REPORTER
Mercer Island
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 | 75¢
‘Road diet’ to begin July 1
Sky surfer
Joint MISD, City Council meeting Tuesday, June 26 The Mercer Island School District Board of Directors will be holding a joint meeting with the City Council on Tuesday, June 26. The meeting, which begins at 8 a.m. at the Community and Event Center, is scheduled to last until 9:30 a.m. The agenda includes discussion of the EMC survey and a school facilities master plan.
By Mary L. Grady
editor@mi-reporter.com
St. Monica rummage sale, June 30 St. Monica Church is holding its first annual “Respect Life” rummage sale from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 30, in the St. Monica Church gym. The church is located at 4301 88th Ave. S.E. Donations are welcome on Friday, June 29, from noon to 7 p.m. at St. Monica.
Calling all Mercer Island parade musicians Band musicians of all ages are encouraged to sign up to march in the Summer Celebration parade on Saturday, July 14. A single rehearsal is set for 6:45 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Contact davidmenz@earthlink. net and check www.facebook. com/mercerislandcommunityband to learn more.
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Skydive Snohomish/Contributed Photo
Audrey Unger, 82, skydives with instructor Adrian Bowles on June 10, 2012, to celebrate her birthday. See page 7 for the story.
A gift for learning, an aptitude for adventure By Mary L. Grady
editor@mi-reporter.com
For Islander Nathan Ma, the time he attended school on Mercer Island seems long ago. He had forgotten that most of his would-be classmates would be graduating from high school on June 7. Instead, he was busy preparing for a final at the University of Washington, where he is a junior. Ma never attended high school on Mercer Island. He never attended any high school. Instead, he entered the University of Washington in 2008, one of a dozen or so gifted youth accepted into a program designed just for students like him. He was 14 years old. The Early Entrance Program is a two-step program for young students consisting of one year of Transition School, an intensive college preparatory program conducted by the Robinson Center for Young Scholars at the UW that leads to full-time enrollment at the university. Ma had attended summer
has been a positive member of the program, a volunteer and a mentor to others.” “I’d like to keep him around,” she laughed. During the first year, there is an extensive support system for the camps sponsored by the program students that follows them through as a fifth and sixththe first year and grader. During beyond, including eighth grade, he a special academic took the ACT test advisor and the and was invited to program staff, their apply. Applicants peers, and other need to score at or resources. They above the 85th perlive at home. Their centile on that test parents are also a to be considered for key part of the prothe program. Ma gram’s success. does not remember At the end of his score. He does the first year, the remember that the students ‘graduate’ application proand can then enter cess was extensive. Contributed Photo the university as There were sevNathan Ma, 18, is a regular students. eral interviews and But none of these writing exercises. junior at the University of young scholars can “It was intense,” he Washington. really be considsaid. ered regular. Julie Lancour, the interim direcThe students in these programs tor of the Early Entrance program, aren’t afraid to take risks, Lancour said that Ma has been an excellent said. They quickly leave high student. He represents exactly the school behind. They are just feartype of student that they look for. less. “Nathan has a great sense of the According to the program webpossible,” she said. site, the most successful Early “He is an incredible young man in many ways,” she continued. “He Gift | Page 3
Road | Page 2
REPORTER
The Mercer Island Fire Department will be holding a first aid and adult CPR (with AED) class on Saturday, June 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the main fire station. The class is $35 per person. Call (206) 275-7607 to reserve a spot.
Mercer Island
First aid, adult CPR class on June 30
Construction that will reconfigure the four-lane stretch of Island Crest Way south of 42nd Street into three lanes is set to begin by the end of the month. Many South end residents worry the changes will worsen congestion on the busy roadway during peak periods. Engineers say that speeds will drop and safety will improve along the corridor. Clint Morris, street engineer for the City of Mercer Island, said that recent road diet projects have been successful in other King County cities. “Cities such as Seattle and Sammamish have seen the benefits of a three-lane configuration vs. a four-lane roadway,” he said. “Three lanes help left turn movements, and pedestrian crossings are
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