KCHA NEWS -- March 2010
A resource for King County Housing Authority residents
By Heather Miller
King County Housing Authority
As the final leg of the Birch Creek redevelopment is completed, residents are discovering newly upgraded community spaces.
The property management office features a much more spacious lobby as well as bright spaces and all new furnishings throughout the building.
“It’s a big improvement,” Birch Creek resident Patricia Woodruff said. “There’s so much light; it just looks more professional and modern.”
The office also features two new private meeting rooms, which have been very popular.
“Staff and residents are making great use of the new meeting rooms just off the lobby,” said Tehani Bowman, the Birch Creek property manager. “Residents really appreciate being able to use the private space for conversation rather than sharing their business in an open lobby. Staff has been able to set the rooms up so they are stocked with all of the necessary paperwork to complete tax credit eligibility interviews. This has really helped us get organized.”
The new facility combines the management office and maintenance storage and work space into a single building. That allowed the on-site Kent Food Bank to double the size of its space within the old maintenance shop. The expanded space allows clients to use two different doors for entering and exiting rather than going back and forth through the same door.
“By having two exits, it can be a steady flow of people and less frustrating for our clients,” said Camico Rivon, the food bank’s warehouse supervisor.
The expanded space also has increased the efficiency of food delivery and provided room for storage. In addition, KCHA built a covered walkway outside the new food bank space so that clients won’t get wet on days when they’re waiting in line in the rain.
The Kent Food Bank at Birch Creek is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays to income eligible households living within the Kent School District boundaries.
Free tax prep
Free assistance with preparing tax returns is available through April 15 at several locations through the United Way of King County’s Free Tax Prep Campaign. The free service is available to households making less than $50,000 per year.
EITC
As you’re filing your taxes, you may want to apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Low-income working individuals and their families may be eligible to receive a tax refund between $457 and $5,657 if they apply for EITC.
To qualify, you must meet certain income requirements and file a tax return, even if you didn’t earn enough money to be obligated to file a tax return.
More info
For more information about free tax prep assistance or to find a location near you or to find out more about EITC, please call 2-1-1 or 1-877-2119274 or go to unitedwayofkingcounty.org/taxhelp.
A primer on recycling
By KCHA Staff
If you live at a KCHA property with
curbside recycling, we hope that you’ll do
your part to turn much of your household’s
waste into a valuable resource. By recycling, you’ll be able to reduce the amount of waste
that you send to the landfill.
• Paper, plastic, and metal cans are the
three main recyclable items to keep in
mind. Rather than throwing such items in
your trash can, set them aside in a separate
container or space so that you remember to
recycle them.
• You can throw all of your recyclables
– paper, plastic, and metal cans – into the
same recycling bin.
• Newspapers, advertisements, and plain
paper – such as from a spiral notebook or
for use in a computer printer – can all be
recycled.
• So can plastic dairy tubs and any plastic
bottle that has a neck, including vitamin
bottles.
• Aluminum soft drink cans and the tins
that canned goods come in also can be
recycled.
• The recycle container will be located
next to the garbage can where you are accustomed to throwing your trash.
• Before you take your recyclables to the
bin, please rinse out any items that once
contained food or drink. Washing those containers
creates a healthier environment for
the workers responsible for sorting through
your recycling.
• Lids from plastic bottles and from plastic
tubs must always go in the trash. They
are made from different plastics and cannot
be recycled.
• Lids on tin cans must remain attached to
the tin can to be recycled. If the lid comes off
when opening a can, throw it in the garbage.
Separated lids can get caught in recycling
machinery.
• Please break down cardboard boxes so
that they lay flat.
• Please keep your recyclables loose – not
tied up in a bag. When recyclables are tied
up in a bag, they often are assumed to be
garbage and sent to the landfill.
For more information about recycling,
visit King County’s Web site at
your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/garbage-recycling/index.asp.
News for Families Living in KCHA Communities
Parents and children from Birch Creek nearly filled the Youth Center’s multipurpose room at the first in a series of monthly community dinners planned for families living at the complex.
“These community dinners are a great way for Birch Creek residents to come together, once a month, to socialize, meet new people, learn something new, and hopefully, have a little fun,” said Jordan Bernhardt, a KCHAAmeriCorps member helping to organize the effort.
In addition to dinner, the event in February featured a presentation on budgeting by Becky House of American Financial Solutions.
“Sometimes, I hear people say, ‘I don’t have enough money to budget,’” she said. “But it’s at that time that it’s probably most important to be using a budget or spending plan.”
