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Stay Fire Safe: Free Smoke Alarm Program for Seattle Homeowners

January 23, 2026 — Did you know that once a fire begins to flame, it can double in size every 30 seconds? At that rate, a room can become fully engulfed in minutes. Smoke alarms provide a life saving warning during early signs of a fire. Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms help keep you safe. Smoke alarm installation... Read More

Free Tax Help is Here With United Way

January 22, 2026 — Is there a stack of tax letters on your desk that you’re dreading opening? Do you need help filing taxes? That’s what we’re here for! Every year, United Way of King County’s Free Tax Volunteer Team offers free tax preparation services at one of our many tax sites in the Puget Sound region. This year,... Read More

The Power of Staying Connected

January 19, 2026 — As February brings longer days and more daylight, I start looking forward to warmer days and doing outdoor activities I love, like gardening and rowing. But in the meantime, while the weather is still chilly, I think about ways I can reconnect with past interests or find workshops and lectures that get me out into... Read More

Advocacy 101: Advocating in Real-Time

January 19, 2026 — In this month’s “Advocacy 101” column, we give you an inside look at the 2026 Washington state legislative session. The legislative session opened on Jan. 12 with lawmakers entering a fast-moving 60-day period (sometimes referred to as a “short” session as opposed to a 120-day “long” session) marked by budget pressures, tax debates, and a... Read More

Small Projects, Big Impact: AARP Offers Grants to Boost Community Livability

January 19, 2026 — Building great communities takes time, but small, tangible improvements can spark lasting change. That’s the idea behind the AARP Community Challenge, a grant program launched in 2017 to support quick-action projects that enhance livability nationwide. Now in its tenth year, the AARP Community Challenge has supported over 2,100 projects nationwide. In Washington state, 44 grants... Read More

Ms. Charlotte Antoine: A Lifelong Advocate

December 19, 2025 — Meet Ms. Charlotte. Forty-six years ago, she started down a path of advocating for the well-being of others, and she’s never looked back. This month, Ms. Charlotte steps down as Vice Chair of the Mayor’s Council on African American Elders, and we honor her service in this role and beyond. As a young woman living... Read More

Seeds of Intention: Planning a Garden in the Quiet of Winter

December 11, 2025 — As the dark days of winter settle in, my garden has tucked itself into its seasonal slumber. I am spending more time indoors while the frost outside leaves its sparkly trail on branches and leaves. A quick walk to the mailbox for the daily snail mail delivers one of the great joys of winter for... Read More

Washington Faces an Age Wave: Economic and Policy Priorities for 2026

December 11, 2025 — “The age wave is here,” says Cathleen MacCaul, Senior Advocacy Director at AARP Washington. “By 2030, more Washingtonians will be age 65 and older than under 18. That demographic shift will impact every part of our economy—from health care to housing to gaps in our long-term care workforce.”  A recent AARP survey underscores these concerns... Read More

Transitions and Changes in the New Year

December 11, 2025 — Happy New Year! There are several different dates for the new year that groups around the world follow. For those who follow the solar or Gregorian calendar like I do, it is Jan. 1. For those who follow the lunar calendar, like some Asian cultures, the new year is celebrated later in January, February, and... Read More
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