REPORTER RTER
Islanders get fired up over sex offender registration bills
By Andy Nystrom anystrom@soundpublishing.com
On the morning of Feb. 15, more than 50 perturbed Mercer Island residents met with Sen. Lisa Wellman at the community and event center to voice their concerns over a bill that was proposed, in part, to reduce the length of the sex offender registration requirement to five years for persons convicted in “net nanny” sting operations. That Wellman-sponsored bill, SB 5312, has since been pulled from the legislative docket. But the 41st Legislative District Democrat senator from Mercer Island has also introduced another bill, SB 5282, that reestablishes the advisory board to the Missing and Exploited
Children Task Force (MECTF). “Net nanny” stings feature law enforcement officers acting in an undercover capacity while communicating on the internet through various websites with individuals interested in the sexual exploitation of children, according to the previous Reporter story. The would-be perpetrators who were arrested had agreed to travel to meet with undercover detectives posing as young girls and boys to engage in sexual activity with them.
Olivia Lippens, a Mercer Island resident and parent of three school-aged children, attended the meeting and noted: “The residents that showed up to this hearing were so upset, and every single one of them were against lighter sentencing guidelines or reduced registration and supervision for convicted sex offenders. And the only two people in the room who were for this legislation were the parents of the registered sex offender.”
Wellman confirmed that the Glants from Mercer Island were present at the meeting, which the senator arranged because NextDoor comments about SB 5312 were “blowing up” on the Island and she wanted to discuss the bill
with local residents. According to a Reporter story from 2016, the Washington State Patrol’s MECTF arrested 20 males and one female, including Bryan Glant, then 20, from Mercer Island, during a Thurston County child sex abuse “net nanny” sting, according to a state patrol press release.
Glant — who had no prior criminal history, according to prosecutors — was charged and later found guilty by the trial court of two counts of first-degree attempted rape of a child. He was arrested upon arriving to meet two children under age 12 for sex, and detectives found a bottle of lubricant on Glant, according to the Reporter story. Court documents note that Glant — who is a registered sex
MIHS orchestra set to perform at Carnegie Hall
Musicians will participate in National Band and Orchestra Festival.
By Andy Nystrom
anystrom@soundpublishing.com
With arms smoothly flowing to and fro and eyes darting around the room, Mercer Island High School (MIHS) orchestra director Bryan Kolk is clearly in tune with the music and the students skillfully lifting those songs into
the air.
Welcome to the MIHS music classroom on a recent afternoon, approximately a month before most of these Islanders will be firmly grasping those instruments and displaying their talent at the renowned and sparkling Carnegie Hall in New York City.
The precise time of the performance will be 3 p.m. April 19 as part of the National Band and Orchestra Festival. And MIHS students are stoked to be participating in the prestigious event.
“It’s the pinnacle hall in the U.S. I don’t think if you asked an ordinary person, they could name any other orchestral concert hall like Carnegie. It’s really exciting,” said junior double bassist Leo Saloranta.
It will be sophomore viola player Chloe Long’s second performance at Carnegie. She previously appeared on that grand stage as a solo pianist after winning the American Virtuoso Music Competition.
“Instead of being a solo performer, I’m performing with this large ensemble with my friends, with my fellow musicians. I’m really excited to be on the stage to help a larger ensemble produce a bigger piece,” she said.
It is the first time a MIHS orchestra will perform at Carnegie Hall.
Seventy-five MIHS performers in grades 9-12 will be traveling to Carnegie Hall along with Kolk and some parents.
The Island performing group is a combination of students from the school’s freshman orchestra, non-audition ensemble and audition ensemble.
Last year, Kolk submitted audio recordings of the orchestra to the selection committee and the locals received the
nod to join eight other national ensembles at the WorldStridespresented event from April 16-20.
“They heard our recording and decided that we would be a representative ensemble, capable of participating alongside of other orchestras and bands from around the country,” Kolk said.
“I think the strengths are we’ve got a well-supported program, a community that supports our students’ passions. And we’ve got students that rise to meet these passions.”
That community involved with the orchestra helps feature the students at their zenith, Kolk said.
Kolk added that the boosters organization provided scholarships to any students who requested assistance for trip funds. “We want to ensure that anyone who wishes to go, who’s earned a spot on that stage, is not financially prevented from being able to go,” he said.
During the orchestra’s nearly 30-minute set, it will roll through
offender listed on the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs website — appealed his convictions, but the trial court denied both motions.
At the meeting, Wellman said the residents, “ranted and raved about that I didn’t know what I was doing, that I was not protecting children, etc, etc. I wished I had an opportunity to talk about what was going on, what research I had done, talking to psychiatrists, psychologists, people who are familiar with sex trafficking, people who were familiar with the case, you know, more of our state patrol, that whole issue.”
Lippens added: “It is rare to have
School district news: Hi-Cap program, budget reductions
Highlights from the March 27 meeting of the Mercer Island School Board.
By Linnea Augustine For the Reporter
Budgetshortfallandreduction
Superintendent Fred Rundle and district staff presented a report projecting a $3 million deficit and outlining strategies to reduce expenses and staffing. While Dr. Rundle emphasized community values in small class sizes, robust arts programs, sevenperiod days, and four elementary schools, he acknowledged: “We just can’t have everything. There are competing and dynamic interests at play.”
Director Maggie Tai Tucker expressed concern about the impact of cutting nurses on students with medical needs, while Director Dan Glowitz questioned the reductions to student-facing staff instead of administrative positions.
five pieces by Jordan Jinosko, Bach, Cuban and Hungarian dance tunes by Jose White Lafitte and Brahms and an African dance tune by Fede Sowande.
“It’s just us making the most beautiful music we can on that stage for about 30 minutes,” Kolk said with a smile. “I’m honored to just be able to spend time with these people every day and to be an encouraging factor in their growth.”
Like Long, this will be Kolk’s second time gracing the Carnegie Hall stage. While teaching music in Michigan, he once took a high school orchestra to Carnegie for a performance that was a valuable experience for the growing musicians, he said. Kolk — who played piano and bass in his youth and focused on double bass in college — is currently in his 14th year of teaching, including his second year at MIHS. Aside from performing at Carnegie, the MIHS crew will have ample time to check
Following the presentation, the board had the first reading of a Reduction in Force (RIF) resolution to eliminate 8.1 certificated full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, with a vote set for April 24 and notices issued by May 15. A similar reading for classified staff is also expected on April 24. 4-1 approval of Hi-Cap instructionalplan
On March 27, Learning Services Coordinator Westin Lucas updated the Highly Capable (Hi-Cap) program, detailing the identification process and the differences between Code 32 (general education enrichment) and Code 33 (self-contained) services. He presented videos of grades K–2 and 4–5 enrichment and Hi-Cap classroom activities. Lucas noted that 21% of MISD students receive Hi-Cap services, tripling the state average, and shared data showing strong academic outcomes.
The board approved the 2024–2025 Hi-Cap plan. However, Director Dan Glowitz cast the sole dissenting vote: “The data does not show that highly capable students are being appropriately challenged. At the elementary level, they show less growth from kindergarten through 5th grade than their peers, suggesting our approach isn’t working.”
Director Deborah Lurie
COURTESY PHOTO Sen. Lisa Wellman.
ANDY NYSTROM/ STAFF PHOTO
Mercer Island High School orchestra director Bryan Kolk leads the way during a recent class.
ANDY NYSTROM/ STAFF PHOTO
A pair of Mercer Island High School orchestra students focus on their performance.
