special-interest newspaper

  Northwest Military

  Northwest Military was a publication associated with Weekly Volcano's publishing activities and served military families. The available reference material identifies the relationship but does not provide enough information to describe its complete editorial history, current status, or ownership separately.

• 2008Tacoma Restaurant Week

  Tacoma · Washington

  Weekly Volcano began organizing Tacoma Restaurant Week as an annual dining event, linking the newspaper to local restaurants and food-focused community promotion.

  Outcome. The event became an established annual initiative associated with the publication; detailed participation and financial outcomes are not specified in the reference material.

  Source

• 2023

  Relaunch under new ownershipStrategy

  Background

  After the publication's period as an entertainment supplement, longtime writer Angela Jossy acquired the brand.

  Action taken

  Jossy relaunched Weekly Volcano in February 2023.

  Aftermath

  The brand re-emerged as a distinct Tacoma-area entertainment publication. Current circulation, operating model, and staffing are not specified in the available source.

  Source

• 2013

  Merge Weekly Volcano into the Ranger and Northwest AirlifterM&A

  Background

  The independent entertainment newspaper was combined with the Ranger and Northwest Airlifter in April 2013.

  Action taken

  Weekly Volcano continued as an entertainment supplement within the merged publication structure.

  Aftermath

  Content under the Weekly Volcano identity continued through the arrangement, with the last associated article appearing in 2021.

  Source

1. 1Weekly Volcanoen.wikipedia.org