Mercer Island Reporter, July 03, 2019 by Sound Publishing

Library drag queen story hours protested

Page 6

Elementary wrestling champ

REPORTER MERCER ISLAND

SOUND PUBLISHING, INC.

SINCE 1947

VOLUME 63, NUMBER 27

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019

Council officially terminates plans for park By Madeline Coats The Mercer Island City Council voted unanimously on June 18 to terminate the memorandum of understanding (MOU) at Mercerdale Park and prevent private development. The MOU had been in effect for the previous three years, despite various attempts by residents to block the potential of development. Similar to a contract, an MOU is a document that expresses an agreement between two or more parties. The form of settlement does not contain legally enforcement promises, so they are more flexible than contracts. In 2015, the city council proposed to lease nearly an acre of Mercerdale Park to a private organization for one dollar per year with an initial 50-year term. Mercer Island Center for the Arts, which is funded almost entirely by private donors, had planned to construct a 28,000 square-foot community arts building at an old recycling center in the corner of the park. The construction would have destroyed Bicentennial Park and the Native Plant Garden. Likewise, nearby wetlands would have been threatened by the new developments.

Efforts to save Mercerdale Park from private development were lead by Concerned Citizens for Mercer Island Parks (CCMIP). Co-chairs Meg Lippert and Peter Struck believe that Mercer Island parks provide a landmark distinction and pride for residents, according to the group’s website. As stated online, CCMIP publicly opposed the city’s effort to move forward with the removal of public property without a democratic vote by the citizens. “CCMIP has been working for (three and a half) years to terminate the MOU as we believed that a huge privately-owned facility in the park was not in the best interest of the residents,” said Meg Lippert and Struck in a statement. Mercerdale Park is a 12-acre property next to the Mercer Island Town Center. The park includes a large lawn area used for community events and gatherings throughout the year. In previous years, citizens have protested and petitioned the City Council to protect public parkland against threats of construction. Since 1985, angered residents have battled to avoid the creation of community centers, public plazas, municipal offices, a library and a new fire station.

On June 18, the Mercer Island City Council voted unanimously to terminate the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would have allowed a private developer to construct a facility in Mercerdale Park. The action preserves the Island’s town center public park, including the native plant garden beside the skate park, for future generations. Photo courtesy of Meg Lippert

Celebrating the Fourth on the Eastside By Stephanie Quiroz squiroz@soundpublishing.com

Americans all over the country including the Eastside region will gather on July 4 to celebrate Independence Day. The Fourth of July commemorates the signing and adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Eastsiders can look forward to experiencing the Fourth of July with fireworks, parades, food and entertainment.

Mercer Island For the first time, Islanders will be hosting an All-Island Fourth of July Picnic at Mercerdale Park. Activities include kids games,

adult games, guided nature walks in the nearby Native Plant Garden with local plant experts, kid’s story time, and more. Locals can also come to meet City Council candidates and present councilmembers. The picnic runs from noon to 4 p.m.

Bothell-Kenmore In Bothell, the celebration starts off at 8:30 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at the Downtown Fire Station. At about 11 a.m., locals can head out to Main Street for the children’s parade, followed by the annual grand parade at noon. The Northshore Senior Center will continue the celebration from noon to 4 p.m. with food trucks,

bouncy houses, beer and wine, face painting, a pie eating contest, and touch-a-truck.

Kirkland In Kirkland, festivities will include a children’s parade at 11:30 a.m. followed by the old fashioned parade at Lakeshore Plaza and Kirkland Ave., a community picnic, live music, and the fireworks display off of Marina Park at 10:15 p.m.

Snoqualmie Valley Nestled in the Snoqualmie Valley, the city of Carnation will celebrate America’s birthday with a parade, 5K Run/Walk, pancake

breakfast, live music, three-onthree basketball, car show, vendor village, strawberry shortcake feast and fireworks. Festivities begin at 8 a.m. and continue until dark.

Bellevue Bellevue will celebrate the Fourth at its annual Bellevue Family Fourth event. Festivities begin at 9 a.m. with the Bellevue Fourth on the Fourth Dog Jog at Ashwood Park. Other activities include kid’s entertainment, an outdoor food court and live music. Fireworks begin at about 10 p.m. which will be synchronized to a live performance by the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra.

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THIS WEEK

PAGE 2

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019

CALENDAR

State’s Legal Cannabis Experiment?: Join in an open discussion with the owners of Redmond’s first cannabis retail store, Always Greener Downtown. Hear about their experience bringing the new legal market to Redmond. 9 p.m. Pomegranate Bistro, 18005 NE 68th St, Redmond.

What’s going on in Mercer Island and beyond

Look Up! Stories in the Sky: Hear stories, music and folktales from around the world about the constellations, moon and planets. Presented by The Whitman Tellers. 7 p.m. Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE Mercer Island. Wonder-Filled Wednesdays: Use art, science, math, building, stories and more. Bring your brain and imagination; all other materials provided. Ages 7 to 11 with adult. 1 p.m. Newport Way Library, 14250 SE Newport Way, Bellevue.

water. Bellevue Park Rangers lead this 3-hour canoe trip from Enatai Beach Park. Registration online: register. bellevuewa.gov. For more information, call 425-452-2565. 8:45 a.m. - noon. Enatai Beach Park, 3519 108th Ave SE, Bellevue. Three Forks Park Bird Walk: Relaxing walk on an even trail to view summer birds in their own habitat. Meet before 6 a.m. at the Tibbetts Park & Ride in Issaquah. Call Andy McCormick at 425-518-0892 to register. Tibbetts Valley Park & Ride, 965 12th Ave. NW, Issaquah. Sunset Beach Bash: Spend a hot summer Saturday night on the beach with friends, enjoy live dance, rock and pop music as the sun sets over the lake. An annual state park Discover Pass or $10 entry fee is required for admission to the park. Lake Sammamish State Park, 2000 NW Sammamish Rd., Issaquah.

THU., JULY 11

ONGOING:

WED., JULY 10

THU., JULY 4 All-Island 4th of July Picnic: In place of the Summer Celebration, Islanders have put together the All-Island Fourth of July Picnic. Bring your own food, talk to city council candidates, kid activities, adult games and more. 12 - 4 p.m. Mercerdale Park, 3009 77th Ave SE, Mercer Island.

FRI., JULY 5 The Lonely Hearts Club at Crossroads Market Stage: Join the free show at Crossroads Mall’s Market Stage in Bellevue. Enjoy all your favorite Beatles songs as performed by the Lonely Hearts Club. 7 - 8:45 p.m. Market Stage Crossroads Mall, 15600 NE 8th St, Bellevue.

SAT., JULY 6 Ranger-led Hike at Lewis Creek Park: Join a Bellevue Park Ranger to explore the natural and cultural history of Lewis Creek Park. This hike’s difficulty is rated as easy (1 mile with approximately 50 ft elevation change). Lewis Creek Visitor Center, 5808 Lakemont Blvd. SE, Bellevue. Eastside Triathalon: Sign up now for the popular Elton Home Team Eastside Triathlon. For more information or to register visit http://www.eastsidetri. com/. 6 - 10 a.m. Lake Sammamish State Park, 2000 NW Sammamish Rd., Issaquah.

MON., JULY 8 Housing Forum: Ten diverse business and statewide advocacy groups are joining forces to host a forum on housing availability and affordability. Cost is $95, elected officials $75. 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Hilton Bellevue, 300 112th Ave SE, Bellevue.

TUE., JULY 9 Mercer Island Rotary Club: Tuesday’s guest is Dr. Charles Cobbs speaking on Evolution, Viruses and Cancer. Meetings are open to the public, especially those interested in the Program/Speakers for the week, as well as those who are interested in checking out membership in the Club. Buffet lunch is available for $10. Noon - 1:30 p.m. Mercer Island Community and Event Center, 8236 SE 24th St., Mercer Island. SNL Comic Chris Kattan: Chris Kattan discusses his new tell-all memoir Baby Don’t Hurt Me. Kattan will share stories from the book, from his unconventional childhood (including growing up on Bainbridge Island) to his days with Saturday Night Live to his years-long struggle with addiction. The event includes books sales and signing. Tickets, $15-35. 7:30 - 9 p.m. Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 E. Mercer Way, Mercer Island. Drinking Liberally-How Goes Our

Probus Club: The Probus Club of Mercer Island will be meeting at a new venue for July, August and September. Meetings will be at the Holy Trinity Church, 8501 SE 40th St. July’s meeting will be on Thursday, July 11, which is a week and one day later than usual. In August, Probus meetings will return to the first Wednesday. July’s speaker will be Mike Woodsum from the Mountains to Sound Greenway. Everyone is welcome to attend. Social hour begins at 1 p.m. with presentation at 2 p.m. Infant Story Times: Stories, songs and fun. Ages newborn to 12 months with adult. Social time follows. 10:30 a.m. Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE, Mercer Island. The Destination Space Show: A mysterious alien box from space has appeared. Join in with music, dance and mystery to find the secret to unlock it. Presented by Elephant Umbrella. Family program, all ages welcome with adult. 11 a.m. - noon. Crossroads Community Center, 16000 NE 10th St, Bellevue. Concerts In The Park: Steve Kelly & the Cherry Cherry Band will be performing on July 11. Admission is free! Enjoy live music and food trucks. Admission is free. Enjoy live music and food trucks. 6:30 - 8 p.m. Pine Lake Park, 2401 228th Ave. SE, Sammamish.

FRI., JULY 12 Outdoor Movie on the Plaza: The Sammamish Parks and Recreation Department is offering a fun-filled event to the public for free. There will be pre-show crafts, activities, food vendors and much more. Vote for movies at www.surveymonkey.com/r/5J9B6KP. 7 - 11 p.m. Sammamish Commons, 801 228th Ave SE, Sammamish.

SAT., JULY 13 The God of the Sun Art Workshop: Create your own symbol of Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec God of the Sun, using basic metal tooling techniques. Presented by Art-Maranth Mobile School. Ages 10 and older. 11 a.m. Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE, Mercer Island. Canoe Mercer Slough: Explore the beautiful Mercer Slough Nature Park by

Mostly Music in the Park: Round up your friends and family, pack a picnic, and meet us in the park for free performances every Thursday, July 11 - August 15. 6 - 8:30 p.m. Mecerdale Park, 3009 77th Ave SE, Mercer Island. Shakespeare in the Park: Seattle Shakespeare Company/Wooden O returns for Join the productions of two of Shakespeare’s most recognizable plays – Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night. Twelfth Night,July 11-13 and 1820; August 8 and 11. Romeo and Juliet, July 14, 21, and 25 - 27; August 1-4 and 9-11. All performances begin at 7 p.m. Luther Burbank Park, 2040 84th Ave. SE, Mercer Island. Movies at Marymoor Park: The BECU Movies@Marymoor Park feature big screen outdoor movies, entertainment, and the region’s best food trucks. July 10 - August 28. Seating opens at 6:30 p.m, movies show at dusk. Marymoor Park, 6046 W Lake Sammamish Pkwy NE, Redmond. Redmond Arts Festival: Shop over 85 curated designers, artists, and craftspeople offering unique and beautifully crafted fine art, sculpture, jewelry, and handmade crafts. July 12-14. Noon - 8 p.m. Redmond Town Center, 7525 166th Avenue NE, Redmond. Derby Days: Redmond Derby Days features the world’s longest-running bike criterium race, a carnival, parades, arts, music, and great food, with a unique Redmond twist. July 12-13. 4 - 10 p.m. Redmond City Hall Campus, 15670 NE 85th St, Redmond. Day Out With Thomas: Thomas the Tank Engine invites little engineers to go full steam ahead for a day of engaging activities and fun adventures at Day Out With Thomas: The Steam Team Tour 2019. July 12 – 14 and 19 – 21. 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. www.Thomas.TrainMuseum.org. Northwest Railway Museum, 38625 SE King St, Snoqualmie. Convergence Zone Cellars at Kirkland Uncorked: Kirkland Uncorked is Washington’s summer wine festival. The festival is a weekend long celebration of world-class Washington wineries and benefits the Homeward Pet Adoption Center Fri., 5 - 10 p.m.; Sat., 12-10 p.m.; Sunday, noon - 6 p.m. July 12-14. Marina Park, 25 Lakeshore Plaza Kirkland.

