Mercer Island recognizes golden Girl Scout

In other city news, the banners in Town Center are set to be replaced and Coffee With A Cop returns.

January 30, 2018 1:30 pm
The Mercer Island City Council honored Mercer Island High School 12th-grader Kari Anderson (center) for earning the Girl Scout Gold Award on Jan. 23 at a council meeting. Also pictured is Jennifer Wright, MISD executive director of Learning Services (right) and Mayor Debbie Bertlin. Photo courtesy of Janet Piehl/Girl Scout Leader Troop 43142
The Mercer Island City Council honored Mercer Island High School 12th-grader Kari Anderson (center) for earning the Girl Scout Gold Award on Jan. 23 at a council meeting. Also pictured is Jennifer Wright, MISD executive director of Learning Services (right) and Mayor Debbie Bertlin. Photo courtesy of Janet Piehl/Girl Scout Leader Troop 43142

City recognizes golden Girl Scout

On Jan. 23, the Mercer Island City Council honored student Kari Anderson for earning the Girl Scouts Gold Award. She spent about 80 hours working on a project titled “Pretty Pressure: How Media and Other Factors Affect Expectations,” focusing on standards of beauty and normalcy in middle school boys and girls.

Anderson, who compiled her findings into a curriculum that will be used by the 8th grade health teacher on Mercer Island, is the only Islander in the past 10 years to earn the award.

Council discusses goals, governance at planning session

The Mercer Island City Council met on Jan. 26-27 for its annual planning session at the Community and Event Center, to set goals, review issues and discuss good governance. It was the first planning session for new Councilmembers Salim Nice and Tom Acker, and the first led by Debbie Bertlin as mayor.

On Friday, the group started with facilitated icebreakers and team building activities, followed by a recap of 2017 accomplishments and lessons learned. On Saturday, the group set the work plan for the year by identifying goals and “must dos” for 2018-2019. Staff went over emerging issues for the 2019-2020 budget, including infrastructure needs, personnel costs, changing demographics and service level impacts.

See www.mercergov.org/CouncilMeetings for more.

Island to replace Town Center banners

The Mercer Island Arts Council has been working on a $26,500 project to replace the banners in Town Center, which have been in place for seven years. The city will do a national call for artists to design the new banners, which will focus on Mercer Island icons, including local architecture and sculpture, the Interstate 90 bridge, water and natural beauty.

It’s an opportunity to “revitalize Town Center streetscape with artwork that represents the natural, cultural and recreational resources of Mercer Island,” said Arts Council Vice Chair Rene Stratton.

‘Coffee With a Cop’ returns

The Mercer Island Police Department invites neighbors to join a casual conversation with police officers over a cup of coffee.

This roving event will be hosted by New Seasons Market from 5-7 p.m. on Jan. 30.

Discuss affordable housing at meeting

On Jan. 30, King County’s Regional Affordable Housing Task Force will be holding a public meeting to hear from the community about challenges in finding and keeping an affordable home.

The evening event will be held at the New Holly Gathering Hall (7054 32nd Ave. South, in Seattle) starting at 6:30 p.m. Online commenting is also available.