THE VOICE - June 2009

The Newspaper of Neighborhood House

Seattle Art Museum is a fun family destination

By Claire McDaniel
Seattle Housing Authority

If you have not visited the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) in downtown Seattle in a while, you are going to be surprised at how it has grown!

It has expanded to take up the whole block on First Avenue from University Street to Union Street. A spectacular permanent collection is showcased along with constantly rotating art installations and an exciting lineup of traveling exhibitions. More info is available at www.seattleartmuseum.org.

“The expansion has nearly doubled the size of the museum and has allowed SAM to present so much more of what we have in our collection and travelling shows,” said Cara Egan, director of public relations with SAM.

The main point that Egan wants to stress is that you don’t have to have a background in art to appreciate what SAM has to offer.

“You don’t have to know anything about art to come in and have a wonderful time,” said Egan. “You can stay for an hour or two, or a whole day. There is a whole range of choices for all ages. SAM is a general art museum that ranges from ancient art to the present. There is probably something here that is going to capture you or challenge you or open you up to something that you didn’t know you liked but you do when you see it.”

When you enter the museum, you will find an array of helpful brochures. The Map & Guide gives you an overview of the latest exhibits and galleries as well as a map showing what is on each of the four gallery levels.

If your time is limited, there are four Highlight Tour guides: If You Only Have an Hour, Less is More, Ten Compelling Characters and the Please Growl! Highlight Tour for Families. Each of these guides has a numbered location map with ten recommended pieces of artwork or activities that fit into each theme. This will help you use your limited time efficiently to maximize your enjoyment.

Although there are suggested entry fees, SAM has a ‘pay what you can’ policy (except for special exhibits). This means that you can pay any amount and SAM will provide you with a ticket to view their collections. To save even more money, visitors can bring their own food and eat inside the museum on the Terrace outside SAM’s TASTE Restaurant.

The museum is also ADA accessible. The labels describing each piece are on a low level and the font size is relatively large. There are elevators and escalators for those with limited mobility. There are benches scattered throughout the building to provide visitors with places to rest to compensate for the increased size of the museum.

Families don’t need to be concerned about bringing children to the museum — even very young children. There are fun adventures for kids to participate in such as scavenger hunts and they can play in the Knudsen Family Room. In the Family Room, they can dress up in period costumes or use blocks to build architectural masterpieces, for example. No doubt they will also enjoy the nine-foot-tall mouse
sculpture in the North Contemporary Gallery!

Second Saturdays of selected months from 10 a.m. until noon there are Family Fun! days designed for kids ages 3 to 12 along with their parent or guardian. You can spend the day creating art together, enjoying performances, and taking kid-inspired tours of the galleries.

Although photographs are not allowed, you may bring in pencils and pads and sketch your favorite exhibit.

SAM’s collection is global. International exhibits are brought in regularly so you might see artists from a location that you or your ancestors came from.

“There are pieces that might remind you of home or your family or your ancestry or someone that you know,” Egan said.

There are tours that are designed for people who are new to a museum. SAM staff is trained to make people feel welcome and help them become familiar with what to expect on their visit. Tours are free with museum admission.

Visit SAM’s calendar on their Web site at www.seattleartmuseum.org/calendar/calendar.asp for a schedule of upcoming tours.

Directions
The museum entrance is on the corner of First Avenue and Union Street.
Heading North: I-5 to Seneca Street exit (#165), west on Seneca Street to First Avenue, and turn right (north).
Heading South: I-5 to Union Street exit (#165B), west (toward Puget Sound) on Union Street to First Avenue.
From I-90: Heading west, merge onto I-5 North, take Madison Street exit (#2C). Turn left on Madison and right on First Avenue.

Bus Information
The museum is easily reached by using the Metro bus system. Buses #5, #12, #15, #18, #21, #22, #54, #55, #56 and #57 stop near First Avenue and Union Street.
Buses #5, #10, #11, #12, #15, #18, #21, #22, #54, #55, #56, #113, #120, #121, #122, #125 and #132 stop near First Avenue and University Street.
Visit Metro Online (http://transit.metrokc.gov) for more bus route information or call 206-553-3000.

Flash and non-flash photography, movie and video cameras are prohibited.

TASTE Restaurant
Inside SAM is a restaurant that serves food created with “fresh from the market” ingredients.
Open for lunch, happy hour and dinner.
Tuesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Monday: closed
You can also bring your own food and eat in the Terrace outside the TASTE Restaurant.

