Author Archives: Jenna Stafford

January Activities for Adults & Young Adults on Mercer Island

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BEGINNING GUITAR – Course #11462 – Start from scratch or brush up on the basics such as strumming, finger-picking, chord progressions and bar chords. Bring an acoustic or electric guitar or rent one from instructor Mary Lord.

Luther Room at the Mercer View Community Center
Mondays January 31st to March 28th
6:30 – 8pm
Ages 13 and up, $177

JAZZERCISE – Incorporates moves from hip-hop, yoga, Pilates, and kickboxing to give you a total body workout. Instructor Lori Hollow.

Mercer Room at the Mercer View Community Center
Mondays 6:45 – 7:45am, 8 – 9am, 9:30 – 10:30am, 6:30 – 7:30pm
Wednesdays 6:45 – 7:45am, 8 – 9am, 9:30 – 10:30am
Fridays 6:45 – 7:45am, 8 – 9am, 9:30 – 10:30am
Sundays 8:30 – 9:30am

Dance Room at the Mercer View Community Center
Tuesdays 7:45 – 8:45am (jazz lite), 5:45 – 6:45pm, 7 – 8pm
Thursday 7:45 – 8:45am (jazz lite), 5:45 – 6:45pm, 7 – 8pm

Gym at the Mercer View Community Center
Saturdays 8:15 – 9:15am

Ages 13 and up
$50/month for 2 month pass
$45/month for 6 month pass
$40/month for 12 month pass
$11 drop-in fee

KENDO – Course #11357 and #11358 – Become skilled in this Japanese samurai style of swordsmanship. Kendo uses powerful and graceful poses to build character, mind, and body. Instructors Cascade Kendo Kai and Gary Imanishi.

Gym at the Mercer View Community Center
Ages 8 and up

Beginner Class #11357
Fridays January 7th to March 25th
7 – 9pm, $74 for the entire course
or $10 per class drop-in fee

Advanced Class #11358
Wednesdays January 5th to March 30th
7 – 9pm, $80 for the entire course
or $10 per class drop-in fee

NAGINATA – Course #11512 – A Japanese martial art for those interested in competitive fighting or the physical beauty of choreographed, practiced movements called kata. Instructors Kurt and Karen Schmucker.

Gym at the Mercer View Community Center
Saturdays January 8th to April 9th
1:30 – 3:30pm
Ages 13 and up, $122

FRENCH: BEGINNERS II – Course #11468 – For students who have taken at least one year of French and know basic grammar and verb tenses. Instructor Chloe L. Eisen.

Mercer View Community Center
Wednesdays January 12th to March 16th
10:15 – 11:15am
All ages, $62

FRENCH: INTERMEDIATE – Course #11470 – For students who have taken at least one year of French. Culture and language skills will be stressed. Instructor Chloe L. Eisen.

Mercer View Community Center
Mondays January 10th to March 14th
11am – 12pm
All ages, $52

FRENCH: ADVANCED – Course #11472 – For students who have at least two years of experience in grammar and conversational French. Instructor Chloe L. Eisen.

Mercer View Community Center
Mondays January 10th to March 14th
9 – 11am
All ages, $77

November Activities on Mercer Island

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Hatha Yoga – Bikram influenced Hatha Yoga is a series of poses performed in the same order to exercise your entire body. All experience levels welcome. Instructor Maude Pauletto.

Dance Room at the Mercer View Community Center
Course #11345, Tuesday & Thursday Nov. 2nd – Dec. 14th from 10:30am – 11:45am
Course #11346, Tuesday & Thursday Nov. 4th – Dec. 2nd from 9:00am – 10:15am
$88 for all classes beginning 11/2 or $63 for all classes beginning 11/4; $18 per class drop-in fee
For ages 18 and up; bring a towel or yoga mat and wear loose, comfortable clothing

Zumba - Latin dance fitness party

Mercer View Community Center
Mondays from 12:00pm – 1:00pm and 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Wednesdays from 12:15pm – 1:00pm and 6:30pm – 7:30pm
$10 per class drop-in fee; 10 punch card for $90
For ages 15 and up

Pickleball – this coed court game is a cross between tennis and badminton. All experience levels welcome.

