THE VOICE -- January 2010
The Newspaper of Neighborhood House
For her first novel, Anne Fitzgerald took a do-it-yourself approach.
The Fremont Place resident had tried contacting prospective editors and publishers to pitch a trilogy of novels, but with no luck.
Her age became an obstacle — publishers want to discover the next young literary star, Fitzgerald said.
“My advice to anyone who is retired is, do not tell them you’re a senior,” she said.
So Fitzgerald took matters into her own hands. She contacted a print-on-demand company and paid to self-publish her work.
Her first novel, many years in the making, is now a reality.
“Kishin is coming”
Fitzgerald has been writing all of her life — “Since I was a kid,” she said. But for so many years, her day job got in the way. “It’s really hard (to write) when you’re working full-time,” she said.
Still, she spent many evenings, weekends, even her vacation time, on writing. But she had to wait until she was retired to put all of that energy together and craft a novel.
The book is “Kishin is Coming,” the first installment in a trilogy about an isolated island society and its inevitable collision with a corrupted outside world.
“I want to provide hope by showing a future after civilization, if we have to start over,” she said.
In the novel, Fitzgerald describes a gentle egalitarian society that is sustainable and has no money and no weapons. “And they’re happy,” she adds.
Isolated from the rest of the world for more than 200 years, this intentional community is drawn out of seclusion when it is compelled to make contact with the rest of the world. The protagonist is a young woman reluctantly dispatched as a sort of ambassador to the outside world, where she finds a society consumed by decadence and depravity.
She carried the idea for the story with her for years. The title first came to her in a dream in her 20s. The rest of the story
evolved around it.
When she finally sat down to write it,
the story flowed freely.
“It had been blocked up for so many
years, it just poured out of me,” she
said.
Originally, the hero had been a young
boy or man. When she first conceived of
the idea, she said, “We still didn’t have
a good idea of what a strong woman
would look like, but by the time I retired,
I knew.”
Fitzgerald’s writing schedule for the
novels had her up by 4 a.m. She said
she would wake up with a scene already
forming in her head.
“4 a.m. is a wonderful time to write,”
she said. “There’s a positive energy I
think you find (at that time).”
Starting that early, she would often
finish around noon, she said.
The second and third books in the
series are already written, and Fitzgerald
said she intends to publish them in the
future. Ideally, she’d like momentum
from the first novel to help her spark
interest from a literary agent.
The book is listed on Amazon.com
and barnesandnoble.com. Seattle’s East
West Book Shop also agreed to display
copies.
But going on a full-fledged book
tour — complete with the traveling and
speaking events — is something she’d
like to avoid.
“That’s not what I wanted to do with
my retirement,” she said.
She also offered a word of caution
to aspiring writers who might look into
self-publishing: Know what you’re getting
into.
“Do a comparison of all of the print-on-demand outfits,” Fitzgerald said.
“And do read the fine print.”
For the ultimate escape that she found
in writing the story, she has no regrets.
“I got to meet fascinating people and
have great adventures,” she said of the
experience. “For a while, I lived in a
parallel universe.”
Where to find it
“Kishin is Coming,” the first novel
by Fremont Place resident Anne
Fitzgerald, is available for purchase
online at www.amazon.com and
www.barnesandnoble.com.
Low-income families may apply for energy bill assistance through CAMP
By Voice Staff
Energy assistance for low-income residents
and families is available through the
Central Area Motivation Program (CAMP).
Seattle residents are eligible for the programs
if they meet income eligibility requirements
outlined below. If you receive a utility allowance
through the Seattle Housing Authority,
you may not be eligible for these programs.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Program (LIHEAP), CAMP’s largest
service, is federally funded and designed
to help income-eligible households. This
program provides up to $1,000 annually for
heating bill assistance; support for window
repair, chimney cleaning and furnace repair
or replacement up to $5,000; and energy conservation
education. The LIHEAP Program
typically runs from November through May,
or as funds remain available.
Qualifications require that the household
reside south of 145th St., north of 96th and
Roxbury St. and make no more than the following
net monthly income:
One person: $1,128
Two people: $1,518
Three people: $1,907
Four people: $2,297
Five people: $2,686
Six people: $3,076
Seven people: $3,466
Eight people: $3,855
Nine people: $4,245
Ten people: $4,634
Puget Sound Energy’s HELP program
provides assistance with the cost of natural
gas consumption to qualified Puget Sound
Energy (PSE) natural gas customers with
an account in their name or in the name of
a member of their household. The program
provides up to $750 annually for natural gas
bill assistance. PSE HELP operates from
October through September (year-round) or
as funds remain available.
