PCC Sound Consumer

PCC is joining forces with Amtrak to offer 2-for-1 companion fare coupons. With multiple daily roundtrips between Portland, Seattle and Vancouver B.C., you can travel the Pacific Northwest on the Amtrak Cascades line. Coupons are available at all PCC stores but must be requested at checkstands between December 1 and 31 and redeemed by May 2009.

• December 1 to 23, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  19525 S.E. 54th St., Issaquah

Ever seen a live reindeer? This is your chance! You also can meet Santa, enjoy stories and sit in his sleigh at the Cougar Mountain Zoo’s Reindeer Festival. Discounted tickets are on sale now at the Issaquah PCC. Children under 2 are free. For more information, visit www.cougarmountainzoo.org.

• Sunday, December 7, 4 to 8 p.m.
  Tree lighting at 5 p.m.
  Redmond City Hall

PCC sponsors this seasonal event featuring a tree lighting, a lit river walk, and live music at Redmond Town Center. PCC staff will offer samples of fresh foods and a special party mix. For more information, visit www.ci.redmond.wa.us/recreationarts/redmondlights/communityceleb.asp.

Through December 30, Chinook Book is on sale for just $15 — $5 off the regular price. It’s a one-of-a-kind coupon book that will save you hundreds of dollars while exploring the community and supporting local, sustainable businesses.

This year’s Chinook Book includes three great coupons redeemable at PCC Natural Markets: $5 off $50; $10 off $75; and one for a free PCC canvas tote with purchase of $25 or more. Plus, with the sale of each book, the PCC Farmland Trust will earn $5. Last year, the holiday Chinook Book raised more than $9,000 for the Trust.

We have a great lineup of new classes in the New Year, including “Be My Vegetarian Valentine,” “Cooking Within the Family Budget,” “Wine and Dine, Northwest Style” and much more. Guest chefs and global cooking themes round out the offerings.

We’ve included more classes for kids, too, including a three-day winter break cooking camp.

Also, don’t forget the “Walk, Talk and Taste” classes offered free to all at every PCC store. These classes are great for new PCC shoppers, offering food samples and useful, interesting information on shopping, products and producers.

Please note:

For the first time, the winter catalog of PCC Cooks classes (January through April) will not be mailed in the January Sound Consumer to active PCC members. We’ll be saving trees, ink, energy, transportation and postage costs — good for everyone.

The print catalog will continue to be stocked in all PCC stores starting December 27. The online schedule will be available at PccCooks.com on December 29 (9 a.m.).

PCC will host the Puget Sound Blood Mobile at seven of our stores over the holidays. This time of year tends to be very slow for donations, so if you can come out to support the Puget Sound Blood Bank, we’d be happy to see you! For specific dates and times, contact Sara Walsh at saraw@pccsea.com or 206-547-1222 ext. 143.

We’re happy to report that PCC shoppers and the manufacturer of our PCC brand supplements, Vitamer, have helped save the eyesight of thousands of children. For every bottle of PCC brand supplements sold in September, 35 cents was donated to the Vitamin Angels program. That’s more than 10,000 doses of vitamin A.

The Vitamin Angels program aims to eliminate childhood blindness by the year 2020 through the systematic distribution of vitamin A to children at risk. For more information on Vitamin Angels, visit www.vitaminangels.com.