Secretary of state on MySpace, Facebook

Secretary of State Sam Reed has launched a Secretary of State MySpace page and created a Washington State Elections Facebook group.

The agency's MySpace page may be found at www.myspace.com/secstatewa. Currently, the page offers viewers information about today's elections. The page will be updated throughout the year and include listings of public meetings and events. Visitors can make comments and submit questions directly to the agency.

Facebook users may join the Washington State Elections Facebook group. Users who sign up as group members are sent reminders of important deadlines and dates to remember.

Civic calendar

Veteran stress reduction

Through Nov. 16: The National Guild of Hypnotists, Washington Chapter, is offering free stress-reduction classes for Washington state veterans and their families in several Puget Sound-area locations through the week after Veterans Day, which is Sunday. For registration, locations and times, check www.nghwa.org.

Volunteers needed

Now: United Way of King County needs more than 600 volunteers to help with the Unite to End Homelessness Community Resource Exchange on Nov. 13 and 15. The event, in Seattle and Renton, is expected to provide as many as 1,300 homeless individuals with immediate access to health services, housing referrals and other social services. For more information, call 206-461-6973 or check www.unitedwayofkingcounty.org/unite.

Bike maintenance 101 clinic

Today: Bring your front wheel to this hands-on free clinic and learn how to change a flat tire and clean and lube your chain, 7 p.m., REI, 222 Yale Ave. N., Seattle. For more information, call 206-223-1944 or check the Web site www.rei.com.

Traffic watch

Through Friday: The left lane in both directions of South Royal Brougham Way between Fourth Avenue South and Occidental Avenue South will be closed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Friday for soil testing. The two right outside lanes will remain open to traffic.

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.

Nov. 6, 2001: Greg Nickels, Metropolitan King County Council member, is elected mayor of Seattle, narrowly defeating City Attorney Mark Sidran. The actual outcome was determined on Nov. 15 by the high number of absentee votes counted. Nickels received 50.1 percent of the vote. Nickels ran on a campaign that focused on Sound Transit's lack of progress in building a light-rail system. Only 45 percent of eligible voters participated in the election.

Source: Historylink.org