Events

Mercer Island Ski Swap: Nov. 14, Islander Middle School Gym, 8225 S.E. 72nd St. New and gently used clothing and equipment for winter sports. Ski Swap Sale: 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. 50% Off Sale: 3-4 p.m. Consignment check-in: 3-7:30 p.m. (Nov. 13). IMS PTSA partners with Sturtevant’s Winter Sports. www.miskiswap.net.

Wellness Fair: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Nov. 14, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. The event features local health and wellness providers, classes, demonstrations. Presented by Mercer Island Youth and Family Services, Parks and Recreation. Admission is by donation to YFS Foundation. Roger Kjos: (206) 275-7751, roger.kjos@mercergov.org. www.miyfs.org.

Meet the Author Night: 7 p.m., Nov. 19, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. “Outrageous Learning,” by Scott Oki. Learn about Oki’s “Eleven Planks” foundational ideas on bringing constructive change to public education. Presented by MI Arts Council. Free. www.mercergov.org/artscouncil.

Classics on Film: “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead,” 7 p.m., Nov. 21, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Films featured in Fall 2009 Classics on Film series are comedies. Film history and Q&A with Lance Rhoades. Presented by MI Arts Council. Free. www.mercergov.org/artscouncil.

Disney’s “101 Dalmatians”: through Nov. 22, Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th St. Friday: 7 p.m. Saturday/Sunday: 2 p.m. School Show: 10 a.m., Nov. 12. “101 Dalmatians” is the first production in YTN’s 2009-2010 school season lineup. Tickets: $15 (adults); $13 (seniors, youth under 18). (206) 232-4145, ext. 109. www.youththeatre.org.

Classes

“How To Be a Powerful Patient”: 2-5 p.m., Nov. 15, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Learn how to be a savvy, “powerful patient” to get the best care. Join Patient Power® founder and 13-year-leukemia survivor Andrew Schorr, leading health care providers and respected patient-advocates as they share tips on how to get the best care. Light refreshments will be served. RSVP: (206) 232-1542, www.patientpower.info/events.

CPR Classes: Infant/Child/Adult CPR, 7-9 p.m., Nov. 24, $15. First Aid with Adult CPR: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Nov. 28, $30. Mercer Island Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. (206) 275-7607.

Thanksgiving Jazzercise Workout/Benefit Class: 8 a.m., Nov. 26, MI Presbyterian Church Gym, Island Crest Way. Free admission. Bring two nonperishable grocery items for local food banks. Bring weights, workout shoes, water bottle. Lori Hollow: (206) 632-3079, lorihollow@comcast.net.

Sogetsu School of Ikebana Mercer Island Branch Japanese Flower Arranging Class: 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Fridays, through Dec. 4, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. $80. Shirley: (425) 558-0889, (206) 954-3833, shirleyhill@live.com.

Groups

Islander Middle School New Family Coffee: 9-10:30 a.m., Nov. 12, IMS Library, 8225 S.E. 72nd St. Come for coffee, treats and conversation with other new families, IMS staff and PTA members. All grade level parents are welcome. Connie Sotelo, IMS New Family chair: (206) 275-0230, info@blimusic.com.

Sound Portrait of Mercer Island: 4-8 p.m., Nov. 12-13, 16-19, 23-24, Mercer Island High School. Similar to the NPR program StoryCorps, 25-minute interviews with students, staff and community members will be recorded with audio equipment and a list of starter questions. Come with a loved one. Call for an appointment: Sarah Olson, (206) 793-2200.

MI Chamber of Commerce Opening Reception: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Nov. 12, 7605 S.E. 27th St., Suite 109. Holiday show of selected prints by Rie Munoz, Alaskan artist, will be displayed through Dec. 23. Proceeds benefit Overlake Hospital Sonja Potter Senior Care Auxiliary.

Mercer Island Historical Society: meeting, 1 p.m., Nov. 16, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Speaker: Russell W. Newman. (206) 236-3274, www.mihistory.org.

2009/10 Crystal SkiBus Informational Meeting: 7 p.m., Nov. 17, Islander Middle School Library. Program for both middle-school and high-school age students. Charles Greer: (206) 275-3126. www.CrystalSkiBus.com.

Mercer Island Radio Operators: meeting, 7 p.m., Nov. 19, Mercer Island Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. Learn about amateur radio communications and emergency preparedness. MIRO Chairman Dave Cook: (206) 230-0397. www.mirohams.org.

Mountains to Sound Greenway Tree Planting: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Nov. 21, Mercerdale Hillside. Half-day shifts available. Sign up: (206) 812-0122, volunteer@mtsgreenway.org, www.mtsgreenway.org/volunteer.

Mercer Island Visual Arts League (MIVAL): Holiday Show 2009 runs through Dec. 19 at the Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St.

Mercer Island Guild of Seattle Children’s Hospital: seeking updates for the Mercer Island Directory. Please contact the guild if new to the Island or if you have a different address, phone number or name change. The deadline for changes and updates is the end of December 2009. Karin Pangborn: (206) 232-7046, miphonebook@gmail.com.

