She's Back, Focused And Fact-Filled

Nancyhelen Fisher may not be a household word. But that's no sign that she won't affect households.

After several years of semiretirement from politics, Fisher has recharged her batteries and has come roaring back to run for chair of the Washington Women's Political Caucus.

Fisher, a nuts-and-bolts political organizer with an eye for detail, so far is unopposed to succeed state chairwoman Maura O'Neill. The election takes place Nov. 20 at the WPC convention at North Seattle Community College. (Other attractions at the convention include a workshop with Michael Shadow, a consultant who transforms raw candidates into polished contenders.)

Fisher has been warming up to the office, quoting statistics on the gender gap. She says, "The glass ceiling is still there. Only one woman in history has ever served on the Everett City Council. In Snohomish County, they've never had more than one woman judge at a time."

Is Fisher satisfied now that women make up 40 percent of the state Legislature? Not on your life. She asks, "What's wrong with 54 percent? That's the percentage of women in the state."

Look out, power brokers, Nancyhelen is back.

Over the hump: All Broadway is decked out for this weekend's premiere Halloween event: Saturday night's showing of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" at St. Mark's Cathedral.

Backers expect around 1,000 people, most in costume, although on Broadway how can you tell? They'll gather in the dimly lit cathedral for 8 and 10:30 p.m. screenings of the 1923 film classic.

Organist Mel Butler will pull out all stops on the cathedral's Flentrop organ, and dean of the cathedral, the very Rev. Fred Northup, will greet the audience in costume. Proceeds from the $12 ticket price go to Northwest Harvest and to the St. Mark's feeding program, run by restaurateur Francois Kissel.

Organizers expect the showing to become an annual event.

Where's Ophelia? Big news around the paper factory is that The Seattle Times will begin running free voice personal ads in mid-November. Even if you're not in the market for a mate, the personals provide an endless source of entertainment.

At their best, they can even rival this gem from a local alternative paper: "Hamlet was a good man. His simplistic look on life made him a king among men. He looked for purity, but, on all sides, was met by deceit including his one love, then again, he went on with life. He was the captain of his ship and no one accountable for his actions except himself . . . I look for a Juliet."

Salute: You know those $600 military-style jackets designers are pushing this year?

Some thrifty Seattleites - is that phrase redundant? - have discovered an alternative: the real thing. They're buying officers' jackets (basic price around $90) from shops like Lighthouse Uniform on Elliott Avenue and dolling them up with stripes and shoulder boards.

Vanity fare: Spotted pulling out of a University of Washington Hospital lot the other day was an olive-green Camaro with this vanity license plate: GRENVY.

Jean Godden's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the Local News section of The Times. Her phone is 464-8300.