Qualifications require that the householdbe within Seattle City limits and make
no more than the following net monthly
income:
One person: $1,354
Two people: $1,822
Three people: $2,289
Four people: $2,757
Five people: $3,224
Six people: $3,692
Seven people: $4,159
Eight people: $4,627
Nine people: $4,917
Ten people: $5,200
All applicants for either of these programs
must call the Energy Assistance
Line at 800-348-7144, TTY 800-246-1646
to make an appointment. For more information
about CAMP, go to www.campseattle.org or www.hope-link.org/gethelp/energy.
Documents you will need for your appointment:
• Social Security Cards for all adults
18+ years
• Picture identification for the applicant
• Proof of children living in the household:
Medical Coupon, Social Security
Card, Birth Certificate
• Income documentation for three months
prior to the application for each member of
the household 18+ years
• A current energy bill
• Lease or rental agreement, mortgage or
property tax statement
H1N1 vaccine update
In December, eligibility to receive
an H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine
was widened to include everyone
six months of age or older in King
County.
Depending on early demand
among this broader group, supplies
may be limited for a time at some
locations.
For the latest information about
vaccine availability, please go to
www.kingcounty.gov/health/h1n1
or call the flu hotline at 877-903-KING (5464).
Food Worker Card training and testing schedule for 2010 released
Same locations as last year but classes held on different days
By Public Health - Seattle & King County
Public Health – Seattle & King County
has announced the 2010 schedule for
classes for food handlers needing a Food
Worker Card. The full schedule is available
at www.kingcounty.gov/health/foodworker.
Classes consist of training and tests.
Classes are held throughout the year
Monday through Friday except on federal
holidays. All sessions offer materials in
English, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin,
Cantonese, Russian and Vietnamese. The
cost of a food worker card is $10.
Locations and times for food worker
training:
Mondays in downtown Seattle
– Seattle Center
Classes at 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2:30
p.m.
Seattle Center, Northwest Rooms
305 Harrison Street, Seattle, WA
98109
No class Jan. 18, Feb. 15, May 31, July
5, or Sept. 6
Tuesdays in Renton – Imperial Bingo
Connection
Classes at 9:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4
p.m.
3100 East Valley Highway
Renton, WA 98057
Wednesdays in northeast Seattle – Sand Point Magnuson Park
Classes at 9:30 a.m, 1 p.m,. and 4
p.m.
7400 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA
98115
Community Activity Center, Garden
Room, Building #406
Fridays in Bellevue – Highland
Community Center
Classes at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
14224 Bel Red Road NE
Bellevue, WA 98007
No classes Jan. 1, Sept. 10, Sept. 17,
Nov. 26, Dec. 24 or Dec. 31
For more information about food worker
training and testing at any of our sites,
call 206-296-4791, or visit our Web site
at www.kingcounty.gov/health/foodworker.
What is a Food Worker Card?
The Food Worker Card is a permit to
work with food being served to the public.
Everyone who works in the food industry
by preparing, cooking and/or serving food
to the public must have a Food Worker
Card. Those successfully completing the
training and passing the required test will
receive a Food Worker Card.
The training class lasts approximately
two hours. Participants are encouraged
to arrive 30 minutes early to complete
registration materials.
Training materials and tests are available
in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean,
Mandarin, Cantonese and Russian.
To take the training and test for the
Food Worker Card, applicants must:
• Be able to read the book and test,
and to write out the registration form. If
help is needed, the test-taker may bring a
friend to assist.
• Photo ID is required.
• Br i ng $10 cash to pay for the
Food Worker Card.
• Arrive on time. Applicants will not be
allowed in after the class has started.
Other important information:
• If renewing for a three- or five-year
card, bring in the old card (or a copy) that
expired less than 30 days ago, or will
expire within the next 60 days.
• For a five-year card, bring in proof
(certificate or card) showing completion
of an approved food safety training class
within the last two years.
For bus information, call METRO at
206-553-3000 or visit their Web site for
online bus schedules at: http://metro.kingcounty.gov.
Providing effective and innovative
health and disease prevention services
for over 1.9 million residents and visitors
of King County, Public Health - Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier
communities for everyone, every day.
Readers of The Voice share their ideas
By Lisa Wood
SHA Resident
As 2009 comes to a close and 2010
briskly comes upon me, thoughts turn to
another One Night Count. Spearheaded by
the Seattle King County Coalition for the
Homeless (SKCCH for short) this will be
their 30th year recruiting people from all
cultures, spiritual paths and beliefs. They
all come together for one night, and for one
purpose — to count people during the wee
hours of the morning who are sleeping outside
in the dead of winter with only a blanket
or two; sometimes not even that much.
