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Mercer Island Reporter/File photo Islander Claire Goetschel holds a Harry Potter sign at Mercer Island High School. Goetschel was the headmaster of the Harry Potter Club at the high school.

Life

Ready for Harry: Mercer Island celebrates new book release with Harry Potter party

Grab your wand and spellbooks! Mercer Island will celebrate the release of the final Harry Potter installment, “Harry…

Life

Retro goes hip on Island

I’ve been watching the metamorphosis of a North-end waterfront home for over a year. It began as a…

Chad Coleman/Mercer Island Reporter Islander Dorothy Swarts at her Island home last week. Swarts has long been involved with the PTA and the Washington Legislature to advocate for education and schools.

Life

More than a PTA member, Swarts is education advocate: Islander’s legislative efforts win Outstanding Advocate Award

Dorothy Swarts is a one-woman legislative crusade. At least, that’s how friends and colleagues describe her.

Life

A ‘motivating’ literary environment: Island library offers teens a cool place to hang out

Take a quick look at the teen section of the Mercer Island Public Library and among the wide…

Life

Weekend trips to La Conner and Vancouver

Spontaneity is the twin sister of many of my favorite travel adventures. Taking a trip without planning reminds…

Life

A little night magic — and more

Mercer Island really knows how to throw a party for 1,500 guests and 70 helpers to celebrate the…

Life

Steps to prepare a first college-bound child

Question: With my first child leaving for college next month, what words of wisdom have you gleaned in…

Life

MIHS graduates re-unite to produce film: Movie “Crook” pokes fun at amateur theives

Four college students, three crooks and a camera. These are the fundamental ingredients for Mercer Island High School…

Life

Seniors can be targets of scams, fraud

The conversation becomes touchy when it is about money. The perception is that all Mercer Islanders have plenty…

Chad Coleman/Mercer Island Reporter Karate West owner Randy Holeman stands in the new dojo under construction on the South end. Holeman has been involved in karate as an enthusiast and as a vocation for 36 years. The new site will open on Aug. 4

Life

A black belt quest: New dojo opens on South end to serve more students

Randy Holeman is not your everyday black belt. For him, karate is more than a physical expenditure, it’s…

Chad Coleman/Mercer Island Reporter Diane Schuman’s mixed media piece “Who am I” won the Island Books Award at the Mercer Island Visual Arts League Junior Art Show. Schuman is shown here at her home on Mercer Island.

Life

“Who am I?”

Diane Schuman’s mixed media piece “Who am I” won the Island Books Award at the Mercer Island Visual…

Life

Mercer Island comes to Edinburgh

Mercer Island is making an appearance in the largest performance festival in Europe this summer. The Mercer Island…

Life

Don’t miss this fair: The country’s best lesser-known colleges

Question: I will be a high school senior this fall and know I should be thinking about college,…