The Senior Scene

Since 1939, March has meant one thing in the world of sports – March Madness. In this tournament, 68 college men’s basketball teams compete through the month until only the final four teams remain. Coaches gather their teams to drive home the gravity of the moment, reminding them that they’ve worked hard and that how they respond to the pressure directly determines the outcome.
When it comes to retirement, you can secure your own winning outcome by teaming up with Social Security and taking advantage of services offered online. Start by opening a My Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.
What can you do with this account?
• Use it to view your Social Security Statement and verify your earnings history each year. Your future benefits are based on your recorded earnings.
• Stay focused on your financial future by getting estimates of your retirement, disability and survivor benefits, if you are still working.
• Keep up the full-court press by managing your benefits, if you already receive them.
• Get immediate proof of your current Social Security benefits or a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S for tax purposes.
While everyone focuses on college basketball, create your own March madness with Social Security. You can open your online account during one of the commercial breaks.
Don’t wait until crunch time. Your moment is now. Take advantage of your own personal my Social Security account to stay on top of your annual earnings history and future benefit estimates. Staying ahead of the game is key to having a winning future in retirement. Social Security is a dependable team player, assisting you to your retirement championship, and my Social Security is the Most Valuable Player on the court. Check out your final four at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

Kirk Larson, who wrote this article, is a public affairs specialist in western Washington for Social Security.

Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources has scheduled a series of forums for the public to help shape a plan for services to older adults and individuals with disabilities over the next four years.
For the plan that will cover the four years of 2016-19, forum participants can speak up on topics such as in-home care, transportation, nutrition, healthcare, housing, socialization, legal services, aging-in-place and employment/volunteerism.
“We want to hear what concerns people,” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, manager of Aging and Disability Resources. “In order for us to develop a strong plan for the next four years, we need to hear the experiences and suggestions of people with disabilities, older adults, caregivers, family members, friends and professionals in the community.”
Forums were held March 4 in Lakewood and March 9 in Tacoma, and four more are scheduled for:
• March 19 (12:30-2:30 p.m.) at Milgard Family HOPE Center in Gig Harbor, 8502 Skansie Ave.
• March 21 (9-11 a.m.) at Buckley Senior Center, located at 811 Main St. in Buckley
• March 30 (10 a.m.-noon) at Mountain View Community Center in Edgewood, 3607 122nd Ave. E.
• April 16 (1 -3 p.m.) at Lakewood Senior Activity Center, located at 9112 Lakewood Dr. SW.
The public can also participate in an on-line survey at www.PierceCountyWA.org/ADR or send their input by mail to Pierce County ADR, 1305 Tacoma Ave. S., Suite 104, Tacoma, WA 98402, or by e-mail to pcseniors@co.pierce.wa.us.
Additional information about the forums and input opportunities is available at 253-798-7376.
Aging and Disability Resources (ADR) is a designated Area Agency on Aging. Its role is to plan and oversee long-term services and support in Pierce County.

Metro Parks Tacoma is inviting the public to participate in the master plan process for Point Defiance Park.
The agency has begun refining the Park Board-approved Concept Plan of 2008 into a master plan for future development and uses of the park. The plan will be presented to the public April 23 before going to the board for consideration.
“We want to make sure everyone in our community is aware and involved as we make long-term decisions about one of the region’s favorite destinations. This includes the thousands who retire out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord and join our community,” said Roxanne Miles, Metro Parks’ strategic advancement manager and Americans With Disabilities Act coordinator.
The public can give input by:
• Attending the two remaining open houses with Metro Parks planners. Meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium Education Building on March 26 and April 23.
•Commenting at destinationpointdefiance.org. The site has information, maps and an interactive online tool.
•Getting Facebook updates at www.Facebook.com/PointDefiancePark
•Calling or e-mailing chief planning manager Doug Fraser at 253-305-1019 and dougf@tacomaparks.com
• Contacting Miles at 253-305-1068 for a presentation to groups before April 23. I can also coordinate with you for translated materials or an interpreter at the presentation.
•Mailing a letter to Metro Parks Tacoma, Attn: Destination Point Defiance, 4702 S. 19th St., Tacoma WA 98405.
“This is an exciting point in Tacoma history for Metro Parks and the park district – a rare chance to map the future of a community treasure,” Miles said.

Washington residents can now recycle fluorescent lights and other mercury-containing lights for free at 130 sites throughout the state (including King, Kitsap and Pierce counties), with more being added in the months ahead.
LightRecycle Washington collection sites will take traditional fluorescent tubes (including straight, curved and circular tubes), the twisty compact fluorescent lights and high intensity discharge lights, which are commonly used in outdoor lighting fixtures. The program does not accept lighting fixtures or ballasts.
Both individuals and businesses can drop off lights for recycling, although there is a limit of 10 lights per day. Visit www.lightrecyclewa.org to find a collection site near you. Locations are available in Pierce, King and Kitsap counties.
“Fluorescent lights are long-lasting and energy efficient, but they contain small amounts of toxic mercury, which needs to be recycled or properly disposed of,” said Laurie Davies, manager of Ecology’s Waste 2 Resources program. “With the launch of LightRecycle Washington, we’re making it easier to comply with the law and protect the environment.”
Since 2010, it has been illegal in Washington to dispose of mercury-containing lights in the regular garbage. This new program, funded by a 25-cent environmental handling charge on each new mercury-containing light sold at retail, makes it simple to recycle old lights.
EcoLights Northwest, located in Seattle, is the recycling company that will process the lights collected by LightRecycle Washington. After mercury-containing lights are collected, EcoLights breaks them down and then recyclable components, including mercury, are refined and reused.
“We started recycling lights back in 1996,” said Craig Lorch, co-owner of EcoLights, “but until now, many residents and small businesses have had a difficult time finding a convenient and inexpensive way to recycle fluorescent lights. This program will make it easy to recycle mercury-containing lights anywhere in Washington state.”
LightRecycle Washington is run by the nonprofit PCA Product Stewardship Inc., working with retailers, lighting manufacturers, municipal waste facilities and Ecology.