According to the statistics there was a
“2 percent increase when comparing
similar count areas from 2008. The total
for 2009 of people living without housing or
shelter throughout King County was 2, 685.”
This begs the question: will the statistics
continue to rise?
It also forces me to look at my actions
over the last 365 days. What in fact have I
physically done to help change those statistics
from last year? Or have I succumbed to
the self-pitying voice that leads to apathy
and leads me to continue to believe that “I
am just one person, I can’t really make a
difference anyway!”
As I started this article I was thinking
about all my unmet friends that have been
sleeping in alleyways, doorways and all the
other places this week and how the temperature
has been in the 20’s, and it propels me
to go from thinking to acting in whatever
way I can. The time has come for me today
to stop thinking about change and to start
becoming a conduit for change by actively
helping.
By Kristin O’Donnell
SHA Resident
There are lots of possibilities for winter
walking beside a creek in the forest in Seattle — Upper Madrona Park in the Central
District, Schmitz Park in West Seattle, Carkeek
Park in the Northeast, and Deadhorse
Canyon in the Southeast. The most easily
accessible by transit (and least hilly and
winter-muddy) is Ravenna Park, north of
the University District.
Take the 71, 72 or 73 Metro from the
downtown bus tunnel to 15th Avenue
Northeast and Ravenna Avenue. Start your
walk at Cowen Park, on the west side of 15th
Avenue Northeast. Notice the beautyberry
bush by the southeast entrance — bare
branches with pea-sized berries that are
an intense, metallic purple. There’s a big
new playground, life-sized statues of little
animals, a huge sundial, picnic tables, an
unofficial dog park, and a recently restored
creek bed, new enough to see how it was
done. There is also a locked restroom.
Follow the wide path to the left of the
field house under 15th Avenue Northeast
into Ravenna Park. The main trail, an old
access road, goes down the center of the
ravine, closest to the creek.
The road goes gently downhill, into a
deep canyon.
Although the park is only a couple of
blocks wide, the city seems a long way off.
You hear the creek, which has small waterfalls
in the winter, and birds. Big trees are
covered on all sides with long moss. Fallen
leaves and dead grass are still edged with
frost in shady places. Big green sword ferns
grow along the creek.
Trails on either side lead by steps and
switchbacks to parallel trails (real, and
somewhat muddy, trails, these, not like
the road in the middle) on each side of the
ravine. There are a few trailside benches for
sitting, resting and listening.
Halfway down the road, a glacier dropped
an enormous, and now moss-trimmed,
boulder in the path of the creek — boardwalks
cross the creek at this point. The trail
is neither crowded nor lonely.
It’s a good place for birds, and birdwatching
or listening, whether you travel
with a field guide and binoculars or not.
I’m a novice bird watcher, and on Christmas
day I saw a brown creeper, a flicker,
a whole lot of robins, three mallard ducks,
several not-mallard ducks, a bunch of little brown and gray birds, and a hawk (or
maybe a falcon?) being harassed by a
flock of crows.
The trail comes out at the west end
into the Ravenna Park ball field, where
the creek has also been recently brought
up from an underground pipe. Up the hill
to the right is another big new playground
with life-sized statues of little animals,
an unofficial dog park, picnic tables and
another locked restroom.
There is a bus shelter on the south side
of the park where you can catch a 74 bus
back to the University District. There is
also a cluster of restaurants near 25th and
Ravenna — Kidd Valley, Subway, a Thai
restaurant, a pizza place and a McDonald’s
— if you need lunch, coffee, or yes, a
restroom.
Easy for wheelchairs, bikes, strollers on
access road trail — gently downhill from
the east end of the park on a hard surface.
Bike riders are mostly good trail sharers.
Lots of dogs, and many are off leash. A
good outing for kids — playgrounds are
a plus. Locked restrooms are a definite
minus.
The Voice welcomes your feedback. Send your letters by e-mail to tylerr@nhwa.org, or by regular mail to: Neighborhood House The Voice 905 Spruce St., Suite 200 Seattle, WA 98104 Letters may be edited for length. For more information, contact Tyler Roush, Voice editor, at 206-4618430, ext. 227.
The Seattle City Council will vote this month on legislation that would create a Seattle Disability Commission, ensuring a broader voice in city government for persons with disabilities.