Visitor Information
Seattle Art Museum (SAM)
1300 First Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101-2003
206-654-3100
TDD 206-654-3137

Hours
Tuesday – Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday & Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Closed Monday

Tickets — Suggested Fees (pay what you can)
$15 adults
$12 seniors 62 and over, military with ID
$9 students with ID, youth 13 to 17
FREE for children 12 and under
FREE for SAM members

Fees include current exhibits as well as SAM collections and installations. SAM audio, the permanent collection audio guide, is free with admission (available on a first-come, first-served basis).

Free days
First Thursdays: Free to all
First Fridays: Free to seniors (age 62+)
Second Fridays 5 to 9 p.m.: Free to teens (ages 13
to 19) with ID

All free day programs include access to special exhibitions as well as all SAM collections and installations.

SAM is closed on the following holidays:
Columbus Day, Oct. 12
Thanksgiving, Nov. 26
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Dec. 24 and 25
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, Dec. 31 and
Jan. 1, 2010
Museum facilities are wheelchair accessible and SAM offers a variety of services for the visually and hearing impaired. For more information, visit www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/SAMaccessibility.asp.



One card to use for them all

Public transit unveils new “ORCA” card

By Jim Bush
SHA Resident

If you’re one of the many people who rides public transit, you’ve noticed METRO (and every other transit provider in the Puget Sound region, including Sound Transit and the State Ferry System) has introduced a new way to pay your fare — the One Regional Card for All, otherwise known as ORCA.

While you’ll still be able to use cash, ORCA will make it easier to pay your fare, since it’s a “smart card” that can be loaded with a certain amount of money, much like a debit card. You decide how much to load onto the card each time you do so and, if you register the card, you can choose to have it automatically re-loaded periodically (like when your balance falls below a certain amount or when the monthly or annual pass you load onto it expires).

Also, with a registered card, you can transfer the card’s value to a new card if the original one gets lost or stolen. In addition, if you have a Regional Reduced Fare Permit (or a bus pass), ORCA will replace that.

The card is easy to use. Whenever you get on a bus, ferry, LINK light-rail train (which starts running in July) or Sounder train, simply tap your card on the card reader on the bus or at loading platforms for Sounder and LINK (and at State Ferry terminals) and, providing you’ve loaded enough money onto the card itself, the system will automatically deduct the fare for your trip (if you don’t have enough money loaded onto the card, you should be able to pay the difference using cash).

If you use more than one transit provider to get where you’re going, you’ll use your card on each leg of the trip, meaning no more having to search for change or deal with paper transfers, since the system will automatically calculate the fare and deduct that from your account (any transfer values will be considered in the fare calculation).

Since ORCA is just being introduced now, you can get yours (and load it) at many locations, including METRO’S Customer Service Office at Second and Jackson, the Westlake Customer Stop (at Third
and Pine — in the tunnel) and at many retail locations.

After the six-month introductory period, ORCA cards will be $5 each ($3 for people with Regional Reduced-Fare Permits, or RRFPs.)

Want more information? It’s available online at www.orcacards.com or at METRO’s Web site (www.metrokc.gov/transit) and via phone at 1-888-988- 6722 (1-888-988-ORCA).

TTD users should call the TTY relay service at 711 and ask to be connected to the above phone number.

 

Sims, Kerlikowske confirmed to Obama administration posts

Ron Sims and Gil Kerlikowske are officially on their way to the other Washington, having been confirmed for their respective posts in the Obama administration by the Senate.

Sims, the former King County Executive, was sworn in May 8 as the deputy secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Kerlikowske, the former chief of the Seattle Police Department, assumed his new role as director of the Office of National Drug Policy, otherwise known as the national “drug czar,” on May 7.

Neighborhood House Nonprofit org. Jesse epstein Building U.S. postage PAID 905 Spruce Street Seattle, Wa Seattle, Wa 98104 Permit #8887

 

Health Notes

A column devoted to your well-being

News about H1N1 virus, or “swine flu”

H1N1 virus, also known as “swine flu” and “swine Influenza A” is a virus that can spread from people who are infected to others through coughs and sneezes.

When people cough or sneeze, they spread germs through the air or onto surfaces that other people may touch. H1N1 virus is not transmitted from pigs to humans or from eating pork products.

