2 people sought in Mercer Island carjacking, theft

Mercer Island police are looking for two people of interest in the carjacking of a vehicle from a newspaper carrier and the use of a stolen credit card.

The thefts took place about 4 a.m. Sunday in the 9100 block of North Mercer Way, police said. The victim said he was carrying a stack of newspapers when he was confronted by a man who displayed a handgun. The carrier dropped the papers and threw his car keys into his car; the thief then drove away in it, police reported. The carrier's wallet was in the car.

About an hour later, the victim's credit card was used at several automated-teller machines to withdraw cash in the SeaTac area. Bank surveillance photos show a young man with his head down and a young woman wearing a hooded sweat shirt using the automated-teller machines.

The victim's 2005 silver Toyota Corolla was recovered Wednesday afternoon in the 16700 block of International Boulevard in SeaTac by the King County Sheriff's Office.

Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call 911 or Mercer Island Police Detective Pete Erickson at 206-275-7904.

Bothell

Student center opens at college

A new student-services center has opened at Cascadia Community College in Bothell, ending five months of construction.

Called Kokiak Corner, the center includes an expanded New Student Welcome Center.

The remodeled areas, on the first floor of Campus Building CC1, are intended to provide a one-stop access point for students to register, apply for financial aid, get career assistance, arrange campus tours and get help with other school processes.

The project began in September and was finished this month. The work was paid for with $354,200 from the state. Cascadia Community College is at 18345 Campus Way N.E., Bothell, and has about 2,500 students.

Bothell

Workshops aimed at local businesses

The city of Bothell is beginning a series of marketing workshops aimed at helping local businesses.

The first workshop will be from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at the North Creek Events Center, 18115 Campus Way N.E., on the site of the University of Washington, Bothell, and Cascadia Community College.

The series was developed through a contract with the UWB Bothell Business Development Center. The first presentation will be by Barbara Wold, an authority on independent retailing.

To register for the $35 workshop, visit the Greater Bothell Chamber of Commerce Web site at www.bothellchamber.com or call 425-485-4353.

Kirkland

Church will host disaster training

The Kirkland Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is hosting three training sessions in February and March to help residents prepare for disaster, using a state program called Map Your Neighborhood.

All sessions will be the same.

The first will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Totem Lake Building, 13320 N.E. 132nd St.; the second at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Rose Hill Building, 7720 126th Ave. N.E.; and the final session will be at 9:30 a.m. March 15 at Kirkland Stake Center, 7910 N.E. 132nd St.

For more information, see www.emd.wa.gov/myn.

Seattle Times Eastside bureau