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!  

  

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

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.