The Mercer Island Police Department (MIPD) is seeking to reduce the number of residential burglaries on the Island, and has been researching the best approach for changing behaviors.

Five years of MIPD crime data indicate that the primary point of entry is an unlocked door. In fact, almost half (41%) of home burglaries annually are at Island homes where a door, or window, was left unlocked. In addition, a careful review of the data also revealed:

Burglaries occur more than 1-2 times/week, on average
65% of the crimes occur during the day
In 80% of the cases, no one was home

In May 2015, the MIPD conducted a nine-question, online citizen survey to provide a more thorough understanding of the motivators for, and barriers to, locking doors. A total of 818 responses were received, spread evenly across the northern, central, and southern portions of the Island. Many residents revealed that they would like help remembering to lock doors, or would benefit from reading about actual incidents. Read a summary of the survey results.

The MIPD is has developed a full-fledged outreach campaign to increase the number of residents who always lock all doors when away from home. The campaign will launch at the annual National Night Out event next Tuesday August 4, from 5:00pm-7:00pm, at dozens of neighborhood locations across the Island.

The annual National Night Out event is designed to bring neighbors together not only to improve crime prevention awareness and family emergency preparedness, but also to strengthen neighborhood spirit and community partnerships.

Flash Family Inspirational Award Winner: Karen Beck

2015 Award Winner Karen Beck

Each spring the Youth and Family Services Department awards the Flash Family Inspirational Award (FFIA) to honor a Mercer Island senior adult (55 and older) who exemplifies the spirit of good sportsmanship and/or community leadership, and who possesses an optimistic attitude and friendly demeanor while acting as a role model to others.

This year the 2015 FFIA award honors Island resident Karen Beck, a Group Fitness Instructor at the Stroum Jewish Community Center. Karen teaches, inspires and helps seniors continue to live active lives, and her seniors classes attract a variety of ages and fitness levels. Her extensive fitness knowledge and sense of humor keep participants engaged, and her students are also encouraged to connect with one another. Her classes are physically, emotionally and socially stimulating because Karen serves not only as an instructor, but also mentor and friend.

Karen hosts luncheons for students at her home, notices when participants miss classes, and she follows up with notes and phone calls to make sure all is well - she is genuinely committed to her students' functional and personal well-being.

Phil Flash was one of many students touched by Karen's kindness and care: she taught Phil for nine years and helped him celebrate his 90th birthday.

The City expresses its gratitude and congratulations to Karen for all of the many MI seniors who have benefitted from her caring, energetic and supportive exercise classes, and for the personal community she has created. Bravo!

Mercer Island Goes Green

Water Customers Advised to Carefully Manage Water Use

Click to learn more about simple conservation tips

The recent, record-setting hot weather has led to historic low water levels in our region's rivers. Last winter's warmer than average temperatures also led to diminished mountain snowpacks, which serve as natural water storage for the greater Seattle region.

Significantly increased demand for water and the recent confident prediction of another warmer, drier El Nino winter, have led Seattle, Tacoma and Everett, to implement the first stage of their water shortage response plans. Seattle Public Utility (SPU) is the water supplier for the City of Mercer Island.

The three cities are all activating their response plans as a precautionary measure and have joined together to ensure that the entire region is ready for a potential water shortage. At this stage, these plans are advisory only and suggest simple measures water users can take to reduce consumption.

All residents are encouraged to learn more about simple conservation tips here.

Over 1000 Islanders Pledge Not to Text and Drive

The pledge banner with over 1,000 signatures;

click to learn more about the CTC

Many Islanders are pledging not to text while driving. The Youth and Family Services Department's Communities That Care (CTC) Coalition is promoting community safety by inviting residents to commit to driving without cell phone distraction. During the weekend of Summer Celebration, over 1,000 people pledged not to text and drive by signing a banner that can now be viewed at Mercerdale Park (and soon, City Hall).

The 2014 Healthy Youth Survey found that 66 percent of Mercer Island High School (MIHS) seniors reported riding in a vehicle driven by someone texting or emailing during a typical month. Although CTC's primary focus is underage substance abuse prevention, the CTC-supported high school prevention club ("SAFE") received a grant from the Traffic Safety Commission to address this risky behavior. These efforts led to the idea of collecting signatures of those pledging to "Never Text and Drive."

Meanwhile, the CTC is encouraged that the number of MIHS 12th graders reporting having an alcoholic drink in a typical month has decreased over 20 percent since 2000. The Coalition hopes to see similar reductions of high risk behavior by bringing attention to the problem of distracted driving. For more information, contact CTC Project Director Derek Franklin.

Seafair I-90 Bridge Closures Start Thursday

Click for detailed airshow schedule

Residents are reminded that the Blue Angels Airshow occurs this weekend as part of Seafair. Interstate 90 will be closed to all vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, eastbound and westbound, both mainline and express lanes, between Interstate-5 in Seattle to Island Crest Way on Mercer Island on the following dates:

Note that the Fri/Sat/Sun closures begin 30 minutes earlier than in previous years:

Thursday, July 30: 9:45am-Noon & 1:15-2:40pm (Practice)
Friday, July 31: 11:50am-2:40pm (Practice)
Saturday, Aug 1: 11:50am-2:40pm (Full show)
Sunday, Aug 2: 11:50am-2:40pm (Full show)

I-90 east of Mercer Island will NOT be closed during the performance, although drivers should note that heavy congestion during these closures often restricts access to the exits.

For complete information about the bridge closures, please visit www.mercergov.org/seafair.

For questions and comments on the MI Weekly, contact
Sustainability & Communications Manager Ross Freeman at

[email protected] or 206.275.7662.