January 20, 2016 The Skanner Page 5
News
Events & Announcements
Community
Calendar 2016
cont’d from pg 4
PHOTO BY SUSAN FRIED
SATURDAY, JANUARY 23
State of Africatown
Students from First Place Scholars perform at the third annual State of Africatown Jan. 16 at Langston Hughes Performing Arts
Institute. The event featured presentations about the success of some of the Central District-based Africatown Seattle initiatives
including the signing of legislation formally designating the Central Area as an Arts & Cultural District focused on honoring and
preserving the contributions of the Black and African Diaspora to Seattle.
Seattle News Briefs
College Goal Washington Helps
Families Complete the FAFSA
Prospective college students and their parents are
invited to attend College Goal Washington at 1 p.m.
Jan. 23 in the Undergraduate Building at Washing-
ton State University Vancouver. This free, statewide
event provides students and families with help com-
pleting the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal
Student Aid)--the single-most important application
for financial assistance for higher education. Help
completing the WASFA (Washington Application for
State Financial Aid) will also be provided to DREAM-
ER (undocumented) students. Translation assistance
will be available for Russian and Spanish speakers.
Whether you choose a four-year university, com-
munity college, vocational or technical school, most
students rely on financial aid to pay for college. At
College Goal Washington, students and parents can
talk to experts and get help filling out the FAFSA or
WASFA.
In order to complete the FAFSA/WAFSA, College
Goal Washington guests should bring:
• Student’s social security card/number or Alien
registration
• Student’s income information
Bank statements; a W-2 or pay stub, if you have a job;
past tax return, if you filed
• Student’s parent, if you are under 24 years of age
All students 24 years of age and older are considered
independent from their parents. The FAFSA will help
you determine if you are considered dependent or
independent if you are younger than 24. Only depen-
dents need to file parent information.
• Parent’s financial information
Bank statements; W-2 or pay stub; last year’s tax re-
turn
You can use last year’s tax return to estimate your
current tax information and submit the FAFSA. If
you do this, you will update and make corrections af-
ter you file your taxes.
• Parent’s social security number, if they have one
• Any additional financial information such as child
support statements, TANF or welfare information;
real estate, stock or bonds investments; family
business or farm information
Celebrate Neighbor Appreciation
Day Feb. 13
Celebrate Seattle’s annual Neighbor Appreciation
Day, a special day set aside to reach out to neighbors,
create new friends, and express thanks to those who
help make your neighborhood a great place to live.
Residents, community groups, and businesses across
Seattle will join together on Feb. 13 (and the week of )
to celebrate.
Here are ways you can celebrate Neighbor Appre-
ciation Day:
• Plan an activity for your neighborhood such as a
block party, potluck, or work party. Our website
provides ideas, tools, resources, and templates to
help you organize an activity. If the event is open to
the public, you can post it to our events calendar.
• Attend one of the many community activities listed
on the events calendar. Many Seattle Fire stations
along with pools, community centers, and neigh-
borhoods are hosting celebrations and work par-
ties.
• Take your neighbor to a FREE Seattle University
Redhawks basketball game. Visit this link and use
Promo Code “NEIGHBORDAY” to receive tickets.
For questions call 206-398-4678.
• Share a “great neighbor” story or tell us how you
are celebrating using #neighborday. Post it to our
Facebook page.
Join Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and
thousands of community members in celebration of
what makes Seattle great – our neighbors! Visit seat-
tle.gov/neighborhoods/neighborday/ for more infor-
mation or contact Wendy Watson at wendy.watson@
seattle.gov.
DFI Warns of Advance Fee Scam
The Washington State Department of Financial In-
stitutions received a report of what appears to be an
advance fee scam.
Recently, a Washington State consumer was con-
tacted by someone claiming to represent Rosenblatt
Financial Center. The representative stated the con-
sumer was approved for a $5,000 loan but would first
need to provide Rosenblatt Financial Center several
payments via Western Union or MoneyGram. The
consumer sent Rosenblatt Financial Center $748 via
Western Union but has to date not received the pro-
posed loan.
