Monthly Archives: October 2011

Mercer Island Town Center Trick or Treating: Monday, Oct. 31st, 3:30-5PM

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Windermere R.E. / Mercer Island is excited to be one of the businesses participating in the Town Center Trick or Treating event this Halloween. Children are encouraged to come to the Town Center (and their parents can join them!) to show off their costumes and trick-or-treat at participating businesses. Each participating business will be identified by the orange poster hanging in their windows. Also, below is a full list of all of the Mercer Island businesses (from both Town Center and South Mercer Shopping Center) who will have candy available for trick or treators.

The event, which will take place during the daylight hours of 3:30 Pm to 5:00 PM, provides a safe and fun opportunity for island children to trick-or-treat. Businesses will also be taking non-perishable food donations for the MIYFS food pantry.

Participating Businesses in the Town Center:
77 Central
Albertsons Grocery
Aljoya
All the Best Pet Care
Au Courant
Auto Spa
Avellino
c.michele
Cascade Frames
Christian Science Reading Room
College Nannies
Dollar Development
Dr. Jennifer Strelow
Fitness Together
Great Clips
Hair Excel
HSBC Bank
Island Books
John L. Scott
M.I Printing +
M.I. Chamber of Commerce
M.I. Nutrition
Mercer Island Florist
Mercer Island Martial Arts
Mercer Island Zaw
Mercer Wellness
QFC – North End
Six Walls
Sterling Savings Bank
Tatters
The Mercer
True Value Hardware
U.S. Bank
What to Wear
Windermere Real Estate

Two South Mercer Shopping Center businesses are also participating in the trick or treat event:
Yo Mercer
Storage Court of Mercer Island

Proposed Changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program

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Erik Hand, president of Windermere Mortgage Services, penned a blog post about the proposed Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) changes announced by Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac on October 24th.

Mr. Hand notes that the final document will not be released until Nov. 15th, 2011, but the following enhancements to HARP were discussed in the announcement on the 24th :

■ No Loan-to-Value Limit: Under the current program borrowers are limited to a maximum mortgage of 125% of the home’s current value. By eliminating the loan-to-value limit the program will apply to more homeowners who are currently underwater on their mortgage.

■ Lower Loan Level Price Adjustments (”LLPA’s”) and no LLPA’s on loans with terms of 20 years or less; the end result will be a reduction in the costs of refinancing for most borrowers.

■ Increase in the number of loans eligible for Property Inspection Waivers. Much like the LLPA issue, the end result will be a reduction in the cost of refinancing for more borrowers.

Be watching in November for the unveiling of the final HARP document, with details regarding all of the enhancements to the program. Do you think the proposed changes will have as positive outcome for current homeowners as it appears? Potentially, HARP will be more readily available to a larger group of homeowners seeking to refinance.

Mercer Island Senior Activities for October and November, 2011

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Enhance Fitness
For ages 55+, to work on your own personal conditioning level and reduce the risk of falling. The class includes stretching, low-impact aerobics, balance training, strength exercises and motivation help.

The class meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the Community Center Dance Room. There are three class times to choose from: 7:45 am, 9:00 am and 10:00 am. Cost for the October 17th-November 11th session is $37 for Mercer Island residents.

Solemates
This group meets every Wednesday for 4 miles of walking and chatting, followed by coffee at a local coffee shop. No sign up necessary, just be at the Community Center Lobby for the 8:30 am start time. The activity time runs from 8:30 am to 11:30 am. The participation cost is $3.00 + tax.

Parkinson Exercise Group
Come out to do some stretching, bending and other mobility enhancing exercises in a relaxed environment. This class is for seniors with Parkinson, and those who have balance or strength effecting concerns.
Mondays: Nov. 7-Dec. 12, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm; class is located at the Community Center, Slater Room. Cost is $20.50 for Mercer Island Residents.
Thursdays: Nov. 3-Dec. 15, 10:30 am to 11:30 am; class is located at the Community Center, Dance Room. Cost is $20.50 for Mercer Island Residents.
Mondays & Thursdays: Nov. 7-Dec. 12, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm (M) & 10:30 am to 11:30 am (Th); class is located at the Community Center, Slater Room (M) & Dance Room (Th). Cost is $37 for Mercer Island Residents.

