City news in Mercer Island.
Holiday tree lighting and Firehouse Munch is Dec. 2
Gather with your family, friends and neighbors for an evening of free holiday merriment in Town Center on Friday, Dec. 2. The community tree lighting ceremony and caroling occur at Mercerdale Park, from 6:30-7 p.m.
Immediately afterwards, from 7-8:30 p.m., the North Fire Station (3030 78th Ave. SE) hosts its annual Firehouse Munch, with arts and crafts, Santa photos, treats and musical entertainment. Bring an unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots drive to help a child in need have a better holiday season.
Check out new furniture at Community Center
Mercer Island Parks and Recreation announced that the Mercer Island Community and Event Center (MICEC) is now equipped with new furniture throughout the facility.
The MICEC received a welcome update in September, with new tables and chairs in each meeting room and the Mercer Room, and new modular furniture throughout the open areas of the facility. With these and future updates, the community center continues to be a welcoming and increasingly social atmosphere for Islanders of all ages.
For more information, visit www.mercergov.org/micec, or contact Operations and Programs Supervisor Zach Houvener by phone at 206-275-7839 or email at Zach.Houvener@mercergov.org.
Thrift Shop implements new efficiencies
In order to capture the value of re-usable items even more efficiently, the city’s Thrift Shop (MITS) recently renovated its donation and processing area.
Revenues from this facility provide significant financial support to the city’s Youth and Family Services Department, and fund programs such as counseling, senior adult outreach, substance abuse prevention and intervention, juvenile court diversion services, family assistance and JobLink.
In addition, MITS has partnered with new Seattle startup Dolly, a smart phone app that provides trackable, same-day delivery from independent movers, maximizing use of freight vehicles already in circulation, and helping minimizing unnecessary air pollution from empty trucks. MITS patrons without their own truck will now be able to buy large, or awkward items, and easily have them delivered to their home safely and securely.
Sewer line upgrade work continues
The King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) conveys and treats wastewater collected by 17 cities and 17 local sewer utilities in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties, including the city of Mercer Island.
Wastewater from Mercer Island is sent off-Island through King County pipes to the South Treatment Plant in Renton.
Installed in the 1970s, King County’s North Mercer Island and Enatai sewer pipelines are reaching capacity, and must be replaced. The project team is finalizing the alignment of the new pipe and plans to make a final decision by the end of 2016. Construction is expected to begin in 2019.
Wherever possible, the new pipe will be built on land to minimize impacts to sensitive fish habitat. King County has been in contact with affected Island residents by mail, phone and via community meetings and open houses in order to gather valuable input.
See www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/Construction/East/NMIEnatai for a project map and more information.
The city’s Utility Board is expected to discuss the project at its Nov. 29 meeting.
City boards seek volunteers
Help improve the livability of Mercer Island by getting more involved in your community. The city counts on volunteers to staff many different boards and commissions. Appointments to boards and commissions are made by the mayor and affirmed by the City Council.
The Mercer Island Library Board and the Mercer Island Arts Council are each seeking one new member, effective immediately.
The Library Board candidate should be a parent of a preschool-aged child in order to achieve Board diversity goals. The Arts Council candidate should have knowledge of or interest in the arts and the mission of the Council to nurture, promote and support high-quality cultural arts activities for the Mercer Island community.
Go to www.mercergov.org/files/BC%20Application%20Fill-In2015.pdf to download an application.
For more information, call City Clerk Ali Spietz at 206-275-7793 or Ali.Spietz@mercergov.org.
