New city services

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has signed an executive order adopting a new citywide translation and interpretation policy to help people with limited English skills plug into city services.

The policy, intended to improve the city's translation and interpretation services, calls for city assistance in translating important documents such as an explanation of city services; consent and complaint forms; notices of rights; and notices of free language assistance in a number of languages, including Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Mandarin, Somali, Tagalog and Korean.

Translation and interpretation services from the city will be free.

To the mountaintop

Northwest mountaineer Lou Whittaker will talk about climbing Mount Rainier for the American Lung Association at a 6:30 p.m. meeting Tuesday to kick off promotion of the 19th annual Climb for Clean Air fundraiser. Whittaker is honorary chairman of the annual event, which benefits the Lung Association. The talk will be at REI's Seattle store, at 222 Yale Ave. N.

Admission is free; the program will be open to the public. Whittaker is scheduled to lead a two-day climb on Mount Rainier in July to raise funds for the association. Information is online at www.cleanairadventures.org/, or call 206-441-5100.

Airport update

As of today, there's no longer valet parking at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport garage. The service will no longer accept new parkers. Of course, those already parked there will be able to pick up their vehicles. Someone will be on duty there until all cars have been picked up.

Travelers with disabilities and in need of assistance getting from the parking garage to the main terminal can arrange for wheelchair assistance by calling Huntleigh, the company the Port of Seattle has contracted with for the service.

To arrange for wheelchair and luggage assistance, Huntleigh must be phoned four to six hours in advance at 206-824-2870 or 206-824-2837. The office is open daily from 4:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. The service is free, but tips are welcome.

Police academy

The Seattle Police Department is accepting applications for its Community Police Academy, established to give city residents a chance to learn firsthand about how the police force works.

The spring session will start April 5 at the Seattle Vocational Institute at 2120 S. Jackson St. Classes will meet once a week for eight weeks, from 6:15 to 9:15 p.m. Classes will focus on patrol operations and procedures, narcotics, use of force, domestic violence, arrest procedures and criminal law. The training includes ride-alongs with a police officer on patrol. Graduates will receive a program certificate upon completion of the course.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 28. Information is online at www.seattle.gov/police/community/CPA/default.htm, or call 206-684-8672. Space is limited.

Money matters

Washington state's sales tax is the single largest source of government revenue for the state. But what comes in second? The answer to that, and more, is in the Tax Reference Manual compiled by the state Department of Revenue. It is online at dor.wa.gov/content/statistics/2007/Tax_Reference_2007/default.aspx.

The report gives an overview of the state's tax system and summarizes more than 50 state and local taxes.

In case you're wondering, the second-highest revenue generator for the state is the business-and-occupation tax paid by businesses.

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.