Next year, Seattle will become one of the first major American cities to discourage the use of paper and plastic shopping bags. On July 28, the Seattle City Council voted 6-1 to institute a 20-cent fee for the use of paper and plastic bags at grocery, drug and convenience stores. Although the measure only applies to Seattle merchants, eco-conscious Island shoppers are jumping on the bandwagon as well.
After several weeks of controversy and a day in court, Tent City 4 was scheduled to move into the parking lot of the Mercer Island United Methodist Church on S.E. 24th Street yesterday, after Reporter press time.
Thollem Mcdonas, world pianist, composer and improviser, will play a special concert at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. The Mercer Island community is invited to attend.
Maximos Sting Reh was born on June 7, 2008 to Mitchell Sting Reh and Holly Littlefield, of Preston, Wash. He is the first great-grandson of Donald and Roberta Stewart, who live on Mercer Island. His grandmother is Ellen Reh, DDS, a Mercer Island High School graduate; and his great-great grandmother is Theda Corser, of Issaquah, Wash.
Rachel Marie Tallon and Nickolas Karl Reynolds, both of Mercer Island, are engaged to be married on May 9, 2009 in Mercer Island.
SR-520 Tolling Open Houses: 5-7:30 p.m.; Aug. 6, Bellevue City Hall; Aug. 7, Kirkland Performance Ctr., Kirkland; Aug. 13, Community Center at Mercer View, Mercer Island. Learn about tolling options. 520 Tolling Implementation Committee seeks public input by Aug. 31. www.build520.org.
About six months ago, the Mercer Island Clergy Association was holding meetings with representatives from Tent City 4 as plans were being developed to welcome the homeless shelter on Mercer Island. As information was shared about the specifics of the encampment, I noticed one of the women, a resident of Tent City, writing a two-page list, which she then handed to me. The titles of the lists were “Needs List Personal” and “Needs List Kitchen.” There were over 25 items on each list — items that she identified as most commonly lacking in the Tent City camp. I tucked these lists in my folder and now see the reason why.
A Seattle Times story on July 24 about tolls for SR-520 mentions that Islanders would pay a half-toll to Seattle or a half-toll to Bellevue under a “Tolls for I-90 and 520” plan.
Bats in King County can have rabies, as a local couple recently learned when a bat that they found in their house tested positive for rabies. Because they were not sure whether the bat had scratched or bitten them while they were sleeping, they received post-exposure treatment, which is 100 percent effective if given promptly. Without treatment, rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms begin. Since the beginning of 2008 in King County, 22 people have been treated for exposure to potentially rabid bats, and two of the bats tested positive for rabies.
Willard P. “Pete” Peterson, formerly of Mercer Island, died on June 26, at Overlake Hospital.
Elisabeth Winsby, born in San Francisco, Calif., on May 29, 1910, finally got her wish and gently left this world on July 20, confident that she was going to a better place. She was loved by all and will be especially missed by her daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and Bill Dowling; her grandchildren, Laine, Patrick and Elisabeth; and her five great-grandchildren. Services have been held. Remembrances are suggested to the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church Children’s Ministry.
Come this fall, Mercer Island police officers on patrol will carry a Taser at their left knees.
IslandVision MI Farmers Market Community Meeting: 7 p.m., July 24, MI library. Callie, 232-8402.