House’s presentation was translated
into Russian, Somali, and Vietnamese,
and below are a few of the budgeting tips
that she shared with residents.
• One way to keep track of spending is
to keep a notebook where you write down
every time you spend money, even if it’s
just on a cup of coffee. Then, at the end of
each month, look back at your spending
and try to see if there are ways you can
cut down on your expenses.
• To save money on food, try to plan
out meals ahead of time and plan around
the food you already have in your home.
Make a shopping list and stick to it. Pay
attention to sales, coupons, and the differences
in prices at your neighboring
grocery stores.
• Pay attention to the trips you have to
take and errands you have to run. If you
are able to consolidate trips – such as
stopping by the grocery store on the way
home from work – you can save money
on transportation costs.
• If your children want you to buy
them brand-name clothes rather than
discount or second-hand items, use that
as an opportunity to talk to them about
living within a budget. It’s important for
them to understand the budgeting process
as well.
Upcoming Birch Creek Community Dinners
The King County Housing Authority has planned community dinners for Birch Creek families at 6 p.m. every second Tuesday of the month. The whole family is welcome, and children will not be admitted without a parent. Each dinner, which will be at the Youth Center at Birch Creek, will be followed by an informational presentation. The presentations will be translated into Russian, Somali, and Vietnamese. Here’s the upcoming schedule:
• 6 p.m. March 9: Recycling
• 6 p.m. April 13: College/career fair
• 6 p.m. May 11: To be announced
If you have additional questions about the dinners, please contact Jordan Bernhardt at 206-315-4370.
Woodinville celebration features info about local resources
The 17th Cityhood Celebration for Woodinville is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. at the Carol Edwards Center, 17401 133rd Ave. N.E., Woodinville.
The event will feature a Children’s Activity and Family Resource Area, which provides an opportunity for families to learn about area nonprofit groups and the resources that each organization offers to the community. The area also will include free crafts, activities, and entertainment for children and their families.
For more information about the event, please visit www.ci.woodinville.wa.us/ News/SpecialEvents.asp or call 425-481-8300.
While a healthy diet is the cornerstone to good health, meeting that goal can be a challenge. The recipe below conforms to the recommendations contained in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. We hope you find it easy, tasty, and economical.
Makes two pies, or 12 servings
2 (9-inch) unbaked pie shells, at room temperature. NOTE: Frozen pie shells come in packages of two. Make two pies, and freeze one for later. 1 leek, chopped 1 cup cauliflower, chopped 1 Tbsp. butter 8 eggs 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese 1-1/2 cups low-fat milk
Calories: 247
Total fat: 16 grams
Saturated fat: 6 grams
Cholesterol: 145 milligrams
Sodium: 310 milligrams
For small sole proprietorships with limited household incomes, finding competent and affordable tax preparation services is a challenge, and going alone is daunting.
There are dozens of volunteer income tax centers throughout King County, but StartZone’s Business Tax center is the only one helping the self-employed prepare their Schedule C to report business income.
Eligible individuals will receive assistance from a trained and professionally supervised volunteer who will help complete and file their Form 1040, Schedule C, and other forms. In addition, the center will help filers access the Making Work Pay Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit.
“The self-employed are often not aware that Making Work Pay and Earned Income tax credits apply to self-employed income as well as W-2 wage income,” said Mike Skinner, StartZone’s Program Manager. “As a result, small business owners often fail to access one of the largest sources of federal funding available for asset and business development.”
Yulonda Rhodes, a StartZone client and owner of Yo Style Hair Design located in a live-work space at KCHA’s Greenbridge community, says that when she filed her self-employment tax return for the first time with a private tax preparer, it was a highly frustrating process.
“Filing taxes last year was confusing,” she said. “It took a long time to get my refund back, and they didn’t even file my taxes right. They knew I was self-employed, but they didn’t file a Schedule C for me.”
Rhodes also had to pay about $350 for the tax preparer’s services and was unable to walk away with any additional knowledge on managing her taxes for the future.
Fortunately for Rhodes and other small business owners, Highline Community College’s StartZone is offering free tax preparation workshops and filing assistance to self-employed individuals in King County with total household income of less than $50,000. This year at StartzZone, Rhodes is learning what the Schedule C involves and is receiving free filing assistance at StartZone’s Business Tax Center.
“I’ve been having such a positive experience with StartZone that when it was suggested to me to sign up for the tax prep workshop, I signed up,” she said.
Rhodes walked away from the tax prep workshop with a better understanding of tax basics and ways to be better prepared for tax filing in the future.
