News

Did you know that September is National Senior Center Month? We are excited and grateful to the Cities of Carnation and Duvall for their Senior Center Month proclamations on Tuesday, September 1!

The 2026 theme is Happier Birthdays Happen Here, which celebrates the dynamic role that centers play in fostering creativity, connection, purpose, and resilience in later life. Happier birthdays don’t start with candles or cake- they start with connection, purpose, support, and community. Every day at Sno-Valley Senior Center, community members walk through our doors and find the relationships, resources, and opportunities that make each year richer than the last.

In this newsletter you’ll find an invitation to our Under the Sea Gala & Auction, our biggest fundraiser of the year! Join us on Saturday, October 17 at the Club at Snoqualmie Ridge for a delicious dinner, drinks, and bid on outstanding silent and live auction items. Early Bird tickets are $90 each, $850 for a table of 10 until September 18. VIP tickets are $110 each, or $1,050 for a table of 10.

There are other ways to support the auction besides buying a ticket. A monetary donation or item donation to our silent or live auction is always appreciated! We are also looking for event volunteers to help with putting baskets together, prepping the week before, and day-of. Questions? Email kiraa@soundgenerations.org

Our transition committee has continued to meet regularly to explore and make recommendations to the Board. with regards to the Center’s separation from Sound Generations at the end of this year. We are working with Launch Industries for the HR and Accounting portion of the transition, and Logix IT for the IT portion of the transition. The goal is that this transition will have very little impact on what members and participants see on a daily basis, but as we make changes to systems that have been in place for many years, we ask that you bear with us!

We will also be contracting with TrueNorth Elevator to modernize our elevator, thanks to a King County Community Development Block Grant. We anticipate the modernization work happening towards the end of this year or beginning of next year and it is estimated to last 4-6 weeks. We will keep you updated on when the elevator will be down and if program locations are going to change.

As always, if you have questions, comments, or concerns please call me at 425-333-4152 ext. 1 or email kiraa@soundgenerations.org.

Kira Avery, Executive Director

I want to thank everyone who contributed to our 4th of July Event! Our chefs for the event, Jim Ribail and Daniel Enciso, prepared over 150 delicious Spaghetti Dinners on Friday, July 3rd and our volunteers were wonderful help in the kitchen, dining room,  checking people in and selling raffle tickets. We also had great support from local businesses and donors, including Duvall Family Grocer, Duvall Safeway, Carnation Market, Farmhouse Market, and Susan & JJ Schmoll.

We sold 550 servings of Strawberry Shortcake on July 4, as well as delicious Strawberry Lemonade and quilt raffle tickets. Thank you to Delores Ulrich, Leslie & Charles Day and their family, and Diane Amos, for coming to the senior center early in the morning to get the shortcake ready, as well as all of the volunteers who served shortcake, cleared tables, and cashiered in the lobby.

Remlinger Farms provided the delicious strawberries and both events had support from generous sponsors,including the Duvall Civic Club, Tolt Historical Society, Lighthouse Plumbing, Carol Kautz and Farmers Insurance Donaldson & Hauglie Agency.

Planning is fully underway for our Annual Dinner and Auction event, and I hope you’ll join us! This is our most successful event of the year, and we are excited to be hosting it at the Club at Snoqualmie Ridge on Saturday, October 17. There will be a delicious dinner, silent and live auction items, fun raffle games, and a dessert dash featuring local bakeries and restaurants.

Tickets for this event are on sale now, $90 per person, $850 for a table of 10. If you would like to start the party early you can purchase VIP tickets for $110 each, $1,050 per table of 10 and attend a pre-funk party, bid first in the super silent auction, and enjoy additional fun benefits.

If you would like to be a table captain, committing to filling a table of 10 (you’re not required to purchase the table), please email kiraa@soundgenerations.org.

We are also looking for item donations such as, Restaurant Gift Cards, Experiences (wine tours, tasting parties), tickets to Seattle sporting events, passes to local attractions, week or weekend away at a rental home or timeshare, or a cash donation to help us purchase items!

Learn more about the event and purchase tickets at https://snovalley26.auctria.events. If you have an item to donate or would like to volunteer you can email kiraa@soundgenerations.org!

Work continues on the transition committee, as we become completely independent from Sound Generations at the end of this year. We are excited to be working with Launch Industries on this, as they have helped several other senior centers through similar transitions.

