City news in Mercer Island.

Mayor proclaims October as Domestic Violence Action Month

At the Oct. 17 Mercer Island City Council meeting, Mayor Bruce Bassett proclaimed that October 2016 will be a month to recognize and prevent domestic violence “by promoting peace in our own families, homes and community.”

“We must work together to increase public awareness of, and action on this issue. We must work with young people to stop violence before it starts. Only then will we be able to truly put an end to this epidemic,” Bassett said. “Let us renew our commitment to end domestic violence and its brutal and destructive effects on Mercer Island and in every city, every town and every corner of America.”

Domestic violence affects one in four women and one in seven men during their lifetime, and is a crime that does not discriminate and crosses all economic, racial, gender, educational, religious and societal barriers.

The city of Mercer Island’s Youth and Family Services Department (MIYFS) provides services to help mitigate the impact of domestic violence on victims, children, families and the community.

Victims, their loved ones and concerned citizens are encouraged to learn more by calling MIYFS at 206‐275‐7611 or the LifeWire Helpline at 425‐746‐1940 (or www.lifewire.org).

Kick-off for updating residential development standards is Oct. 26

Since early 2016, the city of Mercer Island has heard from residents with a variety of concerns regarding residential development and the rapidly changing character of Mercer Island’s neighborhoods.

The City Council has tasked staff and the Planning Commission with reviewing the code, gathering public input and recommending code updates to City Council.

The Planning Commission will host a Community Kick-Off Meeting from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center. This will be an opportunity to learn more about the residential development standards, the planned update process and how to get involved. Refreshments will be provided.

The kick-off will also be an opportunity for city staff and the Planning Commission to hear from the community about their concerns around the rapidly changing character of Mercer Island’s neighborhoods. The Commission will ask participants to help answer the following key questions that will frame the City’s work on the residential development standards update:

What do you love about your neighborhood?

What are some changes you’ve seen in your neighborhood?

How do you see your neighborhood in the future?

Information, resources, and a comment form for this update process are available at www.mercergov.org/Residential.

Thursday is statewide Earthquake Preparedness Day

At 10:20 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20, thousands of Washington residents will practice how to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” in the state’s largest earthquake drill ever: The Great Washington ShakeOut.

Major earthquakes can happen anywhere you work, live or travel in Washington, and we all need to be prepared. The annual ShakeOut drill is our chance to practice how to protect ourselves when an earthquake strikes, with a goal of preventing a major earthquake from becoming a catastrophe for you, your family and your community. You may only have seconds to protect yourself in an earthquake, so frequent practice results in more successful outcomes.

The city encourages individuals, families, businesses, schools, colleges and other organizations to practice their emergency plans and prepare. Learn more about the statewide program at www.shakeout.org/washington. To learn more about emergency preparedness on Mercer Island, visit the city website at www.mercergov.org.

Healthier food options coming soon to city’s food pantry

Following suggestions from community members, the city’s Food Pantry, operated by the Youth and Family Services Department (MIYFS), will begin offering healthier food options and additional nutritional information in partnership with the Parks and Recreation Department’s (MIPR) Let’s Move! Initiative.

These new options include complex carbohydrates, leaner proteins and fresh fruits and vegetables gleaned from the Mercer Island Farmers Market. Borrowing from Let’s Move protocols, additional information about physical activity will also be available. MIYFS will seek to educate the community in efforts to solicit healthier pantry donations.

MIYFS Director Cynthia Goodwin said that “the link between physical and emotional health is clear.”

“I’m very supportive of the partnership between MIYFS and MIPR to support the overall health of all Islanders, including those whose options might otherwise be limited to cheaper, but less healthy, food options when struggling to put food on the table,” she said.

Two years ago, the city joined the nationwide Let’s Move! campaign, a comprehensive initiative, launched by First Lady Michelle Obama, dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. Learn more about Let’s Move on Mercer Island at www.mercergov.org/LetsMove.