Art Uncorked a success
Oh, what a night it was! The inaugural Art Uncorked held on Friday, Sept. 12, in the Town Center was a huge success. Some 500 people mingled in the street, enjoying a beautiful Indian summer evening of wine tasting, art, and food. The music of “On the Rock” and “The Archtops” filled the air as people sipped, shopped and munched. Art Uncorked brought people to the new and previously unused outdoor gathering space in the Town Center. It’s the kind of fun community event Mercer Island needs more of.
On behalf of the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce and Mercer Island Visual Arts League, we would like to thank the businesses and volunteers who made the event a success, especially presenting sponsors, Mosbacker, Lee & Associates Ameriprise Financial and the City of Mercer Island. Other community-minded enterprises supporting the event include: Coldwell Banker Bain, Brad Judy DDS, MI Arts Council, Republic Services, S.R. Schill & Associates, Union Bank, Christine Face & Body, Island Dermatology, Lighthouse Properties and Windermere Real Estate.
Events like Art Uncorked bring people together to enjoy each other and our wonderful community.
Nannette Bassett, Jane Meyer Brahm, Sandy Maloof and Terry Moreman
Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce and Mercer Island Visual Arts League
Time running out to speak up on library
Please speak up before we lose our library! The building is scheduled to be closed for a year as a strongly contested remodel plan is pushed through. Ask your City Council to write KCLS demanding the postponing the remodel issue until after the new KCLS director is chosen.
Mercer Island has the possibility of three approaches to KCLS:
1) To have the Library Board (appointed by the Council) work through issues with KCLS. We are attempting to do this. We are fighting to defend what is in place. The board is unprepared to discuss and/or defend rational suggestions, which continue to be blown off, even if the KCLS tone is more “respectful”.
2) To follow a course to create a Municipal Library divorced from KCLS. The majority of MI is happy with the services we receive from KCLS. It is the KCLS approach to community libraries which continues to be a source of unhappiness for the system, not just MI. This is a major factor in their new executive director search.
3) To defer action pending appointment of new leadership at KCLS. This would be a decision for the Council to make with direction to the Library Board to alter course. Please voice your request to the Council and opinions to the MILB!
1 All of the current work could be shelved and revisited.
2 The bond approved updates and promises could be met.
3 The building age would be closer to justifying a major revisioning for future needs.
4 KCLS and MI could have a ‘do-over’ on their shared visioning under the new director.
Our library building will be closed for the next year while the planned remodel takes place. The permits are on the table. It’s past time to speak up to the City Council. Please do it now, before it’s is too late.
Tami Szerlip
I-591 vs. I-594
Regarding I-594 and I-591, do not be misled by the wording on the I-591 signs saying, “Stop Gun Confiscation.” It is a total red herring, designed to confuse the unthinking and the uneducated. First, no one is now confiscating weapons without due process. Second, we already have stringent laws against search and seizure without due process including weapons.
I-594 is not a panacea; there will still be unlawful sales of guns but many less, as proven by the 16 states which now have similar statutes. I-591 would continue the status quo and ban the state from instituting more background checks, while I-594 will save lives. Shall we save lives or sell guns to felons and other irresponsible people? It’s our choice.
Mark Jensen
