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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 12, 2015)
Seattle and NW Washington S Neighborhood Matching Fund Hosts Free Community Workshops P O T L I G H T S National Night Out The Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF), a program of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, is hosting work- shops for community groups interested in learning about the city’s popular Small and Simple Projects Fund. The Small and Simple Projects Fund provides matching awards of up to $25,000 to neighborhood groups for communi- ty-building projects. Each workshop provides an overview of the Neighbor- hood Matching Fund, the qualities of a good project, and the application process and requirements. To RSVP, call (206) 233-0093 or go online at surveymonkey.com/r/ZHM36BJ. The workshop dates are: • Thursday, August 20; 6 – 8 p.m. at Miller Community Center (Multipurpose Room), 330 19th Ave E To learn about the Fund, visit seattle.gov/neighborhoods/ neighborhood-matching-fund/small-and-simple-projects- fund-. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, but be sure to register now to apply. This is the last op- portunity to apply to the Small and Simple Projects Fund this year. The Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) Program awards matching funds for projects initiated, planned, and implemented by community members. Its goal is to build stronger and healthier neighborhoods through community involvement and engagement. Every award is matched by a neighborhood’s contribution of volunteer labor, donated materials, in-kind professional services, or cash. Mayor Announces Plan to Expand Utility Discount Program Enrollment Utility bills will be cut in half for thousands more low-in- come Seattle families under a new plan to simplify enroll- ment in the City’s Utility Discount Program (UDP) for those who live in subsidized housing or receive nutrition assis- tance. The average discount for UDP-enrolled customers is more than $800 a year. Under a new partnership with the Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC), any individual or family who lives in a subsidized apartment with income requirements that also meet UDP income eligibility will be automatically enrolled in the utility discount. Residents will be informed on Sept. 1. The new partnership is an agreement will share the ad- dresses of units that fall into the UDP eligibility range so the occupants can be auto enrolled. Residents’ names or oth- er personal information will not be shared. The income of these renters is already verified annually. Up to 5,000 utility customers may benefit from this change. Units that include a federal utility credit would not be eligible. To ease the application process for other customers, those already enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will no longer be required to provide in- come verification. Beginning Sept. 1, City staff will now have the ability to verify the customer’s income through SNAP’s Washington Connection database. An estimated 8,500 SNAP recipients in Seattle are eligible to apply for PHOTO BY SUSAN FRIED • Wednesday, September 2; 6 – 8 p.m. at University Heights Community Center (Rm 209), 5031 University Way NE Neighbors Christine Kelley, her granddaughter Hillary Kelley and 1 ½-year-old Alden attend the annual Seattle Night Out Against Crime in their Judkins Park neighborhood Aug. 4. The annual event encourages neighbors to get to know each other, unite communities and increase neighborhood support in anti-crime efforts. utility discounts through this simplified approach. The income limit for SNAP is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, which falls within UDP income re- quirements. The City will conduct random audits of up to 10 percent of enrollees to ensure continued income eligibility. For lower-income customers who qualify, Seattle’s Utility Discount Program offers 50 percent off public utilities bills and 60 percent off city light bills. Nearly 18,000 customers are currently enrolled (an in- crease of nearly 4,000 since January 2014), but many more are eligible and have not signed up. Murray has set a goal of 28,000 customers enrolled in UDP by the end of 2018. The income limits for the utility discounts is 70 percent of state median income: $31,000 a year for an individual and $60,000 for a family of four. Additional details and information on how to enroll for the Utility Discount Program are available at http://www. seattle.gov/humanservices/benefits/udp.htm. Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute and Seattle Parks and Rec Present ‘Snow White and the Seven’ The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute (LHPAI) and Seattle Parks and Recreation presents the Teen Summer Musical extravaganza, Snow White and the Seven: Each One, Teach One, featuring 80 youth ranging from seven to 18 years old, Aug. 20 through 23 at the Seattle Repertory Theatre. Tickets are $8 for youth (12 and under) and $10 for adults. Set in both America and Africa and inspired by the fairy tale of Snow White, Snow White and the Seven: “Each One, Teach One,” follows the heartfelt desire of an Afri- can-American girl determined to make a connection with her traditional heritage. Her journey takes many turns both wonderful and worri- some as she discovers the beauty of herself and her African homeland. The show will have seven performances (Aug. 20-22: shows daily at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Aug. 23: one show at 3 p.m.). All performances are at the Seattle Repertory Theatre and tickets are available online at brownpapertickets.com. Prior to the show opening, the cast will perform excerpts from the musical at the Rainier Valley Culture Fest Weekend in Columbia City on August 15. Snow White and the Seven: “Each One, Teach One” has been rehearsed onsite at LHPAI and is an original play writ- ten and directed by Isiah Anderson, Jr., of Seattle Parks and Recreation. The original music was written by renowned Seattle sing- er/songwriter Michelle Lang who engages creative materi- als from her R&B, Hip Hop, Jazz, and Gospel roots, with traditional African genres. Professional dancer/choreogra- pher Tyrone Crosby brings an innovative blend of dance styles to the show’s choreography. SEATTLE COMMUNITY CALENDAR 2015 Tuesday, August 18 Saturday, August 15 If you have an event you want to share with the community, email it two weeks in advance to The Skanner at info@theskanner.com Thursday, August 13 CELEBRATION OF YOUTH ART HONORING THUR- GOOD MARSHALL: Come celebrate this inspiring statement re equality and justice and our youth’s power to make a positive change. The 24 young artists will perform a group poem and refreshments will be generously provided. 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., Thurgood Marshall Elementary, 2401 S. Irving St. Friday, August 14 KIDS’ DAY AT THE BOTHELL FARMERS MARKET: This is a special kids’ day. Join us for an exciting day of arts & crafts, face painting & kid’s market booths. Noon – 6 p.m., Country Village, 23718 7th Ave., Bothell. KEY PENINSULA LOGGING SHOW & FESTIVAL: Come out and enjoy antique displays, kids’ games, arts and crafts, food and drinks, live entertainment. All proceeds benefit Key Peninsula Community Services Food Bank & Senior Center. 10 a.m. Gate- way Park, 10405 State Rt., Gig Harbor. COMMUNITY CARNIVAL: Join us for lots of games, food, an entertainment stage, pony rides, bounce houses and much more fun things to do. 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. First Lutheran Church, 2483 Mitchell RD SE, Port Orchard. CELEBRATING SHORELINE’S 20TH BIRTHDAY: The festi- val has two stages with live music and shows, pony rides, petting zoo, and much more. This is a free celebration for the public to enjoy. Cromwell Park, 18030 Meridian Ave. N. Sunday, August 16 AFRO-LATINO FESTIVAL: This festival will showcase live music from local musical groups and different rhythms: salsa, merengue, jazz, fusion, reggae and more. Noon – 7 p.m., Warren G. Magnuson Park, 7400 Sand Point Way NE. SUMMER OUTDOOR MOVIE IN THE PARK: This week’s movie is The Hundred-Foot Journey. “HUN- DRED-FOOT JOURNEY”! Family, friends and neigh- bors get comfy! Bring your picnics, blankets and low-back lawn chairs to see the movie on a huge screen and have free popcorn. Pre-movie fun starts at 8 p.m. Movie begins at dusk. Hidden Val- ley Sports Park, 1905 112th Ave. NE, Bellevue. Saturday, August 22 TASTE OF MAIN STREET: A fixed-price passport with samplings of fine cuisine, dessert and wine from participating restaurants. Main Street shops offer special sales, wine tasting, gourmet snacks, give- aways and events. Noon – 5 p.m. Main Street, be- tween Bellevue Way and 100th Ave. NE, Bellevue. 2ND ANNUAL YOUTHMENTKIDZ BACKPACK GIVE- AWAY: This is YOUTHMENTKIDZ’s second annual backpack giveaway for kids in the community. Last year the group was able to help over 200 kids with backpacks, supplies and a free lunch from the BBQ Pit! 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Garfield Com- munity Center, 2323 E. Cherry St. August 12, 2015 The Portland and Seattle Skanner Page 5
