Protect your pets from Halloween fright

Halloween can be a scary time for animals. The Seattle Animal Shelter and the Seattle Humane Society offer tips to keep Halloween from being a fright for pets and trick-or-treaters.

• Don't leave pets out in the yard on Halloween.

• Trick-or-treat candies are not for pets. Chocolate is poisonous to dogs.

• Keep dogs and cats away from lit pumpkins and other flames that can be knocked over easily.

• Consider keeping your pets in a separate room during trick-or-treat visiting hours and parties.

• Make certain your pet is wearing a pet license in case it escapes through an open door.

Civic calendar

"Take winter by storm"

Today: New storm-response plans are being announced at 10:30 a.m. at Seattle City Hall by the city, King County, the state Department of Transportation and Puget Sound Energy. The plans will address improving storm response based on lessons learned from last winter's storms.

Traffic watch

Today-Friday: Magnolia Boulevard will be closed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. between West Garfield Street and West Howe Street to all through traffic except King County Metro Transit and school buses. The street will remain open to pedestrians. Traffic southbound on Magnolia Boulevard will be detoured to West Howe Street, and then to 28th Avenue West. Northbound traffic will be detoured to 28th Avenue West, Condon Way West and then to West McGraw Street.

More flu shots

Through November: Walk-in flu-shot clinics are being offered by Kmart pharmacies through November. Call 800-822-8345 to find the date and time of a flu clinic at the various stores. The flu-shot vaccines are available for customers for $28, and pneumonia shots are available for $50.

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.

Oct. 30, 1969: University of Washington football coach Jim Owens suspended four African-American football players — Gregg Alex, Ralph Bayard, Harvey Blanks and LaMar Mills — for what he termed lack of commitment to the team. In response, other African-American players on the team refused to travel to a game, and activists demanded Owens' resignation. Owens reconsidered and reinstated all but one player. Protests against the suspension followed, and UW President Charles Odegaard promised an overhaul of football disciplinary practices.

Source: Historylink.org