For more information and frequent updates: www.kingcounty.gov/health/swineflu. Flu Hotline: 877-903-5464

Everyday behaviors to stay healthy and prevent spread of influenza:

• If you are sick, stay home from work or school.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• To further prevent the spread of germs, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

• Avoid close contact with sick people

Recommendations for seeking medical care

Public Health is recommending that you do not seek medical care if you are not ill or have mild symptoms for which you would not ordinarily seek medical care. If you have more severe symptoms
of fever, cough, sore throat, body aches or are feeling more seriously ill, call your health care provider to discuss your symptoms and if you need to be evaluated.

Your health care provider will determine if a test is appropriate, based on guidelines from Public Health. Public Health will continue to work with health care providers to test flu patients who develop severe illness or are associated with clusters of other sick people, but does not currently recommend testing for all flu patients.

If the following flu-like symptoms are mild, medical attention is not typically required: runny nose or nasal stuffiness; low-grade fever for less than three days; mild headache; body aches and mild
stomach upset.

The CDC has determined that the swine flu virus H1N1 is contagious and is spreading from person to person. Symptoms of swine flu include a fever of more than 100°F, coughing, joint aches, and, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea.

Public Health – Seattle & King County is closely monitoring the spread of H1N1 virus, also known as “swine flu.” As of May 21, the department reported that there were 343 cases of the virus in King County.

“We know that the H1N1 virus is circulating widely and the disease has proven to be relatively mild, so we believe that many cases are not being formally diagnosed,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director & Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County. “We need to find new ways to reduce infections besides focusing on diagnosed, probable cases. We will no longer recommend school closure when we have just one or two probable cases in a school. Instead, we will recommend symptom checks at home and school.”

Information for parents

Public Health will work closely with school districts to support this new approach to reduce infections in schools. Instead of closing a school when there is a probable case, Public Health is recommending that:

Parents carefully check their children before school for signs and symptoms of the flu. If symptoms are present, they should not send their children to school. Schools should monitor children and conduct symptoms checks. If they find children with symptoms of the flu, those children should be sent home.

School staff and faculty should assess themselves for symptoms of influenza.

“Our parents are at the front lines of stopping the spread of infection. We are urging all parents to assess their kids every morning to see if they’re sick, and keep them home if they are,” said Dr. Fleming. “In addition, we will be working with schools across King County to help them identify if children are ill so that sick students are sent home before they expose other children.”

Public Health has a Flu Hotline for the public at 877-903-KING (5464), staffed from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Interpreters are available.

Tamiflu and treatment
There appears to be very limited demand for the antiviral drug Tamiflu to treat patients who have severe illness. However, Public Health is launching a strategy to make sure that adequate and accessible supply exists in the community for every patient with a prescription that is in need of this medication.

While there is plentiful supply of Tamiflu in King County, distribution may be slightly backlogged. Public Health will distribute Tamiflu to any hospital that requests it, and it is identifying sites throughout the county so Tamiflu can be dispensed to patients who cannot find it in their local pharmacies.

Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for over 1.8 million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier
communities for everyone, every day.

 

Project HANDLE receives award for smoking cessation

By Voice Staff

Project HANDLE, Neighborhood House has received an award as one of SAMHSA’s 100 Pioneers for Smoking Cessation Virtual Leadership Academy.

HANDLE’s target populations are African American, East African (Amharic, Tigrigna, Oromo and Somali), Cambodian and Vietnamese youth in several public housing sites throughout Seattle
and King County. This project proposes a Tobacco Control Awareness Campaign (TCAC) that trains 10-15 youth Community Advisory Coalition (CAC) members on Tobacco 101 and tobacco media literacy.

The 10-15 youth receive additional training on developing print advertisements and used their skills to develop f lyers and billboards for buses that promoted the Hip Hop/Tobacco Free Awareness event in partnership with Asian Pacific Islander Against Tobacco (APICAT) and Washington Asian Pacific Islander Families Against Substance Abuse (WAPIFASA) in May. APICAT’s mission is to “Develop
community leadership for outreach, education, policy and advocacy in tobacco control. This coalition includes more than 25 partner organizations and individuals representing the diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community from King, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston counties.

WAPIFASA serves Asian Pacific Islander youth and all youth of color. The age of youth served ranges from 13-18 years. Most of WAPIFASA’s youth come from low income families and are usually children of immigrants. WAPIFASA’s mission is to provide and advocate for culturally competent and age-appropriate prevention and substance abuse treatment services for Asian Pacific Islander Youth and all Youth of Color. If funded, WAPIFASA will be in charge of coordinating the event and will pay for the rental space for the event.

