Great schools and an abundance of parks are key elements of what makes Mercer Island a great place to live and raise a family. Islanders have always shown a great willingness to invest in our schools; on Nov. 4, you have the chance to do the same for our parks.
Halloween has infected the debate about the parks bond and levy propositions. At last Tuesday’s League of Women Voters Forum, scary stories were told by a small but vocal cadre of opponents — stories about untrustworthy hobgoblins on the City Council, of a slush fund witches’ brew, of ghostly interest that adds up to more than the face amount of the bond. (Duh — is it any surprise that when you pay back a debt with interest, you pay more than the original proceeds borrowed?) Let’s not get spooked. Mercer Island is one of the best-managed suburbs in the region, with a bond rating that no other city in the region exceeds. Further, the claim was made by one opponent that when he was on the Open Space Conservancy Trust Board, the park was maintained without a special fund. Oh? Then how come on his watch, the park degraded, reforestation fell behind and now we are having to play catch-up?
As is our custom, the Reporter publishes its picks on political races that affect Mercer Island directly. This is an even-year race, meaning there are no Mercer Island City Council or Mercer Island School District Board of Directors positions up for grabs.
When you elected us to the City Council, you told us to keep our community safe, protect our environment and maintain our infrastructure. In asking you to approve the parks bond and levy on the Nov. 4 ballot, we are doing just that.
October is National Clergy Appreciation Month nationwide. Parishes and congregations typically honor their pastors, priests and rabbis with expressions of appreciation for their ministries, and it seems appropriate to honor two particular members of the Mercer Island Clergy Association.
A multitude of images — mostly faces of people who I have known, worked with, watched grow up and admired — come to me as I approach this column’s topic, each person experiencing radical life changes while confronting issues of addiction. I’m beginning to think more and more of it being a miracle that any of us can escape addiction issues in our lives. Think about it for a second — consider all the ways that we as human beings can find our thoughts, our emotions and our very lives dominated by addiction:
At Briar Rose Sewing School, a new business on Union Hill in Redmond, owner Barbara R. Mar is reviving the dying art of sewing and giving people of all ages a place to gather as they exercise their ingenuity.
Over 800 students played for All-Island Band Night during halftime at the Mercer Island High School football game against Sammamish High School on Mercer Island, Friday.
Tent City 4 resident Madelynne Bush, right, talks to Mercer Island Studio 904 owner Kay Hirai, center, and stylist Jackie Hong prior to receiving a free salon treatment on Oct. 15. Tent City 4 residents have been on the Island since August and are expected to move this Saturday, Nov. 1. The roving encampment of about 100 homeless people will relocate to the St. John Vianney Catholic Church in the Finn Hill neighborhood of Kirkland.
A cut-off portion of a utility pole hanging from the wires of an adjacent pole has been deemed safe, city officials said. The pole is in the 4600 block of 86th Avenue S.E. It is bolted at the top and secured by wires. According to the city, phone and power companies sometimes have to leave utility poles in such a way, as improvement schedules rarely coincide.
Matt Vincent, a Mercer Island High School senior, and Michael Wales, a Seattle Prep junior and Island resident, both placed in the top 10 percent of their respective events at the prestigious Head of the Charles regatta in Boston.
The Mercer Island volleyball team officially clinched the 3A KingCo title on Friday with a 3-0 victory against Juanita High School. It was the team’s second consecutive league championship.
The Mercer Island girls’ soccer team continued to fall on Thursday, when they lost to Sammamish, 2-0. The loss put Mercer Island in jeopardy of missing the playoffs altogether after leading the division and being undefeated after six games. The loss was also Mercer Island’s fourth in five contests.