As always, if you have questions, comments, or concerns please call me at 425-333-4152 ext 1 or email kiraa@soundgenerations.org.

Kira Avery, Executive Director

Please be sure to read the announcement regarding sales tax included in this newsletter, it’s bright orange so you can’t miss it! We have some good news to share regarding the Department of Revenue’s definition of “Live Presentations” as well as an update on things that should not have had sales tax added earlier this year.

I hope to see you at the Annual 4^th of July Events this year. Our Spaghetti Dinner is on
Friday, July 3 from 5-7pm and is just $12 for adults, $5 for kids, and Strawberry Shortcake is on Saturday, July 4 from 10:30am-1pm and is just $6 each. You can pre-order through July 1 or purchase at the door. Be sure to look for us in the parade this year!

We can’t forget about the 4^th of July Quilt Raffle! The beautiful quilt is 86″ x 78″. A big Thank You to our SVSC Quilt Group for piecing and binding, and Birdsbill Mercantile for donating their Long Arm Services. Raffle Tickets are on sale at the front desk for $1 each or 25 for $20. You may also purchase them throughout the 4^th of July celebrations. You need not be present to win.

It’s hard to believe that we are halfway through 2026! I’m excited to share with you what we’ve accomplished so far, and what we are looking forward to in the next 6 months.

We currently have more members than we have ever had, 530 (50+ more than this time last year!). So far, we’ve had 12,634 instances of participation, another increase from last year!

You can tell by our programming calendar that we are hosting more programs and classes than ever before as well. If there is something you want to try or learn about, there’s a good chance that we offer it or will soon. I hope you will invite your friends and family to check out the great programs and services that we offer. Word of mouth is the best way for the community to learn about us!

I hope to have a clearer picture of our financials to share soon, but all support-through donations, sponsorships, and event attendance-makes a difference at the end of the year! Coming up we’ve got another Dance Party on
Friday, July 31 at 7pm; Dog Days of Summer Rainbow Bingo on Friday, August 7; and our annual fall fundraisers, including the Annual Gala & Auction, and Steak Dinner & Pie Auction. You can donate today using the envelope
provided in this newsletter, or on our website, www.snovalleysenior.org!

Our Gala & Auction will be on Saturday, October 17 at the Club at Snoqualmie Ridge. The theme is Under the Sea! Our committee has already procured some great auction items, including a 7-day Holland America Cruise for 2, a night at
Treehouse Point, and a stay on Lopez Island! Tickets are $90 each, or table of 10 for $850 and will be on sale soon.

If you would like to help with procurement, volunteer the day of, be a table captain, or sponsor the event, please email kiraa@soundgenerations.org. This is our largest fundraiser of the year, and everyone has skills they can contribute!

If you have comments, questions, or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me at kiraa@soundgenerations.org or 425-333-4152 ext. 1.

Kira Avery, Executive Director

We had a great Plant Sale on the first weekend of May, and raised over $20,000 for Sno-Valley Senior Center. Our Plant Sale committee is a wonderful group, that meets and plans for months in advance to put on a successful event for our organization. Joan Caldwell did a great job of ordering us a wide variety of plants, making us the largest, most comprehensive plant sale on the Eastside. Lois Goodman worked to get donated plants (including the wonderful tomatoes-Thank you Susan and JJ Schmoll!), coordinating delivery, picking them up, and even taking care of them at their own houses until the sale!

Ed Billington and Dan Acker oversaw the logistics of set-up and take-down, as well as getting us all the canopies and tables we need. Karen Morod coordinated over 50 volunteers throughout the entire week of the sale and Denise Crutchfield oversaw the First Picks Party on Thursday, April 30, working hard to get donated items and coupons to include in everyone’s gift bags. Liz Post was our Master Gardener, helping to identify plants and answer questions, and Pat Beagle was our Plant Sale security.  Thank you to everyone on our committee, as well as those who volunteered, and attended!

You’ll see in the newsletter that we are having a Membership Drive this month! What does this mean for you?

If you become a member or renew (you can do this early) your membership in June, you’ll get two months free! Consider buying a membership for a friend or for someone who can’t afford one. Membership is $60 for one person or $75 for the household, for the year. There is also a discount on Lifetime Membership, $450 for one person, $750 for a couple, and you never have to pay dues again! Renew or purchase a membership in June and you’ll also get entered into a drawing for fun prizes!

