Purple Haze Daze To Be Held at Sequim's Lavender Weekend, July 17 to 19

Purple Haze Daze 3 Day Party at Purple Haze Lavender Farm

Purple Haze Lavender Farm will hold its inaugural Purple Haze Daze during Sequim's 19th Annual Lavender Weekend, July 17 to19, 2015. Purple Haze Lavender Farm is located at 180 Bell Bottom Road, Sequim, WA. Admission is $10.00 for all three days.

This three day Purple Haze Daze lavender party will include the music of some iconic musical figures. Geoffrey Castle will be wielding his world famous electronic violin. Aussie Blake Noble will delight crowds with his 12 string guitar and didgeridoo. Regional funk band Open Country Joy will also be on hand all three days with their eclectic blend of funk, country and original favorites. There will also be additional musical offerings and the possibility of some surprises.

Blondie's Plate, one of the Olympic Peninsula’s rising stars in the restaurant world, will provide gourmet food and an array of beverages.  This will include their specialty drink The Moscow Mule and a favorite at Purple Haze Daze, The Lavender Margarita.

Attendees of Purple Haze Daze looking for unique handcrafted items will enjoy the twenty plus artisan vendors displaying their wares throughout the farm. Photo ops abound everywhere on Purple Haze's twelve acres of flowing lavender fields. A stop in the orchard will provide an opportunity to meet Bob and Shirley, the farm's peacock pair, and a unique collection of egg laying hens.

Should one wish to take home some lavender goodies, the farm's gift shop is stocked full with Purple Haze's own line of culinary delights, bath and body products and lavender home care items. The farm also has its own ice cream shoppe with a variety of delicious lavender ice cream, tea, coffee, and lavender lemonade. Those looking for a more permanent souvenir will have over a dozen varieties of lavender plants to choose from to take home and plant in their own garden.

You will want to attend this family fun event - especially if you missed the the Northwest Wine and Cheese Tour on the Olympic Peninsula in May.

Club Pilates Opens First Studio in Bellevue

Club Pilates Franchise Enters Puget Sound Market with Studio in Downtown Bellevue

Club Pilates, the nation’s largest and fastest-growing Pilates franchise, has brought its inclusive and positive studio atmosphere to the Bellevue Plaza Shopping Center at 143 106^th Ave. in Bellevue.

The Club Pilates studio in Downtown Bellevue is the first to open in the Seattle area, and hosts a variety of 50-minute classes that range from beginner to intense Cardio Sculpt workouts. The 1,200 square foot studio is equipped with reformers for all classes, exo-chairs and springboards, as well as mats, balls, dumbbells, magic circles, and ballet barres.

“Pilates is good for all and can be done by everybody. From Hollywood stars like Jennifer Aniston and Lady Gaga to top athletes like Lebron James and Peyton Manning, baby boomers to new moms, more and more people are turning to Pilates to meet their health and fitness goals,” said studio owner Nikki Adams. “My intent in opening this studio is to create a space where people of all fitness levels who are serious about their health and well-being can work in small groups or individually with expert and personalized instruction.”

Adams has been practicing Pilates since 2001 and actually won the studio through a Club Pilates franchise giveaway.

Club Pilates Bellevue currently offers 36 classes per week, seven days a week, that start as early as 8 a.m. and as late as 7:30 p.m., so there's almost always a class for even the busiest of schedules. Class times and reservations are all accessible online, and the studio has discounted monthly memberships and class packages starting as low as $10 per class. The studio also has introductory specials perfect for those new to Pilates.

In addition to group classes, the studio offers private instruction by appointment.

"The whole premise of Club Pilates is to make Pilates accessible to every body type, regardless of age, fitness and activity level, or gender,” Adams said. "It's meant to be affordable and accessible."

Adams has committed to opening three studios total in the Seattle area, and is looking to open the second studio in Kent by the end of the year. A third location is planned for the Capitol Hill area in 2016. Company plans call for having as many as five studios in the area over the next few years.

Since its inception in 2007, the Irvine, California-based franchise has rapidly expanded throughout California, as well as many other states including Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin. A studio recently opened in Australia as well.

About Club Pilates

Founded in 2007 and franchising since 2012, Club Pilates is the nation’s largest and fastest-growing Pilates franchise, offering several signature class formats in order to fit the needs of many clients – from young to more senior, and from beginner to advanced. The first studio to create a 500 hour Teacher Training Program designed to thoroughly and safely teach group Pilates apparatus classes that flow, Club Pilates currently has 36 locations, more than 100 territories sold, approximately 40,000 members, 100+ instructors and 75,000 monthly workouts throughout the United States and Australia. For more information, please visit www.clubpilatesstudio.com

Les Schwab Tire Center Moves Bellevue Location - Community event raises funds for schools; Free movie tickets, food and savings

This week, Les Schwab Tire Centers commemorates the relocation of its new Bellevue-Overlake store. The public is invited to the two-day event starting Friday, May 29.

The celebration features giveaways, food, savings and fun while supporting area high schools:

• OneRedmond, the Greater Redmond Chamber of Commerce, will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the store Saturday at 1 p.m.


• Throughout the festivities, guests can spin a prize wheel to win movie tickets, T-shirts, coupons, key chains, lanyards or free services, while supplies last.


• Stop by for a complimentary lunch as Les Schwab employees will grill hot dogs and hamburgers on Friday from 12 to 3 p.m. and Interlake High School Students will be grilling on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.


• Radio show KQMV MOViN 92.5FM with Brooke and Jubal will broadcast from Les Schwab on Friday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.Test your luck in the MOViN 92.5 Cash Tube to see how much money you can grab!