MIHS drill team sweeps state championships
Locals win in all three categories.
Special to the Reporter
The Mercer Island High School drill team made programhistoryonMarch28 at the state championships at the Yakima SunDome by sweeping all three categories, Military (1A-3A), Kick (2A/3A) and Pom (3A), to win three crowns.
This is the first time the Island drill team has won a state championship.
“This is very rare and to go from having never taken first place to taking first in
Senior captain will play at Davidson College next season.
By Andy Nystrom anystrom@soundpublishing.com
Senior captain Charlie Frink and his Mercer Island High School (MIHS) boys soccer squad are tearing up the pitch in the early stages of this season. With new head coach Meelod Shaterian on board, the Islanders kicked off to a 4-0 start at press time against their 4A/3A KingCo CrownCrest Division opponents. Frink, an attacking midfielder, recently concluded the season with his longtime club team Eastside FC and now has his boots firmly wedged into the MIHS soccer scene.
all three categories is a huge accomplishment,” said drill team head coach Kyle Mosler, who is joined by assistant coach Haley Baird. “We’re over the moon.”
The drill team members are:
Alex Brown, Ryley Burks, Rilke Dalton, Sadie Danneberg, Julie Fernandez, Emily Jing, Sean Kern, Kira Lancaster, Petra Lanctot, Shirley Li, Bella Liang, Karoleina Luu, Kimi Nakata, Maya Navarro, Omolara Olusanya, Brynn Pearson, Tucker Sharples, Mattea Skuladottir, Ina Song, Isabella Sullivan, Penelope Thomas, Julia Weisfield, Sofia Wood and Ella Zhang.
Looking back on his four years with the MIHS squad, Frink said the sense of brotherhood stands out the most and is something that he’ll take with him after graduation. Next season, he’ll be headed to Division I Davidson College in North
Carolina to play ball.
He dug into his captain’s role as the Islanders roll through the season.
“I think whenever I go out there, let’s say it’s a tough game, hard game, we’re down one goal, it’s kind of like, the past is behind us. You got to focus on one goal at a time, one minute at a time, one second at a time, one play at a time,” said Frink, who was a member of the 2022 Islander state championship squad. “It’s like, how can I, as a leader, as a captain, kind of build and make sure that everybody — no matter what they’re doing, no matter how they’re playing — plays to their full potential and can become a championship squad.”
Joining Frink in the captain realm is junior center back Kyle Cupic,
who is playing strong with other standouts like senior left winger Ben Park (a Division III commit to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), junior center midfielder Tyler Shelton (four goals at press time), junior winger Mathias Perrenoud, senior winger Joseph Galvin (two goals) and freshman goalkeeper Adam Kiviat.
Frink — who had netted two goals at press time — noted a major plus that MIHS has on its side: “Just because we have two named captains, it’s like everybody on the team are leaders. Everybody respects and looks up to each other.”
When Frink plays his final minutes for the Islanders this spring, he’ll soon be following in the footsteps of his mom, Katie, and uncle, Andy Schwab (who also played soccer), to Davidson on a partial athletic scholarship.
Davidson head coach Mike Bapst and the squad made an immense
impression on Frink during his recruiting trip.
“When you go to colleges a lot, every college is very different. You kind of know it’s the right fit, and I just knew instantly like this is where I want to be,” said Frink, who is looking into majoring in either political science or psychology.
“Ever since I’ve grown up, I’ve always heard about how they had such a great time there. It’s a small-knit community, but it’s like family for life,” he said of Davidson.
The Reporter asked Frink a series of questions to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his life:
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
My biggest pet peeve in soccer would be when a striker fouls a center back when they have them locked in a corner.
What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve ever been given?
I think it would probably have to be by my Eastside
coach a couple years ago. I always called him Coach Randall. There was a time where I wasn’t as good, and I’d always be kind of stuck on the B team throughout Eastside. And there was one year where I was super down on myself about it, and he kind of just comes over to me, and he’s like, ‘I don’t care about what anybody else says. I don’t care about whatever you’re told from anybody in your life. The only thing that you need is to believe in yourself, believe in your dreams, and believe in your aspirations.’ And that kind of stuck with me. It just kind of pushed me to work a little bit harder, work a little bit longer trying to achieve my dreams of what I wanted to be.
What’saspecialskillthat you’d like to learn?
I would like to say golf. I think that would be really cool. I’m OK at it. I’m not great, but I think once I retire from soccer, I think I will be golfing a lot, and I want to be a little bit better at it.
What’s your favorite restaurant on Mercer Island?
I think my favorite restaurant would probably be Toshi’s Teriyaki on the south end. That’s kind of my go-to when I come home and I need a little late snack and I don’t want to go too far.
What’s your favorite movie of all time?
Probably “The Italian Job.” If you could go to dinner with one person, who would that be?
I’d probably do Shane Gillis. I love that guy. I think it’d be a funny dinner, for sure.
The Mercer Island High School drill team celebrates its three state championships at the Yakima SunDome on March 28.
Mercer Island High School senior boys soccer captain Charlie Frink.
Roanoke Park playground construction underway
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CITY OF MERCER ISLAND
Playground construction is underway at Roanoke Park, which is located at 70th Avenue Southeast and West Mercer Way. According to the city of Mercer Island, the renovated play area will feature new equipment, accessible poured-in-place play area surfacing and pathways, an updated picnic area, ADA parking, and a new drainage system. The city added that despite rainy March weather, R&R Construction has completed site demolition and surveying and is now working on grading work to install a new play area curbing and drainage. Construction will continue for two to three more months, including waiting for a warm, dry weather window to install the accessible play area surfacing.
By Reporter Staff
Mercer Island High School’s marching band keeps blasting its way into the major spotlight.
In 2023, Island musicians performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
On Jan. 1, 2026, the locals will take to the streets of England in the 40th annual London Parade.
“The invitation to march in London’s New Year’s Day Parade is a direct reflection of the incredible dedication of our students, as well as the unwavering support from our band parents, boosters, and community,” said Kyle Thompson, marching band director, in a press release. “We couldn’t have earned this opportunity without them.”
From 8-8:30 a.m. on April 2 at the high school, parade dignitaries will formally invite the band to participate in the parade.
Additional information on the Mercer Island school bond
Voters will decide on a proposed school bond in the April 22 special election.
By Linnea Augustine For the Reporter
After attending both in-person and online school bond forums, listening to the podcast interviews of both the Yes and No campaigns, and closely following ongoing community discussions online, I reached out to Mercer Island School District Communications Director Ian Henry with the following questions:
Classroom capacity
Q: How many classrooms are currently in the two
School
From Page 1
disagreed, calling it “a big misinformation … because the numbers don’t support that.” Director Jody Lee noted that she sees “capable learning happening” in both HiCap and general programs.
Facility and capital asset update Tony Kuhn, the district’s director of maintenance, operations and transportation, provided updates on district facilities and capital assets, assuring that buildings are “extremely safe” with constant upgrade and collaboration with the police department. He highlighted upgrades in door locking systems, expanded surveillance cameras, and the daily presence of a school resource officer (SRO). In response to Director Deborah Lurie’s question about concerns over the middle school, Kuhn noted “it’s not ideal” to have three separated buildings unfenced, and his department is exploring a design to “create a closed courtyard” for enhanced safety.
Public input
There were 34 public comments at the board meeting.
Twelve community
existing buildings?
A: There are 39 classrooms in the 100/200 and 300 buildings at IMS.
