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slander School Di er I str erc i M

May 15, 2017

mihsislander.org

2017-2018 Editorial Board EDITORS IN CHIEF Sophie Poole, Grady Short BUSINESS MANAGER Jake D’Souza FRONT PAGE Lucille Shield FEATURES Isabel Funk SPORTS Reid Martinez SPREAD Ellie Gottesman OPINIONS Grady Short A&E Sophie Poole ONLINE Reid Martinez, Ellie Gottesman, Maya Virdell HUMOR Spencer Klein CARTOONIST Teddy Fischer

Volume VI, Edition 6

Food Truck Fiasco: Why the Spring Fling was cancelled Ellie Gottesman

spread editor ‘17-’18

ASB was forced to cancel the Spring Fling dance, originally planned for April 7, after it was told by administration two days earlier that food trucks would not be permitted at the dance. The sudden cancellation, announced the day before on April 6, left the ASB frustrated and many students wondering what had gone wrong.

Leadership started planning the dance with music and food trucks in March with the idea that it would be casual, relaxing, and fun. “Leadership hoped it would draw in students who do not necessarily like the atmosphere of Homecoming or Tolo,� said junior Sophia Stribling, ASB Chief of Operations. “The initial plan for it was to have a DJ so students could dance, food trucks so students could grab a quick bite, and games that would form better connections.�

The Spring Fling planning committee, composed of ASB Secretary senior Nathan Benson and Stribling, met multiple times with Associate Principal

Henterson Carlisle over the course of second semester to discuss the dance plans and possibility of food trucks.

Carlisle was supportive of the idea of food trucks but told the committee it would need to negotiate with the trucks to receive 10 percent of the proceeds from the dance. “I did not see a problem because we had talked about giving the school 10 percent of the proceeds, which we were

really starting to promote with food trucks,� Carlisle said.

At a meeting between the committee and Carlisle the week before the dance, Carlisle told the committee he needed to run the food truck plan by the rest of the administration at the meeting March 31 for final approval.

With the understanding that final approval for the food trucks was a formality, the planning committee booked

PAID

multiple food trucks that would appeal to students including Nacho Average Food Truck, Ezell’s Fried Chicken, and an ice cream truck. ASB also started advertising the food trucks in the school bulletin.

On March 31, the administration met to discuss weekly matters and Carlisle informed his fellow administrators that ASB had planned food trucks for the Spring Fling “When we talked as an administration, we realized that other teams have wanted to have food trucks and we said no,� Carlisle said. “For that reason, we decided that the administration is stopping food trucks for the rest of the year and that we are going to implement a 10 percent kickback policy next year.�

On April 5, Carlisle told leadership to cancel the food trucks.

The ASB was frustrated at receiving such late notice, especially as a result of what they felt was a miscommunication or lack of clear policy from within the administration team. (continued on page 2)

Inside The state of gender neutral bathrooms at MIHS Features > Page 2

How Mercer Island’s mascot became the snail Sports > Page 3

The legacy of retiring superintendent Gary Plano Spread > Page 4/5

The importance of MIHS’ Diversity Action Team Opinions > Page 6

Get fit with Gottlieb: Emma’s guide to Mercer Island workout classes Emma Gottlieb staff writer

Orangetheory Orangetheory Fitness has studios in 46 states and Washington D.C., and in February 2017 opened a new location on the north end of Mercer Island in The Hadley Building, adjacent to Freshy’s Local Market. Its trainers describe the Orangetheory experience as “personal training in a group setting.�

All classes are one hour long, and the workouts vary depending on the day. Endurance day, strength day, or power day are the three class options offered by the studio.

It’s May on Mercer Island, which means that lake season is almost upon us. Fortunately, there are several workout class locations on the Island where residents can take a break from the typical gym grind and be exposed to different forms of exercise in preparation for those balmy Seattle summer days. I decided to take a class each at Orangetheory, Yoga Bliss, and The Dailey Method to experience a variety of methods Mercer Island students can use to stay in shape.