For more information about eligibility requirements, individuals are encouraged to attend one of the tax preparation workshops. Workshops will be offered:
To register, please call 206-878-3710 ext. 3388, or e-mail startzone@highline.edu.
StartZone’s Business Tax Center is funded by the Corporation for Enterprise Development in partnership with the United Way of King County. For more information about this program, please contact Nigam Shah, Business Tax Center Site Manager, by phone at 206-878-3710 ext. 6510 or by e-mail at nshah@highline.edu.
StartZone is Highline Community College program that helps women, people of color, recent immigrants, and persons with a disability start or grow small businesses in Southwest King County. For information about StartZone, please visit startzone.highline.edu.
The Ballinger Action Teens (BAT) group was honored with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Award in January for their “outstanding contribution to the dream.”
“I was so shocked when we were called because there were lots of other groups and individuals that were worthy of getting the award,” said Amina Shah, 17, who lives at Ballinger Homes. “I am so grateful for this award because it shows that people appreciate our work.”
BAT promotes peace through community service. Members have reached out to their community throughout the past year by providing dinner to homeless populations, working to beautify local parks, learning how to do drug/alcohol prevention work in their community, and much more.
These dedicated teenagers take time out of their busy schedules to come together every Friday at the Ballinger Homes Family Support Center to plan future projects and reflect on past ones.
Many of the group members started doing community service to fulfill Shorecrest High School’s graduation requirements but have since developed a passion for serving others.
Several BAT members have as many as 400 community service hours and continue to give back to the community. They often speak about their love for service and how much they learn from it.
At an MLK Day event at Seattle Center, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and Seattle Center Director Robert Nellams presented the group with a certificate, plaque, and $100check to honor their hard work.
The teenagers were nominated for the Peace Award by numerous community members who cited their exceptional community service work as being in line with King’s mission.
“My mouth opened when I heard Ballinger Action Teens won the Peace Award,” Elena Gavralova, 16, said. “I was so proud of our team and how much we put into the community.”
National Read Across America Day on March 2 acts as a reminder that it’s never too soon for parents to start reading with their children.
Below is a list of March story times at area King County libraries.
AUBURN
BELLEVUE
BURIEN
DES MOINES
FEDERAL WAY
Federal Way 320th Library
848 S. 320th St.
253-839-0257
Tuesdays: 6:30 p.m. Spanish Story Time Fridays: 11 a.m. Fantastic Fridays Story Time March 3, 24, and 31: 10:15 a.m. Toddler Story Time; 11 a.m. Preschool Story Time March 4 and 25: 10:15 a.m. Wonderful Ones Story Time (for ages 1-2); 11 a.m. Toddler Story Time; 1 p.m. Preschool Story Time March 5 and 26: 10:15 a.m. Wonderful Ones Story Time (for ages 1-2); March 2, 23, and 30: 7 p.m. Pajamarama Story Time March 16: 7 p.m. Tiger and the Dried Persimmon (for age 3 and older)
KIRKLAND
Kirkland Library
308 Kirkland Ave.
425-822-2459
Thursdays: 11 a.m. Chinese Language Story Time
SHORELINE
Shoreline Library
345 N.E. 175th
206-362-7550
March 8, 15, 22, and 29: 10:15 a.m. Young Toddler Story Time March 16, 23, and 30: 10:15 a.m. Toddler Story Time; 11 a.m. Young Toddler Story Time; 7 p.m. Pajamarama Family Story Time March 17, 24, and 31: 10:30 a.m. Preschool Story Time; Noon, Baby Story Time March 19 and 26: Noon, Chinese Story Time; 1:30 p.m. Spanish Story Time
By Natalia Arredondo
YWCA Greenbridge Career Center
A cover letter is a brief document sent with other application materials to explain your interest and qualifications in a job more fully or to provide more information.
Your cover letter should feature one or two interesting sentences to persuade the employer to read your résumé. Your résumé is meant to get you an interview, and the interview is meant to get you the job. It’s a three-step process in which the first step can be the most important.
Address your cover letter as specifically as possible. Research the name and title of the hiring manager, and address your cover letter to him or her. Never open your cover letter with “Dear Sir” or “Dear Madam.” But you could use “Mr.” or “Ms.” before the person’s name as this formality shows respect. Below are other tips for writing your cover letter to an employer.
Contact the YWCA
If you need help writing an outstanding cover letter, résumé, or assistance with any other aspect of your job search, the YWCA can help.
Monday through Friday, please contact the YWCAGreenbridge Career Development Center at 206-336-7000 or by visiting 9720 Eighth Ave. S.W., Seattle, or the YWCA Green River Career Development Center at 253735-7030 or by visiting 1102 Ninth St. S.E., Auburn.