• On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., KMPS 94.1FM will broadcast live from Les Schwab.


• While folks enjoy the festivities, they can take advantage of Les Schwab’s Free Pre-Trip Safety Check, which includes checking tire pressure and tread depth, visual alignment, brakes, shocks and battery.

“We’ll be providing a fun atmosphere and giveaways that families can enjoy together,” said Jeff Robidou, Les Schwab’s Bellevue-Overlake store manager. “We hope residents will come out to meet us and also support students as they raise money for their activities.”

The new Les Schwab Tire Center is located at 2355 Bel-Red Road, at the corner of Northeast 24th Street and Bel-Red Road, across the street from Trader Joe’s and Walgreens. It replaces the former Les Schwab store next to Fred Meyer on 148th Avenue Northeast. As part of the two-day event, customers will receive additional savings on Les Schwab tires.

“This two-day event gives our Les Schwab team an opportunity to meet our neighbors, and we’re looking forward to telling them about the Les Schwab story, which includes selling only the highest quality products backed up by our world-class service and warranties. You won’t find a better value,” said Robidou. “The new store will offer the complete Les Schwab experience. Employees greet customers as they drive onto the parking lot, showrooms offer a wide selection of tires to meet customer safety and driving requirements, and free warranties are provided for tires, brakes, alignments, batteries, shocks and struts.”

How Could Olympia Stoop So Low? by Michael “Buffalo” Mazzetti

Why does the Washington State Legislature (WSL) want to undermine medical cannabis? Alison Holcomb and Peter Holmes with Initiative 502 clearly stated that if passed, it would have no effect on medical cannabis laws. Reassuring voters that “I-502 won't harm patients”.

Senate Bill SB 5052 is an effort by the WSL that could doom our medical cannabis patient rights. This bill could bring harm and even death to many medical cannabis patients. Why would the WSL do this? Immediately, three reasons grab my attention: knowledge deficit, power, and greed. Let’s examine this.

Knowledge deficit: The WSL is way behind the leading edge of medical cannabis study. Amazing anecdotal stories of healing are coming to the public's attention daily. Legislative bills presented in this session don’t recognize the unique organism of each individual human nor our specific medical condition. New and promising cannabis plant varieties and delivery systems are being developed as we speak. They would limit the number of plants a patient could grow to less than half the current amount-severely limiting the patient’s right and ability to find out if a high CBD plant serves them better than a THC plant, not to mention CBG, CBN or a variety of terpines.

Greed: I- 502 created a huge lobby of 502 growers, processors and retail store owners in Olympia. Many members know nothing about the exciting miracle of medical cannabis. They want to sell recreational pot. SB 5052 would force patients to purchase their medicine from recreational stores under the guidance of the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB). Growers following the guidelines of the WSLCB can produce cannabis heavily laden with non-organic chemicals (248 pesticides are approved for use). Medical patients lose again, by being forced to smoke, ingest or topically use medicine grown with chemicals known to exacerbate their conditions. The WSLCB have held secret meetings to end medical cannabis.¹

Power: Campaign contributions put and keep our Legislators in office. Public records show that the prime sponsor of SB 5052, Senator Ann Rivers-(R) 18th District, has received substantial contributions from large pharmaceutical corporations. Pfizer, Abbott and Eli Lilly have all contributed heavily to her last campaign. Big Pharma has always been opposed to medical cannabis because this natural remedy will cut deeply into their billion $ profits.

It is up to the public to hold the WSL accountable. SB 5052 has not passed the House. Please call your representative today and tell them SB 5052 is not acceptable. The legislature needs to work with cannabis patients groups to work out an acceptable way to provide safe access to quality medicine.

If these efforts fail to convince the WSL that we need medical cannabis, the public must once again take the initiative.

Citizens Initiative-1372 will strengthen and protect medical use of cannabis. You can find petitions at: www.cppwa.org. Please download a copy, sign it, get your friends to sign it and send it to the address on the petitions by June 27, 2015. This may be the only way to bring common sense regarding medical cannabis to the WSL. I-1372 creates a board made up of the state and the community to govern over all aspects of the medical cannabis market with a separate revenue to remain revenue neutral. This is something that the WSL will not do.

From 70s Mood to Prep Chic; Spring Trends are Artful and Modern at The Bellevue Collection

Spring trends bring out the modern and artful side of fashion this season as featured in The Bellevue Collection’s Spring 2015 Canvas of Style Look Book. Designed for the ‘Modern Muse’ in us all, these trends are perfect for individuals who are independent thinkers and know themselves as well as they know the contents of their closets. This season’s go-to looks in fashion and accessories feature contemporary and classic styles in a refreshing and modern blend.

The Bellevue Collection’s key spring trends will also be featured on the runway at the Canvas of Style Runway Show, Saturday, April 25, 9:00 am in Bellevue Square, Center Court with 100% of ticket sales to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue’s BE a Smart Girl Program.

Official trends include:

• Denim Luxe: Modern, tailored denim suitable for evening and workplace.


• In The 70s Mood: The free spirited vibe of the 1970s via inspired silhouettes and accessories.


• Leading Lady: Tailored design elements and soft feminine features. Uncomplicated and flattering, the look is pretty personified.


• Bold Blooms: Bold, bright florals pack serious punch. Balance large-scale graphic blooms with soft fabrics and ultra femme colors.


• Prep Chic: A modern twist on country club classics highlighting gingham prints, polos and cardigans.


• Bohemian Spirit: A fresh take on modern Bohemia with a rich color pallet, throwback prints and dreamy fabrics with a free-spirited nature.


