Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Seattle Considered Safest Major City in America

Seattle Press Release

SEATTLE - People across America view Seattle as the country’s safest major city, according to a new survey released yesterday by The Gallup Organization.

In the poll, 80 percent of those surveyed, said they considered Seattle “a safe place to live in or visit,” an increase of 5 percent from 2004 results. It is the highest rating any city has received since Gallup began the periodic poll in 1990.

“This shows that the outstanding work of the Seattle Police Department is recognized not just at home, but across the country” said Mayor Greg Nickels. “While Seattle is certainly not free of crime and violence, this ranking is something everyone can take pride in. I want to thank the men and women of the department for their tremendous service to the city.”

The poll compared the public’s perceptions of safety in 16 major cities across the country. Minneapolis was second with 73 percent. The phone survey of 500 people was conducted Oct. 9-12.

The full results of the poll are available at www.galluppoll.com/content/?ci=25240

Friday, October 27, 2006

Vancouver Canada's solution to Low Income Housing

Vancouver has been building and selling essentially 3 bedroom condos with one of the bedrooms set up a independant studio with a kitchen, seperate entrance and bathroom.

The owners then rent them out to help with the mortgage. These studios are ment to be mortgage helpers. In Vancouver these extra studios have been rented out to mostly students.

In general its an interesting idea. Gives the owners space to grow into the future as the family grows and in the mean time they can rent it out.

You can read the article here

Halloween Things To Do This Weekend





from Seattle Metro Blogging

     

  • KUBE 93 FM Haunted House Renton Motocycles, 3701 E. Valley Road Thursday through Halloween Thursday, Sunday and Monday: 7 to 10 pm Friday, Saturday and Halloween: 7 to midnight
  • Saturday from noon to three is a low-light, no-scare Kids Day Haunted House for $5 or free with two cans of food for the Food Lifeline

    $12 - $13

    More info: www.seattlehaunts.com

  • Haunted House at the Commons The Commons (formerly SeaTac Mall), Federal Way
    Daily through Halloween
    Daily and Sunday: 7 to 10 pm
    Friday and Saturday: 7 to midnight

    $10

    More info: 253-839-6150

  • House of Terror
    Thursday through Sunday
    Thursday: 7-10 pm
    Friday and Saturday: 7 to midnight
    Sunday: 5 - 8 pm
    Oct. 30: 7 - 10 pm
    Halloween: 5 - 11 pm

    Kids Day no-scare haunted house, 2-4 p.m. Saturday, $5 or free with two cans of food for Food Lifeline

    $10
    More info: 253-833-9500

  • Haunted Hayride Wildwood Park, 1101 23rd Ave. S.E., Puyallup
    Friday and Saturday: 7 - 11 pm

    $6 - $9

    For more info: 253-841-5457

  • Haunted Trails Bastyr University, 14500 Juanita Drive N.E., Kenmore
    Friday, Saturday: 7 - 10 pm

    Less scary haunted trail suitable for younger children with children's Halloween story time for ages 7 and younger
    Saturday 6 to 7 pm.

    $10 or $9 with nonperishable food donation

    More info: 425-602-3290 or www.bastyr.edu

  • Fright Fest Wild Waves and Enchanted Village, 36201 Enchanted Parkway S., Federal Way
    Friday through Sunday
    Friday and Saturday: 5 to 11 pm
    Sunday: 5 to 9 pm

    $24.99

    More info: 253-661-8001 or www. sixflags.com/parks/enchantedvillage

  • Fright Factory 400 A St., Buckley
    Thursday through Sunday
    Thursday, Sunday: 7 to 9 pm
    Friday, Saturday: 7 to 11 pm

    $7 or $6 with canned food donation

    more info: www.frightfactory.net

Monday, October 23, 2006

Cleaning up Politics

PBS recently ran an awesome episode on clean elections and how to stop the influence of big money and big influence on political campaigns.



About the Show

(from pbs)
The run-up to this year's midterm election smells of scandal and corruption, which raises the question: Can anyone stop the influence of big money and big influence on political campaigns?

Before, you say "of course not," check out our special hour-long investigation into the fight to keep American elections free and fair across the country. Airing less than three weeks before Americans go to the polls, "Votes for Sale?" will spotlight the so-called clean elections movement, a radical public-funding experiment adopted in Maine and Arizona to revolutionize how campaigns are conducted. It works like this: candidates for public office receive a flat sum of money from the government to finance their campaign. In return, the candidates agree to use almost no private funds to run their elections.