Class: Orange 60, Endurance Day Instructor: Tifani Cost: $28 How I felt afterwards: Jazzed.

Not sure why.

Class thoughts: I’ll admit that I had no clue what to expect what I walked into Orangetheory. I witnessed the end of the 5:30 p.m. class and felt intimidated by the high intensity of the workout.

But then Ava Blanchette came out of the class and hugged me, so like, how could I not feel better? The class was fantastic and definitely surpassed my expectations.

Orangetheory is structured for people of all fitness levels.

You can choose to push yourself during the cardio portion, knowing that you will work every muscle with weights later. You can also track your heart rate and gain points for every minute it is in the “orange zone.� Hitting this zone means that your heart rate is around 80 percent of your maximum beats per minute.

Instructors say that gaining between 12-20 of these points means you will continue to burn calories for the next 2436 hours.

As an added bonus, the elec-

tronic dance music kept me motivated, and my instructor, Tiffani, was friendly and encouraging. She noted that she loves coaching “power days� because “as a coach, it’s very fulfilling to watch people hit a speed that they never knew they could achieve.�

I walked out of the class feeling so pumped up that I didn’t even notice how ridiculously sore my legs were. I expect to be spending an absurd amount of money at Orangetheory, and I am looking forward to continuing my fitness journey there. (continued on page 7)

A review of Freshy’s Local Market A & E > Page 7

For more content and expanded articles, scan the above Snapcode or visit our website at www.mihsislander.org

2

FEATURES

mihsislander.org

District lacks support to install more gender neutral bathrooms Sophie Poole

editor in chief ‘17-‘18

Cara Schiffgens, a transgender female student at Mercer Island High School, personally experiences the absence of a multi-stall gender neutral restroom on campus.

She cannot comfortably use the women’s bathrooms on the MIHS campus. In order to use a bathroom facility during the school day, she must walk to the single-stall genderless restroom in the 100 hallway or the nurse’s office. The bathroom of her gender remains a place of potential harassment – despite the addition of the single stall restroom this fall.

“The way I present is very masculine because that’s my

“

It means safety for other students at the school.

It opens up the opportunity to go and use the restroom without being ridiculed by people.

Hannah Sidney

style,” Schiffgens said. “That makes it really uncomfortable for me to use women’s restrooms because I get targeted.

The one time I tried there I got laughed out of the bathroom.”

This experience is not an bathroom,” Puckett said. afraid.” isolated incident in the MIHS Gender neutral restrooms Another victory for QSA community. Other gender represent MIHS’ consider- was the recent change to non-conforming, gender fluid, ation for the heath and safe- same-color caps and gowns and transgender students grap- ty of transgender and gender worn at graduation – regardple with the daily decision of non-conforming students. less of gender. In past years, which restroom to enter. Every “It means safety for other the graduating males wore gendered bathroom holds the students at the school,” said maroon and the graduating fepossibility of unwanted con- Hannah Sidney, president of males wore white. flict, embarrassment, or ridi- the QSA at MIHS. “It opens “Caps and gowns for secule. up the opportunity to go and niors is one of the things I In each hallway fought for,” Schiffthere is usually one gens said, reflectsingle-stall restroom ing on her legacy reserved for staff. at MIHS for the In the 100 hallway, LGBTQIA+ comthere were two staff munity. restrooms making it This year at gradthe logical location uation, everyone for administrators to will be walking to implement genderreceive their diless bathroom for plomas in maroon students. caps and gowns The decision to – a victory for the Photo courtesy QSA convert a staff reQSA as they to beMembers of the Queer-Straight Alliance who have helped fight for genderless restrooms stroom to a gengin to change the der neutral restroom marks use the restroom without being ingrained traditions at MIHS. progress for the QSA and its ridiculed by people.”

