REPORTER
Mercer Island www.mi-reporter.com
MI | THIS WEEK
Serving the Mercer Island community since 1947
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2011 | 75¢
Overlake’s Island Senior Health Clinic to close
“I’m four Santa!”
Winter break begins Mercer Island School District students will begin their winter break on Dec. 19 and return to school on Jan. 3, 2012. St. Monica’s vacation also begins on Dec. 19 and runs through Jan. 2, while Northwest Yeshiva students will have early dismissal on Dec. 22, which begins the winter break. Students will return to class on Tuesday, Jan. 3.
By Linda Ball lball@mi-reporter.com
SJCC Hanukkah celebration Dec. 17 The SJCC’s annual Hanukkah celebration will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 17 at the center. This year’s theme is Hanukkah Under the Stars. Admission is free with a donation of oil to the JFS Food Bank. The event will feature The Not Its, PJ Library and The Sababas. Dinner is available from Stopsky’s Deli, Island Crust Pizza or Kosher Chinese. Register online at www. sjcc.org.
MISD board meeting Thursday, Dec. 15 There will be a regular school board meeting for the Mercer Island School District Board of Directors on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held in the board room.
MIHS band rehearsals The Mercer Island High School marching band will be performing in Islander Stadium as part of their preparation for the Rose Parade. The band will be playing at 7:15 p.m. on Dec. 14, and Dec. 19-21 beginning at 9 a.m. The band may go offsite during a portion of rehearsals but will begin each practice at the high school.
Matt Brashears/Contributed Photo
Ralph Morton, 4, right, tells Santa how old he is inside the Mercer Island Fire Department’s downtown fire station near Mercerdale Park. Firefighters opened the station to revelers from the holiday tree lighting at the park, calling it the Firehouse Munch. Across Santa’s lap is Ralph’s sister, 2-year-old Catie Morton. that rests on a five-acre parcel and features one of the most beautiful indoor pools imaginable. The home is filled with exotic wood and was crafted entirely by hand. This home will require a buyer who will appreciate the craftsmanship and time it But she said there is more stabil- took to build the home. The condo stats last month comity on the Island because so many homes have remained in the same pared to a year ago were jaw-dropping, with a 600 percent families for years. increase in closings. That Korducki said said, seven condos closed if homes are not last month, compared priced aggressively, to one in November they will sit. But, 2010. The median price she added, it’s a fell 56.82 percent from great time for existBarb Korducki, ing homeowners Coldwell Banker $683,224 to $295,000. The median price to list their homes, on single family homes because there is no rose 13.20 percent from competition from builders. Korducki is one of the listing $750,000 a year ago to $849,000 last agents of the Coval home at 3051 month. Last month 23 single family 84th Ave. S.E., which was featured homes closed on the Island — 10 in the Reporter in mid-October. more than last year. But pending The one-of-a-kind home had not sales on single family and condos been priced at that time, but it has were down on the Island, at 37.93 been priced at $15.5 million. The percent for single family and 16.67 home is one of few on the Island HOMES | PAGE 2
Interesting month for Island real estate By Linda Ball lball@mi-reporter.com
Island inventory, number of pending sales and median price were all down last month compared to a year ago. Combining single family residences with condominiums, median sales price was down 10.96 percent, from $743,750 a year ago to $662,250 last month. However, there were 30 closings compared to 14 a year ago in November. New contracts (pending sales) were down 34.29 percent from 35 in November 2010 to 23 last month, and inventory is down 30.06 percent, from 163 to 114. “It’s been a very interesting year in real estate,” said Barb Korducki of Coldwell Banker. “More homes are selling for less.”
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Overlake Medical Center didn’t give their geriatric patients on the Island much notice. In a letter sent to patients, dated Nov. 29, signed by Alan Ertle, chief medical officer, the last day of operation for the Mercer Island clinic will be Dec. 30. “This was something unexpected, under unforeseen circumstances, not budget-related,” said hospital spokesperson Mary Beth Walker. Walker said she couldn’t say much, but repeated that the decision to close the Island clinic was not budget-related, and that Overlake was empathetic to the patients on the Island who have used the facility. Walker said they welcome Mercer Island patients to their senior health facility near the Overlake Hospital Medical Center on 112th Street N.E. in Bellevue. When asked if Overlake would provide a shuttle or some sort of transportation for the elderly, Walker said no.
CLINIC | PAGE 3
“It’s been an interesting year in real estate.”
The Mercer Island High School gymnastics team hosted a home meet last week. See Sports on page 12 for more.
Saturday, Dec. 17th 10 AM to Noon 7853 SE 27th Street Please join us at the John L. Scott Real Estate Office for cider, cocoa and cookies & a