Here are 10 interesting links for the month of June – all Mercer Island-related news and notes from around the web.  Enjoy!

Civic News

• After two years, the city council has finally completed its Town Center Vision Process and has approved [with a vote of 4-2] a new ordinance for future projects.  [City of Mercer Island]
• The city will have an interim City Manager through the remainder of the calendar year.  Pam Bissonnette will lead the city while the recruitment process for a permanent City Manager continues.  [City of Mercer Island]
• A step forward for Mercer Island Center for the Arts.  Concerned Citizens for Mercer Island Parks were unable to gather the required 3,000 signatures for their initiative petition, which would have placed Mercer Island parkland use on the November 8 ballot. [Mercer Island Center for the Arts]

Islanders in the News

• Jordan Morris, Mercer Island High school graduate and current Seattle Sounders forward, has been nominated for an ESPY!  Jordan is in the running for Best Male College Athlete for his time at Stanford. [Sounders FC]
• Keathley Pinney Brown, a MIHS sophomore, will compete at USA Climbing Youth National Championships in Kennesaw, Georgia. Good luck, Keathley! [Mercer Island Reporter]

Around the Island

• Ryan Jones delivered the commencement speech at the Mercer Island High School graduation ceremony at Key Arena on June 16.  He shared, “We’ve gotta stop doing things cause they’re what were supposed to do. I know we’ve heard that to the point where it’s almost cliché, but you should be doing things cause you’re curious about them.”  [The Islander]
• Mercer Island had a number of occupied burglaries in June.  Remember to lock your doors and windows at night.   The MIPD urges you to “stay vigilant” and call 9-1-1 if there is suspicious activity in your neighborhood. [City of Mercer Island]
• Northwood Elementary, the first school built on Mercer Island in 50 years, held an open house for the public. Here were our impressions of the new school and its design. [Mercer Island Reporter / My Mercer Island]
• On the market:  An $11.8 million waterfront home.  Amenities include: amazing lake views, a pool, private dock, 178 feet of waterfront, and a separate apartment.  [Curbed]
• The artist who created our beloved Dragon in Deane’s Park [ commonly knows as the “Dragon Park”] will return to Mercer Island.  He will be selling his art at Summer Celebration.  [Mercer Island Reporter]

Image courtesy Wendy Weiker