When John F. Kennedy Jr. died along with his wife and sister-in-law in a tragic plane crash a few years ago, his uncle, Senator Ted Kennedy, said in his eulogy that John had been given every gift that life has to offer — except for the gift of time. Being able to live a long life, especially when it is a good life, is considered by most of us to be a blessing. Reaching old age is part of what we hope for — for ourselves as well as for our loved ones.
“Have you heard the news coming out of Seattle? There’s a Tent City on Poverty Rock? The haves and the have-nots have tied the knot.” I can imagine Jay Leno or David Letterman having a field day with our town’s most-talked-about topic on their late night monologues.
A bug is a bug, is a bug, is a bug … until you discover that the bug is a helper! There are many beneficial insects that rove our gardens, helping us to have an area where poisons need not be used. The challenge is to learn which bugs are good and which are bad. There are many more than bees.
Islander Hillary Linton, a junior at Mercer Island High School, has been dancing since she could walk. This weekend, Linton will demonstrate her skills on stage at the Paramount Theater as part of “Dance This,” a showcase of dance styles from across the world. Now in its 10th year, “Dance This” celebrates young dancers from across the Seattle region.
If a poll were taken of all the people of Europe and North America in 1900 and the question was: “Who is the most famous living person in the world who is not a head-of-state?” Buffalo Bill Cody would have won. Easy money.
For a refreshing swim in Lake Washington, an especially pleasant beach is at Chism Park in Bellevue, just three miles from Mercer Island. Sloping green lawns, a sandy beach and swimming area with a sturdy raft make this a great summer outing.
July is adult abuse prevention month, and I thought it was important to bring up issues regarding the risks of abuse. When I first started providing social services, the term we used was “elder abuse.” But because a vulnerable adult may not always be an elder, the term has changed. And like all forms of abuse, it can happen to anyone.
The Island’s only Teddy Bear Camp celebrates its 25th year this summer with songs, colorful baking and games. The summer day camp for 3, 4- and 5-year-olds, which is held at Sunnybeam Preschool, has been directed by Islander Marla Donaldson since the early 1980s. A veteran in child education, Donaldson founded Teddy Bear Camp on the virtues of play.
Question: I am trying to come up with a college list for my son who is a junior. Can you give me any ideas of resources that I could use?
St. Monica Church of Mercer Island raised the second highest amount of money for the annual Roman Catholic Church’s “Peter’s Pence” collection from the 170 parishes in the Archdiocese of Seattle. St. Monica Parish raised $19,562, second only to the St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Tacoma, which contributed $26,000. The money is collected for the spiritual and charitable works of the Pope. It is used by the Pope to respond to need created by wars, oppression and natural disasters across the globe.
Walk through the courtyard of Ellsworth House any evening at 7 p.m. and you’ll witness a sanctuary of Chinese culture.
With a lazy black cat sauntering around their feet, a dozen senior residents move gracefully through the archaic steps of tai chi. Traditional Chinese music softens the distant murmur of traffic. A trio of birch trees rustles in the wind. The courtyard is filled with calm.
There is more on the market in Mercer Island than single family residential homes and condos. As of July 28, there are 29 listings for vacant residential land on Mercer Island — and 17 of those properties have been on the market for 90 days or less. The properties total 12.65 acres of land and have an average asking price of $2.3 million an acre. They range in size from 8,800 square feet in size to just over an acre.
Some years ago, my youngest daughter went to the store with me to spend her allowance for a favorite toy. She was all of maybe 5 or 6 years old and had her eye set on some of the miniatures in the doll aisle. However, her older brother was also with me, bouncing between the action figures and the Hot Wheels sections. I attempted to float between my two children, making sure they were where I left them as they asked, “Do I have enough allowance for this?”