Q: What will be the total number of classrooms in the new building? (The school website mentions 18 additional core classrooms)
A: At IMS, if the bond passes, there will be 28 new classrooms including science labs.
Lab facilities
Q: How many labs are currently in use, and what types of labs are they?
A: There are currently six labs at IMS and they are used for middle school science curriculum.
Q: What will the 10 new labs in the proposed building be used for?
A: The 10 labs will be used to expand middle school
members expressed strong support for retaining librarians. High school student Lauren Evans called them “literacy advocates,” while Liam Chester referred to them as “outside heroes in education.” Parent Jaymee Lundin described librarian Daniel Kiley as “the heart and soul” of the library, and teacher Joan Wold emphasized their role in “fostering a love of reading.”
Eleven community members advocated for increasing education on Indian boarding schools and Native American history. Sarah Sense-Wilson, an Oglala Nation member and chair of the Urban Native Education Alliance, said “it brings voices and truth to a lengthy era of U.S. genocide,” urging leaders to “stand on the right side of history and commit to quality education for all.”
Six members advocated for nurses, highlighting their essential medical expertise and life-saving interventions for students. Stacey Ulacia, a parent of a type 1 diabetic student, said: “The school nurse is not a luxury. She’s a lifeline…who gives me peace of mind that my daughter is safe during the school day.”
Three members supported the proposed school bond in the April 22 special election. Ricca
science curriculum.
Construction and student impact
Q: What measures is the district taking to minimize the impact of construction on students and staff?
A: When construction starts, assuming the bond passes, the west half of IMS, which is the 100 building, will be demolished and the 200 and 300 building at IMS will remain in use. The separation of the buildings from construction will minimize the impact on students and staff. When construction is complete on the new addition the 200 and 300 buildings will be demolished.
Q: Where will students be housed during construction?
A: As noted in the
Poll stressed the need for improved “student safety.” Eve Hampton emphasized the importance of “accessible pathways” and “ADA compliance.” Student Sahaj Shah raised concerns about “classroom temperatures” and navigating between buildings “in rainy weather.”
Waqas Ajaib, a tech CFO and parent, shared that his family moved to Mercer Island for the schools. While he empathized with staffing cuts, he questioned why the cuts primarily affected student-facing roles, unlike in his field, where salespeople and developers are the last to be cut.
Seth Landau criticized the school board and its president for ignoring Director Jody Lee’s alleged antisemitic remarks, calling the board “dysfunctional” and warning that these issues could erode public trust ahead of the bond measure.
Other board action
The board approved the facility naming policy and announced that board meeting recaps will be posted on the website and discussed in its content. Dr. Rundle recognized students’ achievements in the Honor
previous question, students will occupy the 200 and 300 buildings as well as the 2015/16 building.
Q: How will the district support performing arts programs, clubs and extracurricular activities during this transition?
A: The music classrooms, gym, and commons, all part of the 2015/16 building, will not be impacted by construction. We will continue to support all programs, clubs, and groups as we have done in years past.
Instructional continuity
Q: Will class sizes increase or course offerings be reduced during or after construction, especially at the high school level?
A: No class size increases
Choir Selections, the Seattle Shakespeare Competition, the Lou Flannery Outstanding Journalist Award and the 2025 Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) Awards.
or reductions in course offerings are anticipated at IMS or MIHS during construction or as a result of the construction.
Library design changes
Q: The middle school design appears to exclude a traditional library. Is there a reason for this change?
A: The IMS design does not exclude a traditional library. See additional info provided in answer to the next question.
Q: Will students still have access to library resources in another way?
A: IMS will continue to have a library, but it will be relocated to be more central in relation to the classrooms and will include small group work areas with library resources. According to the district website, “Does the district pay interest on bond debt? Yes, bonds include interest.” If the April 2025 bond measure passes, the district plans to sell bonds in 2026, and “make the principal and interest payments through 2040, totaling $231.4 million at an estimated interest rate projected at 4.7%.” The district currently holds a rating of Aa2 by Moody’s, indicating “high quality” investment grade.
Whatinspiredyoutobecome arealestatebroker?
Iwasdrawntorealestate becauseIlovetheideaofguiding peoplethroughoneofthemost significantmilestonesintheir lives—buyingorsellingahome.
What’sthemostrewarding partofyourjob?
Workingcloselywithmyclients andunderstandingtheiruniquemotivationsandgoals.Every clienthasadifferent“why”andIenjoybeingabletoguidethem throughtheprocesstoultimatelyhelpthemachievetheirreal estategoals.
Howareyouinvolvedinsupportingyourcommunity?
Iworkpart-timeattheMercerIslandYouth&FamilyServices Foundation,awonderfulnon-profitorganizationthatraisesfunds tosupportprogramsandservicestofosterahealthyandthriving MercerIslandcommunity.
Whattrendsareyouseeinginthelocalrealestate marketrightnow?
Thebacklogofbuyersarestartingtocommittopurchasing.The springmarkethasarrived!
LisaSwanson lisaswanson@johnlscott.com (206)369-4737 Yearsinrealestate:2
7243WRidgeRd,MercerIsland,WA98040 4Beds|3.75baths|3,960SQFT|$3,350,000 DebbieConstantine|206.853.5262
4021239thPlaceSE,Sammamish,WA98029 5Beds|2.5baths|2,870SQFT|7,638SQFTLot|$1,850,000 LoriHoldenScott&ConnorHolden|206.949.5674
62020thSt,Snohomish,WA98290
3Beds|1bath|858SQFT|6,970SQFTLot|$669,000 CarrieSimmons&IngvilSyversen|206.679.7093
1400HubbellPlaceUnit#1103,Seattle,WA98101 1Beds|1baths|568SQFT|$329,950 MarkAnderson&ChristianAnderson|206.931.9807
305580thAveSEUnit#204,MercerIsland,WA98040 1Beds|1bath|719SQFT|$459,000 DieterKaetel|206.427.0863
RECENTLY SOLD
847485thAveSE,MercerIsland,WA98040 5Beds|4.5baths|7,410SQFT|22,447SQFTLot|$13,125,000 TimConway|206.954.2437
4003SWTrentonSt,Seattle,WA98136 4Beds|2.5baths|2,750SQFT|6,120SQFTLot|$1,150,000 ScottMacRae|206.499.5766
729HighStUnit#103,Bellingham,WA98225 2Beds|1baths|811SQFT|$430,000 CarrieSimmons&IngvilSyversen|206.679.7093
283678thAveSEUnit#401,MercerIsland,WA98040 2Beds|2baths|1,700SQFT|$4,295/MO DieterKaetel|206.427.0863
6939SEAllenSt,MercerIsland,WA98040 3Beds|3baths|3,080SQFT|$4,595,000 LoriHoldenScott|206.949.5674
Whatinspiredyoutobecome arealestatebroker?
Iwasdrawntorealestate becauseIlovetheideaofguiding peoplethroughoneofthemost significantmilestonesintheir lives—buyingorsellingahome.
What’sthemostrewarding partofyourjob?
Workingcloselywithmyclients andunderstandingtheiruniquemotivationsandgoals.Every clienthasadifferent“why”andIenjoybeingabletoguidethem throughtheprocesstoultimatelyhelpthemachievetheirreal estategoals.
Howareyouinvolvedinsupportingyourcommunity?
Iworkpart-timeattheMercerIslandYouth&FamilyServices Foundation,awonderfulnon-profitorganizationthatraisesfunds tosupportprogramsandservicestofosterahealthyandthriving MercerIslandcommunity.
