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Mercer Island
Happy Thanksgiving
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MI | THIS WEEK
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2011 | 75¢
Waterfront mansion may be sold
Princesses of service
Interfaith Thanksgiving service is tonight At 7:30 p.m., this evening, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at 4001 Island Crest Way (corner of 40th Street and Island Crest Way), will hold an interfaith service sponsored by the Mercer Island Clergy Association. Nonperishable food items for the food bank at Mercer Island Youth and Family Services are welcomed.
Sale pending for home listed for $32 million in 09 By Reporter Staff
Tree lighting, Firehouse Munch Friday, is Dec. 2 The wildly popular annual tree lighting and Firehouse Munch are set between 7-9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 2, at Mercerdale Park and the North Fire Station. The holiday season begins with the Christmas tree lighting ceremony and caroling at the park at 7 p.m., followed by Santa photos, treats and children’s entertainment across the street at the firehouse. The event is free. Firefighters are asking that community members bring an unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots Drive.
The Nutcracker Performances of the Mercer Island Youth Ballet and Children’s Dance Conservatory annual holiday production, “Excerpts from the Nutcracker,” begin Dec. 10 at Youth Theatre Northwest. For tickets, go to www.IYBNutcracker.com.
Inside In this issue of the Mercer Island Reporter we are including a section called “Holiday Entertaining.” It is prepared by our marketing staff. In it readers will find ideas and tips about food and entertaining for the holidays.
Julie Parsons/Contributed Photo
Members of the National Charity League Evergreen Chapter held a tea for friends and family on Nov. 13, 2011, at the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church to highlight their volunteer charity work. Back row from left: Emma Young, Jane Peterson, Kelly Hanschen, Margaret Litzow, Megan Ingram, Olivia Groh, Mckenzie Kraus. Middle row: Abby Jones, Caitlin Cox, Emily Olsen, Alana Anderson, Paige Brandon, Devyn Parry, Meredith Adams, Elizabeth Vanderwall, Lindy Elggren. Front row: Anna Schroedl, Adele Parsons, Sarah Bjarnason, Olivia Cero.
City to monitor runoff in two key areas Study on impact of stormwater on Lake cost $70,000 By Mary L. Grady editor@mi-reporter.com
If you took the time to read the detailed, data-heavy report about water runoff from Mercer Island, you might be alarmed by the names of toxic chemicals or items such as ‘animal waste,’ listed on nearly every page. It turns out, however, that the Island’s impact on the water quality of Lake Washington during storms is not too bad.
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City Engineer Patrick Yamashita told the Reporter, “Overall, the quality of Mercer Island’s stormwater runoff has some issues typical of small residential communities but not as significant as larger urban cities with impacts from industries and heavy traffic.” The monitoring is part of the city’s comprehensive stormwater management efforts, explained Yamashita. “It is intended to help us identify trends in stormwater quality in key Mercer Island streams. The report was funded by the stormwater utility.” The studies cost approximately $70,000, he said.
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According to the data, Mercer Island complies with basic state and federal standards for ammonia-nitrogen concentrations, temperature and pH. Over the course of the 11-year project, the only herbicide or pesticide detected at concentrations above available guidelines was diazinon. Diazinon has been linked to serious human health effects and is often cited in accidental deaths. Diazinon is reportedly highly toxic to birds. The report points out that there are still things that need to be monitored and addressed: Insecticide diazinon and compounds found in weed-n-feed products have been detected in the past samples. Nitrate and phosphate concentrations found in fertilizers and animal wastes have often been
H
Moira E. Holley
The Sandwith House at 4137 Boulevard Place may finally be sold as early as December. According to Island real estate agent, Kriss Robbs, a sale is pending, but could be finalized early next month. The 14,000-square-foot Island mansion home failed to sell at auction in August when the minimum bid of $15.5 million was not reached. The home has been listed with Robbs for $18.9 million. The home is on 1.6 acres of land with 164 feet of waterfront. It has never been lived in. A similar home, called the Lytle Mansion on the northwest corner of the Island, originally listed at $40 million finally sold at auction in, 2010 for $12 million.
The MIHS cheer squad has three new members. See Sports on page 15 for details.
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