Trailmates
Moderate 5-7 mile hikes for seniors on Thursdays a few times a month, 8:45 am to 1:30 pm. Visit a variety of hiking places within an hour’s drive from the island. Registration is required and each hike maximum is 10 hikers; registered hikers will meet at the Community Center on the morning of the hike. To register, call 206-275-7609. Cost for hikes is $6.00 + tax.
Nov. 3th, Cougar Mountain
Nov. 17th, St. Edwards

Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon
When: Friday, Nov. 18th, 12pm to 1 pm
Cost: $5.00 + tax for
Where: Community Center, Mercer Room
A fun get together for Mercer Island seniors to meet with new and old friends. A traditional Thanksgiving meal will be served at the Community Center. Registration is required and transportation is available. Call 206.275.7606 to make reservations for the meal and transportation.

Senior Defensive Driving
When: Monday, October 24th
Cost: $18.00 + tax for Mercer Island Residents
Where: Community Center, Caulkins Room
A class sponored by the Washington Traffic Safety Association. Graduates of the class are eligible for a 10% discount in their auto insurance. The instructor will go over new traffic laws, and facilitate discussion about road rage, prescription medications and how to navigate round-abouts. There is no mention of what time this class begins on the 24th. Call 206-275-7609 for that information.

Contract Bridge
When: Nov. 1-29, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:45pm to 3pm
Where: Community Center, Clarke Room
Cost: $3.00 a month
No need to have a bridge partner– come on out and join this friendly group of bridge players. Register for the bridge group the first Tuesday of each month.

Yoga for Seniors
When: Oct. 25th – Nov. 29th, Tuesdays 9 am – 10:15 am
Where: Community Center, Dance Room
Cost: $18 for a drop in session, $67 for the whole series for Mercer Island residents
A terrific class for seniors who are active, or want to be more active. The instructor guide participants through gentle stretches to build flexibility and strength. All levels welcome.

Drop-In Senior Volley Ball
On going. Come on by the Community Center Gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, for an informal volley ball game. This event is for Mercer Island residents age 55+. There is no game scheduled on Nov. 24th.

To inquire about the activities listed above, check the Mercer Island Fall/ Winter Parks and Rec Guide or call 206-275-7609 for more details. There are a lot of other fun classes and activities available through the island parks & rec department that are open to adults of all ages. Make sure to check those out!

September Real Estate Statistics

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September turned out to be another solid month for real estate on Mercer Island and in the surrounding communities–continuing the trend for 2011.

BREAKING NEWS: MIHS Homecoming Parade WILL Be in the Downtown Core Friday, Oct. 21st

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MIHS was going to have the Homecoming Parade travel around the high school this year. However, due to public opinion that the parade would be better attended if it remained on its traditional route through the Downtown Business District, the parade route has been switched back to downtown Mercer Island.

Here are the details: the Homecoming Parade will begin at 4:30PM on Friday, October 21st, at Mercerdale Park. It will follow its traditional route through Downtown– parade participants will proceed north on 77th, make a right turn onto 27th heading East, a right turn onto 80th heading south, and the final right turn onto 32nd heading west back to the parade starting point. As the parade winds through Downtown, cross streets will be closed to traffic.

This year’s theme is “RomeComing.” Following the parade will be the Homecoming Football Game at 7:30 PM, at the MIHS Stadium.

Welcome back to the Downtown Business District! We are very excited to see all the hard work that went into this year’s parade floats.

Thank you to Valarie Kaye and the MIHS Leadership class for details about the parade’s relocation to downtown.

Ongoing Senior Programs on Mercer Island

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We have been receiving many visits, here at Mercer Island Pulse, from people seeking information regarding Mercer Island senior activities and services. This post is the first of several detailing what’s available for the island’s senior residents. I hope you find the this post full of useful info!

The Mercer Island Parks & Recreation Department offers a variety of on-going services to the island senior population. Below are details about each service with contact phone numbers, links and brief descriptions. Information about each service is also published in the Fall 2011 / Winter 2012 Recreation Guide put out by the city.

Senior Lunch at Covenant Shores (located the Covenant Shores Lodge)
Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Time: noon to 1 pm
Cost: $7.00 + Tax
A full lunch is served each Tuesday and Thursday. You must call reserve a spot on the transportation shuttle, as there is no parking available at Covenant Shores. You can have door-to-door transportation service from your home, or the Community Center. You must call by 4 pm the day before the Tuesday or Thursday lunch to reserve your lunch spot AND transportation. To reserve a lunch spot, call the 24 hour Voice Message line at 206-275-7895, press #2 when prompted and then leave your message requesting lunch.To then reserve a transportation spot, call the 24 hour Voice Message line again at 206-275-7895, press #1 when prompted and then leave your message requesting transportation.

