A community-based newspaper serving the Puget Sound area since 1981
The Voice
August 2005
Articles translated into six languages
The newspaper of Neighborhood House
Yesler residents want say in redevelopment
City council meeting sets the stage
BY STACY SCHWANDT
Voice editor
Yesler Terrace residents had their first chance to share their perspective on the possible redevelopment of their community with Seattle City Council members last month.
“We used to be happy living in Seattle Housing, but now we are worried,” Yesler Terrace resident Ruqiyo Abdi said during a forum in the crowded Council chambers. “We don’t want to move anywhere else.”
The Seattle Housing Authority has stated its intention to eventually redevelop the 561-unit community that was built in 1939 as the city’s first public-housing development.
“That housing is at risk,” said SHA Commissioner David Bley. “It was not built to last for 60 years, it is difficult to maintain it and we can no longer count on federal dollars to subsidize it.”
Housing authority officials said they will work with residents for at least a year to plan redevelopment. Physical changes will not take place before 2009, they added.
Yesler Terrace residents told council members they want to make sure they’re at the table to represent their own issues as the process unfolds.
“I’m here to start to talk about what it means to be real partners with poor people,” said Yesler Terrace Community Council President Naomi Finkelstein. “I think people are used to giving lip-service to partnering and then patting us on the head and saying, ‘There, there, don’t worry, we’ll take care of you.’”
Both Yesler Terrace residents and their advocates expressed the desire to see the same number of low-income units on site after redevelopment.
During other SHA redevelopment projects at Holly Park (now NewHolly), Rainier Vista and High Point, some low-income dwellings were replaced with units in other areas of town.
Two of the four council members present at the forum said that they support the residents’ demand.
“If we can do projects that work, we should not have any displacement, you have my committment to fight for that,” said Council member Nick Licata.
Council member Peter Steinbrueck was the other to make that promise.
“It’s great to hear from you the residents, yourselves,” he said, noting that his father was the project architect for the Yesler Terrace development in the 1930s.
Just as Steinbrueck took pride in his family’s contriubtion, Yesler residents took the time to point out that they have made a great contribution to their neighborhood.
“We, as the residents of Yesler Terrace, have built beautiful landscapes in our yards and strong relationships in our community,” said resident Penny Mills. “People here are working low-wage jobs and some people here are working two jobs...I beg anybody that’s involved with this redevelopment to think about family, to think about children.”
Park Lake students speak out on hunger, African aid
BY STACY SCHWANDT
Voice editor
The students in Neighborhood House’s Park Lake youth tutoring program are waiting for mail from the White House.
They’re hoping for a response from President Bush to the nearly 20 letters they sent to Washington D.C in early July.
“For Africa,” 7-year-old Tewolde Tekle said of the reason he wrote to the President. “Every three seconds a child in Africa dies because they have no food.”
“Because he has millions of money and he could help them,” added 10-year-old Maika Bui.
“You forgot power,” said 8-year-old Senait Tekle. “The power to decide if we should help kids in Africa.”
“Yeah, and it isn’t just one president it’s a whole group of governments,” Bui added.
As the Group of Eight industrial nations met in Scotland, the Park Lake students joined thousands in expressing their support for increased aid to African nations.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair had placed that discussion high on the G-8 summit’s agenda. By the time the conference was over, G-8 leaders had committed to doubling aid to Africa to $50 billion by 2010 and reducing the debt owed by 14 African nations.
Because of the class activity, 9-year-old Rahmo Ali watched news reports with interest.
“I saw one, and it was in front of a big gray building, there were lots of people with signs,” she said. “One sign said, ‘Support Africa.’”
It was this type of engagement that Neighborhood House Youth Tutoring Coordinator Nina Burgess hoped to inspire in her students when she started the project, which she undertook as part of a broader campaign called “ONE.”
The ONE campaign was started in April by a coalition of anti-poverty organizations and celebrities to rally Americans to fight global poverty. Nearly a million Americans have signed their names to the ONE declaration, which calls for the U.S. to dedicate one percent of its budget to allieviating poverty.
Burgess said she was moved by the idea that she and her students could do something to help Africa, the continent from where many of her young students still have family members.
“I hope that they understand the power of their voice, and the right we have in this country to use it,” she said. “I hope it also develops a sense of compassion, a sense of brotherhood and the idea that every person in this world is from one family.”
Immigration reform featured at local forum
BY HATE FREE ZONE WASHINGTON
U.S. Senator Patty Murray met with immigrants from across Washington in late July as part of the first-ever immigrant rights hearing in the state.
The forum, which took place in Seattle, was sponsored by Hate Free Zone Washington, along with a number of other community organizations.
The all-day event featured testimony from immigrants from Africa, Asia and Latin America who have suffered under the current immigration system.
Their powerful stories centered on family reunification and the path to citizenship, justice on the job, human rights and civil liberties.
In his testimony, Somali immigrant Abdinasir Ali Nur explained that he is still waiting for his citizenship papers three years after passing the test.
“I have visited the offices of the Immigration Services more than six times since I took my examination,” he said. “Each time, I have been told that my case was still pending, and no reason for the delay was given.”
In 2001, Nur’s shop was raided and temporarily shut down by federal agents. They never provided him with an explanation, nor charged him with a crime.
Luis Lopez, a naturalized citizen, described the difficulty his family has faced since his wife was denied residency.
When Claudia Lopez first came to the U.S. from Mexico in 2000, an immigration official incorrectly reported that she falsely claimed U.S. citizenship.
“(A) lawyer also told me that, even though the officer misunderstood what Claudia told him, there is no way to appeal the officer’s decision in the United States courts,” he said.
Falsely claiming U.S. citizenship makes a person ineligible for permanent residency.
The afternoon included a series of workshops for those working to reform the immigration system, including round table lunches, a plenary session and workshops on workers’ rights, legislative and immigration issues.
In addition to Senator Murray, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, State Representative Phyllis Gutierrez-Kinney, and U.S. Representative Jim McDermott also spoke.
The hearing also featured a public comment period.
During the public comment period, Pramila Jayapal, executive director of Hate Free Zone, presented a set of principles for Just and Fair Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Representative Gutierrez-Kinney’s speech closed the session.