News for Senior and Disabled Residents of KCHA Communities
Bedbugs are tiny insects that live in mattresses and furniture. They come out at night and bite humans, and then run back to their hiding places.
These insects occur nearly worldwide and are increasingly becoming a problem within residences of all kinds, including homes, apartments, hotels, cruise ships, dormitories, and shelters.
In February, Briarwood and Lake House residents had an opportunity to attend a presentation on preventing and eliminating bedbug infestations given by KCHA’s Ruben Rivera-Jackman.
Bedbugs can be found mostly in rooms where people sleep, and they generally hide in or near the bed or other furniture used for sleeping.
Their favored hiding spaces include bed frames, mattresses, and box springs.
Clutter around the room also offers additional sites for these bugs to hide and increases the difficulty in eliminating bedbugs once they have become established.
Bedbugs are most active in the middle of the night, and although generally bedbugs are not known to be transmitters of disease, they can be quite a nuisance.
Some people are allergic to their bites and find red itchy spots on their skin if bitten. Also, a person can get an infection from scratching bedbug bites. Plus, individuals can lose sleep and become anxious just from dealing with a bedbug infestation.
What you can do to prevent bedbugs
Don't give bed bugs easy places to hide. Remove clutter from your apartment.
Do not bring furniture into your unit that you find on the street or in the dumpster.
Be cautious about allowing guests to bring suitcases or backpacks into your apartment. Give them large plastic bags to store their luggage in. Sometimes, when people have been traveling around the country or stayng in homeless shelters, their backpacks can provide a home to bedbugs.
If you purchase clothing from second-hand stores, be sure to wash it in hot water or place it in a dryer for at least 20 minutes before bringing it into your residence.
What to do if you suspect bedbugs
If you notice red, itchy spots on your body, look for the cause of them. If you find bedbugs (adult bugs are oval and flat in shape, about the size of an apple seed), be sure to let your property manager know right away.
If you discover bedbugs, report it to King County Housing Authority staff so they can determine the best way to handle the infestation and prevent bedbugs from migrating to other apartments.
KCHA will continue to work with residents to solve bedbug issues. Please let your property manager know if you suspect you may have bedbugs in your apartment.
Seniors can enjoy nutritious lunches while catching up with long-time friends – and making new ones – through Senior Services’ Community Dining program.
Many types of cuisine options may be available, including Japanese, Latin American, East Indian, and Kosher, and the program celebrates holidays and organizes monthly birthday parties.
Everyone is welcome to enjoy the Community Dining experience. Lunch-goers, age 60 and older, can eat lunch for a suggested donation of $3 (or whatever they are able to spare). You also can invite others to join you; those younger than 60 are charged a fee of $5 or $6.
Food stamp allotments can be used for Community Dining lunches. Small balances that might otherwise go to waste can be used to obtain more than one affordable and nutritious lunch. If you need additional information about using food stamp allotments for this dining program, please call 206-727-6253.
The program is offered at dozens of sites – including at many senior centers – throughout King County. To find a site near you or other information about the program, go to www.seniorservices.org, click on the link that reads “Our Programs” and scroll down the page to find the “Community Dining” link. You can also call 206-448-5768 or 1-888308-6325 for more information.
Senior Services Nutrition Coordination Program may be able to arrange a ride for you to get to lunch. To ask about ride information, please call 206-448-5740 or 1-800-282-5815.
By Serguei Nikitine and Heather Miller
King County Housing Authority
When she was a little girl, Oksana Didkovskaya learned how to do needlepoint from her mother. And the Mardi Gras resident been in love with the craft ever since, creating small-and large-scale art pieces to hang on her walls and give away to friends and family as well as various organizations in her native Ukraine.
It never had occurred to Didkovskaya to count how many pieces of her art she has given away.
But when she recently looked through her notes and did the math, she discovered that she’s given away roughly 1,000 pieces in the last 18 years – or roughly one piece per week.
“I like to give pieces to my friends on their birthdays,” she said, speaking through a translator. “I just like it if my friend says to me, ‘Good work.’”
Didkovskaya also regularly sends pieces back to Ukrainian institutions to which she has ties – such as a school, a church, a library, and more.
On her last trip back to Ukraine, she visited the school where she has sent many works and found that school officials had kept and exhibited every one.
Outside the school, they showed Didkovskaya a permanent plaque displayed in her honor.
“I’m always pleased that someone appreciated my work,” she said.
