Archives

February E~News

Don't forget, additional information is available at the Fremont Neighborhood Service Center (NSC) which is located at 908 N 34th St.  You can reach the NSC by telephone at 206-684-4054.  We would love to hear from you!  

Don't forget-Presidential Primary is on February 19th For information visit king county elections . You can also find voter registration information and look up your polling place.

Neighborhood Street Fund/Cumulative Reserve Fund Technical Assistance Workshop February 7, 2008 6:00-7:30 pm Miller Community Center 330 19th Ave E Come learn about the Neighborhood Street Fund and Cumulative Reserve Fund including: v     How to improve current and previous applications  v     Eligible Project Ideas v    Providing accurate cost estimates v    Feasibility For more information, visit 2008 Small Neighborhood Street Fund . If you need interpreter assistance, please contact Kadie Bell at 206-684-0607 at least 24 hours in advance.

It Happens Only Once a Year!!!!  Money is Available for Large Projects From the Neighborhood Matching fund   The Neighborhood Matching Fund provides cash resources for neighborhood initiated community building projects. Once a year, there is an opportunity to get funding for projects that need between $15,000 and $100,000 of city funding and can be completed within 12 months.  Requests to the Large Projects Fund are made using atwo-step application process: first, is the submittal of a ‘Letter of Intent’due February 4, 2008,and second is the ‘Large Projects Fund Application’due two months later on April 14, 2008 . Large Project applications cannot be accepted without first submitting a Letter of Intent.    Who Can Apply: Neighborhood-based organizations of residents or businesses . Local, community-based organizations that advocate for the interests of people of color. Ad-hoc groups of neighbors who form a committee solely for the purpose of carrying out a specific project. All applicant groups must have an open membership and must actively seek involvement from area residents and/or businesses. For additional information, visit Large Projects Neighborhood Matching Fund.

City of Seattle's 2008 Citizen Budget Conference  February 10 Noon to 5 p.m. Seattle Center House, Third Floor Conference Room   SPONSORED BY SEATTLE'S CITY NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL, IN COOPERATION WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, THE DEPARTMENTS OF FINANCE AND NEIGHBORHOODS, AND SEATTLE CENTER Get in at the beginning as the City of Seattle kicks off its two-year budget process!  Find out why budgeting matters to you and how to get involved in the decisions that affect your neighborhood.  Join the Mayor, City Councilmembers, and representatives of many City departments in dialogue about Seattle's revenue and spending priorities.   This biennial conference begins with a welcome from the Mayor and ends with a discussion by City Council members on how to get budget results.  In between are panel presentations from City agencies large and small, including the Police and Fire departments, Department of Parks and Recreation, Seattle Department of Transportation, Department of Human Services, Office of Housing, Seattle Center, Seattle Public Library, Department of Neighborhoods, City Light, and Seattle Public Utilities.  Also, for an hour at noon there is a "budget fair" for one-on-one contact with City staff about your budget issues.  Only once every two years can you meet on budget issues with such a wide range of Seattle officials.   The conference is open to the public, free of charge, and there will be snacks and beverages.  For further information:   http://seattle.gov/neighborhoodcouncil, 206-322-5463, cleman@oo.net, or rjboddie2@msn.com .   The City Neighborhood Council is an official City of Seattle advisory body, composed of one representative from each of the thirteen district councils.  .

Bill Wrights Technology Matching Fund Workshops We are now accepting applications for the 2008 Technology Matching Fund. The application deadline is March 10th, 5:00pm.This program is administered by the Community Technology Program of the City of Seattle Department of Information Technology and is funded with cable franchise fees. The Technology Matching Fund (the TMF) grant program was established in 1997 to support the community's efforts to close the digital divide and encourage a technology-healthy city. The program provides grants where the community's contribution of volunteer labor, materials, professional services, or cash will be matche by cash from the Technology Matching Fund. Funds are provided on a reimbursement basis. Questions applying for a grant? Attend one the following Information Workshops:    Wednesday, February 6th 10:00am - 11:30am Delridge Community Center 4501 Delridge Way SW Saturday, February 9th 10:00am - 11:30am Northgate Community Center 10510 5th Ave. NE For additional information, visit community technology.

