YFS to host open house on Oct. 4
The Mercer Island Youth and Family Services (MIYFS) Foundation Board of Directors invites the entire community into the halls of the historic Luther Burbank Administration Building (2040 84th Avenue S.E.) on Sunday, Oct. 4, from 2-4 p.m.
Bring family or friends, sip apple cider and tour the building while learning about its history and current use as city offices, and as a home for many Youth and Family programs, such as the Food Pantry, counseling and many other community services.
There will also be a sneak preview of the season’s hand-blown glass pumpkins made by local artists Joni Johnson and Roberta Wyde, available for sale; pumpkin carving demonstration with acclaimed Master Carver Russ Leno; mini-pumpkin decorating for children; and of course, the legendary playground.
MIYFS, established in 1973, is committed to providing, coordinating and advocating for affordable, high quality human services for all. The MIYFS Foundation was founded in 1989 to support and enhance the work of MIYFS through fundraising efforts. Please direct questions to Sari Weiss, or call 206-275-7756.
New Island Crest Park trail bridge completed
The city’s Parks Open Space crew recently finished construction on the Island Glen Bridge, a 27-foot span over a small creek that provides for trail access between the neighborhoods around Island Crest Park and West Mercer Way.
In 2013, after a tree fell on the original wooden bridge, structural rot was discovered — a temporary repair allowed time for funds to be allocated for the new replacement structure.
The new construction makes use of steel, concrete, and fiberglass building materials that collectively give the bridge a projected life span of 100 years. The project was completed with help from Alliance Steel Inc., McDowell Northwest Inc., Swenson Say Faget, and Parks Open Space Staff.
Lee awarded for work on “Lock It or Lose It”
The City Council recognized Islander and social marketing expert Nancy Lee for volunteering her time and skills to help the Mercer Island Police Department (MIPD) with a burglary prevention campaign.
Lee looked at five years of crime data and came up with “Lock It or Lose It,” an initiative geared toward reminding Islanders to lock doors and windows when they leave their homes. About 41 percent of residential burglaries on Mercer Island involved unlocked entries, and about 65 percent occur during the day.
JayMarc applies to short plat for three new homes
Island-based developer JayMarc Homes applied to the city to short plat a section of the property occupied by Congregation Shevet Achim at 8685 S.E. 47th St.
This subdivison was a condition of the Jewish congregation purchasing the property that formerly belonged to the First Church of Christian Scientists.
In order to help raise enough capital to make the purchase, Shevet Achim planned to sub-plat and sell three housing lots on the westernmost edge of the property, to be developed by JayMarc.
City staff said that no public comments regarding the proposal were received. No building permits have been filed yet, meaning the homes will be subject to school impact fees.
Those fees, about $14,000 for single-family dwellings, go into effect on Oct. 14.
Volunteers needed for pedestrian and bicycle count
The eighth annual 2015 statewide bicycle and pedestrian count is this week.
The data collected helps inform the planning for better bicycling and walking policies, projects, and funding in Washington state.
Mercer Island still has many open volunteer spots open: Tuesday, Sept. 29; Wednesday, Sept. 30; and Thursday, Oct. 1.
Count times are 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Learn more at bikepedcount.wsdot.wa.gov.