Pushing special interest money out of the election process may do more than clean things up. It could also open the door for a variety of people who care about democracy to run for office with realistic hopes of winning. Case in point: Arizona State Representative Doug Quelland, a conservative Republican who supports clean elections by his own example. With a background in public school teaching and running a handful of neighborhood businesses, including a lawnmower repair shop, Quelland captured voter interest door-to-door armed only with his passion and point of view. He's now running for his third term in the state legislature and still sports his trademark handlebar moustache. "I don't want to owe anybody anything. I don't want to have to have the special interests. I just want to do it and not beholden to anybody," Rep. Quelland told NOW.

Quelland's state of Arizona is one of the biggest clean election battlegrounds, where the nation's only "clean-elected" governor, Janet Napolitano, sits in the statehouse. Governor Napolitano talks to NOW's David Brancaccio about her strong convictions regarding clean elections. "I think what Clean Elections allows you to do is be a better candidate and a better office holder, because you're not all the time having to raise money," Napolitano said.

In California, a very contentious debate is underway over Proposition 89, a clean election initiative about which voters will have the final say on November 7.

Although the clean election movement has many allies, it has also generated intense opposition on both the left and the right. The Goldwater Institute says that the system is invasive and overly complicated, and that giving candidates money is a form of free speech and should not be restricted. The ACLU maintains fair play and free speech is about fewer restrictions, not more.

Will "politics of the people" be a clean democratic step forward or a messy economic step backward? NOW travels across the country to find out.

Anti-War March on Saturday, Oct. 28


There will be an anti-war rally and march in the downtown area on Saturday, October 28th. The rally will be held on the plaza of the Federal Building at 2nd Avenue and Marion Street, beginning at noon and lasting until about 1 p.m. About 500 protestors are expected to attend the march, which will begin at about 1:15 p.m.

March route:

From 2nd Ave. and Marion St., marchers will travel south on 2nd Ave., turn east on Yesler Way to Dilling Way, then turn east on Dilling Way toward 4th Ave. The marchers will then head north on 4th Ave to Pine St., turn west on Pine St., and finally travel south on 2nd Ave. back toward the Federal Building at 2nd Ave. and Madison St.

The Seattle Department of Transportation builds, maintains and operates Seattle's $8 billion transportation infrastructure. To further Mayor Nickels’ goal to get Seattle moving, the department manages short- and long-term investments in streets, bridges, pavement and trees, that better connect the city with the region.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Seattle Animal Shelter is looking for Volunteers

Seattle Animal Shelter offers Volunteer Orientation
Oct. 21, 2006, at Seattle Central Community College Gym

SEATLE – If you’re interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities with the Seattle Animal Shelter, plan to attend the shelter’s next volunteer orientation at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday,
Oct. 21, 2006
, in the gym at Seattle Central Community College, 1701 Broadway.

The orientation will begin promptly at 1:30 and last approximately 90 minutes. Late arrivals will not be admitted.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and must attend an orientation meeting. Shelter volunteers work at least eight hours per month on an annual basis.

“Volunteers are vital to the success of this shelter,” says Shelter Director Don Jordan. “Last year, 600 volunteers and foster parents collectively donated more than 70,000 hours of service, the equivalent of 35 full-time employees. With their help, approximately 2,700 animals were adopted from the Seattle Animal Shelter but about 1,300 had to be euthanized. We’re constantly striving to reduce the number of animals euthanized.”

To help increase the number of adoptions, volunteers provide a variety of services, including:

  • a foster-care program to rehabilitate sick and immature dogs and cats;
  • off-site dog walking;
  • an anti-cruelty program;
  • “fabulous felines” adoptathons; 
  • an annual “Furry5K” fun run fund-raiser;
  • a “Get Fit With Fido” running program;
  • marketing/fund-raising;
  • special events planning and development; and
  • pet therapy.

For Metro bus routes, call (206)553-3000 or visit this web site: http://tripplanner.metrokc.gov/. For more information regarding the volunteer orientation, call the Seattle Animal Shelter at (206)386-PETS (7387).

