Waste prevention

More than half of what goes to King County's Cedar Hills Regional Landfill as "garbage" is actually recyclable items. To help reduce waste and extend the life of the landfill, the county's Solid Waste Division will again offer a free eight-week Master Recycler Composter program that teaches the art of recycling and composting.

Participants will receive training in waste prevention, recycling, home composting, natural yard care and alternatives to household hazardous-waste disposal. The program is open to all county residents living outside Seattle.

In return for the training, program graduates are asked to share their knowledge and skills with others by volunteering at least 40 hours a year in the community.

Training sessions start next week in Bellevue. Sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 6:15 to 9 p.m., and three Saturday sessions are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with some field trips.

Applications, however, are due by Friday. Information is online at www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/mrc, or call 206-296-4353.

Tax clinic

The Seattle area is one of seven markets picked by KeyBank for a free tax clinic to offer help in preparing income-tax returns to people with low and moderate incomes. KeyBank calls the program "Super Refund Saturday."

This Saturday, the bank will partner with United Way of King County for a free tax session for eligible taxpayers between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. at Northshore Family Center, 18215 Bothell Way N.E. in Bothell.

Some low- and moderate-income workers may not know they qualify for the earned-income tax credit or other tax credits. Qualified families may be entitled to refunds in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

The clinic is intended to give those who need help an alternative to commercial tax-preparation fees. Appointments are recommended. Call 425- 489-6343.

Public forum

Another public meeting to talk about the future of the 74-acre Seattle Center, one of the city's cultural jewels, will be from 7 to 9 tonight at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave. S. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickel's Century 21 Committee is holding the meeting.

Getting around

Winter hours at the Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center near Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, starting today, are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday. The center, in Cowlitz County, is 43 miles east of Castle Rock on Highway 504. Information is online at www.gonorthwest.com/Washington/cascades/mt_st_helens/coldwaterridge.htm, or call 360-274-2130.

Can you help?

The Seattle Animal Shelter will hold a free orientation session on Saturday for people interested in becoming a temporary "foster parent" for sick or immature cats and kittens. The 90-minute session will start at noon in the shelter's upper-level conference room at 2061 15th Ave. W.

Those who attend are not obligated to foster an animal. The orientation is just a step in the shelter's volunteer foster-parent program. The shelter hopes volunteers will sign up to provide temporary care in their homes to rehabilitate sick, injured and immature cats and kittens that would otherwise be put to sleep.

The shelter's Help the Animals Fund subsidizes costs associated with the foster-care program. For information, call 206-386-7387.

Here & Now is compiled by Seattle Times staff reporter Charles E. Brown and news assistant Suesan Whitney Henderson. To submit an item, e-mail herenow@seattletimes.com or call 206-464-2226.