Get free help with your taxes. Youth kick off recycling effort at four KCHA properties

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1 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. The Cat in the Hat scouts read seuss classic See Page 3 KCHA NEWS February 2010 A resource for King County Housing Authority residents Youth kick off recycling effort at four KCHA properties By Whitney Hunt KCHA AmeriCorps Member To keep the Earth clean. That s how one member of Birch Creek s new Recycling Champions club summed up why it is important for all of us to recycle as much as possible. This winter and spring, residents at four of KCHA s family communities will have the chance to learn how they can increase their recycling efforts and send less of their household waste to the landfill. Those four communities are Ballinger Homes in Shoreline, Birch Creek in Kent, Greenbridge in White Center, and Green Leaf in Kenmore. At each site, youth can get involved in a new 4H Recycling Champions club that has been organized by a KCHA AmeriCorps member. Through July, club members will learn about reducing and preventing waste as well as recycling, often through fun games and activities. Each club also will have a Family Education Night to teach their housing community about recycling and will participate in the Biggest Loser Garbage Challenge, which will take place for a number of weeks in March and April. In this section Healthy Families Pages 2-3 inside: new family center debuts Generations Pages 4-5 inside: breakfast at casa madrona Translations Pages 6-7 White Center Scene Page 8 inside: holiday fun at boys & girls club During the challenge, the Recycling Champions will track the weights of the garbage and recycling in their community centers and present their results at the Earth Day Environmental Fair at Saltwater State Park in late April. Here are five tips to reduce waste and increase your household s recycling success: Put your junk mail such as direct mail ads and catalogs in your recycling bin. Thoroughly clean out jars, cans, bottles, dairy tubs, and any other recyclable food and beverage containers before placing them in your recycling bin. Remember to put container lids into the trash rather than your recycle bin. Those lids can cause jams at the recycling plant. Don t tie up your recyclables in a plastic bag. If you use a bag to collect your recyclables, dump them out of the bag into the recycling bin. Instead of getting new, plastic grocery bags every time you go to your local grocery, prevent waste by bringing your own cloth bag to the store or bring back the plastic bags you got during your last trip. This will help you avoid having to toss plastic bags in the trash or returning them to the store for recycling. Get free help with your taxes Free assistance with preparing tax returns is available through April 15 at several locations through the United Way of King County s Free Tax Prep Campaign. The free service is available to households making less than $50,000 per year. You don t need an appointment. But because many sites get very crowded, you should arrive as close to the site s opening time as possible for the best chance of getting served. The tax preparation help is provided by multilingual volunteers who have been certified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Here s what you should bring with you: Any W-2 form, 1099 forms, and other end-of-the-year income statements that you received from all of your employers and sources of income; A copy of last year s tax return, if you have it; Social Security card number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number and birthdates for every person to be claimed on your tax return; Childcare provider name, address, and tax ID number; Anything else you think might affect your return, even if you re not sure; If you want your refund deposited directly into your bank account, you ll need to bring your bank account number. For more information about free tax prep assistance, please call or or go to unitedwayofkingcounty. org/taxhelp. Below is a list of free tax prep sites near you. If services are available in additional languages besides English, those languages are listed in parenthesis. AUBURN Auburn Valley YMCA Address: 1620 Perimeter Road S.W. When: 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays (Spanish) and Noon to 4 p.m. Sundays BELLEVUE Hopelink Photo by Jordan Bernhardt Recycling Champions at Birch Creek learned about waste prevention recently by participating in a recycling race. Thanks to all residents for doing your part to recycle as much of your household waste as you can. If you or your children are interested in getting involved in your property s recycling effort, contacted the following person through your community s property management office: Ballinger Homes: Rand Goldman More tax help! To find out about tax prep workshops and assistance to help lowincome entrepreneurs, please turn to Page 3 in KCHA News. To find out about applying for a possible tax refund through the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), turn to Page 3 in KCHA News. Address: Main St. When: 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays (Russian) 1 to 9 p.m. Thursdays (Spanish) and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays (Russian/ Chinese) Crossroads Mall Address: N.E. Eighth W h e n : 5 t o 9 p. m. We d n e s d a y s (Spanish/Russian) a n d 1 0 a. m. t o 2 p. m. S a t u r d a y s (Spanish/Russian) FEDERAL WAY Multi-Service Center Address: 1200 S. 336th St. When: 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays KENT Washington Women s Employment and Education Center Address: 515 W. Harrison St., Suite 208 When: 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays Birch Creek: Jordan Bernhardt Greenbridge: Stacie Castelda Green Leaf: Michaela Newman And thanks to all of the property managers, maintenance staff, on-site service providers, KCHA environmental staff, and the AmeriCorps team for your work to make this effort as successful as possible. (Vietnamese) and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays (Vietnamese) SEATAC SeaTac Airport, Airport Jobs Office Address: Take Elevator 1 from the ticket counter level to level M When: 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays The Village at Angle Lake Community Services Building Address: 4040 S. 188th St. When: 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays (Spanish) and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays (Spanish) SHORELINE Hopelink Address: Westminster Way N. (Next to Marshall s in the Aurora Square Plaza) When: 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays WHITE CENTER White Center Assembly Address: th Ave. S.W. When: 5 to 9 p.m. (Samoan) and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays (Samoan) YWCA Greenbridge Address: 9720 Eighth Ave. S.W. When: 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays (Spanish) and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays (Spanish)

2 2 KCha news february 2010 healthy families NEWS for families living in kcha COMMUNITies Federal Way residents applaud renovated Kings Court center By KCHA Staff When her children set off to play in the afternoons, Kings Court resident Veronica Bucio says she now will have peace of mind knowing that they re spending time at her community s newly expanded Family Support Center. It s exciting for my kids to have a place to go and not be in the streets, she said. It s great knowing they are in a safe place. A recently completed renovation more than doubled the size of the original Kings Court center to 1,800 square feet, adding a computer lab, a classroom, a second bathroom, and storage space. The center and its new spaces are open to Kings Court and Evergreen Court residents as well as Federal Way residents participating in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. Residents celebrated the opening at an evening event in January that was organized by KCHA s Steve Fisher. The project cost about $360,000 to complete, with $120,000 coming from a Community Development Block Grant through the City of Federal Way. The expanded facility means a big improvement for the Federal Way Youth & Family Services programs that will operate at the center. We are very excited to be here, Nikole Penman, director of Federal Way Youth & Family Services, said at the resident open house. It s a wonderful facility, and I think there is a lot of fun in store for everyone. The larger space will allow the organization to offer a long list of activities and programs, including computer labs, a homework club, and a free summer lunch program for low-income youth. Adults will be able to participate in parenting classes, computer instruction, English as a Second Language (ESL) education, and other classes to assist the family with skills in managing the household. Those adult resources particularly the computer instruction are what s most exciting to Kings Court resident Sherry Zamudio. I have a computer at home, but I don t know how to use it, she said. I so want to learn. In addition, the building was wired for Internet access and Photos by Heather Miller