Council Bill 116763, which is the “enabling legislation,” was approved by the Civil Rights Committee of the Seattle City Council Dec. 15, and now moves on to the City Council for its consideration on Jan. 11. If passed, it would be signed by newly inaugurated Mayor Mike McGinn (who has already pledged his support) and would take effect 30 days later, on Feb. 11.
The Commission will be a forum to which people with disabilities can bring questions about city practices and procedures, along with other issues of importance and concerns raised by this constituency, which has been called the “largest minority population in Seattle.”
It would also give a voice to people with many disabilities, including those with limited mobility, vision, speech, and hearing, as well as people with mental-health issues or those who are recovering from substance-abuse issues, as well as many other conditions.
On Nov. 12 the Seattle City Council’s Budget Committee voted unanimously to support the creation of a City of Seattle Disability Commission under the auspices of the Seattle Office of Civil Rights (SOCR).
This was reaffirmed when the Council unanimously passed the entire budget ordinance on Nov. 23, reaffirming their commitment to provide the funding needed to establish the Commission and keep it going.
After the budget committee vote, Charity Ranger, who works for the Alliance of People with disABILITIES,
said that in
creating a Disabilities Commission, “the
City Council action will give people with
disabilities, in all their diversity, the collective
voice to improve City programs.”
Rachel Sachs, a University of Washington
student, adds that “It is in hard
times that minorities need their civil rights
protected the most.”
John Denooyer, a volunteer who manages
the coalition web site, said “At last,
we have a chance for our voices to be
heard.”
This proposal was advocated by the
Committee to Establish a Seattle Disability
Commission (CESDC) for more
than a year, and has been endorsed by
many community-based organizations,
including the Resident Action Council,
Center Park Residents Council, Alliance
of People with disABILITIES, the Governor’s
Committee on Disability Issues
and Employment, the Northwest Chapter
of Paralyzed Veterans of America, the
Lighthouse for the Blind and the Seattle
Displacement Coalition. (The complete
list of endorsing organizations is on the
CESDC Web site at www.megadutch.com/cesdc.)
While the Council Budget Committee
vote is seen as a positive step by the
members of CESDC, there is still a lot of
work to be done.
Recently, CESDC members met with
members of the Seattle Human Rights
and Lesbian/Bisexual/Transexual/Gay
(LBTG) Commissions to discuss how the
Disability Commission would “interface”
with other commissions, the roles each
would play in the City of Seattle’s infrastructure
and other pertinent issues.
The language in the bill being considered
will address these issues, along with
determining how the Disability Commission’s members will be selected.
Commission first proposed in 2008
The creation of a commission was initially
proposed in October 2008 after a City of
Seattle Neighborhood
Summit at City Hall,
where a number of people with disabilities
who live and work throughout Seattle raised
a number of issues, including:
• Sidewalks that are in disrepair (severely
cracked) or are completely missing in many
parts of Seattle, especially around construction
zones.
• Sidewalks that are frequently blocked
by street furniture, making them unusable
for many people, especially those with
mobility or vision impairments.
• Lack of consistent or properly-built
curb ramps (or curb cuts); many ramps are
either too narrow, too steep or too far from
crosswalks to be of any use
• Lack of awareness of disability needs
on the part of many City officials; this was
made clear during
the consideration of
the “sidewalk café” ordinance and when
officials at the Seattle Center proposed removing
some parking spaces reserved for
people with disabilities near a major venue
to make way for another project.
• The fact the City’s government-access
channel (the Seattle Channel) was not
broadcasting its programming
with closedcaptioning.
• How city purchasing practices can
promote accessibility standards in all purchasing
and contracting
decisions.
CESDC is an ad-hoc group of individuals
from throughout Seattle who have been actively
involved in disability issues for many
years. Most of its members either have disabilities
themselves or are related to someone
with a disability, so they are extremely
passionate in voicing issues and concerns
raised by this particular community.
Although some thoughts have already
been expressed on how the commission
should function, more input is being sought
on this subject.
Comments may be submitted online as
noted below. The following ideas have already
been submitted and are under active
consideration at this time:
• Providing a wide range of interpretation
and translation;
• Having full and timely information on
a Web site that is fully accessible;
• Making sure that the public has a way
to reach every member of the commission,
at least by e-mail;
• Having a total membership of the Commission
that is large enough to include a
wide range of people with disabilities;
• Helping all people with disabilities in
Seattle, not just those who reside here;
• Ensuring that those appointed agree beforehand
not just to attend its meetings,
but also serve on active committees and
undertake other assignments;
• Being proactive in making recommendations
to agencies and elected officials,
not just waiting for them to come to the
Commission;
• Reaching out to improve agencies' and
officials' understanding and experience with
the concerns of people with disabilities;
• Holding large, public citywide workshops
and conferences at convenient times
(e.g. weekends)
• Having the Disabilities Commission put
together a “white paper” on the conditions
and issues
facing people who are disabled
in Seattle; and
• Getting the input of people with disabilities
about how to minimize the impacts
of pending budget cuts in all levels
of government.
