This season blooms with inspiring students who have completed educations, sometimes against all odds.
Washington State University tells us about 1997 MIHS grad Stephen Dolinko, who last weekend “Commenced” with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and pre-veterinary medicine. He graduates in the top of his class and also was active in the WSU Raptor Rehabilitation Program. In 2004, he had finished his duty as a member of the Navy’s Nimitz Battle Group and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Proud moment for this new “vet” — in two senses.
Joseph Devleming from the MIHS class of 2003, graduates June 9 from the University of Washington Honors Program. He has received a prized internship with Ernst & Young, one of the top accounting firms in the country and located in midtown Manhattan. He and another MIHS grad of 2003 David Myre, also won a national accounting competition last month and each were awarded a scholarship.
An Island tradition is to send such achievers “Graduate Grams,” and by so doing, provide scholarships for other students’ education. Each spring, PTA volunteers mail thousands of these hand-written greetings to Mercer Island seniors, eighth graders and fifth graders — and others as well. Donations are $4 each (or more if you wish) and provide for the PTA Community Scholarship fund. Orders are online at www.misd.k12.wa.us or via mail to P.O. Box 124.
Oh those raccoons. Last week’s coverage drew comment. Many appreciate living in a metro area that protects nature so they can watch their wild friends, especially the coming debut of raccoon kits. They usually come two or three per family, are “balls of fluff, and you can hear them coming with their impatient chittering noises,” said Marilyn Blue, whose home abuts Pioneer Park.
Usually the young are 12 weeks old before leaving their den to roam without mom several nights. Washington State Fish and Game manager Russell Link says we can best be their friends if we do NOT feed raccoons, secure garbage, barbecues and outdoor food waste; feed pets indoors, keep pets in at night then lock pet doors; and bar spaces that could become raccoon dens or climbing opportunities on homes. More tips: http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/raccoons.htm
Link cautions against touching or breathing raccoon droppings, which can contain roundworms. He adds that “no cases of rabies in raccoons have been reported in the state for at least the 15 years I’ve worked here.” He acknowledges that their numbers here “exceed their habitat-caring capacity,” due in part to dwindling predators.
Create your own backyard park or native plant garden. Pick from 400 species from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, at the Washington Native Plant Society’s plant sale at Bellevue Botanical Gardens. There’ll be native trees and shrubs, wildflowers, grasses, herbs, berries and such favorites as lupines, mock orange, columbine and wild rose. For details contact kathl@scn.org
Rita Moore and Anne Mack, Islanders and members of the society, opened their own lovely gardens for a tour of 12 homes in the county last Saturday to show creative uses of native plants.
In bloom now at Moore’s Fern Hollow are native bleeding heart, white fawn lily, native rhododendrons, stream violets, service berry, and false lily of the valley. Ferns and deciduous shrubs and trees are wearing bright new chartreuse leaves. Moore says she’s willing to arrange a tour for interested Islanders. Her gardens exemplify what can be done on hills, ravines and marsh wetlands of the Island.
Paul West, city arborist, said “No Ivy Day” at Island Crest Park last Saturday removed strangling ivy from dozens of trees. Community and Earth Corps volunteers put their sheers to curtailing the invasive climbers. A similar effort was waged earlier at Clarke Beach, completing 76 “survival rings” there. Hats off to all rescuers. Watch for signs of the next ivy brigade or contact West, 236-3544, paul.west@mercergov.org
Don’t forget — how could you — that Mother’s Day is Sunday. Two Island standouts are the guys at MI Covenant Church this Saturday, who will serve their women a catered meal on tablecloths with flowers, and centurion Iva Johnson.
Dave Loendorf said the MICC “Mother-Daughter-Sister-Girlfriend Brunch” will further wow guests with skits and a rousing game of “Let’s Make A Deal,” with prizes. You go, guys.
Johnson, Queen Mom of Mercer Island and a resident here for 30 years, is the mother of John Johnson of Lake Sammamish, Susan Doty of Mercer Island, Don Johnson of Gold Beach, Ore., and LuAnn Fratt of Piedmont, Calif. About 50 of her family and friends celebrated her 100th birthday with her last Saturday.
Although her eyes are failing, she still keeps house, golfed to age 95, walks at Luther Burbank, exercises daily and inspires others with her wit, disciplined approach, sharp mind and lively demeanor. She grew up Iva Eide in Tacoma, did a little nursing, married John, a logger, raised a family of five kids in Aberdeen, Wash., and came here 30 years ago as a widow.
“Nothing seems to get mother down,” says daughter LuAnn. She accepted the bad times with the good, and went about the trials of health and loss with Norwegian grit.
She’s the last of seven siblings to survive. The tradeoff is that she’s become matriarch of 31 off-springs. She remembers every birthday of her children, nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren — who regard her as the ultimate “Grand Mother.”