The 10-15 CAC youth receive training on Tobacco 101, media literacy, and tobacco’s impact in disparity communities. The project is lead by Sameth Mell, Community Health Worker at Project HANDLE.

These trainings are conducted by APICAT and Public Health Seattle King County (PHSKC) Tobacco Prevention program. Several of PHSKC’s Tobacco Prevention staff are members of APICAT. Tollowing these trainings, the CAC members participate in a 10-week youth leadership program that will incorporate the development of print advertising and the development of a promotion plan for the Tobacco Control Awareness event.

Project HANDLE staff and CAC youth will have their advertisements placed on various bus routes in South/Southeast of Seattle in order to promote the Hip Hop/Tobacco Free Awareness event.
Project HANDLE of Neighborhood House is funded by SAMHSA/CSAT for HIV/substance abuse outreach and the Drug Free Communities Initiative for the Office of National Control Policy
and SAMHSA/CSAP.

HANDLE to host Underage Drinking Town Hall

Project HANDLE, a Neighborhood House program, invites you to attend the Underage Drinking Town Hall at the Rainier Vista Center, 4410 29th Ave. S., in Seattle.

The event is on Thursday, June 25 from 4:30 -7 p.m. Food and beverages will be available.

In the town hall, you will learn updated information on alcohol prevention services and other resources. The Underage Drinking Town Hall is supported by the King County Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Program, with funds from the State of Washington DSHS Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse.

 

Celebrate National Safety Month with a renewed commitment to personal safety

By Voice Staff

June is National Safety Month! In 2005, more than 60 percent of all accidental deaths involved unemployed people or members in their family. According to the National Safety Council, accidental injuries
exceed $625 billion per year and the nonwork related accidental injury is greatly increasing. Below are different safety focuses and tips for a safer environment.

Driving Behaviors

• Speeding is the most common error cited in fatal accidents. Allow enough time to reach your destination and obey the speed limit. Slow down when driving on poor roads and in bad weather.

• Do not drink and drive.

• Know the side effects of medications, including cough and cold medications that cause drowsiness.

• Cell phone use while driving and other forms of distracted driving account for 80 percent of all crashes. Be cautious of reaching under the seat to retrieve things and turning around to talk to passengers.

Indoor Air Quality

• Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless and odorless gas that can be produced by furnaces, stoves, heaters, automobile exhausts, and tobacco smoke. Never burn charcoal indoors and do not use your oven or gas range to heat your home.

• Do not leave a car or lawn mower running in a closed space, and inspect furnaces and chimneys annually. More than 300 people die per year of CO poisoning.

• Radon is a gas formed by the natural decay of uranium in rock, soil and water. It can enter homes through cracks in walls or openings around drains. For a low-cost test kit of radon, call the National Radon Hotline at 800-767-7236. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.

Falls in the Home

• Home falls are the second most accidental deaths in the home after poisoning. Make sure your home floors are free of clutter and piles. Wear slippers, skid-proof footwear, or go barefoot to avoid slips.

• Maintain good lighting throughout your home, especially on stairs and dark hallways.

• Use step stools and proper ladders instead of chairs for home maintenance.

Poisoning Prevention

• 32 percent of deaths occurring at home are due to poisoning, and most fatalities occur among people in their 40s and 50s.

• Mixing medicine and alcohol can lead to liver failure. Do not take more than the prescribed amount, borrow prescription for someone else, or take expired medications.

• In case of accidental poisoning, don’t vomit right away – it may cause more harm than good. Read the label and follow directions.

• Call the national toll-free number for the Poison Control Center: 800-222-1222.

Fire Prevention

• Though fires can bring injury and death, fires caused by smoking materials cause more fatalities than any other. Put matches, lighters and candles out of sight of children.

• Install smoke detectors; check them monthly while replacing the batteries once a year.

• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, never leave food cooking unattended and don’t use appliances with exposed wires.

• Always completely extinguish smoking materials before dumping ashes and do not leave children alone near open flame.

 

Be safe

Protect your child from guns in the home

In the United States, approximately 40 percent of homes with children also have guns. In many of these households, the guns are left unloaded and are not locked up. Some people who keep a loaded gun
in the house say they do so for security reasons. Statistically, loaded unsecured guns are more likely to be used in a suicide or accidently discharged than for personal protection.