Schiffgens and Sidney noted mission for a more accepting The majority of students at that seeing the change in the community. However, QSA MIHS identify as cisgender, color of the caps and gowns members and MIHS principal someone whose gender identi- come to fruition is extremeVicki Puckett point out the in- ty matches the gender given to ly rewarding for the QSA at equitable nature of the gender them at birth, and do not expe- MIHS. neutral restroom in the 100 rience the anxiety surrounding “For the students it did imhallway. a trip to the restroom. pact, they get to feel a lot more “It’s inconvenient for the “Unfortunately, being comfortable walking [at gradkids [who want to use a gen- transgender at Mercer Island uation],” Sidney said. der neutral restroom], because is really hard,” Schiffgens The success of unifying the they have to go all the way said. “When you’re a minori- color of caps and gowns at to the 100 hallway to use one ty amongst people, you’re graduation has shown students

Spring Fling (cont.)

Ellie Gottesman

spread editor ‘17-‘18

(continued from page 1) “From leadership’s understanding, the administration clearly agreed to have food trucks as long as ASB retained 10 percent of the earnings,” Stribling said.

Carlisle sees it differently.

“There was a lack of communication between ASB and administration from the Friday administration meeting to Tuesday or Wednesday when ASB was informed,” Carlisle said.

Immediately following the food truck cancellation, leadership representatives and the leadership advisor, Chris Twombley, held a meeting and decided to call off the dance all together.

“Ultimately we called off Spring Fling because many students were upset about no food trucks being there and the lack of ‘hype’ among students,” Stribling said.

Students were drawn to the dance because of the cheap,

convenient food options.

“I would have gone to the Spring Fling if there were food trucks because I like affordable food,” freshman Natalie Garrett said. “I would have skipped it without the food trucks.”

Leadership continued to push back and demand food trucks be permitted at events in the 2016-2017 school year.

On May 3, administration, in an apparent change of heart, notified leadership that food trucks would be permitted to vend at the Summer Kickoff on June 2 if ASB profited 10%.

“We told administration that we really needed food trucks as a draw for the Summer Kickoff,” freshman Michaela Isaacs, the kickoff event leader, said.

Despite the challenges leadership faced in planning the Spring Fling, the class will continue planning spirit dances in the future.

“We hope to bring Spring Fling back next year bigger and better than ever,” Stribling said.

the value of advocating for equality and recognition. This momentum following QSA’s victory has encouraged the movement to convert the 200 hallway restrooms into genderless restrooms. The support for the implementation of

“

It’s something I’m going to continue to advocate for. I think it’s time for us to move along that path.

Vicki Puckett

genderless restroom stretches from the ASB to Puckett.

“I, myself, don’t have a problem with going into a gender neutral bathroom,” Puckett said. “The problem in converting a multi-stall restroom does not lie in resistance from the administration, but from a lack of funding from the district to convert the multi-stalled bathrooms into gender neutral bathrooms.”

“I don’t have a say in terms of the physical space of our building. [The district has] met the minimum compliance,” she continued. “But that doesn’t make it the right thing to do. It’s something I’m going to continue to advocate for. I think it’s time for us to move along that path.”

Fidget spinners gain popularity

in the mid 1990s by a Canadian inventor named Catherine features editor ‘17-‘18 Hettinger, and only came to A new fad has gripped popularity within the last six Mercer Island. In every months. class, students are fiddling Since then, fidgets have been with spinning fidget toys. banned in schools across the These are designed to keep country, including in school students’ hands busy and districts in Minnesota, Maskeep them focused sachusetts, Illinois, and during class, while New York, and even at also reducing some schools in the UK. stress and anxiety, Despite their popuparticularly for stularity, these toys can dents with learning be distracting in class. disabilities.