Some of her art is particularly unique in Ukraine because she has made many embroidered hand towels – called rushniks – which traditionally have been used there for special events. For example, a host may offer guests bread served on a rushnik. This particular type of art is considered to be Ukrainian traditional folk art and is no longer very common, making it even more special for the school children to see.
Didkovskaya finds inspiration for her art in quotations that are meaningful to her and in pictures that she finds beautiful. For example, she once created a piece based on a travel postcard she received from a relative.
“I don’t have a particular system for how I choose the picture I’ll work on next,” she said. “If it captures my heart and I like it, then I know that I’ll do it.”
Beyond her love of art and sharing it with others, Didkovskaya finds the craft itself rewarding.
“I do enjoy the process of creating the art itself,” she said. “Even when I’m cooking and waiting for a dish to finish or when I’m watching television, I feel like I’m wasting time if I’m not doing something with my hands. I’m in constant motion doing something with my hands. It gives me a lot of joy.”
By the Healthy Aging Partnership
While our nation is focused on the use of street drugs among teenagers, nearly one of out of every five seniors struggles with a different kind of substance abuse. Prescription drugs and alcohol are legal, but that doesn’t make the addiction any less devastating to older adults and their families.
According to the Healthy Aging Partnership, a coalition of 40 Puget Sound area not-for-profit organizations dedicated to the health and well-being of older adults, substance abuse is often hidden simply because people tend to live less public lives as they grow older. Also, symptoms such as forgetfulness often are attributed to aging, not drug and alcohol abuse.
Abrupt changes in work or volunteer attendance and unusual mood swings are two of the most common signs of a problem, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Consult with a physician if you suspect an older friend or relative of substance abuse, and remember that it’s rare for anyone, young or old, to admit to an addiction voluntarily.
It’s up to friends and family to be alert to the warning signs, says the Healthy Aging Partnership, which offers the following tips:
Older adults often resist treatment but usually become model students after treatment begins. They often follow directions more diligently than younger substance abusers and become more successful at kicking the habit.
If you or someone you know has a substance abuse problem, or if you need other information related to life as an older adult, call 1-8884ELDERS (1-888-435-3377). The free and confidential resource line offers a wealth of information and assistance to seniors and their caregivers.
For information in Spanish and Asian languages regarding healthy aging services and programs in King County, please contact:
Sea Mar Community Health Centers’ Latino Senior Information and Assistance: 206-764-4700
Asian Counseling and Referral Service’s Information and Assistance: 206-695-7600
The King County Housing Authority is committed to providing accommodations to persons with disabilities so that their living arrangements are, as a whole, comparable to that of other applicants and residents.
Requests must be medically necessary and sufficiently tied to the individual’s disability. To request a reasonable accommodation, please talk to your property manager or resident services coordinator. Also, a copy of the reasonable accommodation request form for public housing applicants and residents is available on the KCHA Web site at www. kcha.org/currentresidents/sh_reasonable.aspx.
Translated Articles for Our Families
THƯ VIỆN TRONG QUẬN KING CUNG CẤP CÁC LỚP THỰC TẬP ANH NGỮ
Có số chi nhánh thư viện trong quận King cung cấp các lớp Đàm Thọai Anh Ngữ. Đây là chương trinh tạo cho người di dân và người tị nạn cơ hội để thực tập nói tiếng Anh trong lớp đàm thọai miễn phí.
Qúi vị có thể thực hiện năng khiếu nghe và nói tiếngAnh khá hơn trong môi trường thân thiện thỏai mái nơi các lớp Talk Time thực tập đàm thọai. Chương trình cũng cung cấp cho qúi vị cơ hội để học biết thêm về văn hóa Mỹ, để chia sẻ văn hóa của qúi vị, và để gặp gở những người đến từ các nới trên thế giới.
Lớp Đàm Thọai Talk Time được hướng dẫn bởi những nhân viên tình nguyện người Mỹ. Không cần phải ghi tên trước, và không phải đóng tiền lệ phí. Qúi vị được đón nhận đến dự các lớp học ở các thư viện gần nơi qúi vị cư ngụ mà có mở lớp Đàm Thọai Talk Time. Quí vị cũng có thể dắt theo bạn bè.
Những thư viện sau đây trong quận King có các lớp Đàm Thọai Talk Time như ở Auburn, Bellevue, Bothell, Covington, Des Moines, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, Shoreline, và Woodinville.
Phần lớn các thư viện cung cấp các lớp học này hàng tuần hoặc 2 lần một tuần.
