All Posts in "srmedia"

It’s spring.  The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming and the grass is growing.  And oh how it grows and grows.  According to the National Gardening Association, 60 million Americans (more than half of us) engage in some form of do-it-yourself gardening or lawn care.  So much so that when faced with a neighbor who doesn’t keep their lawn manicured, we as a nation often think of them as lazy or uncaring.  As part of the Safe, Clean and Attractive effort, the City of Tacoma employees, Rebuilding Together South Sound and other community organizations and individuals want to help residents needing assistance with their outdoor projects to get the training, guidance and even possibly the volunteer assistance necessary through a new program called Tacoma Neighborhood Makeover Week.

Neighborhood Makeover Week offers free workshops, a block party/resource fair and opportunities for residents to volunteer to help with improvement projects during the week of April 22-28.  This year, makeover teams will converge on the Giaudrone Safe Streets area in South Tacoma to complete projects involving weeding, planting, debris removal, edging and other basic improvements.  According to Alicia Lawver of the City of Tacoma, the project is intended to bring neighbors together as well as illustrate the impact that some fairly easy curbside improvements can have on a neighborhood.  The long term hope is to select a different neighborhood each year for the volunteer projects.  To volunteer for a makeover team, go to www.TacomaMakeover Week.org or contact the volunteer coordinator at (253) 382-2780.  Lunch will be provided to the volunteers.

Workshops offerings include classes on rain barrels, residential rain gardens, tree care and pruning.  The classes are free and open to the public.  Visit www.tacomamakeoverweek.org for a listing of available classes, times and locations.  To follow the program on Facebook go to www.facebook.com/TacomaNMW.

Safe, Clean and Attractive is an effort by the City of Tacoma to partner residents and city employees to make Tacoma safer, cleaner and more attractive.  Teams work within existing budgets and harness community resource to make improvements.  For more information, go to www.cityoftacoma.org/safeandclean. Neighborhood makeover Week is a collaborative effort involving City employees, Rebuilding Together South Sound, WSU Extension Master Gardeners, The University of Washington Urban Studies Program’s CIVITAS group, Communities in Schools, Tacoma 360 and other individuals and organizations.

srmedia by — April 11, 2012 in Everything Else

Another year is well under way and we have many great things planned.  Instead of the regular column this month I will try to give you an insight into what those plans are.

One of the many adventure options for 2012 is a show at Teatro ZinZanni.

MARCH:

Seattle Restaurant Walking Tour; Dinner Date; Hawaii for 2 weeks.

APRIL:

Teatro ZinZanni, 7 night Eastern Caribbean Cruise, 5thAve. Theater, Dinner Date, 4 night Pacific Coastal Cruise, 2 nightVictoria, Mystery Trip, 16 night Panama Canal

MAY:

Dinner Date, 5thAve Theater, Mystery Trip

JUNE:

Dinner Date, Museum of Communication, Mystery Trip, Milton Walker Gardens

JULY:

Dinner Date, Georgetown Trailer Park Mall, Longbeach with a surprise, Mystery Trip

AUGUST:

5th Ave. Theater, Dinner Date, 2 night Leavenworth “film festival”, Mystery Trip

SEPTEMBER:

Dinner Date, 1 night Crystal Mountain, Mystery Trip, 3 night Las Vegas

OCTOBER:

Dinner Date, America’s Music Cities, Mystery Trip

NOVEMBER:

King Tut

Other things are in the works like Ashland for Shakespeare, a possible October cruise on the world’s largest cruise ship, and whatever else we find interesting,

For further information and/or to make reservations contact Linda Finch at 253 927 8207 or sign up for email alerts at linda.finch@gmail.com

 

srmedia by — January 25, 2012 in Lifestyle, Home, Adventures

Looking for an inexpensive way to celebrate the holidays?  Pierce County Libraries offer programs and projects for just about any age group.  Have young grand children visiting?  Check out the opportunities to make and decorate their very own gingerbread house or go watch a variety show featuring comical marionettes.   Want something for yourself?  Learn to make a holiday wreath or centerpiece, listen to local musicians or take up a new hobby with lessons on book making.   Need something a bit more cerebral?  Learn about the Civil War, listen to a lecture on opera or hear a local author.  It’s all at Pierce County Libraries.  Reminder to Tacoma residents: You can have a Pierce County Library card and a Tacoma Public Library card.  If you live outside of Tacoma, check here to see if you qualify for a Pierce County Library card.

