Spotlight
Come on in, the ice is fine
Debbie Leung is here to tell you there is a place on the ice for everyone, no matter how old you are. She is among older adults—some of the most seasoned in their 80s–in Washington and across the country who find fitness, camaraderie and friendly competition as ice skaters. “It’s so much fun. I highly recommend that people of any age try it,” said Leung, who lives in Olympia and considers Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway her home rink. Children and adults alike get their start in skating and, if they wish, wind up competing at the amateur level through Ice Sports Industry, a non-profit organization for owners, operators and developers of ice rinks.
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News
The Lakewood branch of the Pierce County Library System has reopened for technology services with computers, Wi-Fi and printers, marking the first in-building service for the PCLS public since the pandemic started. People can make appointments or visit during technology service hours. The building will be open Sunday 1-4 p.m., Monday-Thursday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (closed
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Free help with tax preps is back, COVID-style
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide has begun taking appointments for its free tax preparation and e-filing services. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic limitations, the traditional face-to-face meeting with a Tax-Aide counselor is being replaced with a contact-free approach. Anyone wishing assistance with their tax preparation must first make an appointment. Washington taxpayers can make an appointment by
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Pierce County residents living near the county’s outdoor emergency warning system will hear new sounds and voice instructions during the system’s monthly tests. Originally installed to warn of a lahar from Mount Rainier during eruptions, the system now notifies communities about other hazards, including floods and wildfires. For many years, people have heard the system’s
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If free, unbiased and confidential advice on Medicare and other government health coverage sounds good, you’re in the right place in Washington. Such help is available from SHIBA (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors), which is offered by the state insurance commissioner. Volunteer advisors, working in cooperation with non-profit social service organizations, can assess an individual’s
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Lifestyles
Pierce County’s 168-year history in 128 pages In the 168 years since Dec. 22, 1852, when it was officially incorporated and later named for then-U.S. president Franklin Pierce, Pierce County has grown in population to about 900,000, spawned cities and towns ranging from Gig Harbor and Tacoma to Puyallup and Eatonville, and become known nationally as the home of Mount Rainier and
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Food
Question: Where’s the protein in plant-based nutrition? Answer: It’s right there As a health coach, nutritionist and personal trainer, I’ve experienced firsthand the shift toward more people turning to plant-based nutrition rather than animal-based foods. And when they do, the first question that converts face from friends, relatives and naysayers is what I call The Protein Question. The question is so ubiquitous for those that adhere
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Adventures
Expect road trips to be more popular post-pandemic Few industries fell as fast as the travel industry during the coronavirus pandemic. But the stay-at-home orders, if anything, have given people a greater appreciation for the freedom of travel. Here are five trends to keep in mind as the U.S.—and world—begin to re-open to travelers: Road trips. Family travel. There will be a greater
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Health & Fitness
Is it normal aging or dementia? Free workshop will explain “Normal Aging vs. Dementia,” a free online workshop hosted in March by Pierce County and Aging and Disability Resources, aims to help people understand the signs and symptoms of normal aging compared to indicators of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Organizers of the workshop, which is also available by phone, said being alert to
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Personal Finance/Business
Five threats to a secure retirement Recent studies and surveys show that pre-retirees and retirees fear the following five threats to their retirement finances most — and with good reason. Outliving your money. The average 65-year-old will outlive their savings by almost a decade, according to a recent study by the World Economic Forum. To determine how much money you’ll need
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