This week, the City Council was pleased to unanimously accept a five-year, $1.5 million federal grant, awarded to the Youth and Family Services (YFS) Department for drug and alcohol prevention work and mental health programs. The award requires no matching dollars from the City.

The grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ( SAMHSA) awards the City $300,000 annually over a five-year period, and will be used primarily to restore the work that was previously funded by a federal Drug Free Communities (DFC) Grant, which ended in 2017.

The award, known as a Strategic Protection Framework (SPF) Grant, will fund the City's Healthy Youth Initiative and allow the re-hiring of prevention staff to address:

• Community prevention programming and health & awareness education (covering vaping, marijuana, opiates, prescription drugs, nicotine, alcohol)
• Positive community norms and health messaging
• Data-gathering and reporting

Approximately $24,000 per year will also supplant funding of the City's school-based mental health counselors as a part of their work is related to the stated grant objectives.

Earlier this year, in July 2019, MIYFS was honored to receive another federal award known as a  STOP Act Grant. This companion grant of  $200,000 over a four-year period is focused specifically on preventing and reducing underage drinking. 

The activities and budgets for both grants will be coordinated to ensure efficient delivery of services and to maximize the community impact. The awards will also be leveraged to foster and enhance partnerships with academic institutions such as the University of Washington, and other organizations like the Washington State Department of Health and the Healthcare Authority.
 
Contact MIYFS Director Cindy Goodwin for more information. 

As early as this week, the King County Department of Assessments will be sending out its professional real estate appraisers across Mercer Island to physically inspect the outside of all properties. 

For approximately six to nine months, these officials will be conducting their once-every-six-years inspection, as they do for all parts of King County. Mercer Island's last on-site inspections occurred in late 2013.

Appraisers often drive marked King County vehicles, but sometimes also use personal vehicles; they will always wear a County badge with photo identification and will generally be working from 8:00am to 5:15pm Monday through Thursday, with some Fridays. No City solicitors license is required.

To conduct their work, the appraiser will visually inspect properties that are in plain view from a public vantage point (street, sidewalk, etc.); for those properties not in plain view, appraisers may use a private walkway or driveway for access, per Washington State Code ( RCW 84.40.025)

If an appraiser needs to see more of a property, they will first knock on the door, contact the homeowner, and request permission to walk around. If no one answers, they will leave a card and come back later.

 

For more information, residents are directed to call the King County Department of Assessments office at (206) 296-7300, or visit its website, which offers informational videos and FAQ's about the assessment process.

Get ready for tolling in the new SR 99 Tunnel through Seattle... The State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)  plans to begin tolling both directions of the tunnel this Saturday, November 9.

Rates will be $1 to $2.25 (with a Good-To-Go! Pass), depending on time of day. Traffic diversion and impacts will be unpredictable for several weeks as drivers adjust. Learn more from WSDOT .

The Mercer Island Thrift Shop celebrates its 44th Anniversary with its popular annual Holiday Sale, this Monday, November 11, starting at 8:00am, and closing late at 8:00pm. Note: the store will be closed on Sunday in preparation.

 

Customers will enjoy a store-wide discount of 30% on all manner of treasures: from toys for kids, holiday home decor, and jewelry, to luxury apparel, art, and housewares. Come enjoy personalized customer service and refreshments while you shop!

 

The Mercer Island Thrift Shop is a revenue-generating component of the City's Youth and Family Services Department, and supports programs such as counseling, senior adult outreach, substance abuse and family assistance.