Để biết thêm thông tin về ngày và giờ các lớp học gần nơi qúi vị, xin vui lòng vào trang mạng www.kcls.org/usingthelibrary/esl/classes/#inlibrary hoặc hãy gọi cho Lớp Văn Hóa KCLS Literacy ở số 425-369-3452 hoặc gọi cho ban Anh ngữ và Văn Hóa ở số 425-369-3454 . Nhân vỉên ở hai số điện thọai này có thể cho qúi vị biết thông tin về các lớp Anh ngữ ở thư viện gần qúi vị cũng như những nguồn thông tin về các chương trình Anh Văn ESL trong khu vực gần qúi vị.
Maktabadaha degmada King waxay bixiyaan fasallo luuqda ingiriiska ah oo bilaash ah.
Qaybo badan oo ka mid ah maktabadaha King County, waxay bixiyaan waxa loo yaqaan “Talk Time” oo ay dadku ku six or ah ugu wada sheekeystaan. Waa barnaamij ay dadka qaxootiga ah iyo kuwa kale ee aan luuqadda aqoon ay ku bartaan ku hadalka luuqadda. Barnaamijku wuxuu kaloo fursad kuu siinayaa wax ko ogaansha dhaqanka Mareykanka, iyo sheegidda midkaaga iyo waliba la kulanka dadyow ka kala yimid dunida dacaladeeda. Waxaad si saaxiibnimo leh ugu baran kartaa hadalka.
Barnaamijka waxaa daadihinaya dad luuqadda ku hadla oo bilaash ku shaqeeya. Lagaagama baahna isdiiwaan gelin, waana lacag la’aan.
Waxaad imaan kartaa maktabadda kuu dhow ee barnaamijku ka jiro, sidoo kale waad soo wadan kartaa saaxiibkaa.
Qaybaha maktabadda ee uu barnaamijkaani ka jiro waxaa kamid ah: in Auburn, Bellevue, Bothell, Covington, Des Moines, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, Shoreline, and Woodinville.
Intooda badan waxay bixiyaan barnaamijkaaan ha lama labo jeer todobaadkiiba.
Wixii macluumaad intaa dheer fadlan aad www.kcls.org/usingthelibrary/ esl/classes/#inlibrary ama wac KCLS Literacy AmeriCorps at 425-3693452 ama qaybta barashada luuqadda 425.369.3454. hawlwadeennada aad kala hadli doonto goobahaaas, waxay kaloo ku siin doonaan macluumaad ku saabsan fasallada kale ee ka jira agagaarka xaafaddaada.
King County libraries offer free English practice sessions
Библиотеки округа Кинг предлагают бесплатные учебные занятия по английскому языку
Многие отделения библиотечной системы округа Кинг предлагают то, что известно под названием Talk Time – Время Беседы. Это программа, дающая возможность иммигрантам и беженцам практиковать английский в группе свободной беседы. Вы можете улучшить своё умение понимать и говорить по-англйски в дружеской неформальной атмосфере Времени Беседы. Программа также предоставляет вам возможность больше узнать об американской культуре, рассказать о своей культуре и встретиться с людьми со всего мира.
Время Беседы проходит под руководством англоговорящих добровольцев. Никакой регистрации не надо проходить, никаких денег не надо платить. Добро пожаловать в любую библиотеку по соседству, которая проводит занятия Время Беседы. Вы также можете пригласить с собой друга.
Библиотеки, предлагающие Время Беседы, расположены в Auburn, Bellevue, Bothell, Covington, Des Moines, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, Shoreline, Woodinville. Большинство из них предлагают сессии еженедельно или дважды в неделю.
Для дополнительной информации о времени проведения сессий посетите вебсайт www.kcls.org/usingthelibrary/ esl/classes/#inlibrary или позвоните KCLS LiteracyAmeriCorps по телефону 425-369-3452 или Literacy/ESL по тел. 425-369-3454. Работники, отвечающие по этим телефонам, также могут дать вам информацию о других программах изучения английского как второго языка в ближайшей от вас библиотеке, также как и о других возможных программах ESL в вашем районе.
Translated Articles for Our Senior and Disabled Residents
Предупредите домоуправляющего, если вы подозреваете наличие клопов
Клопы–этомаленькиенасекомые, живущие в матрасах и мебели. Они вылезают по ночам и кусают людей, потом снова прячутся в своих укрытиях.
К сожалению, за последние годы в Соединённых штатах значительно увеличилось количество клопов. Клопы, насколько известно, не являются переносчиками инфекции, но некоторые люди аллергичны к укусам клопов и обнаруживают красные зудящие пятна после укусов.
