Congressman Smith to speak at Chamber lunch | News briefs
Published 11:59 am Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Congressman Smith to speak at Chamber lunch
Ninth District Congressman Adam Smith will speak at the Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon at noon on Thursday, May 7.
Smith, in his ninth term, is the Ranking Minority member of the House Armed Services Committee, where he is a strong advocate for military personnel and their families. He has also served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
The luncheon is open to the community, but reservations are requested.
Luncheon cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members and members without reservations. Deadline for reservations is Tuesday, May 5 at 4 p.m.
Call the Chamber office at 232-3404 or e-mail your reservation to info@mercerislandchamberofcommerce.org.
‘Bookstore Day’ is May 2
Independent Bookstore Day 2015 is being celebrated all across the country, and Island Books is one of dozens of participating stores in the region.
“We’re all taking part in the larger cause, but we’re all celebrating it in our own way, too, because, you know … we’re independent,” Island Books owners Nancy and Roger Page wrote on their website.
The day-long festival includes a special loyalty card with a 25 percent discount on all purchases for an entire year for book-lovers who get a full set of stamps at Seattle-area stores that day. All stores will also be featuring a number of signed books, prints, and other products from authors and illustrators. These will be available exclusively from indie shops and only on this day – first come, first served.
Island Books will have a full slate of activities happening all day, including: an in-store scavenger hunt, gift-wrapping races against the boss, Mad Libs for young and old, a literary first line quiz, board game battles and an after-hours storytelling session with juice, cookies, and Pat Peterson.
Library remodel project now ‘reset to zero’
Islanders gathered at their local library on April 23 to hear an update on the King County Library System (KCLS) proposed remodel of the building. KCLS staff and library patrons discussed the results of the Mercer Island Library survey, which was distributed online and received more than 2,000 responses.
Go to the Mercer Island library page of kcls.org, or https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-ZVD2R2C9/, to see the results.
KCLS Director Gary Wasdin emphasized that the library remodel project was starting over, that the process had been reset to zero.
The survey identified a number of common threads, including preserving the character of the Mercer Island library, maintaining the drive-up book drop and expanding the number of hard copies of books and media, said Gary Robinson, member of the Concerned Citizens for Mercer Island Library group, which formed last year in opposition to the proposed remodel.
The Concerned Citizens want to preserve the original unique design, warmth and feel of the library, keeping the current layout, architectural elements, art, shelving, furniture, book drop and paint colors. In terms of renovation, they suggest updating the library’s computer and communication technology, installing LED lighting with automatic sensors and an energy efficient HVAC system, creating a repository for Mercer Island history and implementing an automated materials-handling system to speed delivery and reduce theft.
Meeting attendees also noted that the library should be more ADA-compliant, have a sprinkler system and more electrical outlets, and provide places for teens, children and tutors to read and work.
The next Mercer Island Library Board meeting is on May 18 at City Hall. Library patrons are encouraged to send comments to Wasdin at gawasdin@kcls.org until the May meeting.
