REPORTER
Mercer Island www.mi-reporter.com
WEDNESDAY, 10,20, 2015 WEDNESDAY,JUNE MARCH 2013| |75¢ 75¢
Lawmakers ‘close to the goal line’
Teacher appreciation
Mercer Island High School graduation is tomorrow in Seattle Commencement Ceremonies for the Mercer Island High School Class of 2015 is tomorrow evening, June 10, at Key Arena in Seattle. For information visit mercerislandschools. org. See the keepsake Class of 2015 photo, sponsored by Farmers Insurance on Page 3.
Litzow, Senn ‘confident’ in second special session success By Katie Metzger
kmetzger@mi-reporter.com
Expect delays for construction on Island Crest Way Crews replacing sections of the city’s water system will be working on Island Crest Way between S.E. 43rd and S.E. 44th Streets this week and S.E. 42nd north on ICW to S.E. 40th Street from June 15 to late August. Take alternate routes to avoid traffic.
MI Directories are still available Support Children’s Hospital. Get your copy at Island Books or the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce.
Contributed Photo
Students in Trina Sherman’s West Mercer 2nd grade classroom celebrate after she was selected as one of the Mercer Island School District’s 2015 teachers of the year. See Page 6 for more.
Albertsons closing its doors on July 5 Other grocers have reportedly expressed interest in site By Katie Metzger
kmetzger@mi-reporter.com
After three decades on the Island, the North-end Albertsons will close on July 5 due to poor sales and rent increases. Albertsons is known for charitable efforts in the community, and for its kosher deli and bakery. “We know all of our individual
Jennie Robbs-Banks Jrobbs@EwingandClark.com 206.422.2949
Kris Robbs
Kris@EwingandClark.com 206.949.8611
store employees have personal heartfelt messages for their loyal Mercer Island customers,” said Sara Osborne, public relations manager for the Seattle division of Safeway. “This has certainly been one of the favorite stores for our employees, and it is because they are so fond of the community, and have been welcomed and treated so well by the families that have made Albertsons part of their daily lives.” Albertsons and Safeway merged in January 2015. The property is in the residential-central focus area in the Town
Center, meaning it has a maximum four story height limit if redeveloped. Osborne said there are other supermarkets with different business models interested in operating in the space. Some residents answered phone surveys in March asking about their interest in a PCC coming to Mercer Island. The regional president of Whole Foods sent a letter to the Mercer Island City Council on Feb. 1, alluding to the company’s efforts to find a site on the Island. That letter came in the midst of the city’s negotiations with Hines Residential, while the developer planned a mixed-use project right between Albertsons and QFC, and discussed putting a “high end grocer” in the ground floor retail area. “I cannot count the number of Islanders who have asked for a
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REPORTER
The Mercer Island Farmers Market continues Sunday, June 14 in the Town Center. This week features Cajun & Zedeco dance music, performed by Islanders John Morris and Karen Kaser and friends. Go online to mifarmersmarket.org for a full calendar.
Mercer Island
Farmers Market
STARTING AT $39/YEAR
The Town Center visioning and code revision process has been extended. The next meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. on June 16 at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center.
State Sen. Steve Litzow (R-Mercer Island) and Rep. Tana Senn (D-Mercer Island) took a break from the second special session in Olympia to visit the Chamber of Commerce luncheon on June 4, talking about the $600 million difference between the Senate and House budgets left to be negotiated. The legislature completed its 105-day regular session on April 24, went into its first special session on April 29 and its second on May 29. It still has not passed a budget, or approved a proposed $15 billion transportation package.
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Town Center public input meeting
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