Just because winter is here doesn't mean you can't keep your green thumb busy. Join City staff for a short class covering native plant species and their year-round uses on Wednesday, December 13 from 5:00pm - 6:30pm at the Mercer Island Community and event Center. You'll learn about the many ecological, cultural, and historical benefits of native plants by making teas and salts, creating a mini recipe book, and learning about botanical dyeing. The event is free to attend, just bring a notebook and a small jar for salt making.

Heads up: several construction projects are underway that Islanders should be aware of. These projects have opportunities for you to share feedback, and may impact your transportation or travel plans. Here's the latest information:

Beginning in mid-December, SE 35th Place will be closed to through traffic for pipe installation as part of the North Mercer Island/Enatai Sewer Upgrade Project. Crews will begin installing pipe from Frontage Road towards SE 35th Place. Work will progress west towards East Mercer Way in four phases. During each phase, crews will close a segment of SE 35th Place to complete pipe installation. Throughout the work, there will be one lane alternating traffic during working hours. After working hours, the road will be plated to allow for two lanes of traffic. Access to homes located on SE 35th Place, El Dorado Beach Club Drive, and Briarwood Lane will be maintained during construction.

With heavy wind and rain hitting our region, keep the following tips and information in mind:

Heavy rainfall this time of year often leads to downed trees and debris. Keep an eye out for tree limbs and other fallen vegetation on roadways, paths, and parks and open spaces and slow down while driving. If you see downed power lines, stay clear and report them: call PSE if they're stable, call 911 if they are arcing or pose a threat.

Leaves and debris can also clog storm drains leading to pooled water and other issues. If you notice a clogged storm drain in your neighborhood, consider clearing it if it's safe to do so. While City teams work to keep all systems functioning, the amount of debris can be very high this time of year.

While it's rare, large amounts of rain on already wet ground increases the risk of landslides. Learn to recognize landslide warning signs: listen and watch for rushing water, mud, unusual sounds like cracking trees, large rocks knocking together, or a growing rumbling sound. Watch for cracks in your home, the ground or paved areas, bulging ground at the base of a slope, and water breaking through the ground in new locations.

As always, if you see something needing the City's attention, you can report it using MI-Connect: our online reporting tool. This platform lets you use a mobile app or the City Website to report things like broken infrastructure, clogged storm drains, and maintenance requests. Check out MI-Connect and help us keep things running smoothly for all.