REPORTER
Mercer Island www.mi-reporter.com
MI | THIS WEEK
Serving the Mercer Island community since 1947
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 | 75¢
Parking vote could be March 5
Hangin’ with Oscar
Special MISD board meeting on March 1 A special Mercer Island School District Board of Directors meeting will be held on Thursday, March 1, at 7 p.m. in the School District Administration building board room. The meeting is to address a possible real estate acquisition, during an executive session, followed by a short public session at 7:15 p.m.
Hearing, possible vote to restrict parking on the Mercer Ways next Monday By Reporter Staff
Host families needed for MIHS international students Mercer Island High School is looking for host families for international high school students who are coming to Mercer Island for the school’s annual International Festival. The high school will be hosting students for three days during the school’s International Festival from March 15 through March 17. Lots of activities are planned for the students by the school. For information, contact Susie Brown at susie_brown@misd. wednet.edu or (206) 236-3362.
Chamber lunch is tomorrow The Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly membership luncheon at noon tomorrow, Feb. 1, at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center. Michael Buschmohle of Applause Associates will give a talk entitled “Speak and write like a leader.” RSVP at info@mercerislandchamberofcommerce.org.
Republican caucuses meet March 3 at IMS King County Republican Party Caucuses will meet March 3. All Island precincts will meet at Islander Middle School, 8235 S.E. 72nd Street. Participants must bring their voter registration card and photo ID. The doors open at 9 a.m. and the pooled caucus begins at 10. For information, email jadunbar@comcast.net.
Contributed Photo
Mercer Islander Beth Laschever, right, with her classmate, Melanie Ruben, were on the red carpet at Sunday’s Academy Awards. Along with fellow classmate Jackie De Tore, from Hofstra University, they were the winners of a college journalism competition sponsored by the Academy and ontheredcarpet.com.
A walk to remember on the red carpet Islander lands on the red carpet, meets up with Clooney and Streep By Linda Ball
lball@mi-reporter.com
The Academy Awards are a oncea-year celebration of film and its stars, one of the most glamorous evenings of the year, attended by the most glamorous of people. One of those people was Mercer Island native Beth Laschever, accompanied by two of her peers from Hofstra University in Long Island, New York, Jackie De Tore and Melanie Rubin. As a team, the three young women won The Academy and Ontheredcarpet.com’s “Oscar College Journalist Contest,” a jointpromotion from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Los Angeles’ KABC-TV. All three girls work for and help produce entertainment reports for Hofstra’s college radio station. Laschever said when she was applying for colleges, she was inter-
“When you go on the Internet to check who won, you don’t realize what’s going on in there,” she said. One of the highlights of the day was meeting probably the biggest star there, George Clooney. “He arrived so, so early,” ested in New York because she Laschever said. “He interviewed knew the theater world there was with everybody. Me and Mel were the best. in the front row (of the press box), “I’ve always loved Broadway and and he shook our hand.” Times Square,” she said. When asked if he is as gorgeous Laschever said over 200 teams in person, she said he looked better from all over the United States than ever. Then, at the Governor’s entered the contest, where they Ball after the show, the girls were reported live from able to have a few the red carpet on words with Meryl KABC-TV’s “On Streep and shake her The Red Carpet” hand. They also met pre-show for this Melissa McCarthy 84th Academy and Maya Rudolph Awards arrivof “Bridesmaids,” als. All of their Octavia Spencer, Viola expenses were Beth Laschever, Davis and Jessica Mercer Island native Chastain from “The paid; Laschever said they stayed Help,” and Sandra at the Renaissance Hotel, direct- Bullock, who won the Academy ly adjacent to the Kodak Theater, Award for best actress last year. where the Academy Awards cer“It’s been like a whirlwind,” emony is held. Laschever said. “It happened really “We’re all very depressed that fast.” we’re leaving,” Laschever said by Laschever graduated from Mercer phone on her way to the airport in Island High School in 2008. In high L.A. on Monday morning. “It was school, she was very involved with unbelievable; the best day of our Youth Theatre Northwest, appearlives. It was just unreal.” ing in at least 20 productions. The team was in the press room “That’s where I discovered my after the show, where Laschever said it was “crazy.” Oscar | Page 2
The Mercer Island City Council will continue to receive input from citizens on a proposed ordinance to restrict parking along much of East Mercer Way, West Mercer Way and North Mercer Way. The hearing will take place at 7 p.m., March 5, in the Council Chambers at City Hall at 9611 S.E. 36th Street. The ordinance is designed to protect cyclists and pedestrians by prohibiting parking from dawn to dusk for much of the roadway that circles the Island. There will be exceptions. The city has paved seven miles of new shoulder along the Mercer Ways and wants to ensure that those portions of the road, along with other stretches, remain open.
ordinance | Page 8
“It’s been like a whirlwind. It happened really fast.”
Longtime Mercer Island Youth Soccer Club coach Zeke Halilovic is returning home to Switzerland. See Sports on page 12 for details.