Veronica Bucio (standing) helps her daughter use a computer in a new addition to the Kings Court Family Support Center that opened in January. An additional classroom space (below), which also can be used for homework clubs, was part of the expansion of the Family Support center. cable television. A high efficiency heat system and lighting fixtures were installed. An art gallery wall designed with sea grass bulletin boards is featured in the multipurpose room to display student art works. Additionally, everything related to the original center, including the kitchen, was remodeled and upgraded. The renovation project also includes a generator that can power the center as a warm house during power outages and emergency situations. For more information about resources at the Kings Court center, please call on weekday afternoons. Help for King County residents without bank accounts Would you like to open a bank account and stop paying fees to cash checks? A program involving more than 300 partner bank and credit union branches throughout King County can help you reach that goal. Through the Bank on Seattle-King County program launched by the City of Seattle you can take advantage of checking, savings, credit, and financial education opportunities such as zero- or low-balance accounts. Even if you have never opened a checking or savings account before or you ve had problems with an account in the past, Bank on Seattle-King County wants to help you open an account with a bank or credit union and begin saving for the future. Why should I open a bank account? You ll be able to cash checks for free at your bank so you can stop spending money on check-cashing services. You can write checks to pay your bills so that there s no need to buy money orders. You can t lose money or have it stolen while it s in the account. The federal government guarantees your money. You also can take advantage of other services such as direct deposit, online banking, and automatic bill pay. If you have money in your account, you can use a debit card to get cash or pay for products and services whenever you need to. You can earn interest on money in your savings account. What do I need to do? Find a participating bank or credit union in your neighborhood by going to www. everyoneiswelcome.org or by calling or Plan a trip to the participating branch, and remember to bring two forms of identification with you. You will need at least a passport, a Washington state ID, or a Mexican Matricula card. If you don t have a Social Security number, you can use your Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN). When you arrive at the participating branch, ask a staff member about opening a Bank on Seattle-King County account. The participating branches have special checking and savings programs designed just for you. Staff members will answer your questions and help you open an account that s best for your needs. The staff member will walk you through the entire process. And they can show you how to sign up for free money management training classes to help you get the most from your new account. At Greenbridge A community bank teller from Express Credit Union is available to help you at the Greenbridge YWCA Career Development Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays. In addition to English, he speaks Tigrinya and Arabic. The teller can help you become an Express Credit Union member, enroll for direct deposit, apply for a loan, learn how to use online banking, or find a class to help you with your financial goals. The Greenbridge YWCA is at 9720 Eighth Ave. S.W., Seattle. Upcoming Financial Literacy Workshops The following free workshops are being offered in February by Ameri- Corps Financial Support Services, CARES of Washington, and Parkview Services. Money Matters: 3:30 to 5 p.m. Feb. 3 Pay Yourself First: 3:30 to 5 p.m. Feb. 10 Keep It Safe: 3:30 to 5 p.m. Feb. 17 To Your Credit: 3:30 to 5 p.m. Feb. 24 All classes will be in a conference room at Parkview Services, Aurora Ave. N. #200, Shoreline. For more information, please contact Katy Bold at kbold@caresofwa.org or What features are there? Some features of signing up for an account through Bank on Seattle-King County include: Your first deposit doesn t have to be a large amount of money. Also, many accounts won t require you to keep a minimum balance. Your account will have no or low monthly fees, and staff members will clearly explain all fees to you. Even if you re in the Chex system a network that lets banks know if you ve mishandled past accounts you can open an account through Bank on Seattle-King County. The partner branches will accept a Mexican Matricula Consular card as your primary identification and an Individual Tax Identification Number instead of a Social Security Number. The partner branches will waive one set of non-sufficient funds/overdraft fees annually and will provide an additional feature or service to help you avoid instances of non-sufficient funds/overdraft. For more information, please go to www. everyoneiswelcome.org or call or

3 february 2010 kcha news 3 Birch Creek Girl Scouts host Dr. Seuss reading night Photo Courtesy of the Girl Scouts of Western Washington Girl Scout Alexis Elfalan (left) reads the Dr. Seuss classic children s story The Cat in the Hat to a group of children at the Birch Creek Youth Center. By Diana Coletta Girl Scouts College Ready Program Reading was great. Let s do this again. That s how a few children described their reactions to a recent Cat in the Hat Reading Night at the Birch Creek Youth Center. More than 30 children (ages 4 to 8) from KCHA s Birch Creek and Cascade communities attended the event, which represented months of planning and preparation by the high school girls in the Birch Creek troop that participate in the Girl Scouts College Ready Program. It was wonderful to witness such a fun, educational event that was completely led by the girls, who took turns reading a variety of Dr. Seuss books to small groups of children. The readers were adorned with the signature red-and-white striped top hats from Federal income tax returns are due by April 15, and as you re filing taxes, you may want to apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Low-income working individuals and their families may be eligible to receive a tax refund between $457 and $5,657 if they apply for EITC. Eligibility To qualify, you must meet certain requirements and file a tax return, even if you didn t earn enough money to be obligated to file a tax return. You may be eligible for the EITC if you earned income in 2009 and: You have three or more children and earned less than $43,279 (or $48,279 if married and filing a joint return) in 2009 You have two children and earned less than $40,295 (or $45,295 if married and filing a joint return) in 2009 You have one child and earned less than $35,463 (or $40,463 if married and filing a joint return) in 2009 You do not have children and earned less than $13,440 (or $18,440 if married and filing a joint return) in 2009 In addition, you must have no more the classic Seuss book The Cat in the Hat. They were able to engage their reading groups with fun activities to reinforce the concepts of their chosen reading books. The event also featured a Cat Walk during which each child had the opportunity to choose three books to take home and read with their families. It s fun to give back to the kids, one Girl Scout reader said after the night was over. Girl Scouts College Ready is a multi-year program serving the Birch Creek, Cascade, and Valli Kee housing communities. It is funded by College Spark Washington to help low-income students improve their academic achievement, prepare for college life, and graduate from college. All middle and high school girls at the three Kent communities are encouraged to participate in Girl Scouts College Ready. For more information or to join, please You might be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) than $3,100 in investment income for the year, and you must have a valid Social Security Number. If you are filing a joint return, your spouse also must have a valid Social Security Number, and all qualifying children you use to claim the EITC also must have valid Social Security Numbers. In order to qualify, you cannot file your taxes under the married and filing separately status. The EITC has no effect on certain welfare benefits. In most cases, EITC will not be used to determine eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), food stamps, low-income housing, or most Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) payments. EITC history Congress originally approved the tax credit in 1975 as a way to offset the burden of Social Security taxes on lowincome people and to provide an incentive to work. When the EITC is more than the amount of taxes that you owe, you will get a tax refund if you claim and qualify for the credit. Photo Courtesy of the Girl Scouts of Western Washington Girl Scouts Julie Nguyen (left) and Alyssa Zuniga-Moss (right) donned the signature red-and-white striped top hats from The Cat in the Hat in honor of a recent reading night at Birch Creek. contact Diana Coletta, Girl Scouts College Ready education specialist, at dianamc@ girlscoutsww.org or Michelle Caoile, Girl Simple Delights While a healthy diet is the cornerstone to good health, meeting that goal can be a challenge. The recipe below conforms to the recommendations contained in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. We hope you find it easy, tasty, and economical. West African Vegetable Soup Serves 8. Ingredients: 2 cups onions, chopped 2 tsp. olive oil 1/3 cup peanut butter 6 cups sweet potatoes (not yams), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes 1 Tbsp. ground cumin 1/4 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. pepper 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper 2 (15.5-ounce) cans of garbanzo beans, undrained Tax help for low-income entrepreneurs Scouts Skills for Life program coordinator at michellelc@girlscoutsww.org. This month: West African Vegetable Soup 2 (14.5-ounce) cans or 1 (32-ounce) can of low-sodium vegetable broth 1 (28-ounce) can diced or crushed tomatoes, undrained Directions: 1. