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Have you voted? Ballots are due Aug. 6

The clock’s ticking on when voters can cast their ballots in the primary election.

Aug. 6 is the date when ballots must be deposited in official dropboxes or postmarked for mailing. Voters who haven’t received a ballot or have election questions can contact Pierce County election officials at 253-798-8683 or pcelections@co.pierce.wa.us and King County election officials at 206-296-8683 and elections@kingcountywa.gov.

Depending on where they live, here’s what voters in the two counties are deciding:

• In Pierce County, there are primary election races for city councils (including Tacoma, Puyallup, Lakewood, Bonney Lake, Milton, Pacific, DuPont and Carbonado. Though most of Auburn is in King County, there are some Pierce precincts for that city’s council, as well); school boards (Puyallup, Tacoma, Orting and Yelm); fire district commissioners (West Pierce Fire and Rescue, Key Peninsula Fire, and Graham Fire and Rescue); Peninsula Metropolitan Park District commissioner, and Port of Tacoma commissioner.

• In King County, the contests are for the County Council; Port of Seattle commissioner; city councils in Auburn, Burien, Federal Way, Kent, Normandy Park, Seattle, Bellevue, Bothell, Mercer Island, Pacific, North Bend, Renton, Snoqualmie and Shoreline; school board (Seattle, Highline, Mercer Island, Renton, Lake Washington, Shoreline and Issaquah), Enumclaw fire commissioner, and a countywide levy for parks and recreation.

Under new state laws aimed at increasing voter accessibility, all voters will receive pre-paid ballot-return envelopes, and new voters have until Aug. 6 (before 8 p.m.) to register to vote in the primary.

srmedia by — July 24, 2019 in News
A monthly credit for seniors’ phone bills

When they use a landline or a cell phone, seniors can get a $9.25 monthly credit on their telephone bills through the federal-regulated Lifeline phone service.

Lifeline also supports broadband and broadband-voice bundles. The program is limited to one discount per address. Telephone and broadband assistance is vital to low-income and elderly residents, helping them stay connected to local emergency services and community resources, officials say.

To apply for Lifeline benefits, phone customers can contact their telephone company or a participating Lifeline provider. Applicants will be required to provide proof of eligibility. Information is also available from the Federal Communications Commission at www.fcc.gov/lifeline. 

Washington residents who have trouble signing up for Lifeline benefits can contact the state Utilities and Transportation Commission at 1-888-333-9882 or www.utc.wa.gov/consumers.

srmedia by — July 17, 2019 in News

Many Baby Boomers have every intention of staying on the job beyond age 65, either because they want to, they have to, or they desire to maximize Social Security checks. But that plan could backfire.

Consider this: Fifty-three percent of workers expect to work beyond age 65 to make ends meet, according to the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies. Yet, you can’t count on being able to bring in a paycheck if you need it. While more than half of today’s workers plan to continue working in retirement, just 1 in 5 Americans age 65 and over are actually employed, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics.

You could be forced to stop working and retire early for any number of reasons, according to the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies. Health-related issues — either your own or those of a loved one — are a major factor. So, too, are employer-related issues such as downsizing, layoffs and buyouts. Failing to keep skills up to date is another reason older workers can struggle to get hired. The actionable advice: Assume the worst, and save early and often. Only 28 percent of baby boomers surveyed by Transamerica have a backup plan to replace retirement income if unable to continue working.

Source: Kiplinger Retirement

srmedia by — July 17, 2019 in Personal Finance/Consumers
Outdoor tunes for your summer listening pleasure

It’s summer time, and the listening is easy and free for lots of musical tastes. To find a location near you where outdoor concerts will fill the air with tunes, check out the following list for Pierce and King counties.