Help Name Lake Union's New Trail   Starting January 7, 2008, Seattle-area residents can make their mark on history by helping to name a new 6-mile trail being developed around Lake Union. Originally proposed as a key part of the Bands of Green report released by Seattle Parks Foundation last year, the loop trail around Lake Union recently received strong support from the City of Seattle in the City's 2008 budget. Now the Parks Foundation, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and the Seattle Department of Transportation are working together to design and implement this trail with input from the public. The naming contest, to begin January 7th and conclude in early March with a decision by Mayor Nickels, provides an opportunity for the public to be a part of history. Participants in this free contest are invited to submit their entries by February 18, 2008 to Paula Hoff, Seattle Parks and Recreation, 100 Dexter Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109, or by email to paula.hoff@seattle.gov. More information is available online at www.seattle.gov/parks/LakeUnion_TrailNamingContest/.

South Lake Union Urban Form Alternatives Open House. February 12, 2008 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.(6:00 p.m. presentation) South Lake Union Armory (Naval Reserve Building at Lake Union Park) 860 Terry Ave N. The Department of Planning and Development and the South Lake Union Friends and Neighbors Community Council invite you to a public workshop to review and comment on the results of a recent design charrette (January 18-19, 2008) conducted as part of the South Lake Union Urban Form Study currently underway.  At the charrette several scenarios for future development of the South Lake Union neighborhood were developed, and will be used to inform future height and density changes in the South Lake Union Neighborhood.  At the open house you will have the opportunity to view the charrette results, offer your comments, and learn how these alternative scenarios will be used in the Urban Form Study.  For more information see: www.slufan.org and www.seattle.gov/dpd/planning/slu.  Please remember ... the South Lake Union Armory is accessible by the new streetcar.  For more information please go to: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/streetcarnetwork.htm

Free Tax Help at Various Seattle Public Libraries The Seattle Public Library, AARP, and the United Way of King County are working together to offer free tax help at nine Library locations through mid-April.  Trained volunteers will be available to answer questions and prepare personal tax returns. This service is free and available to everyone.  Registration is required at some locations.  The free service is not available for business tax returns.  For times and locations offering tax return help, visit Free Tax Help at Seattle Public Library.

Calling All Middle School Students in Seattle!! Mayor's Scholars are middle school students in good standing who are "unsung heroes," who have overcome obstacles or met challenges in their lives and demonstrated commitment to their community through their school, neighborhood, or religious organizations, or through other activities. Each year about 20 awards are given to middle school students who are responsible and generous community members who give to society and lead by their examples. The program is open to any student both living in and attending middle school in Seattle. If you work hard in school and spend time helping to improve your community, you can compete for an award. Applications must be received by the Office for Education by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 26, 2008. Mail your application to: Mayor's Scholars Awards Office for Education Dept. of Neighborhoods PO Box 94649 Seattle, WA 98124-4649 -- OR -- Hand deliver your application to: Department of Neighborhoods Seattle Municipal Tower 700 5th Avenue, Suite 1700 17th Floor Mayor's Scholars will receive a Mayor's Scholars jacket and $500 to contribute to the charity or cause of their choice, or to further their education. In addition, one Mayor's Scholar may also receive the Leighton Hilbert Scholarship for Native American students, and one 8th-grade Mayor's Scholar, who is planning to attend college, may receive the Mayor's Leadership Award. To download the application or if you need additioanl information, visit Office for Education.

Events at the Fremont Library 731 N. 35th Street   Talk Time at the FremontBranch Mondays:4th, 11th, and 25th       5:30 pm - 7 pm Tuesdays:5th, 12th, 19th, 26th 2:30 pm – 4 pm Come to a free English as a Second Language (ESL) conversation group to practice speaking English. This program is for beginning to advanced level learners. Library events and programs are free and everyone is welcome. Registration is not required.   Evening Book Group Tuesday Feb. 12th 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm Join us for a book group at the Fremont Branch. Everyone is welcome. This month’s title is "Blindness" by Jose Saramago.  In a magnificent parable of loss and disorientation, Nobel Prizewinner Saramago tells what happens when an unnamed city is hit by an epidemic of white blindness that spares no one. Next Month's Title "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay" by Michael Chabon   Toddler Story Time Thursdays 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th 11 am – 11:30 am It is story time at the Fremont Branch! Bring your toddlers to enjoy stories, rhymes, songs and fun with our children's librarian.   Family Fun Night Tuesday Feb. 26th 7 pm – 7:45 pm Come enjoy an evening of fun for the whole family with puppets, folk dancing and crafts! The Fremont Library will be closed on Feb. 18th for the President’s Day holiday.