Noticing a brightly colThese spinners ored spinning toy in the are shaped with hands of a classmate ofthree points, each ten draws students’ eyes Photo courtesy DB Nguyen to the toy, diverting their with a spinning disk, and a spin- Sophmore Kevin Baker is one of many MIHS students to use a fidget in class. attention from the class ning plate in the center. Stu“They may [work] for in- to which they are supposed to dents can hold the center dividual students but I’ve be paying attention. and flick one of the points, watched them distract three “I think fidgets as a concept making the toy spin in their or four or five or six students are a good idea,” said Annest. hands. Despite their sim- around the fidget.” said history “I think if they’re loud, they plicity, the spinning fidgets teacher Dino Annest. may be a distraction, and I can help students remain This fad came to Mercer think the spinning fidgets may productive and focused.

Island when the Mercer Is- be a bigger distraction to stuAccording to Amazon’s land Trade Inc. started selling dents who might have learning product description for the the spinning fidget toys at the challenges than anything else. spinners, “By feeding your Student Store. However, the I think they may do more harm brain extra sensory informa- spinners were actually created than good.”

Isabel Funk

tion, you redirect your mental resources from whatever else you may be thinking to the task at hand. That means it’s much easier for you to relax and focus on something else!”

By occupying the hands, the brain does not need to seek further distraction.

May 15, 2017

History of Herbert Spencer Klein

humor editor ‘17-‘18

Herbert the Snail is not the official mascot, yet he has represented MIHS at assemblies and sports games for the past three years.

In the 1950s and 1960s MIHS’ mascot was The Islander, a depiction of an Indian with a club. After the district terminated the offensive mascot, a Hawaiianlooking mascot garbed in a hula skirt and lei was suggested, but “they really couldn’t find anything that really looked official,” said athletic director Mark Jergens Zmuda.

Then a new mascot originated by the MIHS students was created. The snail vision came from a track bag sporting the old district logo, with a wave and an M over it. It looked like a snail shell and its body. Students saw a snail and grasped onto the idea, despite protests from the administration. “We are the Islanders and there’s not a specific mascot or symbol,” said Jergens Zmuda. The district disapproval only

SPORTS

furthered student dedication to the snail.

In the 1990s the Snail became more popular amongst students. “When I first got here it was kind of this forbidden thing,” said MIHS principal Vicki Puckett. “We weren’t supposed to allow kids to have snail gear because that’s not our mascot.”

The process to make Herbert the official mascot would take two to four months, consisting of district approval committees, reaching out to alumni and surveying the Mercer Island community. “In 2001 I taught at Issaquah high school. At the time we were the Issaquah Indians and we embarked on a two or threeyear process of changing the mascot,” said administrator Jamie Prescott.

Although the Snail has been rejected as a symbol of spirit, it is embraced by students.

Herbert is a positive influence on school morale and a spirit booster at pep rallies and football games.

3

A Non-Athlete’s Guide to Sports Lucile Shield

your skills and strengths by winning the warmups. Don’t No matter if you’re a worry if you don’t know the couch potato or an Olympic rules of the game; confidence athlete, MIHS requires you and enthusiasm will make get at least 1.5 athletic credits up for any ignorance on your to graduate. part. If the coach If you don’t still doesn’t seem have space for convinced, a small another class in bribe goes a long your schedule, way! a school sport Other tips: To get can help you fit quickly, do yoga. secure twoYour teammates thirds of the will be so impressed requirement if you can touch without taking your toes without PE. But the bending your knees! question is, make friends, Photo by Sophie Poole To how do you Lucille Shield demonstrates exercises to prepare you for next sports season. bring doughnuts join a sport when every other week; you can barely climb a flight check for $190 to the Athletic you can condition them to feel of stairs without getting Office. Stand straight and act happy when they see you. To winded? Fear not! The confident while you hand the suck up to the coach, break following three steps will papers to Ms. LeMaster in the into their house and leave teach all non-athletes how to Attendance Office and wave food there every night. They’ll get involved: away any comments about it be so thankful for your help, Note: Cheerleading and being too late into the sports that your coach won’t even Drill are a no-go. They’re season to join the team. notice when you don’t show year-round, so it’s a lot of Next comes the hardest up to practice! PS: Facebookcommitment, they require so part: convincing the coach stalking them is also not a bad much strength and stamina, and the rest of the team that idea. and you have to try-out to you can actually play your Don’t worry if you’re not do them. No couch potato sport. Make sure to show off the best! If all else fails, you front editor ‘17-‘18

would be able to make the cut.

