Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Local officials claim there's little they can do about a small but reportedly growing deer population on Mercer Island.
With sightings and complaints about local deer on the rise, city officials are reminding residents of their protected status and what they can do legally to protect their property from the graceful but occasionally annoying wildlife. Mule deer and black- or white-tailed deer — the two species that are found on Mercer Island — began migrating back onto Mercer Island several years ago — annoying local gardeners and causing a few car accidents annually. City Hall contracts with the Regional Animal Service of King County for managing domestic animals, but all wildlife issues — including those related to deer — are handled by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Some areas of the state do permit legal hunting of deer …
Good advice for last night's Dunham Scholarship finalists and winner MIHS senior Suzanne Gaber by MIHS 2003 grad Jessica Lind-Diamond.
How important is picking the "right" college? We spend a lot of time in the the college application process — testing, tutoring, AP classes, essays, resume building . . . We act as if our child's whole future depends on where they spend the next four years. A refreshing perspective was offered by 2003 Mercer Island High School graduate, Jessica Lind-Diamond, who spoke at a reception honoring the Stanley Ann Dunham scholarship applicants Tuesday night, May 15. Lind-Diamond said she was miserable her freshman year in college, and had many tearful phone conversations with her dad trying to decide whether to transfer. She decided to stick it out and changed her approach. That next year Lind-Diamond took more challenging classes and got …
Monday, May 14, 2012
Joan Probala says rising rental costs and high demand here could cost you more in the long run.
Should you purchase? Are you thinking about renting? What is it going to take for you to make that big decision? Prices are low, interest rates are the lowest in history making this a great time to buy. If you plan on staying in a home for several years or using a property for long term investment, waiting for even a few months may increase the amount of money that a property will cost. Still considering renting? There are many reasons to rent, but rising rental costs could cost you more in the long run. Looking at statistics does not always indicate what the best decision is, but it is a place to start. According to Zillow, rents have increased 3 percent over the last year. That may not seem like such a large increase, but couple that …
Vote in our poll and let us know in the comments.
When the weather is nice everyone likes to get outside and enjoy the sun and warmth, and one fo the best ways to do that is by sitting outside and enjoying a nice lunch or dinner with friends and family. We’re asking readers to choose their favorite outdoor dining spot on Mercer Island. Vote for your favorite in the poll below: Yuzen Japanese Cuisine, Roanoke Inn, Bennett's, Freshy's, The Islander — and just to add a little summer flavor, Baskin-Robbins. And click on the links above and rate the business on its Patch Directory listing. You can also leave a review to let your neighbors know why you love it. In the event of a tie, we will break it based on the comments here and reviews on the Patch Directory listing, so please explain your …
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Here's a recap of some of the top stories from the past week on Mercer Island Patch.
Agent: Statistics Paint a Varied Picture Reports are rampant about the state of the housing market. Some statistics point to an accelerated improvement, if only by small steps. Some still list a decline in price, but slower than before. More... Police Blotter: Multiple Arrests, A High School Student Beaten, and Plants Stolen from Local Home The following information from May 1-6 was supplied by the Mercer Island Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction. More... Interstate 90 Lawsuit to Stop Light Rail Sent Back to State Supreme Court A ruling that dismissed a group's lawsuit that would have blocked the use of the Interstate 90 bridge for Sound Transit light rail is headed to the State …
Mother's Day is here and offers an opportunity to show the women in your life how much you love them.
"I'd like to be the ideal mother, but I'm too busy raising my kids." -unknown No one knows who said that, but it rings more true than not. Around the world, there's one thing that unites women more than any other: childraising. Whether away at work, staying at home or straddling the gray area in between, we all experience similar struggles, joys and ... the gray area in between. So it is with eagerness and anticipation that moms look forward to one day a year where cooking is optional and gifts abound. There was a point when Mother's Day was less about brunches and hanging baskets, as it has drastically morphed from the intention of its founder. The founder of Mother's Day, Anna Jarvis, trademarked the phrases "second Sunday in May" and "…
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Residents Weigh In On Planned Pictorial History
The Mercer Island Historical Society is in the final editing stages a new edition of its Mercer Island history book, originally published in 1977. A volunteer editorial committee directed by the Historical Society has been researching, collecting photos and materials, writing and revising the book for the past three years. The book is expected to be published this winter. All proceeds of the sale of this book will benefit the Historical Society, and in the future will fund a robust, searchable web site that will contain hundreds of photos, memoirs, documents and other historical data about Mercer Island. We believe the publication of another Mercer Island history at this time is ill-advised, confusing to the public and detrimental to the…
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Finding time for summer fun, while getting a jump on next year by squeezing in some academic help
Summer seems like a great time to get it all done. We want our kids to relax and have fun, but we’re also balancing the need for childcare, improving their expertise at certain activities or sports, and boosting their academics by including summer school, tutoring or special classes in the mix. Younger kids might take Kumon math tutoring or typing, while older kids may use the time to squeeze in Driver’s Ed or SAT prep courses. Summer on the rock is famous for tennis lessons and swim teams. Clubs and Parks are filled with kids getting active. But there’s also a feeling that summer is “catch up” time, where parents can fit some extra help or enhancement into the schedule. Those headed for Senior year often work on college test prep, college…
Graphic novels have become more than "just" comics and superhero stories. They can be factual, biographical or simply stunning works of art that tell a story.
I recently attended my very first Emerald City ComicCon. In spite of my library geek nature, I never thought to go to a comic convention before. I thought comic conventions were just for the superhero crowd. This was all before I discovered the rich world of graphic novels. Graphic novels have become more than "just" comics and superhero stories. They can be factual, biographical or simply stunning works of art that tell a story. Graphic novels are wonderful and I’d like to share some of my favorites for all ages. All these titles can be found in the King County Library System. Kids Owly: The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer by Andy Runton. The "Owly" series are nearly wordless graphic novels that are perfect for little ones. Reminiscent …
Governments have long taxed alcohol and tobacco to limit damage. Time for fat, sugar?
After the surgeon-general declared smoking dangerous to your health, steep taxes helped bring down U.S. cigarette use. Now comes the latest report on obesity, which suggests that 42 percent of Americans will be obese by 2030. The forecast by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says “32 million more people could be obese in 2030—adding $550 billion in health spending over that time span,” according to an Associated Press report. Is it time to slap extra taxes on foods high in sugar or saturated fat? Or should education and the marketplace handle what some call a public health crisis? In 2010, Washington State voters passed Initiative 1107 to end new sales taxes on candy and soda pop, among other items. Do you think it's time to …
Snoozingdog
12:33 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
Well Kendall, the city might want to gather data on natural habitat areas, access/ egress points for game from the mainland, natural and human food sources, human and game trails and pathways, and crossing points where deer and cars intersect. It's less about the roads and more about behavior and possibly altering them, then post warning signs and lower speed limits as needed. It's a great … more ›