Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Where to find the juiciest wild blackberries on Mercer Island

And on the Mercer Island Patch calendar - Electronics Recycling Event

Wednesday August 26th Patch AM
Wednesday August 26th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hi Mercer Island! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Where to find the juiciest wild blackberries on Mercer Island
  • Could your Mercer Island arts nonprofit tap into this Bellevue grant?
  • What a wave of LDS church sales could mean for Mercer Island

Also on today's calendar: Electronics Recycling Event and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the wall say to the other wall. 🤔 (Answer below!)


Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Clouds breaking; not as warm, with a high of 80 and low of 60 degrees.
  • Thursday: Pleasant with clouds and sun, temps: high: 76, low: 57.
  • Friday: An a.m. shower; partly sunny, with a high of 74 and low of 57 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• If you can't beat 'em, eat 'em (mi-reporter.com) — Mercer Island families are heading to familiar blackberry hotspots like Luther Burbank Park, East Mercer Way, Clarke Beach Park, and 78th Street near Lakeridge Elementary as peak berry season arrives. The piece shares specific local picking tips, safety advice, and a simple blackberry crisp recipe, celebrating this short, late-summer tradition that turns neighborhood walks into fruitful treasure hunts.
   

• Eastside Arts Partnership Support Grants (Washington) (fundsforngos.org) — Mercer Island arts nonprofits are eligible for Bellevue's Eastside Arts Partnership grants, which offer up to $15,000 in annual operating support for organizations serving Eastside communities. To qualify, groups must be 501(c)(3)s, based on the Eastside, and provide publicly accessible arts or cultural programming that benefits Bellevue residents while also including cities like Mercer Island.
   

• City beats developers in bidding war over Kirkland church (therealdeal.com) — Mercer Island is among several Puget Sound communities where the LDS Church is selling church properties, while Kirkland has purchased one such site to convert into a community center. The Kirkland building will largely keep its existing layout, with gyms and classrooms, and may eventually include affordable housing, highlighting how these sales could reshape community spaces across the region.
   


📸 Around Mercer Island

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!


🗓 Upcoming Events in Mercer Island

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Featured events

Want to see your event featured? Click here!


Other local events
    Thursday August 27
  • MISD Technology Services/MIHS Laptop Handout
    Mercer Island School District MIHS Conference Room Commons
    7:00 am
  • Friday August 28
  • Tot Shabbat
    Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island
    9:45 am
  • Arts On The Island /Weekend of Events
    Town Center, Mercer Island
    5:00 pm
  • Saturday August 29
  • Tech Support for Older Adults
    Mercer Island Library 4400 88th Ave SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040
    3:00 pm
  • Wednesday September 2
  • MIHS Admin/Fees and Photos, Make Up
    Mercer Island School District MIHS Main Entry
    8:00 am
  • Thursday September 3
  • 中文家庭故事会 / Mandarin Story Time
    Mercer Island Library 4400 88th Ave SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040
    10:30 am
  • LR PTA Back to School Picnic
    Mercer Island School District LR Field
    5:00 pm

📣 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

    Thursday August 27
  • Bilingual Kaleidoscope Play & Learn / 仁⼈双语幼⼉乐园
    Newport Way Library 14250 SE Newport Way, Bellevue, WA 98006
    10:30 am
  • Friday August 28
  • Arts in the Garden: BBGS Members Early Shopping
    Bellevue Botanical Garden Garden Grounds, 12001 Main Street, Bellevue, 98005, United States
    12:00 pm
  • Arts in the Garden: General Public
    Bellevue Botanical Garden Garden Grounds, 12001 Main Street, Bellevue, 98005, United States
    2:00 pm
  • Saturday August 29
  • Arts in the Garden
    Bellevue Botanical Garden Garden Grounds, 12001 Main Street, Bellevue, 98005, United States
    10:00 am
  • Monday August 31
  • Talk Time: English Conversation Practice
    Newport Way Library 14250 SE Newport Way, Bellevue, WA 98006
    1:00 pm

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


 

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🪧 Patch Classifieds

  • Snowflake Lane Auditions
    The 2026 Snowflake Lane Audition Form is NOW LIVE! The form can be found at bit.ly/SFL-26. ... (More info)

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Another beautiful morning walk.
    Remember, your first blessing was waking up this morning. Another day to be glad and thankful for the gift of life. (Nextdoor Mid Mercer Island)
  • LOST CAT ALERT!
    Have you seen this pet? Catsup (Ketchup) was lost on July 26, 2026 and was last seen near Mercer Island, WA If you have information on their… (Nextdoor Mid Mercer Island)
  • Amazon posted a job opening for Sr Prg Mgr - Emerging, Amazon Shipping in Bellevue. Apply here.
  • Beyondsoft Consulting posted a job opening for Payroll Coordinator in Bellevue. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Mercer Island here.

🗞 Nearby News

Bellevue

  • Men's Clothing Store UNTUCKit Closes at Bellevue Square (downtownbellevue.com)
  • Tiffany & Co. Renews its Role as US Open's Official Trophy Crafter, and Other News. (surfacemag.com)
  • FBI sets $25,000 minimum reward for dozens of unsolved Indian Country cases (orlandosentinel.com)

Seattle

  • Jake: Corporate tax breaks grow the infrastructure, 'which is good for everybody' (mynorthwest.com)
  • Jake, Spike questions Vision Zero's effectiveness: 'No way to achieve zero if you still have cars and people in the same space' (mynorthwest.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: Meet me at the corner. (Thank you Earlene M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!


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