Если вы обнаружите красные зудящие пятна на теле, определите их причину. Если вы увидите клопов (взрослые насекомые имеют овальную форму и величину с яблочное семечко) , немедленно сообщите об этом домоуправляющему.
Не создавайте клопам мест для укрытия. Ликвидируйте загромождение вещей в своей квартире.
Если вы обнаружите клопов, сообщите работникам Жилищного управления округа Кинг, чтобы они определили наилучший способ борьбы с нашествием насекомых и предупреждения распространения клопов в другие квартиры. Не приносите в свою квартиру мебель, которую вы нашли на улице или в мусорной свалке.
Будьте осторожны, когда вы позволяете своим гостям приносить чемоданы или рюкзаки в свою квартиру. Давайте им большие пластиковые мешки, чтобы они сложили туда свой багаж. Иногда во время путешествий людей по стране или во время пребывания в убежище для бездомных клопы забираются в рюкзаки и поселяются там. ЖУОК будет продолжать работу с жителями, чтобы решить проблему распространения клопов. Сообщите пожалуйста своему домоуправляющему, если вы подозреваете наличие клопов в своей квартире.
Haddii aad aragto kutaan ogeysii maamulka dhismaha
Kutaantu waa cayayaan yar-yar oo ku nool gogosha iyo alaabada guryaha. Habeenkii aya inta soobaxaan oo dadka qaniinaan ayay haddana ku cararaan meeshii ay ka soo bexeen.
Nasiib darro waxaa la wadanka oo dhan laga cadeeyey inay aad u kordhayso tirade cayayaaankan.
Kutaanta laguma yaqaan inay cudurro faafiso, balse dadka qaarkiis waa ku caaroodaan, marka ay kutaantu qaniintana, waxaa jirkoodu yeeshaa goobo gud-duudan.
Haddii aad aragto goobo gudguduudan oo jirkaaga ku yaal raadi waxa sababay. Kutaanta waaweyni waxay le’eg tahay miraha tufaaxa oo kale. Waa inaad isla markiiba u sheegtaa maamulka guryaha.
Ha siin kutanta meel ay ku dhuumato, u sheeg shaqaalaha guryaha markaad aragto kutaan si ay uga ilaaliyaan inay ugudubto guryaha kale meeshana ugu baabi’iyaan.
Ha keenin ablaabo aad bannaanka ka soo heshay gurigaaga. Ka feejignow martida gurigaaga imaanaysa inay wataan boorsooyin iyo bacyaal. Had-day wataan, sii bac weyn oo ay ku xafitaan alaabtooda. Mararka qaarkood marka dadku ay socdaalayaan seexdaanna shaltarrada, waxaa boorsadoodu keentaa kutaan.
KCHA waxay wadidoontaa dadaalka ku wajahan la shaqaynta degenayaasha si loo xaliyo arrinta kutaanta. Fadlan u sheeg maamulka guryaha haddii aad is tiraahdo waxaad aragtay kutaan gurigaaga dhexdiisa.
HÃY CẢNH BÁO CHO BAN QUẢN LÝ BIẾT NGAY
NẾU QÚI VỊ TÌNH NGHI NHÀ CÓ RỆP
Rệp là lòai côn trùng bé nhỏ sinh sống trong nệm giường, các ghế vải. Chúng bò ra ngòai lúc ban tối để cắn người xong rồi trở lại chỗ chúng ẩn nấp.
Rủi thay, trong những năm gần đây trên tòan nước Mỹ đang có sự gia tăng của nạn bị rệp.
Rệp đuợc biết là không gây dịch bịnh cho con người, nhưng có số nguời bị phản ứng khi bị rệp cắn và thấy có vết đỏ ngứa ngáy trên da.
Nếu qúi vị thấy có vết đỏ ngứa trên da, hãy tìm nguyên nhân từ đâu. Nếu qúi vị thấy có rệp ( rệp con lớn có hình bầu dục –dẹp, có cở bằng hột trái táo) hãy báo cho ban quản lý-manager biết ngay lập tức.
Đừng tạo cho lòai rệp chỗ cư trú dễ dàng. Hãy dẹp dọn những đồ vật đầy lối trong căn nhà của qúi vị.
Nếu qúi vị biết được nhà có rệp, hãy báo cáo cho ban quản lý gia cư thuộc quận King để họ tìm cách tốt nhât để diệt trừ và phòng ngừa chúng lan ra các nhà khác.
Đừng lượm đem vào nhà các bàn ghế bọc vải từ ngòai đường hay từ các nơi đổ rác.