Debbie Constantine

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Greenway speaker at July 11 Probus Club meeting The Probus Club of Mercer Island is changing locations for summer. The club will have its monthly meetings at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Also, this month the club will have its monthly meeting on a Thursday. The meeting begins with a social hour at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 11. The program begins at 2 p.m. (The meeting was postponed a week later than usual so it wouldn’t conflict with church events.) In July, the featured speaker is Mike Woodsum of the Mountain to Sound Greenway Trust. The trust is a nonprofit group working to conserve and enhance the landscape of Seattle across the Cascade Mountains to Central Washington, according to a Mercer Island Probus Club press release. Mercer Island Probus program chairman Robert Wiley speaks highly of the nonprofit noting how much people enjoy the green space of Interstate 90 from Bellevue through to Ellensburg. The route has very little development abutting the pavement in either direction. According to the Mountains to Sound Greenway website, the greenway connects some 1.5 million acres surrounding the highway. “Everybody who drives out there recognizes how beautiful it is, and this is the group that keeps it that way,” Wiley said of the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust. Woodsum is the director of development at Mountain to Sound Greenway Trust.

Art Walk is second Friday The monthly art walk will be held on the second Friday and Saturday this month. Walk the galleries and businesses on July 12 and 13 for refreshments and art. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 12, Clarke & Clarke Art + Artifacts (7605 SE 27th St. #105) will hold an opening of “Crazy in Love with Color II” for artist Sharon Carr. Carr’s new collection features paintings in oil, cold wax and acrylic. “The textural, vivid chunks of

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color dance on each canvas as she embraces the beloved chaos. Abstract expressionism emerges with gusto,” a press release said of Carr’s work. Carr’s work will be on display at the gallery through Aug. 31. Continuing in the gallery are selected works from Barbara Bouman Jay, Scott Gibson, Agnes Lee and Noble Golden. Also represented are J. Robert, Susanne Werner, Karen Dedrickson, Chris Baumgartner, Robert Fornell and Torsten Kaack.

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Probus Club’s goal is to “provide regular meetings for retired and semi-retired persons with opportunities to meet others, enjoy hearing guest speakers on various topics and visit organizations and places to appeal to members,” according to a press release. Wiley says the Mercer Island club is branching out in its membership. “It’s not necessarily just for retired members. We’re making a push for younger people as well as retired business people,” Wiley said. But as the club branches out in membership, bringing in speakers remains a key focus. “We try to engage interesting people from across the area to come speak with us,” club president Becky Thibodeaux said. Speakers are curated by the club for their expertise in “standout things that the community is aware of or should be aware of,” Wiley said. And while the audience might be centralized to the Island location and the speakers are curated by the Island’s club, it’s bigger than the Island. “This is just on Mercer Island, but the speakers are from all over,” club past president Michael Finn said. Upcoming speakers include Seattle Town Hall executive director Wier Harmon on Aug. 7, and Woodland Park Zoo executive director Dr. Alejandro Grajal and animal care manager Erin Sullivan on Sept. 4. The meetings are open to the general public.

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Mercer Island Reporter

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

OPINION

PAGE 4

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019

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Lessons from the resurrection tree By Greg Asimakoupoulos On Faith

Year’s biggest election for Democrats isn’t on ballot OLYMPIA — Next month’s selection of a new speaker for the state House of Representatives may be the year’s most important contest for Democrats in Washington. Seattle Democrat Frank Chopp, one of the most dominant forces in

Washington politics, has relinquished the seat of power in which he sat since the turn of the century. His tenure, unprecedented in length, ended in early May. And four women lawmakers are vying to succeed him — and become the first woman in this position in

11630 Slater Avenue NE, Suite 9 • Kirkland, WA 98034 • 425-453-4233 Pili Linares, advertising director plinares@soundpublishing.com Corey Morris, regional editor cmorris@soundpublishing.com Samantha Pak, senior editor spak@soundpublishing.com Andy Nystrom, sports editor anystrom@soundpublishing.com Ashley Hiruko, cops/courts ahiruko@soundpublishing.com Kailan Manandic, business/development kmanandic@soundpublishing.com Aaron Kunkler, county akunkler@soundpublishing.com

Madison Miller, schools/arts mmiller@soundpublishing.com Stephanie Quiroz, county squiroz@soundpublishing.com

state history. It’s a quartet of talent: Monica Stonier of Vancouver, the majority floor leader and current member of caucus leadership; Laurie Jinkins of Tacoma, chairwoman of the Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee; June Robinson of Everett, vice chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, and Gael Tarleton of Seattle, chairwoman of the Finance Committee. Each enjoys support among the 57 members of the House JERRY Democratic Caucus, which CORNFIELD will meet July 31 to make a decision. A couple rounds of balloting are likely before any of them garners the required majority. This is a critical vote. Whoever wins will lead the caucus in the 2020 session. Then they will See CORNFIELD, Page 10

ith this installment I begin my 15th year as faith and values columnist for The Reporter. As such I have reflected on the meaning infused within the mileposts on life’s journey. I’ve touched on such things as births, graduations, career achievements, sports accomplishments and family struggles. A frequent theme has been the fleeting and fragile nature of the human experience. For a chaplain at a retirement community, anticipated death is a common occurrence. Unexpected death, on the other hand, takes your breath away. That was the situation when Bud Palmberg, my dear friend and ministry colleague, died while on a preaching mission in Bali. This much-loved resident at Covenant Shores lost his balance on the way to dinner, fell and hit his head. The resulting brain injury proved fatal. Since Bud has been a fixture in my life for forty years, his sudden death hit me harder than normal. As a fellow pastor 17 years my senior, he mentored me when I was called to my first church out of seminary. We regularly played golf on Mondays. He even provided premarital counseling prior when Wendy and I got engaged. I never could have guessed that twenty-five years later I would have the privilege of being called to lead the church on Mercer Island he served for a quarter of a century. Neither could I have anticipated I would be his chaplain the last several years of his life. Dealing with my friend’s

GREG ASIMAKOUPOULOS ON FAITH unexpected death was made a bit easier knowing he was ready to go. Whereas a significant part of my job description is helping residents “pack their bags for Heaven,” Bud’s bags were tagged and waiting for pick up. A sermon he gave at church a year ago called attention to his anticipation of death and his hope of resurrection. That audio clip was played at his memorial service. About the time Bud preached on his readiness to die, another unexpected death occurred at Covenant Shores. It was a giant willow tree that has guarded our lakefront for over a hundred years. This muchloved fixture to our campus has provided shelter for many an outdoor concert. Last July, five days following a performance by the 75 piece Bellevue Community Band, the giant tree collapsed in the middle of the night. Although we were grateful the willow had not fallen on any unsuspecting individuals, we were deeply saddened to lose a friend. The sudden loss of what we had taken for granted was devastating. The arborists were called and came to remove the limbs See TREE, Page 10

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Parks preservation group thanks Mercer Island residents Four years ago, in June 2015, a group of residents began working to protect our Town Center public park from construction of a large facility by a private developer. When the city signed a Memorandum of Understanding three and a half years ago giving the developer permission to

construct the building, these Islanders coalesced as CCMIP (Concerned Citizens for Mercer Island Parks). Building on the successful campaigns of previous citizens who had protected Mercerdale Park from other construction projects that had been planned and approved by the city council (including a civic center and, more recently, a fire station), these residents engaged in research, outreach, publicity and advocacy to protect our parkland for future generations.

As a co-chair of CCMIP, I would like to thank the thousands of Islanders who supported our efforts in myriad ways — by soliciting signatures and signing petitions, by writing and speaking to the city council, by generously donating funds for publicity and outreach, by volunteering over 850 hours with the Parks Department to revitalize the native plant garden (which would have been destroyed by the new building), and by tirelessly See PARK, Page 10

HEALTH PAGE 5

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019

Happy Fourth — Do we have freedom? What is it anyway?

Why is self-love so difficult? By Dr. Allison Apfelbaum Special to the Reporter

By Dora Gyarmati Special to the Reporter

Freedom is cherished and defended by Americans, and since we celebrate Independence Day — the most integral representation of our idea of freedom — in July, I thought this would be a perfect time to mindfully reflect on “freedom.”

Are we really free? We speak of freedom of speech and freedom of expression as if it is a simple straightforward concept. But that is far from the truth. Those of you well versed in philosophy, history and law know there are tens of thousands of pages written on topics related to freedom. There is a curious divide between our culture’s oversimplification of the idea of freedom and the complexity of the subject. That lack of examination and understanding of the nature of freedom can lead to trouble since the word is emotionally charged, thus it is easily manipulated by those with power. Freedom is not an American product — it has its roots in Greek and Hindu philosophy. Our Constitution is modeled much after the Greek method, but the Transcendentalist movement of the late

19th and early 20th century left plenty of footsteps from Hindu philosophy. America is part of a long and complex human story, and freedom has always occupied the human mind. Let’s take a short trip back into the history of freedom. Freedom in Indian philosophy via the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita set a triple definition of Swaraj (the Sanskrit term for freedom derived from “swa,” meaning one’s own, and “raj,” to rule) : • Swaraj, politically, is the freedom to rule over property and land. • Swaraj, physiologically, is to rule over one’s thoughts. But in this application swaraj is best translated as “self-knowledge.” Thus freedom represents being free from ignorance, illusion and fear. • Swaraj can also be used spiritually, as in the Bhagavad Gita — that is, true liberation can only come if one is free from obsession over money, materialistic possessions and cravings. In the ancient Indian paradigm, freedom is both internal and external. In ancient Greece, the idea of freedom is tightly wound with the political system of democracy. It is the Greek system that our founding fathers used as base for their See FREEDOM, Page 18

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s we head into the warmer months, many people are trying to get “beach ready.” This is the time when dieting is popular, amping up the exercise and working on a tan for summer. If you ask the average person if they truly love themselves, what do you think the answer will be? I think it would go something like, “Yes, of course, well except for this one thing, and also this other thing, and well, come to think of it, I am not really happy with myself in general.” It does not have to be so hard to look inside ourselves for confidence, and I will discuss how to start. We live in a culture of social media and a world of visual images of beautiful people around us at any moment in time. This sets us up for comparison — not only with famous people but social media also gives us glimpses into other professionals who are good at what they do.

The problem is, while we spend time comparing ourselves to external sources we are somehow looking to either be more like them, or looking for approval from others. Until we can look inside and depend on ourselves for confidence, we will forever feel inadequate. If you aren’t your own cheerleader then who will be? Self-love comes from accepting yourself for you are in this very moment. This includes looking at your insecurities and faults and shining light on them. Everyone is human and no one is perfect, everyone has insecurities and that makes us who we are. Loving yourself truly comes with facing what you may hate most about yourself. Maybe it is a body-part or multiple body-parts, or the way you treated someone, or guilt or shame about a situation. The thing is, until you can really shine a light on your insecurities, you will never be truly accepting of yourself. The best way to boost your self-esteem is to choose

healthy positive thoughts. You get to pick if you start your day with positivity. Look in the mirror and thank your body for all the wonderful things it allows you to do. Start your day with “I get to do …” and finish the sentence. Write down a list of all your many accomplishments that you can be truly proud of and then say them aloud. Root for yourself, boost your own confidence, and set yourself up for success. If you aren’t happy with the way you treat someone, or a habit you are doing, then I suggest making an effort to change that behavior. This is your only life with this one body, and you get to decide how you love and treat it. I suggest you treat it with love. Dr. Allison Apfelbaum is a Naturopathic primary care doctor at Tree of Health Integrative Medicine clinic in Woodinville. To learn more go to www.treeofhealthmedicine.com or call 425-408-0040 to schedule an appointment.