First, you have to sign up.

All you need to do is fill out a few forms (found hidden in the depths of the MIHS web page) and bring them and a

2007

Became interim superintendent of the MISD. Lakridge starts Autism Spectrum Program.

LATE 1970s

2014

Revised bond to expand the IMS and MIHS and build Northwood passes.

2008

Plano named superindentent.

Board of Directors approves the 2020 Vision, encouraging transformative thinking and fundraising in the district.

Visited MISD as a graduate student from the University of Washington.

2016

2017

Plano retires.

MIHS wins its first Pathfinder award. MIHS implements late start Wednesday. The elementary schools begin the Spanish immersion program.

A SUPERINTENDENT RETIRES:

THE LEGACY OF DR. GARY PLANO

1978-1979 Hired as guest teacher at MIHS.

1980-2000

Worked at the Mukilteo School District, teaching special needs students and English. In1997, he became Director of the Curriculum.

2012

MISD moves early release Mondays to Wednesday. Bonds to build all new elementary schools, a new middle school, and move Mary Wayte fail.

2000-2005

Worked at the Kent School District as Executive Director of School Improvement and Instructional Services.

Plano by the #s: YEARS AS A TEACHER: 22 YEARS AS AN ADMIN: 20 YEARS ON MERCER ISLAND: 10

Visit mihsislander.org a full transcriPt of dr. Plano’s interView.

What challenges did you face implimenting the spanish immersion program? “I believe that children learn a second language best at early years. The desire to expand our elementary day was a challenge.”

Why do you enjoy Working With students directly? “What I find most exciting about students is their resilience. Young people are able to accept imperfection.”

What Will you remember most about your entire experience at MISD? “I have my fondest memories of my early career being at Mercer Island High School.”

do you have advice for the next superintendent? “Listen to community parents, community members, and students, then do more listening. And then, when you think you’ve listened a lot, go back and listen again.”

6

OPINIONS

mihsislander.org

Diversity Action Team: starting a culture of social equality Sophie Poole

editor in chief '17-'18

There is a moment when the typically mundane conversations between Mercer Island High School students are interrupted by a controversial and socially relevant topic.

An uneasy atmosphere begins to cloud the exchange and uncomfortable feelings inherently begin to surface.

An innocent conversation suddenly becomes political.

Thoughts begin to jumble together as an interaction moves into the unknown: Now what? Does this mean we have to talk about actual issues?

Does this mean we might disagree?

The moment when a conversation veers away from the safe topics of homework and prom dates and into an area of social and political relevancy, students and staff feel uncomfortable and out of place.

This feeling defines the current environment at MIHS surrounding social justice, activism, and diversity. As a school, we are living in that uncomfortable silence during a conversation. We are in the verbal quicksand of not knowing what to say or how to say it. We remain stuck in a politically correct purgatory of passivity from which we must escape and begin to take action.

One path students can take to change the situation at MIHS is through the Diversity Action Team (DAT). This group of students and staff was founded during the 2015-

2016 school year in response to a Mercer Island School District initiative to “embrace diversity, inclusiveness, and equity with a focus on respect and acceptance of every student.”

In recent months, the the DAT has become even more important in the face of our current political situation.

deep-rooted problems aren’t relevant to Mercer Island.

Refusing to discuss uncomfortable topics contributes to a lack of student activism. For example, in the days following the election, a strange mood pervaded the school. Students waited with bated breath to see if a teacher dared to bring up the topic

Photo by Teddy Fischer

The Diversity Action Team has put up posters like these around the school to raise awareness for their cause.