Whattrendsareyouseeinginthelocalrealestate marketrightnow?
Thebacklogofbuyersarestartingtocommittopurchasing.The springmarkethasarrived!
LisaSwanson lisaswanson@johnlscott.com (206)369-4737 Yearsinrealestate:2
7243WRidgeRd,MercerIsland,WA98040 4Beds|3.75baths|3,960SQFT|$3,350,000 DebbieConstantine|206.853.5262
4021239thPlaceSE,Sammamish,WA98029 5Beds|2.5baths|2,870SQFT|7,638SQFTLot|$1,850,000 LoriHoldenScott&ConnorHolden|206.949.5674
62020thSt,Snohomish,WA98290
3Beds|1bath|858SQFT|6,970SQFTLot|$669,000 CarrieSimmons&IngvilSyversen|206.679.7093
1400HubbellPlaceUnit#1103,Seattle,WA98101 1Beds|1baths|568SQFT|$329,950 MarkAnderson&ChristianAnderson|206.931.9807
305580thAveSEUnit#204,MercerIsland,WA98040 1Beds|1bath|719SQFT|$459,000 DieterKaetel|206.427.0863
RECENTLY SOLD
847485thAveSE,MercerIsland,WA98040 5Beds|4.5baths|7,410SQFT|22,447SQFTLot|$13,125,000 TimConway|206.954.2437
4003SWTrentonSt,Seattle,WA98136 4Beds|2.5baths|2,750SQFT|6,120SQFTLot|$1,150,000 ScottMacRae|206.499.5766
729HighStUnit#103,Bellingham,WA98225 2Beds|1baths|811SQFT|$430,000 CarrieSimmons&IngvilSyversen|206.679.7093
283678thAveSEUnit#401,MercerIsland,WA98040 2Beds|2baths|1,700SQFT|$4,295/MO DieterKaetel|206.427.0863
6939SEAllenSt,MercerIsland,WA98040 3Beds|3baths|3,080SQFT|$4,595,000 LoriHoldenScott|206.949.5674
Vote yes on Mercer Island school bond
By Stephen Yu, Meghan Banta and Julie Hsieh Citizens for MI Public Schools
Mercer Island schools are excellent, but the buildings are aging. The proposed bond funds: $100M for Islander Middle School (built 1958) to unify 19 classrooms and 8 labs under one roof, providing a single, secure point of entry, and creating a new multi-use performing arts space. $64M for Mercer Island High School (1957), for replacing the failing HVAC, updating older classrooms, and upgrading the radio station and robotics lab. $1M to develop a capital improvement plan for 3 elementary schools: Lakeridge (1953), Island Park (1956) and West Mercer (1964).
Mercer Island School District developed the bond measure with extensive input from an outside architectural firm that has worked with MISD for over 20 years, and two years of planning with the Long-Term Facilities Planning Committee across six meetings, and three public hearings. Our elected School Board voted unanimously 5-0 to approve this modest sized capital project plan, the smallest of the options proposed by the planning committee.
While we may disagree on short-term funding priorities for current students’ needs, we should all want our kids to reach their full potential. As adults, we have an obligation to provide our students with basic necessities like secure learning spaces, temperature controlled classrooms, flushing toilets, and working fire alarm systems so they can focus on their education. Creating new classrooms, for modern teaching methods, laboratories, and makerspaces that advance the study of robotics, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship will give our kids the toolkit they need to create a better future.
Mercer Island schools have been instrumental in educating many generations of thoughtful, wellrounded, and engaged
community members. Today’s students are learning not only the classroom skills – math, science, arts, and literature - needed to thrive in the 21st century workforce, they are also taught to think critically and feel empathetically.
Critical thinking isn’t a skill reserved for our kids. The same vocal minority opposing the bond are obfuscating the bond cost. Don’t rely on any campaign or even the school district to tell you how to do basic math. All you need is an elementary understanding of division and decimals. Look up the 2025 King County Tax Rate for Mercer Island – 6.54 per thousand. Find the proposed school district bond increase –0.45 per thousand. Take 0.45 and divide by 6.54 and you get 0.0688 or a 6.88% tax increase if the bond passes. Mercer Island school taxes are currently 20-60% lower than neighboring Eastside school districts, both in total dollars and per student. After bond passage, they remain the lowest. Total bond funding will not increase with higher property values in the future; as property values rise and more properties are built, individual tax rates may decrease. Don’t take our word for it; do this calculation yourself!
There are those who would disparage the dedication of our teachers and perseverance of our students in their learning recovery from the pandemic school closures in order to deny our children critical infrastructure updates. MISD kids have regained math and literacy skills at twice the national rate, surpassing the pre-pandemic average proficiency scores by grade level. Our high school seniors are matriculating to dozens of nationally and internationally acclaimed universities. 93% of last year’s graduating class attend college, belying the criticism that they are unprepared. And our extracurricular clubs are winning prestigious national competitions in broadcast journalism, robotics, sports, and music.
Urging a yes vote on bond
As members of this community, we all share a common goal: to ensure that our children have the best possible opportunities to succeed. One of the most powerful ways we can support their future is by providing them with safe, modern, and well-equipped learning environments. The proposed school construction bond is not just an investment in our schools—it’s an investment in the future of our community as a whole.
This bond will help us renovate and upgrade existing schools, build new classrooms, improve safety features, and ensure that our facilities meet the needs of today’s students. These improvements will create spaces where our children can thrive, learn, and grow into the leaders of tomorrow. In turn, these investments will help our community continue to prosper.
Our schools are more than just places of learning; they are anchors in our neighborhoods and hubs of community engagement. By approving this bond, we are making a statement that we believe in our future— both the future of our children and the future of our island. The bond will provide the resources needed to modernize aging facilities, which will improve educational
These achievements are a testament to the commitment of our teaching staff and the resilience of our kids. If they can accomplish this much in drafty buildings and dilapidated classrooms, imagine what heights these brilliant scholars can attain in modern facilities.
We are parents, engineers, scientists, and writers who have studied this bond proposal and
Vote no on Mercer Island school bond
By Mike Cero Mercer Islanders for Sustainable Spending
Mercer Islanders for Sustainable Spending (MISS) recommends a NO vote to the $165,000,000 school bond. This is the first time we have opposed a school bond. No one likes to say no to schools, but this is a bad bond. It is expensive and it doesn’t address the
believe that it addresses the most critical needs of IMS and MIHS. These capital improvements are the fiscally responsible way to manage planned updates before they become costly emergencies. Construction costs and materials are estimated to rise by more than 8% per year. If this bond fails, these updates will still need to be done, they will just cost more later.
Most importantly, we are your neighbors who want to invest in our community and in our schools. We recognize the strong connection between excellent schools and excellent property values. We also greatly benefitted from the high quality teachers and reliable educational facilities that past generations bestowed upon us, and it behooves us to enhance these community assets for future generations of Mercer Island students. We encourage you to vote Yes. Learn more at www. yesmischools.org
Stephen Yu, Meghan Banta and Julie Hsieh represent Citizens for MI Public Schools.
issues facing our children. Nothing in the $165,000,000 bond’s list of projects will address issues precipitating the decline of Island enrollment by 550 over the last 7 years. Moreover, there is general Community discontent with the Board’s focus on issues other than academic rigor such as screen-based learning in the elementary schools, little homework in the middle school and 25% of our students not being on track for college-level learning without remedial classes.
