REPORTER
Mercer Island
Car slams into key power switch
Driver safe after car hits electrical vault
98040 ISLAND SUMMER INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Summer Celebration volunteers needed Volunteers are needed for Summer Celebration, July 14-15. The theme this summer is “Spirit of the Olympics,” in honor of the 2010 Summer Games. Volunteer shifts are available Saturday, July 14 for both the day and evening times, and Sunday day shifts are still open. To learn more, or to register to be a volunteer, contact miparks@ mercergov.org or call 232-7609.
City Council meeting Monday, July 2 The first City of Mercer Island City Council meeting of July will be held on Monday, July 2. The meeting is scheduled to begin with a study session at 6 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
Reporter changes for July 4 edition The Mercer Island Reporter will be delivered early next week, as the post office is closed for the holiday on July 4. Papers will be delivered on Tuesday, July 3. The Reporter’s office will also be closed on July 4.
Rebecca Mar/Staff Photo
Firefighters lead the woman whose car hit utility equipment in front of The Mercer after she ran a red light and was struck by a pickup truck. The woman remained in her car until Puget Sound Energy shut off local power and determined it was safe.
Bond survey reveals views about schools 300 Islanders say why they did or did not vote for school bond issue By Mary L. Grady
editor@mi-reporter.com.
The results are in from a survey commissioned by the Mercer Island School District to find out why the $196 million bond issue to rebuild Island schools was so resoundly turned down. The survey, conducted by EMC Research, interviewed a random sample of 300 people on the Island by telephone. Calls were made between May 30 and June 5. The survey was composed of 58 questions in a variety of formats. The School District Board of Directors intends to look closely
at the data as it considers what to do next. Of the respondents who voted, 45 percent said they had voted yes, 50 percent voted no, and 5 percent declined to say how they voted. Of the respondents, 52 percent were female and 28 percent were male. The overwhelming majority of respondents, or 77 percent, were over 45 years old; 42 percent were older than 60. Just 20 percent or respondents were between the ages of 25 to 44. Sixteen percent of respondents did not vote. The survey included data on how non-voting respondents might have voted if they had chosen to do so. Overall, the survey shows that the community believes that Mercer Island schools are doing
MERCER ISLAND… BRIDGING GAPS
well overall in educating students, with 83 percent rating the district between good to excellent. It appears that much of the credit is given to teachers, with 77 percent saying that teachers are doing a good to excellent job. The school district administration was given lower marks with half or less of respondents giving a good to excellent rating for ‘handling of budgets and finances’ along with ‘future planning’ and ‘using tax dollars responsibly.’ The majority of all respondents indicated that they understood what they were voting for. The bond issue was to pay for the rebuilding of Island schools. Yet, well over half of all respondents ranked the physical condition of existing school buildings as good or better. For those who voted to reject the bond issue, the reasons given indicated that they felt the amount of money was too much; they
Accident | Page 4
REPORTER
This Sunday, July 1, the featured speaker at the Mercer Island Farmers Market will be nutritionist Susan Kleiner. Dr. Kleiner will be at the market at 11 a.m. on Sunday. She will talk about the importance of fruits and vegetables in a healthy diet.
By Reporter Staff
If Islanders around the North end of the Island experienced a power outage Monday afternoon around 12:30 p.m., it was likely because of a car accident on S.E. 27th Street. A woman driving north on 77th Avenue S.E. in a Toyota Camry ran a red light and collided with a woman driving a Toyota Tacoma in the intersection of S.E. 27th and 77th Avenue S.E. The Camry crashed into the utility vault that sits in front
Mercer Island
Nutritionist at farmers market on Sunday, July 1
North half of Island without power after accident at S.E. 27th St.
One year $39, two years just $59
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Wednesday, June 27, 2012 | 75¢
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Survey | Page 2
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