A couple of weeks ago, I sent out an e-mail to a number of Mercer Island luminaries — heads of various city departments, City Council members, school administrators, School Board members, even an erstwhile editor — to see what they were reading this summer. I received a response rate of slightly more than 50 percent, plenty to put together a column filled with interesting suggestions on how to spend your summer leisure.
I remember when Hakusan Winery in Napa Valley started to make sak/. I thought to myself: That’s smart. How hard can it be to make wine from rice? And just think, no shipping charges from Japan!
Where are the hummers? If you’ve been offering sugar water in hummingbird feeders this spring and summer, you may have noticed a slacking off of activity. Feeders that were swarming with Rufous Hummingbirds just days ago now appear neglected.
Grab your wand and spellbooks! Mercer Island will celebrate the release of the final Harry Potter installment, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” starting at 9 p.m. on Friday, July 20. Haven’t ordered a book yet? There is still time to pre-order your copy from Island Books by calling 232-6920.
I’ve been watching the metamorphosis of a North-end waterfront home for over a year. It began as a tear-down on 800 feet of shoreline and is now 8,000 square-feet of high-end living space with nine showers, a pool, a hot tub, three fireplaces, two staircases and many bonus rooms. It’s someone’s $8 million dream-come-true, a scenario no longer uncommon on the island.
Dorothy Swarts is a one-woman legislative crusade. At least, that’s how friends and colleagues describe her.
Take a quick look at the teen section of the Mercer Island Public Library and among the wide selection of teen books you’ll see vending machines, comfy chairs and couches, large tables, and a skateboard hanging from the ceiling. “I really like it,” said MIHS junior Audrey Col-Spector. “It’s a nice place to come and read a book or hang out.” This teen-friendly corner of the library is one of many ways in which the library’s dozens of volunteers and staff continue to work to create a more appealing literary environment for teens.
Spontaneity is the twin sister of many of my favorite travel adventures. Taking a trip without planning reminds me of those few times I jumped in the lake nude when I was a kid. The rush feels good.
Mercer Island really knows how to throw a party for 1,500 guests and 70 helpers to celebrate the seventh and final installment of the Harry Potter series.
Question: With my first child leaving for college next month, what words of wisdom have you gleaned in your work as a college counselor?
Four college students, three crooks and a camera. These are the fundamental ingredients for Mercer Island High School graduates Alex Ricciardi and Adam Goodman’s latest project.
The conversation becomes touchy when it is about money. The perception is that all Mercer Islanders have plenty of money. Haven’t we all heard “well you must have money to live on Mercer Island?” This perception helps to create potentially dangerous situations for my vulnerable clients here on the Island. Sometimes it is foreign lotteries or sweepstakes that can encourage people to send a few thousand bucks in hopes of a great return, or it can be theft right out of your mailbox, or even a very determined family member that demands money because of a mental health, drug or alcohol problem.
Randy Holeman is not your everyday black belt. For him, karate is more than a physical expenditure, it’s his business and his way of life. On Aug. 4, Holeman’s business will expand even more, with the opening of a permanent training facility on Mercer Island.
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