Hãy cẩn thận khi khách đến nhà với các vali, túi xách. Hãy đưa cho họ các túi nilon to để chứa túi xách của họ. Nhiều khi có những người đi du dịch từ các nơi, hay nguời cư ngụ nơi các nhà trạm trú, các túi xách của họ có thể chứa rệp.
Nha cấp phát gia cư quận King sẻ tiếp tục làm việc với cư dân để giải quyết nạn rệp. Xin vui lòng cho ban quản lý biết nếu qúi vị nghi ngờ có rệp trong căn nhà qui vị.
News About the Greenbridge and Seola Gardens Communities
“I’m a recycling champ!”
That’s what one member of the Southwest Boys & Girls Club called out after winning a recycling relay at a recent “Green into Action” festival at the club.
As part of a collaborative effort in creating a healthy community, the King County HousingAuthorityAmeriCorps team hosted the festival.
More than 40 youth from Greenbridge and surrounding areas participated in recycling, healthy eating, and exercise education activities. Paper bead making, newspaper origami, recycling relays, recycling-focused computer games, and recycling-themed face painting marked the kick off of the KCHA AmeriCorps-led “Recycling Champions” club.
In March and April, club members will participate in the “Biggest Loser Garbage Challenge” by tracking the weights of garbage and recycling in their community center.
The results of the challenge will be presented at the Earth Day Environmental Fair at Saltwater State Park in late April.
In addition, KCHAstaff provided healthy snacks such as fresh fruit, and Public Health
– Seattle & King County led an interactive hand-washing demonstration.
Dancing sessions were coordinated by MusicianCorps, and Neighborhood House facilitated bowling with recyclables and a walking contest.
KCHA, in partnership with the Seattle Housing Authority and Public Health – Seattle & King County, has been awarded a four-year Healthy Kids Healthy Communities grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to improve opportunities for physical activity and access to healthy, affordable foods for children and families.
The grant’s focus is on Greenbridge and Birch Creek Apartments in Kent as well as two SHA communities.
Two new employees have recently joined the HOPE VI team. Meanwhile, a KCHA staff member who has been working in White Center for nearly eight years is taking on a new role. Below is a look at the recent staff changes:
Fluent Vietnamese speaker joins Family services Team
Quang Nguyen is already a very familiar face at Greenbridge and in the greater White Center community. He’s worked in family support at the Greenbridge Neighborhood House Family and Social Service Center for the past two and a half years, and he also lives and volunteers in White Center.
Now, he’s joined KCHA’s Family Services Team as a part-time Resident Services Specialist with fluency in Vietnamese.
“I’m excited that I’ll still be able to serve the same clients,” said Nguyen, who was born in Saigon. “They are so familiar with me, and I told them, ‘I’m not leaving. I’m just crossing the street.’”
He’s able to help residents and prospective residents with everything from applying for housing to searching for work and also can connect them with other resources that may be of assistance.
To reach Quang Nguyen, please call 206-574-1157, e-mail him at QuangN@ kcha.org, or stop by the HOPE VI Family Services office.
Familiar face tackles new responsibilities
Tracie is excited to work with residents to plan new events and activities at Green-bridge.
“I want to encourage people to be active and come to me with ideas,” she said. “I want to hear about what they like so far and what things they’d like to see in this new community.”
Tracie also is looking forward to working with service providers to see if there are new ways to work together to offer expanded services to residents.
“I’d like to see even more collaboration,” she said. “If we can pull our resources together, we can get further along.”
To reach Tracie Friedman, please call 206-574-1161, e-mail her at TracieF@ kcha.org, or stop by the HOPE VI Family Services Office.
Development team gains new manager
James Rooney is looking forward to spending plenty of time in the Greenbridge community and meeting the many residents who live there already.
He’s joined the HOPE VI team as a Development Manager and will be managing the for-sale housing program at Green-bridge.
Rooney has experience in both residential and commercial real estate sales.
The last two years, he’s worked as a consultant for small businesses, real estate professionals, and nonprofits, and felt drawn to working with affordable housing organizations.
“I have been impressed with Green-bridge and really have enjoyed see-James rooney ing how a HOPE VI development can revitalize a community,” Rooney said of why he was interested in the KCHA position.
Greenbridge Library
• Family Story Time: 2 p.m. March 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31.
Join us in the meeting room for 30 minutes of books, songs, rhymes, and silliness! The Greenbridge Library is at 9720 Eighth Ave. S.W., Seattle. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday, and from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. For more information, please call 206762-1682.
White Center Library
The White Center Library is at 11220 16th S.W., Seattle. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Highline Public schools