Deadline for property taxes is next week

It's semiannual property-tax time again. If you pay your own taxes, you have until midnight Oct. 31 to get your payment postmarked and avoid delinquency charges.

If you've misplaced your tax statement, call your county treasury office to learn what you owe. Extensions are not given.

In King County call 206-296-3850. For an automated line call 206-296-0923.

In Pierce County call 253-798-6111. For an automated line call 253-798-3333.

In Snohomish County call 425-388-3366.

In Kitsap County call 360-337-7135.

Additionally, property-tax statements and information may be available online. The above phone numbers include information on how to access the sites in those counties.

Civic calendar

Boomer replacement parts

Today: Engineering lecture series discusses "Rebuilding the Baby Boomer: Replacement Parts for the 21st Century," 7 p.m., Kane Hall, University of Washington, Seattle; free. Preregister by calling 206-543-0540 or 800-AUW-ALUM.

Kitten and cat adoption

Through November: King County animal shelters have dropped the adoption fees to $25 for adult cats and $40 for kittens through the end of November. The fee covers initial vaccinations, spay or neuter surgery, vet check, the first year of a county pet license, education materials and a cat carrier. The regular fee is $75.

County animal shelters are at 21616 64th Ave. S. in Kent, and at 821 164th Ave. N.E., Bellevue. For more information, go to www.kingcounty.gov/pets.

Traffic watch

Through Thursday: State Department of Transportation crews will close up to two southbound lanes on Highway 167 between Interstate 405 and South 41st Street to pave the roadway. Alternatively, if it rains, lane closures during the night will allow crews to do electrical work. Crews will close the first lane at 8 p.m. and will reopen all lanes by 6 a.m. each morning.

Forums at Mount Zion

Today: African American Health and Legislative Forum, 4 p.m., followed by a light dinner and "Forum on Educational Excellence" at 5:30 p.m. Both are free and at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 1634 19th Ave., Seattle. For information, call the church at 206-322-6500 or see the church Web site at www.mountzion.net.

Here & Now is compiled by Seattle Times lead news assistant Lynne Berry. To submit an item, e-mail herenow@seattletimes.com or call 206-464-2226.

October 24, 1870: Seattle became a two-newspaper town in 1870 when T.G. Murphy moved his newspaper, The Alaska Times, from Alaska and began publishing in Seattle. After moving the paper he renamed it twice, finally calling it the Puget Sound Dispatch. Beriah Brown and Charles H. Larrabee bought the paper on Sept. 19, 1871. They sold it to the Weekly Intelligencer in 1878.

Source: Historylink.org