• Global Travel: Discover khaki tones in trench coats and travel-easy linens paired with exotic accessories.


• White Out: Explore a range of white hues, from bone to cream to ecru. Create interesting layers and proportions through a mix of soft shades while keeping accessories small and simple.

 

Spring Beauty Trends

• Smokey Brown Eye and Bitten Lip: This barely-there eye look delivers warmth and radiance. A bitten lip features lightly brushed color and avoids lip edges creating a “just bitten” look.


• Elevated Bohemian Braid: The essential look for the season is this loose side braid that projects an effortless attitude with a bohemian vibe.

 

See the trends come to life in the exclusive “Behind the Scenes” video of The Collection’s Spring 2015 Canvas of Style Look Book photo shoot and in two all new beauty tutorial videos. See what it takes to produce the fashion guide of the season and learn how to recreate the beauty trends as seen in the Look Book with step by step instructions from hair and makeup artist Lindsey Watkins. Visit bellevuecollection.com/springfashion to view the Look Book and videos and purchase your Spring 2015 Canvas of Style Runway Show tickets.

 

About The Bellevue Collection

Located in the heart of Bellevue, Washington, The Bellevue Collection, owned by Kemper Development Company, includes Bellevue Square, a super-regional upscale shopping center, Bellevue Place, a mixed-use property featuring the Hyatt Regency Bellevue and small boutiques and Lincoln Square, anchored by Lincoln Square Cinemas, restaurants, home furnishings and The Westin Bellevue. This distinctive collection features 250 of the finest shops, 30 destination restaurants, a 16-screen premier cinema, 1,100 luxury hotel rooms and 10,000 free retail parking spaces, all in one location. The Bellevue Collection is a shopping, dining and nightlife, and entertainment experience unlike any other in the region. It is located on Bellevue Way between NE 4th and NE 10th Streets in downtown Bellevue, just across Lake Washington from Seattle.

@BelleCollection (Bellevue Collection Twitter) ∙ @BellesVue (Belle’s Vue Twitter) ∙ @BellevueCollection (Bellevue Collection Instagram) ∙ facebook.com/bellevuecollection

Bacon and Beer Classic to Take Over Safeco Field, Home of the Seattle Mariners on May 2nd

Bacon and beer lovers the anticipation is over! The Bacon and Beer Classic is back in Seattle on Saturday, May 2^nd at Safeco Field!

Now in its second year, the Bacon and Beer Classic combines bacon, beer, and the ballpark for an event not soon forgotten!

Cannonball Productions brings the Bacon and Beer Classic (www.baconandbeerclassic.com) to the home of the Mariners, for a unique tasting experience on May 2.  Fans can attend the Brunch session from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., or the Evening session running 7p.m. until 10 p.m. VIP guests will have 1-hour early admission (11am and 6pm respectively), exclusive entrance to the VIP area on the warning track and dugouts, samples of craft beer on the field, and more! The option to attend both sessions is available, however separate entrance tickets are required.

The Bacon and Beer Classic is a one-of-a-kind event uniting bacon and beer enthusiasts nationwide.  Hosted in major league baseball stadiums on non-game day Saturdays across America, The Bacon and Beer Classic brings in the best local breweries and restaurants for a day full of mouth-watering beer and bacon samples, accompanied by DJs, interactive games, beer schools and cooking demos. From novice tasters to expert consumers, there is something for everyone at this event!

The tour visited New York City and Seattle last year and has grown exponentially to include more than eight destinations nationwide this year!  “Seattle was a great kickoff to the Bacon and Beer Classic series last year and we are so excited to be BACK at Safeco Field!” says Kate Levenstien, founder of Cannonball Productions and Bacon and Beer Classic.  “Seattle is a dream town for foodies with some of the best restaurants and breweries in the world! We have even more vendors onboard than last year and cannot wait for everyone to taste all of the BEST local flavors of Seattle!”

The all-star line up of breweries and restaurants participating grows each day.  Over 40 local brewers including Elysian Brewery, Georgetown Brewery, Snoqualmie Falls, Northwest Brewing Company, and Fish Brewing Company are all signed up to serve at least two of their most coveted craft selections.  Chefs from 40+ expected restaurants are challenged to bring their most inventive and delicious bacon-inspired dishes to the plate.  Local restaurants including Dumpling Tzar, Manhattan Seattle, Hard Rock Café, Rhein Haus, Boom Noodle and Duke’s Chowder House will be dishing out their best bacon bites. The combination of refreshing craft beer and delectable bacon is sure to please all palettes!

The Bacon and Beer Classic brings in an all-star lineup at each event to judge all the sips and tastes, and award winners in select categories.  Seattle’s judging panel includes; Ethan Stowell, Chef/Owner of Ethan Stowell Restaurants, Charles Koh, Founder of EatSeattle, Ann Peavey, Chef Concierge and Blogger/Photographer, and Desiree and Chris Siegfried, of ABC's The Bachelorette.

The Bacon and Beer Classic is always an all-inclusive event! General Admission tickets are $59 and they are going fast!  Fans may choose to purchase the VIP Experience ticket for $99. All tickets include a souvenir Bacon and Beer Classic branded glass to take home. Designated driver tickets are available at a cost of $29.

Cannonball Productions works hard to make a national series event feel personal to each city.  They partner with neighborhood vendors and organizations to give this event that local hometown feel. This year they have partnered with One Brick, a charity that brings volunteers together to help share this experience with the community.