The $165,000,000 bond funds noncritical projects like an elevator in the admin building, refurbishing the stadium restrooms, refurbishing hallways, refinishing gym floors, painting, landscaping new and existing court yards, new lockers, “inclusive” changing rooms and bathrooms, etc. If your child was slipping academically, would you take a loan out to paint their room and buy them a new desk? These are all nice to have projects that will not improve education. Newer
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
outcomes and help attract new families to our area.
Additionally, well-maintained, highquality schools increase property values and make our community a more desirable place to live, work, and raise a family. They are sources of community pride. Passing this bond will ensure that we are not only preparing our children for success but also investing in a stronger, more resilient community for years to come. It’s a commitment to educational excellence, safety, and opportunity that will pay dividends for generations.
I urge you to vote yes on the school construction bond.
Samantha
Rubenfield, Citizens for Mercer Island Public Schools
Keep supporting schools
I am a recent graduate of Mercer Island High School (class of 2023) and I am writing in support of the upcoming bond issue. I am also responding to the false claims from the few that are opposed to the bond about declining academic achievement.
MIHS was built in the 1950s and while small remodels have been made over the
updated facilities do not produce better academic results. Our new Northridge Elementary scores lower than the other older elementary schools in five of the six academic categories measured by the State. Interestingly, the more Islanders understand about the bond, the less they like it. The District’s Community Survey found that the more informed Islanders were the more skeptical of the need for a bond. “People who DID NOT attend the presentation are more likely to support the bond” 68% compared to 50% who DID attend the presentation.
As with the City’s 2018 Prop 1 Bond that was defeated with 57% of the vote, MISS chooses to analyze from the perspective of what you are voting on not your Total Property Tax Bill that includes eight other taxing authorities. You are voting on the “Local Schools” slice of the King County Assessors 2025 Property Tax pie chart that every homeowner receives as an insert to their tax bill.
It’s unmistakable that the District’s $165,000,000 bond will increase the $2,300,000 median homeowner’s local school tax by 40% in its first year and $23,730 over the 14-year life of the bond. Actually, the true cost of the bond is $231,000,000 when interest is included.
To imply that the overall tax will increase by a small amount is biased research because it doesn’t include the inevitable increases from the other nine taxing authorities that contribute to 72.5% of your tax bill.
One should only focus on items the School Board has control over – Local School Taxes!!
Another contention people raise in my analysis is that I don’t point out the low rate our School District charges compared to other communities. Using a low tax rate to supposedly document proof of efficient management is simply wrong.
Islanders don’t manage budgets according to rates. They manage their
years, it’s still got 1950s style classrooms which supported a lecturing teacher and 25 students at their desks. Teaching styles have evolved, and learning is done in a much more collaborative setting with small breakout groups and team problem solving becoming the norm.
The physical plant is badly outdated as well. The HVAC system does not work and the plumbing is dodgy throughout most of the building. These issues will not go away and deferred maintenance will just mean spending more money later.
Claims that somehow learning outcomes are on the decline are not supported by data. Ask any student in our graduating class and they will tell you that they were better prepared entering college than their classmates from other school districts.
I am a sophomore at Gonzaga and I was given a full ride scholarship after my freshman year because I excelled academically and as a student leader. I was miles ahead of my fellow classmates in writing and reading comprehension. I joined ROTC and finished the first year at the top of my class. My teachers on Mercer Island and the experiences that I had in student government were foundational to excelling at in my first two years at Gonzaga.
Looking at the data around academic
domestic and business budgets by actual dollar amounts. Rates are low because our home values are so high. A low rate times a high home value equals a large payment often requiring tradeoffs in other areas of a family’s budget.
Regardless, the low-rate argument is false when analyzed on a funding per student basis. Using the District’s list of 20 “Washington school districts with similar assessed values” from the consultants October 2024 presentation, our funding per student today is the second highest. Following close behind this proposed bond is the City’s anticipated request for two bonds estimated to exceed $100,000,000 each AND levies to modernize the City’s water and sewer infrastructure. Hardly a spend thrift, even Councilmember Ted Weinberg “emphasized the need to find a balance between revitalizing schools and modernizing the City’s water and sewer infrastructure” at the Joint CitySchool Council meeting. Moreover, the District’s $165,000,000 bond will be followed by additional bonds totaling $247,500,000 for the elementaries and a Cap/ Tech Levy projected to increase 42% from $8,442,614 in 2028 to $12,000,000 in 2029 totaling another $170,919,910. Passing the bond implicitly approves the current Board’s decisions. Let one of the byproducts of defeating this bond be a wake-up call to the Board to focus on academic rigor. Finally, school policies are always emotional. Education policies impact on our most valuable possession. But compassion is making hard decisions. Vote NO on the $165,000,000 bond. Tell the Board to come back in November with a better proposition.
Mike Cero served on the Sunny Beam Board, Lakeridge PTA Board, Committee for Small Class Sizes and two City Council terms. He and his wife Susie have three adult children.
achievement, average SAT test scores for our graduating class were near all-time highs. AP class participation and test scores are the highest they have ever been.
MIHS was effectively a free college prep school. I strongly urge Island residents to keep supporting our schools. Vote YES!
Andrew Howison, Mercer Island
PTA says vote yes
At our recent respective general membership meetings, each of the 6 schools in our district voted to support the 2025 school bond. As the leadership of the PTAs, we urge our community to carry out this intent and vote in favor of this critical investment in our schools. This bond is essential to ensuring that all students in our district have access to safe, well-equipped learning environments. The responsible maintenance and upgrade of these buildings and systems will avoid more extensive and more expensive repairs in the future.
Our schools are the foundation of our community, and right now, many of our buildings are in dire need of repairs and upgrades, with aging infrastructure (HVAC,
See LETTERS, Page 8
PHOTO BY ANDY NYSTROM/MERCER ISLAND REPORTER
Celebrating a familiar voice
Ifirst heard the voice of Mercer Islander Dave Ross in the fall of 1978. Unlike some of you, I didn’t hear that rich baritone voice on the radio. Rather, I heard it in the studio a few feet from where I was working.
Both Dave and I were hired in 1978 at KIRO radio at the intersection of 3rd and Broad in downtown Seattle. In addition to working at Broadcast House at the same time, the legendary Lloyd Cooney signed both our checks. While Dave distinguished himself as the afternoon news anchor on-air, I was a parttime switchboard operator in the lobby during the day and board operator in the control room in the evening.
In addition to answering calls and transferring callers to KIRO employees, it was my job to greet visitors and staff who passed by my console as they entered the building. I routinely welcomed the likes of Dave
Ross, Bill Yeend, Harry Wappler, Wayne Cody and J.P. Patches. I also remember being the first face to greet Charlton Heston as he arrived for an interview.
My employment at Broadcast House was short-lived due to a pastoral call I received from a local church. But Dave Ross’ career in Seattle had only just begun. Two months ago, my neighbor and friend retired after forty-seven years at KIRO. His amazing run on our local airwaves has left him exceedingly grateful but not the least bit winded.
The other day Dave and I communed over a cup of coffee at the Southend “St. Arbucks.” I asked him about his remarkable career and learned some fascinating facts. He told me that his interest in radio actually began when he was just four years old. Using a microphone and a reel-to-reel tape recorder, he interviewed his dad.
During his adolescence, Dave assembled a Heath Kit radio to broadcast music in the family home north of New York City. In high school, he worked at a local radio station spinning records as a disc jockey.
Dave went to Cornell University where he chose English as a major after initially pursuing a degree in physics. In addition to studying, the future awardwinning news anchor
found part-time employment at the local Top 40 radio station in Ithaca. But that was not the only place he used his sonorous voice.
