Cause remains under investigation
Former Island resident charged in county court
Promising Islanders a rematch featuring a stronger and better challenger, GOP gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi made a campaign stop on Mercer Island earlier today, sharing his plans to make Washington the “worst place to be a criminal and the best place to start a business.”
Puget Sound Blood Center Blood Drive: 1-7 p.m., July 2, Mercer Island Covenant Church, 3200 78th Ave. S.E. 1-800-398-7888, www.psbc.org.
Backyard pools and spas are the most common site for drowning of small children, but a recent Washington state code requires homes with pools and spas to have proper barriers for children. Beginning July of last year, all new private pools and spas in Washington must have barriers. The regulation applies only to new pools and spas, but these safer standards are recommended for older pools and spas as well.
A new state law requiring drivers to use a headset for cellphone conversations while driving went into effect yesterday. The fine will be $124 for violating the law. A police officer must stop a driver for another violation, such as speeding, and may then issue the fine for talking on a cell phone unless it is an emergency. Drivers are advised to use a hands-free headset or speaker phone.
“Tonight we honor a fixture in our community who has been involved in almost everything for decades,” said Mayor Jim Pearman June 16 in naming Jim Trombold Mercer Island Citizen of the Year. In addition to being a respected physician and Rotarian, Trombold has been a community activist, environmentalist and defender of MI parks.
Clarke Beach Volunteer Opportunity: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., June 26. Join EarthCorps, MI Parks and Rec. for urban forest restoration. Tools, gloves, training provided. Sign up: www.earthcorps.org.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported that consumer prices in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton area increased 0.7 percent for two months, ending in April 2008. The increase was mainly due to higher prices for transportation. From April 2007 to April 2008, overall prices rose 3.4 percent, while the all-items less food and energy index increased 2.6 percent.