For up-to-date information on the event, please visit:http://www.baconandbeerclassic.com/

Direct link to tickets: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/seattles-bacon-and-beer-classic-2015-tickets-14897399523?aff=website

Facebook: facebook.com/bandbclassic

Twitter: @bandbclassic

Instagram: bandbclassic

Hashtag: #bandbclassic

Over Two Months of Skiing and Boarding Left: Mt. Bachelor Continues Daily Operations with 3rd Deepest Snowpack in US

With 41” of snow at the base and 85” at mid-mountain, Mt. Bachelor has the third deepest snowpack in the United States as of Sunday, March 15 according to onthesnow.com. The healthy snowpack allows the resort to continue daily operations when most other resorts in the Pacific Northwest are closed due to a lack of snow.

Resort officials say Mt. Bachelor’s higher elevation has made a big difference this year. “It’s been a warm winter with the snow level frequently hovering between 6,000 and 7,000 feet,” according to Mt. Bachelor’s president and general manager, Dave Rathbun. “Fortunately, the vast majority of Mt. Bachelor’s ski terrain is above that elevation and much of the mountain received snow when most other areas were getting rain.”

With confidence in its snowpack, Mt. Bachelor will offer a discounted spring season pass valid for unlimited skiing and riding from Monday, March 30 through the end of the 2014-2015 season. The lowest prices will be available during a 96 hour sale from noon on Thursday, March 19 until noon on Monday, March 23. Pass prices during the sale are $149 for adults (19-64), $129 for teens (13-18) and seniors (65-69) and $99 for youth (6-12) and seniors (70+). Spring passes will remain available for purchase after the sale ends, but at higher prices.

In addition to downhill skiing and snowboarding, Mt. Bachelor’s Nordic Center continues to offer the only groomed cross country trails in the Oregon Cascades with nearly 30 km open for skate and classic skiing. Non-skiers have a snow play option at Mt. Bachelor as well; the resort’s Snowblast Tubing Park will reopen Friday and will operate every day through spring break.

Mt. Bachelor intends to operate into May until its planned closing date of May 24, 2015 if conditions allow. “We’re looking forward to hosting guests from throughout the Far West,” Rathbun added. “The open ski terrain is well-covered and expansive. We think you’ll have a lot of fun skiing or riding at Mt. Bachelor this spring.”

Additional information about Mt. Bachelor’s spring season can be found here:

http://www.mtbachelor.com/site/tickets/season_pass/springtacular/spring_passes 

About Mt. Bachelor: Mt. Bachelor is the largest ski resort in the Cascade Range, offering 3,683 acres of lift-accessible terrain. The mountain features 10 lifts, seven of which are Express Quads, plus two tubing lifts and two beginner carpets and an average annual snowfall of 462 inches. Mt. Bachelor also features 5 terrain parks, a superpipe, 56K of groomed and tracked cross country trails, snowshoeing, tubing, sled dog rides and summer attractions including downhill mountain biking. For weather conditions, news, and events visit www.mtbachelor.com.

Apple Unveils All-New MacBook

Apple today unveiled the all-new MacBook, a new line of notebooks reinvented in every way to deliver the thinnest and lightest Macs ever. Every component of the new MacBook has been meticulously redesigned to create a Mac® that weighs just two pounds and is 13.1 mm thin. The new MacBook features a stunning 12-inch Retina® display that is the thinnest ever on a Mac, an Apple-designed full-size keyboard which is dramatically thinner and highly responsive, the all-new Force Touch trackpad that brings a new dimension of interactivity to the Mac, an incredibly compact USB-C port for data transfer, video out and charging in a single connector, and a new battery design that maximizes every millimeter of space to deliver all-day battery life. And, for the first time, MacBook is available in three gorgeous aluminum finishes—gold, silver and space gray.

“Apple has reinvented the notebook with the new MacBook, and at just two pounds and 13.1 mm, it’s the thinnest and lightest Mac ever,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Every component of the MacBook reveals a new innovation. From its fanless design, ultra-thin Retina display and full-size keyboard that’s 34 percent thinner, to its all-new Force Touch trackpad, versatile USB-C port and breakthrough terraced battery design, the new MacBook is the future of the notebook.”

Measuring just 13.1 mm at its thickest point, the new MacBook design is an amazing 24 percent thinner than the 11-inch MacBook Air®. With a new precision-milled unibody enclosure featuring integrated Wi-Fi antennas and a top case with polished stainless steel Apple logo, MacBook is available in three elegant finishes—gold, silver and space gray—and is the first MacBook with an all-metal enclosure.

A comfortable keyboard is essential to the Mac experience and the new MacBook is designed around an all-new full-size keyboard. To fit the full-size keyboard into the amazingly thin MacBook meant completely re-engineering how a notebook keyboard works. The new keyboard is 34 percent thinner and uses an Apple-designed butterfly mechanism that is an amazing 40 percent thinner than a traditional keyboard scissor mechanism yet four times more stable, providing greater precision no matter where your finger strikes the key. New stainless steel dome switches located beneath each key deliver a crisp and responsive feel when typing, and every key on the new keyboard is individually backlit with its own single LED to deliver precisely calibrated, uniform brightness behind each keycap.

The perfect match to a full-size keyboard is a 12-inch display, and the new MacBook features a stunning 12-inch Retina display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. Measuring just 0.88 mm thin, the Retina display on the new MacBook is the thinnest display ever on a Mac. With a larger aperture for each pixel, the new Retina display is also extremely efficient and uses 30 percent less energy than existing Mac notebook Retina displays, while delivering the same level of brightness. And with a resolution of 2304 x 1440, text, photos and movies come to life with astounding clarity.