Foot Care Clinic
Days: 1st, 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month
Times: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Cost: $26 + tax for Mercer Island residents.
Location: Community Center, Board Room
This is a foot care clinic offered 3 times a month. An appointment must be made for this service and you will need to bring your own clean towel with you. To make an appointment, call the 24 hour Voice Message line at 206-275-7895, press #3 when prompted and then leave your message requesting an appointment. Make sure to leave your name and contact phone number in the message. The next Tuesday the foot care clinic is open, a volunteer will call to firm up the details of your appointment.

Reflexology
Days: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month
Times: 1st Wednesday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
        3rd Wednesday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Cost: $28.00 + Tax for Mercer Island Residents
Location: Community Center, Health Room
Rexflexology is the practice of applying pressure to specific areas of the feet and ankles to help promote relaxation and stimulate the body’s ability to heal itself through increased circulation. You must make an appointment at least 2 days in advance. To make an appointment, call the Mercer Island Senior Programs phone line at 206-275-7609. Each appointment is 30 minutes in length.

Smiles for Life Dental Hygiene Clinic
Days: 3rd Tuesday of the Month
Times: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Cost: sliding fee scale + tax
Location: Community Center, Health Room
Designed to provide affordable dental hygiene services to the island’s 60+ residents, Smiles for Life Dental Hygiene Clinic provides services once a month a sliding fee. If you would like to make an appointment, please stop by the Community Center for an information packet. You will be asked for your name and contact phone number, so a hygienist can call you back to answer questions and schedule your appointment.

In addition, the city offers door-to-door pickup for island seniors (age 65+) to most of the senior activies the Parks & Rec offers on Tuesdays and Thursday. On Wednesdays, the city offers transportation to Mercer Island seniors to run one island-based errand and take a trip to one island grocery store. Details about the city Adult Transportation services are below. It would be a good idea to call the city’s Senior Programs phone line, 206-275-7609, to make sure the event you are interested in is eligible for transportation.

Door-To-Door Pickup
This service is available to Mercer Island seniors who are participating in Parks & Recreation Department sponsored activities on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It’s typically a round trip service (your home to the event, and then back home again), which must be reserved by 4 pm the day before the Tuesday or Thursday pickup. To reserve a transportation spot, call the 24 hour Voice Message line at 206-275-7895, press #1 when prompted and then leave your message requesting transportation. If it is your first time reserving a transportation spot, someone from the city will contact you to reserve your pickup time. The cost of this service, per person, is $1.00 for a one-way trip and $2.00 for round trip transportation.

Grocery Shopping
Grocery shopping transporation is offered on Wednesdays. This transportation service offers riders a trip to the island grocery store of their choice, and a trip for one other island-based errand. It’s typically a round trip service (from home to the store(s), and then back home again), which must be reserved by 4 pm the day before the Wednesday pickup. To reserve a transportation spot, call the 24 hour Voice Message line at 206-275-7895, press #1 when prompted and then leave your message requesting transportation. If it is your first time reserving a transportation spot, someone from the city will contact you to reserve your pickup time. The cost of this service, per person, is $1.00 for a one-way trip and $2.00 for round trip transportation.

If you would like to share your opinion about this post, information about the services discussed or services I missed, please leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you!

Mercer Island’s Fall 2011 Documentary Film Series Starts This Friday, Oct. 7th

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Free admission, parking and popcorn! How cool is that?!

The Mercer Island Fall 2011 Documentary Film Series will begin this Friday, October 7th, at 7:30 pm– it runs every Friday evening through November 18th.  Each film will be shown Aljoya Retirement Community.

This series’ theme is Economies of Scale: Interconnectedness and Isolation of People, Places, and Things. Along with each film showing, attendees will be able to participate in a Q & A session with Lance Rhoades, film historian and program director for the Mercer Island Arts Council Classics on Film Program. Rhoades will also provide commentary for each film.

Below is a list of the films in the series, with a brief description for each film. Enjoy!