“We're seeing the present [Trump] administration giving full voice to statements of hate and exclusion. The election has just made it more important and necessary that we move forward,” said Mike Radow, member of the DAT and history teacher at MIHS. Students and staff usually avoid the topics of systemic racism, gender inequality, xenophobia, white privilege, class diversity – in short, anything that could provoke controversy. This silence, in turn, promotes the increasingly popular mindset that these

that dominated everyone’s thoughts. Hushed whispers went around the school; people asked each other, “Did you know his parents voted for Trump?” People dealt with their disappointment and shock in different ways – giving understanding hugs, passionately ranting at the lunch table, or simply avoiding the news.

A public outcry following the election emerged at many other high schools. Students all around the country – including in Seattle – walked out of their classes to voice their

opposition to the winner of the presidential election and his policies. Despite the feelings of frustration and disbelief that many students at MIHS felt on the Wednesday following the election, the student body at MIHS did not participate in a walkout alongside other high schools in the Seattle area.

This begs the question: Why do the students at Mercer Island not feel the need to take to the streets to voice their discontent with social and political issues? Do we lack empathy, or do we simply lack awareness?

“Because of the social class of the majority of the population of Mercer Island, things that are happening socially and politically to Seattle don't feel like they're affecting Mercer Island,” said Michael Harper, a member of the DAT and a teacher at Crest Learning Center.

I Like to Nap, but I Stay Woke

Name of an upcoming diversity breakout session The ideological, financial, and political divisions in our nation do not disappear as soon as we drive over I-90. Mercer Island is not a place of respite from the trials of reality; Mercer Island is a microcosm of American society and the same issues that plague our country affect our community.

Changing the culture of a place steeped in tradition requires a conscious effort.

The DAT has the potential to lead the charge in improving the MIHS experience.

This spring, the DAT plans to offer breakout sessions during multiple days of BRIDGES. The potential topics for the workshops appear promising, and even provocative. The titles of the sessions include: “I Like to Nap, But I Stay Woke”, “Diversity in Literature”, and “Embracing the Diversity of Diversity”. Some of the other sessions may include topics about restorative justice, institutional racism, Black Lives Matter, and microaggressions.

These workshops will start an important dialogue between our students and staff and begin to inform students about topics that they might usually avoid.

There is no perfect solution that would instantaneously make the student body more socially aware, but the school should nevertheless begin to facilitate and encourage conversations about thse uncomfortable, yet important, topics.

Mercer Island High School exists to prepare its students for the real world – a place brimming with conflict and difficult conversations. It is time for our school to pop its bubble and shape its students into informed, engaged citizens. The Diversity Action Team’s mission to create a culture of social justice and awareness within our school is a necessary place to start.

The Diversity Action Team's next meeting is on May 19.

If you'd like to get involved in the organization, contact Associate Principal Henterson Carlisle in advance.

Washington state legislators need to fully fund our schools Grady Short

editor in chief '17-'18

At its annual Breakfast of Champions on April 25, the Mercer Island School District raised over $500,000 in donations, which will go towards closing a large gap in funding for local schools. For years, schools in Washington State have been underfunded by the state budget, with the remaining funds cobbled together through levies and school fundraisers like the annual Breakfast.

In the aftermath of the Washington Supreme Court’s famous 2012 McCleary decision, the state has been ordered to pay fines in excess of 69 million dollars for refusing to follow their constitutional obliga-

tion to fully fund Washington State's public schools. The state Senate and House of Representatives still haven’t found room in the budget to spare such funds, yet refuse to raise revenue in other ways. They are failing to do an essential part of their jobs as legislators.

The Republicans and centrists blocking these funds are scared to follow through on this essential aspect of their jobs. They believe that our schools have it too easy, that our taxpayers can't afford to pay a little extra in exchange for huge social and economic benefits. Their selfish, shortsighted views are impeding progress in our state.

Even though it’s one of the richer districts in the state,

Photo courtesy The Mercer Island Reporter Facing a funding shortfall, the MISD has had to raise its own money at events like this year's Breakfast of Champions.

we’re feeling the effects of this funding shortfall here in the Mercer Island School District – especially this year. Some teachers will have to deal with longer hours and lower pay as a result of these budget issues.