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Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Mercer Island Reporter

Tensions run high at county library events Opposition, supporters of Drag Queen Story Hour make showing in Issaquah

Supporters and protesters of a Drag Queen Story Hour event traded chants in Renton.

A lack of police at a recent county library board meeting led some to feel intimidated.

By Aaron Kunkler akunkler@soundpublishing.com

A small library outside of Renton was turned into an ideological battlefield on June 27 as supporters and protesters of a drag queen book reading descended on Fairwood Library near Renton. Dozens of protesters assembled to decry what they viewed as an inappropriate event marketed toward children, while hundreds of supporters waved rainbow flags and formed human barriers to allow people to enter the library. The event was a Drag Queen Story Night, the final of four which have been hosted this month by King County libraries. Protesters and supporters arrived well before the event started at 7 p.m., with supporters forming human barriers allowing attendees to enter the library. They cheered as families with children ranging in age from toddlers to middle schoolers walked into the building to hear drag queen Thadayus read a story about a mermaid. The reading drew

By Ashley Hiruko ahiruko@soundpublishing.com

and Aaron Kunkler akunkler@soundpublishing.com

AARON KUNKLER/STAFF PHOTO

Hundreds of attendees, supporters and protesters showed up to the Drag Queen Story Hour at Fairwood Library near Renton on June 27. Supporters formed human barriers and prevented protesters from blocking entrances.

members of the paramilitary militia the Three Percenters (many of whom were open carrying pistols), members of the far-right street fighting group known as the Proud Boys and the right-wing local media outlet Operation Cold Front. Groups in support of the event included the King County Democrats, local Indivisible chapters and the Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club (PSJBGC). “PSJBGC was happy to stand with so many community members, parents and kids to protect

such a positive and inclusive family-friendly event,” member Duke Aaron said in a statement. A member of the Three Percenters, who only shared his first name name, Greg, said his organization was asked by a group of local residents to provide security at the event. He said the Three Percenters were not associated with the Proud Boys, but that residents opposed to the event were worried about antifascist organizers showing up. The verbal clashes between supporters and

protesters outside were often loud, but inside the library Thadayus read through a picture book to more than 100 parents and children. Children would at times yell along with the book and many sang along with children’s songs after the reading. The organization MassResistance, an anti-LGBTQ group which has been organizing protests of drag queen events nationwide, had claimed that a similar Renton event last week was passing out condoms and See LIBRARY, Page 14

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Local “Proud Boys” and others opposed to the King County Library System’s Drag Queen Story Hour events showed up in Issaquah on Wednesday to voice their opposition to the events. The showing comes ahead of major Pride celebrations and after recent anti-LGBTQ vandalism in Renton that the FBI has started investigating. At a June 26 King County Library System (KCLS) board meeting, large groups of both supporters and opponents of the events showed up to voice their opinions. This included some who may be associated the Proud Boys, a rightwing violent street fighting organization. KCLS spokesperson Julie Acetson said both sides followed meeting protocol, but that so many people showed up to testify, the public comment was split into two parts. At the Issaquah gathering, a group of about 10 men wearing “Make America Great Again” hats and black shirts with Operation Cold Front logos and the words “security” and “press” stood at the front of the room on either side of the audience. Others, attendee Kate Solomon said, wore knock-off

Fred Perry shirts — which have become associated with Proud Boys and the alt-right. Solomon attended the meeting in support of the storytime events and was joined by others from the LGBTQ community. While she thinks the Drag Queen Story Hours are a “wonderful thing,” she notes there has been a lot of harassment occurring over the past couple of weeks. Pride flags were torn down in front of businesses and there has been a concerted effort to share the private information of local drag queens on social media, a practice commonly known as doxxing. Similar behavior was displayed at the Issaquah meeting, she said. Online debates have broken out over the story hours and teen Pride events hosted by the county library system. Solomon said a group of moms “affiliated with an anti-LGBTQ group” said they were going to attend the meeting and speak out against the Drag Queen Story Hour events, which are new to the county this year. She believes the group of men were acting as a form of security, or protection, for the group of moms. The men also took video and photos of those who commented in support, and at one point took photos of See HOUR, Page 14

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Mercer Island Reporter

King County could waive Metro fares during snowstorms The waiver would only be allowed when the county’s Emergency Snow Network was activated. By Aaron Kunkler akunkler@soundpublishing.com

February’s snowstorm cost King County Metro around $934,600 in lost fare revenue during its four day duration as fewer people rode buses in its network. The figure was given as part of county committee discussions on enacting an ordinance that would waive Metro fares during severe snowstorms the county declares as snow emergencies. The ordinance is designed to help those with limited mobility and the homeless, who are at risk of being stranded in significant snowstorms if they can’t afford the fare, which ranges between $1 and $2.75. “This legislation would require that Metro activate its Emergency Snow Network when the conditions are such that it’s warranted, but also waive fees for our buses, our transit vehicles, so that one, people can get wherever they’re going safely,” said county council member Jeanne Kohl-Welles. Fare waivers would only apply to Metro buses and would not transfer to other transit providers like Sound Transit’s Light Rail. The proposed ordinance would only come into effect when the Emergency Snow Network is activated. The network was created after a snowstorm in 2008, which caused buses to become stranded on unplowed roads and left riders without reliable service. Since then, the only time it has been activated was during this February’s storm for four days. While the network was activated, services were

reduced to only running on core bus routes along arterial roads and to transit centers that were regularly plowed. During the February snowstorm, Metro estimated it lost around $934,600 over the four-day period, and if fares had been waived, it estimated the department would have lost an additional $65,000 in revenue daily. The program could be similar to Metro’s New Years Eve program, said Kohl-Welles, when the department offers free bus rides to keep people from driving drunk. It enhances public safety and reduces the chances of injury and damage to property. Other committee members questioned whether the legislation was necessary, including Claudia Balducci who asked whether Metro had received complaints from passengers following February’s snowstorm. John Resha, Metro’s assistant general manager, said he didn’t recall complaints about fares stemming from the snowstorm. Resha said Metro wasn’t opposed to waiving fares, but said during snowstorms Metro is spending more money than normal to fund overtime and provide maintenance for its vehicles. Metro is additionally mandated to meet a 25 percent cost recovery rate through. Under a proposed amendment, the fee waivers would only apply to core transit and paratransit routes.

...obituaries TO SUBMIT A PAID OBITUARY, CALL: 253.872.6677 EMAIL:paidobits@reporternewspapers.com or go ONLINE at this publication. Paid obituaries include publication in the newspaper and online. All notices are subject to verification.

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Housing committee forms to implement affordable housing By Aaron Kunkler akunkler@soundpublishing. com

Elected officials and private companies have formed a committee to examine ways to address a lack of affordable housing in King County following the release of a task force report late last year. The Affordable Housing Committee held its first meeting on June 21 . The meeting was attended by local government leaders as well as representatives from corporations like Microsoft and Puget Sound Sage. The committee is chartered for at least five years and will develop ways to create, preserve and enhance affordable and low-income housing in the county. “There’s 100,000 families, working people, who are one bad incident, one broken down car, one injury away from losing their homes,” said committee member and King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci. The committee will be working along several broad guidelines which range from increasing collaboration between local and regional organizations, preserving 44,000 units of affordable housing over the next five years, developing policies to ensure affordable housing near transit centers, supporting

tenant protections and anti-displacement measures and encouraging housing growth and community outreach. As outlined in the original report, the county needed 156,000 affordable homes in 2017 and an additional 244,000 affordable homes by 2040. The greatest need is housing for those earning 30 percent or less of the area median income (AMI). “It’s also hard to develop housing at that level — it takes a lot of subsidy,” Balducci said. The overarching goal of the committee is to eliminate cost burden, or spending more than one-third of a family’s income on housing, for those earning 80 percent below the AMI. Households making below 50 percent of the AMI will be a priority for the committee. While much of the inaugural meeting was spent covering background information, members of the committee also wrote down their top priorities to be discussed at the next meeting on July 30. Following that meeting, the

Sue Livingstone Sue Livingstone passed away peacefully on December 14, 2018 with her family by her side. An Indiana native, she was a resident of Mercer Island for 50 years. She made many friends along the way, as a United Airlines stewardess, homemaker, Bellevue College academic advisor, and MI Thrift Store volunteer. Sue was an avid gardener, reader, tap dancer and cook. Her radiant smile, generous spirit, caring heart and sense of humor will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. She is survived by her daughter Laurie, son-in-law Kyle, and by her son’s two children. She is predeceased by her husband John, son John II, and five siblings. Interment will take place at Willamette National Cemetery at a later date. A celebration of life will occur whenever you remember Sue fondly. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate any donations to a favorite charity of your choice, or to: Mercer Island Youth & Family Services; or the Alzheimer’s Association. To read more about Sue’s life, please visit the online tribute page at: www.crowncremationburial.com/obituaries/ obituary/17235_Sue_Livingstone

committee will meet every two months. Another organization called the Housing Interjurisdictional Team will be created with up to 24 staff representing the county, cities, housing and transit agencies and community stakeholders which will provide information and local knowledge to the committee. While it is a public-private endeavor, committee business is subject to public disclosure requests and members were asked to use or copy their official county email when discussing relevant information. City representatives at the meeting were also asked to return to their municipalities and see if local governments were

interested in utilizing the recently approved HB 1406. It provides municipalities with a state sales tax credit to encourage investments in affordable and supportive housing. A portion of the sales taxes will be retained or a local levy can be created to fund affordable and supportive housing for people at or below 60 percent of the county median income. Total revenue for all jurisdictions in the county, except Seattle, is projected to be more than $5.3 million. Cities interested in using the new law have to adopt a resolution of intent by Jan. 28, 2020, and pass a full ordinance and impose a tax by the end of July 2020.

Brenda Ladlay Davie Brenda Ladlay Davie passed away among family at the age of 91 on the afternoon of Saturday, June 15, in Seattle. She died of old age complicated by congestive heart failure. Brenda was born on Guy Fawkes Day, November 5, 1927 in England. She grew up in the village of East Molesey across the River Thames from Hampton Court Palace, the fourth of five siblings born to Arthur and Annie Davie (nee Ladlay). The family survived the Great Slump and World War II largely unscathed, and Brenda told many a tale about living as a teenager during the Blitz on London. After the war she trained as a nursery nurse which led her to become a children’s nanny. She worked in London for a few years before answering an ad for a nanny position in the United States. She was hired immediately and left London for Chicago, Illinois aboard the Queen Mary. She told her father she would be gone for one year. It was true, she was gone for one year, and then 60 more. Babies were Brenda’s joy. Over the years she cared for over one hundred children. Orphans in Scotland, the children she was nanny to in London, her adopted family in the USA, and countless foster babies. She loved them all with a selfless abandon to which they responded in kind. If a life can be measured by the joy, and the love that was given, Brenda touched infinity. She was also an amazing quilter, and maker of beautiful temari balls! She was preceded in death by her parents: Arthur and Annie, and siblings: Sybil, John, and Rhoda. She is survived by her brother, Thomas, many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews in England, and a profusion of children and grandchildren through her adopted family in the US. A memorial celebration will be held at the Mercer Island United Methodist Church on July 6 at 1pm. In lieu of flowers Brenda would appreciate that donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Mercer Island Reporter

Among 9, Inslee gets his 6 minutes of fame Here’s what the governor, a longshot presidential candidate, said in Miami Last week. By Chuck Taylor Herald Writer

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is a member of the 1% — the Democratic candidates who have polled 1%, that is. But during his time on the national stage Wednesday night in Miami, he got in a few punches — and about 6 minutes of time (5 minutes and 34 seconds or so, to be a little more precise). Here’s what he said to stand out from the chaotic cacophony of the first Democratic candidates debate. Approximate statement durations are in parentheses.