Why become a member or renew your membership?

¨ It’s a powerful way to show your support and commitment to the programs we offer to the community and their value.

¨ Enjoy a free lunch at our monthly birthday lunch in the month of your birthday.

¨ Get voting privileges on the board slate and bylaws changes.

¨ Our monthly newsletter is mailed to you

¨ 10% off hall rentals for events like birthdays, weddings, parties

¨ 50% off your purchase at Re-in-Carnation Thrift Store on the first Wednesday of the month!

You don’t have to be a member to participate in any of our classes or activities, but members get privileges like those listed above. If you would like to become a member, but can’t afford the fee, we have scholarships available, and the applications are at the front desk.

On the recommendation from the Transition Committee at our most recent board meeting on May 4, the Sno-Valley Senior Center Board of Directors voted to move forward with separating from our partner organization, Sound Generations, by the end of this year. We are excited to be working with Launch Industries to facilitate much of this transition, and we’re looking forward to the opportunities available to us as a completely independent non-profit.

Please know, this transition will have limited impact on programming offered at Sno-Valley Senior Center and services provided by Sound Generations: Hyde Shuttle, Community Dining, and Meals on Wheels will continue as normal.

The Board of Directors meets every other month on the first Monday at 5:30 pm on Zoom and at the senior center. The meetings are open to all members and the public. The next meeting will be on Monday, July 6!

I’m excited to announce the date and location of our Annual Gala & Auction! This year’s theme is “Under the Sea” on Saturday, October 17 at the Club at Snoqualmie. We’re currently working on sponsorships, item donations, and volunteers! If any of those interest you, you can email kiraa@soundgenerations.org!

If you have comments, questions, or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me at kiraa@soundgenerations.org or 425-333-4152.

Kira Avery, Executive Director

I hope to see you at the upcoming Annual Plant Sale! The sale this year will be held between the senior center and the senior apartments. We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the First Picks Party, April 30, and the Plant Sale on May 1 & 2 from 9am-3pm. All of the event information can be found at
https://snovalleysenior.org/spring-into-gardening.

Celebrate Older Americans Month by dining out for a great cause! On Thursday, May 21, open 7am-2pm, Corie’s Café in Duvall will donate a portion of their proceeds back to the Sno-Valley Senior Center.

Corie’s Café is your destination for fresh breakfast, brunch favorites, and Filipino inspired comfort food in downtown Duvall. Enjoy a delicious meal, support a wonderful local restaurant, and give back to your community—all at the same time. Bring your friends and make it a meal out that makes a difference!

It’s Up to US to make sure no senior in our community goes without a healthy, warm meal. This GiveBIG, our goal is to raise $15,000 in support of the Sno-Valley Senior Center daily lunch program, which will serve over 11,000 meals this year. Your donation helps provide local seniors with nourishment, connection, and care.

Celebrate Older Americans Month, our Snoqualmie Valley community,  and the theme “Champion Your Health”, by giving big(ger), starting on April 28 and culminating in 24 hours of giving on May 5! Thanks to the generous support of a matching donor, the Michael and Gina (Cambio) Fisette Charitable Trust, every dollar raised will be matched, up to $7,500!

You can give at the link www.wagives.org/organization/snovalleyseniorcenter, by mail using the envelope provided in this newsletter, or donate at the Front Desk, please note “GiveBig” so that it will be matched!

The Plant Sale and GiveBIG are two of our most successful fundraisers of the year. YOU can help us move into the second half of the year strong with a purchase at the Plant Sale and/or a GiveBIG donation today!

Our sincere thanks to Maureen Cleary for her service on the SVSC Board of Directors the last 5+ years, as she steps down. If you are interested in learning more about what being on the Board of Directors looks like, especially as we move through this transition away from Sound Generations, please let me know.

Did you know that the Re-in-Carnation (RIC) Thrift Store contributes 10% of our annual budget? In 2025, RIC raised almost $110,000 and they are on track to do the same if not more this year. Your donations and purchases make a big difference. Don’t forget, members get 50% off on the first Wednesday each month, there are always great deals. Check out their sales calendar towards the end of this newsletter, and get your tickets today for the Annual RIC Fashion Show and Tea!

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please don’t hesitate to reach out at 425-333-4152 or email kiraa@soundgenerations.org

Kira Avery, Executive Director