Women Painters of Washington: “Connections” Gallery Exhibition, through Jan. 29, 701 Fifth Ave., Suite 310, Seattle. www.womenpainters.com.

Mercer Island Community Fund: currently accepting grant applications from organizations for funding that benefits the Mercer Island community in six categories, through Jan. 31, 2010. Gail Steinitz: momda@mindspring.com.

Library

4400 88th Ave. S.E.

236-3537

www.kcls.org/mercerisland

Registration required.

Adults

Talk Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Nov. 18, 25. Improve speaking and listening skills in this English conversation group.

Computer Class: “Using the Library Catalog,” 9 a.m., Nov. 19.

Mercer Island Library Saturday Matinee: “Dr. Strangelove,” 1 p.m., Nov. 21. Stanley Kubrick films with commentary by film historian Lance Rhoades.

Teens

Teen Advisory Board: 7 p.m., Nov. 17. Voice your opinions on teen materials, services and programs; earn one volunteer credit hour.

New Moon Party: 4:30 p.m., Nov. 20. Party with the Twilighters from Newport Way. Snacks, a scavenger hunt and photo opp, watch scenes from the movie.

Clay Animation Workshop for Home Schoolers: 10 a.m., Nov. 27. Ages 9-13. Create a clay character, change its shape and learn how to operate a digital camera to create a clay animation movie. Receive a DVD of your work.

Teen Zone: 1:30 p.m., Mondays, through Nov. 30. Ages 12 and up. Hang out, do homework, play board games.

Study Zone Online: Grades K-12. Use a library computer to connect with a Study Zone tutor online. Visit www.kcls.org/studyzone for tutoring schedules.

Children

Story Time for Wonderful Ones: 10 a.m., Nov. 18. Age 1 with adult.

Story Time for Terrific Twos: 10 a.m., Tuesdays, through Nov. 24. Age 2 with adult.

Preschool Story Times: 11 a.m., Tuesdays, through Nov. 24. Ages 3-5 with adult.

Story Time with Biscuit the Dog and Friends: 7 p.m., Nov. 30. Ages 2-6 with adult.

Parks & Recreation

Community Center at Mercer View (CCMV)

8236 S.E. 24th St.

275-7609

www.myparksandrecreation.com

See the Fall/Winter Recreation Guide for more information. To sign up, go to www.myparksandrecreation.com or call (206) 275-7609.

Dog Obedience: Sundays, 5:30-6:30 p.m., through Nov. 22, North Mercer Gym. Ages 14+. $96.

After School Nature Program: 2:30-4:30 p.m., Mondays, through Nov. 23. Hands-on programs with a Nature Vision Naturalist. Explore a nature topic, share a story; snacks provided by Friends of Luther Burbank Park. Notify of any food allergies at time of sign-up. Ages 4-9. $62.

Beginning Guitar: Mondays, through Nov. 23. Youth: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Teens: 4-5:30 p.m. Adults: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Writing Club: Grades 2-3, 4:15-6:15 p.m., Tuesdays, through Dec. 8. $122. Grades 4-6: 4-6 p.m., Thursdays, through Dec. 10. $122.

Children’s Technology Workshops: Robotics Club, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Thursdays, through Dec. 10. This workshop introduces kids to construction techniques and programming through LEGO-based control systems and robotics projects. Video Game Design: 5:45-6:45 p.m., Thursdays, through Dec. 10. Get your own laptop during class to create a variety of non-violent computer games using CTW’s Gamemaker tutorials. Ages 8-13. $155. 1-877-299-2546, www.ctworkshop.com.

Pilates: through Dec. 16. Beginning: 10:45 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Friday; $77. Advanced: 9:45 a.m.-10:40 a.m., Wednesday, Friday; $152. Instructor: Janis Levine. Ages 18 and up.

Hula Hoop Dance Class: Level One, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Sundays, through Dec. 17; $108. Level Two: 12:30-1:30 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, through Dec. 17; $222. Half-sessions available. Drop-in fee: $15. Instructors: Marcie Spahi, Merissa Sweetland. Age 16 and up.

Ballet: 4-5 p.m., Tuesdays/Thursdays, through Dec. 17. Ages 5-6. $132.

Pre-Ballet: 3:10-4 p.m., Tuesdays/Thursdays, through Dec. 17. Ages 3-4. $132.

Seniors

Widow and Widowers Grief & Loss Support Group: 1-2:30 p.m., Nov. 12. A support group for senior adult men and women who have lost a spouse or partner in death. Free. Reservations: Betsy Zuber, (206) 275-7752.

Annual Senior Thanksgiving Lunch: 12-1 p.m., Nov. 19, Community Center at Mercer View. Transportation available. $5. Reservations required.

Boys & Girls Club

2825 West Mercer Way

232-4548

www.mipositiveplace.org

Lango Foreign Language Classes for Kids: Mandarin Classes, 1-1:45 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, through Dec. 10. Ages 4-5. $285 plus $25 materials fee. Spanish Classes: 1-1:45 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, through Dec. 9. Ages 4-5. $266 plus $35 materials fee.