One of the simplest steps a parent can take is to ask questions. Before allowing your child to visit another home, ask if there is a gun in the household. If the answer is yes, you need to learn whether
of not the gun is kept unloaded and locked up. It is also important that the ammunition is kept locked up separately from the gun. If you are uncomfortable with the answers you receive, then you can invite
your child’s friend to play in your home.

Allan Davis (323-7094) and Kelly McKinney (323-7084) are Community Education Coordinators for Seattle Neighborhood Group. Call Allan or Kelly for crime prevention information or help with your safety and security concerns.




2010 Census officially kicks off

By the Census Bureau

The 2010 Census is less than one year away and preparations are in full swing. Activities to lay the groundwork for the nationwide effort to count everyone residing in the United States are visible across the country. 2010 Census data inform critical decisions from congressional representation to the allocation of more than $300 billion annually in federal funds. Beginning in April and May 2009, United States residents saw that the 2010 Census was under way in their communities through operational milestones including:

• Address Canvassing: Approximately 140,000 census workers, hired from within each local community, will cover most neighborhoods to identify each residential address. This will help ensure everyone residing in the United States receives a 2010 Census questionnaire. This is the first visible sign that the decennial census is approaching and the first use of handheld technology by the Census Bureau. The result of this effort will be the most comprehensive U.S. address list in existence.

• Partnership Recruitment: Partnerships with for-profit and non-profit organizations and government entities are vital to raising awareness of and increasing participation in this historic event. More
than 250 national partners have already signed on to spread the message that achieving a complete and accurate count is important in 2010.

• Census in Schools: Throughout April 2009, every school in the country received a letter of interest encouraging principals and teachers to sign on and participate in the K-12 Census in Schools program.
Schools will receive their Census in Schools instructional materials in the Fall of 2009. Students will be able to experience the Census In Schools program throughout the 2009-2010 school year.

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Appoints Morial to Lead 2010 Census Advisory Committee
Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke has named National Urban League President Marc Morial as chair of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 Census Advisory Committee, which provides advice on the design and implementation of the 2010 Census.

Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League since 2003, leads the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Morial served two terms as mayor of New Orleans from 1994 to 2002
and was also president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors from 2001 to 2002.

The Census is mandated by the Constitution.

The questionnaire for the upcoming 2010 Census will be one of the shortest in history: just 10 questions that will take only about 10 minutes to complete. All responses are kept strictly confidential. The Census data are used to apportion the seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.



One to grow on

Garden tips for community gardeners

Warmer weather means it’s time to start planting summer vegetables

This article is reprinted from the June 2008 issue of The Voice.

By Anza Muenchow
Special to The Voice

The days are very long now and the temperature is finally warm enough to have all the favorite summer vegetables planted in the garden. The tomato vines can be tied to tall stakes, especially if you
grow the indeterminate types, like Early Girl, Stupice, Brandywine or Sungold. The roma types of tomatoes don’t usually get as tall, but I stake them to keep them up out of reach of the slugs.

All the cucumbers and squashes (both summer and winter types) can be planted by now. Give them lots of space and try using trellises for the trailing types. If you are growing a very large variety of trailing
winter squash (like hubbard) you may need to give extra support to the fruits as they grow on the trellis.

It is important to water your garden about an inch per week during the summer. And I emphasize watering the soil, not the plants. The leaves of tomatoes and squash should not get wet, especially in the evening. There are several fungal and bacterial infections that thrive on their wet leaves and may kill your plants.

Use a soaker hose or drip irrigation to conserve water and keep it right at the root zone. Check the soil moisture around your plants often to ensure it stays damp two inches below the surface. Preserve the soil moisture by using mulches which prevent evaporation.

Black plastic is a type of mulch that both controls weeds and keeps the soil damp but wears out and must be thrown away after a couple of years. I use organic mulches when I can get them. Compost is the best.

I also use dried leaves or grass. Sawdust depletes the soil of nitrogen, so I don’t put that near the plant’s root zone.

As you are harvesting your early spring greens, you may have room in your garden to plant a few rows of beets or chard. This family of vegetables is very nutritious and rather easy to grow. They tolerate a
wide range of soil types. If your soil is too acidic (best at about 6.5) the growth will be stunted.

Beets don’t like really hot weather (over 80 degrees), so plant in the evening and keep well watered. Perhaps some afternoon shade would help. But beets love the long days of summer.

The best thing about beets is that you can eat all of the plant. The leaves are especially nutritious. The beet seed is actually a small fruit, so several plants may germinate in a cluster.