Students, of course, are also affected; the amount of money a school can spend on its students is directly connected

to the quality of the education they receive.

Poorer school districts have it even worse; while the state tries to direct more funds towards schools in lower-income communities which can’t fundraise as easily, their funding still falls short of the necessary amount.

The bottom line is that our legislators need to suck it up,

do their jobs, and give our schools the funding they deserve – whatever the cost.

Right now, the state is being much too fiscally conservative with school funding; they either need to increase their budget to provide funds for our schools, or find the money for them somewhere in their existing expenses. Raising taxes, or introducing new ones, might not be a popular decision in politics, but doing so may very well be necessary to fix this funding crisis.

Fully funding public schools helps not just the students of today, but the business leaders and consumers of tomorrow.

Doing so is the only way to give this generation the quality education it deserves.

A&E

May 15, 2017

New on MI: Freshy’s Local Market

ganic dinner. such as that fit in the organic model of staff writer the store. The shelves are stocked with countless soy Freshy’s Local Market is exsauces options, and freshly actly what its name promises: ground coffee. a local grocery stop specializA large blue sign illumiing in fresh fish. Owner Bryan nated with large blue lightCaldwell sources nearly all of bulbs spell out the name, his meat, fish, and other or“Freshy’s” sits above marganics from nearby counties. ket’s storefront window.

Caldwell hopes that the new Beyond the bright blue light market will make fresh and show is clean and softsustainable fish ly it interior which has more popular and a sort of quaintness that available to Mercer is similar to walking to Island and its surone’s pantry but with rounding commuthe addition of a butchnities er and salt water seaFreshy’s new food tanks. Perishables market location are neatly sorted on stems from the popwire shelves while the ularity of Freshy’s fresh produced is vacSeafood Shack, a Photo by Zoe Levin uum packed and sent casual fish eatery Freshy’s Local Market is Mercer Island’s new stop and shop with soul. to the fridge for freshlocated at the old ’76 gas station on North Mer- ents. Now, fresh, sustainably- ness. The cash register sits sourced, organic seafood is just to the right of the encer Island.

The old gas station once finally available on the island. trance as you walk through The market not only offers the windowed door. Large housed a seafood market and restaurant but has since been high quality fish but local meat picture windows offer a remodeled for strictly dining products as well. Also stocked substantial view of downpurposes. The eatery is now at Freshy’s is a wide array of town Mercer Island and it’s known as the place to get the organic jerky is stocked in a quiet bustle.

Freshy’s is a can’t-miss best fish and chips on the Is- cooler across from the formiland. Freshy’s also serves dable seafood counter, craft market. The quiet local grilled fish tacos and New En- beers and organic juices are market offers a pleasant gland clam chowder, some of shelved in the refrigerator on alternative to the bustle of the most popular menu items. the market’s northern wall, larger proprietors on MerThe new market, located and pantry shelves are packed cer Island, and holds the next to Mioposto in the new with prepackaged snacks and main ingredient to a homeHadley building, boasts a va- other ingredients for an or- made poke dinner.

Will Pawlosky

riety of quality seafood options previously not readily available to Mercer Island residents. The new Freshy’s market offers commodities such as sashimi-grade tuna and fresh ahi tuna. Before Freshy’s opened, Islanders had to cross the I-90 floating bridge to either whole foods or Pike Place market for such high quality fish and sushi-making ingredi-

7

‘Black Mirror’: a reflection Grady Short

editor in chief ‘17-‘18

Perhaps the biggest mistake I’ve made recently was choosing to watch the very first episode of “Black Mirror” with both of my parents in the room.

This anthology horror show, created by British writer and producer Charlie Brooker, is brutal, bloody, and blunt. Each of the episodes, which range from 40 to 90 minutes, explores a different, often dystopian vision of the near future, centering on a societal or technological advancement.