Loving to sing, Dave joined the Cornell Glee Club. It was in that context that he met his future wife Patricia whose mom was secretary to the concert master of the Glee Club.
Dave and Patricia married after graduation in 1973 and moved to Georgia where he began to carve out his niche as a news anchor and interviewer at WSB Radio. After four years in Atlanta, the Rosses were Seattle-bound. It was here in the Pacific Northwest they welcomed their two daughters and eventually bought a home on Mercer Island near the high school.
Dave’s popularity at KIRO resulted in the opportunity to glean a national radio audience.
Initially providing vacation relief for Charles Osgood on the CBS radio network, Dave would be given his own network gig while continuing his program locally. His humor, creativity and clear-headed approach to the news drew loyal listeners.
In 2004, Dave attempted to take his voice to Washington, D.C., when he ran for Congress against Dave Reichert. It was during that campaign season, which ended with the former King County Sheriff edging out
the broadcaster, that Dave realized his voice was more recognizable than his face.
“I was sitting in a waiting room about to go in for a medical procedure,” Dave told me. “While flipping through a magazine I heard the couple next to me talking about my run for office. They had no idea I was sitting right beside them.”
Kidding me that he has a face for radio, Dave told me there is a definite advantage in not being recognized in spite of being a household name. And now, after four decades as a Mercer islander, Dave’s
household name is about to become associated with new neighborhood. In order to be closer to family and spend more time with grandchildren, Dave and Patricia will soon be leaving Mercer Island to Lynnwood.
As we concluded our visit at St. Arbucks, I thanked Dave for a brilliant career that has enlightened our community. And in his signature understated way, my friend
and
ANoosh
AaronHubert
AdaCheung
AgataSmoots
AlTyrrill
AlisaStein
AndreaFrazier
AndyHay
AngelaBrown
AnnKirtman
AshleyHay
AustinFrazier
BalthasarWyss
BettyKong
BettyHarper
BeverlyMauser
BinhKing
BizGilman
BobCochran
BobHibbs
BobetteScheid
BretGraham
BretChatalas
BrianKuttner
BruceGallagher
BruceKahn
BruceEdwards
CaoimheFrazier
CarvZwingle
CeciliaWang
CharlesDena-
Pitchfork
CharonGooding
ChhongKarma
-Sherpa
ChrisSirianni
ChrisSchaeffer
CindyMoller
CourtLorenzini
CurtisBrown
DaleKingman
DaleKaku
DanTaylor
DaveMelin
DaveMunro
DaveRaymond
DaveBaker
DavidOrem
DavidChivo
DeannaKilleen
DeborahBenezra
DeeImrich
DickBergquist
DonHoward
DonRogers
DonaldHoward
DorisCassan
DougGlant
DwightSchaeffer
EdwardBarber
ElaineKavalok
ElizabethSherpa
ElizabethHuber
EllisCohen
EmilyTadlock
ErikHand
EvaZemplenyi
FayeRicci
FrancesSimperman
FrankMandarano
GardnerMorelli
GaryRobinson
GaryAspiri
GaryPollastro
GatisRoze
GeoffreyChick
GingerHowse
GlenBurns
GregTadlock
GregAsimakoupoulos
GretchenWilliams
IraAppelmann
JamesMcFadden
JamesHarnisch
JamesOsborne
JamesDanielGomes
JamesMauser
JanZemplenyi
JanSayers
JanetSchoch
JanetMelin
JanetMatzke
JanetMandarano
JanetShowalter
JeffGoldstein
JeffMeder
JimGregson
JimMitchell
JoanHibbs
JohnMcCombs
JohnFrazier
JohnHamilton
JohnHall
JohnGebhart
JolieRoze
JoyMatsuura
JudeMitchell
JulieTakasugi
KarenGoonewardene
KarynHenry
KathyBergquist
KathyBauman
KellyMiner
KevinSchied
KimBurke
LailaLie
LarrySarchin
LauriMcNeal
LeasaMayer
LindaStory
LindaBarber
LisaBelden
LisaMulligan
LloydGilman
LorettaSoffe
LoriRobinson
LouliaHoward
LucilleZehr
LynnKloppenburg
MarcGoyette
MargVersaw
MarianSinkey
MarianWebster
MarianneBond
MarkSinkey
MarkJacobson
MattGoldbach
MatthewMandel
MatthewManner
MeganHand
MelindaLeclercq
MeredithMiner
MeredithTall
MichaelBurke
MickSchreck
MikeCero
MikeGazarek
MikePost
MikeGoonewardene
MikeBond
MikeDickstein
MitziAspiri
MollyKenny
MorreneJacobson
NancyEtsekson
NormanBender
OrnaSamuelly
PatrickKelly
PaulVanAire
PeggieOrem
PeterBryant
PhilFrazier
PreciousPuttick
RandallPuttick
RayAkers
RayCafarelli
RebeccaWilson
RichardMoller
RobDunbabin
RobertDiederich
RobertHarper
RobertKessler
RobertaKessler
RobinLorenzini
RogerO’Connell
RosannaBryant
Rosanne
Fleishchmann-Lapan
RoyPalmer
SamLeclercq
SamChapin
SaraSueZwingle
SarahEdwards
SarahFletcher
SarahEdwards
ScottWormser
SeanVegeler
SeanKing
ShannonDunbabin
ShellySmith
SophiaCero
StephenGest
StewartWang
SuellenTaylor
SusanneHanlon
SusieCero
SuzanneVannatter
TeagueFrazier
TeresaHall
TheronManson
TimBauman
TimLemon
TomImrich
TomDavidson
ToriMcFall
VinayDatar
WallyHall
WilliamHoychuk
WoodyHowse
Anonymous(42)
smiled
(peering over his reading glasses perched low on the bridge of his nose) posed for a selfie with me.
Guest columnist Greg Asimakoupoulos is a former chaplain at Covenant Living at the Shores in Mercer Island.
COURTESY PHOTO
Guest columnist Greg Asimakoupoulos and Dave Ross.
Prospective city council candidate workshop set for April 24
By Reporter Staff
Mercer Island city staff will hold an informative workshop for residents considering running for city council at 5 p.m. on April 24 at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center and via Zoom. This session will provide an overview of the responsibilities of a councilmember, the election process and key information for prospective candidates.
MI city council offices that are subject to election in 2025 are: Position No. 2 (currently held by Salim Nice); Position No. 4 (currently held by Ted Weinberg); and Position No. 6 (currently held by Lisa Anderl). To appear on the ballot, candidates must file a Declaration of Candidacy with King County Elections, meet all qualifications for the position at the time of filing, and be a registered voter in the city of Mercer Island. The
candidate filing period opens at 8:30 a.m. on May 5 and closes at 5 p.m. on May 9. For more information, visit the serving on the city council page on the city’s website at: https://www.mercerisland.gov/citycouncil/page/ serving-city-council For candidate filing information, visit: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/ elections/for-candidates/ online-candidate-filing
From Page 1
out “Hamilton” on Broadway, explore the financial district, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the High Line park and Chelsea Market.
Saloranta and Long are thrilled to perform at Carnegie Hall alongside the other Islanders, noting that each step of the journey is a satisfying one.
“Sometimes you’ll get a piece and then it won’t sound super great, but every time you play it, it feels like you’re polishing a beautiful sculpture or something. It’s amazing,” Saloranta said.
Added Long about musicians connecting and bringing music to life: “You can listen to different parts and you can kind of listen to how the different parts interact and come together and form a beautiful piece.”