Seattle’s communities of color and their allies turned out heavily for the forum, with attendance at the morning hearing estimated at around 800 people.
More than 200 people were present for the afternoon workshops, bringing total attendance to more than 1,000.
A column devoted to your well-being
Stay healthy at beaches and pools this summer
BY PUBLIC HEALTH - SEATTLE & KING COUNTY
As the weather warms up and children and adults head to area beaches and pools to enjoy fun in the sun and physical activity, Public Health - Seattle & King County reminds swimmers to take special steps to remain safe and healthy.
“We have abundant and beautiful beaches and pools throughout King County, which I encourage all of our residents to enjoy safely,” said Dr. Alonzo Plough, director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. “Paying attention to water safety and good personal hygiene is essential for the health and well being of the whole community.”
Recreational water illnesses
Recreational water illnesses are caused by germs that have the potential to infect a person who accidentally swallows or has contact with contaminated water.
Public Health recommends that swimmers do not swallow the water and that parents cover their baby’s diapers with tight plastic pants or use diapers designed for swimming
Do not swim in a pool or lake if you’ve had a fever, diarrhea, or nausea within the past 24 hours. Remember to take a shower before swimming and take your children on bathroom breaks often.
Public pool operators are required to chemically treat pools to kill harmful germs.
It is the patron’s responsibility to follow all posted rules at pools, including showering before use, wearing tight-fitting plastic pants over diapers and avoiding use when sick.
Swimmers’ itch
While the water quality of King County beaches is generally good, many ducks and geese share lakes with people.
Swimmers’ itch is an itchy skin condition caused when parasites from water fowl burrow into a swimmer’s skin and die. While not contagious or long lasting, the parasite may cause itchy red bumps for about a week, and can become infected with excessive scratching.
To avoid swimmers’ itch, all lake swimmers and waders should apply a waterproof sunscreen prior to swimming, which may provide some protection.
Briskly dry off with a towel as soon as you come out of the water, including skin under swimsuits. Shower immediately if facilities are available.
Water safety
Stay safe this summer at pools, beaches, and rivers by learning how to protect yourself and your family from preventable drowning or near drowning. Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children under the age of 14, so follow these rules and suggestions.
Always provide supervision for children when they are in or near water. Ensure sober adults are present and able to provide immediate rescue to children in need, choose swimming areas where lifeguards are present. Make sure your whole family knows how to swim. Wear a life jacket when swimming or boating in open water where a lifeguard is not present.
Free swim lessons offered
BY VOICE STAFF
Enjoy the summer weather with free swimming lessons at nine local beaches.
Seattle Parks and Recreation offers free lessons for youth ages 6 and older. Classes are held daily on Monday through Friday from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m.
There are two August sessions, the first runs from Aug. 1 to 12 and the second runs from Aug. 15 to 26.
The classes will take place at the East Green Lake Beach, 7201 W. Green Lake Dr. N., Madison Beach, 1900 43rd Ave. E., Madrona Beach, 800 Lake Washington Blvd. S., Magnuson Beach, 9300 51st Ave. N.E., Mt. Baker Beach, 2301 Lake Washington Blvd. S., Pritchard Beach, 8400 56th Ave. S., Seward Beach, 8400 Lake Washington Blvd. S., and West Green Lake Beach at 7312 W. Green Lake Dr. N.
Parents can register their children in person at each location between the hours of 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. No telephone registrations will be accepted.
For more information, contact the Parks Department at (206) 684-4075.
Free class for Seattle-area seniors offers ‘a taste of healthy living’
BY JESSICA ADAMS
Healthy Aging Partnership
Low-carb or high-fiber?
Atkins or Weight Watchers? Eat meat or go vegetarian? Heart health, diabetes control, weight loss...who can make heads or tails of what it takes to eat right and still enjoy your meals?
The Healthy Aging Partnership has the answers in a free class on nutrition for adults ages 60 and older.
“A Taste of Healthy Living” is a half-day session to help older adults make wise food choices that will help them live healthier and longer lives.
The session, open to all King County seniors, is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 17, at Yesler Community Center, 917 E. Yesler Way in Seattle.
As we age, the effects of nutrition on our bodies, minds and lifestyles change, too. The workshop will cover the basics of nutrition and a healthy diet, while focusing on how to choose easy-to-prepare and tasty meals and snacks.
A cooking demonstration and some information on moving for fun and fitness will round out class activities.
A light breakfast and full lunch are included, along with recipes, door prizes, gifts and health information.
The class will be led by three health professionals, who bring a wealth of experience to their work.
Janet Kapp is a registered dietician who has worked in clinics, schools and community settings.
Kapp currently works as a nutrition consultant with Public Health – Seattle & King County in the Chronic Disease Prevention and Healthy Aging Division.
She works primarily with older adults who are at risk for or have a chronic disease, and she specializes in diabetes.
Mary Podrabsky has served as the associate director of nutrition projects for Senior Services of Seattle/King County since 1980.
Programs she helps to run include a nutrition program that serves approximately 125,000 people annually and operates in 30 locations, Meals on Wheels which delivers 500,000 meals to 3,000 homebound seniors annually and a mobile market, which is a home-delivered grocery program.
Eva Montee has more than 30 years of experience in the fitness industry. She holds a BA from Washington State University and is currently employed by Mountain View Hospital in Madras, Oregon coordinating wellness and community education programs.
There is no charge for the class, but space is limited. Participants must sign up for the event in advance. The deadline for registration is Aug. 10. For more information or to make a reservation, call (206) 721-9540 ext. 2.
For information on transportation options, call the Healthy Aging Partnership at 1-888-4ELDERS (1-888-435-3377). The organization is a coalition of more than 40 Puget Sound organizations dedicated to the health and well-being of older adults.
Seattle Public Utilities starts assistance program
Pilot program will assist eligible customers with their water bill
Low-income people who face an immediate water service shut-off may qualify for an emergency assistance pilot project that could cover half of their utility bill.
At the direction of Mayor Greg Nickels and the City Council, Seattle Public Utilities will run the pilot program through December 2005. The program’s aim is to help citizens in need and gather data to shape a long-term strategy for helping SPU customers who are at risk of having their water shut off.