Friday, October 13, 2006

Movies! Movies! Movies! Seattle's Lesbian & Gay Film Festival




Lesbian & Gay Film Festival Starts Tonight
"Get ready for 10 days and nights of fabulous queer film."
Click Here to View the 2006 Schedule

&

I just recently heard about Central Cinema. It's an independant movie theater where you can watch a movie, drink beer & eat pizza. The concept sounds like alot of fun.
Admission is $5
The Menu
Movies Currently Playing

Located at 21st & Union

If you have been to this theater let me know what you thought of it. I have yet to go.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Help Support the Lifelong AIDS Alliance

Mission Statement:
Lifelong AIDS Alliance is committed to preventing the spread of HIV, and to providing practical support services and advocating for those whose lives are affected by HIV and AIDS.

Lifelong provides housing and home chores, food and nutrition services, insurance continuation, transportation, case management, and emergency financial assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS; the community services include prevention education and national public policy advocacy.

Here is a video that tells all about the Lifelong AIDS Alliance

Windows Media version
Quicktime (.mov) version

Here is what LifeLong AIDS Alliance did in 2004
  • Make 79,429 home-cooked meals for Chicken Soup Brigade members

  • Pack 29,040 bags of groceries

  • Provide 12,424 hours of case management services

  • Place 49 people living with HIV/AIDS into permanent housing

  • Give 4,803 rides to medical and social service appointments

  • Distribute over 200,000 condoms and safer sex messages through youth and community outreach programs.


  • Here are some Facts about AIDS/HIV
  • Over a million people live with AIDS/HIV

  • HIV/AIDS is now the leading cause of death for African American women aged 25-34

  • African Americans represent 15% of the HIV cases in King County, while only accounting for 5% of the population.


  • Help support Lifelong AIDS Alliance by donating
    Donate Now!! You can Donate Here
    https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/LifelongAIDSAlliance/OnlineGiving.html

    Talk to your Human Resources department and see if your company will match your donation.

    http://www.lifelongaidsalliance.org/index.html

    DJ Fuel and Flava Fridays @ Club Lagoon

    DJ Fuel at Club Lagoon next thursday Oct 19th
    &
    New Flava Fridays debuts Oct 27th at Club Lagoon

    http://www.myspace.com/clublagoon

    Saturday, October 07, 2006

    Taking the Initiative!

    Driving back with Matt today from Best Buy were we just bought the Civ4 expansion pack, I heard something interesting. We were listening to the most recent PBS NOW podcast when they started talking about these initiatives being pushed in various states. How they are being marketed as a local grassroots but being pushed and funded by a Chicago group called "Americans for Limited Government"

    Which grabbed my attention since I know they are behind I-933 here in Washington.

    This is an amazing article. If you have the time please watch the video.

    (hit the play button to watch the video)


    Or you can download the mp3 for your ipod and listen to it when you have more time
    Download Here

    Transcript Available Here

    Friday, October 06, 2006

    Earshot Jazz Festival opens at City Hall, Oct. 19

    Seattle, WA - The Mayor’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs hosts Seattle Presents, free noontime concerts at City Hall on first and third Thursdays. City Hall is located at 600 4th Avenue (between Cherry and James St.), where free arts and cultural events continue year round. For more information, visit www.seattle.gov/seattlepresents or call (206) 684-7171.

    Jay Thomas & East/West Double Trio
    Oct. 19, noon - 1 p.m.
    City Hall Lobby
    The Earshot Jazz Festival kicks off at City Hall with a cultural exchange featuring three of Seattle’s finest jazz musicians teamed up with three of Japan’s top jazz talents. Jay Thomas, a native of Seattle, is a versatile multi-instrumentalist (trumpet, flugelhorn, alto, tenor, soprano and flutes).

    Victor Noriega
    Nov. 2, noon - 1 p.m.
    City Hall, Bertha Knight Landes Room
    Named "Best Emerging Artist of 2005" by Earshot Jazz, Victor Noriega is an up-and-coming original voice in jazz piano. Joined by bassist Willie Blair, Victor will lead an intimate lecture demonstration about the artistry of jazz and his latest CD, "ALAY," featuring arrangements of traditional Filipino songs treated with a contemporary perspective.

    Rubin-Swafford Duo
    Nov. 16, noon - 1 p.m.
    City Hall, Bertha Knight Landes Room
    Pianist Amy Rubin and violinist Tom Swafford will present a program of Piazzolla tangos, spin-off improvisations and premiere the newly composed "tango infusions." The music is melodic, rhythmic, dramatic and goes straight to the heart.

    The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs promotes the value of arts and culture in and of communities throughout Seattle. The 15-member Seattle Arts Commission, citizen volunteers appointed by the mayor and City Council, supports the city agency.

