Unfortunately, it is tax season once again. Fortunately, United Way of King County has opened a free tax preparation site right here on Beacon Hill, at El Centro de la Raza (2524 16th Ave. S.).
In addition to tax preparation, you can also get help with completing your FAFSA (application for student loans for college), applying for food stamps, utility assistance, free credit reports and more.
The United Way Tax Preparation program is free for anyone making under $51,000. Bring photo ID and Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers, along with all wage and earnings statements and any other documents needed for tax filing.
The tax prep sessions are open at El Centro on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m. (English/Spanish) and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (English/Spanish/Tagalog) until April 15.
Taxpayers may also file for free online if they make under $57,000 at myfreetaxes.com.
Chief Sealth students participate in a phone bank in support of the school levies. Photo courtesy of Mwiza Kalisa.
by Mwiza Kalisa
Schools First, a non-profit volunteer-led organization that conducts Seattle’s public school levy campaigns, is seeking volunteers for phone banks at the organization’s headquarters. Yesterday evening, Chief Sealth High School students, parents and community members made calls at Beacon Hill’s El Centro de la Raza to remind voters to renew two upcoming school levies.
On February 12, Seattle voters will be asked to renew two property-tax levies that bridge state funding gaps and support facility improvements for Seattle Public Schools. Proposition 1, a $551.9 million Operations Levy, will provide funding for approximately 27 percent of Seattle Public School’s operating budget over the next three years. The school levy will help fund teachers’ salaries, textbooks, transportation, a sixth period for high school, and security and special-education programs, among other basic day-to-day costs not fully funded by the state. Proposition 2, the $694.9 million Capital Levy (BEX IV), will provide funding to maintain, improve and expand school buildings. Both propositions are renewals of existing levies. If approved, these levies would cost the owner of a $400,000 home $13 a month over what the homeowner pays on the expiring levies.
Blanca Olivera, a student at Chief Sealth High School, joined the volunteer callers at the event. “I think [the levies] are going to help us at the end of the road for everything we need,†she said. Olivera added that some of the challenges her school faces are large classroom sizes and outdated technology.
Phone bank opportunities for volunteers are Friday and Monday 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the McKinstry Innovation Center, 210 S. Hudson Street. Students who are interested in participating can receive community service hours.
It may be February, but it’s not too late to make or keep your New Year’s resolution. Yoga and aerobics classes are still open at at Van Asselt Community Center, 2820 S. Myrtle St.
Adult aerobics on Tuesday and Thursday nights with health and fitness expert, Noel Montgomery. No class 3/12.
Beginning Yoga
Ages: 18 and Older
Wednesday Nights
2/6 – 2/27
3/6 – 3/27
Cost: $30 per month
In this class you will learn the fundamentals of yoga. It is taught at a slower pace to allow you to experience postures fully and to learn to incorporate modifications specific to your abilities and limitations. The class is appropriate for both new yoga students and students with some experience who want to develop a regular practice. Please provide your own yoga mats and water bottle.
All interested neighbors are invited to a community meeting this Saturday, February 9 from 12 to 2 p.m. to give feedback on educational signs in the Beacon Food Forest. Designers Molly Danielsson and Mathew Lippincott will be on hand at El Centro de la Raza (2524 16th Ave S) to hear your thoughts on the signs’ proposed materials and concepts. Snacks will be provided.
The Friends of Beacon Food Forest recently received a $12,600 grant to create educational signs for the Food Forest. The signs will provide information about the ecological and social processes behind the Food Forest. The signs will be installed in July 2013.
Photo by anasararojas via Creative Commons/Flickr.
Signups are open for this month’s edition of El Centro de la Raza’s tamale-making class from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 23. A master tamalera will teach the traditional preparation of pork tamales, handmade with cultural ingredients including pork lard.
The $75/person class fee includes the recipe and one dozen uncooked tamales. Cooking supplies and ingredients will be provided, but you should bring your own apron. All fees go to support El Centro’s Senior Nutrition and Wellness program.
A man was shot yesterday in the 2400 block of South Columbian Way, and is now in Harborview with life-threatening injuries.
According to Seattle Police, officers responded to a 911 call at about 5:39 p.m. on Monday evening and found that a 38-year-old man had been confronted in front of his house by a gunman who then shot him multiple times and ran off to the east.
Police searched the area but were unable to find the suspect. The investigation continues. Anyone with any information about this incident is requested to call 911 or Seattle Police. Anonymous tips are welcome.
The agenda has been announced for the monthly North Beacon Hill Council meeting, to take place Tuesday, February 5 at 7 p.m. in the Beacon Hill Library community meeting room. All interested neighbors are invited to attend and participate.
Here’s the planned agenda:
Public Safety/SPD (Lt. Hayes to speak)
Department of Neighborhoods updates
Broadband/Internet Service (guest speakers from CenturyLink and others to speak)
Neighborhood news: updates about projects in and around the neighborhood
You will need to detour around the the intersection of 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street just north of Beacon Hill this weekend as construction for the First Hill Streetcar continues. The intersection at the heart of Little Saigon will be closed Saturday and Sunday, February 2 and 3, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Police and flaggers will be there to direct traffic and ensure that businesses and residences are accessible.
The planned detours:
Eastbound traffic – south on Fourth Avenue S, east on Seattle Blvd S, east on S Dearborn St
Westbound traffic – northwest on Boren Ave S, west on Yesler Way
Northbound traffic – east on S College St, north on Rainier Ave S, northwest on Boren Ave S
Southbound traffic – west on Yesler Way, south on Second Ave S Extension