Gym at the Mercer View Community Center
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:30am – 1:30pm; no game 11/26
Sunday 4:00pm – 6:00pm
$4 drop in fee (youth, senior, and Mercer Island resident discounts available); quarterly passes available
For ages 18 and up

Badminton – a racket sport that can be played by singles or doubles for fun and exercise.

Gym at the Mercer View Community Center
Saturday from 4:30pm-6:30pm
$4 drop in fee (youth, senior, and Mercer Island resident discounts available); quarterly passes available
For ages 18 and up; bring a racket and birdies

Beginning Pilates – Build abdominal and lower back strength while improving posture and balance. The instructor, Janis Levine, has been teaching Pilates for 11 years and has been a certified fitness instructor for 27 years.

Clarke Room at the Mercer View Community Center
Course #11360, Wednesday Nov. 3rd – Dec. 8th from 10:45am – 11:30am
$75 for all classes; $15 per class drop-in fee
For ages 18 and up; bring a water bottle

Jazzercise – incorporates moves from hip-hop, yoga, Pilates, and kickboxing to give you a total body workout. Instructor Lori Hollow.

Mercer View Community Center
Monday 6:30pm – 7:30pm Mercer Room
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 6:45am – 7:45am Mercer Room
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:00 – 9:00am & 9:30am – 10:30am Mercer Room
Tuesday, Thursday 7:45am – 8:45am (Jazz Lite) Dance Room
Tuesday, Thursday 5:45pm – 6:45pm & 7:00pm – 8:00pm Dance Room
Saturday 8:15am – 9:15am Gym
Sunday 8:30am – 9:30am Mercer Room
No Class 11/11, 11/25, 11/26

$50/month for 2 month pass; $45/month for 6 month pass; $40/month for 12 month pass; $11 per class drop-in fee
For teens and adults; register in person or at www.jazzercise.com (look for new student offer)

Volunteer Opportunities with Earthworks
Plant trees at Island Crest Park on Saturday, 11/6 from 10am-2pm

Plant trees at Clarke Beach on Saturday, 11/20 from 10am-2pm

Volunteer Opportunities with Mountains to Sound
Improve trails at Island Crest Park on Saturday, 11/13 from 9am-3pm

Plant trees along Mercerdale Hillside, 76th Ave SE at SE 37th, on Saturday, 11/13 from 9am-3pm

Spotlight on Mary Wayte Pool

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For over 40 years island residents have enjoyed swimming in the Olympic-sized pool next to Mercer Island High School on the north end of the island.  The 6 lane pool has been used for both recreational public swimming and competitive high school meets throughout its history.   

One of the swimmers who trained at the pool was Mary Wayte.  Raised on Mercer Island, Mary Wayte competed in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics where she won two gold medals, a silver medal and a bronze medal.  The pool was renamed the Mary Wayte Pool in her honor.

Throughout the school year the Mercer Island High School swim and dive teams use the Mary Wayte Pool for practices and meets.  Mercer Island High School is fortunate to have a pool adjoining its campus that students do not have to share with other practicing teams.  In contrast, Issaquah, Skyline and Liberty high schools must all share the Julius Boehm Pool.  Bellevue, Sammamish and Interlake high schools all practice at the Bellevue Aquatic Center and cannot host meets there.  The Mary Wayte Pool hosts swim meets for both Mercer Island High School and Bellevue High School.   

In addition to its invaluable role at the high school, the Mary Wayte Pool also serves the public by offering swimming lessons, diving classes, exercise programs, open swim times and pool party rentals.  The pool even hosts a monthly movie night.  From parent and baby swimming classes to high school swim meets to senior lap swims, every member of Mercer Island’s diverse community can find an activity to enjoy at the Mary Wayte Pool.

Shakespeare in the Park, July 8th – 31st

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Shakespeare in the Park is coming to Mercer Island this July!  The Seattle Shakespeare Company’s Wooden O Theatre will be performing Much Ado About Nothing and Othello at the Luther Burbank Park amphitheatre from July 8th – 31st. 