Shoutout to unions On income inequality: “Well I’m a little bit surprised, I think plans are great but I’m a governor. And we’ve got to realize that the people who brought us the weekend, the unions, they are going to bring us a long-overdue raise in America. And I’m proud of standing up for unions. I’ve got a plan to reinvigorate collective bargaining so we can increase wages finally. I’ve marched with the SEIU folks. It is not right that the CEO of McDonald’s

During the health-care scrum: “It’s wrong in the United States of America for any insurance company to deny women coverage for their exercise of their right of choice. Well I am the only candidate here who has passed a law protecting a woman’s right of reproductive health and health insurance, and I’m the only candidate who has passed a public option. I respect everybody’s goals and plans here. But we do have one candidate that’s actually advanced the ball. And we’ve got to have access for everyone …” [unintelligible as moderators interrupt] (0:35)

families that will be here?” “There is no reason for the detention and separation of these children. They should be released, pending their hearings, and they should have a hearing and the law should be followed. That’s what should happen. And we should do what we’re doing in Washington state. I’m proud that we’ve passed a law that prevents local law enforcement from being turned into mini ICE agents. I’m proud to have been the first governor to stand up against Donald Trump’s heinous Muslim ban. I’m proud to be a person who’s not only talked about Dreamers, but being one of the first to make sure that they can get a college education, so that they can realize their dreams. These are some of the most inspirational people in our state. And I’ll leave you with this thought, if you want to know what I think. Donald Trump the other day tried to threaten me. He thought it was a threat to tell me he would send refugees to Washington state if we passed law that I passed. And I told him that that’s not a threat at all. We welcome refugees into our state, we recognize diversity as a strength. This is how we built America. That tradition is going to continue if I’m president of the United States.” (1:12)

Immigration

Thanks, Rachel

makes 2,100 times more than the people slinging hash at McDonald’s. And the next thing I’ll do is put people to work in the jobs of the present and the future. Lookit, Donald Trump is simply wrong. He says wind turbines cause cancer. We know they cause jobs. And we know that we can put millions of people to work in the clean-energy jobs of the future. Carpenters, IBEW members, Machinists, we’re doing it in my state today. And then we can do what America always does: Lead the world and invent the future and put people to work. That’s what we’re going to do.” (1:02)

Abortion rights

“What will you do with the

Inslee was visibly frustrated

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that he wasn’t getting a word in edgewise, but MSNBC host Rachel Maddow came to his aid: “Governor, you’re going to be happy with where we go next …” She asked about his obsession, climate change, citing Miami’s vulnerability. “Does your plan save Miami?” Maddow asked. “Yes, first by taking away the filibuster from Mitch McConnell to start with. We have to do that. We’re the first generation to feel the sting of climate change. And we’re the last that can do something about it. Our towns are burning, our fields are flooding, Miami is inundated. And we have to understand this is a climate crisis. [Audio dropped momentarily] … our last chance in the administration, the next one, to do something about it. And we need to do what I’ve one in my state. We passed a 100% clean electrical grid bill. We now have a vision statement, and my plan has been called the gold standard of putting people to work. But the most important thing on this, and the biggest decision for the American public is, who’s going to make this the first priority? And I am the candidate, and I am the only one who’s saying this has to be the top priority of the United States. It’s the organizing principle to mobilize the United States. So that we can do what we’ve always done: Lead the world and invent the future and put 8

million people to work.” (1:45)

Trump In a lightning round, the candidates were asked to name the biggest geopolitical threat to U.S. security. Pundits on MSNBC and CNN later called this possibly the best-received line of the night. “The biggest threat to the security of the United States is Donald Trump.” (0:05)

Closing statement [Unintelligible] “… children and we love them all, and when I was deciding whether to run for president, I made a decision. I decided that on my last day on Earth, I wanted to look them in the eye and tell them I did everything humanly possible to protect them from the ravages of the climate crisis. And I know to a moral certainty, if we do not have the next president who commits to this as the top priority it won’t get done. And I am the only candidate — frankly, I’m surprised — I am the only candidate who’s made this commitment to make it the top priority. If you join me in that recognition of how important this is, we can have a unified national mission. We can save ourselves. We can save our children. We can save our grandchildren. And we can save life on this planet. This is our moment.” (0:55)

Mercer Island Home Sales, 1st Qtr, 2019* • 1st Qtr sales (Jan-March): 56 sales (compared to 59 sales in 2018). • $1,797,813, Average sale price. (A decrease of -6.6% from 2018). • $1,530,750, Median sale price. (A decrease of -1.2% from 2018). • Days-on-market: 58 (14 days longer, up 32% from 2018). ( * Data for 98040 single-family sales for 1st Qtr 2019, compared to 1st Qtr 2018.)

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Mercer Island Reporter

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

King County examines gun violence trends Nearly 77 percent of shooting victims so far this year in county have been people of color. By Aaron Kunkler akunkler@soundpublishing.com

Non-fatal shootings in King County are higher in the first half of 2019 when compared to the same time period last year, and are 12 percent higher than the three-year average. After declining between 2007 and 2010, firearm homicide rates increased again by 2016 to reach the 2000 baseline. At the same time, suicide rates have held steady in the county between 2000 and 2016. Between 2012 and 2016, there were an average of 106 suicides and 37 murders that involved firearms in King County. Data from both the King County Prosecutor’s Office and Public Health were shared at a meeting on June 25 as members of the Law and Justice Committee tried to get a clearer picture of gun violence in King County. Dan Carew with the prosecutor’s office said that between Jan. 1 and May 31, 2019, there had been a 35 percent

Numbers • 85 percent of shooting victims have been male. • Black residents in the county are 15 times more likely to be homicide victims than white residents. • Black residents experienced homicide rate of 12.5 per 100,000 people. Next highest demographic was 1.9 per 100,000.

increase in non-fatal shootings compared to the same period in 2018. Firearms homicides remained roughly the same. Nearly half of all shooting victims were younger than 25, and so far this year, some 77 percent of victims in King County were people of color. Additionally, 85 percent of

Read it online: www.MI-Reporter.com

shooting victims have been male. During that time period, there were 341 total shots fired. These numbers do not include several high-profile local shootings that have come since May 31, including two that happened on June 23 in Bellevue. Firearm shooting incidents have generally been moving farther south into communities in South King County — and North Highline, Burien and Kent had the highest rates of firearms homicides. Around one-third of guns used in any type of shooting incidents have been linked to other shootings, Carew said. Myduc Ta with Public Health said their data showed that between 2012 and 2016, black residents in the county are 15 times more likely to be homicide victims than white residents. Black residents experienced homicides at a rate of 12.5 per 100,000 people, with the next highest demographic being Hispanic residents at 1.9 per 100,000. Additionally, high poverty neighborhoods, as defined by 20 percent or more

FILE PHOTO

households living below the poverty threshold, had a homicide rate of 3.2 per 100,000, much higher than low poverty neighborhoods at 0.6. American Indians and Alaskan Natives were at a greater risk of firearm suicide when compared to other groups. Between 2012 and 2016, American Indians and Alaskan Natives had a firearm suicide rate of around 9.7 per 100,000. White residents were the next most at-risk group at a rate of 6 per 100,000 while the countywide rate was 4.9 per 100,000. Along with collecting

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information on gun violence, the county is also engaging in information campaigns to encourage people to store their guns in lockers. Under state law that was passed last November, gun owners can be held criminally liable if their firearms are used to commit a crime. The initiative, I-1639, also prescribed other restrictions and requirements for owning semi-automatic rifles like AR-15s. The county’s push to gather information comes as other state and local

Dan Carew with the prosecutor’s office said that between Jan. 1 and May 31, 2019, there had been a 35 percent increase in nonfatal shootings compared to the same period in 2018. officials explore ways to reduce gun violence. The Washington Legislature passed laws barring 3D printed gun parts known as “ghost guns” this year. State legislators additionally tightened firearms restrictions surrounding domestic violence, allowing police to confiscate guns if an arrest is made during a domestic violence call.

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Mercer Island Reporter

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Cornfield From Page 4

be tasked with doing whatever’s needed to retain every one of those 57 seats in next year’s elections. Recruiting candidates, raising money and crafting campaign messages are among the requisite skills for this part of the job. This change of power coincides with a transformation of the caucus itself. Its membership is its most ethnically diverse. Women hold a majority of its seats. And its progressive bent is as dominant as ever. Big questions loom for each individual member.

Will they want someone with a progressive soul and pragmatic political temperament like Chopp, which seemed to work well the past two decades? Or will they want a person willing to push a progressive agenda more aggressively, even if it might earn a periodic rebuke from editorial boards and cost a seat or two in a future election? How important is it for the next speaker to get along with Republicans and build alliances with Senate Democrats? In the 2019 session,

Democrats used strong legislative majorities and partnership with Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee to enthusiastically expand most areas of state government and to increase a raft of taxes to cover the tab. However, not everything got done in the view of some House Democrats. They are drawing up an ambitious to-do list for next year that they’ll want the next speaker to embrace. Thus far it’s been a pretty quiet race. These women respect each other so there’s no badmouthing, overtly or in the shadows. They insist there won’t be, and are committed to assuring the caucus will be united once the outcome is known. Ahead of the vote, each

woman is contacting all of her colleagues, by phone or in person, or both. They’re getting asked about their vision for caucus leadership and strategy for winning elections. There’s talk about specific policies, and internal matters as well. In the meantime, the Members of Color Caucus and the Black Caucus conducted sit-down interviews with each candidate earlier this month. On July 14, the two plan to host a forum at which they hope all four candidates will be together to answer questions from members who show up. “We are absolutely not making any endorsement. We are looking to provide avenues for our

Top: June Robinson (left) and Monica Stonier; bottom: Laurie Jinkins (left) and Gael Tarleton.

members to get information,” said Rep. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, a leader of the 16-person Members of Color Caucus. “This is a

very historic decision we’re making.” Jerry Cornfield: 360-3528623; jcornfield@herald net. com. Twitter: @dospueblos.

Mercer Island Places of Worship emmanuel episcopal church

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St. Monica

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Tree From Page 4

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Sunday, July 7

9:30am Worship in the Sanctuary

This willow tree had recently fallen and was only a stump. Now new life has grown where all hope had seemed lost. Photo by Greg Asimakoupoulos

7070 SE 24th Street Mercer Island, WA 98040

206-232-3044 www.miumc.org

we had grown to love. The emotional impact was such that we even held a memorial service for the tree. This past Easter Sunday, as I prepared to lead our annual sunrise service on the lakeshore, I walked by the stump of the old willow tree and marveled at what I saw.

Park From Page 4

advocating for protection of public open space. In this case, it took a village to protect a park. Quite simply, we couldn’t have done it without you. Again, thank you.

In the dawn’s early light was picture of resurrection. New life was growing from what had died. Unexpected death had given way to signs of hope. The “resurrection tree” has become a source of comfort to me as I grieve those in my life who have been taken from me unexpectedly. It is a beautiful reminder that people of faith do not grieve as those who have no hope. I guess you could call that “good grief.” Greg Asimakoupoulos is the chaplain at Covenant Shores Retirement Community.

Looking ahead, given the history of development pressure on Mercerdale and other Island parks, it’s clear that citizens cannot relax until all of our parks are protected, like Pioneer Park, by a trust or by some other such means. Meg Lippert Co-chair Concerned Citizens for Mercer Island Parks

Mercer Island Reporter

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

County could loan 4Culture $20M

Senior community gets new name, logo

The loan would be repaid by the organization and used to help serve marginalized communities.

The rebranding connects the retirement community to its faith-based foundation.