When you thin out these little baby plants to give them room to grow, use the little leaves in your next green salad. They add a little color and a rich flavor. When the leaves are bigger, you can eat them like spinach.

Then of course, you can wait 50-70 days and you’ll be harvesting the nice beet roots. Most beet roots will stay good in the soil well into the fall or even winter, extending the harvest period. Many people
have their favorite beet recipes (borscht, pickled, roasted, etc.) but we love eating fresh grated beet salads with a mustard type vinaigrette.

I wear plastic gloves to keep my hands from being stained and peel the beets before I grate them. There are golden beets which don’t stain everything red. They work well in many vegetable soups.

The main beet pest is the leaf minor, which is a little fly that lays its little white eggs in the underside of the leaf. When they hatch, the larva climbs into the leaf, through the stomates and tunnels through the veined area. It ruins the leaves. So, try using floating row cover to prevent the adult from laying its eggs on the leaves. Be sure to secure the edges of the row cover so the little fly can’t crawl under
the edges. When the days become cold again in the fall, you can take the row cover off. Generally this pest is gone by then.

If you decide to plant chard, the growing requirements are very similar to beets. It may take longer to harvest the large chard leaves, but they are worth the wait. The plants generally do well in our climate all winter. We ate chard for several months this winter. The plant is definitely slow growing when the days are short, with grey skies and cold weather. But as soon as they get some light, the plant will keep producing. I usually plant the rainbow chard, because it is so colorful and every type is delicious.

Happy eating this month with all the fresh peas, spinach and other greens. We should be having warm weather now, so the summer veggies will be ready before you know it.

Anza Muenchow is a farmer and a volunteer with P-Patch. You can reach her by e-mail at anzam@whidbey.net, or online at www.mahafarm.com.

 

New Neighborhood House banner highlights solar panel array

Neighborhood House recently unveiled a 40-foot-tall banner on the Nucor Building in West Seattle. The banner, which can be seen from the West Seattle Bridge while heading toward downtown, highlights the agency’s ongoing solar panel challenge for the under-construction High Point Neighborhood Center.

The banner reads “West Seattle’s going solar! Neighborhood House is leading the way with the largest array of solar panels in the state.”

For more information about Neighborhood House and the High Point Neighborhood Center, visit www.nhwa.org.




Seattle Municipal Court offers reduction on collection fees through June 30

The Seattle Municipal Court is having a Collections Reduction Event from May 1 through June 30. If you need to pay past due tickets, now is your chance. For 60 days, all collection fees and interest
will be waived and participants can pay their dues directly to the Seattle Municipal Court rather than to the Collection Agency. This is a way for citizens to pay obligations owed to the court at a
reduced cost.

You can make payments by:
1. Coming to the Court at 600 5th Avenue in the Seattle Justice Center. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or;
2. Mailing your payment to:
Seattle Municipal Court
Attn: Collection Reduction Program
P.O. Box 34987
Seattle, WA 98124-4987

Visit www.seattle.gov/courts for more details or call the phone center at 206-684-5600.



King County Libraries offer a host of summertime activities

By Voice Staff

Looking for something to do this summer? Why not stop by your local library?

Below are a few events offered at some of the many King County Library System locations. For more information, go to www.kcls.org.

Kent Regional Library
212 2nd Avenue N., Kent

Children & Families
“Spanish Story Times”: June 4, 11, 18, and 25 at 7 p.m. Enjoy stories, songs, and finger plays in Spanish and English.

“Be Creative @ Your Library Story Time”: July 3, 17, 24, and 31 at 11 a.m. All ages welcome, ages 5 and younger with adult. Use your imagination and have fun as you enjoy stories, songs, and finger plays! Clifford the Big Red Dog will make a special appearance.

Adults
“Citizenship Class”: June 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 at 7 p.m. Get help with the Citizenship interview process, including civics and government questions, reading and writing English and practicing your interview skills.

“Talk Time”: July 7, 14, 21, and 28 at 3:30 p.m. Improve your speaking and listening skills in this English conversation group. Learn more about American culture and meet people from around the world.

Auburn
1102 Auburn Way S., Auburn

Children & Families
“Sleepy Story Time”: June 4, 11, 18, 25, July 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 at 7 p.m. All ages welcome, ages 5 and younger with adult. Wear your pajamas and bring your teddy bear for this 30-minute bedtime Story Time.