MacBook also features the all-new Force Touch trackpad that brings a new dimension of interactivity to the Mac. The new trackpad features built-in force sensors that allow you to click anywhere and haptic feedback that provides a responsive and uniform feel. You can even customize the feel of the trackpad by changing the amount of pressure needed to register each click. The Force Touch trackpad also enables a new gesture called Force Click, a click followed by a deeper press, for tasks like pulling up the definition of a word, quickly seeing a map or glancing at a preview of a file.

Applying miniaturization techniques used in iPhone® and iPad®, MacBook features the most compact logic board ever in a Mac, measuring an amazing 67 percent smaller than the logic board of the 11-inch MacBook Air. With no moving parts or vents, the new MacBook was designed from the ground up to be the first fanless Mac notebook for silent, efficient performance. MacBook features the new fifth-generation Intel Core M processor that runs at just 5 watts and Intel HD Graphics 5300. The highly efficient processors work in conjunction with optimizations throughout OS X® to make the new MacBook the world’s most energy efficient notebook.*

The new MacBook features a breakthrough terraced battery design that is layered in individual sheets that are precisely contoured to fit the MacBook’s sleek, curved enclosure. As a result, the new MacBook has 35 percent more battery capacity than would be possible with traditional battery cells and delivers all-day battery life with up to 9 hours of wireless web browsing and up to 10 hours of iTunes® movie playback.**

Designed for the wireless world, MacBook is perfect for tasks like streaming content from your MacBook to your HDTV using AirPlay®, exchanging files quickly using AirDrop®, or using wireless headphones. MacBook is equipped with the latest wireless technologies, including built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 for fast wireless connectivity.

The new MacBook also features a next-generation USB-C port that is incredibly small, yet extremely versatile and even more user friendly. A new industry standard, USB-C supports higher wattage charging, USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5Gbps) data transfer and DisplayPort 1.2 all in a single connector that’s one-third the size of a traditional USB port.

Every new Mac comes with OS X Yosemite, a powerful new version of OS X, redesigned and refined with a fresh, modern look, powerful new apps and amazing Continuity features that make working across your Mac and iOS devices more fluid than ever.

iMovie®, GarageBand®, iPhoto®, and Pages®, Numbers® and Keynote® come free with every new Mac. iMovie lets you easily create beautiful movies, you can use GarageBand to make new music or learn to play piano or guitar and you can edit and share your best shots with iPhoto. Pages, Numbers and Keynote, make it easy to create, edit and share stunning documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Pages, Numbers and Keynote for iCloud® let you create a document on iPhone or iPad, edit it on your Mac and collaborate with friends, even if they are on a PC. The new Photos for OS X app keeps your growing photo and video collection automatically organized and easy to navigate and will be included in an OS X Yosemite update this spring.

Pricing & Availability
The all-new MacBook will begin shipping Friday, April 10 through the Apple Online Store(www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. MacBook comes with a 1.1 GHz dual-core Intel Core M processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.4 GHz, 8GB of memory, 256GB of flash storage and Intel HD Graphics 5300 starting at $1,299 (US); and with a 1.2 GHz dual-core Intel Core M processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.6GHz, 8GB of memory, 512GB of flash storage and Intel HD Graphics 5300 starting at $1,599 (US). Additional technical specifications, configure-to-order options and accessories are available online at www.apple.com/macbook.

*Claim based on energy efficiency categories and products listed in the EPA ENERGY STAR database for Notebook Computers as of March 5, 2015.
**The Wireless Web protocol testing was conducted by Apple in March 2015 using preproduction MacBook configurations. Battery life and charge cycles vary by use and settings. For more information visit www.apple.com/macbook.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

Apple Announces Watch - Most Personal Device Yet Available in Nine Countries on April 24

Apple has finally announced that the new Apple Watch will be available starting April 24th.  Will you be buying one?

Here is the official media release:

Apple today announced that Apple Watch, its most personal device yet and the newest innovative addition to Apple’s ecosystem, will be available on Friday, April 24 to customers in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK and the US. Apple Watch is an incredibly accurate timepiece, an intimate and immediate communication device and a groundbreaking health and fitness companion. Highly customizable for personal expression, Apple Watch also brings an entirely new way to receive information at a glance and interact with the world through third-party app experiences designed specifically for the wrist.

“Apple Watch begins a new chapter in the way we relate to technology and we think our customers are going to love it,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We can’t wait for people to start wearing Apple Watch to easily access information that matters, to interact with the world, and to live a better day by being more aware of their daily activity than ever before.”

“Conceived, designed and developed as a singular product, Apple Watch merges hardware and software like never before,” said Jony Ive, Apple’s senior vice president of Design. “In Apple Watch, we’ve created three beautifully curated collections with a software architecture that together enable unparalleled personalization in a wearable device.”

Apple Watch introduces revolutionary technologies including the Digital Crown™, an innovative way to scroll, zoom and navigate fluidly without obstructing the display. The Retina® display with Force Touch on Apple Watch senses the difference between a tap and a press, providing a new way to quickly and easily access relevant controls. The all-new Taptic Engine™ discreetly delivers a gentle tap on your wrist whenever you receive a notification or message.

Incredibly Accurate & Customizable Timepiece
An extremely precise timepiece, Apple Watch keeps time to within 50 milliseconds of UTC, the universal time standard.* Apple Watch can be personalized with watch faces ranging from traditional analog such as the Chronograph face, to the information-rich Modular face, or beautifully animated butterflies and jellyfish on the Motion face. Apple Watch goes beyond telling time with specialized functions on the watch face—known in watchmaking as complications—such as the sunrise/sunset, upcoming calendar events or daily activity level. With multiple customizable watch faces and complications, Apple Watch enables millions of possible configurations. Swipe up from the watch face for Glances that quickly show you information you care about, such as the weather forecast, your current location on a map or the music you’re listening to.