By Aaron Kunkler akunkler@soundpublishing.com

King County’s arts and culture organization 4Culture could receive a $20 million loan to help fund capital projects serving marginalized communities. 4Culture was created by the county in 2002 to award grants to local arts and culture organizations. In recent years, a task force was formed to examine whether money was being awarded in an equitable way to marginalized communities, and based on the task force report, the county directed the organization to incorporate racial and social equity into its award process. The $20-million loan also serves a specific need largely for construction, purchase and preservation of infrastructure and facilities. King County senior legislative analyst Leah Krekel-Zoppi told the county’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee at a June 11 meeting that 4Culture’s Cultural Facilities grant program has historically awarded as much as $1 million in total grants each biennium. However, in the 2018-19 budget they received more than $17 million in requests, a number which has been driven up in recent years due to the high cost of construction and property.

The 4Equity program would provide a $20 million loan to 4Culture which would be repaid with interest from future lodging tax revenue. The organization is largely funded by lodging tax and a 1-percent tax for art revenues. Payments from the county to the program could begin this year and stretch through 2023. 4Culture would begin paying back the loan at a minimum of $2 million annually beginning in 2021 through 2031, with $500,000 in interest. The ordinance authorizing the loan requires approval from the King County Council and dictates broad categories where the money would need to be spent. The program would also be rolled out in two phases. Some $7 million would be spent on funding for organizations that had received a recent 4Culture grant for capital projects that have run into unanticipated construction costs. $1 million would go to the Preservation Action Fund, $2 million would go to creating an education and mentoring program for organizations serving marginalized communities and $10 million would go toward cultural facilities grant awards through a process that prioritizes organizations serving marginalized communities. Marginalized communities are defined in the ordinance documents as people with disabilities, low incomes, people living in areas with significant inequalities, rural residents and those living in Seattle neighborhoods traditionally under-represented in 4Culture

funding. “We want to be in the game of supporting them,” said Brian Carter, 4Culture’s executive director, at a June 25 Budget and Fiscal Management Committee meeting. During the first phase, 4Culture would be awarding money to organizations that ran into unanticipated construction costs, funding the Preservation Action Fund and provide funding to organizations serving marginalized communities. The second phase would make funds available for facilities grants to a broader array of cultural organizations, fund the creation of cultural spaces linked to transit-oriented developments, buying and protecting historic properties and enhancing earthquake protections. Funds will be available from the county in 2021. Since 2016, all relevant portions of the lodging tax have been used to fund the football stadium and exhibition center, county documents said. Beginning in 2021, the lodging tax countywide will be allocated by category with 37.5 percent going to arts and cultural purposes, 37.5 percent to creating affordable workforce housing near transit stations or for services for homeless youth. The remaining 25 percent will go to capital or operating programs that promote tourism and arts, heritage and cultural events. In 2018, 4Culture’s Projects Grants Fund awarded more than $1.07 million.

A senior living community on Mercer Island recently received a rebranding. Covenant Living at the Shores is the new name of what was formerly known as Covenant Shores. The new name accompanies the parent company’s name change to Covenant Living Communities and Services. “This rebranding positions our organization in a fresh, energetic and welcoming way for the older adults we serve, their family members and will help in attracting new employees,” said Terri Cunliffe, Covenant Living president and CEO. “It is more than exciting to finally put our new name to full use for everyone to see.” The new name was officially put into place on June 25. Residents and employees of Covenant Living at the Shores will now see the new name and logo. The community will have new signs, marketing materials, a rebranded website, and employee uniforms for those in health care, housekeeping, facilities maintenance and dining. Covenant Living is the nation’s fifth largest senior living and health care provider, with 16 communities in nine states, and the rebranding connects the communities to its Christian heritage, a press release explained. “The new logo symbolizes Covenant Living being a faith-based organization incorporating the Christian symbol of a fish implying a place for new life, safe space and of community. The color palette was chosen to communicate vitality and health,” the press release stated.

Missing the Summer Celebration?

Come to the ALL-ISLAND FOURTH OF JULY PICNIC! Noon to 4pm Thursday, July 4th Mercerdale Park • E-bike rally and test rides • Kids’ games, bubble blowing and storytelling • Cornhole and giant Jenga • Meet the City Council candidates • Guided tours of the Native Plant Garden -Lots more! Bring your own food. Soft drinks provided. EVERYONE WELCOME!

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Mercer Island Reporter

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MERCER ISLAND VACANT LAND

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Panaramic western view plus 40’ waterfront with private pier/ boatlift. Home sits approx 60’ above lake. Sunsets year round!

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89 feet of Lake Washington frontage with a dock. This custom built home has soaring ceilings, and a spacious chef’s kitchen. Tim Conway - 206.954.2437

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9337 SE 70th Pl | Mercer Island 3 bd | 2.5 ba | 2,800 sf Escape the ordinary. Very hip NW contemporary with big bold windows, great room design and open floor plan. Lori Holden - 206.949.5674

2719 63rd Ave SE | Mercer Island 4 bd | 2.5 ba | 2,250 sf

8430 SE 53rd Place | Mercer Island 5 bd | 3.75 ba | 4,870 sf

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Home in mint condition with upgrades to hardwoods, cabinetry, windows, lighting and landscaping. Easy access to I-90, local shops and several parks.

8410 SE 72nd Pl | Mercer Island 5 bd | 2.75 ba | 3,660 sf

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7408 92nd Place SE | Mercer Island 5 bd | 2.75 ba | 3,181 sf Brand new designer kitchen, updated bathrooms, and new windows. Features sauna, three decks, and seasonal view of lake. Nina Li Smith - 206.669.8983

10021 NE 27th St| Bellevue 4 bd | 2.75 ba | 3,110 sf

4030 82nd Ave SE | Mercer Island 4 bd | 2.75 ba | 2,380 sf

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Classic Mercer Island living! Perched above Homestead field and walking distance to downtown and Mary Wayte Pool.

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2905 229th Pl NE | Sammamish 3 bd | 1.75 ba | 1,180 sf

Come home to this darling traditional tri-level home Great Parkland home sits on nearly one acre of land! Close to perfectly situated on a large lot, great for play and everything: 10min to I-5, 5 min to PLU. entertaining. Nick Nordby - 425.-22.6775 Nick Nordby - 425.-22.6775 Kathy Gephart - 206.232.8600 Erin Packard - 206.232.8600

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Wonderful ranch style home with level lot on Northend. Lovely Seattle charm on Mercer Island! One story corner lot home with front yard plus large patio and back yard. Ready to move right in! hardwood floors, deck off living room, and close to I-90.

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Corner lot home located next to green belt for privacy. Near Totem Lake and Juanita Beach.

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Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Mercer Island Reporter

Library From Page 6

“breast wraps” to children. Neither were observed by the Reporter at the June 27 event. As families — including toddlers and young children — were leaving, some of the protesters held up signs with drag erotica on it and yelled “shame.” At points, signs with erotica — held by people protesting the drag queen story time — were inches away from young children and parents leaving the event. King County Sheriff’s deputies were present, as was Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht. After the event, Thadayus gathered items and prepared to leave the building. “The event went really well — there was a lot of security,” Thadayus said. “Everyone was super excited and engaged.” Thadayus left out a back door of the library, escorted by multiple Sheriff’s Office deputies. Jen Carter, vice chair for the King County Democrats, said the large turnout of both attendees and counter-protesters as supporters for the event was a positive sign. “What it says is that love is going to prevail, every time and everywhere,” she said. At one point during the event, a street preacher began preaching over a loud speaker and Carter and other supporters drowned out the speech with chants. Counter-chanting was common at the rally, as one side would begin, the other side would respond, each trying to out-yell the other. “I’m honestly not sure what I can say that’s more profound than all these people showing up for what’s a couple dozen Nazis,” said fellow member of the King County Democrats David Fleetwood. Myra Martino, a neighbor from

A protester of the Drag Queen Reading Hour holds up erotica for families and children as they exit the event at Fairwood Library near Renton on June 27. Aaron Kunkler/Staff photo

Attendees of the Drag Queen Reading Hour at the Fairwood Library exit the event. A walkway was held open for them by supporters while protesters held signs condemning the event behind them. Aaron Kunkler/ staff photo

the area, said others from her community are welcoming to

Hour From Page 6

each sign-up sheet page. Written on them were the addresses and emails of those who attended to publicly speak. At one point, attendee Morgan McQuiston, an Issaquah resident, said she saw a man attempt to enter the building with a gun. She said she could see the barrel of the weapon, and a man holding it close to his body. He was denied entry, she said, but later returned for the meeting without the weapon. “God bless those librarians handling the situation so well,” McQuiston said. The Reporter was not able to independently verify this at the time of publication, and Issaquah Police Department spokesperson Paula Schwan and Acetson said they had no reports of a firearm at the meeting. However, a male was arrested in the parking lot for harassment after brandishing a baseball bat, according to Schwan. MassResistance, a nationwide antiLGBTQ group involved with protesting the reading hour events, had not returned a request for comment at the time of publication.

people from all walks of life. “This is our neighborhood

Despite the controversy, Acetson said all the Drag Queen Story Hour events have been well attended and seem to be appreciated by the majority of the community. “The last one in Des Moines was around 250 people there,” Acetson said. Local police departments have provided security for the events, including Des Moines and Renton officers. A fourth and final event was scheduled for Thursday, June 27, at the Fairwood Library in Renton where King County Sheriff’s deputies were present. (See related story on Page 6.) “We have had a (law enforcement) presence, and we’re expecting that at the Fairwood Library as well,” Acetson said. However, there were no police officers present at the KCLS meeting in Issaquah “I made sure one of the folks on the library board knew that they need to have actual police at these events going forward,” said Nathan English. “It seems to be a concerted effort to intimidate the community to take these events away … We need actual peace officers there to enforce some semblance of peace and safety.” The Proud Boys are an organization that claims to promote “Western chauvinism” and frequently engages in street fights with political opponents. Last October, their members made national headlines

— people are gay or straight or whatever. They just don’t want you to be a jerk,” Martino said. The Drag Queen Story Hour was a flashpoint, and the fourth and final in a series which has been happening during June for Pride month. The events have garnered the attention of MassResistance and residents and what some attendees claimed to be Proud Boys showed up at a King County Library System meeting on June 26 in Issaquah. No police were present at the meeting and some attendees felt threatened by the Proud Boy presence. Julie Acteson, community relations director of the King County Library System, said that allowing free expression of every opinion is important to the library system. But, she added, the views expressed at Fairwood did not hold equal amounts of support.

A photo taken from the meeting in Issaquah. Photo courtesy/Tracy Castro-Gill

after brutally attacking counter-protesters, leading to multiple arrests. The group was founded by vice co-founder Gavin McInnes, who has since jumped ship and left the organization. Acetson said she’s not surprised that

“We certainly respect the right of anyone to come out and exercise their right to (freely express themselves). At the Fairwood event last evening, overwhelmingly, the community turned out in favor of the story time,” Acteson said. “I think there was about 500 people there, and easily 400 were supporters of us holding the event.” Though the opposing views were contentious regarding the Drag Queen Story Time, the library system will continue supporting diversity, Acteson said. “Libraries are about diversity and inclusion. Those are huge values for us, so we want to make sure that we’re offering programs and services meeting the needs of our communities, and not just a chosen few,” she said. “We certainly don’t want to ever be trying to censor what we’re doing — whether it’s in our programs or our selections.” Acteson could not say if the library system would hold the same series of events next year because the library system has not yet discussed program planning for 2020. “Sometimes it’s difficult to support intellectual freedom and standing against those who oppose it, but we’ll always work to celebrate diversity because it’s the right thing to do,” Acteson said. There was a silver lining to be seen in all of it, Acteson said. “It was quite touching to see the support from the community,” she said. “They created a human tunnel so the families and children could come through safely. There was a woman passing out headphones for the children so they wouldn’t have to hear the racket from all the protesters …. it was really touching to see how they rallied around everyone who wanted to enjoy the story time.” Corey Morris contributed to this story.

libraries can become lightning rods for controversy. “Libraries across the nation are dealing with this — it’s something that libraries are champions of diversity and tolerance and inclusion, and so when you stand up for those values, from time to time you come under attack for holding to those values,” Acetson said. “It’s unfortunate that some people believe that they have a right to restrict the information and the activities that other people may enjoy.” At a June 22 event in Renton, a group of women were present to document the event, Acetson said. Those opposed were met with a large group of supporters of the event, she said. The meeting and final Drag Queen Story Hour precedes major Pride events scheduled regionally. In Seattle, a Trans Pride Parade is scheduled to march on Capitol Hill to Cal Anderson Park. A counter-march organized by far-right organizations like the Proud Boys and Operation Cold Front have announced they will march from City Hall Park to Capitol Hill at the same time. This additionally comes in the wake of vandalism of a Renton church’s Pride display, which was vandalized and later bombed. The FBI is investigating the incident.