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large saucepan and sauté onions until they start to brown. 2. Stir in the rest of the ingredients and then raise the heat to bring to a boil. 3. Reduce heat to low, then cover and let simmer for 45 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are softened. Nutrition facts per serving: Calories: 386 Total Fat: 10 grams Saturated Fat: 2 grams Cholesterol: 0 milligrams Sodium: 391 milligrams If you are self-employed and need help preparing for tax day, StartZone a Highline Community College program may be able to help you. Thanks to a generous grant from the Corporation for Enterprise Development and the United Way of King County, StartZone is offering tax preparation workshops and filing assistance that simplifies filing the Schedule C tax form required of businesses. For low-income entrepreneurs, the first step is attending an upcoming three-hour workshop to help you get organized for tax season. You ll learn about the Schedule C s profit and loss statement, the information you ll need to complete it, and bookkeeping tips to keep you organized for next year s tax season. Although the workshop focuses on sole proprietors, corporate filers and business filers who don t have reportable income also will find the workshop useful. Tax Prep Workshops are offered at Highline Community College at the following dates and times: 6 to 9 p.m. Feb to 9 p.m. March 10 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 13 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 27 To register, please call ext or startzone@highline.edu. After attending a workshop, businesses owners with total household income less than $50,000 may qualify for free volunteer filing assistance at StartZone s Business Tax Center. Applications for free assistance will be available at the Tax Prep workshops. StartZone will contact applicants to schedule an intake appointment. The Business Tax Center is on the Highline campus and is open from 4 to 6 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. For more information, please contact Nigam Shah, StartZone s Business Tax Center Manager, at ext 6510 or by at nshah@highline.edu.

4 4 KCha news FEBRUARY 2010 generations At a recent pancake breakfast event at Casa Madrona, one resident spoke up with a thought shared by many: We would like to do this more often. And that was exactly the purpose of the breakfast to kick start a new year of social events at Casa Madrona now that a renovation project at the Olympia property has been completed. We ve had good traditions in this building for years, said Serguei Nikitine, the KCHA Resident Services NEWS for senior and disabled residents of KCHA communities Photo by Heather Miller KCHA s Serguei Nikitine (left) cooks up pancakes for Casa Madrona residents at a community breakfast in January. Resident Christine Hofferber helped him with the meal. Breakfast aims to kick off new year of social events at Casa Madrona Coordinator for Casa Madrona. He invited residents to come to him with ideas for other social events that they d like to have. About 25 residents attended the breakfast, which featured pancakes, egg casserole, and a fruit salad prepared by Nikitine and resident Christine Hofferber. The breakfast was excellent, resident Johnny Dawson said. It was very good and very tasty. I appreciate them carrying it out. Return unwanted medicines for free disposal Some local pharmacies now are accepting unused prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The pharmacies will properly and safely dispose of the medications an effort that helps protect individual safety and the environment. This program provides an alternative to tossing unwanted medications down the drain, toilet, or in the garbage, where they end up in waterways and landfills. The pharmaceutical waste will be incinerated. Here s how you can return your unwanted medications: Keep them in their original containers (must be 12-oz. bottle size or less); Bring the medications to a participating pharmacy (see list); Deposit the medications into the secure bin marked medication return; The pharmacies will accept: prescription medications, over-thecounter medications, medication samples, medications for pets, vitamins, medicated ointments and lotions, inhalers, and liquid medication in glass or leak-proof containers; The pharmacies won t accept: needles, thermometers, lancets, controlled substances (narcotics), IV bags, bloody or infectious waste, personal care products, business waste, empty containers, hydrogen peroxide, or aerosol cans. Participating pharmacies: BELLEVUE Bartell Drugs Bellevue Village Pharmacy N.E. Eighth St Group Health Bellevue Medical N.E. 10th St Group Health Factoria Medical Center S.E. 36th St BOTHELL Group Health Northshore Medical N.E. 195th St BURIEN Bartell Drugs Fourth Ave. S.W., Suite Please see Returns on Page 5 Save money on prescription drugs Did you know that you could lower your prescription drug costs by signing up for the Washington Prescription Drug Program (WPDP) Discount Card? It s free for all Washington residents. WPDP is a prescription drug discount program created by the Washington Legislature. It is similar to a grocery store club card for which discounts are taken off your total bill when your items are rung up at the cash register. It is not accepted at all pharmacies, but you can find a participating pharmacy near you by going online to and clicking on the link for locate a network pharmacy. Who can join? All Washington residents are eligible. There are no age or income restrictions. However, each person must enroll individually. The card can be especially helpful to people with no health insurance coverage or those who have medical coverage but no prescription drug benefit. Can I use the discount card with my pharmacy benefit through my employer? If you have a pharmacy benefit through your employer, you can use the WPDP discount card on prescription drugs that are not covered under your pharmacy benefit plan. You may not use your pharmacy benefit card along with the WPDP discount card on the same drug purchase. Also, the WPDP discount does not cover any out-of-pocket co-pays if you use your insurance. However, people who have a high-deductible plan can utilize the WPDP discount card when paying down the deductible. If you fall into this category, just send your prescription receipts to your plan. What are the benefits? The program is free. There are no annual fees and no hidden costs. Cardholders get discounts as high as 60 percent on generic drugs and up to 20 percent on brand-name drugs. All prescriptions written by an authorized prescriber qualify for a discount. Wellpartner offers free shipping on mail order service for WPDP cardholders. To find out about that benefit, please contact Wellpartner at Cardholders also can check and compare the cost of drugs online at and clicking on the link for check drug prices. How do I enroll? There are three ways to enroll in the program: Go online to Call toll-free Mail in a postage-paid, selfaddressed enrollment form, which is available in the following eight languages: Chinese, English, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. Online, the forms which can be downloaded and printed are available in English and Spanish. A variety of local agencies offer the enrollment form in the additional languages listed above. Is it easy to enroll? Yes there are just six questions to answer: Name Date of birth Address Phone number Gender How did you hear about the program? How long will it take to get the discount card once enrolled? You will get the card within two weeks after WPDP receives your enrollment form If you need to use the discount card urgently and you have not received it yet, you can call customer service at for your identification number and billing information for the pharmacy. Questions about the WPDP discount card? Call ODS Companies, the administrator of WPDP, at the toll-free number Larger type, better access The stories in the Generations section are printed in a larger typeface than the standard font size, to help make the articles easier to read for the visually impaired.