Mercer Island School District (MISD) Superintendent Fred Rundle provided some insight into the district’s fine arts offerings in a press release: “The orchestra’s trip to Carnegie Hall is another example of the great fine arts programs we have in MISD. Our teachers and staff provide so many opportunities for our students to showcase their talents and gain recognition not just on Mercer Island but also nationally.”
an issue where such a staggering number of people are against it… And yet our elected official pushes forward.”
Purpose of the bills
SB 5282, which currently sits in the House of Representatives with the House Committee on Community Safety, reads, in part, that the advisory board must submit details regarding reactive sting operations and proactive sting operations conducted by the task force on missing and exploited children in the reporting year, including: the total number of stings conducted, the number of exploited children rescued through the stings, and arrest and sentencing statistics.
Speaking in front of the Senate Law and Justice Committee on Jan. 27, Bryan’s mother Joanne
Letters
From Page 6
Glant, said about supporting SB 5312: “The bill addresses a serious injustice of sentencing young first-time offenders to lifetime registration and supervision for crimes where no harm has been done to a person.” (Both Joanne and her husband Bruce have spoken in support of Wellman’s bills.)
The senator said she became aware of the Glants’ son’s case about three or four years ago, contacted her constituents and visited Bryan and others in prison. She thought he was mature and a leader at the Monroe Correctional Complex.
Wellman discussed the purpose of the bills, in part, while referring to a major sting that netted copious men who were charged and imprisoned for 5-10 years: “When you come out of prison, if you have had no (criminal) background, and none of these men had any background of having been charged with anything ever. They had completely clean records, and so that was kind of the focus of both
of these bills, how do we treat people, kind of in this particular classification.”
She added: “There was never a child involved, and there was never, actually, as far as the reading that I’ve done, there was nothing on any of the websites that these men had previously been on or their computers. There was nothing about children or pedophilia or anything, and so I had concerns.”
Wellman said that SB 5312 wasn’t shelved for now because of residents’ pressure at the meeting, but because the committee chair didn’t feel it was ready to keep moving and it would require further study. It could possibly return next year as someone else’s bill and read in a different form, but address some of the same elements.
Islanders speak up
As for SB 5282, Islanders continue to speak up because they feel the bill covers some of the same terrain as SB 5312.
Jeremy Bean, a Mercer Island resident and father, said that Wellman avoided, deflected and ignored her constituents’ questions at the meeting. In an email to the Reporter, Bean said he opposes Wellman’s bills because he feels that if they are passed, they will negatively impact the Island or any community, families and, most importantly, their children’s safety.
Islander Jeff Geoghagan, a father of two and meeting attendee, delved into the “net nanny” stings in an email to the Reporter: “Plainly, Senator Wellman is on the wrong side of this issue. Her expressed concern with the oversight of the law enforcement agencies involved with these stings is misplaced.”
Geoghagan added that in cases like the one involving Glant, the individual acts, “of their own volition and without any inducement from law enforcement, searches for, locates and accesses a website soliciting this type of activity. They then take the additional,
measures, and put all of Islander Middle School under one roof.
substantial step of responding to and engaging the person posting the ad.”
He further stated that Wellman would better serve her constituency by focusing on the internet safety of Island children.
On the city front, Mercer Island Mayor Salim Nice released a statement in February regarding the city’s opposition to SB 5312. He noted that, in part, “This bill weakens the ability to hold online predators accountable. It reduces registration and supervision for people who went online looking for a child to abuse. The only reason they didn’t succeed is because law enforcement stepped in first. That doesn’t make them less dangerous — it just means we caught them in time.”
He added: “Public safety means protecting children, not giving a break to those who try to exploit them. Mercer Island stands for stronger — not weaker — protections against child predators. We urge you to reject this bill.”
Shifting back to what’s on
the table now — SB 5282 — Wellman said that it’s crucial to reestablish the MECTF advisory board so the conducted operations can catch people who are hurting children.
“I think that there’s a lot of ugliness out there,” she said. “Especially as chair of education, but as a mother and a grandmother, aunt and everything, I don’t want children hurt in any way. And they are.”
Bryan Glant’s father, Bruce Glant, spoke in support of SB 5282 in front of the House Community Safety Committee on March 17. Regarding reinstating the advisory board, he noted: “This allows officers to focus on what they do best, what they are trained to do, and do what they were mandated to do back in 1999 when the task force was established, which is the recovery of real children.”
Through those operations, Wellman said she would feel like she had contributed something positive with the bill.
fire, and plumbing), outdated and inadequate learning spaces and labs, lack of secure entrances, and limited accessibility. This bond will provide the funding to renovate classrooms, improve heating and cooling systems, enhance safety
In addition, this bond is about meeting the needs of our students. Every student deserves access to high-quality facilities that support their learning and well-being. Teachers need classrooms, labs, and co-curricular spaces to enhance their curriculum and bring learning to life for our students. Not unlike our homes, well-maintained structures are an investment.
ItiswithprofoundsadnessthatweannouncethepassingofDean MorleyPolik,76,onNovember4th,2024,ofMercerIsland,Washington. Dean,thesonofEthelandAbePolik,wasborninSeattle,Washington onApril25,1948.
Dean spent his youth working forhisuncles,Morrisand Jack Polack’sfamilybusiness,AcmePoultry.Eventually,Deanworkedwith hisfather,Abe, andhis Uncle Morris who startedAcme FoodSales After attending theUniversity of Washington,Deantookon a more activerole atAcmeFoodSales.Heworkedfromthegroundfloorup,takingmore andmoreresponsibilitiesovertheyears.In1979,hebecamePresident andassumedownershipofthecompany.Dean’sentrepreneurialspirit andsavvybusinessacumengrewthecompanyfromasmallnorthwest trading companytoasuccessfulinternationalimport,sales, and marketingcompany.Thiswasawork/lifeexperiencehevaluedand sharedwithfriendsandfamily.Deanoftenemployedtheirteenagersto workinthedistributionwarehouse,allowingthemtolearnthevalueandrewardsofhardworkasthey weremakingtheirownpathstowardsadulthood.Hewasacaretaker,agiver,andaphilanthropist.Hewas amentortomany,youngandold.Heespeciallylovedmentoringyoungpeople,somanyofthembeing the childrenof hisfriends.Theywould come toUncleDean oneveryconceivablesubject –business, work,relationships,sports,cars.His wisdom waslimitless.Hehadtimefor everyone, andhispresence was cherishedbyyoung and old alike.Hewas happiest whenhe wasgivingto others, comingto the aid offamily,friends, and the community heloved. His generositywas boundless.He liveda philanthropic life to the fullest.
Dean wastrustedbyeveryonewhoknewhim.Hewashonestwithhisopinions, andhe was straightforwardwithhisthoughts.Dean had astrongsense ofloyaltyto the peopleheloved. Hewould doanythingto protectthem,tosupport them, andhelpthem Therewas a presence abouthimandan intensity. He lookedyoustraight inthe eye, and you feltthe keenness ofhisintelligenceandtheforceofhis personality.Hedidn’tneedtoadvertiseit.Hedidn’tinsistonbeingrecognized.Buttherewassomething abouthimthatcommandedrespectwhenhewalkedintotheroomandhisintegritywasneverdoubted. DeanwasextremelyproudofhisJewishheritageandtookprideinstrengthanddefianceintheface ofbigotry.Deanwaspivotalinthecreationofadailyminyantohonorhisparentsanduncles,andthe minyan becamenot temporary, but apermanentpart of Hertz-Ner-Tamid to this day. His respectfor allreligionswassincereandhewaseagertolearnmoreaboutthemanyreligionsheencounteredinhis businesslifeaswellashispersonallife.
