Here and Now
Family affair

HARLEY SOLTES / THE TIMES Georgia Gerber's sculpture of an adult male silverback gorilla has been installed at Woodland Park Zoo.

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The newest statue and the two others are the works of Whidbey Island artist Georgia Gerber. The piece is a donation from the family of James Foster, the zoo's veterinarian from 1971 through 1987 and acting zoo director from 1974 to 1975.

Foster was instrumental in establishing the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Center in Rwanda, Africa, where he developed a health plan for mountain gorillas and remained active until his death in 1997 at age 67.

His widow, Jane Foster of Bellevue, said her husband was dedicated to the survival of wildlife, particularly mountain gorillas.

The new statue completes the zoo's family trio of gorilla statues commissioned in 1992. The other two — a juvenile lowland gorilla and a mother carrying an infant on her back — were part of a special fund-raising campaign for the Tropical Rain Forest.

Diners' delight

For the 17th year, local politicians and television, radio and sports luminaries will be at the Shanty Cafe at 350 Elliott Ave. W. in lower Queen Anne tomorrow, volunteering as waiters for the cafe's annual holiday celebrity lunch between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The cost of lunch is a donation to Northwest Harvest, a nonprofit agency that collects and distributes food to hunger programs throughout the state. Diners have a choice from the eatery's menu, and they can choose what to pay. Reservations aren't necessary, and the fund-raiser is open to the public.

Those who can't get away for lunch can have orders of five or more lunches delivered to their office. To place an order for delivery or for information, call 206-282-1400.

Holiday helpers

The Downtown Seattle YMCA is again offering its annual Adopt-a-Family program to provide gifts and food for single mothers living in transitional housing, formerly homeless and high-risk youths, and families in crisis. Volunteers are needed to shop for items or make a cash donation.
 
Especially needed are gift cards, clothes, watches, toys, books, bedding and baby items. Each donor is asked to spend at least $50. The YMCA also is accepting new toys; those donors may spend what they'd like.

Donations may be dropped off at the Downtown Seattle YMCA, 909 Fourth Ave., between Friday and Dec. 21. For information about how to adopt a family or a youth, call Crystalyn Bell at 206-839-8901.

Traffic watch

• Overnight lane closures on Interstate 5 in the Federal Way area are scheduled early this week for pavement improvements. Through Wednesday, one northbound lane will be closed at South 320th Street nightly at 6, a second lane will close at 7 p.m. and a third lane at 11 p.m., reducing northbound I-5 to one lane. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. the following day.

• With the Dallas Cowboys in town for today's game with the Seahawks, commuters can expect heavy traffic around Qwest Field before and after the 6 p.m. game.

Special Metro shuttles to Qwest Field from suburban park-and-ride lots are not scheduled before the game. But shuttles will offer nonstop service to five lots — the Northgate and Federal Way transit centers and the Eastgate, South Kirkland and Kent park-and-rides — after the game.

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.