Bonney Lake Pierce County Library, 18501 90th St. E.

  • Saturday, Dec. 3, 12 – 2 p.m. Wreath Making All are welcome to learn techniques. For those who would like to make a wreath, cost is $5 for supplies. Registration required. Register online @ www.piercecountylibrary.org/calendar
  • Saturday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m. Puppets Please
  • Sunday, Dec. 11, 2 p.m. Holiday Caroling
    The Dickens Carolers, a professional a cappella quartet, dressed in authentic Victorian costumes, will sing.

Buckley Pierce County Library, 123 S. River Ave.

  • Saturday, Dec. 10, noon. Puppets Please
  • Wednesday, Dec. 14, 4 – 5:30 p.m. Gingerbread Houses. Ages 5 and up. Register in the library.

DuPont Pierce County Library, 1540 Wilmington Drive

 

Gig Harbor Pierce County Library, 4424 Point Fosdick Drive N.W.

  • Saturday, Dec. 3, 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Gingerbread Houses. Ages 5 and up. Register in the library.
  • Saturday, Dec. 3, 2:30 p.m. Holiday Concert
    The award-winning ensemble, Evergreen Brass Quintet, will perform seasonal music.
  • ·  Saturday, Dec. 17, 10 a.m. – noon. Holiday Centerpiece Workshop
    All are welcome to learn techniques. For those who would like to make a centerpiece, cost is $15 for supplies. Registration required. Register online @ www.piercecountylibrary.org/calendar
  • Sunday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m.  Veteran opera lecturer Norm Hollingshead will inform and entertain with an enthusiastic preview of the Seattle Opera production of Giuseppi Verdi’s “Attila.”  Italian opera master Verdi’s dramatic work of historical fiction features assassination plots, dirty politics, and plenty of pomp and circumstance. Attila the Hun and his conquering hordes clash with cunning women warriors and a scheming Roman general. This rousing showdown between good and evil boasts expressive melodies, glorious choral pieces and standout arias.
  • Wednesday, Dec. 21, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Puppets Please

Graham Pierce County Library, 9202 224th St. E.

  • Saturday, Dec. 3, 2 p.m. Holiday Concert
    All ages will enjoy tunes with The Totem-Aires/Tacoma Barbershop Harmony Chorus.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 6, 4 p.m. Puppets Please

Key Center Pierce County Library, 8905 KPN, Lakebay

  • Saturday, Dec. 3, 2 p.m. Holiday Concert
    Vocal music lovers will welcome the holidays with the Seattle ensemble Madrigalia. Friends of the Key Center Library encourage people to bring donations for the Key Peninsula Food Bank.
  • Saturday, Dec. 10, 11 a.m. Gingerbread Houses. All ages. Register in the library.

Lakewood Pierce County Library, 6300 Wildaire Road S.W.

  • Monday, Dec. 5, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Book Making
    Participants will learn to make a simple book with pamphlet stitch binding and gain skills to create homemade presents.
  • Saturday, Dec. 17, 2 p.m. Puppets Please

Milton/Edgewood Pierce County Library, Surprise Lake Square, 900 Meridian E., Suite 29

Orting Pierce County Library, 202 Washington Ave. S. 98360

  • Thursday, Dec. 8, 3 – 4:30 p.m. Gingerbread Houses. Ages 13-17. No registration required.
  • Saturday, Dec. 17, 1 – 4 p.m. Gingerbread Houses. Ages 5 and up. Register online @ www.piercecountylibrary.org/calendar

Parkland/Spanaway Pierce County Library, 13718 Pacific Ave. S.

South Hill Pierce County Library, 15420 Meridian E.

  • Sunday, Dec. 4, 2 p.m. Puppets Please
  • Wednesday, Dec. 7, 1 – 5 p.m. Gingerbread Houses. Ages 5 and up. Register online @www.piercecountylibrary.org/calendar
  • Friday, Dec. 16, at 2 p.m.  Celebrate Jane Austen’s birthday. Guests will sip tea while they talk with Sharon Johnson, local author of “The Darcys of Pemberley,” a sequel to “Pride and Prejudice.” Learn about Jane Austen’s life and work, and hear true tales of the rocky road to publication.  Copies of “The Darcys of Pemberley” will be available for purchase at the event.