AproudalumnusoftheUniversityofWashington,Dean’sfervorforHuskysportswasunparalleled. WhetheritwasgamedayatHuskyStadiumoraspiriteddiscussionabouthisfavoriteteam,hispassion andexcitementwereinfectious.Asalong-timeTyeememberandfootballseasonticketholder,he rooted fortheHuskiesnotonlyatHuskyStadiumbutalsoatawaygamesandbowlgames–OrangeBowl1985, SugarBowl2024,NationalChampionshipgame2024,RoseBowls,etc.
Dean’sbusiness often tookhim tomany countriesthroughouthislifetime.InEurope, Asia, and South America hedeveloped long-termbusinessrelationshipsandfriendships with suppliers andothers in the foodindustry.Asayoungman hewouldtravelwithhis father,thenlaterwithGwenn, oftenjoined byclose friends as well ashisson,Rob.Besideshispassion for travel, heenjoyed finewine, fine dining, music,friendsandfamily,fastcarsanddrivingthosecarswaytoofast.Manyofhispassengersfondly recallUncle Dean’s driving!
Deanissurvivedbyhis wife, Gwenn,son,Rob(Andrea),grandsons,Sam andJosh,sister,Melanie, andnumerousnieces and nephews, family,friends, and all who knewhim fondly as ‘Uncle Dean’.
Investing in our schools is an investment in our future. Strong schools prepare the next generations for success. They also attract families, increase property values, and keep our community vibrant.
The Parent Teacher Associations of MISD urge all voters to consider both the short and long-term impacts of this bond and stand with our students by voting “yes.”
Kate Gilham, Co-President, Northwood PTA
Debbie Nelson, Co-President, Northwood PTA
Sarah Hollenbeck, President, West Mercer PTA
Sarah Karim, Co-President, Lakeridge PTA
Jessi Biagi, Co-President, Lakeridge PTA
Dean’s legacywill continueas we grieveourloss andappreciate his givingnature and contributions! Zichrono livracha;“May his memorybea blessing”.Forthosewishingto honorDean’s memory,inlieu offlowers, please considerdonatingto the following: SwedishHeart&VascularInstitute fundatSwedish Foundationat https://give.swedishfoundation.org/heart or mailedtoSwedish Foundation,747Broadway, Seattle,WA98122,orthe UWMedicineDigestiveHealthCenteratgive.uwmedicine.orgormailedto:UW Medicine Advancement,Attn: GiftProcessing,Box 358045, Seattle,WA 98195/checkspayable to“UW Foundation.” include “DigestiveHealth Center” onthememoline, orthe PolackFoodBank viaJewish FamilyServicesat jfsseattle.org.
Stephanie Burnett, President, Islander Middle School PTSA
Kimberly Miyazawa Frank, Co-President, Mercer Island High School PTSA
Chris Peluso, Co-President, Island Park PTA
Naveen Tadepalli, Co-President Island Park PTA
Pro Mercer Nails
One of the oldest businesses on Mercer Island will be closing soon after almost 30 years.
Kim and Michael opened Pro Mercer Nails, their manicure/pedicure business in 1996 in Island Market Square in the previous site of a cheese store and produce store.
They chose Mercer Island because it was “so quiet” said Kim. When Island Market Square closed and became Island Square Apartments in 2003, Kim and Michael moved to the triangular lot across from the Starbucks “lodge” where Engel and Volkers Real Estate is now.
In 2017, Pro Mercer Nails moved to Island House Senior Living. Kim said it is “happy and sad” to be retiring. She is an eager gardener, enjoys cooking and has two grandchildren living on Mercer Island. Michael is an avid tennis player and hopes to add to his trophy collection.
Good wishes to them on their retirement after almost 30 years on Mercer Island.
Dee Hitch, Mercer Island
A$1,200.00INCREASE PERYEAR,FOR14YEARS! NOBOND
AdPaidforbySethD.Landau: 7605SE27th,#209,MercerIsland,WA98040 sdlandau@aol.com
March 19
Fraud: In the 2400 block of76thAvenueSoutheast,a resident reported that after his mother fell victim to an online scam and sent cash through the United Parcel Service, the money was returned to her.
March 20
Theft: During an attempted traffic stop of a vehicle with mismatched
license plates in the 8400 block of Southeast 39th Street, a police officer contacted the registered owner of the plates. They discovered that the rear plate was stolen.
March 21
Fraud: A resident in the 3300 block of 72nd Place Southeast reported that an unknown suspect filed a 2022 tax return using his information.
March 23
Burglary: In the 3800 blockof81stAvenueSoutheast, an unknown suspect damaged the back door of a home to gain entry and steal jewelry.
March 25
Fraud: A
and
•
Legal Notices
Legal Notices
flea market
at: https://www.mercerisland. gov/citycouncil. AndreaLarson,CMC CityClerk Americans with disabilities accommodations are available by calling(206)275-7793. Published in the Mercer Island Reporter: April 2, 2025 MIR1011184 4/2/25
CITY OF MERCER ISLAND - NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 2026-2031 Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program - Public HearingApril 15, 2025 Notice is hereby given that Mercer Island City Council will hold a public hearing at its Hybrid Meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at approximately 5pm to receive comments on 2026-2031 Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program. The Public Hearing will be continued to the June 17, 2025 CityCouncilMeeting.
The TIP covers roadway, pedestrian, and bicycle projects planned for the six-year period beginning in 2026. State law requires that the TIP be updated and adopted by the City annually. The 2026-2031 TIP is scheduled for adoption at the City Council Meeting on June 17, 2025. If you have questions, please contact the Public Works Department at publicworks@mercerisland. gov. The public hearing will be held in person and using Zoom. The public will have the opportunity to comment during the public hearing by attending in person, calling in, or logging onto the meetingviaZoom. Detailed instructions on how to comment live during the public hearing will be available online on or before April 9, 2025 at www.mercerisland.gov/citycouncil. AndreaLarson,CMC CityClerk Published in the Mercer Island Reporter: April 2, 2025 MIR1011085 4/2/25
CITY OF MERCER ISLAND – NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Interim Regulations in MICC 19 for Temporary Uses and Structures –Ordinance No. 25C-07 – Public Hearing May 6, 2025 Notice is hereby given that the Mercer Island City Council will hold a public hearing at its Hybrid Meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at approximately 5pm, to receive comments on proposed Ordinance No. 25C-07, renewal of interim regulations in MICC 19 related to temporary usesandstructures. The public hearing will be held in person and using Zoom. The public will have the opportunity to comment during the public hearing by either attending in person, calling in, or logging onto the meeting via Zoom. Written comments may be submitted to the City of Mercer Island by email to council@mercer island.gov until such time that the public hearingisadjourned.
Detailed instructions on how to comment live during the public hearing will be available online on or before May 2, 2025, at: https://www.mercerisland. gov/citycouncil. AndreaLarson,CMC CityClerk Americans with disabilities accommodations are available by calling(206)275-7793. Published in the Mercer Island Reporter: April 2, 2025 MIR1011242 4/2/25 King County Permitting Div., Dept. of Local Services 919 SW Grady Way, Suite 300 Renton,WA 98057 NOTICE OF PERMIT APPLICATION REQUEST(S): ABC Clearing & Grading Permit (Type 1 Decision, SubjecttoSEPA) File(s):