For more information on the CESDC,
the issues being addressed and how to
become involved, please visit our Web site
at www.megadutch.com/cesdc or e-mail
julianwheeler@hotmail.com.
Garden tips for community gardeners
By Anza Muenchow
Special to The Voice
As you look over your site this winter, consider all aspects of the micro-climates you have in your garden. How much direct sunlight will strike the soil and warm it in March? (Hint: the direct sunlight is the same as it receives in late September.) This amount of solar heat in spring may be enough for your lettuce to germinate a couple weeks earlier than if it is in shade.
If your garden is on a slope, the cold air will travel down to the lower areas, delaying the growth of your early plantings. Could a retaining wall collect the cool air and perhaps direct away from your tender plants? Even a trellis or an artistic sculpture can give protection to a tender perennial, when placed in the right spot.
Besides tracking sunlight and cold air, think about the winter rains. How well does your soil drain? Is it too soggy and wet in the spring? Is water pooling anywhere? Can you direct that surface water into a rain garden? If cold, wet soil is a problem for your early gardening efforts, build up some raised beds. This would allow the soil to warm sooner and be dryer for earlier spring planting.
Some people build up their beds by constructing wooden or brick frames. Others just mound the soil by shoveling the soil from the path areas into the planting areas to create your beds.
If the garden area is new, the added “top soil” from the paths will allow for a deeper root zone. Make your beds flat on top and narrow enough (maybe three feet across) to easily plant, harvest and weed them without stepping into them. This allows the soil to stay loose because your feet won’t compact the soil.
In a raised bed, plants can be spaced more compactly than the row cropping you see in a field. Soil amendments and manures can be added to just the raised bed area, rather than covering the whole garden.You will be surprised at how much sooner the soil temperatures increase in raised beds. In addition, these beds can be covered by low tunnels of plastic or other types of cloches to really extend the growing season.
There are many cloche designs using wire or plastic hoops that support a simple clear plastic, acting then like a “mini greenhouse.” I’ve used recycled glass windows formed into an A frame and tied to supporting stakes. Lots of useful items can be collected for free and used to enhance the heat in a small garden.
While studying seed catalogues this month, pick out your Allium seeds first. Onions and shallots are easy to grow in our climate, if you start the seeds indoors in January or early February. We usually select sweet onions (like Walla Walla), storage onions (like Copra), Shallots (like Ambition), red onions (like Mars) and then some sort of cipollini or Italian type.
Seed thickly in clean four-inch plastic pots, using a sterile seed mix. I may sow as many as 40 seeds in each pot. They germinate pretty quickly at 60 degrees on a heat mat. Give plenty of light and keep moist.
At about six to eight weeks as the little green shoots are starting to tip over and tangle (three to four inches tall), harden off the pots in a cloche or unheated greenhouse. Prepare your onion beds with lots of manure and additional bone meal if you have it. The soil should be light and as well-drained as possible. Then when warmer weather is predicted (40 degrees at least), carefully plant out the little green thread like onion starts. Tip out the pots and begin to separate the onions, using care not to tear off all the roots. I have been impressed at how few roots they can have and still begin to grow in March.
The basal disc where the roots grow from is the important part to plant. I plant them just a few inches apart and then in April, begin thinning out the green onions to serve in salads and cook as spring onions. I use my hori hori knife to carefully remove the young onions as they begin to crowd each other.
By June, the onions should be at least five inches apart as they grow to full size for August harvesting. If the leaves have a slight yellowish tinge in the spring, give them an application of a liquid fish emulsion fertilizer diluted with water. If they aren’t dark green by mid May, give them another application.We plan our harvest to have enough onions and shallots to store and last the whole winter, storing them in a cool, dry, dark shed or closet.
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.
The next deadline for applying for money from the Seattle of Seattle Department of Neighborhood’s “Small Sparks” program is coming up on Jan. 11. Several Seattle Housing Authority communities, including NewHolly, have been successful in applying for these grants in the past. The grants are ideal for small projects that need some seed money to get off the ground.