Intimate & Immediate Communication Device
Apple Watch enables you to send messages, read email and answer calls to your iPhone® right from your wrist. The Taptic Engine alerts you with a gentle tap so you won’t miss important notifications. With Digital Touch, Apple Watch allows you to communicate in all-new ways by sending a sketch, a tap or even the rhythm of your own heartbeat. Interact quickly and conveniently with the world around you with Apple Watch by paying for coffee using Apple Pay™**, boarding a plane with a Passbook® boarding pass, or raising your wrist to ask Siri® for turn-by-turn directions in Maps.

Groundbreaking Health & Fitness Companion
Apple Watch encourages you to sit less, move more and get some exercise every day. The Activity app provides a simple visual snapshot of your daily activity with three rings that measure active calories burned, brisk activity and how often you’ve stood up to take a break from sitting during the day. Apple Watch provides the detailed metrics you need during dedicated workout sessions for the most popular activities, such as walking, running and cycling through the Workout app. With an accelerometer, a built-in heart rate sensor, GPS and Wi-Fi from your iPhone, Apple Watch smartly uses the best sensors for different types of motion and provides a comprehensive picture of your all-day activity and workouts. The Activity app on iPhone collects your activity and workout data from Apple Watch so you can see your history in greater detail. Apple Watch uses this history to suggest personalized activity goals, reward fitness milestones and keep you motivated.

Apple Watch is available in two different sizes, 38 mm and 42 mm, and in three distinct collections—Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch and Apple Watch Edition. Apple Watch Sport features a lightweight anodized aluminum case in silver and space gray with a Retina display protected by strengthened Ion-X glass and matching high-performance fluoroelastomer Sport Band in five colors. The Apple Watch collection features highly polished stainless steel and space black stainless steel cases with a Retina display protected by sapphire crystal. The Apple Watch collection comes with a choice of three different leather straps, a stainless steel link bracelet and Milanese loop, and a black or white Sport Band. Apple Watch Edition features cases specially crafted from custom rose or yellow 18-karat gold alloys developed to be twice as hard as standard gold, a Retina display protected by polished sapphire crystal and a choice of uniquely designed straps and bands with 18-karat gold clasps, buckles or pins.

The world’s most vibrant and innovative developer community has been creating all-new experiences specifically designed for Apple Watch. From requesting an Uber, checking in to your American Airlines flight, booking a bike for your Equinox class to remotely controlling your Honeywell Lyric thermostat while away, the possibilities for Apple Watch apps are endless. These experiences extend the functionality of your favorite iPhone apps, while delivering an innovative way to interact—right from your wrist. Popular apps such as Instagram, MLB.com At Bat, Nike+ Running, OpenTable, Shazam, Twitter, WeChat and more will also be available on Apple Watch. The new Apple Watch app that comes with iOS 8.2 on iPhone lets you browse, buy and download apps from the Apple Watch App Store™.

Designed to be worn throughout your day, Apple Watch delivers up to 18-hour all-day battery life*** and comes with a unique charging solution that combines Apple’s MagSafe® technology with inductive charging for a quick connection that simply snaps into place.

By design, the shopping experience for Apple Watch will be the most personalized Apple has ever offered. When Apple Watch becomes available for pre-order from the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com) on Friday, April 10, Apple retail stores and department store shop-in-shops will begin offering customers the chance to preview their choice of Apple Watch and try it on in-store.

Pricing & Availability
Beginning April 10 in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK and the US, Apple Watch will be available for preview, try-on by appointment at Apple’s retail stores, and available for pre-order through the Apple Online Store  (www.apple.com). On April 24, Apple Watch will be available online or by reservation in Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers in China and Japan. Customers who purchase online or in-store from Apple will be offered Personal Setup to customize and pair Apple Watch with their iPhone.

Apple Watch is available in three collections, Apple Watch Sport, priced at $349 (US) and $399 (US); Apple Watch, available from $549 (US) to $1,099 (US); and Apple Watch Edition, crafted from custom rose or yellow 18-karat gold alloys, with prices starting at $10,000 (US).

Apple Watch will also be available to preview or try on at Galeries Lafayette in Paris, Isetan in Tokyo and Selfridges in London on April 10. Apple Watch will be for sale on April 24 at these select department store shop-in-shops, and at boutiques in major cities across the world including colette in Paris, Dover Street Market in London and Tokyo, Maxfield in Los Angeles and The Corner in Berlin.

Starting today customers can explore and choose their favorite Apple Watch in the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com) or through the Apple Store app for iPhone and iPad.

Apple Watch requires iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus running iOS 8.2. or later. iOS 8.2 will be available for download today.

*Accuracy depends on regular syncing with iPhone.
**Apple Pay is only available in the US and through participating banks. See www.apple.com/apple-pay for details.
***Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results may vary.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

What is THE Best Gym in Bellevue?

It is that time of year when most of the people who started going to the gym in January for a New Year's Resolution have quit, making the local gyms less crowded for the rest of the year.  Personally, my health club membership expires in two weeks and I am looking to make a change.

[socialpoll id="2255737"]

Sue Lundquist and Her AwesomeSOXX to Represent Eastside at Oscars

Congratulations goes to Eastsider Sue Lundquist, whose AwesomeSOXX have been chosen to be part of swag bags at the Oscars after parties this year!!