After two seasons and a Christmas special ran on British television, the show was picked up by Netflix, which released a 6-episode third season in the fall of 2016. These latest 6 episodes contained some standouts, like “Playtest,” “Shut Up and Dance,” and “San Junipero,” and a couple of well-intentioned episodes which fell a little flat, such as “Men Against Fire,” and “Nosedive.” The beauty of this anthology format, in which each episode is its own self-contained story, is that the show explores many different concepts and genres, ranging from political thrillers to detective noirs to blatant Orwellian satire.

The show’s gorgeous cinematography, top-notch acting,

and brilliant writing cements it as the “Twilight Zone” of our generation. Nearly every episode is a thought-provoking exploration of the darker side of human nature, as well as the ethics of progress and privacy in the future. The plots explore concepts like augmented reality, artificial intelligence, criminal justice, and political science.

A word of warning: many of the episodes contain adult themes and subject matter.

Some, like the pilot episode, go straight for shock value rather than actual meaning or entertainment. But the best episodes of the series (“White Christmas,” “Fifteen Million Merits,” “White Bear”) are some of the greatest hours of television I’ve watched.

I would highly recommend this show to anyone with a strong stomach. However, I do not suggest binge-watching “Black Mirror”; as the title might suggest, it’s an extremely dark show.

In its transition from British television to Netflix, the show has lost a bit of its bite, but is still a compelling watch. With only thirteen episodes between three seasons, the thrilling series left me wanting more.

Thankfully, the fourth season is slated to come out sometime later this year.

Get fit with with Gottlieb: Emma’s guide to Mercer Island workouts (cont.) (continued from front)

Yoga Bliss

Class: Power Hour +5 Instructor: Carley Ewer Cost: $22 Yoga Bliss has long been a favorite of many island residents. The studio, located across from Tully’s on the north end, has a calming atmosphere and a classroom heated to about a million degrees. Yoga Bliss offers a variety of classes, all taught by experienced and welcoming instructors.

How I felt afterwards: Some might say I was “blissed out.”

Class thoughts:

I was definitely the youngest person in the room and I felt a little concerned that I was the only one not wearing a full Lululemon outfit -- but that did not stop me from thoroughly enjoying my class. It was perfect for someone like me who does not go to yoga very often. The instructor incorporated both challenging and very relaxing poses. Afterwards, I felt both zen and energized. I took the class at 6:00 a.m. before school and would definitely recommend it. I came to school without the stress I usually feel at the start of the day. Overall, I would definitely recommend a class at Yoga Bliss to anyone who is looking to feel relaxed, stretched, and accomplished.

Photo by Zoe Levin Dailey should make everyone sign a waiver to warn participants of unavoidably sore triceps the next day.

The Dailey Method

Class: Dailey Barre Instructor: Kaelyn Adams Cost: $23 How I felt afterwards: I could only feel the upper half of my body.

The Dailey Method is a workout company with locations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and France that offers classic barre classes. Their Mercer Island location opened in February of 2016 at the peak of the barre craze trend that swept the nation. For those who are still confused as to what a “barre” class entails, think of a high-energy blend of yoga, pilates, and ballet.

Class thoughts:

Planks at The Dailey Method are long and numerous.

Photo by Zoe Levin

Every time I go to a barre class, I have to remind myself that I may not be able to walk afterwards. Barre is about building strength, and while I love feeling stronger, I’m not exactly used to the feeling of tired muscles.

That being said, barre is a contemporary way to work your body from head to toe. According to instructor Kaelyn Adams, clients return to The Dailey Method because, simply put, it works. “I started teaching here when I was nine weeks pregnant. My body is better post-baby than before, and it’s all barre,” said Adams. The Dailey also offers more cardio-based classes called Dailey Interval in addition to their classic Dailey Barre class, but in general, the instructors focus on building strength. So for those looking to “tone and tighten,” make The Dailey Method a part of your daily schedule! As they say in the studio, it’s all about the Dailey burn.