Rosenblatt Financial Center is not licensed to
make loans in Washington State and is not licensed
in Washington as a collection agency or debt buyer.
Despite the address provided by Rosenblatt Finan-
cial Center to the Washington State consumer listed
below, DFI has received information indicating that
Rosenblatt Financial Center is operating from out-
side of the United States.
The following e-mail address and phone number
have been associated with this apparent scam:
Email: Courtneysheppard@rosenblattcenter.com
Tel: (866) 724-8882
BELLEVUE AQUATIC CENTER EMPLOYMENT/VOLUNTEER OPEN
HOUSE: Come to this open house to gather information regard-
ing employment and volunteer opportunities at the Bellevue
Aquatic Center. For ages 13 and older. 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., Bellevue
Aquatic Center, 601 143rd Ave. NE.
UW NEIGHBORHOOD SMOKEY POINT CLINIC COMMUNITY OPEN
HOUSE: UW Medicine is opening its 12th Primary Care Clinic lo-
cation in Smokey Point. Tour the clinic, meet our providers, en-
joy refreshments and activities for the whole family. Members
of the Husky Marching Band and also Harry the Husky will be
there. 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., UW Neighborhood Smokey Point Clinic,
3823 172nd St. NE., Arlington.
SOUTH SOUND WEDDING SHOW: This is a local resource guide for
engaged couples planning a wedding in the South Puget Sound.
Engaged couples, their families and wedding attendants are in-
vited to attend the Olympia – Area show. Cost is $8 in advance,
$12 day of event. 9:30 a.m., Saint Martin’s University, 5000 Ab-
bey Way SE, Lacey.
MONDAY, JANUARY 25
EVENING INDOOR PLAYGROUND: Drop- in evening indoor play-
ground with active play area amd quiet preschool-type room.
Great place to wind down with your child or wear them out just
before bedtime. $3per child. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Miller Community
Center, 330 19th Ave. E.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28
IS SHE READY? FREE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS: This
is for girls 13 to 17 years old. Work alongside our resourceful
mentors to identify academic aspirations and take active steps
toward becoming college bound. Free for all girls 13 to 17. 2 p.m.
– 6 p.m. You Grow Girl, 2200 Rainier Ave. S. Suite 201.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 30
ROBINSWOOD HOUSE/SEATTLE BRIDE – ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE
AND TASTING: Planning a wedding or special event? Please join
us for our annual open house and tasting, featuring all of our
exclusive caterers. 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Robinswood House (in
Robinswood Park), 2430 148th Ave. SE, Bellevue.
2ND ANNUAL FAMILY FUN FEST: Come check out this family fun
event. Festivities to include The Harmonica Pocket, face paint-
ing, Caring Clown International, play fun carnival games and
so much more. Admission is $5. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Kingston High
School, 26201 Sisaya Ave. NE., Kingston.
Address: 1620 5th Ave Ste 110, San Diego, CA 92101
The Washington State Department of Financial
Institutions cautions that unlicensed entities often
engage in certain practices that indicate they are
committing a fraud or otherwise violating Washing-
ton State law. For instance, such entities often use
non-business email addresses (such as @gmail.com,
@yahoo.com, or other similar easily obtained email
addresses) to send correspondence, threaten legal or
criminal action if consumers do not reply immediate-
ly, or contain a variety of typographical and spelling
errors in their correspondence to consumers.
DFI encourages consumers who receive communi-
cations containing personal information to contact
their banks, credit reporting agencies, and the Social
Security Administration to ensure there is no unau-
thorized activity on their accounts.
In all circumstances, DFI also strongly suggests ver-
ifying the business licensee of entity that is request-
ing personal or financial information, or attempting
to collect funds.
Washington State residents, if you are suspicious of
unlicensed activity by a payday lender please contact
the Washington State Department of Financial In-
stitutions at 1-877-RING-DFI (746-4334), or online at
www.dfi.wa.gov. If you live in another state, find your
state regulator at http://mortgage.nationwidelicens-
ingsystem.org/consumer/Pages/AgencyContacts.
aspx.
View the Community Calendar and regularly
updated News Briefs for Seattle and Portland at