Buckley Summer Series: Free. All shows at 6:30 p.m. at 251 River Ave. S., next to Youth Activity Center. July 18, Megs McLean (country). July 25, Got ‘90s? Aug. 18, The Coats (a capella). Aug. 8, Wally and the Beaves (‘60s and ‘70s). Information: cityofbuckley.com, 360-829-1921.
Curran Apple Orchard Summer Concert Series (University Place): Free. Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at Curran Apple Orchard Park, 3920 Grandview Dr. W. Information: apples@curranappleorchard.com.
Des Moines Concert Series: Free, 7 p.m. Wednesdays at Des Moines Beach Park. July 17, Buzz Brump (dance). July 24, Paoli Mejias Jazz Quintet. July 31, Elena Maque. Aug. 7, Ethan Tucker (blues). Aug. 14, Kim Archer (rock). Aug. 21, Whitney Monge (soul). Information: info@desmoinesartscommission.com, 206-870-6527.
Kent Summer Concerts: All shows at 6 p.m. at Kent Station. July 17, Darren Motamedy (smooth jazz). July 24, Afrodisiacs (disco). July 31, Shaggy Sweet (pop, rock). Aug. 7, Stonesy (Rolling Stones tribute). Aug. 14, Folsom Prism (Johnny Cash tribute). Aug. 21, Petty Differences (Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac tribute). Aug. 28, Swingin’ Sixties Orchestra (Frank Sinatra tribute).
Jazz Under the Stars (Parkland): Free, 7 p.m. at Mary Baker Russell Outdoor Amphitheater at Pacific Lutheran University. July 18, Dmitri Matheny Group. July 25, Dan Duval Good Vibes Quartet. Aug. 1, Eugenie Jones. Aug. 8, Nancy Erickson. Aug. 15, Vianna/Begeron Brazilian Quarter. In bad weather, shows are moved indoors to Lagerquist Concert Hall. Information: plu.edu/jazz/concerts.
Music in the Park (Fife): Free. All shows at 6:30 p.m. at Dacca Park, 2820 54th Ave. E. June 20, The Funaddicts. June 27, Leroy Bell and His Only Friends (R&B, blues, rock). July 11, The Not-Its (children’s dance). July 18, Amber Sweeney (blues). July 25, The Coats (a capella). Aug. 1, 80 Proof Ale (country rock).
Music Off Main (Sumner): Free, all shows on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. at Heritage Park. July 19 and 26. Information: sumnerwa.gov.
Puyallup Concerts in the Park: Free. All shows at 6:30 p.m. at Pioneer Park unless noted otherwise. July 18, Harmonious Funk; July 25, Randy Hansen (Jim Hendrix tribute); Aug. 1, Darci Carlson Band (country); Aug. 8, The Coats; Aug. 15, Washed in Black (Pearl Jam tribute); Aug. 22 at Bradley Park, Whiskey River (Lynrad Skynard tribute). In bad weather, shows are moved indoors at the Pavilion. Information: 253-841-5457, cityofpuyallup.org.
Second City Chamber Series (Lakewood): Shows at 7:30 p.m. at Lakewold Gardens. July 26, “Russian Expansion” (classical). Information: 253-572-8863, sschamberseries.org.
Second Sunday (Tacoma): $3 suggested donation, all shows at 1 p.m. at Seymour Botanical Conservatory at Wright Park. Aug. 11, Cara Francis (jazz). Sept. 8, Joe Contris. Nov. 10, Castletown (Celtic folk rock). Information: info@tacomaparks.org, 253-404-3975.
Summer Sounds (Federal Way): Free. All shows at 7 p.m. at Steel Lake Park, 2410 S. 312th St. July 17, Unified Culture (reggae). July 24, No Rules (classic rock). July 31, Shakespeare in the Park. Aug. 8, Chrome Molly (classic rock). Information: eventassistant@cityoffederalway.com.
Summer Sounds and Cinema (Auburn): Free, 7 p.m. at Lea Hill Park, 31693 124th Ave. SE. July 26, Crème Tangerine (Beatles tribute). Aug. 2, The Marlin James Band (country). Aug. 9, Joanie Leeds (kids) and Nate Botsford (country rock). Movies follow the music. Information: 253-931-3043.
Thursdays at the Lake (Kent): Free, all shows at 7 p.m. at Lake Meridian Park. July 18, Birch Pereira and the Gin Joints (swing, rock). July 25, Aaron Crawford (country). Aug. 1, Stacy Jones Band (blues). Aug. 8, Sundae & Mr. Goessi (vintage). Aug. 15, Mile Twelve (bluegrass). Information: kentwa.gov, 253-856-5200.

srmedia by — July 17, 2019 in Spotlight