    Union Street Electric Gallery looking for Artist Submissions

    Seattle Press Release

    Submissions sought for Union Street Electric Gallery
    Seattle artists invited to apply for rotating exhibition on face of Seattle City Light substation

    Seattle, WA - The Office of Arts &Cultural Affairs seeks submissions from Seattle artists working in two- and three-dimensional media for the Union Street Electric Gallery, a rotating exhibition space on the western face of Seattle City Light's Union Substation. Seattle City Light 1% for Art funds support the exhibition space.

    The Union Street Electric Gallery, at Union Street and Western Avenue in downtown Seattle, allows artists to work at a large scale. The size of the image space is 14 feet high and 100 feet long. The gallery features large-scale murals produced on vinyl mesh material. The program commissions finalists annually to produce proposals, from which two artists will receive commissions to show their artwork for six months each. Professional artists with a residence or studio in Seattle may apply.

    Five finalists will each receive $750 for their proposals. Two selected artists will receive $2,500 to design and oversee fabrication of their artworks, which will each be installed for six months. A panel of City Light staff and arts professionals will consider strength of past artworks, appropriateness for the setting and artistic diversity.

    Applications must be delivered to the Office of Arts &Cultural Affairs by 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 17 or postmarked by midnight that day. Only digital images will be accepted for review. The application is available at www.seattle.gov/arts. Those unable to download the application may call (206) 233-3930 or send an e-mail to arts.culture@seattle.gov.

    The Union Street Electric Gallery, which enhances the workplace, is a project by the city of Seattle's Public Art Program. The program, established by municipal ordinance in 1973, specifies one percent of city capital improvement project funds be set aside for the commission, purchase and installation of artworks.

    The Union Substation is one of many substations that provide consumers with reliable and safe power. Seattle City Light's mission is to provide stable, competitively priced and environmentally sound electricity to customers.

    The Office of Arts &Cultural Affairs promotes the value of arts and culture in and of communities throughout Seattle. The 15-member Seattle Arts Commission, citizen volunteers appointed by the mayor and City Council, supports the city agency.

    View Crime Stats by Neighborhood on a Map

    Seattle Press Release on the new online mapping service

    Mayor Announces Police Crime Stats Now Mapped on Seattle.gov
    Award-winning Web site scores again with new ‘My Neighborhood’ feature

    SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels announced today that police crime data sorted by neighborhood is now available on the city’s Web site at www.seattle.gov/MyNeighborhood. Statistics on vehicle thefts, property crimes, residential burglaries, violent crimes, plus an overview of major crimes citywide, are mapped on “My Neighborhood” by census tract.

    “Keeping our neighborhoods safe includes giving people the tools they need to understand how the Police Department responds to crime,” said Nickels. “Seattle is ahead of other U.S. cities in providing critical information in such an easy-to-use format, and we will be adding even more neighborhood-based statistics in the months ahead.”

    The “My Neighborhood” mapping project, created by the city’s Department of Information Technology, received the 2006 Excellence Award in Strategic Innovation for Large Population Groups by the National Association of Government Webmasters (NAGW) this past week in Reno, Nevada. NAGW is the first organization for local and regional government Web professionals. The award follows on the heels of Seattle.gov being named the best city Web portal in the country in August.

    “My Neighborhood” was launched in March 2006 and now has 30 city services residents and visitors can view on neighborhood-based maps. The site offers a way for the public to locate the closest public facilities, such as tennis courts, libraries, farmers markets, and fire hydrants; and to see how close they are to their home or business. Future additions to “My Neighborhood” include details on local master use permit applications and neighborhood public art. The site is used more than 8,000 times a week.

    Why you should vote "NO" on Initiative 933

    This was written by a friend of mine and I agree with his argument. Personally I think its a poorly written Initiative that will allow for alot of abuse if passed and cost the state and all of us alot of money. Let me know what you think.








    Please excuse this rant.

    I am writing to complain about a very deft and guileful campaign to overturn the rule of law in our state. Specifically I mean Initiative 933, a Washington State initiative that will be up for vote in the general election on Tuesday, November 7th.

    So what is 933? Basically, the so called "Property Fairness Act" will require local and state governments to compensate land owners for any value lost on their property due to legislation. For instance, if the government decides to ban tar factories in certain areas, then the government has to either pay the land owners affected for any loss incurred or waive the law. This doesn't just apply to already existing facilities, but to anyone who says they want to develop their property in this manner. Since we all know how much money the government has laying around to pay off greedy land owners, this essentially invalidates land-use laws. And the initiative will apply retroactively to all laws passed in the state since 1996.