Teens
“Game On!”: June 3 at 3:30 p.m. Play your favorite games for the Wii, Xbox 360, GameCube and PS2.

Adults
“English as a Second Language (ESL) Class”: June 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, July 4, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, and 29 at 6 p.m. A formal class to learn English.

Federal Way 320th
848 S. 320th St., Federal Way

Children & Families
“Brown Bag Summer Story Time”: June 25, July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 at noon Bring a sack lunch and listen to stories as you munch!

Teens
“Game On!”: June 18, July 16 and 23 at 4 p.m. Play GameCube, Xbox and Wii video games at the library. We’re turning the meeting room into an arcade, so don’t miss the fun!

Des Moines
21620 11th Avenue S., Des Moines

Children & Teens
“Study Zone (K-12)”: June 2, 9 and 16 and 3:30 p.m. Students can drop-in for free homework help from volunteer tutors.

White Center
11220 16th S.W., Seattle

Children & Teens
“Study Zone (K-12)”: June 2 and 9 at 5 p.m., and June 3, 10, and 17 at 6 p.m. Drop-in during scheduled hours for free homework help from volunteer tutors.

Burien
14700 Sixth Ave. SW, Burien

Children & Teens
“Study Zone (K-12)”: June 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, and 17 at 3:30 p.m. Drop-in during scheduled hours for free homework help from volunteer tutors.

 

Snow pack melt increases drowning risk

Cold, swift waters make drowning threat particularly high this time of year

This summer, stay out of King County’s dangerously deep, cold, and swift rivers and lakes. The snowpack melt makes this time of year more treacherous than usual for swimmers, rafters, inner tubers, and kayakers. Since 2002, almost one-third, or 32 percent, of all preventable drowning deaths in King County occurred in May and June.

“This is a risky time to swim, tube, or raft in local rivers or lakes,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health -Seattle & King County. “Our local lakes and rivers may look inviting in the hot weather of early summer. Unfortunately, this is also when the water is most perilous. Even the best swimmers wearing lifejackets can be injured or die in such rapid, cold water.”

In 2008, there were 21 unintentional drowning deaths in King County, thirteen of them in open water such as rivers, lakes, or Puget Sound. Nine deaths — 43 percent of the yearly total — took place during the months of May and June.

In addition to the temperature and swift water threats, rivers may also have clogs of debris, presenting an added danger to swimmers, rafters, tubers, and kayakers.

“Rivers are running higher and swifter from snowmelt and may have new pieces of wood either submerged or spanning river channels. People should exercise great caution when navigating or doing recreational activities on rivers,” said Theresa Jennings, Director for the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks.

Recommendations from Public Health

Swimming and other water sports are a great way to stay active. However, to stay safe:

• Know the water – Washington waters are cold enough to cause hypothermia even on the hottest summer day; hypothermia may weaken even the strongest swimmer.

  • Know your limits – drowning often happens when a person tires while swimming or a novice swimmer tries to keep up with friends who are stronger swimmers.

  • Learn to swim, and choose lifeguarded areas. Wear a life jacket while swimming anywhere without lifeguards. Avoid swimming at local beaches until lifeguards go on duty, usually in mid-June. Until lifeguards go on duty, use indoor pools.

  • Avoid drinking alcohol or using other drugs while swimming, boating, tubing, or rafting.

• Watch children closely when they are in or near any type of water; stay close enough to reach them immediately.

For more information on water safety and drowning prevention, visit Public Health -Seattle & King County Web pages at www.kingcounty. gov/health/injury.

 

Parks superintendent to meet with Northgate community

Seattle Parks and Recreation class with the department. will host a public meeting for the At the meeting, visitors will Northgate area community to have the opportunity to: meet with Parks Superintendent • Meet the staff that serves the Timothy Gallagher. The meeting Northgate area community. will be held on Tuesday, June 9, • Have personal conversations beginning at 7 p.m. at the North-with the staff about what is work-gate Community Center, 10510 ing, and what can be improved. Fifth Ave. NE. • Talk with the Superintendent

The purpose of the meeting about ideas to build community is to give the community an op-relationships, and make Parks portunity to discuss with Seattle programs and services respond Parks and Recreation how the best to the needs of those living department is meeting the needs in the Northgate community. of neighbors. For more information, please

Everyone is invited to the contact Pati Maxwell or Tim meeting, including those who are Pretare at the Northgate Comregular users of parks and who munity Center by calling 206participate in Parks sponsored 386-GATE(4283) or by emailing programs and activities, as well pati.maxwell@seattle.gov or tim. as those who have never visited pretare@seattle.gov. a community center or taken a

 

TRANSLATIONS

Translated Articles from The Voice

What is H1N1 virus (swine flu)?