“This pilot program will allow us to start helping people with their water bill immediately, and will help us build a strong program for the future,” Mayor Nickels said.
The program is available to residential customers who have incomes at 125 percent of the poverty level and who live within city limits.
For example, a family of three with an income of $1,676 per month, or $20,115 per year, is at 125 percent of the poverty level. Households accepted into the program may receive an emergency credit of up to half of their delinquent bill, with a maximum credit of $200.
“Until this fund was created, people have had no place to turn for help to pay for the most basic requirement of life,” said Council member Tom Rasmussen, who initiated a review of SPU assistance programs last fall as part of the Council’s budget process. “Now, Seattle will be able to help disabled people, senior citizens and families who have fallen on hard times and who are struggling to make ends meet.”
“We can’t have a safety net for citizens in trouble if the net has holes in it. This measure shows we are willing to make sure that both of Seattle’s large utilities can help those in economic distress,” said Council member Jim Compton.
SPU’s Residential Services Team will review each applicant’s eligibility, and applications for this program will require income verification.
Interested individuals may call SPU at (206) 684-5800. Households that already qualify for low-income energy assistance programs may also qualify for this pilot program.
“Most of these families struggle each month to make a mortgage or rental payment and are already tapping into other public benefit programs in order to survive,” said Patricia McInturff, director of the Seattle Human Services Department. “Seattle Public Utilities’ pilot project will provide tremendous help to many families who are facing the loss of services due to financial crises.”
Customers in financial crisis must currently rely on friends, families and non-profit agencies for help with their water and sewage bills.
The fund for the pilot totals $50,000. Once funding for this pilot program is exhausted, no additional funds are available until decisions are made for a long-term solution.
SPU anticipates the implementation of a permanent financial assistance program in 2006.
One to grow on
Garden tips for community gardeners
Savoring squash and zuchinni
BY ANZA MUENCHOW
Special to the Voice
Now that you’ve harvested all your peas and spring lettuce, you’ll have lots of space in your garden for your fall and winter crops.
A fall planting of spinach is especially nice because it doesn’t have as many pests, like leaf miners, as spring spinach does.
Salad greens like lettuce, mizuna and mache (corn salad) can be replanted in August since they also do well in the cool fall temperatures.
Plant some cilantro now to go with your late September tomato and pepper salsas. It is less likely to bolt as the days are shorter and cooler.
My favorite over-wintering crop is purple sprouting broccoli. Plant it in July or August and it will stay a compact plant all through the fall and early winter.
In the late winter and early spring the broccoli plant will get much larger and shoot up the most beautiful little florets. A well cared for plant will offer pounds of product. Cook these purple stocks and they will turn a rich green for serving.
I hope you’re enjoying your summer squash. Be sure to pick the fruit often, and don’t let them get too large on the vine. This will encourage the plant to continue producing all season.
Zucchini is wonderful in a stir-fry or just sliced lengthwise, coated in olive oil and salt, and roasted in a hot oven (400 degrees for 15 minuntes).
For those larger zucchini, consider a stuffed zucchini recipe. My favorite method is to slice my large zucchinis in half and microwave them for several minutes. Then scoop out the inside of the squash and sauté with onions, garlic, tomatoes, pine nuts and your favorite herbs.
Mix the sauté with breadcrumbs and then spoon it back into the zucchini shells. Sprinkle some parmesan cheese on the top and bake it until tender (at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes).
When the nights become cool and damp, your zucchini leaves may show signs of powdery mildew. Cut out and remove this diseased material from your garden to slow further infection. However, by the end of the season all your squash will eventually die of powdery mildew.
During the hot dry month of August your plants would love deep, rich mulch over their roots to keep them cool and moist. Cedar Grove compost is a good mulch, or make your own by using grass clippings and dried leaves. This mulch will also reduce weeds and supply the nutrient rich organic matter your plants need to grow next year.
Keep watering regularly and harvesting from your plants. Eat well and enjoy the fruits of your labor!
Anza Muenchow is a P-Patch volunteer and an avid gardener. If you have questions or comments, send her an e-mail at mahafarm@whidbey.net.
Community Notes
Theater to present “sweet” musical
The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center will bring Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” from page to stage this month in a fun-filled musical production.
As the final production of the center’s Summer Youth Theater Program, “Uncle Willy’s Chocolate Factory” will be performed from Aug. 23 to 28.
Matinee performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 1 p.m., and evening shows are Tuesday through Saturday at 7 p.m. The production closes on Sunday with a 3 p.m. performance.
All performances take place at the Seattle Repertory Theater, located on the Seattle Center campus at 155 Mercer St.
Admission is only $2 for the 1 p.m. matinee performances and $5 for the 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. evening performances. Tickets are available at the theater box office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., by calling the box office at (206) 443-2222 or online at http://www.seattlerep.org.
Now in its ninth year, the popular Summer Youth Theater provides Seattle teens with professional training in theater, music and dance. The performing arts center has served as a primary artistic and cultural gathering place for Seattle’s Central District.
Job fair for older workers
Are you a mature worker looking for a job? Do you want to network?
Please come to the Hire Experience: 50+ Job Fair on Wednesday, September 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Seattle Center’s Center House.
Many local employers will be there to discuss job opportunities. Join the 1,500 to 2,000 other job seekers who will be on hand to gather information. Several workshops are scheduled at this free event.
Don’t miss this chance to move your job search forward to success. Bring your resume and dress for success.
For questions or accomodations, please call National Asian Pacific Center on Aging at (206) 838-8163.
Resource fair planned
The Church and Community Building Initiative resource fair will take place on Saturday, August 13 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on 24th Avenue between East Spruce Street and Yesler Way.
The fair will be a multicultural celebration of children, youth and families.
Books, parenting tools, school supplies, backpacks and clothing will be distributed.
Learn about remarkable organizations and enjoy an afternoon of food, arts and crafts, farmers market booths and children’s activities.
