Portland Community Media hosted one of its largest orientation meetings ever Jan. 28. About 70 people turned out to learn more about the television training and production center and to sign up for classes and volunteering opportunities. Extra chairs had to be brought in to seat the diverse crowd that ranged from 20-somethings to seniors. According to Pam Carsten, PCM's community relations specialist, the usual turnout is around 35. ...

Rep. Zack Hudgins (D – Tukwila) wants his fellow lawmakers in the state Legislature to get behind a package of bills that build on his past work that accelerates the groundwork for reaching every corner of the state with broadband Internet connections. 
"You want to talk about economic stimulus; Washington is the most trade-dependent state in the country," he said in a statement. "Without access to quick, reliable Internet service, students will miss opportunities to explore the world beyond their textbooks, and small businesses will continue to struggle to move their products anywhere but locally....

The Seattle Public Library, United Way of King County and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) are collaborating to offer free tax preparation service through April 15 at 11 locations of The Seattle Public Library.
Trained volunteers will answer questions and help prepare personal tax returns. The service is not available for business tax returns.
Tax assistance will be available as follows ...

Clint Ball, with Neighborcare Health, the sponsor of the West Seattle High School Teen Health Center gives Seattle School Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson a tour of the health center on Monday Feb. 2, after a celebration in the school library of 20 years of school-based healthcare centers. The Teen Health Center staff provides services to more than 5,000 uninsured and underinsured students every year, in 14 Seattle middle and high schools.

Changes could be coming to the Independent Police Review Division and Citizens Review Committee in 2009. The CRC recently appointed two new members and the IPR will be launching an ongoing community outreach campaign.
Citizen complaints to the city's Independent Police Review division decreased in the last quarter of 2008.
Mary-Beth Baptista, director of IPR, isn't celebrating or brooding about the news quite yet....

Undergoing a host of classes and projects in 2009, Sabin Community Development Corporation is showing no signs of slowing down since its founding in 1991.
Starting this year, Craig Fondren is overseeing a team that will take Sabin's multimedia classes to a new level....

President Barack Obama Wednesday signed federal legislation that gives Washington's Apple Health for Kids program a $15-million-per-year shot in the arm.
Governor Chris Gregoire, who was present for the signing, says the new funding available through the federal Children's Health Insurance Program gives Washington state more than enough federal support to restart Apple Health for Kids coverage for families earning between 250 and 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, which was suspended last December....

• Dinners ...
• Festivals ...
• Films ...
• Public Tours .... 
• Lectures ...

• African American Read-In ...
• Cool Nutz Musical Celebration ...
• Black History Seminar ...
• Oregon Action to Hold Racial Profiling Meetings ...
• Facets of Africa ...
• Perfection, by Helen Hill ...
  

What's happening for you in Portland this week? Read here a day-by-day diary of free community events to fill your spare time. For a full calendar please click on "Read the complete article" below….