A monumental date

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Today is the 24th anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens, and no fees are being charged at the visitors centers at Silver Lake, Coldwater Ridge and the Johnston Ridge Observatory on Highway 504.

The Castle Lake viewpoint at milepost 40, just west of the Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center on Highway 504, is open to the public and has striking views of Castle Lake, the Toutle River Valley and Mount St. Helens.

The Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center and Johnston Ridge Observatory are open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To get there from Seattle, head south on Interstate 5 to exit 49 at Castle Rock.

Heads up

For the next month or so, bicycle riders not wearing helmets are likely to receive a warning from Seattle police and other law-enforcement officers. Then, starting in mid-June, riders may get a ticket.

The King County bicycle-helmet regulation, adopted last July, requires all bicycle riders in King County and Seattle to wear a fastened, safety-approved helmet.

King County is the first county in the state with a bike-helmet law.

Tomorrow

• The Seattle City Council will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. on Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' proposed seven-year, $103 million Families and Education Levy to pay for programs to aid families of school-aged children. A sign-up sheet for people wishing to comment will be available at 5 p.m. outside council chambers at City Hall at 600 Fourth Ave. Councilman David Della will be chairman of the hearing.

The levy is up for its second, seven-year renewal. If approved by the council, it could be placed on the fall ballot. The proposal is online at www.cityofseattle.net/mayor/issues/educationlevy.htm. That proposal, however, could be amended by the City Council.

Getting around

• To improve on-time ferry schedules, Washington State Ferries in September 2002 created a schedule between Seattle and Bainbridge Island, the route with the worst on-time record in the system. The revised schedule reduced Bainbridge sailings from 24 to 23 a day.

Ferry officials say the revision worked. On-time performance on the route improved from 75 percent in the fall of 2001 to 93 percent last spring. Officials attribute the improvement to a better schedule for loading and unloading vehicles.

Traffic watch

• West Seattle Freeway: Maintenance crews are working on the freeway's westbound lanes near the Admiral Way exit. During repair work, the right lane will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily through Friday. Motorists should approach the area cautiously and anticipate traffic delays.

Here & Now is compiled by Seattle Times staff reporter Charles E. Brown and news assistant Suesan Whitney Henderson. To submit an item, e-mail herenow@seattletimes.com or call 206-464-2226.