TRANSLATED ARTICLES FROM THE VOICE
Program makes telephone service more affordable
Talefoonka Washington oo mucaawimada ah wuxuu ku caawimo karaa shaqada telefoonlka si uu kuugu haayo shaqada aad heysato.
Si aad u hesho Mashruucaan waa inaad tahay qof weyn oo hela dhaqaale ama caafimaad DSHS waad u qalantaa., haddii aad qadato food stamps, Social Security ,Mucaawimo guud, Mucaawimo ku meel gaar, Macaawimada Qaxootinimo, Mashruucyo kale, ama DSHS Chore Services.
Mashruucaan wuxuu oggolaanayaa dad cusub ku salaysan lavag la’aan ah gurigaaga la geliyo.WTAP, weli wuxuu kaa dhigayaa deebaajiga loo baahan yahay ee hawsha gudaha.WTAP waxay kuui oggolaanayaan in yar oo busha ah adiga waxaad bixinaysaa $8 inta badan talefoonka bil kasta Waxaad weli bixinaysaa canshuurta iyo qiimaha.
Si aad ku gasho la xiriir Talefoonka Kambanigaaga , waxaa lagaa rabaa inaad soo caddeyso DSHS lambarkaaga , Kambaniga Talefoonka wuxuu ka soo xaqiijinayaa DSHS.
Mashruuca wuxuu daboolayaa goobaha deegaanka hal leen keliya, haddii aad ku darsato leen kale ama call waiting , long distance adaa bixinaya qiinaha ka baxsan halka leen.
Kaddin WTAP caddeyso in laguu oggolaaday, Mashruuca wuxuu kaa bixinayaa qiimaha u dhexeeya hawsha dheeriga iyo midda caadiga . Wixii intaas ka badan la xiriir
1-888-799-8880.
CHÖÔNG TRÌNH TRÔÏ GIUÙP CHI PHÍ ÑIEÄN THOAÏI
Chöong trình Trôï Giuùp Tieàn Ñieän Thoaïi Tieåu Bang Wash-ington giuùp baïn môû ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi vaø giuùp traû cho dòch vuï ñieän thoaïi maø baïn ñang coù.
Ñeå ñöôïc hôïp leä cho chöông trình naøy, baïn phaûi laø moät ngöôøi thaønh nieân maø ñang höôûng trôï caáp taøi chaùnh hay trôï caáp y teá töø boä Xaõ Hoäi Vaø Y Teá. Baïn hôïp leä ñeå laõnh trôï caáp thöïc phaåm, Trôï Caáp Toång Quaùt, Trôï caáp An Sinh Xaõ hoäi, Trôï Caáp Cho Caùc Gia ñình taïm thôøi, Trôï caáp tò naïn, Trôï caáp choïn löïa coäng ñoàng, trôï giuùp chaêm soùc cuûa boä Xaõ Hoäi vaø Y Teá.
Chöông trình cung caáp cho khaùch haøng môùi ñöôïc mieãn phí khi môû ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi (vôùi ñieàu kieän laø trong caên nhaø coù saün ñöôøng daây daãn ñeán). Chöông trình coøn mieãn soá tieàn theá chaân (deposit). Chöông trình cung caáp tieàn dòch vuï haøng thaùng vôùi giaù thaáp, ngöôøi vaøo chöông trình naøy ñoùng tieàn $8 moãi thaùng cho haàu heát caùc dòch vuï. Baïn vaãn phaûi ñoùng tieàn thueá vaø caùc tieàn leä phí.
Ñeå vaøo chöông trình naøy, haõy lieân laïc vôùi haõng ñieän thoaïi ñòa phöông. Baïn caàn phaûi cung caáp cho haõng ñieän thoaïi soá nhaän dieän thaân chuû cuûa boä Xaõ Hoäi vaø Y Teá. Haõng ñieän thoaïi seû kieåm tra vôùi boä xem baïn coù hôïp leä hay khoâng.
Chöông trình chæ cung öùng dòch vuï caên baûn cho moät ñöôøng daây ñòa phöông maø thoâi. Neáu muoán coù ñöôøng daây thöù hai, hoaëc theâm caùc dòch vuï khaùc, nhö nhaän daïng soá ñieän thoaïi goïi tôùi (caller i.d), dòch vuï traû lôøi, chuyeån tieáp , ñöôøng daây chôø ñôïi (waiting call) , hoaëc goïi ñöôøng daøi, baïn phaûi traû tieàn theo giaù bieåu.
Sau khi chöong trinh Trôï Giuùp ñieän thoaïi xaùc nhaän baïn ñuôïc hôïp leä, thì hoï seû traû cho haõng ñieän thoaïi soá tieàn sai bieät giöõa cöôùc phí dòch vuï vaø soá tieàn quùi vò coù theå thanh toaùn cho haõng ñieän thoaïi. Caàn bieát theâm chi tieát, xin goïi cho soá ñieän thoaïi mieãn phí 1-888-700-8880.
KCHA NEWS
The mission of the King County Housing Authority is to provide quality affordable housing opportunities and to build communities through partnerships. We encourage self-sufficiency and we protect the dignity of people with limited resources while safeguarding the public trust.
A resource for King County Housing Authority residents
Springwood center construction begins
KING COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY
KENT – Construction work for the Springwood Youth Center is beginning this month. Demolition of the old Rec Hall will be the first step.
The King County Housing Authority, which has hired Briere & Associates of Renton to build the new facility, was fencing and preparing the site through July.
While construction is underway, the Kent Youth and Family Services after-school and summer youth programs will operate out of a converted housing unit in Building 23 across the street from the Southeast Management office at 27405 129th Pl. S.E.
Park Lake kids to star in Cambodian celebration
BY CLAUDE IOSSO
King County Housing Authority
WHITE CENTER – When Cambodian-Americans gather at Seattle Center to celebrate the culture of their homeland this month, Park Lake Homes residents will play a starring role.
You may not recognize them in their colorful costumes, but many of the dancers and musicians taking the stage on Aug. 13 will be children who’ve grown up in the White Center family community.
“I like the dancing,” said Sandra Men, 14, who will be performing with her troupe from the Khmer Community of Seattle-King County, a group based in downtown White Center.