Mercer Island Reporter

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

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SPORTS

PAGE 16

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019

WWW.MI-REPORTER.COM

Seasoned signal caller leads Islanders Field general Clay Dippold is stoked for his senior season By Shaun Scott sscott@soundpublishing.com

Chapman earns a gold medal on the wrestling mat Mercer Island resident Arabella Chapman, who attends Northwood Elementary School, earned a gold medal for the Team Washington wrestling squad in the 55-pound weight division at the 2019 Women’s National Championships and World Team trials, which took place from May 10-12 in Irving, Texas.

To say Mercer Island Islanders senior quarterback Clay Dippold is battle tested would be an understatement. Dippold, who was the starting signal caller during his junior season in 2018, will return as the undisputed starter under center during the 2019 football season. In the spring and summer of 2018, Dippold won a competitive battle for the starting quarterback role against three other players. Dippold led the Islanders to a 6-3 overall record last season. “It was a great competition. Competition helps you as a player. It was actually really fun going against the other quarterbacks because it helped me get better. I pushed myself to get the starting job. Nothing is given here, everything is earned,” Dippold said. “It was a lot of fun leading the team. You have the responsibility of being ‘the guy.’ I had a lot of fun and our team did really well last year. It was a fun ride.” The Islanders won their first six games but lost their final three contests during the 2018 season. Dippold would like nothing more than to lead his team to the promised land this fall. “We want to go to the playoffs big time. That would be huge. Hopefully we can take the championship. We just have to take it one game at a time. We are in the process of getting ready for the season

SHAUN SCOTT/STAFF PHOTO

Mercer Island quarterback Clay Dippold completes a set of reps on the squat rack in the weight room on June 14.

right now,” Dippold said during a weight-room session on June 14. “Spring ball was a success. We incorporated a lot of our new offense. It was challenging but it was good to see it work and how successful it was.” The 6-foot, 2-inch, 205-pound quarterback considers himself a traditional

drop-back passer but is thrilled to add to his game in the offseason. “I tend to focus on accuracy and have always been more of a pocket, drop-back passer. This year I have been working on a lot of of stuff on the run since we’re going to incorporate the read option into our offense,” Dippold said.

Dippold is a rare left-handed quarterback. The most recent NFL starting quarterbacks to be left handed were Kellen Moore, Michael Vick and Tim Tebow. Despite being a lefty, Dippold never tried to emulate the latest signal callers who share his style. “I don’t really watch a lot of left-handed quarterbacks. I just watch football in general. I really like Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints quarterback). I’m also a big WSU Cougars fan,” Dippold said. With his senior season right around the corner, Dippold knows how fast it can go and what is at stake. “I remember being a freshman (2016 season) and hearing all the seniors talk about, ‘Don’t take it for granted. It goes by so fast.’ Now it’s our time being seniors and we are telling everyone that it goes by fast. It is a cool experience and a cool ordeal,” Dippold said. This fall will be the third consecutive season Dippold has played for Islanders’ head coach Ed Slezinger. Slezinger was hired prior to the start of the 2017 season. “He is an amazing coach. He is a coach that’s not only there for you on the field but he is there for you off the field. He doesn’t want to just build a football player, he wants to help his players become a better person in life. He is really good at instilling confidence. I have lacked confidence in the past and he’s helped me get through things,” Dippold said.

Issaquah to host Sports Medicine Combine A

large contingent of Rockies and Sparta Science. The sports-medicine enthusinine-hour event will include asts will converge myriad different activities, including live music, on Lake Sammamish State Park for a celebration of fitness classes, kids play zone, massages, water epic proportions. sports, health screenThe City of Issaquah, ings and food trucks. together with investors A 5K fundraiser, which and stakeholders, will will benefit the Issaquah host the inaugural Sports School District’s Sports Medicine Combine from Medicine Program, will 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July kick off the event at 8 13 at Lake Sammamish SHAUN a.m. Throughout the day, State Park in Issaquah. SCOTT doctors, trainers, physiKeynote speakers at the cal therapists, chiropracevent include Dr. Stanley Herring, Dr. Adam Pourcho tors and pro athletes practicing and Brian Buck of the Colorado sports medicine will offer training

sessions, free courses and activity classes. This event is the epitome of a complete experience for not only athletes but for anyone interested in sports medicine. Injuries and sports are something that just go hand and hand. It is very much like peanut butter and jelly or biscuits and gravy. Competing in athletics and completely avoiding injuries are just unavoidable. It is something the majority of individuals can relate to. In the fall of 2015, I ruptured my left pectoral tendon while repeating repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press.

When the tendon gave way, it felt like I had been punched in the forehead. The person spotting me, whom I didn’t know, said I needed to visit the doctor as soon as possible. Instead of getting surgery, I instead opted to undergo physical therapy under the watchful eye of Joshua Field of Peak Sports and Spine Physical Therapy. The decision has paid off. While my pectoral tendon will never be the same, it doesn’t affect my day-to-day activities in the least bit. The only time I noticed the lack of the attached tendon is when I’m doing pushups or when

I’m swimming in the ocean. Competing in physical activities is important aspect in order to maintain optimum health. The Issaquah Sports Medicine is a golden opportunity for not only residents across the Eastside but throughout the entire Pacific Northwest region an opportunity to learn from some of the top sports medicine minds in the area. The event is free to the public but registering online prior to the event is strongly encouraged to avoid long lines at the gate. For more information, visit www. issaquahsportsmed.com.

Mercer Island Reporter

Report: Fewer refugees resettling in U.S. and in Washington state

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Sponsored Content

Admissions are on pace to only reach around one-fifth of their limit in 2019. By Aaron Kunkler akunkler@soundpublishing.com

New numbers released by the International Rescue Committee show the number of refugees being allowed to enter the U.S. is leading to dramatic reductions in the number of refugees being resettled in Washington state. The report from the International Rescue Committee (IRC) shows that during fiscal year 2019, which ends in the fall, actual refugee admissions were around 18,000 nationally, marking a historic lowpoint. The U.S. adopted the Refugee Act in 1980, and since then, average admissions have hovered around or exceeded 95,000 people. For the fiscal year 2019, the Trump administration set a limit of 30,000 refugees who would be allowed, but bureaucratic hurdles have bottlenecked that number even further. Nicky Smith, the executive director of the International Rescue Committee’s Seattle branch, said this year’s limit of 30,000 was lower by 15,000 than the previous year’s. On top of lowering the total limit, the administration is also understaffing resettlement programs, which has led to only 18,000 people being admitted so far. The additional restrictions have been particularly affecting Muslim refugees, whose admissions have declined by 85 percent since the Trump administration came into power in 2017. However, admissions of Christian refugees have also declined by more than 35 percent, a demographic that includes persecuted Christian minorities. “Some of the things that we’ve noted is that whilst people of all faiths have been targeted through this refugees admission decline, there are certain (people) that have been particularly impacted,” Smith said. Admissions from Africa, East Africa and Europe

the first half of fiscal year are nearly at their target 2017, which covered the numbers with one-third of end of the Obama presithe fiscal year left, but the dency in 2016. The Trump IRC report said admissions administration has also put from Latin America, the in place a rule that organiNear East and South Asia are low. From these regions, zations that handle less than 100 refugees a year do not admissions are on pace to get funding. only reach around one-fifth Taken together, this has of their ceilings by the end led to resettleof the fiscal ment agenyear. The additional cies across the This has restrictions country closing led other or suspending countries to have been 51 programs also reduce in 41 offices their refugee particularly across 23 states. admissions, affecting While this has taking cues not affected from the Muslim Washington U.S., Smith state through said. It refugees. office closures, also places Gigsby said, the additional number of refugees arriving burdens on other countries that have historihere has also dwindled. cally welcomed refugees, Between Oct. 1, 2018, including countries such and May 31, 2019, there as Colombia and Pakistan, were 954 refugees who which are much poorer arrived in Washington. This than the U.S. is compared to 1,513 who “I find this completely were resettled in the state worrisome in the fact that between Oct. 1, 2016, and the U.S. is basically worried Jan. 20, 2017, under the about 30,000 refugees into Obama administration. their country, and yet the “It’s definitely something majority of the world’s to be concerned about and refugees are hosted by 10 to watch,” Grigsby said. countries that have around Disruptions in refugees 3 percent of the world’s total coming into the country GDP,” Smith said. also affects wrap-around Despite restrictions set by communiy support from the administration on refupeople who are prepared to gee admissions, Congress welcome those admitted, as has consistently appropriwell as employers who hire ated funds to handle around refugees at scale. 85,000 refugees, indicating Locally, Aneelah Afzali of there is bipartisan political the Muslim Association of support for resettlement Puget Sound (MAPS) said from politicians outside while she continues to see of the White House, said Islamaphobia and anti-Muslim sentiments nationally, Danielle Grigsby, interim many people in King County director of the Refugee have gotten involved. Council USA (RCUSA). “Having more and more “As long as we continue to people being willing and maintain the support of our wanting to reach across allies in Congress, which the divide and get to know there’s a lot of positive people from different movement there, we’ll be communities,” Afzila said. able to hang on to what we “We’ve had more people have and really potentially rebuild with a future admin- than in the past reach out to istration,” Grigsby said. us at MAPS.” According to a recent On the ground in Washington state, Afzali said RCUSA report, the first half people are more welcoming of fiscal year 2019 saw a 70 than national political rhetpercent decline in refugee oric would make it seem. arrivals when compared to

Pedal power: Expand your cycling horizons on an e-bike! If you’re intrigued with the idea of adding an e-bike to your fitness, commuting or recreation routine, you want to visit the folks who know bikes. Here in King County, that means Gregg’s Cycles, your go-to source for all things bike since 1932! “The great benefit to pedal-assist, or e-bikes, is that they break down a lot of the barriers people have for cycling recreationally, for fitness or commuting,” explains Nate Pitts. “Whether you’re concerned about being able to handle hilly terrain or keep up with your faster friends on a ride, the pedal assist bikes are a great leveler. The result is that a lot of people are riding more, which we’re thrilled to see.” Of the three classes of e-bikes – pedal-assist up to 20 mph, pedal-assist up to 28 mph or throttle e-bikes, Gregg’s carries both classes of pedal-assist bikes. That means that while you’re getting a little extra help from the batterypowered motor, you’re still be pedaling. “We think that’s pretty integral to the cycling experience,” Pitts explains, noting all e-bikes Gregg’s stocks will have the motor centrally positioned near the crank – the part that you pedal – making the ride feel like a regular bicycle. “A lot of people are surprised at how similar to a regular bike riding an e-bike is, just a little easier up hills and a little faster.”

