MI Weekly 3/6/13 | Film Noir | Mostly Music | New Exhibit | Green at Work

Click here to help Mercer Island Parks and Recreation Department save a number of recreation and special events programs, including Adventure Playground, Community Campout, the April egg hunts, and the Fun Mobile.

For more information on the 2012 Parks and Recreation Fundraiser, click here.

March 6, 2013 | Vol. 8 | No. 9

Classics in Film Noir Series Continues at Aljoya

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The Mercer Island Arts Council has three films left in the current spring "Classics on Film" series, so mark your calendars and join us for a deeper look into Film Noir.

Each film includes introductions from film historian Lance Rhoades as well as a question and answer period after the film. The program is free and open to the public. Films are shown in the theatre at Aljoya located in the Mercer Island city center. Free refreshments are provided.

Schedule as follows:

THE BIG HEAT (Fritz Lang, 1953) March 15, 7:30pm

When police detective Bannion suspects that his department is under the control of the mob, he investigates. When a bomb meant for him kills his wife instead, he gets even!

Starring: Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame

CHINATOWN (Roman Polanski, 1974)

April 5, 7:30pm

A private investigator takes a job from a mysterious woman to spy on her husband, and in the process uncovers a grand conspiracy to control the Los Angeles water supply.

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston

THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE (Joel Coen, 2001)

April 12, 7:30pm

A cuckolded barber blackmails his wife's lover in order to invest in a con artist's scheme. But things don't proceed as planned...

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand, James Gandolfini, Scarlett Johansson

For additional information on the Classics on Film series, click here for the Arts Counil Programs and Events webpage.

"Mostly Music in the Park" Schedule Announced

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The Mercer Island Arts Council is happy to announce the 2013 band line-up for their Mostly Music in the Park concert series. The series combines live music with the beautiful outdoor setting of Mercerdale Park for a dynamic summer event appropriate for the whole family.

2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' first album and their first appearance in North America. The Arts Council will be celebrating this anniversary with a special performance by the much-requested crowd favorite, The Nowhere Men, on August 15.

Due to budget constraints, this year's concert schedule has been reduced to Thursdays only performances at Mercerdale Park with a total of 5 concerts. All 2013 concerts take place Thursdays from 7:00pm to 8:30pm at Mercerdale Park except for an additional final concert held on Sunday, August 25 at the Luther Burbank Ampitheatre. Mercer Island residents can expect to receive a concert schedule brochure mailed in their June or July utility bills.

2013 Schedule:

Thursday July 25: Portage Bay Big Band (Swing)

Thursday August 1: Dynamite Limbo (Classic Rock)

Thursday August 8: Swamp Soul (Cajun/Zydeco)

Thursday August 15: Nowhere Men (Beatle's Tribute Band)

Thursday August 22: KoKo Joe (Classic & Some Country)

Sunday August 25: Russian Chamber Orchestra (Classical) *** Luther Burbank Ampitheatre

New Art Exhibit at Community Center: "Mixed Quartet"

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The Mercer Island Arts Council presents "Mixed Quartet," an exhibit in the Mercer Gallery located in the Community Center.

Artists featured in the exhibit are Monika Dalkin, Karen Dedrickson, Mimi Williams and Dane Youngren. The exhibit opened on February 25 and will run through April 12.

Join the Arts Council and meet the artists at a reception on March 14 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm at the Community Center. There will be entertainment and refreshments. Click here for additional information or to volunteer at this, or another, Arts Council event.

Mercer Island Goes Green

Going Green at Work

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The City reminds residents that reducing your carbon footprint and "going green" can also happen on the job.

Below are a few tips for reducing your ecological footprint while at work:

Optimize energy setting on computers and electronic devices. Remember to shut down computers at the end of the day and consider unplugging seldom -used devices like printers or scanners because even in "standby" mode, energy is used.

The "greenest" paper is no paper at all. Keep files on computers instead of in file cabinets, review documents on-screen instead of printing them out, and eliminate blank pages from documents you do print. Use recycled paper if necessary.

Remember to recycle at work. Place boxes for recycling paper throughout the office and for bottles and cans in the lunchroom.

"Green" the workspace. Consider taking advantage of natural lighting whenever possible, replace incandescent bulbs with compact florescent or LED, or improving air ventilation to help keep employees healthy.

The City remains committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through City operations and community education. Click here for additional information on the City website about "going green" on Mercer Island.

City Submits I-90 Tolling Comment Letter to WSDOT

The City is proceeding to advocate its citizens' interests in the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) tolling study. You can learn more about the WSDOT study at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Tolling/I90/.

The City has hired the law firm of K&L Gates to represent it in the study and filed a comment letter with WSDOT on February 22. In that letter, the City advocates for completion of a full Environmental Impact Statement and discusses the significant impacts tolling will cause to Mercer Island and the region. Click here to view the letter.

Click here for further information about I-90 tolling. City contact for I-90 tolling matters: Deputy City Manager Noel Treat at noel.treat@mercergov.org or 206.275.7661.

For questions and comments on the MI Weekly, contact
Maintenance Director Glenn Boettcher at

glenn.boettcher@mercergov.org or 206.275.7661.