The daughter of Sopharn Men and Noeun Mao of Park Lake II, Men said she was nervous but excited about the performance when she talked about it in July.
Not that she had a great reason to be nervous. Men, who will be a freshman at Evergreen High School in September, has been performing classical Cambodian dance since she was in first grade.
Her love for dance is one of the main reasons she participates in Khmer Community’s youth group.
The group meets in a converted storefront space on 16th Avenue Southwest, a stretch of White Center where Cambodian shops and churches are concentrated. About 20 kids, most of them girls, practice the traditional dancing every Saturday. The boys favor learning how to play traditional instruments.
Several kids from Park Lake, including Monica Cheath, Richard Sok and Vesna Heng, participate in the group.
Preparing children to perform at events such as Seattle Center’s Celebrate Cambodia! is a goal of the program.
Celebrate Cambodia! will be a presentation of Cambodian dancing, music, crafts, games and a fashion show. It’s scheduled to take place at Center House from noon to 4 p.m. Khmer Community is the producer, along with the Seattle-based Cambodian Women’s Association and Seattle Center’s Festal. Admission is free.
The White Center youth group is more than just a training ground for Cambodian performers, it supports Cambodian families in the White Center area in many ways.
About 25 youths meet at the clubhouse on Tuesdays and Thursdays for a variety of activities, including classes in the Khmer language.
Men, who said she was invited to the group last year by friends at Park Lake, attends along with a younger sister, Sandy, and a younger brother, Carvin.
Children in the group range from first graders to high school students. Not all of them are Cambodian, but they all learn what is involved in the culture. Sandra Men, who was born in Massachusetts, said she enjoys learning about her cultural origins.
Still, the way she figures it, her parents would approve of Khmer Community youth programs even if she absorbed a limited amount about the culture.
“I’m not at home, and I’m not wasting my time, so my parents like that,” she said with a smile.
Still, Sopharn Men and Noeun Mao will likely be at Celebrate Cambodia!, videotaping their daughter’s performance as they routinely do.
If you want to learn more about Khmer Community of Seattle-King County, you can call (206) 762-3922 or visit the center at 10025 16th Ave. S.W.
Teach on the Beach makes environment real for kids
BY MIKE DAGGETT
Special to the Voice
DES MOINES – Until this summer, many children at Park Lake Homes, Burndale Homes and Ballinger Homes may have thought information about the weather was all they needed to know about their environment. Crows and squirrels may have been the only wildlife they thought about.
Teach on the Beach, a hands-on educational program at Saltwater State Park in Des Moines, surely changed that.
For two months this summer, a King County Housing Authority AmeriCorps team spent a day teaching groups of 10 to 70 kids about their environment.
There were lessons on the watershed, the forest and the beach, along with plenty of time for the children to reflect on what they’d learned.
Youth in the Neighborhood House programs at Park Lake and Burndale were among the 700 children who spent the day in the lively outdoor classroom.
Teach on the Beach educators also brought their lessons to youth enrolled in Ballinger’s Center for Human Services summer program. Those kids absorbed some of the information on a walk at Marina Beach in Edmonds.
During the lesson, students learned what a watershed is and how human beings interact with it. Students also learned about the life cycle of the salmon and the types of salmon that live in the Puget Sound.
To teach kids about the forests, leaders took them on a hike, where they learned to identify plants and gain respect for woodland plants and animals.
The students experienced the different sights, sounds, smells and feel of the forest, a place some don’t often go.
At the beach, the students learned about the rules and laws that ensure plants and animals are not unnecessarily disturbed.
Then they were invited to explore.
The kids would wander the beach and
find different types of plant and animal life, from crabs to seaweed. They we able to touch and hold the wildlife without damaging the ocean environment.
The lessons ended with a period for reflection that helped the children wind down from a day of learning and seeing new things.
During this time, students used paper, markers, crayons, stickers and other materials to describe what they observed.
If you want your children to attend the program, encourage their school or youth group to get involved.
For information, call the Saltwater State Park education office at (206) 824-0867.
Mike Daggett is a member of the KCHA AmeriCorps Teach on the Beach team.
In this section
Park Lake services have new addresses
KING COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY
Social services and King County Housing Authority management no longer occupy the Wiley Community Center on Eighth Avenue Southwest, but Park Lake residents don’t have to travel far for help.
Many community services and management moved last month to a cluster of converted housing units on Fourth Place Southwest and Fifth Avenue Southwest.
Now in a row along Fourth Place Southwest are: the Greenbridge Family Services Office (at building number 10006); the Neighborhood House Tutoring Center (at 10024); the Sheriff’s substation (at 10032); Highline Community College ESL classes (at 10038); and the YWCA Greenbridge Career Development Center (at 10048).
Across the street from the Family Services Office is the new location for the Southwest Boys & Girls Club, at 10011 Fourth Pl., with some club activities taking place at the White Center Heights Elementary School.
Neighborhood House social services and ESL classes are nearby at 422 S.W. 102nd St.
The KCHA Southwest Area Management office has moved to 10022 Fifth Avenue S.W., less than a block from all of the services on Fourth.
The management office still has the same hours and the same phone number – (206) 574-1290.
The White Center Food Bank is temporarily located in the St. James Lutheran Church at 9421 18th Ave. S.W.
All of the new locations are temporary while construction takes place on the west side of Park Lake and the Community Center is renovated. While there were some minor bumps in the transition, service providers generally have the same phone numbers and hours they had before.
If you have questions about services, you can contact the YWCA Greenbridge Career Development Center at (206) 763-6922, Greenbridge Family Support Services at (206) 574-1160, the Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3332, Neighborhood House at (206) 461-4554, Highline Community College at (206) 878-3710, White Center Food Bank at (206) 762-2848 and the Boys & Girls Club at (206) 762-3221.
Council revisits annexation
KING COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY
The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council continues to discuss the possible annexation of the North Highline area by Burien or Seattle.
Burien staff made a presentation at a council work-study session in July and Seattle staff are expected to meet with the council at its Aug. 18 meeting.
Burien officials have met with council members before to present a draft annexation study, but with five new members taking seats on the council in June, another meeting on the issue seemed appropriate.
