For a refreshing swim in Lake Washington, an especially pleasant beach is at Chism Park in Bellevue, just three miles from Mercer Island. Sloping green lawns, a sandy beach and swimming area with a sturdy raft make this a great summer outing.
July is adult abuse prevention month, and I thought it was important to bring up issues regarding the risks of abuse. When I first started providing social services, the term we used was “elder abuse.” But because a vulnerable adult may not always be an elder, the term has changed. And like all forms of abuse, it can happen to anyone.
The Island’s only Teddy Bear Camp celebrates its 25th year this summer with songs, colorful baking and games. The summer day camp for 3, 4- and 5-year-olds, which is held at Sunnybeam Preschool, has been directed by Islander Marla Donaldson since the early 1980s. A veteran in child education, Donaldson founded Teddy Bear Camp on the virtues of play.
Question: I am trying to come up with a college list for my son who is a junior. Can you give me any ideas of resources that I could use?
St. Monica Church of Mercer Island raised the second highest amount of money for the annual Roman Catholic Church’s “Peter’s Pence” collection from the 170 parishes in the Archdiocese of Seattle. St. Monica Parish raised $19,562, second only to the St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Tacoma, which contributed $26,000. The money is collected for the spiritual and charitable works of the Pope. It is used by the Pope to respond to need created by wars, oppression and natural disasters across the globe.
Walk through the courtyard of Ellsworth House any evening at 7 p.m. and you’ll witness a sanctuary of Chinese culture.
With a lazy black cat sauntering around their feet, a dozen senior residents move gracefully through the archaic steps of tai chi. Traditional Chinese music softens the distant murmur of traffic. A trio of birch trees rustles in the wind. The courtyard is filled with calm.
There is more on the market in Mercer Island than single family residential homes and condos. As of July 28, there are 29 listings for vacant residential land on Mercer Island — and 17 of those properties have been on the market for 90 days or less. The properties total 12.65 acres of land and have an average asking price of $2.3 million an acre. They range in size from 8,800 square feet in size to just over an acre.
Some years ago, my youngest daughter went to the store with me to spend her allowance for a favorite toy. She was all of maybe 5 or 6 years old and had her eye set on some of the miniatures in the doll aisle. However, her older brother was also with me, bouncing between the action figures and the Hot Wheels sections. I attempted to float between my two children, making sure they were where I left them as they asked, “Do I have enough allowance for this?”
More than 50 Issaquah residents, council members and various commission members toured the new mixed-use development in downtown Mercer Island and Old Bellevue on Tuesday as part of the ongoing process for Issaquah’s Central Issaquah Plan.
Thirty Islanders entered the 25th annual Ride Around Mt. Rainier in One Day (RAMROD) race held last Thursday. The Reporter contacted the cyclists and asked if they could share their story and a photo or two with readers.
Many people think of vegetables and fruits as something that comes from the store, but for avid gardeners, the food that graces their tables comes from their own backyard or one of the many pea-patches that exist here on Mercer Island. Years of experience are not necessary to provide some of the easier things to grow, but for the ability to grow enough produce for a large family, it pays to consult an expert.
Giving back has never been so glamorous, as two local business women combine their love for gemstones and philanthropy to help struggling artisans halfway around the world. Zavida Gemstones, a socially conscious online retailer offering handmade semi-precious gemstone jewelry from around the world, announced on July 7 that it had granted $23,000 to support the indigenous silversmiths of India who create some of Zavida’s jewelry offerings. The funds come as part of Zavida’s progressive business model that gives back 25 percent of its profits to struggling regions where its worldly jewelry and gemstones originate, plus private donations.
Green Peace activists stage a protest outside Rep. Dave Reichert’s Mercer Island office on Wednesday, July 30.