REPORTER
Mercer Island www.mi-reporter.com
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31,20, 2016 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2013| |75¢ 75¢
School Board lays groundwork for 2016-17
Women who rock
Welcome back to school! It’s time to bid farewell to summer, as the first day of school is today, Wednesday, Aug. 31. Check www.mercerislandschools.org for 2017-17 back to school information, including school hours for early release Wednesdays and late start Wednesdays (high school only). The first day of school is not an early release day. Share first day photos on social media with the hashtag #MIFirstDay.
BY KATIE METZGER kmetzger@mi-reporter.com
CERT classes start Wednesday Join the Mercer Island’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) for the first class of a seven-week series, to be held from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 7 at City Hall. See page 5 or www.mercergov.org for more information. There is also a team training and meeting for CERT search and rescue volunteers from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at City Hall. Everyone is welcome.
As garden program grows, students may have “farm to table” food in lunchroom BY KATIE METZGER kmetzger@mi-reporter.com
When Lakeridge Elementary students return to school this week, those in one after school club will be able to see the fruits — and vegetables — of their labor this past spring. About 35 kids are part of Lakeridge’s garden club, meeting every Friday after school to learn about gardening, cooking, sustainable farming and local food. Island resident and mother of five Nancy Weil started the program to teach kids about where their food
Concerned the stock market Concerned aboutabout the stock market “A goal without a plan is just a wish” and future? your future? and your
Start your plan today! talk ComeCome talk to us!to us!
comes from and how much time and effort it takes to grow it, in a very hands-on way. “I’m amazed at how much kids will eat if they were involved in making it,” Weil said. “It really opens your eyes to what it takes to grow your own food … And it tastes better than [produce] from the grocery store.” Weil started the garden six years ago with the help of Anthony Warner, a garden coordinator for schools in Seattle. She said that the PTA, principal and superintendent were very supportive of the idea. Weil also runs the King County Green Schools program for the Mercer Island School District, and helped start the “zero waste” campaign at the Mercer Island Farmers Market and at school parties. She previously served on the
Mayor’s Sustainability Task Force, in the subdivision of waste reduction. Leftover food is a huge issue in schools, she said. Educating children about saving their snacks for later instead of throwing them away, and about the importance of composting and recycling versus tossing things in the trash can (which schools now label as “landfill”), is a small thing that makes a big difference. Weil listed several examples of little changes that can be made in daily life to save resources: replacing light bulbs with LEDs, buying recycled paper towels and wrapping presents with newspaper instead of gift wrap and ribbons. Equally important to the lessons that are learned is the fun that is had. Weil said that she wanted the kids “to love it, and to get their hands dirty.” The Lakeridge garden has 17 beds and many varieties of plants: 15 types of tomatoes, six types of
SEE SCHOOL, 2
REPORTER
The Mercer Island Design Commission will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, to conduct preliminary design review of the Shorewood Heights and Aegis projects. The meeting will be held at City Hall, in the Council chambers.
Lakeridge garden teaches sustainability, stewardship
Mercer Island
Design Commission meets tonight
Katie Metzger/staff photo
Leah Raissis, left, and her brother Zane play at Women’s Equality Day last Thursday in Mercerdale Park. Their band is called Exapsos. For more, see page 6.
STARTING AT $39/YEAR
Mercer Island offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 5, in observance of Labor Day. The Sept. 5 City Council meeting was rescheduled to Sept. 6.
Subscribe online at www.Mi-Reporter.com or please call 1-888-838-3000
City offices closed Sept. 5
The 2016-17 school year starts today, and the Mercer Island School Board has hit the ground running, holding two meetings in the past two weeks to discuss the operating budget, teacher contract negotiations and policy changes for field trips and discipline. The board also discussed closeout of the 2014 bond projects, including the newly-opened Northwood Elementary, and the renovations at the high school and at Islander Middle School, which will have a dedication ceremony on Oct. 1. The first reading for the district operating budget was held on Aug. 22, with a second reading and public hearing on Aug. 29, after Reporter deadline. The biggest challenge facing the district comes from the state level, with the looming levy lid cliff. The district is setting aside reserves so that if the McCleary decision and
SUBSCRIPTIONS
MI | THIS WEEK
Serving Since1947 1947 Servingthe theMercer MercerIsland Island Community community since
SEE GARDEN, 7
Free
Notary Service for our MI Neighbors Ave SE, 107 Island - Mercer(206) Island (206) 275-2700 2448 76th2448 Ave 76th SE, Suite 107Suite - Mercer 275-2700