5 february 2010 kcha news 5 Stimulus project will upgrade senior housing complex, boost local economy By KCHA Staff Residents living at Southridge House will see their home get a facelift in the months ahead. Federal stimulus dollars are paying for improvements now under way at the Federal Way property, which provides 80 Public Housing units to seniors and people with disabilities. Funding for the $2 million project was awarded to the King County Housing Authority in April as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The money is part of a $4 billion boost for housing authorities nationwide to preserve and enhance the country s Public Housing stock. We are committed to providing well-run housing that works well with the surrounding neighborhood and to maintaining the highest possible standards of safety for our community s seniors and persons with disabilities, said KCHA Executive Director Stephen Norman. This initiative will reduce operating costs and make Southridge House a more comfortable and affordable place to live for our most vulnerable citizens. Additionally, the project will offer a boost to the local economy as workers procure goods and services in the community over the next year. Improvements to Southridge House include: The exterior will be sealed with a weather-resistant barrier and wrapped with a layer of rigid insulation, which will be covered with Hardie Board fiber cement siding as part of a rain screen system to prevent any future penetration of moisture. In addition to preserving an important housing resource, the new exterior façade will look more modern, with assorted colorful surfaces. New, energy efficient windows will be installed. Several units will be converted to full compliance with the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards, with modifications to bathrooms, kitchens, and living areas. Common area accessibility improvements previously have been completed. Comcast cabling within the building will be upgraded. The general contractor for the building envelope project is W.G. Clark Construction Co. Architectural services have been provided by ARC Architects. The electrical contractor is Kelly Electric, and the siding contractor is L.A. Olsen Construction, Inc. Centennial Moisture Control, Drawing courtesy of ARC Architects Inc. will install the weather resistant barrier, and Picture Perfect Painting is the painting contractor. More than 40 workers from a variety of trades will be employed on the project. Work is expected to be completed by December RAFN Company will oversee the ADA unit conversions, which are set to begin in July. SKHS Architects will provide the services to design them. Seniors can take precautions to avoid becoming burglary victims By the Healthy Aging Partnership Most of us would assume taking a bus at 1 p.m. or going for a short walk to the store in broad daylight would be safe. Not always. In recent years, local authorities have reported a growing frequency of strong-arm robberies many involving elderly women. The Healthy Aging Partnership, a coalition of some 35 nonprofit and public organizations dedicated to the health and well being of Puget Sound seniors, offers these tips to seniors to help them avoid becoming crime victims. While it isn t always possible to walk in groups, before dark, or without a purse or wallet, it is possible to take important steps toward a much safer trip to the store or neighborhood park. One of the most important rules of thumb when it comes to safety is to be aware of your surroundings. For example, when walking alone, always look in front of you as well as behind you. If you notice someone following you, go to the nearest open business or pay phone, and call the police. Always walk in well-lit areas, and be familiar with the path you re taking. Here are some other things to consider for preventing crime: Don t carry a purse. Instead, keep your wallet in your pocket. When taking the bus, sit close to the driver, and be aware of who gets off the bus with you. Trust your instincts. If anyone seems suspicious, report them to police. Avoid dark, unfamiliar or deserted routes even if they are the shortest. Try to tell a family member where you are going and when you ll be back. Carry your car or house key between your index and middle finger as a quick weapon to fight off predators. This will also make for faster entry time once you arrive home. If someone stops you to ask for directions, answer from a distance. Residents with disabilities can seek Reasonable Accommodations The King County Housing Authority is committed to providing accommodations to persons with disabilities so that their living arrangements are, as a whole, comparable to that of other applicants and residents. Requests must be medically necessary and sufficiently tied to the individual s disability. To request a reasonable accommodation, please talk to your property manager or resident services coordinator. Also, a copy of the reasonable accommodation request form for public housing applicants and residents is available on the KCHA Web site at Do not approach the vehicle. Never display large sums of cash in public, especially at an ATM machine. Also, don t carry more cash than you need at one time. Another tip for seniors to remember is to always report any crime or suspicious behavior done to you. Police say that many older adults are fearful of reporting criminal activities, and perpetrators are going unpunished. If you have questions about safety prevention or any other issue related to life as an older