Wooden O Theatre got its start in 1994 by staging its first production exclusively at Luther Burbank Park.  In the 15 years since, Wooden O has expanded to produce two plays each summer that are performed throughout King County’s many parks.  Despite their growth, Wooden O has remained true to its roots and continues to return to Mercer Island each summer to stage over a dozen performances of their current productions before an eager audience of new and returning fans.

Luther Burbank Park’s amphitheatre makes Mercer Island a unique place to enjoy outdoor summer plays.  Conveniently located near the park’s northern parking lot, the amphitheatre is cleverly designed to blend into the natural landscape.  The amphitheatre consists of one simple, wooden wall and a raised, grassy stage.  Beyond the amphitheatre a dense forest provides a lush, green backdrop to the performance.  The open seating area consists of three grassy tiers and a hill that rises gently away from the stage.  Audience members are encouraged to bring folding chairs or blankets to enjoy a picnic with family and friends during the show.

This summer’s plays showcase the range of Shakespeare’s talent, from Much Ado About Nothing, a lighthearted romantic comedy, to Othello, a tragic tale of vengeance and murder.  

Much Ado About Nothing will be performed at 7 PM in Luther Burbank Park on July 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th and 17th.  It will also be performed at 2 PM on July 10th as a special part of Summer Celebration.  The final show on July 18th is also at 2 PM, and is part of a double feature. 

Othello begins its run at 7 PM on July 18th after the last performance of Much Ado About Nothing earlier in the day.  It continues its 7 PM show time for its other performances on July 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 29th, 30th and 31st.  

All Shakespeare in the Park productions at Luther Burbank Park are free.

Spotlight on Youth Theatre Northwest

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Youth Theatre Northwest has been introducing local children to the joy of acting since the theatre first opened on Mercer Island in 1984.  Located on the north end of the island on a campus shared with the CHILD center and Mary Wayte Pool, the theatre produces plays and offers classes throughout the year.

During the school year Youth Theatre Northwest stages a variety of plays featuring young actors.  This past season they staged productions of 101 Dalmatians, Madeline’s Christmas, Dracula, James and the Giant Peach, Bye Bye Birdie, It’s a Whatchamadoozie with a Whadayacallit (with a Thingmajigit on top!) and Pinocchio.  For their upcoming summer season they will be producing Big Bad Wolf (and how he got that way), Beauty and the Beast, and Thoroughly Modern Millie.  Each play has multiple evening and weekend performances, with special weekday matinee shows for school field trip groups during the school year.

In addition to producing plays, the theatre offers classes for children ages 3 and up.  For preschoolers, classes focus on developing imagination, exploring the five senses and bringing storybook characters to life.  After school classes for elementary school children include dancing, singing and audition preparation.  There are also imagination building classes in which students create and act out stories about superheroes or knights, dragons and princesses.  Middle school and high school students can take classes in playwriting, directing, choreography and set design.  The theatre also offers special day time classes that can be tailored to the needs of home school groups. 

The end of the school year brings a variety of summer camp activities to Youth Theatre Northwest.  For the youngest children, the offerings give preschoolers a chance to become alphabet detectives and hunt down missing letters in Alphabet City, or form a number squad to solve a mystery for the king of Additionland, or travel around the world in seven days while creating craft projects inspired by different cultures.  Elementary students can spend their summers taking weeklong classes focused on bringing a specific storybook, Broadway play or musical to life, with a special performance of the play at the end of each week.  This age group can also enroll in a summer camp in which children bring the world of mermaids and pirates to life while taking daily trips to Mary Wayte Pool.  Pre-teens and teens can enroll in summer camps focusing on musical theatre, sketch comedy and Shakespeare.

For more than a quarter century, Youth Theatre Northwest has been helping local children build self-confidence while uncovering hidden talents and developing a love for the theatre.  The important role the theatre has played in countless children’s lives has made it one of Mercer Island’s most beloved organizations.