Seattle Climate Action Now For most of us, the pressing question is, “What can I do to stop global warming?  How can I get started?”  Thanks to a campaign launched today--Seattle Climate Action Now--the answer is getting easier. Seattle Climate Action Now offers practical tools and resources that help us take concrete steps become part of the solution to climate change. Visit www.SeattleCAN.org to get started.

Passports Now Processed in Seven Neighborhood Service Centers in Seattle Offering Saturday hours was a stunning success, so the Department of Neighborhoods is adding more hours and more places where you can apply for your passport. The new times at our Neighborhood Service Centers (NSC) are effective today. Passport Processing Available Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Ballard NSC 5604 22nd Ave NW 684-4060 9am- 4pm 9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm 10am - 2pm Lake City NSC 12707 30th Ave NE 684-7526 9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm Closed University NSC 4534 University Way NE 684-7542 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Central NSC 2301 S. Jackson St Suite 208 684-4767 9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm 9am - 5pm Southeast NSC 3815 S. Othello St Suite 105 386-1931 9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm 10am - 2pm Delridge NSC 5405 Delridge Way SW 684-7416 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed West Seattle NSC 4205 SW Alaska St 684-7495 9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm Closed

Energy and Utility Assistance Get help with your utility bills! The City of Seattle's Utility Assistance Program helps eligible low-income families, seniors, and adults with disabilities keep utility payments current. Emergency funds help eligible Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities customers who face electrical and water disconnection. For information, call 206-684-0268.  Interpretation services available.

Lake Union District Community Meeting Calendar Get involved in your Neighborhood!  For more information on community organizations and meeting places, please call the Fremont Neighborhood Service Center at 206.684.4054 Lake Union District Council   February 4th, 6-8 pm 908 N 34th St      South Lake Union Friends and Neighbors Community Council February 5th,  4-6 pm Armory, 860 Terry Ave N Eastlake Community Council  February 5th, 7-9 pm TOPS @ Seward School, 2500 Franklin Ave E        Wallingford Community Council  February 6th, 7-9 pm                                             Good Shepherds Center, 4649 Sunny Side Ave Cascade Neighborhood Council     February 20th, 6-7:30 pm                                          Scott Kerner House, 514 Minor Ave N Fremont Neighborhood Council February 25th, 7-9 pm History House, 790 N 34th St

It's Pothole Season! Call 206- 684-ROAD to report potholes. The City is committed to responding to reports within two business days.

Small Sparks Community Development Fund is Waiting!   Do you have ideas for building community that could use up to $250 from the City's Small Sparks program? Small Sparks seeks to bring together new people. The goal is to get new people (e.g. recent immigrants, youth, seniors, and people with disabilities) involved in creative small-scale community building initiatives.  If you have any ideas we would love to hear about them as well as sharing program information with you! Email us your ideas at yun.pitre@seattle.gov

Visit the Fremont Neighborhood Service Center! We Have Available... Neighborhood Programs and Services New pamphlets are available that explain the City of Seattle's Neighborhood Programs and Services.  Included is information regarding the Neighborhood Matching Fund, P-Patch program, Historic Preservation, and more. North Seattle Herald-Outlook News Published every Wednesday, it covers stories affecting our community. It also contains information on upcoming events in the area. Senior Discount Card and Directory Provided by the Seattle Mayor's Office for Senior Citizens (aged 60 and older) is a discount card and directory of businesses and organizations that give discounts and special offers to seniors. Woodland Park Zoo & Seattle Aquarium Passes Passes for the Woodland Park Zoo and Seattle Aquarium are available at the NSC. These are only for low-income families and there is a limit of 4 per households. Always Available... Information on City Services Neighborhood events and services  City and other job opportunities  Community and neighborhood organization contacts Crime prevention and block watch materials                  Heating and utility assistance List of local food banks     Land use and zoning information  Application Forms Passports   Voter registration Accident reports           Business license  Other Services * Public meeting room available.  Call 206-684-4054 or email yun.pitre@seattle.gov  for more information.

Also, if you would like to be removed from this publication, please email  yun.pitre@seattle.gov with your name and email address and we will make sure you are removed from the list........