    In the words of The Olympian: "The initiative would allow property owners who think their property has been devalued by land use and environment laws on the books since Jan. 1, 1996, to file compensation claims. Governments would have the choice of paying the claims or waiving the environmental and land use laws."

    Both the State of Washington and the University of Washington have recently completed separate studies on the expected cost of this initiative assuming we keep current land-use laws in place. Both studies came up with an expected cost of about $8 billion over the next 5 years, or about $1000 per person. And you were mad about your car tabs!

    Of course why would we pass such a law just to line the pockets of wealthy land owners, surely it would make more sense to just waive the current land use laws we have in place. I mean if we can't afford to pay someone to follow the law, it must not be that important anyway. We certainly find the funds to pay people to not commit murder or prostitution. Imagine the day when we pass a Corporal Fairness Act, where thousands of people file claims against the government for lost revenue from their inability to take part in prostitution. The very idea of having to compensate someone for following the law is absolutely ridiculous and self serving.

    So who then in their right mind is the force behind 933? One might expect it to be local farmers angered at their inability to build 5,000 McMansions on their amber waves of grain? Actually the lead financial backer of the law is a Chicago-based organization, Americans for Limited Government. The association is sponsoring copy cat initiatives in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and North Dakota as well. Obviously they have our local interests at heart.

    As for the opposition, it's made up of more than just a few hippies and socialists. In terms of organizations, they include The United Farm Workers, The Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, The League of Women Voters of Washington, The Washington State Council of Fire Fighters, The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, and The Cascade Land Conservancy. They are joined by local businesses such as REI and Vulcan as well as local entrepreneur Bill Gates. Even in politics former Governor Gary Locke and current Govenor Christine Gregoire have spoken out against 933. There are more who are opposed to this initiative on noon933.org.

    Sadly the public is not as opposed to the initiative. According to the Seattle PI, "The independent Elway Poll surveyed registered voters in Washington state Sept. 21-24 and found that 47 percent of those questioned said they would definitely or probably support the measure, while 31 percent said they opposed it or would probably vote no."

    I suppose it is possible to doubt all this doom and gloom. We were wrong about the Y2k disaster after all, so is it really going to be all that bad if the law passes? Well as chance may have it, an almost identical law "Measure 37" was passed in Oregon two years ago and is in fact the inspiration for our own initiative 933. This has been more than enough time to begin to see the results.

    According to the Stranger, "Since the measure's passage, the landscape of Oregon land-use laws has changed; landowners have filed 2,940 Measure 37 claims according to the Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies. One high-profile owner wants to build a gravel mine in a Clackamas County neighborhood, for example; another man is demanding $203 million in compensation not to develop a pumice mine on property he owns within Newberry National Volcanic Monument."

    According to the Seattle PI, "Despite delays caused by court fights, Oregon property owners have already filed about 2,700 Measure 37 claims, aiming to develop about 143,000 acres. Most claims are designed to loosen up the zoning of farmland and forestland. Some would break small parcels into a few additional lots. Some are from billboard companies that want to put up bigger ads in Portland. Others are for developments of hundreds of new homes, resort hotels and mines. All told, the claimants demand that governments either waive land-use regulations or pay nearly $4 billion in compensation. In almost every one of the 700 claims settled to date, governments have waived the regulations."

    OregonLive.com has an article that more deeply covers the billboards story in Portland. "Measure 37, which allows property owners whose land has lost value because of government regulation to seek compensation, covers land-use regulations. Portland's sign code is part of city land-use laws."

    That said, I know that our current system of land use laws is not perfect, but this is not the solution. Please vote no on this ridiculous special interest initiative.

    Wednesday, October 04, 2006

    Help Clean Up Capitol Hill Oct 14th

    From the Capitol Hill Yahoo Group
    Jump Start Capitol Hill volunteer opportunity Oct. 14

    As part of a strategy to strengthen the economic vitality of our
    neighborhood, the forming Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce and
    the City of Seattle are cooperating on Jump Start Capitol Hill, a
    Clean & Green Seattle event.

    This is part of a huge effort by the Chamber and the City this fall
    to upgrade Capitol Hill's appearance. In addition to this event,
    we'll be repainting, working with Metro to clean-up the bus stations,
    and replacing street signs. The City has already installed new trash
    cans and repainted fire hydrants.

