Nancy Hilliard
Around the Island

One, two, three strikes you’re out at the old ballgame … good to see the balls and bats — and even the auto-pitch machines — in play on Island fields of late. The Mariners’ home opener is Monday, March 31, against Texas. Catch a Sound Transit 550 bus at MI Park and Ride at 2:50 p.m., get off at the International District station and walk a half-mile to Safeco Field. Plan to be in your seat half an hour early for the pre-game hoopla. First throw — 3:40 p.m. Heard tell that the Pullman-born relief pitcher, Sean White, a former MIHS player, will be scrambling for space in the M’s bullpen.

New boating program: Registration has begun in the Parks and Recreation summer boating programs, this being its first year offered at Luther Burbank Park’s re-purposed gashouse. To sign up for classes, camps and two guided kayak tours for kids, adults and people with disabilities, contact organizer Dannie Lambert-Witt, (206) 275-7891.

Islander Mario D. Chorak, MI orthodontist, is president-elect of the Washington State Society of Orthodontists — the youngest to hold the position in the 300+ organization of many decades. The 35-year-old graduated in 1995 from the University of Washington and University of Kentucky College of Dentistry in 1999, with honors. He earned a Certificate of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics from Oregon Health Sciences University in 2001. He has published many research articles in professional journals. His wife, Marilyn (Morrison) Chorak, is a graduate of MIHS and UW.

Shoe drop on I-90? Saw three sets of shoes one day last week near the East Channel Bridge. I imagine this scenario: “For Pete’s sake, Norman, put on your shoes before we get to the dentist.” Repeat three times, until one or the other flings the shoes out the window in frustration. Singletons: imagine a kid dangling his foot from the window for refreshment and — whoops. Tell me your suspicions.

Fraud-Fighting: Tips from the March 18 Strivers meeting for seniors to learn how to fight consumer, ID theft and telemarketing scams: Don’t give out personal information of any kind to phone, mail or computer solicitors — you risk either getting bilked or put on a “suckers’ list.” Crosscut shred all personal mail and documents. Don’t give out your social security number for credit purposes and don’t carry it in your wallet. Check your credit rating several times a year to find out who else is checking you out. Report stolen or fraudulent incidents to the police and cancel all compromised accounts to initiate a “fraud alert.” Jennifer Franklin, MIPD, said it often takes years to recover from identity theft. She urges you to hang up on telemarketers, even though we were taught to be polite, and not to put extra information on checks. Copies of “Do It Yourself Crime Prevention” are available at City Hall.

Make the most of your first century, urges internist Chuck Wischman. Practice positive self-talk, work from the premise that your cup is half full rather than half empty. Engage in something that excites you each day; get mobile and active. Rest only between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.! Learn to tolerate loss of all kinds, grieve and move on. Watch the weight, don’t smoke, drink less alcohol. Use it or lose it, but do not abuse it — applies to everything in the body. Too much protein can lead to osteoporosis, high blood pressure, gout and kidney problems. Too much fat can trigger gallstones and diabetes; and obesity can cause joint disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Skip salt, tobacco, high fructose corn syrup in lots of foods. DO ingest lots of fruits and vegetables, yogurt, plenty of water, roughage. Exercise and do your own work.

The Way We Were: Memories of Mercer Island seen in passing on the very modern YouTube Web site: Art’s Food Center, Crowshaws, Robby’s Shoes, Mayfair Department Store, Island Plaza Inn/Cook House, Floating Bridge Inn (The FBI), the White House, Ernst, Mercer Island Lumber, the DQ, Herfy’s, Rudy’s Danish Bakery/Mama Ruebens; the little white buildings where the Sunset Highway toll booth was, the Bowling Alley, the tower in East Seattle, Mercer Fair, the Samoa. In Bellevue: Uncle Harold’s Bike Shop, Frederick and Nelson’s, KFKF, Clark’s Crabapple (the big tree and wishing well are still there); The Bel-Vue Theatre, Bellevue Ice Plaza, Crossroads Ice Skating rink, Bellevue Way McDonalds, Shakeys, Sir Loin Inn, Belle Lanes Bowling and Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour.

Miracles in-the-making: Jack McHale is once again healthy and back at Tully’s for coffee. He’s the one who fell from his giant Sequoia six months ago and was rushed to intensive care at Harborview. It wasn’t certain that he could walk again. He is, and enjoyed his first day of spring as a new grandfather. Son Joel McHale and wife, Sarah, just gave birth to Isaac, who joins 3-year-old Eddie. Joel, as you know, is the host of “The Soup” on the E channel. Could humor hasten healing?

To contact Nancy Hilliard, e-mail her at nancybobhilliard@msn.com.