According to a post on her blog, Lundquist plans to wear a pair of her inspirational socks on the red carpet while donning an evening gown for the night's events.  If all goes right, by the end of the night, she will have some A List celebs sporting AwesomeSOXX too!

Congratulations Sue!

New Recreational Marijuana Retail Store Grand Opening in Kirkland

Higher Leaf, Kirkland’s premiere Recreational Marijuana Store has announced their official Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, which will be co-hosted by the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce is on Thursday, February 26th at 5:30 pm. Representatives from both the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce and the Kirkland City Council will be in attendance.

They will have product specials and demonstrations at the main event and throughout the weekend of February 26th-March 1st. Representatives from Zoots, Craft Elixirs, Verdelux Chocolates, Liberty Reach, Confidence Labs, and several growers will be on hand for product demonstrations and some will provide non-infused samples of their products. Consumption of marijuana or marijuana infused products on the premises is not permitted so demonstrations will be done with non-infused products or household spices. Snacks will be available at the ribbon cutting event for anyone with a case of the munchies.

The event is happening at 12525 Willows Road NE, Suite 60, Kirkland, WA 98034 at 5:30 pm for the ribbon cutting event and throughout the weekend and the public (over 21) is invited.

Summit at Snoqualmie Pass Sales to Benefit Northwest Harvest This Cyber Monday

What: Today, Cyber Monday The Summit at Snoqualmie, located at Snoqualmie Pass, WA., will be donating funds to help fight hunger from season pass sales. In the spirit of the holidays The Summit will be donating $10 to Northwest Harvest for every single Big S Season Pass sold on December 1st, 2014. The Summit is also encouraging people who’ve already purchased a pass prior to Cyber Monday to contribute as well.

Who: The Summit at Snoqualmie Ski Resort for Northwest Harvest.

Why: To raise awareness and funds with The Summit at Snoqualmie’s skiers and snowboarders for Northwest Harvest’s fight against hunger, particularly now that the winter weather is in full effect.

When: Contribution period starts at 12:01am Monday, December 1, 2014 and continues through 11:59pm Monday, December 1, 2014

. The Summit will contribute $10 from every single season pass sold in this time-frame.

Where: The Summit at Snoqualmie’s website: www.summitatsnoqualmie.com/tickets-and-passes/season-passes. Season pass purchasers can also buy their pass in person at The Summit at Snoqualmie, Snoqualmie Pass at the Summit West Guest Services office from 9am to 5pm on Monday, December 1, 2014.

About Northwest Harvest: The mission of Northwest Harvest is to provide nutritious food to hungry people statewide in a manner that respects their dignity, while fighting to eliminate hunger. Our vision is ample nutritious food is available to everyone in Washington State.

Seahawk Paul Richardson at Bartell Drugs' Bellevue Village store TODAY!

Washington--Three wide receivers from the World Champion Seattle Seahawks will run new, and very different, “routes” TODAY (Nov. 18) at three Bartell Drugs locations.

Helping to celebrate Bartell Drugs’ 125 years in the Puget Sound area, Seahawk players Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse and Paul Richardson will don Bartell Drugs’ signature red vests and walk the aisles greeting and assisting shoppers from noon to 1 pm.

Bartell Drugs has forged a new partnership with the Seahawks as the Seattle-based chain continues to deepen its roots in the community.

Player appearances at three Bartell locations on Nov. 18 include:

• Doug Baldwin, Lower Queen Anne (600 First Ave. N, Seattle), noon to 1 p.m.

• Jermaine Kearse, University Village (Seattle), noon to 1 p.m.

• Paul Richardson, Bellevue Village (10116 NE 8th St., Bellevue), noon to 1 p.m.

Beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the three Bartell locations only, customers can receive a special “player card” (while supplies last) valid for a limited edition Seahawks t-shirt when purchasing $40 or more of products on November 18.

 

Celebrating its 125^th anniversary now through the end of 2015, Seattle-based Bartell Drugs owns and operates 63 locations in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. Founded in 1890, it is the nation's oldest family-owned drugstore chain. For more information visit www.bartelldrugs.com.

Letter to the Editor: Destination Sales Tax, modification

On July 1, 2008, the destination sales tax went into effect.  The destination sales tax was set up so, if a retailer (seller) sold something (purchaser), and the item(s) was to be delivered to the purchaser in a different city or county, the retailer would charge the sales tax applicable to the delivered city/county and then pay that sales tax to that city/county.  If the purchaser was to take the item(s) with them (not have it delivered by a third party), then the sales tax would be determined by the tax applicable to the location of the seller and the sales tax would be paid to the seller’s city/county.
This distribution of the sales tax to the destination city/county was long overdue, but it fell short of what should have been in the law.  Since each transaction has a buyer and a seller, both of whom bring benefits to the transaction, why is 100% of the sales tax being paid to the destination city/county, when the selling city/county is an equal party to the transaction, but the selling city/county receives none of the applicable sales tax.  Right now the destination city/county gets 100% of the sales tax and the selling city/county gets 0%.  Is it not more equitable for both the purchasing city/county and the selling city/county to split the sales tax equally, 50/50.
Splitting the sales tax 50/50, as to the purchaser and the seller locations, can easily be accomplished today with computers that are doing the work anyway.  We all have 9 digit zip codes for our street, city/county address.  (It is on our driver’s license.)  I suggest the Washington State Senate and/or House, make this modification to the sales tax distribution without any delay, so that all of the parties, the purchasing city/county and the selling city/county, to the transaction get an equal and equitable share of the sales tax. The sales tax charged should be based upon the seller’s location, to keep it simple.