adult, call the Returns Continued from Page 5 Group Health Burien Medical 140 S.W. 146th St FEDERAL WAY Group Health Federal Way Medical 301 S. 320th St ISSAQUAH Bartell Drugs 5700 East Lake Sammamish Pkwy. S.E KENT Group Health Kent Medical th Ave. S.E Healthy Aging Partnership s free and confidential information and assistance line at ELDERS ( ). HAP is generously supported by its partner agencies. For information about Spanish and Asian languages regarding healthy aging services and programs in King County, please contact: Sea Mar Community Centers Latino Senior Information and Assistance: Asian Counseling and Referral Service s Information and Assistance: KIRKLAND Bartell Drugs Bridle Trails Pharmacy nd Ave. N.E OLYMPIA Group Health Olympia Medical 700 Lilly Road N.E REDMOND Group Health Redmond Medical Center at Riverpark Pharmacy Bear Creek Parkway, Suite SHORELINE Bartell Drugs Aurora Ave. N

6 6 kcha news FEBRUARY 2010 Translations TRANSLATED ARTICLES For our families Get free help with your taxes ታክስ ለማሰራት የነፃ እርዳታ ማግኘት ይችላሉ በነፃ ታክሶን እስከ አፕሬል 15 ድረስ በተለያዩ አካባቢዎች በunited Way of King County s የነፃ ታክስ አዘጋጅ ቡድን ወዳለበት በመሄድ ማሰራት ይችላሉ ይህ የነፃ አገልግሎት የሚሰጠው በቤተሰብ ከ$50,000 ብር ያነሰ በዓመት ገቢ ላላቸው ነው ስለዚህ ነፃ አገልግሎት ጥያቄ ካሎት በ2-11 ወይም ወይም በኢንተርነት unitedwayofkingcounty.org/ taxhelp ይመልከቱ. ቀጠሮ መያዝ የለብዎትም ግን ብዙ መቀመጫዎች ተሎ ስለሚሞሉ ከመከፈቱ በፊት ቀደም ብለው ቦታ ቢይዙ ጥሩ እርዳታ ሊያገኙ ይችላሉ ይህን የታክስ ማዘጋጀቱ እርዳታ የሚሰጡት ከአንድ ቋንቋ በላይ ተናጋሪ የሆኑና በኢንተርናል ሬቪኑ ሰርቪስ (IRS) ሰርትፊኬት ያላቸው ናቸው ይዘው የሚመጡት ከዚህ በታች የሚገኙት ናቸው ማንኛውም W-2 ፎርም 1099 ፎርም እና ሌሎች በዓመቱ መጨረሻ ከአሰሪዎች ያገኙትን ገቢዎን የሚያሳይ ወረቀትና የገቢዎን ምንጭ ያለፈውን ዓመት ታክስ ሪተርን ኮፒውን የሶሻል ሴኩሪቲ ካርድ ቁጥር ወይም የግል ታክስ ከፋይ መታወቂያ ቁጥር እና ስሙ የሚሞላው ሰው ሁሉ የልደት ቀኑ በታክስ ሪተርኑ ወረቀት ላይ ይሞላል ህፃናትን የሚጠብቁ ከሆነ የሚጠብቀው ሰው ስም አድራሻ እና የታክስ መታወቂያ ቁጥር ማንኛውም ነገር ለታክስ ሪተርኑ ይጠቅመኛል ብለው የሚሉትንም ሆነ የሚጠራጠሩትንም ቢሆን ይዘው ይቅረቡ የሚያገኙትን ሪፈንድ ቀጥታ ወደባንክ እንዲገባ ከፈለጉ የባንክ አካውንት ቁጥሮን ያምጡ ስለ ነፃ የታክስ ማዘጋጀት የበለጠ ገለፃ ከፈለጉ በስልክ ቁጥር ወይም ወይም unitedwayofkingcounty. org/taxhelp. በአካባቢዎ በነፃ ታክስ የሚሰራበትን ቦታ ማወቅ ያስፈልጋል እባክዎ በገፅ 1 በእንግሊዘኛ ቋንቋ ከKCHA ዜና የተፃፈውን ተመልከቱ Preparación Gratuita de Declaración de Impuestos Recibe ayuda gratis para los impuestos. Preparación Gratuita de Declaración de Impuestos esta disponible hasta el 15 de abril en varias locaciones hacia el programa de preparación gratuita de declaración de impuestos de United Way de King County. Este servicio esta disponible al hogares que ganan $50,000 o menos anualmente, y puedes encontrar información adicional por llamar o o por el sitio de Internet unitedwayofkingcounty.org/taxhelp. No necesitas una cita. Pero muchos sitios llegan a ser muy llenados, debes llegar tan cercano a tiempo que el sitio abre para la mejor oportunidad de ser servido Preparación Gratuita de Declaración de Impuestos esta próvido por voluntarios multilingües que han sido certificados por la IRS. Aquí esta lo que debes traer contigo: Cualquier formas de W2, formas de 1099, y otras formas de ingresos del fin de año que usted recibió de todos sus empleadores y fuentes de ingresos Una copia de declaración de impuestos del ano pasado, si lo tengo. Tarjeta de seguro social o Número de Identificación Individual de Contribuyente y las fechas de nacimiento para cada persona para ser reclamados en la declaración de impuestos. El nombre de la guardaría de tus niños, la dirección y número de identificación de impuestos; Y cualquier otra cosa que piensas quizás afecte tu declaración, incluso si tu no estés seguro; Si deseas tu devolución depositado directamente en tu cuenta bancaria, deberás traer tu número de cuenta bancario. Para mas información de preparación gratuita de declaración de impuestos llamar a o o por el sitio de Internet unitedwayofkingcounty.org/taxhelp. Para una lista de locaciones cerca de ti, gira por favor a la versión inglesa de esta historia en la página 1 de la sección de noticias de KCHA Бесплатная помощь при подготовке налоговой декларации Бесплатная помощь в подготовке налоговой декларации доступна до 15 апреля в нескольких местах округа Кинг через компанию по бесплатной подготовке налоговых деклараций United Way. Бесплатные услуги доступны для семей, зарабатывающих менее $50000 в год, дополнительная информация может быть получена по тел или или на вебсайте unitedwayofkingcounty.org/taxhelp. Вам не надо назначать визит. Но так как многие пункты становятся многолюдными, вы должны придти как можно раньше после открытия, для того, чтобы вас успели обслужить. Подготовка налоговых документов о бе с п еч и ва е т с я д о б р о в ол ь ц а м и, говорящими на многих языках, которые получили удостоверения от Налогового управления (IRS). Ниже приводится перечень документов, которые вы должны принести с собой: Любые формы W-2, 1099 и другие доказательства дохода на конец года, который вы получили ото всех своих работодателей и из всех других источников дохода; Копию возврата налогов за прошлый год, если она у вас есть; Карточку социального обеспечения и л и и н д и в и д у а л ь н ы й н о м е р налогоплательщика и свидетельства о рождении на каждого человека, которого вы включаете в декларацию о возврате налога; И м я ч е л о в е ка, у х а ж и в а ю щ е го за детьми, его адрес и налоговый индентификационный номер; Любые другие документы, которые могут повлиять на возврат налога, даже если вы не уверены, что они могут понадобиться. Если вы хотите, чтобы возврат налога был перечислен непосредственно на ваш банковский счёт, вы должны принести с собой номер вашего банковского счёта. Для дополнительной информации о бесплатной подготовке документов для возврата налогов позвоните или или посетите вебсайт unitedwayofkingcounty.org/taxhelp. Для