How to choose the e-bike for you:

• As with a regular bike, consider how you’ll use the e-bike. A recreational rider may want a more upright bike, for example, while someone riding with a road group will likely want that style of e-bike. The good news is you’ll find the same varieties of e-bikes as traditional bikes, from mountain bikes to road bikes and everything in between. Need to haul cargo? Gregg’s has a bike for that, too! • How far will you be riding? Technology and battery life are improving all the time and currently distances on a single charge will range from about 30 to 60 miles, depending on the battery and power setting. It’s important to note that even if you run out of charge, you won’t be stuck, but only pedaling without assistance. For commuters, many of today’s batteries are also removable, so you can bring them in to charge during the work day, Pitts notes.

Maintenance matters

Most maintenance related to e-bikes will be similar to traditional bikes, like tires, brakes and mechanical systems, which Pitts recommends checking and servicing at least once a year. Gregg’s e-bike batteries typically come from the reputable Bosch brand; how long they’ll last will depend largely on use, but they’re easily replaceable if any issue should arise. Ready to learn more? Stop by Gregg’s, talk to the pros and take an e-bike for a free test ride! Visit www.greggscycles.com/ or stop by Gregg’s Cycle 105 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98004 Gregg’s Cycle • 105 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98004

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Mercer Island Reporter

Freedom From Page 5

concept of freedom. But even during Greek times there was a psychological component that is necessary to freedom. Plato wrote extensively that the decline of democracy in his lifetime in Ancient Greece had to with popularity being confused and equated with democracy. He advocated a system based on meritocracy in his famous metaphor on “The Ship of State.” It is because of Plato’s warning and the example of the decline of ancient Greece that our founding fathers chose an Electoral College for the voting system instead of a straight forward populist vote. (We should not forget that Hitler was elected with a straight forward popular vote. Yes, the electoral system is not perfect, but the popular vote has delivered WWII and the fall of ancient Greece. So before we throw the baby out with the bathwater, we may think a bit more.) Freedom is complex. Our phycological freedom is limited by our knowledge, both education based and self-knowledge based. We can only think of concepts, solutions and ways of being from the pool of knowledge that exists in our mind. Our spiritual freedom is limited by our self-imposed limits of ideas about our self. Do you think of yourself as beautiful, smart, successful? Do you think of yourself as a failure or as unlovable? The only way to liberate yourself from this prison is via self-study and education.

Democracy itself is based on the two inner freedoms. If citizens are “imprisoned” by self-imposed boundaries, if knowledge of philosophy and history and complex thinking is no longer taught in our school, than we no longer have citizens that can freely choose. We are easily manipulated by power and the media. (Yes, this is a shout out for mandatory high-quality liberal education to all, in addition to the practical skills we so admire nowadays.) Since my specialty is teaching mindfulness and stress-management, I say let’s not simply celebrate Independence Day — instead, we should take half an hour to meditate on freedom. Is your spirit free? Is your inner dialogue serving you with the power of choice and vivaciousness, or does it shut you down? Is your mind free? Is it time to pick up a history and philosophy book and examine this concept better before the next election? Do we have the freedom to choose as citizens? Are we free to create our life, or is the government limiting our freedom of creativity? Are we provided enough knowledge to make educated choices? These are not simple questions, but we should take the time to answer them. I cannot think of a better way to celebrate Independence Day. Dora Gyarmati teaches yoga and mindfulness classes. She owns Spira Power Yoga in Issaquah and West Seattle. Her company M3Bmethod also lectures on resiliency and stress management to health care professionals.

Locker room thefts rising; Eastside police take action By Ashley Hiruko ahiruko@soundpublishing.com

Eastside police departments are working together to investigate and identify who’s behind a string of locker room thefts happening at gyms, yoga studios and other athletic centers in the region. Jim Molenda’s day at the gym on Feb.15 started out much like the others. He recalls spending time on the elliptical runner and other machines before moving onto pushups. But when he returned to gather his belongings from a locker at the Kelsey Creek LA Fitness location, his wallet was missing and along with it $500, medical cards and debit and credit cards. A short time later, Molenda received an alert from Bank of America advising him that his credit and debit cards were being used at the Overlake Fred Meyer — 1.5 miles away. The fraudulent charges for $1,517 were declined. A year or so ago his son’s cell phone was stolen from a locker at the same LA Fitness location, Molenda said. It

wasn’t until a bit later, when Molenda began digging into his case, that he discovered a collection of many others who have had similar experiences in Bellevue. A public disclosure request revealed a majority of those who had their belongings stolen from the Kelsey Creek Gym had their locks removed, while others never placed a lock. Some reports showed car prowls at the location. “The number is insane,” Molenda said. “It’s just crazy.” In Bellevue, there have been 87 locker room thefts so far this year, said Meeghan Black, Bellevue Police Department spokesperson. Of this number, 31 occurred at the Kelsey Creek LA Fitness location at 15053 Main Street. The Reporter reached out to the LA Fitness location about the crimes, but management declined to comment. The Reporter reached out to the LA Fitness corporate office in California but requests for comment were not returned. When looking at the financial loss as a result of locker room thefts in Bellevue, from

mid-April to mid-May, there was more than $14,000 in credit card fraud, Black said. That figure doesn’t include the value of other things that were taken. Bellevue PD is working closely with gym management and employees on how to protect the locker rooms. They’re also working with detectives of Everett, Mercer Island, Renton and Kirkland to stop the perpetrators. At Mercer Island there have been two locker room thefts within the last six months, said commander Jeff Magnan, with the Mercer Island Police Department. “Usually one or two people work in concert with each other,” Magnan said. “One person watches the doors and the other goes through belongings.” Magnan said the PD has obtained surveillance video but have yet to identify the subjects. It’s been shared with those at other law enforcement agencies, Mercer staff and with jail staff, in an attempt to figure out who was captured in the footage.

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Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Legal Notices

defend the above entitled action in the above entitled court, and answer the complaint of the plaintiff and serve a copy of your answer upon the undersigned attorney for plaintiff at his (or their) office below stated; and in case of your failure to do so, judgment will be rendered against you according to the demand of the complaint, which has been filed with the clerk of said court. The object of this action being to obtain a judgment related to damages alleged to be caused by Defendant VICTOR VALENZUELA to Plaintiff’s rental vehicle. DATED this 20th day of June, 2019. CARSON LAW GROUP, P.S. /s/ Francis G. Huguenin Francis G. Huguenin, WSBA# 47098 Attorney for Plaintiff 3113 Rockefeller Avenue Everett, WA 98201 Ph: (425) 493-5000 # 862409 6/26/19, 7/3/19, 7/10/19, 7/17/19, 7/24/19, 7/31/19

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CITY OF MERCER ISLAND REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Notice is hereby given that the City of Mercer Island is soliciting responses to a Request for Proposals to solicit proposals from qualified suppliers to provide either an Automated Meter Reading (AMR) system or an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system for the City’s drinking water utility. Proposals, the requirements for which are detailed in the RFP package, are due to reception desk at the Mercer Island City Hall, 9611 SE 36th Street, Mercer Island, WA 98040, no later than 4:00 PM on August 7, 2019. Proposals must be enclosed in a sealed package, marked with the words “PROPOSAL ENCLOSED – CITY OF MERCER ISLAND ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEM” and marked so as to indicate, without being opened, the name and address of the Proponent. The full RFP can be downloaded at w w w . m e r c e r gov.org/rfp.asp and also at www.bxwa.com Deborah Estrada City Clerk #862146 6/26/19, 7/3/19 SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR KING COUNTY CMC INVESTMENTS, INC., d/b/a DOLLAR RENT A CAR, Plaintiff, v. VICTOR VALENZUELA and JOHN/JANE DOE VALENZUELA, Husband and Wife and the Marital Community Composed Thereof, Defendants. No. 19-2-12089-4 SEA SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION (60 DAYS) The State of Washington, To: VICTOR VALENZUELA and JOHN/JANE DOE VALENZUELA, Husband and Wife and the Marital Community Composed Thereof You are hereby summoned to appear within sixty days after the date of the first publication of this summons, to wit, within sixty days after June 28, 2019, and

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Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Mercer Island Reporter

Snoqualmie Valley Record

Friday, June 28, 2019

EDUCATION - STATE OF THE UNION 2019 -

Flexibility of college classes designed for working adults By Leslie Shattuck Lake Washington Institute of Technology

When people think of traditional college-aged students, they think of students being anywhere between 18-21. That’s no longer the case. In fact, more working adults are attending college than ever before. In 2018, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that of the more than 19 million undergraduate students enrolled in college, many of them were over the age of 25. The same is true at Kirkland’s Lake Washington Institute

of Technology (LWTech) where the average student age is 31. Making the decision to go to college to start a degree, get a certificate or complete a degree can be daunting for working adults who are juggling their career and family obligations. At LWTech, one-third of students work while attending college. With that in mind, many college classes are offered during the day, in the evening, in-class and through a hybrid model, which combines in-class and online coursework to allow students more flexibility tobalance school, work

COREY OLDENHUIS/STAFF PHOTO

Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland prides itself in its flexible class schedules.

and family. “The flexibility at LWTech has been awesome for me because they have offered the courses that I need in multiple areas exactly when I need them. I have taken

day classes. I have taken night classes. All of them are available and viable options,” said LWTech engineering transfer student Taylour Mills. Going to college doesn’t

have to break the bank. According to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges website, Washington state community and technical colleges “are the most affordable not-for-profit higher education solution in the state.” On top of it being more cost effective to go to a community or technical college, LWTech offers small class sizes, hands-on instruction, a variety of support services like tutoring and customized advising, and scholarships through the LWTech Foundation. With the flexibility of class

schedules to support eight applied bachelor’s degrees, 57 associate degrees, and more than 90 professional certificates in 48 areas of study, LWTech has degree and certificate programs that support working adults. “If there’s another parent out there that is nervous because they think it’s going be too hard to complete that goal with a child, I tell them that they just need to start. It is so worth it, and it will be worth it for their families,” Mills added. Learn more about the programs offered at LWTech online at www.LWTech. edu/YourFuture.

Lake Washington – Elevate Learning MISD earning its reputation Dr. Jane Stavem

By Donna Colosky

Superintendent Lake Washington School District

Lake Washington School District (LWSD) continues to work toward accomplishing our vision of “Every Student Future Ready.” The district’s graduation and college entrance rates are among the highest in the state. Our highly-qualified and committed teams of administrators, teachers and staff are dedicated to the success of all our students. Ongoing community support helps the district provide high-quality educational experiences for all students. With the successful passage of a bond measure in 2016, Timberline Middle School, a new middle school in Redmond Ridge, will open this fall. LWSD will also open a new and enlarged Peter Kirk Elementary in Kirkland, Wash., and Margaret Mead Elementary in Sammamish, Wash. this fall. The Old Redmond School House will open in fall 2020 as an early learning center. District enrollment continues to grow, and these schools help to reduce overcrowding. A

Superintendent of Mercer Island School District

2019 Redmond High School graduation.

recently-passed capital projects levy will provide additions at five schools, adding space for more than 1,000 students. Future funding measures are needed to continue to provide quality learning environments. The district’s focus on community engagement and fiscal responsibility earned national recognition from the Association of School Business Officials International. The 2018-19 budget earned the Meritorious Budget Award, a national recognition for the development of a transparent, effective budget that aligns with high standards for budget presentation and commitment to the community. This was the second year in a row that LWSD has earned this distinction. A community

PHOTO COURTESY OF LWSD

engagement process during the 2018-19 school year has led to the creation of a new strategic plan with a theme of Elevate Learning. Elevate Learning focuses on strategic initiatives that keep us climbing upward, helping us elevate the quality of everything we do as we provide the best education in the world for our students. As superintendent of Lake Washington School District, I am proud of the district’s success. Great communities make great schools. It is only through the support of parents, community members and city and business leaders that we can experience such success as a district and accomplish our mission and vision for students.