“Small Sparks” is part of Seattle’s Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF). The fund provides neighborhood groups with city resources for community-driven projects that enhance and strengthen neighborhoods across the city.
All projects are initiated, planned and implemented by community members in partnership with the city. Every award is matched by neighborhoods’ or communities’ resources of volunteer labor, donated materials, donated professional services or cash.
Since 1988, the fund has awarded more than $45 million to more than 3,800 projects throughout Seattle, generated an additional $68 million of community match, and engaged more than 80,000 volunteers who have donated more than 560,000 hours.
The Neighborhood Matching Fund Team has made several recent changes to its structure, process, and forms. Their goal is to make it easier and simpler for you to navigate and execute.
The NMF guidelines are now clearer and easier to navigate with all four NMF funding programs covered under the same guidelines document. The value of volunteer time has increased to $20 per hour, keeping up with Independent Sector research on average volunteer time value.
To keep up with rising costs, fund request limits have increased for the Small Sparks Fund up to $1,000 and the Small and Simple Fund up to $20,000 per project.
Application Forms have been redesigned to be easier to use, along with simplified questions, fill-in electronic formatting, and simpler work plan and budget forms.
To increase outreach and assistance to projects, the Neighborhood Matching Fund staff will hold one to two technical assistance workshops every month at various locations around the city. To learn more about workshops, check the Web site at www.seattle.gov/neighborhood/nmf, or call 206-615-1600.
By Neighborhood House
The Higher Education Project is celebrating a successful first quarter of college classes for this year’s four Dream Big Scholarship winners.
Each of these students received a $1,000 scholarship to help with their financial aid package.
Fosia is studying to become a nurse. The other three Dream Big scholars have begun their core academic classes while they decide what specific work they are interested in. They have mentioned computer science, communications, bioengineering and industrial engineering as possible careers.
The common thread between this year’s scholarship winners is a determination to use their education to provide for their family and community.
They have all been very active in student leadership and volunteering outside of class. Their families have played an important role in encouraging them to go to college.
All four of this year’s Dream Big Scholars graduated from Ingraham High School. Each of them also attended or volunteered with Catholic Community Services’ Youth Tutoring Programs where they lived.
The Dream Big Scholarship was established in 2004 by the Higher Education Project, a committee of service providers and community members dedicated to increasing access to college for youth from Seattle Housing Authority communities.
The scholarship continues each year though an endowment fund established by SHA, and receives contributions from foundations and individuals, including SHA employees who choose to contribute through regular payroll deductions.
Many opportunities are available for SHA youth for training and education after high school. Scholarships are just one piece of the financial aid available to help pay for college.
2010 Scholarship Information
In addition to Dream Big, there are two other scholarships that are dedicated to residents of public housing communities. For more information, application and deadlines visit the SHA Education Programs page for residents: http://www.seattlehousing.org/residents/education/scholarships/
Dream Big Scholarship: $1,000
Pacific Northwest Regional Council Scholarships: $1,000 to $10,000
Housing Authority Insurance Group Scholarships: $2,500
Listed below are dates and contact information for a few of the many lobby days scheduled in Olympia in January and February.
Most ask for some money (sometimes a lot, since the lobby day may also raise money for the organizations involved) to pay for transportation, workshops and lunch — most will probably offer a reduced rate to a low-income participant if asked. The Low Income Housing Institute — www.wliha.org, 206-442-9455 — has a longer list of lobby days for just about every issue you might imagine (and maybe some you might not).
For more information, call the legislative hotline at 800-562-6000.
List Compiled by Kristin O’Donnell
Jan. 18: Poverty Action Day sponsored by the Poverty Action Network and others. Issues include welfare, medical, taxes, and predatory lending. More information: kate@povertyaction.org or 866-789-7726. Bus/Carpool is available.
Jan. 25: Service Employees International Union. Issues include home health care and nursing home wages. More information: heather.villanueva@seiu775.org or 253-815-3700. Ask about carpool or bus availablity.
Feb. 5: Asian Pacific Islander Advocacy Day sponsored by ACRS and others. Issues include immigration, health, and economic. More information: www.acrs.org or 206-695-7600. Ask about carpool or bus availability.
Feb. 10: Refugee and Immigrant Legislative Day sponsored by ReWA and others. Issues include immigration, health, and economic. More information: www.rewa.org or 206-721-8442. Bus/Carpool is available.
Feb. 12: Housing and Homeslessness Advocacy Day sponsored by the Low Income Housing Alliance and others. Issues include housing. More information: www.wliha.org or 206-442-9455. Ask about carpool or bus availability.
