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There is a Tax Preparation Workshop at the NRV Neighborhood House Technology Center on Thursday, February 4 from 6pm to 8pm.

United Way will also have a Tax Van outside the Neighborhood House on Wednesday, Feb. 3 from noon til 7pm and on Saturday, Feb. 6 from noon til 7pm. This is a free service for anyone who earned less than $58,000 last year. Bring Social Security numbers for each family member, W2s and 1099s, childcare provider name, address and tax ID, your bank routing and account numbers, and the name, address and phone number of your landlord if you are using the renter’s credit.

More information about this service is available at MyFreeTaxes.com.

The January sky lightens up a bit, and thoughts turn toward spring. With the help of the Department of Neighborhoods, the Seattle Housing Authority, and other community partners, LettuceLink is working to transform half an acre in the New Rainier Vista neighborhood into a giving and teaching garden. This garden will be located at the north end of NRV, between Andover and Yancey and next to the Habitat site.

click on the image above to see a larger version.

Modeled after Marra Farm, the Seattle Community Farm will be a space for low-income residents of Rainier Valley to grow food for themselves and to share with the Rainier Valley Food Bank. While the garden will focus on food production, there will be many chances for gathering, celebrating, and learning. Garden education opportunities will be available throughout the growing season—seed saving, children’s gardening, and food preparation workshops are all being considered.

Jamie Robinson and Leslie Heimer of Solid Ground and Lettuce Link are coordinating outreach activities in and around New Rainier Vista: asking neighbors what they would like to grow, how they would like the garden to look, and how they will be involved. They are particularly interested in hearing ideas for celebrations and community gatherings that can take place in the garden. When neighbors come together to break bread (or chard or broccoli for that matter), strong communities can take shape.

If you are interested in being involved in the Seattle Community Farm, please contact Jamie Robinson at jamier@solid-ground.org, or Leslie Heimer at leslieh@solid-ground.org. There will be many opportunities to share your ideas, or just get your hands dirty.

The Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA) After School Program at Rainier Vista participates in P-Patch Community Garden activities at the Senior Snoqualmie Garden. Gregory Schaffer, a ReWA staff member in the after school program, has been involved in gardening with children and in doing garden-based activities.

Gregory needs the help of a few adult gardeners during program hours, weekdays between 4:30-6pm. Volunteers will help create and guide gardening activities and help with garden planning, planting and maintenance.

For more information and to volunteer, call Gregory Schaffer at 206-721-1178 or Julie Bryan at 206-684-0540 or 206-257-8257.

The Voice Resident Advisory Committee meets monthly to discuss The Voice newspaper. If you read The Voice, you’re already a VRAC member!

The next meeting of the VRAC will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3 at the Epstein building, 905 Spruce St. We’ll meet in the first-floor conference room; an accessible entrance is located on the east side of the building. Please ring the buzzer for entry.

For more information, please contact the Voice Editor, Tyler Roush, at (206) 461-8430, ext. 227.

Just a friendly reminder: the next Traffic Safety Committee Meeting will be held Monday February 01 , 2010 from 7:00pm to 8:00pm at Neighborhood House Paul Allen Room (4410 29th Avenue South (first Floor).

Agenda includes:

• Traffic flow/traffic signal issue update - Allison Schwartz, Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT)
• Phase II construction update - Rebecca Whitney, SHA
• South Precinct Meeting update - Carol Kelly
• Staff Parking update with Providence Elder Place - Leo Dickens?

The next meeting of the NRV HOA Board will be Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7pm in the McBride Court Community Room. The entrance is in the back of the building.

Just a reminder: two board member terms are expiring in the spring and we homeowners will need to elect two new members. If you think you can donate 10 hours a month to your HOA, please contact Ken, our manager at CWD, or a current board member.

Don’t miss this important meeting for any parents living in New Rainier Vista.

School Advocacy Night
This Friday, 1/22/2010 from 6PM – 8PM at the Neighborhood House

Learn about your neighborhood school, learn ideas to influence school planning, build skills to communicate with policy makers.

The Neighborhood House Technology Center offers adult open lab time and youth open lab time Monday – Saturday. Come use a computer and/or access the Internet. Basic Word classes are offered and Job Search skills and Resume Writing and other classes for free! Call 461-4568 ext 202 for more info on the Tech Center!

Also, the Tech Center is in need of volunteers. The time commitment is minimal. If you know how to use Word or Internet Explorer and have an hour to donate, please call the Tech Center.

Play and Learn Group is starting again! Come meet other parents, have a healthy snack, and get info on child development. Play and Learn is open to 0-5 years of age, free to anyone. Monday and Wednesdays from 11:30-1:30pm at Rainier Vista Center.

The next NRV Community Kitchen event will be next Monday, 1/11 at 6:30pm. The menu will include lentil soup, roasted red peppers, and apple cinnamon muffins. The cost is $6 per person.

We will prepare the food and then eat together if time permits. Bring a container and bag to carry food home with you. Please call Kate Farmer to register at 206-461-4568 ext. 211

This is a fun way to come meet your neighbors, eat yummy food and have fun! Spread the word if you can and we hope to see you there!