Light Unto Her Path
Laura Caparroso may not be able to spot a sunshine-yellow curbside marker indicating a crosswalk at 216th St. SW. and 76th Ave. W., but her assist dog can and that’s what matters.
Caparroso, who’s blind, asked the City Council last month for brightly colored tactile domes and an audio signal on the north wheelchair ramp crossing at the intersection so she can find, activate and respond to the signal so as to safely travel to a nearby grocery store.
Money for improvements isn’t there, lamented city staff, citing loss of transportation funds from voter-approved Initiative 776 in 2002. But the engineering staff agreed to look into a dome that can be installed for around $4,000 on existing wheelchair curb ramps. An audio signal would cost another $4,000.
If the numbers pan out, Caparroso and her four-legged friend may get the help they need to maintain their independence.
Talk the Walk
Councilwoman Mauri Moore apparently has cajoled the staff of Rep. Jay Inslee’s office into stalking federal funding for sidewalks in the Meadowdale area.
A staff member at the U.S. congressman’s Mountlake Terrace office said there will be a meeting with Edmonds’ traffic engineer to discuss what’s needed then try to find “pots of money” to pay for it. Helping communities with priority projects, she added, is “what we’re all about … we really work hard at it.”
The staffer, who asked not to be named, said the office is now working on projects for 2007.
Help Them Help Others
Because hunger never takes a summer vacation, the Carol Rowe Memorial Food Bank at Edmonds United Methodist Church always has a need for food and cash to keep its shelves stocked.
The food bank, which serves about 1,200 people in 300 families 50 Tuesdays a year, always needs peanut butter, cans of tuna and luncheon meats and cheese, volunteers reported. Powdered baby formula also is on the most-wanted list.
For information on how to help with or use the food bank, call 425-778-5833.
Have an item for Around Town? Contact Sue Waldburger at 425-673-6525 or e-mail at edmonds@her-aldnet.com.
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