Feb. 12: WashingtonCAN Lobby Day. Issues include healthcare and social justice. More information: www.washingtoncan.org or 206-389-0050. Ask about carpool or bus availabilty.
Feb. 16: Interfaith Advocacy Day sponsored by the Council of Churches. Issues include poverty, healthcare, and the environment.
Feb. 16: African American Legislative Day, which has many sponsors. Issues include jobs, health, and kids. More information: 206-770-7697.
Feb. 17: Senior Citizens' Lobby Day, which has many sponsors. Issues include health and housing. More information: seniorlobby@qwestoffice.net or 360-754-0207. Ask about carpool or bus availability.
Feb. 19: Environmental Lobby Day, which has many sponsors. Issues include clean water and clean air. More information: people@pugetsound.org or 206-382-7007. A $15 bus is available.
Feb. 24: Transportation Advocacy Day, which has many sponsors. Issues include bikes, transit and walking. More information: www.transportationchoices.org or 206-329-2336. Bus/Carpool is available.
Feb. 27: Have a Heart for Kids Day, sponsored by the Children's Alliance.
The Obama Administration today announced
that the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
is renewing grant funding needed to keep
200 local homeless assistance programs
throughout Washington state operating.
The funding is part of nearly $1.4 billion
that will help an unprecedented 6,400 existing
programs nationwide to continue offering
critically needed housing and services
to homeless persons and families.
The grants announced today are being
awarded through HUD’s Continuum of
Care programs.
For the first time ever, HUD is quickly
providing renewal grants to local programs
to prevent any interruption in federal assistance
and will announce funding to new
projects in early 2010.
“As we move into the coldest time of
the year, it’s critical that no program risk
running out of money to keep their doors
open,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “These grants will make certain that
those programs on the front lines of helping
the homeless have the resources they need
to house and serve persons who might otherwise
be forced to turn to the streets.”
HUD’s Continuum of Care grants provide
permanent and transitional housing to
homeless persons. In addition, Continuum
grants fund important services including
job training, health care, mental health
counseling, substance abuse treatment and
child care.
Continuum of Care grants are awarded
competitively to local programs to meet
the needs of their homeless clients. These
grants fund a wide variety of programs
from street outreach and assessment programs
to transitional and permanent housing
for homeless persons and families.
HUD’s homelessness grants are reducing
long-term or chronic homelessness in
America. Based on the Department’s latest
homeless assessment, chronic homelessness
has declined since 2005.
This decline is directly attributed to
HUD’s homeless grants helping to create
significantly more permanent housing for
those who might otherwise be living on the
streets.
However, data also indicates that
family homelessness may be on the rise,
particularly in suburban and rural areas.
Earlier this year, HUD allocated an
additional $1.5 billion through its new
Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing
(HPRP) Program. Made possible through
the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act of 2009, HPRP is intended to prevent
persons from falling into homelessness or
to rapidly re-house them if they do.
The Bank of America Charitable Foundation has designated Neighborhood House as a “Puget Sound Neighborhood Builder” and is supporting its work with a $200,000 grant.
In addition to the funding — which can be used for any program or administrative expense — some of Neighborhood House’s senior leaders will participate with nonprofit leaders from 45 other communities in the bank’s Neighborhood Excellence Leadership Program. The series of workshops cover topics such as strategic thinking, leadership development and management skills.
The Marketplace of The Voice
South Seattle Community College -- We have a place for you!
• College Transfer (206) 768-6600
• Professional/Technical (206) 764-5394
• Adult Basic Education/ESL/GED (206) 764-5363
• High School Programs (206) 764-5805
• Continuing Education (206) 764-5339
• Online/Distance Learning (206) 764-7930
• Four-Year Degrees (206) 764-5387
South Seattle Community College, 6000 16th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106 • (206) 764-5300 • www.southseattle.edu NewHolly Learning Center, 7058 32nd Ave S, 2nd Floor of NewHolly Learners Bldg., Seattle, WA 98118 • (206) 768-6642
Once again we’re asking for your help with baby items. We’re in need of everything. Here is a list of the items we need: Car Seats, 3 different sizes, changing tables, walkers, strollers with umbrellas, play pins, cribs, high chairs, clothes for girls and boys, shoes, blankets, receiving and regular, bottles, lotions, oil, clippers, baby shampoo, comb, temperature testing, baby formula, vaporizers,Vicks Rub, toys to 1 year, bath tub, diapers varies sizes, newborntopull-ups,Desitin ointment, bibs, pacifiers, coats, wetones, baby food, Dreft Laundry Soup,Woolite.
