National Public Health Week features community walks

Starting today, to celebrate National Public Health Week, Public Health — Seattle & King County is sponsoring daily 30-minute community walks, from 12:30-1 p.m. all week, starting outside the King County Chinook Building at Fifth Avenue and Jefferson Street in downtown Seattle.

King County Executive Ron Sims and health-agency director Dr. David Fleming will lead today's walk; others will lead walks during the week.

Health-department officials say walking is one of the easiest ways to improve your health.

Sims and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels have proclaimed today through Sunday as Public Health Week for King County and Seattle. This year's focus is on global warming and health effects.

More information is on the National Public Health Week Web site: www.nphw.org.

Civic calendar

Free CPR training

Register now: The American Red Cross' "free CPR Saturday" training in May is always a popular event, and classes fill up fast. This year's training will be May 3 at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in downtown Seattle. Free classes teach lifesaving skills for Red Cross certification. Five regular sessions are scheduled that day, along with classes in American Sign Language and classes for the Spanish-speaking. Participants must preregister. Information is online at www.seattleredcross.org or call 206-726-3534.

Container gardening

Wednesday: Seattle Tilth will be offering tips on container veggie gardening, whether on a patio, balcony or windowsill, from 7-9 p.m. at Seattle Tilth's demonstration garden at Bradner Gardens Park, 1733 Bradner Pl. S., in the Mount Baker neighborhood. The cost is $20, or $15 for Seattle Tilth members. Information: www.seattletilth.org.

Traffic watch

Starting today: A major paving project begins in the Elliott Avenue West and 15th Avenue West corridor, and includes a small portion of Denny Way and Western Avenue West near Seattle Center. For the first phase, work will be in the northbound lanes of Elliott Avenue West at Denny, and proceed north to West Lee Street. Normal work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. But there will be some night and weekend work. The project is scheduled to be completed in October.

To submit an item to Here and Now, e-mail herenow@seattletimes.com or call 206-464-2226.

April 6, 1977: The Seattle Mariners played their first game in Seattle, facing the California Angels in the Kingdome before a crowd of 57,762 fans. The M's lost 7-0.

The M's starting pitcher was Diego Segui, who was a member of the Seattle Pilots club in 1969. Their first batter was Dave Collins, and their first hit was by Jose Baez.

Source: Historylink.org