REPORTER
Mercer Island www.mi-reporter.com
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2014 WEDNESDAY, MARCH3,20, 2013| |75¢ 75¢
$26.8 m for East Mercer waterfront estate
Welcome winter
Firehouse Munch and Christmas Tree lighting is Friday An evening of holiday merriment begins at 5:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5, at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony and caroling at Mercerdale Park. The fun then moves across the street to the Firehouse for arts and crafts, Santa photos, treats and musical entertainment. Bring an unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots drive to help a child in need.
Reporter Staff
Check our Calendar on Pages 19 and 20 for listings.
life Have the ! you want
by Katie Metzger
kmetzger@mi-reporter.com
Family, friends and public officials gathered to celebrate the life and honor the death of Ida Ballasiotes on Monday afternoon at the Island’s Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Ballasiotes, a former five-term state representative, died on Nov. 23 at age 78 at Swedish Medical
Center in Seattle. She got involved in citizen activism and then the state legislature after the murder of her daughter, Diane, in 1988. She turned the grief about her daughter’s death into action, championing crackdowns on sex offenders and the “three strikes” initiative after being elected in 1992. She earned a reputation for being “tough on crime,” but the picture painted of her at the memorial was in softer strokes, as people spoke about her sense of humor, kindness and intelligence. Speakers at the memorial quot-
Registered Financial Advisor
BALLASIOTES | PAGE 2
2448 76th Ave SE, Suite 107 - Mercer Island
(206) 275-2700
1188432
December ‘tis the season of the arts’
More than a lawmaker, Ida Ballasiotes worked to make a difference
ESTATE | PAGE 9
REPORTER
Islander Julie Kramis Hearne, author of World Spice at Home and daughter of Islander cook and author, Sharon Kramis, will appear at 3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 7, at Island Books to talk about her new cookbook. Kramis Hearne has joined with the owners of World Spice Merchants to create a new collection of recipes that does justice to the many tastes and flavors available in the Pike Place Market shop.
Islander’s activism born of tragedy
ed Ballasiotes when she said, “it’s been said that the great end in life is not knowledge, but action. And I believe that you make a difference by being willing to act. When you see that something is wrong, not just in your eyes, but in the eyes of many, go after it, and make it better.” Her son Michael Ballasiotes told a story of when he broke his leg, and how his mother told the person carrying him into the house to ‘put him down, he can walk.’” Similar recollections of her independence, self-sufficiency and no-nonsense attitude were shared, with family members and colleagues remembering her common sense, and how she used it to solve problems — not just at home, but across the entire state of Washington.
Mercer Island
Spice it up
Mary L. Grady / Staff Photo
Hardy IslanderAdam Farrell, 7, takes advantage of the snow on Saturday at Rotary Park — the highest point on Mercer Island, at 383 feet above sea level. He was joined by his siblings, Colin Farrell, 15, Charlotte Farrell, 10 and friend Joseph Dornay, 7.
STARTING AT $39/YEAR
Three Islanders will talk about how they got into the business of making wine and owning wineries. Winemakers Scott Greenberg of CZ Cellars, John Ramseyer of Ramseyer Vineyards and Peggy Sullivan of OS Winery will share everything you ever want to know about crushing grapes, making wine and how the wine business works. Wines will be available to taste. Bring ID. Reservations required. Call 232-3404.
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Winemakers at the Chamber lunch
Down a narrow lane off East Mercer Way, an expanse of white stone appears suddenly — glowing through the trees. An Island mansion built by Dr. Marty Rosa, a dentist, and his wife, Janet Primm Rosa, an educator, came on the market in October for $26.8 million. The grand 15,000 s.f. home was built for entertaining and relaxing and enjoying Lake Washington and views east and south toward Mt. Rainier. There are more than a few such homes on Mercer Island. But while location and size and abundant amenities are key, it is the attention to detail and quality that makes a home stand out, said colisting agent, Christie Clark.
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