When a thief stole the charity collection jar at Bagel Land on NE 42^nd and Fremont last week, he took more than just cash; gone with the $600 is a sense of community spirit. Café owner Bernard Ferere is a native of Haiti who was gathering money for medicines destined to help impoverished families in the Carribean nation – the poorest country in the western hemisphere. . . .

Promoters say the program has helped more than 750,000 families positively change their financial future.
This life-changing program teaches families and individuals how to handle their money through common-sense principles and small group accountability.
As they work on a Total Money Makeover, the average family pays off $5,300 in debt and saves $2,700 in the first 91 days after beginning the program and is completely out of debt, except for the mortgage, in 18 to 24 months.

An estimated 1.4 million working families in Oregon are expected to benefit from the "Making Work Pay" tax credit signed into law by President Obama in February, putting some $700 million into the state's economy over the course of the next year. 
Federal officials describe it as one of the fastest and broadest tax cuts in American history.
This week, the Obama Administration released a state-by-state analysis to show the impact the tax credit is having across the country. . . .

• Racial Profiling Public Meeting
• Sen. Wyden Town Hall Meeting
• Become a YMCA Volunteer in Clark County
• Artist damali ayo Discusses Sustainability, Fashion, Eco-Living
• Humboldt Speaks
• Job Resource Fair for Seniors and People with Disabilities
• Parenting, ESL Classes
• Clackamas Business Seminar
• "Coveted: The David & Bathsheba Story
• Small Business Help
• Free Lead-Safe Home Projects Workshop
• Water Conservation Workshop
• Attention Employers: Register for MHCC Career Fair Now
• Banquet of HOPE
• Elders in Action Benefit
• Kidney Center Health Fest for African Americans
• Bike-to-Work Commute Day Celebration
• Humane Society Holds Photo Contest

• Learn Money Management
• Commission on African American Affairs Meeting
• Healthier Without Wheat
• It's No Longer Just Soul Food at Food as Art
• Wangari Maathai: 'The Challenge for Africa'
• Library Expands Foreign Language Access
• Friends of Library Hold Annual Sale
• Alki Center Holds Sale
• Seattle Animal Shelter Needs Doghouses
• Women's Center Health & Wellness Fair
• Writing Poetry for Beginners
• Access Public Officials During "Coffee Hours"
• Alki Art Fair Seeks Artists
• CREATION Project Sponsors Black Artists

At a hearing on March 31, the Board of Clark County Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution that urges Clark County residents to help the local economy by shopping within the county. At the same time, the Board resolved that "to the extent practicable, we will expend economic recovery funds on products and services that are key to supporting the local economy." . . .

Local Seattle-area historian and author Ester Mumford spoke about small presses in Washington State on Saturday, March 28 at the Douglass-Truth Library in the Central District. An exhibit of the history of small book publishers in Washington, curated by Ms. Mumford, is currently on display in the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc Delta Upsilon Omega Chapter Exhibit Area at the library

Trail Blazers Travis Outlaw and Brandon Roy visited Jefferson High School Monday to help kick off the grand opening ceremony of the newly renovated Community Room. Long considered to be in disrepair, the Community Room is open to students, faculty and community groups as a study and meeting area. It is now outfitted with several computers, new furniture and lighting and other amenities. . . .

The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center hosts its Sixth Annual African American Film Festival, featuring a powerful lineup of documentaries, narratives, workshops, film shorts and animation, kicking off with American Violet , a true story about race, poverty and the criminal justice system starring Nicole Beharie and Alfre Woodard, April 18.

The African American Film Festival runs nine consecutive nights from April 18 -- 26 and all screenings will take place at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center. . . .

"In response to bicycle licensing and registration. I agree! I also believe that they should be required to have some form of insurance just like drivers. People the ride bike have been given a free ride . . ."

"Regarding "Yes to Licensing, Registering bicycles" I have to disagree. It does not make total sense any way you look at it. One of the largest reasons people chose to ride bikes is because it is free. That includes people who don't have money to buy a car. Or gas. Or even a bus ticket. . . ."