REPORTER
Mercer Island www.mi-reporter.com
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23,20, 2015 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2013| |75¢ 75¢
Homes red tagged for landslide damage
Happy holidays
Christmas festivities around the Island See our Holiday Worship guide on pages 8 and 9 for Christmas and Christmas Eve services.
City offices closed Friday
Residents at S.E. 46th Street were told to move for safety reasons
City offices will close at noon on Dec. 24 and will not be open on Dec. 25. The community center is closed Dec. 21-25.
Lacross team will recycle your tree
See special pages inside for hand-drawn holiday art by Island students.
By Joe Livarchik
jlivarchik@mi-reporter.com
On Dec. 10, Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano shared with the School Board results from a community survey regarding the implementation of an elementary Spanish language program and potentially changing early-release Wednesdays at the high school to late-start Wednesdays next fall. There were 536 respondents, with 56 percent being parents and 44 percent school staff. Regarding an elementary Spanish language program, 62
Martin Weiss 425.417.9595 www.MartinWeiss.johnlscott.com
martinweiss@johnlscott.com
Year in Review
Betty DeLaurenti 206.949.1222 www.bettyd.johnlscott.com
bettyd@johnlscott.com
REPORTER
INSIDE: Our annual Holiday Greetings
Parents, staff share thoughts on changes in school schedules
SLIDE | PAGE 10
Mercer Island
The J offers a variety of full and half-day camps during the winter break. For more, contact the Youth and Family Program Coordinator at 206-388-0828.
Late start, Spanish survey results posted
bers bumped to 82 percent of all respondents in favor of the Spanish program, and 83 percent in favor of adding 15 minutes to the end of the elementary day. Plano said he hypothesized the drop in teacher support to staff believing it meant their work day percent of all respondents stated would lengthen, which he conthey supported adding the pro- tended wasn’t necessarily the case. gram, with 77 percent of parent Plano’s scenario had the school responders day beginning at and 41 percent 9:15 a.m. and endof elementary ing at 3:45 p.m., staff saying instead of 3:30 p.m. Next week, the Reporter they were in as currently schedwill publish its ‘year in review’ favor. Only uled, with teachers section, focusing on major 22 percent of leaving at 4 p.m. as local stories in 2015. Have a elementar y they currently do. story or photo you think we staff respondIn regards to should include? Send it to edied they supmoving earlytor@mi-reporter.com. ported adding release Wednesdays 15 minutes to to late-start the end of the elementary day for Wednesdays at the high school, the program, while 50 percent of 56 percent of all respondents said all respondents and 70 percent of they supported the move, with parents were in favor. 56 percent of high school parents When including responses that and 47 percent of high school staff said respondents were neutral on those matters, those numSURVEY | PAGE 2
STARTING AT $39/YEAR
Winter break camp at SJCC
Katie Metzger/Staff Photo
Islander Sue Bond leads the Solemates in a holiday sing along on Dec. 16. See page 25 for a story on the senior walking group, celebrating its 17th year.
A Mercer Island neighborhood at S.E. 46th Street had a major landslide on Wednesday morning, Dec. 9, due to the duration and intensity of a multiday rain event in the region. The slide involved three neighboring properties and no injuries. The city’s lead building official traveled to the affected site to assess the damage firsthand, and determined whether the buildings involved are still safe for occupancy.
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The Mercer Island Boys Lacrosse Club will come to your curb, pick up your tree, haul it away and have it composted. Proceeds go to operating expenses of the club. Visit www.mercerislandlacrosse.com to select your pickup date. Options are Dec. 27, Jan. 2-3, Jan. 9-10.
By Reporter Staff
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Serving Since1947 1947 Servingthe theMercer MercerIsland Island Community community since