SIÊU VI KHUẨN H1N1 LÀ GÌ ? cúm heo)

Siêu vi khuẩn H1N1, còn đuợc biết là “khuẩn cúm heo A” là siêu vi khuẩn có thể lây lan từ người nhiểm bịnh bằng cơn ho hay nhảy mủi. Khi người bịnh ho hay nhảy mủi, họ làm lan ra siêu vi khuẩn trong không khí hoặc các nơi khác mà những người khác có thể chạm vào. Siêu vi khuẩn H1N1 không có lây lan từ heo đến con người hoặc do ăn thịt hay các thực phẩm từ thịt heo.

Sở Y Tê Công Cộng khuyến cáo mọi người không cần đi khám bịnh nếu không mắc bịnh hay có triệu chứng nhẹ mà thường khi phải đi khám. Nếu qúi vị có triệu chứng bịnh nặng kèm với sốt, ho, đau cổ, đau nhức cơ thể, hoặc cảm thấy đau trầm trọng, thì hãy gọi cho bác sĩ để nói về các triệu chứng cần được quan tâm. Bác sĩ của qúi vị sẽ quyết định xem qúi vị có cần làm cuộc thử nghiệm hay không, căn cứ vào những chỉ dẫn từ Sở Y Tế Công Cộng.

Đây là những thái độ hằng ngày để giữ cho mình khỏe mạnh và tránh làm lay lan dịch cúm:

Nếu qúi vị bịnh, hãy ở nhà đừng đi làm, hay đi học

Che mủi , che miệng với mảnh giấy chùi, lúc ho hay lúc nhảy mủi. Hãy bỏ giấy chùi vào thùng rác ngay sau khi dùng.

Hãy rửa tay thường luôn với xà bông và nước, đặc biệt là sau lúc ho hay nhảy mủi. Nếu không có nước và xà bông để rữa tay, thì dùng nước tẩy rửa tay có chứa chất cồn.

Để tránh thêm bị lây lan, tránh đụng đến mắt, mủi, miệng

Tránh đừng đến gầy hay va chạm đến người đang bị bịnh.

Maxay tahay H1N1 jeermiska (duray doofaar)

Cudurkan H1N1 oo loo yaqaan “swine flu ama swine influenza A” waa jeermis uu qofka qabaa ku daaran karo dadka kale markuu ku ag qufoco ama hindhiso. Marka qof qufoco ama hindiso waxaa jeermiskii qaada hawada ama meeshii ay ku qufeceen ayaa laga yaabaa in dad kale taabtaan sidaasna cudurkii ku faafo. Cudurkani kama imaan doofaar ama cunitaanka hilibka doofaarka.

Hay’dda caafimaadku waxay idin kala talinaysaa in iidaan caafimaad raadsan haddii iidnaan jiranayn ama calaamado yaryar oo aadan awalba dhakhtar ula tagteen hadey jiraan. Haddaysan ku hayn calaamado darran sida qandho, qufac,jir-xanuun darran ama aad si aada u jirran tahay, la xirir dhakhtarkaaga si aad ugu sharaxdo sida laguu hayo uuna xaaladda u darso. Isga ayaa sheegi kara inaad baarintaan u baahan tahay iyo in kale si agoo eegaya tusmooyinka caafimaadka dadweynaha.

Maalin kast waxa lagaaga baahan yahay si aad u caafimaad qabtid, isgana ilaalisid fididda qandhadan socota.

  • Haddaad jiran tahay jog gurigaaga. Hanna aadin dugsi iyo shaqo toonna

  • Marakaad hindhisayso ama qufacayso tishuu ku dabool sanka iyo afkaba, kadibna qashinka ku rid tishuuga .

  • Markasta gacmahaaga dhaq, weliba markaad hindhisto ama qufacdo. Lacalla haddii aad biyo weydo, isticmaal jeermis deli aalkolo leh.

  • Si aad aad uga feejignaato jeermiskaan, waa inaadan taaban afka, sanka, iyo indhahaba

  • Ka fogow dadka xanuunsan

 

Shorter translation section this month

Due to a family emergency, our Tigrigna translator was unable to complete his translation work for the month of June.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and hope to provide a complete translation section next month.