To encourage community participation, the meeting was held at St. Bernadette School in the Salmon Creek neighborhood. It was an educational meeting and no action was taken regarding annexation.
Council members also heard a presentation from two groups that are preparing a $75,000 governance study for the council. One of the groups presented results of a community survey regarding governance.
The council, on its summer schedule, usually meets the third Thursday of each month at the North Highline Fire Station, 1243 Southwest 112th St. from 7 to 9:30 p.m. However, the council may meet again at St. Bernadette on Aug. 18.
If you have any questions, contact Russ Kay, council president, at (206)762-1094 or by e-mail at rkay@northhighlineuac.org.
In cooperation with the council, the King County Housing Authority offers free transportation to these meetings. If you are interested, please call Steve Fisher at (206) 574-1280.
BY CLAUDE IOSSO
King County Housing Authority
Every fall for the past eight years, a King County Housing Authority AmeriCorps team has set out to achieve great things, including helping public housing residents learn English and providing tutoring help for hundreds of kids.
The 2004-05 team met these goals and then some.
At a farewell lunch last month at the KCHA administrative offices in Tukwila, Assistant Director of Resident Services Barbara Myers and others credited the 15 team members for service that helped more than 1,800 people.
“You’ve accomplished a lot – the amount is staggering,” Volunteer Coordinator Pat Porter told the team. “Your students all love you.”
In all, more than 600 children, including 300 from Ballinger Homes, Park Lake Homes, Green River Homes, Firwood Circle and Burndale Homes and 300 from the Echo Glen Children’s Center, received tutoring, mentoring and art instruction from AmeriCorps members.
At 11 housing communities, including the mixed-population high-rises Plaza Seventeen, Wayland Arms, Casa Juanita, Paramount House and the Lake House, nearly 200 adults took English as a Second Language classes with AmeriCorps members.
More than 1,000 kids from 45 elementary schools in the Highline, Kent and Federal Way school districts learned about the environment through the instruction of AmeriCorps members in the Teach on the Beach program.
“It was nice getting to know the kids and families and seeing them progress,” said Brooke Tufte, who worked with children at Green River Homes and Burndale Homes. “At the beginning of the year, one little girl from Russia could hardly speak English. Now she’s a chatterbox.”
“It was a good experience,” said John DePasquale, adding that he watched children at Chinook Middle School in White Center learn about leadership, recognize needs in their community and find ways to address those needs.
Five of the team members, including Tufte, DePasquale, Jerod Arave, Sarah Botkin and Ellen Kozyra, tutored young people in KCHA communities. Jana Liptak helped Burien kids paint a mural and Jill Beppu taught inmates at Echo Glen Children’s Center how to make mosaics.
Beppu, Siri Angeles and Christine Hutchison endeared themselves to adults at the mixed-population high-rises in Auburn, Kirkland and Shoreline with lively ESL classes. Paige Casalegno taught ESL at apartment complexes in White Center and SeaTac that serve moderate-income households.
Five of the team members – Thomas Peavey, Betsy Talbot, Nikki and Ryan Wheaton and Laura Wigren – worked in the Teach on the Beach program at Saltwater State Park.
The KCHA AmeriCorps program affiliated with the Washington Service Corps.
Shuttle schedule
The monthly schedule is posted at central locations in the buildings the shuttle serves. The schedule sometimes changes, so confirm times against the posted schedule. Residents must sign up for ride service.
Mon., Aug. 1: Bothell/Redmond grocery
Northwood 9:30
Northlake House 9:45
Forest Glen 1:00
Casa Juanita 1:35
Tues., Aug. 2: Shoreline grocery/food bank
Briarwood 9:45
Lake House 10:15
Paramount 12:30
Northridge I/II 1:00
Wed., Aug. 3: Burien grocery
Burien Park 8:45
Munro Manor 9:15
Brittany Park 9:45
Boulevard Manor 10:30
Riverton Terrace 10:40
Yardley Arms 1:00
Park Lake 1:30
Thurs., Aug. 4: Issaquah/Kent grocery
Eastridge House 9:30
Harrison House 1:00
Fri., Aug. 5: Auburn grocery
Gustaves Manor 9:45
Wayland Arms 10:15
Plaza Seventeen 10:35
Mon., Aug. 8: Wal-Mart/Redmond grocery
The Northwood 8:45
Northlake House 9:00
Forest Glen 1:00
Casa Juanita 1:45
Tues., Aug. 9: SeaTac/Kent groc./Southcenter
Harrison House 9:15
Vantage Glen 11:30
Harrison House 1:20
Wed., Aug. 10: Int. grocery/Southcenter
Brittany Park 10:00
Munro Manor 10:20
Burien Park 10:50
Boulevard Manor 11:10
Thurs., Aug. 11: reserved
Fri., Aug. 12: reserved
Mon., Aug. 15: Bothell/Redmond grocery
Northwood 9:30
Northlake House 9:45
Forest Glen 1:00
Casa Juanita 1:35
Tues., Aug. 16: food bank
Mardi Gras 10:00
Paramount House 12:10
Northridge I/II 12:25
Briarwood 12:45
Lake House 1:00
Wed., Aug. 17: Burien grocery
Burien Park 8:45
Munro Manor 9:15
Brittany Park 9:45
Boulevard Manor 10:30
Riverton Terrace 10:40
Yardley Arms 1:00
Park Lake 1:30
Thurs., Aug. 18: Issaquah/Kent grocery
Eastridge House 9:30
Harrison House 1:00
Fri., Aug. 19: food banks
Gustaves Manor 9:45
Wayland Arms 9:55
Plaza Seventeen 10:30
Southridge 1:00
Mon., Aug. 22: food banks
Brittany Park 9:15
Yardley Arms 11:30
Riverton Terrace 1:30
Tues., Aug. 23: food banks
Mardi Gras 10:00
Burien Park 1:00
Wed., Aug. 24: reserved
Thurs., Aug. 25: food bank/Kent grocery
Boulevard Manor 9:30
Munro Manor 9:45
Harrison House 1:00
Fri., Aug. 26: reserved
Mon., Aug. 29: reserved
Tues., Aug. 30: reserved
Wed., Aug. 31: reserved
Honesty, and a check, 32 years later
KING COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY
The South Area Regional Office got a letter in the mail this spring that provoked a few smiles from King County Housing Authority employees.
