Coffee with the Senior Commission: open house reception, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., May 30, CCMV Groveland Room. The City Council-appointed Senior Commission invites Island residents ages 55 and up. Refreshments served. Discuss new senior programs and services. 232-0738.
A 17-year-old Islander got a headache and small cut above his eye after he was in a head-on collision in the intersection of S.E. 42nd Street and 85th Avenue S.E. around 7:30 a.m. on May 23. According to the incident report, another vehicle driven by a 37-year-old Seattle man taking a left turn pulled in front of the teen.
Three new firefighters recently joined the Mercer Island Fire Department. Retirements had left some vacancies to fill, according to interim chief Chris Tubbs. Two of the new firefighters live north of Seattle, and one is from the Eastside.
Former Island mayor Ben Werner died early in the morning on May 17. He was 88. Werner served on the Mercer Island City Council for more than 20 years and was mayor for six. He was also a key figure in the negotiations and planning of I-90. Services are planned for early June and will take place on the Island. A full obituary will be published at a later date.
The Rotary Islander of the Month has been awarded to Mercer Island High School students Alyssa Chung and Matthew Sims.
It is time to order your 2008 graduate grams. Graduate grams are handsome hand-lettered, personalized certificates that congratulate students on the completion of their studies. The grams raise money for the PTA Community Scholarship Program that honors high school graduates with scholarships. Go to www.misd.k12.wa.us for the order form or e-mail bpck@msn.com. The PTA Council is happy to take contributions for these scholarships at any time. Scholarship contributions may be made at any time to the PTA at P.O. Box 124, Mercer Island, WA.
A 56-year-old father is under investigation for the assault of his young son at his Island home the morning of May 11. According to the incident report, the 10-year-old boy was dragged into the home by his wrist, knocked down a flight of stairs, kicked and had his head banged into a couch. Police received a call from a Bellevue woman, who reported the incident after hearing the boy’s story and saw his injuries. The case was forwarded to Child Protective Services.
The City Council unanimously gave $16,000 from its beautification fund to help pay for the permit fees needed to host a trial Farmer’s Market in the Town Center this summer.
Memorial Day Bridge Tournament: May 23-26, Renton Community Center, 1715 Maple Valley Highway, Renton. Host: Seattle Bridge Unit #446, local chapter of American Contract Bridge League. Laurie Sayer, (425) 226-7521, www.sbu446.org, www.acbl.org.
Third Thursday Mercer Island Art Walk: 5:30-8 p.m., May 15, Town Center. Features BBQ, blues and brews.
Two City Councilmembers recently volunteered to get Tasered by police. After doing so, both Councilmembers agreed that it was incapacitating, though not very painful, and was a safe alternative to other uses of police force.
Hoping to piggyback on the success of his teenage daughter’s victory last year in becoming the ninth-grade class president, Islander Michael Bond is running for the state Supreme Court. So far, he is one of two candidates who have stated their intention to run for one of three seats up for election this fall.
The top 33 Christian work places nationwide were recently announced at the Christian Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas. The Best Christian Workplace Institute (BCWI), a human resources consulting firm on Mercer Island, selected the winners after surveying more than 7,800 employees across the United States to identify work places with a Christian mission. This year, three Washington state businesses received awards: Bellevue Christian School, Bellevue; the Tacoma Rescue Mission, Tacoma; and Logos Research Systems Inc., Bellingham.
A new tea shop, Tea Treasures, is open at the Avellino Apartments building at 2836 78th Ave. S.E. The shop opened on May 1 and offers a variety of teas such as ambrosia, jasmine and Irish Breakfast, and classes about the history of tea.
Police arrested a 29-year-old man in town on Mother’s Day for possessing five bags of marijuana and two glass pipes outside Albertson’s around 12:18 a.m., May 9. According to the police report, someone called the police after the man began talking about his guns, which he did not have. Police also confiscated a six-pack of beer.
In generations past, many Mercer Island High School students followed their parents’ academic footsteps. As school “legacies” they had a slight priority over other applicants.
Islander wins Communicator of Excellence award