The One Percent (a.k.a. Born Rich)(Jamie Johnson, 2006)
As he approaches his 21st birthday, an heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune considers the role money has played in families with immense wealth. Through conversations with his father, the family lawyer, and several of his friends and acquaintances, the filmmaker provides rare insights into attitudes of people born into extreme privilege.
Date: Fri. October 7, 7:30pm

Inside Job (Charles Ferguson, 2010)
This winner of the 2011 Oscar for Best Feature Length Documentary is a penetrating investigation into the reasons for the collapse of global financial markets in 2008. Fervent in its approach, the film raises serious questions about the culpability of individuals who were never held accountable for their actions.
Date: Fri. October 14, 7:30pm

Food, Inc. (Robert Kenner, 2008)
As the agriculture industry has consolidated, questions have arisen about the safety and quality of the food supply. This documentary looks at current conditions in agribusiness, how they came to be, and what alternatives are being presented by individuals and companies.
Date: Fri. October 28, 7:30pm

The Gleaners & I (A French Film, Agnès Varda, 2000, France)
Director Varda, sometimes called the “Grandmother of the French New Wave,” here documents people who, by choice or necessity, live off the abundance of food regularly wasted by French farmers and consumers. A moving and poetic film, The Gleaners & I finds parallels between the scavengers she meets and Varda’s own work as a filmmaker. In French with subtitles. Co-sponsored by The Mercer Island Arts Council and The Mercer Island Sister City Association.
Date: Fri. November 4, 7:30pm

Waste Land (Lucy Walker, Karen Harley, João Jardim, 2010)
Vik Muniz grew up picking among the garbage of the world’s largest landfill near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After years as a successful artist, he returns to his childhood home to join the residents in an effort to turn garbage into art, and to turn their lives into something better.
Date: Fri. November 18, 7:30pm

Oh Bother– Clutter!

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In truth, clutter is a mountain of procrastination … putting off decisions and fears and emotional issues and shopping addictions and more.~Leo Babauta.

Spring gets painted as the season of clean– spring cleaning, open windows airing out homes, spring-time fresh. However, I have a hunch that many people reflect on cleaning and tackling clutter during Fall as well. We’re spending more time indoors, the kids are back to school and the holidays are just around the corner. Having a clean, clutter-free home to enjoy with family and friends feels good, reduces stress and helps us stay more organized.

I love the quote above by Leo Barbauta, from his blog Zen Habits. It takes something abstract, clutter, and gives it structure. I struggle with clutter. However, when I remind myself what I’m wrestling with is not so much the physical items needing to be organized, but the issues that prompted me to let it build up, then I am much more prepared, and motivated, to tackle the hot spot in my home.

With procrastination, getting started is the biggest hurdle you have to clear. Leo also offers the best procrastination tip ever, “Identify the most important thing you have to do today.Decide to do just the first little part of it — just the first minute, or even 30 seconds of it. Getting started is the only thing in the world that matters.” This tip marries nicely to the advice Flylady, Marla Cilley, offers to people who are seeking to reduce clutter and procrastination in their lives. If you subscribe to her Flylady emails, she includes in almost every email the following phrase “You are not behind, jump in where you are.”

Sometimes taking a few minutes to create the appearance of order can go a long way to eliminating clutter. Gretchen Rubin, author of the Happiness Project, discussed on her blog how outer appearance contributes to inner calm. She illustrated her point by describing how she wanted to tackle her closet clutter. She felt like her t-shirts, because of how they were folded, created the look of clutter. Gretchen asked a friend who used to work in the retail industry how to neatly fold a t-shirt. She even went so far as to bring over a t-shirt to practice with. By taking a few minutes to ask someone who had the skill she was seeking, and using what she learned to reduce the look of clutter in her closet, Gretchen was well on her way to having a neater closet.

Flylady also offers workable advice regarding quick decluttering sessions that last 15 minutes or less. A few “Hot Spot fire drills” can help a lot when striving to create the appearance of order. If you have an area that needs more attention, even 5 minutes a day helps. Working a “5 minute room rescue” into a daily schedule is very do-able.

Now if you have a larger-scale project to tackle– for example, recycling old appliances from a recent remodel– finding an organization locally like 1 Green Planet is a huge help. 1 Green Planet will recycles appliances for free for people in located in the Puget Sound area. They offer free drop-off recycling for the general public and free pick-up & removal for local businesses. They even team up with local businesses, like Windermere R.E. / Mercer Island, to put on free recycle events.

What do you see as your biggest challenge to tackling clutter? Do find that Fall is as much a “spring cleaning” season as Spring is? Are you seeking a more zen, minimalist approach to your home and lifestyle? I’d love to discuss this topic with you– please take a moment to leave a comment.