Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What new online threats are Mercer Island kids facing right now?

Make time for Full Body Strength with SSP on the Mercer Island Patch calendar

Friday September 18th Patch AM
Friday September 18th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hey there, Mercer Island! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • What new online threats are Mercer Island kids facing right now?
  • How did a simple vending machine break-in lead to charges?
  • How new e-bike rules could change riding on Mercer Island trails

Also on today's calendar: Living Large with Less Stuff and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: What day of the year is trucker's day? 🤔 (Answer below!)


Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Partly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 74 and low of 52 degrees.
  • Saturday: Partly sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 72, low: 51.
  • Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high of 71 and low of 52 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Webinar addresses 'Preventing Online Sexual Exploitation of Children Teens' (mi-reporter.com) — Mercer Island families are being urged to sharpen their kids' online safety skills after a Sept. 15 webinar hosted by the Mercer Island School District and local partners. Federal experts and a Mercer Island parent who is a U.S. attorney outlined rising threats like sextortion and deepfake abuse, and shared warning signs, conversation tips, and free resources available to help protect local children and teens.
   

2. Subject causes $400 in damages to vending machine (mi-reporter.com) — Recent Mercer Island police reports detail fraud targeting residents on West Mercer Way and Southeast 70th Street, a $400 vending machine break-in, and several warrant and assault arrests. The incidents highlight ongoing scams involving digital accounts and ID photos, as well as continued enforcement activity by the Mercer Island Police Department across local streets and nearby jails.
   

3. 2026 Transportation Safety Laws Touch on E-Bikes, E-Motos, and Crash Prevention (mrsc.org) — New state laws are already prompting Mercer Island to step up education around how e-bikes and higher-powered e-motos can use local trails and byways. The measures also clarify which vehicles count as e-bikes, set the stage for future e-moto rules, and create crash prevention zones on Washington's most dangerous roads, potentially influencing future safety changes near the Island.
   

4. In Loving Memory of Our Beloved Alexander Dumass Hicks (thefactsnewspaper.com) — Mercer Island is named among the communities mourning Alexander Dumas Hicks, a pioneering attorney, federal official, and real estate developer who helped shape Seattle and the wider region. The longtime advocate for Black excellence, education, and civil rights built a distinguished career from the Navy to federal service and local development before his passing on Sept. 10 at age 92.
   

5. Mercer Island goes gold for childhood cancer awareness (mi-reporter.com) — Mercer Island schools and families turned the town gold on Sept. 17, wearing thousands of ribbons for Childhood Cancer Awareness Day organized by Kyra's Hope Foundation and the Mercer Island School District. The city and governor issued matching proclamations, while Lakeridge Elementary honored former student Kyra Gupta and other community members touched by cancer with gold ribbons and a Courageous Lion tradition.
   


📸 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
    Sunday September 20
  • Family Story Time
    Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE, Mercer Island
    11:15 am
  • Tuesday September 22
  • Building Club
    Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE, Mercer Island
    4:00 pm
  • Wednesday September 23
  • Let's Dance!
    Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE, Mercer Island
    3:30 pm
  • Thursday September 24
  • 中文家庭故事会 / Mandarin Story Time
    Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE, Mercer Island
    10:30 am
  • Living Large with Less Stuff
    Aljoya Mercer Island, 2430 76th Avenue SE, Mercer Island
    10:30 am
  • Friday September 25
  • Not a Quiet Night
    Barrels, 7605 Southeast 27th Street, Suite 107, Mercer Island
    6:00 pm
  • Tuesday September 29
  • Home Equity & Real Estate Workshop: Mercer Island
    Columbia Bank, 7803 Southeast 27th Street, Mercer Island
  • Thursday October 1
  • Washington Chapter: Mercer Island Masquerade
    The Rock, 7605 SE 27th St, Mercer Island
    9:00 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

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:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Public Storage posted a job opening for Customer Service - Self Storage Manager in Bellevue. Apply here.
  • Bellevue School District posted a job opening for Managing Cook II 2026-27 Chinook Middle School (Internal Candidates Only) in Bellevue. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Mercer Island here.

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: 10-4, good buddy! (Thank you Jean H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!


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We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.


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