🌱 Patch AM: Which Mercer Island stories just won big journalism honors?

Hey hey Mercer Island! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Which Mercer Island stories just won big journalism honors?
• How one Mercer Island family inspired hundreds of rare-disease families

Also on today's calendar: Fall Coats | MI Thrift Shop and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: Why do Norway's navy ships all have barcodes? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Low clouds and fog, then sun, with a high of 67 and low of 51 degrees.
• Wednesday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 68, low: 50.
• Thursday: Partly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 73 and low of 53 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• MI Reporter wins awards at newspaper contest (mi-reporter.com) — Mercer Island readers can celebrate as the Mercer Island Reporter just earned three statewide journalism awards, including top honors for an in-depth investigation into how the local school district handled misconduct allegations against a beloved teacher. Reporter Andy Nystrom also received recognition for a health story and a sports profile, highlighting strong local storytelling.
   

• Mercer Islanders speak at 'Rare Family Day' (mi-reporter.com) — A Mercer Island family, Casey and Effie Parks and their children, recently headlined "Rare Family Day" in California, sharing a Star Wars-themed talk about life with their son's rare genetic disorder. Their keynote connected hundreds of families facing similar challenges and highlighted how events like this build community and support around rare diseases.
   

📸 Around Mercer Island

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Mercer Island

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday October 10
• Seminar Series: Estate Planning • 1031 & 121 Exchanges →
  Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 Southeast 24th Street, Mercer Island

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday October 7
• SilverKite Community Arts: Latin Dances
  Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE, Mercer Island
  1:00 pm
Thursday October 8
• 中文家庭故事会 / Mandarin Story Time
  Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE, Mercer Island
  10:30 am
Sunday October 11
• Fall Coats | MI Thrift Shop →
  7710 SE 34th St, Mercer Island
  9:00 am
• Family Story Time
  Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE, Mercer Island
  11:15 am
• The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store: Book Club Event
  Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE, Mercer Island
  3:00 pm
Saturday October 17
• PSA: Pelvic Service Announcement - a one-woman musical comedy about pelvic floor health →
  Seattle Open Arts Place, 1406 18th Ave, Seattle
  7:30 pm
Sunday October 18
• PSA: Pelvic Service Announcement - A one-woman musical comedy about pelvic floor health →
  Seattle Open Arts Place, 1406 18th Ave, Seattle
  2:00 pm
Sunday October 25
• Sunday Mitzvah Party: Volunteer with Birthday Dreams →
  The Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island
  11:00 am

📣 Mercer Island Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday October 6
• Baby Story Time
  Newport Way Library, 14250 SE Newport Way, Bellevue
  1:00 pm
• Civics 101: Trivia Night!
  Newport Way Library, 14250 SE Newport Way, Bellevue
  5:30 pm
• Talk Time: English Conversation Practice
  Lake Hills Library, 15590 Lake Hills Boulevard, Bellevue
  6:00 pm
• Intro to PNW Mushrooms - Bellevue →
  Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, 1625 118th Ave SE, Bellevue
  7:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Mercer Island PatchAM possible:

• A&L Performance tuning — (503) 954-6985
• Eastside Tree Works — 2063969998
• Crystal Carpet Cleaning & Restoration, Inc. — (425) 649-0908
• Hardwood Plus LLC — 4259700562
• SD Framing — (425) 628-1326

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Hirenow Staffing Inc posted a job opening for Production Worker III Dairy Processing in Bellevue. Apply here.
• Government Jobs posted a job opening for Executive Assistant, Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs in Bellevue. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Mercer Island here.

🗞 Nearby News

Bellevue

• Bellevue Jazz & Blues Music Series 2026 (greaterseattleonthecheap.com) (greaterseattleonthecheap.com)
• Herendeen Leads, Illini Second After Day 1 of Fighting Irish Classic - University of Illinois Athletics (fightingillini.com)
• Head to Head Comparison: PCB Bancorp (NASDAQ:PCB) & Hilltop (NYSE:HTH) (defenseworld.net)

Seattle

• Homelessness agency's public records officer quit, says she couldn't do job (seattletimes.com)

Ok Mercer Island! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "Why do Norway's navy ships all have barcodes?" — So when they come back to port they can just scan-da-navi-an! (Thank you Jessica C. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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