The Senior Scene

Are you worried about affording the repairs your home needs? Rebuilding Together South Sound might be your answer.
The local non-profit organization uses skilled volunteers to provide free home repairs and modifications to low-income homeowners. The service is for seniors, people with disabilities, or families with children.
In addition to projects throughout the year that increase the accessibility of homes or address emergency repairs, Rebuilding Day is an annual volunteer event on the last Saturday in April and involves hundreds of volunteers doing critical home repairs. Projects can range from plumbing, electrical and carpentry to replacing leaking roofs, flooring, windows and doors.
Applications for Rebuilding Day 2015 are being accepted. They’re due by Dec. 1 this year. In order to qualify for services, applicants must own their home, be low-income, and live in Pierce County, Federal Way or Auburn.
Application forms and more information is available from Alex Gilliom at 253-238-0977 or at www.rebuildingtogetherss.org.
In the past 12 years, “we have helped hundreds of homeowners stay safe and healthy in their homes,” said a spokesman for Rebuilding Together South Sound.

A free information-only workshop about services and resources in Pierce County for older adults and people with disabilities will be held Nov. 18 at the Puyallup Activity Center.
From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., topics will include in-home care, geriatric care management, elder law, adult family homes, assisted living, skilled nursing homes, memory care, Medicare, Medicaid and community resources, said a spokesman for Pierce County Community Connections Aging and Disability Resources. The county agency is co-sponsoring the event with Health Care Providers Council of Pierce County.
The center is located at 210 W. Pioneer in Puyallup.
“Life is fragile,” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, manager of Aging and Disability Resources. “For some people, even the youngest and healthiest, life can change in a blink with an accident or illness. For others, the gradual onset of disabilities may lead to need for extended care. In either case, knowing about community resources and how to tap into them is crucial.”
More information about the workshop is available at 253-798-4600.

Nov. 4 is the last day to vote in the general election.
Ballots must be sent back no later than that date by mail or at official election dropboxes in Pierce County, King County and Kitsap County. Information on dropbox locations is available for Pierce voters at co.pierce.wa.us/elections and 253-798-7430, King voters at kingcounty.gov/elections and 206-296-8683, and Kitsap voters at kitsapgov.com and 360-337-7129.
Dropboxes will be open until 8 p.m. Nov. 4.
Voters in all three counties are deciding races for the Legislature, Congress and local offices, as well as local and state ballot measures.

With wet fall weather returning and leaves falling, the potential for flooding along roads increases. So does the opportunity for the public to help reduce flooding by keeping storm drains near their homes clear of leaves.
Road officials suggest the following ways to help:
• Pick up leaves and other yard waste and put them in yard waste bins for pick up
• If it can be done safely, remove leaves and other debris from storm drains with a rake.
• In Pierce County, find a list of local facilities that accept yard waste and leaves, often free of charge, at www.piercecountywa.org/yardwaste.
“While residents are raking leaves in their yards, they can also help the community by taking a few minutes to check on nearby storm drains and clean out leaves and other debris,” said Brian Ziegler, Pierce County’s director of Public Works and Utilities. “Spending a little effort at the start of fall can have a big impact as more storms blow into the area, bringing more rain and causing more leaves to drop.”
People living in cities and towns should contact their local public works department to report flooding or storm drain problems
In unincorporated areas of Pierce County, problems can be reported at 253-798-6000 or www.piercecountywa.org/.