    When: Saturday, October 14, from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
    Where: Meet at 500 Broadway Ave E. (the site of the old Safeway)
    What: We'll be cleaning the streets, scraping the poles, picking up
    litter, and cleaning windows. It's a great way to participate
    in your community.


    Schedule:

    9:00 - 9:30: Volunteer orientation and assignments
    9:30 - 10:00: Message from the Mayor and the Chamber

    10:00 - 1:00: Work! Our projects include: Litter pick-up, street
    cleaning, facade and glass cleaning, pole scraping,
    tree replacement and tree-pit clean-up, and targeted
    graffiti paint out. We will assign tasks and
    locations to volunteers as you arrive.

    1:00 - 2:00: Refreshments and Music: Pagalicci and QFC will
    provide pizza and beverages to acknowledge everyone's
    hard work.

    Tuesday, October 03, 2006

    Sen. Barack Obama at Benaroya Hall Oct 26th





    Sen. Obama will be talking about his new book "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream."
    Tickets are $5 available at The Elliott Bay Book Co. beginning at 9 a.m. Oct. 17

    Ron Sims calls for a Greener King County





    (from King 5)
    Today Ron Sims unveiled his 20 million dollar plan for a "Green infrastructure" in King County.
    "Simply put, green infrastructure is the interconnected network of green spaces, the stream valleys, wetlands, parks, natural lands, open spaces and trails...." "no matter where you are in King County, you're not far away from a guaranteed natural experience forever." (Ron Sims)

    Plan Includes

  • $2.5 million for a proposed Eastside rail trail

  • $1.3 million to buy 24 acres around Discovery Park

  • $750,000 for the Bellevue greenways and opens spaces

  • $400,000 to preserve Cam Kilworth in Federal Way

  • $300,000 to buy the Bass/Beaver/Dandy lakes complex.
  • World of Martial Arts" Exhibition on Oct. 14







    The International District/Chinatown Community Center will host the World of Martial Arts, an exhibition of some of the most outstanding martial arts masters in the Northwest, on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the community center, 719 8th Ave. S in Seattle's International District.

    Martial arts masters will hold exhibitions in the disciplines of Tang Soo Do, Ishi Yama Ryu, Iaido, Kendo, Aiki-ken, and Kalgidhar Gatka Dal.

    Admission is $10.

    Please call 206-233-0042 for more information.

    Monday, October 02, 2006

    The Greatest Investment Washington can make..

    "Education and Skills are the most important investment we can make in our economic
    future." (Gov. Gregoire's economic plan called "Next Washington")

    I am really glad to hear that this will be Gov. Gregoire's focus.
    You can read the rest of Gov. Gregoire's economic plan here

    Foster cats available for adoption at Magnolia Community Center





    Fabulous Felines Available for Adoption
    Seattle Animal Shelter showcases foster cats
    at
    Magnolia Community Center on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2006

    SEATTLE — As part of its ongoing outreach efforts to find suitable permanent homes for foster animals, the Seattle Animal Shelter hosts a cat adoptathon on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2006, at Magnolia Community Center at 2550 34th Ave. W. in Seattle. The event runs from noon to 3 p.m. and features numerous cats of different breeds.

    “If you have room in your home and your heart for an orphaned animal, this is a great opportunity for potential adopters to come and see some of the wonderful pets available from our foster-care parents,” says Don Jordan, Seattle Animal Shelter Director.

    Adoption prices range from $82 to $87 and include:

    • Initial vaccinations
    • Deworming
    • Feline Leukemia testing
    • Certificate for free health exam at local veterinarians
    • Spay or neuter
    • Microchip (About the size of a grain of rice, the microchip is injected under the cat’s skin, providing an identification number associated with that animal. Animal shelters can then “scan” a lost animal and retrieve its records from the microchip.)
    • Seattle Pet License (if applicable)

    Last year, approximately 2,700 animals were adopted from the Seattle Animal Shelter, but another 1,300 had to be euthanized. To help reduce the number of animals euthanized, the Seattle Animal Shelter has a foster-care program to rehabilitate sick and immature dogs and cats. Donations from the city’s “Help the Animals Fund” pay for veterinary care for these animals that would otherwise be euthanized.

    The Seattle Animal Shelter is open every day, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for licensing, and noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions. It is located at 2061 - 15th Ave. W. The phone number is (206)386-PETS(7387). Animals available for adoption can be viewed online at: http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.