Seattle News and Events for Dec. 18 - 28, 2014

PHOTO: Volunteer Lorenzo Kettere helps hand out supplies at the 4th Annual Seattle Stand Down, Dec. 11-12 at Seattle Central College, Mitchell Activity Center. The event provides a "one stop" shop for vets to get a variety of services including medical and dental care, eye exams, haircuts, hygiene supplies and clothes and help with resumes and job placement. Susan Fried photo

Get Ready to Splish, Splash and Dash to Your Local Pool

Seattle Parks and Recreation is proud to announce the introduction of discounted drop-in swims at its public pools. Beginning in 2015, individuals that qualify based on income and family size will be able to attend a swim session at a discounted rate.

Drop-in swimming programs offer vital opportunities for basic exposure to the water, development of swim skills and personal health. Currently, many discounts are offered based on age, special population needs, prepaid sessions and frequency of use. With recent City Council approval, in 2015 Seattle Parks will also begin to offer discounts for drop-in sessions to those who qualify. Eligibility will be based on family size and income level in accordance with Seattle Parks established application and approval process. For qualifying individuals, drop-in discount pricing will be $2 for recreational swims such as family swim, public swim or lap swim and $3 for fitness swims such as Water Exercise, Masters, or Swimstrong.

You can be a super hero too! Help a child learn to swim by making a donation to the Learn to Swim Seattle Parks Scholarship fund. Donate online: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/1442483

For more information on pool schedules, location and pricing, please visit: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/aquatics/currentschedule.htm

Enjoy Free Films at the Seattle Public Library

Catch a free screening of popular movies, including "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "22 Jump Street" through mid-January at The Seattle Public Library, Northgate Branch, 10548 Fifth Ave. N.E.

Northgate Branch patrons had the opportunity to vote on which films they wanted shown at the Library. Times, dates and film titles are outlined below.

• 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21 - "Guardians of the Galaxy" (PG-13)
• 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28 - "22 Jump Street" (R)
• 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11 - "The Hundred-Foot Journey" (PG)

Library events and programs are free and open to the public. Free parking is available at the branch. Space is limited to 60 people and the films are all ticketed events. Free tickets will be available at the circulation desk 30 minutes before the movie starts.

For more information, call the Northgate Branch at 206-386-1980, visit www.spl.org/movies or www.spl.org.

Plan Ahead to Recycle Your Christmas Tree 

Planning ahead can make your holiday to-do list so much more manageable. WSU Lewis County Master Gardener and Master Recycler Composter volunteers have announced the schedule for Christmas tree recycling this year so you can get it on your calendar.

Undecorated Christmas trees and wreaths will be accepted from Dec. 26 through Jan. 11, 2015, in the parking lot outside the gate at the Lewis County Central Transfer Station, 1411 S. Tower Ave., in Centralia. Volunteers will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays to accept the trees for chipping.

The Christmas trees are chipped up for use in compost bins, trails and other yard and garden projects. All decorations and tinsel must be removed from the trees and wreaths. No flocked or artificial trees or wreaths will be accepted.

Trees or wreaths that do not comply may be disposed of at the transfer station, where regular charges will apply. There is a $10 minimum fee for refuse loads weighing 200 pounds or less.

Unwanted holiday lights can be recycled during the event as well as any time the Central Transfer Station is open, which is from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Holiday wrapping papers, cards and boxes may be recycled in residential curbside recycling containers or containers at the transfer stations in Centralia and Morton.

Anyone with questions regarding recycling may call 360-740-1452.

The Seattle Public Library Rolls Out New Computer Resources

The Seattle Public Library is expanding technology access and learning resources for Library patrons. All Library locations now offer upgraded workstations, full access to Microsoft Windows and relaxed permissions for patrons.

More applications - The Adobe Creative Cloud suite of applications, including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere and more, is now available on all public workstations. Microsoft Office applications are still available as well.

Full access to Microsoft Windows - Library computers now look and act just like a "normal" Windows computer. Computer users have full access to built-in software applications, accessories and functions.

More permissions - Library patrons now have the ability to download and install applications during their computer-use session. All computers are restored to a default state after a session ends.

Learn more about the Library's public computers at http://spl.org/computers. Library patrons can use their Library card to reserve a computer for up to 90 minutes a day at http://spl.org/reserveacomputer.

For more information, call the Library at 206-386-4636 or Ask a Librarian.

Scammers Target Utility Customers by Phone, Email and In-Person Visits

As temperatures continue to drop and the importance of keeping your home warm rises, scammers are taking full advantage of the situation by targeting utility customers; threatening to shutoff power unless payment is made to a fraudulent bill collector. 

Seattle City Light is receiving 25 to 30 reports per week from customers targeted by such scams, often some of Seattle’s most vulnerable residents.

Scammers commonly target non-English speaking individuals, elderly and small business owners. They use phone calls, email, even home visits, posing as Seattle City Light employees.

Seattle City Light does not call, email or visit customers demanding immediate payment to avoid shutoffs. Anyone who falls behind on payments will receive at least two written notifications before the shutoff process starts.

Additionally, City Light employees will never need to enter your home to conduct any kind of test. If someone claiming to be from City Light approaches you at home and asks for personal or financial information, requests to enter your home, or cannot provide you with employee identification, immediately shut your door, secure your home and call 911.

If a customer suspects a scam attempt or has any questions regarding their bill, City Light urges them to call a customer service representative at (206) 684-3000.

City Light is taking a proactive approach toward stopping scams through its “Spot It, Report it, Stop it,” scam prevention campaign. To learn more about how you can end scams, please visit: www.seattle.gov/light/EndScams. The website offers various resources for customers to protect themselves and their family and friends from scams.

Find more news and events in Portland and Seattle on The Skanner News Community Calendar