It was an apology and a check from a former resident.
“In 1973 my wife, two children and I lived for approximately five months at the Firwood Circle complex in Auburn,” the letter said. “At that time we had a savings account which we feel should have been disclosed to you.”
The letter continued: “Since then we have become Christians and feel strongly that the amount enclosed is due you for additional rent during the time were there. We apologize and ask your forgiveness.”
The letter, unsigned, included a check for $626.
“It’s a first,” said Housing Management Director Jim Dion. “It’s a reminder that there a lot of good people out there who will try to do the right thing.”
The money was deposited into KCHA’s general fund.
Longtime South Area manager retires
Regional office closes with her departure
KING COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY
AUBURN – South Area Manager Pat Hogaboam was a familiar sight at Green River Homes. Even residents and children who rarely set foot in the management offices on Ninth Street Southeast knew her as “Miss Pat,” the friendly little woman with the big dog who regularly walked the neighborhood.
After 28 years at the King County Housing Authority, 21 of them as Southend manager, Hogaboam retired on June 30. Dozens of residents who had found a friend in their area manager bid Hogaboam farewell at a party at the South Regional Office.
“She will be totally missed,” said Alva Sadler, a longtime Green River resident. “Although we sometimes did not agree on things, she was always fair. You could count on her.”
Sadler, who served on the Auburn Resident Council and also served a term as resident commissioner for KCHA, added that Hogaboam was willing to listen to residents’ needs and to work their suggestions into community rules
“She let us know that what we thought was important,” she said.
As area manager, Hogaboam did not meet with residents as regularly as housing administrators did, but she always made a point of greeting them when they moved into South Area housing, which includes family and mixed-population developments in Auburn and Federal Way.
Although Pat is already enjoying retirement, she said she misses connecting with residents and housing applicants.
“Being able to facilitate applicants finding a place to live was really what we’re all about,” Hogaboam said. “It was really gratifying to see families come together when they had housing. I watched kids grow up.”
Even when a notice was filed for a lease violation, Hogaboam strove to make certain the meeting was pleasant. “You don’t have to raise your voice; you don’t have to say mean things,” she notes. “Once we educated residents, most of the time we didn’t have another problem.”
Walking the Green River neighborhood on Saturdays made for the kind of connection Hogaboam really enjoyed. With her friendly Doberman pincer Brandy on a leash, Hogaboam was popular with children out playing.
“Brandy loved the kids and the kids loved her,” Hogaboam said. The same could be said about Hogaboam herself in her relations with most of the residents.
With the advent of site-based management last year, Hogaboam’s role changed and she became manager of a regional office instead of an area management office.
Rather than hiring a replacement, KCHA is shifting regional oversight of the Southend properties to Southeast and Southwest area offices.
Green River Homes and Valley Park will continue to be managed from the Green River office.
The developments in Auburn and Snoqualmie will have regional management from the Southeast office at Springwood Apartments in Kent. The developments in Federal Way and Olympia will have regional management from the Southwest office at Park Lake Homes in White Center.
When they are needed, regional managers will come to the sites.
Service providers join Green Leaf potluck
BY GRACE ADRIANO
King County Housing Authority
KENMORE – Residents at Green Leaf Apartments look forward to the Spring Bash every year. The potluck barbecue at the 27-unit family development in Kenmore gives these families an opportunity to catch up as the weather turns warm.
There was an added feature to this year’s Spring Bash on June 18. Local service providers came and spoke with residents about their services and programs. The community room that sunny Saturday was transformed into a mini resource fair.
Representatives from the Kenmore Library, the Northshore Family Center, Seattle-King County Public Health, the Bothell-Kenmore Community Health Center, Planned Parenthood and the Northshore YMCA laid out brochures about their programs for the residents.
Residents could pick up information about health and medical services, English classes, summer camps and library cards. Many of the resources were translated in different languages.
“I invited these service providers because many of the residents do not know about them,” said Lindsey Legaspi, outreach worker for Shoreline Community College. “The residents can take advantage of these resources.”
Legaspi helped organize this year’s Spring Bash, but a longtime resident, Toni Cavilee, started the annual event years ago as a way for her and her neighbors to mix and mingle. Residents are originally from countries both near and far, including Eastern Europe, East Africa and Asia, so the potluck featured an exotic collection of foods.
Sure, there was the standard American barbecue fare—homemade potato salad, chips, hotdogs and hamburgers—but the residents also enjoyed teriyaki chicken, okra sautéed with tomatoes, rice dishes from Eritrea and Afghanistan, Cambodian fried rice and a Pakistani dish made of garbanzo beans and tomatoes.
The service providers made an effort to connect with the families, and residents played a spirited game of Service Providers Bingo. Together, children and parents circled the room to ask the service providers the following question, “What can you do for me and my family?” Each family that filled a kind of bingo table with the answers received a prize.
The children won crayons, coloring books and toys. Their parents won T-shirts, canvas bags, flashlights, food containers and other household items. The two grand prizes were the board games “Cadoo” and “Cariboo.”
A former King County Housing Authority AmeriCorps member donated the grand prizes. Cavilee and Val Thomas-Matson from the King County Community Organizing Program donated the other prizes.
The prize drawings drew everyone’s attention, but the service providers entertained in other ways as well. The Northshore Family Center attracted many of the young residents with glitter glue and magic markers. By the end of the afternoon, each child had a bookmark, which will come in handy at the Kenmore Library, for which many got library cards.
Shoreline Community College received a $200 mini grant from the King County Community Organizing Program for the event. The program sponsors events that increase residents’ connections to their neighborhood and help them learn about community resources.
Visiting nurse celebrates service at Northlake
BY JUDY LAWLER
King County Housing Authority
BOTHELL – Jean Hansen literally has her hand on the pulse of several King County Housing Authority mixed-population high-rises. For many years, the visiting nurse has given residents regular checkups so they remain healthy and independent.