того, чтобы узнать, где находится ближайший пункт по бе сплатной подготовке документов на возврат налога, просмотрите версию этой статьи поанглийски на первой странице секции новостей КСНА. GIÚP KHAI THUẾ MIỄN PHÍ Hiện đang có việc giúp khai thuế miễn phí từ nay đến 15 Tháng Tư ở các nới trong tòan vùng quận King qua chiến dịch Khai Thuế Miễn Phí của cơ quan United Way. Chương trình giúp khai thuế miễn phí giúp cho các gia đình có mức lợi tức dưới $50,000 một năm, và qúi vị có thể tìm biết thêm thông tin này bằng cách gọi cho số hoặc gọi cho số hoặc vào trang mạng www. unitedwayofkingcounty.org/taxhelp. Qúi vị không cần làm hẹn, nhưng vì có vài khu vực khai thuế có đông người đến, nên qúi vị nên đến sớm truớc giờ mở cữa, để có nhiều cơ hội đuợc giúp đở. Có các thiện nguyện viên nói được nhiều ngôn ngữ giúp đở cho việc khai thuế, những người này đã được chứng nhận bởi Sở Thuế Vụ (IRS) Sau đây là những thứ mà qúi vị cần phải mang theo lúc đi khai thuế: Mẫu đơn W-2, mẫu đơn 1099 và các chứng từ lợi tức cuối năm mà qúi vị nhận được từ sở làm hay các cơ quan tài chính. Bản sao giấy khai thuế năm rồi, nếu có Thẻ An sinh Xã hội, hay số Nhận Dạng Khai Thuế, ngày sinh của mọi nguời trong nhà mà qúi vị cần khai trong đơn khai thuế Tên và số nhận dạng Khai Thuế của người giữ trẻ Và chứng từ mà qúi vị nghĩ là có liên hệ cho việc khai thuế, dù mình không biết chắc. Nếu qúi vị muốn số tiền bồi hòan được chuyển thẳng vào ngân hàng của qúi vị, thì phải mang theo số trương mục ngân hàng. Để biết thêm thông tin về việc khai thuế miễn phí, xin vui lòng gọi cho số hoặc gọi cho số hoặc vào trang mạng org/taxhelp Để có danh sách các địa điểm khai thuế miễn phí, xin vui lòng mở qua phần tiếng Anh của bài viết đề tài này nơi trang 1 phần tin tức KCHA. Raadi in lagaa caawiyo canshuur celinta Waxay hay adda united way bixinaysaa adeeg bilaash ah ay ku caawinayso dadka xareynta canshuuraha. Waxayna diyaarisay goobo ay dadku adeegyadaas ka heli karaan illaa iyo dhamaadka bartamaha abriil. Adeeggaan bilaash ka wuxuu u furan yahay qoysaska iyo shaqsiyaadkaa sameeya in in ka yar $50,000 sanadkiiba. Macluumaad dheeri ah waxaad ka heli kartaan ama ama booqo unitedwaykingcounty.org/taxhelp. Uma baahnid inaad ballan dhigato. Balse maadaama goobaha qaarkood aad u buuqsan yihiin, isku day inaad hore u imaatid si aad adeegga aad rabto hore laguugu sameeyo. Waxaa kuu adeegaya dad tababaran oo ay aqoontooda canshuurtu ansixisay waaxda canshuuraha Mareykanku (IRS) Soo qaado sharciyadan: Foomamka w2-ga, 1099, iyo dhamaan cadeymaha dakhliga sanadka eed ka heshay shirkadaha iyo meelaha kale eed u shaqayn jirtay. Koobi ah canshuur celistii sanadkii hore, hadii aad haysid Sooshalkaaga ama lambarka canshuur celiyaha iyo warqadda dhalashada qofkastoo qoyska ka mid ah ee ku jira canshuur celiska. Magaca xanaanada caruurtaada iyo cinwaankooda iyo tax ID-gooda Iyo wixii kale ee aad isleedahay waxay qusaysaa canshuur celiskaaga, xataa haddii aadan hubin. Haddii aad rabto in lacagta laguu gu shubo akoountigaaga, waa inaad keentaa akoonkaaga lambarkiisa. Wixii warbixin dheeraad ah oo ku saabsan caawinta canshuur celinta, fadlan wac telfoonka lambarkiisu yahay ama ama booqo unitedwaykingcounty.org/taxhelp. Haddii aad u baahato liistada goobaha iyo halak ay ku yaalaan, fadlan ka eeg qaybta Ingiriiska ee ku qoran bogga 1aad ee KCHN News.

7 FEBRUARY kcha news Translations TRANSLATED ARTICLES For our senior and disabled residents You might be eligible for Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) ኢንካም ታክስ ክሬዲት ለማግኘት ብቁ ሊሆኑ ይችላሉ እያንዳንዱ ትንሽ የገቢ ምንጫ ያለው ሰው ቤተሰቦቹን ጨምሮ ከታክስ ከሚሞላው ሪፈንድ ሊያገኝ ይችላል ይህም በ$457 እና $5,657 መሃከል ገቢ ያላቸው ለፌዴራል እርኒግ ኢንካም ታክስ ክሬዲት ከአፕሪል 15 በፊት ማመልከት አለበት ይህን ለማድረግ አንዳንድ ማሟላት ያለብዎትን መፈፀም ያስፈልጋል ምንም እንኳን ታክስ ሪተርኑን ለመሙላት በቂ ገቢ ባይኖርዎትም ፋይል ማረጉ ይመረጣል ሶስት ወይም ከዚህ በላይ ልጆች ካሎት እና ገቢዎ በ$43,279 ወይም $48,279 ባለትዳር ሆነው በ2009 ሁለታችሁም አንድ ላይ ፋይል ካረጋችሁ ሁለት ልጆች ካሎትና ገቢዎ ከ$40295 ያነሰ ወይም ባለትዳር ሆነው ገቢዎ $45,295 ሆኑ 2009 ታክስ የሞሉት ከባለቤትዎ ጋር ከሆነ አንድ ልጅ እና ያገቡት ገቢ ከ$35,463 ያነሰ ከሆነ ወይም ባለትዳር ሆነው ገቢዎ $40,463 ሆኖ ከባለቤትዎ ጋር ታክሶን ፋይል ካረጉና ልጅ የሌሎት ሆነው ገቢዎ ከ$13,440 ያነሰ ከሆነ ወይም ባለትዳር ሆነው ገቢዎ $18,440 እና አብረው ታክስ ፋይል ካረጉ በተጨማሪ ባመት ውስጥ ከ$3,100 የበለጠ ኢንቬስትመንት ገቢ መኖር የለበትም እንዲሁም ተቀባይነት ያለው የሶሻል ሴኩሪቲ ቁጥር ያስፈልጋል ለሁለት ከሆነ የሞላችሁት አብሮት የሞላውን የትክክለኛ ሶሻል ሴኩሪቲ ቁጥር ያስፈልጋል በተጨማሪ ብቁ ለሆኑ ልጆች ታክስ ላይ ለመጠየቅ EITC ከተጠቀሙ ትክክለኛ የሆነሶሻል ሴኩሪቲ ቁጥር መኖር አለበት ይህን ለሟሟላት ታክስ ፎርም ላይ ያለውን married and filling separately የሚለውን መሙላት አይችሉም በአብዛኛው ጉዳዩ EITC ለሜዲኬር ለሳፕሊሜንታል ሴኩሪቲ ኢንካም (SSI) የምግብ ኩፐን ዝቅተኛ ገቢ ወይም ጊዜያዊ እርዳታ ለችግረኛ ቤተሰቦች (TANF) ክፍያ ለማግኘት ብቁ መሆኖን ለመወሰን አይጠቅምም You may qualify for the earned income tax crédito. Quizás calificas para el crédito de impuestos de ingresos ganados (EITC) Las personas que trabajan de escasos ingresos y sus familiares, pueden ser seleccionados para poder recibir una devolución de impuestos entre $457 y $5,657 dólares, si ustedes solicitan el crédito de impuestos o ingresos ganados (EITC), el cual la fecha limite es el 15 de Abril. Para calificar, tienes que llenar los requisitos y hacer una Declaración de Impuestos, e incluso si no ganas mucho dinero, puedes ser obligado a llenar una declaración de impuestos. Es posible que seas elegido para el EITC si obtuviste ingresos en el 2009 y: Tienes tres o más hijos y ganaste menos que $43,279 (o $48,279 si estas casada y llenas la declaración juntos) en 2009: Si tienes dos hijos y ganaste menos que $40,295 (o $45,295 si estas casada y llenas la declaración juntos) en 2009 Si tienes un hijo y ganaste menos que $35,463 (o $40,463 si estas casada y llenas la declaración juntos) en 2009 Si no tienes