Spotlight on the Community Center at Mercer View

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The Community Center at Mercer View is located on the north end of Mercer Island on a hill overlooking Luther Burbank Park. The 42,000 sq. ft. center is open seven days a week and was designed to provide a variety of activities and gathering spaces to meet the needs of Mercer Island’s diverse community.

For athletes or anyone looking to get in shape, the community center offers a variety of opportunities to work out. There is a fitness room with tread mills, elliptical trainers, circuit training equipment, and free weights along with a locker room and showers. Island residents enjoy a discount, but anyone over 15 can make use of this equipment by purchasing a day pass or an inexpensive monthly pass. The community center also has a 10,000 sq. ft. gym featuring a full basketball court, state-of-the art sound system and electronic score board. The center regularly hosts community games of badminton, pickleball and volleyball in the gym, as well as a weekly exercise class in the fitness room.

Families with young children will find an assortment of activities to enjoy at the community center. A children’s play area features plenty of legos and trains to go around, and four days a week the gym is transformed into an indoor playground with bouncy houses, scooters and toys. The center also offers many pre-school programs, both parent participation classes and drop-off classes that allow parents a chance to work out in the fitness room or enjoy a quiet break in the library while their child is in class.

Older children, teens and adults can also find many interesting classes to take at the community center. Programs for children include gymnastics, ballet, martial arts, writing and guitar lessons. For teens, both babysitting instruction and camp counselor training are available, including certification in first aid and CPR. Among the adult class offerings are opportunities to learn bridge, photography, foreign languages or gardening skills, while senior activities range from yoga to volleyball, with occasional special events such as a spring pancake breakfast.

In addition to the many structured activities offered, there are plenty of opportunities for quiet relaxation or casual get-togethers with friends. The lobby features a rotating gallery of local artwork available for sale. There is Wi-Fi available throughout the building as well as two free public computers on-site. A pool table, foosball table and card games can be found in the game room. The library contains a variety of books, magazines and newspapers, and on pleasant summer days the outside covered patio provides a fabulous place to curl up with a book or enjoy a conversation with friends.

The community center was also designed to host events ranging from business meetings to special celebrations. Meeting rooms are available for rent and come with LCD projectors, sound equipment and Wi-Fi. Children’s birthday parties hosted at the center allow parents to enjoy the day while the staff provides the set-up, clean-up, decorations and plates, along with gym time or an arts and crafts activity. A large formal space offering stunning views of Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains is perfect for everything from company parties to weddings. The center can accommodate up to 225 guests in this space, and also has a large catering kitchen available with all the equipment necessary to cook a delicious meal.

The Community Center at Mercer View is truly a community gathering point for Mercer Island. It is a place where residents of all ages and backgrounds can come together and share in common interests, make new friends, and celebrate special occasions together.

Spotlight on Pioneer Park

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Mercer Island residents value their community for its small town feel just minutes away from the hustle and bustle of big city life in nearby Seattle and Bellevue.  Pioneer Park, a 113 acre forest located on the south end of Mercer Island, is one of the many features that makes the island a special place to live.  Unlike most parks in which trees are clear cut to make way for open grassy areas, Pioneer Park has been preserved in its natural, forested state since the city purchased the land in 1964.  The result is a secluded woodland retreat with 6.6 miles of trails through alder, big-leaf maple, Douglas fir and old-growth cedar trees that islanders can enjoy close to home.

Pioneer Park is divided into three quadrants and is centered around the intersection of Island Crest Way and SE 68th St.  Island Crest Way is the main road that connects the island’s quiet neighborhoods to interstate 90 on the north end, which makes the park easily accessible for residents of nearby cities.

Northwest Quadrant – Located across the street from the south end shopping center, the northwest quadrant is the most popular section of Pioneer Park.  Primarily a deciduous forest, this quadrant is encircled by the NW Perimeter Trail, a wide, flat, hard-packed trail that is easily accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.  The Fire Station Trail and the Horse Trail that run along the southern and eastern edges of this quadrant are both dedicated for equestrian use, while many other trails that crisscross the quadrant are perfect for hikers, bicyclists, and dogs on leashes.  Parking for this quadrant is located on 84th Ave SE near the northern tip of the park.