In June, the residents of Bothell’s North-lake House threw a surprise party to thank Hansen for her many years of service.
They told her they hope she continues to come to Northlake for many more years. There were helium-filled balloons, a potted miniature rose and a lot of thank you cards with personal notes in them.
“She’s a lovely person and very appreciated in this building,” said Helen Zemann, a Northlake resident and a member of the KCHA Resident Advisory Board. “She listens to us and gives us encouragement. If one of her regulars doesn’t show up, she knocks on the door. We all love her dearly.”
Hansen has been with Visiting Nurse Services for 25 years and has attended to residents in virtually all of the KCHA senior buildings at one time to another. She knows her clients well and is always willing to spend time answering questions and offering assistance.
Monthly visits from registered nurses are one of the services available for the seniors and adults with disabilities who live in KCHA’s mixed population buildings.
Since late 2000, the Housing Authority has contracted with Visiting Nurse Services for the checkups.
The nurses monitor residents’ blood pressure and weight and track prescribed medications. They provide other services, including referrals for community-based treatment on an individual basis. In addition, the visiting nurses offer educational presentations on such topics as diabetes, the importance of exercise, stroke prevention and signs and symptoms of other illnesses.
Visiting nurses can be invaluable for seniors. The nice party, complete with refreshments, was the Northlake House residents’ way of telling Jean how much they appreciate all she does for them.
TRANSLATED ARTICLES FROM THE VOICE
Fire safety is important during the summer
Dabka wuxuu sababayaa dhimasho iyo hanti burburin guri. Haddii aad qabtid dhar ku xiran daaqadaha,dibedda cuntada lagu kariyo aad ka tagto iyadoon lala joogin raashiinka oo karayo waxaad dhib gelisey qoyskaaga iyo naftaada.
Agagaarka King County Maamulka Guryaha waxay arkaan xaaladahaan in badan ku dar kabriid iyo dabshide oo caruurta dibedda kaga cayaaraya.
“Mid ka mid ah dhi aatooyinka ugu weyn dadka waxay ka tagayaan dheriga oo karaya .”Sidaas waxaa yiri koonfur galbeed Maamule ka mid ah Marsha Murphy.” Labadii shil ugu dambeeyey markaan ugu yeernay Dab Demiska waxay sheegeen dheriga oo karaya in dibedda laga aaday ama jaranjarrada kor.”
Naftaada badbaadi iyo qoyskaaga ado raacaya tusaalaha shuruucda badbaadada.
Ha xaraynin qalab dabka qabsan karo si sahal( waraaqooyin, rags, gasoline, rinji dabshide)qplka bakhaarka ah.
Ka fogee kabriidka, dabshidaha iyo shumaca agagaarka caruurta.
Haddii aad dhuuqdo, hubi in sigaarkaaga aad demiso ku rid qasac ama meesha dabka lagu demiyo, weligaa ha ku dhuuqin sariirta koekeeda.
KCHA waxaysan dhiirigelinayn cntada dibedda lagu kariyo, halkaas oo suuragal ah in dab ka kaco, haddii aad dibedda ku karinayso hubi in dabku xukumaysan yahay.
PHOØNG CHAÙY LAØ ÑIEÀU QUAN TROÏNG TRONG MUØA HEØ
Fire safety is important during the summer
Chaùy nhaø laø nguyeân nhaân haøng ñaàu gaây cheát choùc vaø thieät haïi cuûa caûi trong nhaø. Neáu baïn coù tuû quaàn aùo che aùn cöõa soå, hoaëc coù loø nöôùng thòt ñeå treân saân thöôïng, hoaëc naáu aên nôi beáp loø maø khoâng troâng chöøng, thì baïn gaây nguy hieåm cho chính baïn vaø gia ñình baïn.
Nhöõng nhaân vieân quaõn lyù thuoäc nha caáp phaùt gia cö quaän King ( King County Housing Authority) ñeå yù raèng hoï ñaõ thöôøng thaáy nhieàu hoaøn caûnh nhö treân ôû caùc khu gia cö cuûa hoï, theâm vaøo ñoù hoï thaáy caùc dieâm queït, baät löõa ñaõ ñeå trong taàm tay cuûa treû con ñeå chuùng coù theå nghòch vôùi.
Coâ Marsha Murphy, Quaûn Lyù Khu Southeast, ñaõ noùi raèng: “ moät trong nhöõng vaán ñeà lôùn nhaát laø ngöôøi ta ñeå noài naáu treân beáp maø khoâng troâng chöøng” . Trong moät hai söï vieäc vöøa môùi xaûy ra laø do ngöôøi ta baét noài leân beáp ñeå naáu, roài laïi boû ñi ra ngoaøi hoaëc ñi leân laàu”.
Haõy baûo veä chính baïn vaø gia ñình baïn baèng caùch ñôn giaûn tuaân theo nhöõng ñieàu luaät an toaøn sau ñaây:
Haõy ñeå dieâm queït, baät löõa xa taàm vôùi cuûa treû con.
Ñöøng bao giôø chaát chöùa caùc vaät deã chaùy (giaáy,khaên, xaêng, thuoác taåy sôn, xaêng duøng cho baät löõa) trong caên nhaø cuûa baïn, hoaëc trong caùc kho hay ôû saân thuôïng.
Neáu baïn huùt thuoác laù, haõy chaéc chaén daäp taøn thuoác, vaø boû vaøo loï thieác (ñaõ ñöôïc duøng) ñöïng caøpheâ, hay boû vaøo nhöõng hoäp laøm baèng chaát khoâng baét löõa. Ñöøng bao giôø huùt thuoác laù trong giöøông nguû.
King County Housing Authority-Nha Caáp Phaùt Gia Cö Quaän King khuyeân can baïn ñöøng duøng loø nuôùng thòt ôû caùc saân thöôïng, vì ngoïn löõa coù theå laøm chaùy vaùch nhaø hay caùc saân thöôïng cuûa taàng treân. Neáu baïn coù loø nöôùng thòt ñeå ôû saân thöôïng, haõy troâng chöøng ngoïn löõa, chôø sau moät vaøi giôø ñeå giaäp taét caùc neùn than coøn laïi.