hijos y ganaste menos que $13,440 (o si estas casada y llenas la declaración juntos) in 2009 Además, no puedes tener más que $3,100 de inversiones para el año, y debes tener un Número del seguro social válido. Si llenas la declaración juntos, tu esposo necesitas tener un número del seguro social válido y todos los hijos que califican para el EITC tienes que tener números de los seguros sociales válidos Para calificar, no puedes hacer tus impuestos bajo el estatus de casado y se llena separado En la mayoría de los casos, EITC no será utilizado para determinar elegibilidad para Medicaid, los Ingresos Suplementarios de la Seguridad (SSI), los cupones de alimentos, hogares para las de ingresos bajos, ni la mayoría de las ayudas temporarias para familias necesitadas (TANF). You might be eligible for Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Вы можете иметь право на возврат налога за заработанный доход Работающие семьи с низким дохом и одиночки могут иметь право на возврат налога от $457 до $5657, если они заполнят заявление на возврат налога за заработанный доход до 15-го апреля. Для того, чтобы иметь право, вы должны соответствовать определённым требованиям и отправить форму возврата налога (tax return), даже если вы не заработали достаточную сумму денег, чтобы быть обязанным отправлять форму. Вы можете иметь право на EITC, если у вас был заработанный доход в 2009 году и: У вас двое детей и вы заработали меньше $40295 (или $45295, если состоите в браке и отправляете возврат налога совместно) в 2009 году У вас один ребёнок и вы заработали меньше $35463 (или $40463, если со стоите в браке и отправляете совместный возврат налога) в 2009 году У вас нет детей и вы заработали меньше $13440 ( или $18440, если со стоите в браке и отправляете совместный возврат налога). Дополнительно к этому, у вас не должно быть больше чем $3100 инвестиционного дохода в год и вы должны иметь действующую карточку социального обеспечения (Social Security Number). Если вы подаёте заявление совместно, то у вашего супруга также должна быть действующая карточка социального обеспечения, также как у всех детей, которых вы учитываете в заявлении на EITC, должны быть действительные карточки социального обеспечения. Чтобы иметь право, вы не можете декларировать свои доходы по статусу состоит в браке, но отправляет отдельно. В большинстве случаев, EITC не будет учитываться при определении права на получение Медикейда, SSI, фудстемпов, жилья для малоимущих или для большинства выплат по программе TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). QÚI VỊ CÓ THỂ HỘI ĐỦ ĐIỀU KIỆN ĐỂ NHẬN LẠI TIỀN THUẾ BỒI HÒAN Người hay gia đình mà đi làm có lợi tức thấp có thể hội đủ điều kiện để nhận lại tiền thuế bồi hòan từ $457 đến $5,657 nếu họ nộp đơn khai thuế liên bang trước ngày 15 Tháng Tư. Để hội đủ điều kiện, qúi vị phải đáp ứng vài điều kiện và phải đi khai thuế, cho dù qúi vị đã không kiếm được số tiền lương đòi buộc để khai thuế. Qúi vị có thể hội đủ điều kiện để nhận lại tiền thuế bồi hòan nếu quí vị có đi làm có lợi tức trong năm 2009 và : Waxaa laga yaabaa inaad xaq u leedahay earned income tax credit (EITC) Dadka dakhliga yar soo galo iyo qoysaskooduba waxay xaq u leeyihiin in loo soo celiyo lacag u dhaxaysa $457-5,657 haddii ay codsadaan lacagtaas dowladda dhexe uga soo noqonaysa oo ku eg 15ka April. Si aad ugu qalmato, waa inaad buuxisaa shuruudo gaara, buuxisana canshuurta sanadka, xataa haddii aaadan samayn lacag badan oo kugu qasbaysa inaad xareyso canshuurta. Waa suuro gal inaad hesho haddii aad lacag samaysay sanadkkii 2009 aadna leedahay caruur dhan saddes ama ka Có 3 hay trên 3 đứa con, và trong năm 2009 có mức lợi tức dưới $43,279 (hoặc 448,279 nếu là người có gia đình và khai thuế chung. Có 2 đứa con, và trong năm 2009 có mức lợi tức dưới $40,295 (hoặc $45,295 nếu là người có gia đình và khai thuế chung Có 1 đứa con và trong năm 2009 có mức lợi tức dưới $35,463 hoặc $40,463 nếu là người có gia đình và khai thuế chung. Nếu không có con và và trong năm 2009 có mức lương dưới $13,440 (hoặc $18,440 nếu có gia đình và khai thuế chung. Cộng thêm vào đó, và trong năm qau, badan lacag ahaanna samaysay in ka yar $43,279 (ama $48,279 haddii aad reer leedahay iskuna xareysanaysaan) 2009ka Haddii aad leedahay labo carruur ah aadna samaysay in ka yar$40,295 (ama $45,295 haddii aad reer leedahay iskuna xareysanaysaan) 2009ka Haddii aad leedahay hal cunug aadna samaysay in ka yar $35,463 ( ama $40,463 haddii aad reer leedahay iskuna xareysanaysaan) 2009ka Haddii aadan Carruur lahayn aadna samaysay in ka yar $13, 440 ( haddii aad reer leedahay iskuna xareysanaysaan) 2009ka qúi vị không được có trên $3,100 lợi tức từ quỷ đầu tư và qúi vị phải có số an sinh xã hội. Nếu vợ chồng khai thuế chung, thì người vợ hay chồng buộc phải có số an sinh xã hội, và các con để đuợc họp lệ cho việc bồi hòan thuế, thì phải có số an sinh xã hội. Trong phần lớn các trường hợp, tiền thuế bồi hòan sẽ không bị dùng như là cách để tính cho sự hợp lệ trong việc xin trợ cấp phiếu y tế, tiền Phụ Cấp An sinh xã hội-ssi, phiếu thực phẩm, xin nhà cho người lợi tức thấp, tiền trợ cấp oeo-phe tạm thời TANF. Intaa waxaa dheer inaadan maal gashan lacag ka badan $3100 sanadkaas, aadna leedahay sooshal sax ah. Haddii aad isku careysanaysaan waanuu xaaskaaga ama ninkaaga iyo carruurtuba leeyihiin sooshal lambar. Si aad lacagtaan u heshid waa inaadan canshuurtiinna kala xareysan haddaaad is qabtaan. Inta badan, EITC looma it isticmaali karo u mudnaanshaha Medicaid, supplemental social security income (SSI), Food Stamps, gurhaha bilaashka ah iyo TANF.