I’m sure you know the rest of the things need. if you can help please call Judy and Tina with your donation.We are having lot’s of babies right now. 206-767-4175 Alliance of People with disAbilities has monthly Peer Groups Peer Groups are a place to talk about common experiences,problems,and solutions. We are a goal-oriented group!
WHEN: 3rd Tuesday of each month, 2:30pm—4:00pm.
WHERE: Wallingford (Good Shepherd Center) 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Room 221, Seattle, WA 98103
For more info or to request accommodation, please call 206-545-7055
To place your ad in The Voice, contact classmgr@nwlink.com today!
Do you have a couch or other item you want to sell? Take advantage of the free person-to-person classified advertising in The Voice by filling out your 24-word ad below. Remember, write only one word per line and don’t forget to include your telephone number in your ad! Mail your ad before the 18th of the month and it will be included in the next month’s issue.
Name _______________________________ Address _____________________________ City _______________________________ State __________________ Zip ___________ Telephone ______________________ E-mail ____________________________________
Write your ad here (one word per line)
check the classification: ❑ items for sale ❑ autos for sale ❑ items wanted ❑ services
Mail to: PPC, PO Box 80156, Seattle, WA 98108 fax: 206-461-1285 e-mail: classmgr@nwlink.com w/subject line “The Voice”
Translated Articles from The Voice
Guard against car prowls, theft
Избегайте автомобильного мародёрства и краж
В районе увеличилось количество случаев автомобильного мародёрства и краж. Ниже приводятся девять советов как уберечь свою машину.
1. По мере возможности не держите ничего ценного в машине. Если по каким-то причинам у вас есть что-то ценное, не демонстрируйте это. Положите ценности в багажник. Старайтесь делать это так, чтобы никто не видел. Если во время поездок вам надо положить что-то ценное в машину, перегоните машину после этого на новое место.
мародёр может использовать это для кражи личной информации.
ĐỀ PHÒNG XE BỊ TRỘM CẮP
Các vụ đánh cắp đồ trong xe, và trộm xe có gia tăng trong vùng. Sau đây là 9 cách làm gia tăng an tòan và an ninh cho xe của qúi vị.
1. Nếu có thể đuợc, đừng để đồ có giá trị trong xe. Nếu cần phải để đồ giá trị trong xe, đừng phô bày ra cho người ta thấy. hãy để đồ trong cốp xe. Đừng để cho ai thấy lúc mình để vật giá trị vào xe. Nếu qúi vị cần đi đâu đó và cần bỏ đồ giá trị vào xe, thì hãy dời xe đi nơi khác ngay sau đó
Illaalinta Xatooyada gawaarida
Gobolkaan aan degannahay, xatooyada gawaaridu way korortay. Halkaan waxaa idinku soo gudbinaynaa sagaal qodob oo aad gaarigaaga ku uga ilaalin karto xatooyada.
1-Hadday suurta gal kuu tahay ha uga dhextegin gaarigaaga alaabo qiimo yeelan leh. Haddii aad haysato alaabo laga arki karo waxaad gelisaa taraanka. Yaanse lagu arkin marka aad alaabtaas gelinayso gaarigaaga. Haddii aad meel ku maqan tahay rabtidna inad alaabo geliso gaarigaaga, waa inaad meel kale gaysaa gaariga markaad alaabta geliso.
2-Xir-xir gaarigaaga alaabadiisa muraayadihiisaba..
3-Habeenkii, dhig gaarigaaga meel nal leh oo sifiican loo arko. Haddii aad garaash geliso, hubi inaad daarto nalka waana inaad xirtaa garaashka.
4-Ha uga tegin furahaaga gaariga.
5-Ha ka tegin gaarigaaga oo kacsan oo aan lala joogin.
6-Ha uga tegin wax waraaqo ay ku qoran yihiin macluumaadkaaga.
Waxaa laga yaabaa inuu tuugu isticmaalo macluumaadkaaga.
7-Markaad gaarigaaga u soo socoto, fiir-fiiri hareerahaaga. Gacanta ku qabso furahaaga fiir-fiiri gaarigaaga gudihiisa intaadan gelin, si aad u hubsato amaankaaga.
8-Haddii gaarigaaga agtiisa dad joogo, horey u dhaaf hana gelin illaa ay ka tagaan.
9-ka feejignow dadka kuu soo dhawaanaya markaad gaarigigaaga agjoogto. Talo saaro dareenkaaga.