The Mercer Island School Board voted unanimously to approve the PEAK settlement during last Thursday’s board meeting, giving the green light to proceed with the next phase of the project — securing construction permits and a final design. PEAK is currently expected to break ground between April and June of 2009.
Mercer Island is seldom, if ever, mentioned when discussing the current state of Washington’s non-English speaking workforce. Few Islanders face language communication problems on a daily basis. Across the lake, in central and south Seattle, is another story. English as a Second Language (ESL) programs are offered through community centers, private institutions, minority outreach organizations and schools in every neighborhood. Yet there are similar programs — albeit less visible — on Mercer Island.
Members of the City Council have decided to ask voters to take out a $12-million, 20-year “mortgage” to fund numerous improvements at several Island parks.
The Mercer Island School Board voted to approve the PEAK settlement during last Thursday’s board meeting, giving the green light to proceed with the next phase of the project — securing construction permits and a final design. PEAK is currently expected to break ground between April and June of 2009.
The United Methodist Church will be hosting a neighborhood public-information meeting next Wednesday, July 9, from 7 to 9 p.m. regarding its decision to host Tent City 4. The church, located at 7070 S.E. 24th St., is inviting its neighbors to attend and meet some Tent City residents and learn more about the camp. The congregation will host Tent City from August to early November. For information, to go www.miumc.org.
In order to telecast its first meeting, the City Council will be asked to approve an operations procedure at its meeting on Monday, July 7. The first televised meeting is expected to take place July 21. The city also plans to begin televising a pilot news program called “Mercer Island View” that same day. The 20-minute news program is expected to run for a couple of months. The Mercer Island government access channel, airing on Comcast channel 21, will also feature static news bulletins about upcoming city and government events. Last March, the Council approved the installation of four cameras in its Chambers at City Hall to broadcast their bimonthly meetings and to produce a video archive on the city’s Web site.
The Mercer Island High School Culminating (senior) Project is up for a change — one that has next year’s seniors smiling.
A 36-year-old Mercer Island man was arrested in the 5900 block of W. I-90 for driving westbound on North Mercer Way with a suspended license at 2:50 p.m. on June 20. His vehicle was towed.
Home of candidate for U.S. Congress destroyed by fire
Island Square in Mercer Island’s Town Center has sold to a Colorado-based group incorporated in Delaware, for $112 million.
Michael Christ, the Island real estate developer who with his firm, SECO Development Inc., and One Island Square LLC., built the five story mixed use building, sold it on July 3 to a group named Island Square NewCo LLC.
Liberty Loan pawn shop owner sentenced Monday July 7
The Mercer Island Schools Foundation presented its 2008-2009 financial request list to the School Board on June 26. The document covers the foundation’s fund-raising goals for next year — money that will be raised in order to meet the district’s “instructional improvement initiatives and ongoing commitments.”
The waterfront home of a Town Center restaurant owner was engulfed with flames early on Friday morning, leaving behind a charred house and the lingering stench of burnt wood along East Mercer Way as Islanders began to celebrate their Fourth of July holiday.