Mike Lantz
Retired tax attorney

Outerwall Announces #KioskSelfie Sweepstakes in the Pacific Northwest

Expanding on its partnership with the Seattle Seahawks, Outerwall Inc. recently announced the #KioskSelfie sweepstakes, an interactive social media campaign incorporating the company’s popular consumer brands: Redbox, America’s destination for new release movies and games at an incredible value; Coinstar, and ecoATM electronics recycling kiosks.

Currently open and running through December 1, 2014, eligible residents in Washington, Alaska, Oregon, Idaho and Montana can enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets to one of four World Champion Seattle Seahawks home games by taking a selfie with any one of Outerwall’s kiosks and entering the #KioskSelfie sweepstakes at http://bit.ly/1o9D6Ad.*

Four randomly selected winners will each receive a pair of tickets to one of four Seattle Seahawks home games held at CenturyLink Field (one winner per game):

• October 12 versus the Dallas Cowboys


• November 2 versus the Oakland Raiders


• November 23 versus the Arizona Cardinals


• December 28 versus the St. Louis Rams

“We know many of our loyal customers are devoted Seahawks fans,” said J. Scott Di Valerio, chief executive officer. “With a mission to create a better everyday, we want to reward our long-time customers – and entice new ones – by offering the 12s an opportunity to have the best Sunday, with tickets to a Seahawks home game. Go Hawks!”

Coinstar coin-counting kiosks allow people to trade in their coins for cash, No-Fee eCertificates, or donate money to charity. Coinstar’s newest yellow Coinstar^TM Exchange kiosk allows consumers to instantly exchange unused or partially used gift cards for cash. Consumers can find Coinstar kiosks in their local grocery stores or mass retailers, or locate a kiosk by visitinghttps://www.coinstar.com/kioskfinder.

Redbox offers new-release movie and video game rentals at an incredible value via conveniently located, self-service kiosks. To locate the closest kiosk, visit http://www.redbox.com/locations.

ecoATM is the only automated kiosk that pays instant cash for used and unwanted cell phones, tablets and MP3 players. To date, ecoATM kiosks have recycled 3 million devices, and that number is growing every day. Consumers can visithttp://www.ecoatm.com/locator/ to find an ecoATM kiosk.

*No purchase necessary. Open to U.S. residents 18+ in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes ends December 1, 2014. See official rules at www.outerwall.com/seahawks for details, including additional prizes and alternative methods of entry.

Outerwall Commits to Collecting Two Million Pounds of Mobile Devices to Help Combat Surging E-Waste Crisis

On September 22nd at the Clinton Global Initiative’s Tenth Annual Meeting, Outerwall Inc. announced that it expects to collect at least two million pounds of mobile phones, tablets, and other devices and accessories over the next three years through its ecoATM recycling kiosks, which accept electronics for reuse and recycling, helping to divert e-waste from landfills.

Industry experts estimate that each year 15 pounds of e-waste are generated per person worldwide. Consumer demand for mobile phones remains strong. More than 1.8 billion mobile phones were sold worldwide in 2013 (Source: Gartner, Inc.), and  Apple announced more than four million iPhone 6 and 6 Plus pre-orders were received within the first 24 hours of its announcement earlier this month.

“We can all make a tremendous impact if each person commits to reducing their personal e-waste footprint,” said J. Scott Di Valerio, CEO of Outerwall. “ecoATM was created to make it easy and rewarding for people to sell their devices for reuse and recycle, thereby reducing their impact on the environment.”

Outerwall’s sustainability efforts extend to the company’s Redbox entertainment and Coinstar money services businesses.  Redbox reuses DVDs, works with recyclers to shred and recycle discs and minimizes waste by selling used DVDs to third parties or donating them to nonprofit organizations. Coinstar’s network of coin counting kiosks helps keep coins in circulation, reducing the amount of new coins minted.  Over the past 20+ years, Coinstar has processed more than 650 billion coins.

"We are so pleased to see Outerwall's commitment to ensure that electronic devices, currency and media are in circulation and in use for the full duration of their useful lives--and then their component materials recycled responsibly,” said Katherine V. Smith, executive director, Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship. “This model can help address the digital divide in mobile computing and reduce landfill waste--this is great for our society and our planet,” Smith added.

ecoATM: Rewarding Reuse and Recycling of Mobile Devices

Outerwall’s network of approximately 1,100 ecoATM kiosks (as of 7/30/14), located in shopping malls and select retailers nationwide, recycle consumer electronics and keep them out of landfills by incentivizing reuse and recycling. ecoATM is able to find a second life for approximately 75 percent of devices collected. For the remaining 25 percent, ecoATM partners with certified e-waste reclamation facilities to ensure those materials are responsibly reused and recycled.

“Many of our retailer partners are taking significant strides toward integrating sustainability into their business operations,” said Maria Stipp, president of ecoATM. “These efforts confirm our strategic alignment and underscore the potential we have to work together to make e-waste recycling easy, safe, and convenient for consumers.”

ecoATM kiosks identify, evaluate, price and accept devices of any era or condition and use a worldwide auction system to offer consumers competitive prices ranging from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. ecoATM holds both Responsible Recycling (R2) and ISO 14001 certification, confirming the company’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of electronics recycling, as well as ISO 27001 certification for information and personal data security. ecoATM is also a member of the Consumer Electronics Association and the Device Renewal Forum, and is a founding member of the Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearing House (ERCC). These industry groups are focused on defining the best practices for e-waste recycling.  See ecoatm.com/how-it-works for a video of how an ecoATM kiosk works.

To learn more about ecoATM or find a kiosk, visit, ecoatm.com.