Seattle News and Events for April 9-28, 2015

Watch Your Mailbox for Special Election Ballots

King County Elections will mail ballots April 8 to all registered voters in King County for the April 28 Special Election. This special election includes measures from seven jurisdictions on issues such as transportation, school construction, public safety, parks and more.

King County Elections has forecast a turnout of 33 percent for this election.

Voters should read and follow directions on their ballots, sign the return envelope, and get ballots back before the April 28 election day deadline. Mailed ballots need a first-class stamp. Voters also have 25 locations to return ballots without a stamp by 8 p.m. on April 28, including permanent drop-box locations, scheduled ballot drop-off vans and Accessible Voting Centers.

Citizens not yet registered to vote in Washington state have until April 20 at 4:30 p.m. to register in person at King County Elections offices to vote in this election:
King County Elections headquarters, 919 SW Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057, open weekdays 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The King County Voter Registration Annex, 500 4th Avenue, Room 440, Seattle, WA., 98104. Open weekdays 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Voters who don’t receive a ballot by April 15 or who have questions should call King County Elections at 206-296-VOTE (8683).

Free help with Tax Forms at the Rainier Beach Library

The Seattle Public Library and AARP have consolidated the free tax preparation service available in southeast Seattle. Tax help is no longer offered at the NewHolly Branch, but remains available at the Rainier Beach Branch.

Drop-in tax help at the Rainier Beach Branch, 9125 Rainier Ave. S., 206-386-1906 is offered on a first-come, first-served basis from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays through April 11.
Due to federal budget cuts, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is unable to provide the Library with certain tax forms and instruction booklets. Most IRS forms are available online at www.irs.gov. Black-and-white prints of the forms may be printed from Library computers for 15 cents per page. To request forms by mail, order online at IRS.gov/orderforms or call 1-800-829-3676.

Tax help at the Rainier Beach Branch is provided by AARP.

For more information, call the Rainier Beach Branch at 206-386-1906, visit spl.org/taxhelp, or www.spl.org.

MOHAI: Maker Day on Coding

On the last Saturday of the month, come to Maker Day at MOHAI to tinker, experiment and create alongside some of Seattle's most innovative makers. Drop in any time between 11 am-2 pm; activities are designed for all ages and skill levels and no reservation is necessary!

On April 25: Create computer games and animation with Code Fellows.

Learn basic software programming concepts from Code Fellows instructors and alumni. We'll use Scratch to create our own interactive games, stories, and animation! Perfect for all ages and experience.

Cost is included with museum admission

Location Museum of History & Industry, 860 Terry Ave N. Contact MOHAI Programs, 206-324-1126 ex. 165

#MYHIVMOMENT: Youth Creating an Aids-Free Generation

In recognition of National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD), The Seattle Public Library and Seattle-area youth HIV activists will host a free educational community forum from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at the Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium.

The community forum will feature a panel discussion on "A Future United: Youth Creating an AIDS-free Generation," with an open dialogue about HIV/AIDS stigma and its effect on youth, as well as prevention efforts. The discussion will be hosted by local drag personality, Aleksa Manila, and will include guest speakers working in the field of HIV education.

The panel will include: Tranisha Arzah, BABES Network-YWCA; Manuel Venegas, NYHAAD Ambassador, Advocates for Youth; Bas Frost, Lifelong’s Health Education Youth Outreach (HEYO), Peace for the Streets by Kids for the Streets; Brandyn Gallagher, PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) Facts: Rethinking Prevention and Sex.

This program is funded by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and presented in partnership with the #MyHIVMoment campaign, a collaborative effort of Lifelong, the Center for Multicultural Health, Entre Hermanos, Gay City Men’s Health, Seattle Counseling Services, and We Are 1.

For more information, call the Library at 206-386-4636 or www.spl.org.

April Poetry Contest

Adults, teens and children are invited to enter their original poetry in the Northeast Branch All Ages Poetry Contest during the month of April.

Poems must be no longer than one page and can be written in any style. Entries must be received by Thursday, April 30. Contest rules and the required entry form are available at the Northeast Branch, 6801 35th Ave. N.E.

Contest winners will have the chance to read their poems at an awards ceremony from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 20 at the Northeast Branch. As time allows, there will also be an open mike where anyone present can read their original poetry.

All poems submitted for the contest will be bound into booklets available for viewing at the branch.

For more information, call the Northeast Branch at 206-684-7539 or www.spl.org.

For more Seattle and Portland events, see our Community Calendar.