Late last week, a flag signed by the U.S. Army 145th maintenance company at Camp Solerno, Afghanistan, was displayed outside of Albertsons.
Marie Dudley, a sophomore at Mercer Island High School, received it as a gift from the company after she did a good deed to help her half-brother, Edgar Arceneaux, stationed at Camp Solerno.
“It’s such a remote place, they don’t have to access to anything that doesn’t come in by helicopter,” said Mike Dudley, Marie’s father “We collected razors and other hygiene items, cookies, beef jerky, chips, drink mix and candy for the soldiers.”
In one week in January, the Dudleys collected more than 200 pounds of food and necessities, and mailed them out 25 pounds at a time to the camp. The soldiers were so grateful, they signed and sent the camp flag to the Dudleys, who are proud of their memento.
“Marie was just blown away by their thoughtfulness,” said Mike Dudley. “It was awesome that they took the time and effort to sign (the flag) and send it to us.”
The Circus is coming
Mercer Island Preschool Association’s 39th Circus Carnival will be at Mercer Island High School from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 23. The event is sponsored by U.S. Bank, realtor Shirley Lake, and Mercer Island Pediatric Associates.
Last year, more than 1,000 children, parents and siblings participated in pony rides and pie walks and watched stilt-walkers, musicians and dancers at the carnival. This year, the event will include a performance by Ronald McDonald and entertainment from Sparky the Clown.
Circus is MIPA’s principal fund-raiser of the year. Admission is free, though tickets for the games are 50 cents each.
MIPA’s carnival began in 1966 as “Circus McGurkus,” a Dr. Seuss-inspired festival for children on Mercer Island.
The MIPA is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization devoted to improving the education and well-being of children from birth to 6. The organization has 220 members and is affiliated with the local Parent Teacher Association.
For more information, contact Jill Walker, co-chair of the Circus, at 232-9009, or visit the MIPA Web site at www.mipreschoolassociation.org.
Color her world
A local artist has a show in a Mercer Island gallery this month.
Island resident Barbi Leifert will have on display acrylic paintings at Mercer Island Art Gallery and Custom Framing, 2729 78th Ave. S.E., April 21 through May 26. Her 22 new works are best described, she feels, as impressionistic, but very contemporary.
“I love color. My paintings are in direct opposition to the grayness of Seattle,” she said. “I love painting things that will take people to another place in their mind–some place happy.”
Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m.
For Around the Island items, please contact DeAnn Rossetti at 232-1215 or by eamil at deann.rossetti@mi-reporter.com.