Northeast Quadrant – Separated from the northwest quadrant by Island Crest Way, this section of the park has the most even mix of deciduous and coniferous trees and the most varied topography.  The main path in this quadrant, Overlook Trail, cuts through the center of the park and runs along the edge of a ravine where it offers two overlook spots.   From Overlook Trail, visitors can access Ravine Trail that leads down into the ravine, through wetlands and connects to a bridge that crosses a small stream.  This is the only quadrant of the park not open to horses.  Parking for this quadrant is located midway along SE 68th St.

Southeast Quadrant – This 40 acre quadrant, located south of SE 68th St, is designed for and primarily dedicated to equestrian use.  Hikers, bicyclists, and dogs on leashes are also welcome on these trails, but must yield to horses and riders.  The Mercer Island Saddle Club houses 20 horses on a five acre site located adjacent to Pioneer Park and their members are frequent users of the southeast quadrant horse trails.  This quadrant consists primarily of Douglas fir trees.  Parking is located on Island Crest Way just south of SE 68th St.

As a forested retreat a short drive from Seattle and Bellevue, with accessibility for hikers, bicyclists, dog owners, wheelchair users, horseback riders, and children in strollers, Pioneer Park embodies many of the qualities that make Mercer Island a great place to live.

Spotlight on Luther Burbank Park

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Luther Burbank Park is a 77 acre park along the shores of Lake Washington situated on the northern tip of Mercer Island.  The park provides local residents with access to three-quarters of a mile of waterfront and a variety of recreational activities.

Before Luther Burbank was a park, it was the site of a parental school where troubled boys from Seattle were taught to farm.  From 1904 to 1966 students learned to grow crops and raise cattle on the shores of Lake Washington while living in the two-story, brick boarding school that still stands in the center of the park. 

The agricultural school was named for Luther Burbank, a famous Massachusetts horticulturist who pioneered plant hybridization and tree grafting and who created the baking potato.  Burbank’s legacy can be seen today not only in the name of the park but also in his creation, the Himalaya blackberry, that grows throughout the park.  While many demonize this plant for its invasive qualities, it is also well loved by the people who gather in the park each fall with baskets for berry picking.

Today children come to Luther Burbank Park not to work but to play on the swings, slides, monkey bars and tunnels of the playground that stands beside the former school.  The park also offers many recreational activities for adults, including 3 tennis courts and a half basketball court.  For theatre lovers, a nearby amphitheatre with tiered seating hosts Shakespeare in the Park in the summers.

The southern end of the park features a sandy beach and a public swimming area where lifeguards supervise swimmers from late June through early September.  Nearby picnic tables and grills overlook the beach, making this an ideal spot to gather with friends and family for a weekend BBQ and a swim in the lake.  Other tables and grills are scattered in scenic locations throughout the park.  Some are available on a first come, first serve basis, while others can be reserved for larger get-togethers.

Slightly north of the swimming area, along a picturesque, wooded path, is a secluded pier popular with local fishermen.  Several more boat docks can be found nearby, providing ample lake access for fishing enthusiasts and boaters alike.

Near the northern tip of Luther Burbank Park is a fenced, off-leash dog area.  As one of the only off-leash areas in King County with access to Lake Washington, this dog park is extremely popular.  Dogs can enjoy a swim while their owners toss a tennis ball for a game of fetch in the lake. Nearby the ruins of a former cow barn serve as another reminder of the park’s history as an agricultural school.

West of the dog park is a wetland and conservation area.  This wildlife habit can be viewed from a boardwalk that runs alongside the wetland.   Much of Luther Burbank Park remains an undeveloped refuge for the many wildlife species that live here, including rabbits, beavers, raccoons, muskrats, tree frogs and 135 species of birds.

From children to athletes, dog owners to fishing enthusiasts, theatre aficionados to nature lovers, Luther Burbank Park has something to offer every resident of Mercer Island and the nearby Seattle and Eastside communities.