The Mercer Island School District has built a national reputation for excellence, combining academics, cultural expression and athletic achievement. We emphasize social-emotional learning that is responsive to educating the whole child. The district is consistently ranked among the best in the state and maintains a graduation rate of nearly 95 percent. Our graduates move on to the finest colleges and universities in the world. This year our Board of Directors has been working to update our core values, vision and mission. The intent of this work is to center our “why” around students as the priority and our goal of supporting the whole child. The District’s current “Vision 2020” was originally adopted into board policy 10 years ago and needs updating to better reflect the district’s goals and aspirations today. After a series of study

sessions, the board has drafted revised mission, vision and values statements for the district. They have been presented to a series of focus group meetings throughout the district, including to families, staff, students and community members. We will share with the School Board soon all the thoughts and reactions, and the board is expected to consider adopting the new core values, vision and mission for the 201920 school year. Our enrollment continues to grow in both population and diversity as new families move to Mercer Island. If you are a new family to the Island, please visit our web site at mercerislandschools.org/ newfamilies to enroll your students. Island voters have consistently approved ballot measures, including the four-year enrichment levy that provides vital funding for many programs, including special education, elementary school Spanish language, art, music, PE, a seven-period day at the high school and

advanced courses. We are proud of our continuing partnerships with the city of Mercer Island and Mercer Island Youth and Family Services, providing mental health counselors in our schools and a school resource officer serving the high school and other buildings as needed. Community support of our schools is unparalleled in the region. Mercer Island Schools Foundation, our PTAs and community boosters contributed over $2 million to our schools last year. We encourage our families to be involved and volunteer in our schools, and if anyone is interested in joining our team, please visit jobs.mercerislandschools.org for a current listing of employment opportunities. For more information about the district and its programs, please visit our website at mercerislandschools.org, find us on Facebook at @mercerislandschooldistrict, on Twitter @mercerislandsd and on Instagram @ mercer_island_school_ district.

Mercer Island Reporter 12

Friday, June 28, 2019

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Snoqualmie Valley Record

EDUCATION - STATE OF THE UNION 2019 -

BSD – Inspiring Bellevue’s creators of the future By Ivan Duran Superintendent, Bellevue School District

As superintendent of the Bellevue School District, I have many opportunities to meet and speak directly with our learning community of students, parents and educators. This education section is an excellent opportunity for me to share information about the powerful work our school district is doing with the larger Bellevue community. The first year of our five-year strategic plan is now complete. Put simply, this plan is the district’s road map through 2023 to ensure that every student attending a Bellevue public school achieves excellence at a high level. To deliver effectively the plan’s model for national excellence to our students, we focus on three key words — affirm, inspire and thrive. The following is how we put each of these words into action: Affirm: Our commitment is that all Bellevue students — no matter their race, ability, language background, religion, national origin, immigration status or sexual orientation — will receive an exemplary education and achieve success in a way that honors their identity and affirms their individuality. Inspire: Inspiration has the power to propel potential and transform the way students perceive their own capabilities. In addition to cultivating talents and abilities, we strive to provide experiences that inspire students to seek new knowledge and embrace new opportunities.

Thrive: It takes all of us — staff, families and the community — working together to exceed expectations and earn our place as a national model of educational excellence that meets the needs of every student. Delivering on our vision of students becoming creators of their future world requires a learning community with a set of shared values and priorities. Two years ago, when the district started its journey to create an effective road map, we reached out to the community to learn more about what those shared values and priorities should be. More than 35 focus groups and 150 interviews were conducted with students, parents, teachers, school staff, building leaders, central office staff, district leaders and board directors. In addition, more than 4,600 community members responded to a survey soliciting community input. The information we received captured our strengths, challenges and opportunities for greater success. As a values-driven organization, the Bellevue School District strives to live its values every day. To that end, we identified six shared values that inform every interaction between and among our students, families, staff, and community: compassion, collaboration, excellence, integrity, respect and service. Once we identified our shared values, the Bellevue School District identified priority areas to focus our energy and effort, decision-making and service. For our district, the following six priorities are important for each and every student to achieve success each and every day:

High-quality instruction: We will provide engaging and culturally responsive instruction that addresses the academic, social, and emotional needs of individual students. Our commitment is that each student experiences continuous growth in all subject areas. Student well-being: We will affirm each student’s sense of identity so that each student feels physically, socially and emotionally safe in all our learning environments. Exceptional staff: We will recruit, support, and retain exceptional staff throughout our organization, and believe that a diverse and highly skilled staff is critical to the success and well-being of our students. Family and community: We will continue to cultivate partnerships with families, members of the community, and community organizations to support our students. Culture and climate: We will support and foster positive relationships between and among students and staff. Organizational alignment: We will all move in the same direction, aligned and equipped with the skills and tools needed to improve outcomes for each student. As the superintendent of your community’s schools, I invite you to join me in fulfilling our district’s mission to serve each and every student academically, socially, and emotionally. You can also explore our road map to the future and join us on our journey at www.bsd405.org/StrategicPlan. In closing, I welcome your partnership and input. I am always available at superintendent@bsd405.org.

VISION: each and every student to learn and thrive as creators of their future world. MISSION: The mission of the Bellevue School District is to serve each and every student

As a learning community that values one another’s humanity, we provide courageous support for an equitable and OUR SHARED VALUES: • Service • Integrity • Excellence

• Compassion • Respect

WWW.STRATEGICPLANBSD405.COM

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Mercer Island Reporter

Snoqualmie Valley Record

Friday, June 28, 2019

EDUCATION

- STATE OF THE UNION 2019 -

Issaquah Schools responding to community By Ron Thiele Superintendent of Issaquah School District

The 2018-2019 school year was an important and exciting one in the Issaquah School District. Changes to the state funding model, along with the passage of our Educational Programs and Operations Levy in February 2018, allowed the district to implement programs our community has been requesting. These include: ■ A new modified seven-period high school schedule ■ A new elementary Spanish dual language immersion program at Clark and Issaquah Valley elementary schools ■ More academic guidance counselors ■ More mental health counselors ■ A new director of safety and security position ■ New safety measures in schools ■ New professional learning coaches to support new hires to the district ■ New family partnership liaisons As our community evolves and changes demographically, we are reshaping our practices to best meet the needs of the students and families we serve. In spring of 2018 the Issaquah School Board of Directors adopted the district’s first equity policy, which sets a clear

expectation throughout the school system to provide all students the opportunities and support to reach their highest capability in a safe and welcoming environment. This policy requires us to identify and correct inequities, and we are committed to doing so. We have increased our efforts to recruit and support diverse staff members to serve our diverse student body. We are providing ongoing training to help all staff understand and meet the needs of students from all cultures. We are updating our curriculum to better explore and represent groups that have been traditionally overlooked or marginalized. We are also committed to narrowing the achievement/opportunity gap between our highest and lowest performing students. We pledge to question, grow and evolve in our understanding of diversity and what it means to be culturally competent. This past school year we completed several significant remodel and expansion projects, including Pine Lake Middle School, and Cougar Ridge and Sunset Elementary Schools. We have made significant progress on Endeavour and Discovery Elementary Schools and are in the planning phase for Maple Hills Elementary. We are excited

to be near completion of the property acquisition for a new high school and elementary school, planned on the former site of Providence Heights College. We also acquired land at the entrance to the Talus community for a sixth middle school, and property in Sammamish for a 16th elementary school, as planned in our 2016 school bond. We are looking forward to breaking ground on these new schools in the 2019-2020 school year. In the coming year we will continue implementing our new programs. The levy supporting these programs is set to expire in 2020, so we will need to ask voters to renew that levy to allow these programs to continue. Equity work will expand as we work to deliver more professional development for staff and work with community partners to address issues such as racism to create a more inclusive school system. All of this progress would not be possible without the support of our community. We work alongside the Volunteers for Issaquah Schools Committee, the Parent Teacher Student Association, the Issaquah Schools Foundation, and every resident, family, student and staff member to deliver a world-class education.

Bellevue College offers options for all students Choosing a college or program of study is a big step. At Bellevue College, we prepare students for their next big step, whether it’s following a degree pathway to get a dream job, preparing for the academic rigor of a fouryear university or learning a new skill to advance your career. Bachelor’s Degrees: Earn a bachelor of applied science or bachelor of science degree in any of 12 high-demand, specialized fields, including computer science, information systems and technology, health care and digital marketing. BC programs combine theory with practice, helping you gain experience to be career ready when you graduate. Transfer Associate Degrees: Earn a transfer associate degree, an affordable alternative to completing general education requirement classes before entering a university. BC prepares more students for transfer to four-year universities than any other college in the state. Professional/Technical Programs: Get job ready with an associate in arts degree or a professional/technical degree. BC offers more than 100 educational programs in business, computers, technology, health, education and more that are designed to teach you the skills you need to be competitive for entry-level jobs in our region. Running Start: Our Center for High School Programs gives current high school students the opportunity to earn college credit, experience the collegiate environment and explore career interests.

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6/17/19 10:45 AM

Mercer Island Reporter

Snoqualmie Valley Record

Friday, June 28, 2019

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

EDUCATION - STATE OF THE UNION 2019 -

Snoqualmie Valley School District offers high-quality public education Submitted by the Snoqualmie Valley School District Located in the scenic Cascade Mountain foothills, the Snoqualmie Valley School District encompasses more than 400 square miles and serves families in Snoqualmie, North Bend, Fall City and surrounding areas of unincorporated King County. The district offers high-quality public education to approximately 7,100 students in 11 schools. The district’s mission is to prepare all students for college, career and citizenship. Snoqualmie Valley schools offer rigorous academic curriculum, career education training, extensive technology resources and project-based learning to help students be prepared for any path they may choose to pursue after high school. Our district

works with many community partners to expose students to a variety of career experiences, to help them realize their potential, consider options for the future and learn about relevant training or continuing education required for different careers. SVSD also values and supports a broad range of extracurricular experiences for students, so they can explore their interests and discover their passions for life-long learning. Staff work to create a positive and safe learning environment, ensuring that all students feel respected, valued, capable, loved and that they belong to a caring and nurturing organization. In recent years, student achievement and the number of students choosing rigorous academic courses have trended upward. The Class of 2017

FUTURE

INNOVATOR

graduation rate was 93 percent district-wide (95 percent at Mount Si High School). Snoqualmie Valley has been recognized for AP honor roll distinctions by the College Board, and Mount Si High School has been named on national best high school lists by U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek. Mount Si’s jazz band has been selected among top high school bands in the nation, performing at the Essentially Ellington Festivals in New York five times, most recently in 2019. The district has an unwavering commitment to school improvement and views great teaching and collaboration as the key to educational excellence. Educators receive progressive professional development, instructional coaching support from peer mentors, and in-depth technology training. We work together

to engage and empower all learners – students and staff – to maximize their potential. Thanks to the community’s generous support of school bonds and levies, the district is expanding school facilities and improving programs to serve a growing student population. In recent years, the district opened a new elementary school (Timber Ridge Elementary) in 2016, and installed state-of-the-art security systems throughout Snoqualmie Valley schools. In the fall of 2019, more exciting changes are planned. The district will open a new, modernized and expanded Mount Si High School to serve Snoqualmie Valley students in grades 9-12. At the same time, Snoqualmie Middle School will be re-instated as the district’s third middle school, since a separate

2019 Mount Si High School graduation.

freshman campus will no longer be needed. Also, starting the 2019-20 school year, Two Rivers School will become a Big Picture high school, adopting a new educational program that centers around studentdriven, real-world learning with competency-based instruction. Additionally, the district will begin implementing a One-to-one

PHOTO COURTESY OF SVSD

Computing Initiative to ensure equitable access to resources for students, by equipping every student in grades 6-12 with a laptop to use at school and at home. Snoqualmie Valley School District a very special place for children to grow and learn. To learn more, explore the district website (www. svsd410.org) and visit our schools.

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Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Mercer Island Reporter

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