Connections and footprints

Published 6:19 pm Monday, November 24, 2008

Do you remember what you were doing Feb. 26, 1979?” Islander Steve Larimer asked me at a local campaign gathering.

Uh, er . . . It seems the now-40-something Mercer Island CPA was part of the high school group I chaperoned to the total solar eclipse in Goldendale, Wash., that day. We were part of thousands who were “Totaled” at Maryhill to view the two-minute 50-second drama that would not be seen again in the U.S. for four decades. (The next is Aug. 21, 2017.)

Still memorable 28 years later was the eerie, hushed scene as we spread our blankets on the hill and watched the sky darken unnaturally in early morning. The celestial oddity cast a bewitching bond that reconnected Steve and me today.

Past and present will connect later this month at a plaque dedication at the site of the former Art’s Food Center at the corner of S.E. 27th Street and 78th Avenue S.E. The MI Historical Society, with help from local businesses, will arrange the event at Market Square.

The old Art’s was where Sterling Savings now sits. It was the heartbeat of Island commerce from the mid-40s to the mid-60s. Phil Flash, MI Historical Society co-president, would like people who shopped or worked there to send in memories. The society already has an old Art’s shopping cart.

The society has dedicated eight other sites around the Island, including two at the Parental Boys School at Luther Burbank, the Roanoke Inn, the Craft Guild, Fortuna Lodge (at Covenant Shores), Slater Park in East Seattle and two Island buildings that also are on the National Historic Register — Lakeview School (Sunnybeam) and Keewayden Clubhouse (VFW Hall.)

Because of the restrictions that accompany such designations, owners of property with historic significance are sometimes reticent, explained Flash. He believes such sites as the original Roanoke ferry dock, the former water tower off West Mercer Way, the East Seattle School and some homes could qualify.

No Island homes are on the register, yet 400 were built prior to 1939. Such stunners come to mind as the Seaton home in the 2700 block of West Mercer Way and the old Kristoferson family dairy Tudor home and carriage house off East Mercer Way. Do you think your home would qualify?

Speaking of Flash, he entered the javelin competition last weekend at the senior track meet in West Seattle, having just taken up the sport last year at age 87. He invites us to watch other Senior Games of King County June 8 through 10, especially the pickleball contests at CCMV.

We shall be known by our castoffs. At the MI Recycling Center at Mercerdale, select magazines have been culled from our trash and displayed in a rack. They include “SELF, Endless Vacations, Smart Money, GQ, Health and Prevention, National Geographic” and a variety of gardening magazines.

The shredders bulge with once-important documents. Lots of pizza, appliance and moving cartons have been flattened. Collectable tins are put on a special table, probably to go to the MI Thrift Shop for resale.

Since 1975, this hustling enterprise has sorted our bottles, cans, plastics, papers, phone books, junk mail, and turned trash into treasure for the MIHS Committee to Save the Earth. Hats off to Harry Leavitt, who has managed our castoffs for three decades.

No one was more connected to our city than Deb Symmonds, who died of cancer last week in her 50s after retiring in March as assistant city manager. She dedicated more than half of her life to serving our city. After 27 years, it took three people to replace her: Londi Lindell as deputy city manager, Kryss Segle as human resources and city clerk, and Pete Mayer as capital improvement planning and development.

Condolences to Deb’s husband, Matt, who surely lent an ear to the issues of our government, transportation, parks, development and “ oh, that parking.”

Farewell, good steward.

We also salute another Island “institution,” who died May 11. Dorothy Woodcock, 88, taught piano on Mercer Island to thousands since 1952. Her whole idea was to teach music appreciation if her students didn’t have a proclivity for the piano. A Clair-de-Lune tribute to you, Mrs. Woodcock.

Contact Nancy Gould-Hilliard at nancybobhilliard@msn.com.