A call for ideas

Seattle's neighborhoods are being called on to help City Hall come up with a list of new parks, major street improvements and other projects to be considered in the next biennial budget.

For the first time, City Hall has posted information online to help residents offer suggestions. "This is a major step forward in citizen access to government," said City Neighborhood Council vice chair Chris Leman.

City residents are encouraged to nominate capital projects for consideration for 2007-2008. City Hall has posted an application form and instruction sheet online at www.seattle.gov/financedepartment/CIP_Project_Suggestion_Form.htm. Applications also are available at the city's Citizen Service Bureau (phone: 206-684-2489) at City Hall, and in Department of Neighborhoods' service centers around the city.

But you have only the weekend to nail down your ideas. The deadline for submitting project nominations is 9 a.m. Monday.

Recycle and reuse

King County has a Web site — www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/wdidw/index.asp — that lists ways to recycle to help save natural resources and landfill space and cut disposal costs. Information also is available from a state recycling hotline — 800-Recycle (732-9253).

Here are tips:

• Donate or sell used and surplus building materials to stores that resell items at reduced prices.

• Check with stores that resell used fixtures and hardware.

• Recycle old carpet pads; some recyclers even pay for them.

• Most wood recyclers accept clean wood that is untreated or unpainted. Disposal fees vary by facility, and some may pick up loads and supply drop-off boxes for collection. Information is online at www.wmnorthwest.com/cascaderecycling.

• Seek professional assistance when removing and disposing of materials that could contain asbestos. For information about asbestos, contact your local air district at www.epa.gov/asbestos/index.html.

Can you help?

The YWCA's Dress for Success program is getting assistance from area businesses in collecting clothes and accessories for low-income women who need work outfits. Next week the nonprofit program will hold its annual weeklong S.O.S. — Send One Suit — drive to collect good-quality suits and other garments appropriate for interviews and work.

Donations of suits, blouses, skirts and pants, especially in larger sizes, are needed, as well as shoes in wider widths. Handbags, umbrellas, scarves and garment bags also are needed, as are jewelry items, briefcases and day planners.

Donations can be dropped off any day next week at any Seattle-area dressbarn store. Locations are listed online at www.dressbarn.com/storeLocator.jsp.

The local effort is part of national S.O.S. Week in scores of cities across the nation. Information about the drive is online at www.dressforsuccess.org/seattle, or call 206-490-4384.

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.