REPORTER
Mercer Island
Serving the Mercer Island community since 1947
Actor Patrick Dempsey visits Mercer Island Tully’s
Time for tolls?
Chamber meeting Thursday, Jan. 10 The Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce will hold its first 2013 meeting on Thursday, Jan. 10, at noon at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center. The lunch will feature King County Executive Dow Constantine and Deputy King County Executive Fred Jarrett. The lunch is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. RSVP by calling (206) 232-3404 or by emailing info@mercerislandchamberofcommerce.org.
By Linda Ball
lball@issaquahreporter.com
Basketball Little Cheer Clinic is Jan. 10 The Mercer Island High School cheerleaders’ annual Basketball Little Cheer Clinic will be held on Jan. 10 from 4 to 5 p.m. at West Mercer Elementary. All preschool and elementary ages are welcome. The full clinic is $55, and one day is $40. Registration is required. Contact Charlene Steinhauer at charlene@steinhauerfamily.com to learn more.
First aid, CPR class Saturday, Jan. 12 A first aid and adult CPR class will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12, at the North end fire station. The cost is $35. To reserve a spot, call (206) 2757607.
Megan Managan/Staff Photo
Cars and trucks stream across the Interstate 90 floating bridge on Thursday, Jan. 3. The Washington State Department of Transportation is looking into tolling the bridge to help pay for the new SR-520 bridge.
I-90 tolling needed to pay for SR-520 bridge By Reporter Staff
The Washington State Department of Transportation will host three public meetings at the end of January about the possibility of tolling Interstate 90 across Mercer Island. The effects of tolling Interstate 90 over the Island, between I-5 in Seattle and I-405 in Bellevue, will be evaluated as part of the environmental assessment being done by WSDOT. Tolls are being considered to generate revenue to help fund replacement of the SR-520 floating bridge. I-90 tolling is predicted to help ease congestion on I-90. “Tolling on I-90 between I-5 and I-405 is needed to generate revenue to help complete the SR-520 program and to help alleviate congestion on I-90,” said the WSDOT. “Scoping is an opportunity to gather feedback that will
ties, as well as look at the possible environment effects on land use, economics, energy and climate change. When the bridge between Mercer Island and Seattle, known as the Homer M. Hadley Memorial shape the tolling study.” Bridge, opened in 1940, tolls were The three meetings are part of required to cross, a practice that the public input process, which is stayed in place until 1949. While open from Jan. 22 there have not through Feb. 22. been tolls on the The environbridge for many mental assessyears, since 1999, ment is required when the state by the National Legislature began On Tuesday, Jan. 29, Environmental looking at replacfrom 4 to 7 p.m. at the Protection Act to ing the SR-520 Mercer Island Commuunderstand any bridge, tolls on nity and Event Center, the influences, both I-90 have been disfirst public meeting on positive and negacussed to help with the tolling of Interstate tive, about the projtraffic. 90 will be held. ect. Public input In 2009, the will allow residents SR-520 Legislative to take part in the process and to Workgroup, which reviewed and learn more about the study. recommended the financing stratThe study will ask why tolling is egy to fund the 520 design, disbeing considered, how to imple- cussed tolling on I-90. The group ment it and how tolling would recommended creating and early affect those who use the bridge Tolls | Page 2 and the surrounding communi-
A Thirty Finger Festival One Piano, Six Hands
Mercer Island public meeting
Tully’s | Page 2
REPORTER
The Mercer Island School District Board of Directors will hold their first 2013 meeting on Thursday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Meeting topics include: facilities master planning, school safety audit, elementary school start times and public records request discussion. The meeting will also be broadcast on Channel 21.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 11 AT 7:30 PM Natalya Ageyeva, Deborah Dewey and Lisa Bergman
A dazzling and entertaining evening of piano feats and fireworks performed by three virtuosi. Suggested donation: $20/adults, $10/seniors, $8/youth, 8 & under free.
Mercer Island Presbyterian Church | 3605 84th Ave S.E. | Mercer Island
Mercer Island
MISD meeting Thursday, Jan. 10
Patrick Dempsey, who plays Dr. Derek Shepherd, aka Dr. McDreamy, on the hit television show “Grey’s Anatomy,” is part of the investment group that made the winning bid for the ailing Tully’s Coffee chain, paying $9.15 million for the chain in Thursday’s 13-hour auction. On Friday, Jan. 4, he toured the Tully’s stores in the Seattle/ Bellevue area, appearing at the Mercer Island location at about 12:30 p.m. Dempsey said he bought the chain because of brand loyalty. “It would be a tragedy to let it shut down,” he said. “There’s so much loyalty between employees, and this will preserve some jobs.” Outside, a woman was over-
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Wednesday, January 9, 2013 | 75¢
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