8 8 kcha news FEBRUARY 2010 white center scene news about the greenbridge and seola gardens communities Holiday fun abounds at Boys & Girls Club Photo by Heather Miller Yocasta Jacobo (left) and Amara Sisavath (right) play a patty-cake style game as they await the start of a talent show at this year s Southwest Boys & Girls Club holiday party. During the talent show, aspiring singers, comedians, martial artists, and more showcased their talents and abilities. Welcome Wagon visits newest Greenbridge residents Photo by Stacie Castelda Ngot Nguyen (left), who recently relocated from Park Lake Homes II, was among 90 residents of Greenbridge s newest development Salmon Creek to be visited by a Welcome Wagon in January. The event was part of a collaborative effort by Neighborhood House, and the YWCA. She and the other residents received a notebook of Greenbridge and White Center area service providers as well as a gift bag filled with personal items. Donations for the event were provided by World Vision, Public Health Seattle & King County, the YWCA Community Resources Office, and Neighborhood House. Also pictured above (right) is Bao Nguyen, of Neighborhood House. Free, on-site tax help at Greenbridge Through April 15, the YWCA Learning Center at Greenbridge will host free tax preparation assistance for households making less than $50,000 per year a service provided through the United Way of King County s Free Tax Prep Campaign. Free tax prep assistance will be available from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at the YWCA, 9720 Eighth Ave. S.W. Spanish translators will be available at all three time slots. For more information about free tax prep assistance and what you need to bring with you to receive help, please turn to the story on Page 1 of the KCHA News section. You also can find out more by dialing or or going online to unitedwayofkingcounty.org/taxhelp. Photo by Heather Miller Marcellus Dash-Porter smiles as he walks away with the board game Candy Land during a gift giveaway at this year s Southwest Boys & Girls Club holiday party. The event also featured a dinner of spaghetti, salad, rolls, and cookies. New Educare Early Learning Center to Open The new Educare Early Learning Center at Greenbridge is scheduled to open in late February. The center s services include fullday, year-round preschool and child care programs for children from income eligible families and children with disabilities. The center is now enrolling children for 32 openings for infants and toddlers and 20 openings for preschoolers. Classes are scheduled to begin at the end of February. In order to enroll for the full-day program, families must be income eligible for Head Start or Early Head Start or be qualified for the Working Connections Child Care subsidy via DSHS or have another form of subsidy. Children with disabilities are eligible without regard to family income. For more information, families can call Applications in English and Spanish can be downloaded at org/educare. Interpreters are available to assist families who speak other languages with filing out an application in person or over the phone. Free college info sessions at YWCA The YWCA Career Development Center at Greenbridge will host two free college information sessions this month about applying for financial aid and student advising. The sessions are in cooperation with Highline Community College and South Seattle Community College. A session on Feb. 22 will focus on financial student services such as applying for financial aid, the opportunity grant, and basic food and employment training funds. A session on Feb. 25 will focus on the transition referral and resources, including academic advising for English Language Learners and those in Adult Basic Education. For more information, please call the YWCA Career Development Center at News Notes New Artists at Dubsea Coffee Dubsea Coffee is exhibiting works by artists Kelda Martensen and Michael Olsen through mid-february. Martsensen works in a variety of media, including collagraph, digital print, monotype, woodblock, chine colle, collage, and graphite drawing. Olsen s works are text-based and jazzinspired. Dubsea the new coffee shop at 9910 Eighth Ave S.W. in the Greenbridge community is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information about Dubsea, visit for more information about Martensen, visit Greenbridge Library Family Story Time: 2 p.m. Feb. 3, 10, 17, and 24. Join us in the meeting room for 30 minutes of books, songs, rhymes, and silliness! The Greenbridge Library is at 9720 Eighth Ave. S.W., Seattle. It s open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday, and from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. For more information, please call White Center Study Zone: 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 2, 4, 9, 11, 23, and 25. Drop in during scheduled Study Zone hours for free homework help from trained tutors. Game On!: 2:30 p.m. Feb. 3, 10, 17, and 24. Play your favorite multiplayer video games on GameCube, Xbox 360, and the Wii. Alphabet Soup Family Story Time: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 3, 10 and 17 Join us for stories, songs, finger plays, and fun as we read our way through the alphabet. World Language Story Times: 6 p.m. Feb. 9 and 23. Join us for Vietnamese stories, songs, rhymes, dances, and more! Los Flacos: 7 p.m. Feb. 24. This musical group performs a blend of spicy traditional sounds of Mexico and Latin America. Using a variety of instruments, including guitar, violin, harp, woodwinds, and percussion, they combine their talents to create an acoustic concert. Hands On Henna: 3:30 p.m. Feb. 25. Teenagers can learn about the history of henna and the meaning of the patterns used for creating these ornate, temporary tattoos. The White Center Library is at th S.W., Seattle. It s open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, please call Highline Public Schools Feb. 5, 26: Professional Collaboration Time Early Dismissal Feb : Mid-Winter Break No School Feb. 15: President s Day No School