Steilacoom Pierce County Library, 2950 Steilacoom Blvd.

Summit Pierce County Library, 5107 112th St. E., Tacoma

  • Saturday, Dec. 17, 12 p.m. Puppets Please

Sumner Pierce County Library, 1116 Fryar Ave. 

  • Saturday, Dec. 3, 11 a.m. Gingerbread Houses. All ages: under 6 with an adult. Register online @ www.piercecountylibrary.org/calendar
  • Saturday, Dec. 10, 2 p.m. Puppets Please
  • Saturday, Dec.17, 3 p.m. Holiday Stories
    Dave Rasmussen from the Fireside Story League will share delightful holiday short stories.

University Place Pierce County Library, 3609 Market Place W.

  • Let’s Talk About It: Making Sense of the American Civil War, a reading and discussion series, will open with an orientation on Thursday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m., and include five discussions on Thursdays: Jan. 5, Feb. 2, March 1, April 5, May 3, from 7 to 9 p.m.  The library will provide all materials at the orientation, including the following books for discussion:   Registration is required. People may sign up at the library or by calling 253-548-3307.
  • “America’s War: Talking about the Civil War and Emancipation on their 150th Anniversaries” edited by Edward L. Ayers.
  • “Crossroads of Freedom: Antietam” by James M. McPherson.
  • “March” by Geraldine Brooks.
  • Saturday, Dec. 17, 3:30 p.m. Puppets Please
srmedia by — November 30, 2011 in Everything Else
Diabetes: a growing health concern

By Hugh Straley, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Soundpath Health

In the United States, 10.9 million people age 65 and older have diabetes. It is one of the most common and potentially serious chronic diseases among seniors. When diabetes is not controlled, glucose and fats remain in the blood and, over time, will damage vital organs. Diabetes can lead to many complications, including heart disease, vascular disease and kidney failure. The good news is that complications can be avoided through careful management of diet and exercise, with or without appropriate medications.

The growing epidemic of obesity is a primary cause of diabetes among seniors in the U.S. Other risk factors are a family history of diabetes and a history of diabetes during pregnancy. Diabetes is also seen more frequently in African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans.

Often there may be no symptoms because late onset diabetes in older people develops very slowly. But common warning signs of diabetes are increased thirst and hunger, dry mouth, frequent urination, vision changes, frequent infections and hard-to-heal skin ulcers.

Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, kidney disease, foot infections and amputation. It may lead to premature death, primarily from heart-related events. If uncontrolled, diabetes can lead to complications of the skin, bone and joints, nerve damage, non-healing ulcers and diabetic coma.

Once discovered, diabetes can be effectively managed through diet, exercise, weight loss and often with medications. The key to good self-management is a thorough understanding of the disease and following the care recommendations of physicians and caregivers.

There are many benefits of early detection and early treatment of diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that anyone 45 years or older who has risk factors or is obese consider being screened for diabetes. Diabetes is detected if a fasting plasma glucose level is 126 mg/dL or greater. For people with diabetes and high blood pressure, it is known that reducing and controlling blood pressure and reducing cholesterol early decreases the incidence of heart disease and death.

1. Don’t smoke. Your best health means being tobacco-free.

2. Maintain blood sugar. Your blood sugar (A1C) should be less than 7 percent.

3. Lower bad cholesterol. Your LDL should be less than 100mg/dL.

4. Control blood pressure. Your BP should be less than 130/80.

5. Take daily aspirin. If you are 40 or older, take one baby aspirin per day.

6. Make healthy eating choices. Work with your doctor and team to create the right meal plan for you. Confer with a dietician as needed to help you make the right choices.

7. Get physically active. Start or maintain a regular physical exercise routine. Consult your doctor about starting a safe exercise plan. Do an activity every day.

8. Lose Weight. Losing just 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can have dramatic improvements in blood sugar, blood pressure, and over all well-being.

9. Take your medicine. If you take pills or insulin to control diabetes, it is important for you to have a thorough understanding of how they work and when and how to take the medicine. If you take other medicines or supplements, ask your doctor how these could affect your diabetes control.

srmedia by — July 28, 2011 in Everything Else