Troop 624 is selling popcorn as their annual fundraiser at the North and South QFCs this weekend. The troop will be selling popcorn on Friday, Sept. 23, between 5 and 7 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 24, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 25, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The funds support camping programs and facilities for local Boy Scouts.

Thursday | 22

SJCC Author Book Signing and Discussion: 7-9 p.m., Sept. 22, SJCC Kesher Community Garden, 3801 East Mercer Way. Author: Naseem Rakha, “The Crying Tree.” Rabbi Rachel Nussbaum, from The Kavana Cooperative, will lead a discussion about the power of forgiveness. $10 for SJCC and Kavana members; $15 general admission; $5 seniors and students. Register at www.SJCC.org.

Friday | 23

Rimsky-Korsakov Quartet from St. Petersburg: 7:30 p.m., Sept. 23, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Avenue S.E. Presented by the Russian Chamber Music Foundation of Seattle, with artistic director/pianist Natalya Ageyeva. Suggested donation: $20. Senior/student suggested donation: $15. For tickets, call: (425) 829-1345.

Revival Night: 7:30 p.m., Sept. 23, New Hope International Church, 9170 S.E. 64th St. Spend an evening in prayer and worship. www.newhic.org.

Saturday | 24

Day of Play: 1-4 p.m., Sept. 24, Deane’s Children’s Park Adventure Playground, 5500 Island Crest Way. Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play is an event designed to promote the importance of play. Free. www.myparksandrecreation.com.

Walk for Children: 2-6 p.m., Sept. 24, Mercerdale Park, S.E. 32nd Street. The Walk is in celebration of the Republic of China Centennial. It will benefit the Seattle Children’s Hospital Uncompensated Fund. Sponsor: The Pacific Northwest ROC Centennial Committee. Presented by the Chong Wa Benevolent Association and Taiwanese Youth Alliance of Pacific Northwest. www.walkforchildren.info.

Sunday | 25

Mercer Island Farmers Market: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sept. 25, Mercerdale Park, S.E. 32nd Street. “Un-com-PEAR-able Day.” Music by Garrett and Westcott. Kids Table activity: “Amazing Squashes.” Features master gardeners. Parking available at the Farmers New World Life Insurance Company, Wells Fargo Bank and Maloof Building (south of Wells Fargo). www.mifarmersmarket.org.

The Jewish Touch Lecture Series: “Jewish Humor in America: A Tribute to Althea Stroum,” 2-3:30 p.m., Sept. 25, Stroum JCC, 3801 East Mercer Way. Topic: American Jewish humor from Sholem Aleichem to Jerry Seinfeld. Speaker: Jeremy Dauber, Columbia University professor and Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies director. Reservations required. www.sjcc.org.

Seattle Writers Publishing Salon: 3-5 p.m., Sept. 25, Community and Event Center, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Co-hosted by literary manager Sharlene Martin and editorial director Anthony Flacco. Learn about commercial book publishing. Free. RSVP: Anthony@MartinLiteraryManagement.com.

Monday | 26

MIHS Football Little Cheer Clinic: 3-4:30 p.m., Sept. 26-27, Mercer Island High School, 9100 S.E. 42nd Street. Led by MIHS varsity cheerleaders. Cost of full clinic: $55. One day: $40. Little Cheer participants will cheer during the MIHS football game on Friday, Sept. 30. All preschool and elementary girls are welcome. Contact: Sandra, (206) 232-0319.

“The Power of Three: Insight, Introspection, and Inspiration for Rosh Hashanah” Lecture Series: Sept. 26, Island Crust Cafe, 7525 S.E. 24th Street. Title: “The Three Shofar Blasts: Tekiah, Teruah, and Shevarim.” Presented by Rabbi Yechezkel Kornfeld of Congregation Shevet Achim. Dinner: 6:30 p.m. Lecture: 7 p.m. Q&A: 7:45 p.m. Lecture is free. Community is welcome. Contact: events@shevetachim.com.

Tuesday | 27

Youth Soccer Night at MIHS: Sept. 27, Mercer Island High School, 9100 S.E. 42nd Street. JV Soccer vs Sammamish: 5:30 p.m. Barbeque/Concessions Open: 6 p.m. Varsity Soccer vs Sammamish: 7:30 p.m. Prizes: 8:15 p.m. Celebrate soccer on Mercer Island with the community. Free admission for kids who wear their Mercer Island youth soccer jerseys, and coaches. There will be chili dogs, prizes and lots of fun for the whole family.

Saturday | 1

Mercer Island Firefighters Union Local 1762 Pancake Breakfast: 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Oct. 1, Station 91, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. Mercer Island Firefighters Union is partnering with Susan G. Komen for breast cancer awareness. Everyone is welcome for a morning of coffee, juice and pancakes. Suggested donation: $5. Mercer Island Firefighters Supporter T-shirts available for $20 in pink and white. All proceeds from the event and T-shirt sales will go to Susan G. Komen. Donations can be made at: www.info-komen.org/goto/Mercer and click on Mercer Island firefighters link, or mail donations to Mercer Island Firefighters, P.O. Box 1114, Mercer Island, WA 98040.

Brain Rules for Baby Workshop: 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Oct. 1, Stroum JCC, 3801 East Mercer Way. Meet New York Times bestselling author John Medina. Workshop addresses the best way to raise a smart, happy baby through age 5. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Cost: $50. Space is limited. To register visit: www.brownpapertickets.com/event191520.

Mountains to Sound Greenway Volunteer Event: Invasive Plant Removal at Luther Burbank Park, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Oct. 1, 2040 84th Ave. S.E. Half day shifts available. Remove various invasive species such as blackberry, ivy, holly and more to ensure the survival of the native vegetation. www.mtsgreenway.org.

Mandarin-Speaking Mommy & Me Group Planning Meeting: 11 a.m., Oct. 1, Community and Event Center, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Practice speaking Mandarin and English in a group setting. For children ages 4-8. Contact: Susan Price, (206) 230-8658 (leave message).

Wednesday | 5

Probus Club of Mercer Island Meeting: 10:30 a.m., Oct. 5, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Speaker: Bellevue businessman Kemper Freeman Jr., longtime shaper of the Eastside business landscape. The public is welcome. Contact: Bob Simonds, (206) 236-2190.

Saturday | 8

EarthCorps Volunteer Event: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Oct. 8, Ellis Pond, 4600 90th Ave. S.E. Join EarthCorps and the City of Mercer Island in helping to restore this one-of-a-kind park on Mercer Island. Ellis Pond is the only year-round pond habitat on Mercer Island. The work party will include removing invasive plants and general site maintenance activities. Sign up at www.earthcorps.org.

Events | Ongoing

Mercer Island Girls Lacrosse Middle School Fall Ball: 5-6:30 p.m., Fridays, Sept. 23-Oct. 28, Islander Middle School, 8225 S.E. 72nd Street. Grades 5-8. Cost: $100 (returning players with valid U.S. Lacrosse membership), $75 (new players plus $25 U.S. Lacrosse membership). Contact: Kara Brodman, miglaxms@gmail.com. www.migirlslacrosse.com.

Congregation Shevet Achim Jewish High Holiday Services: Sept. 24-Oct. 21. All services are held at Northwest Yeshiva High School, 5017 90th Ave. S.E. No tickets required. www.shevetachim.com.

Northwest Harvest Food Drive: ongoing through Sept. 25, New Hope International Church, 9170 S.E. 64th St. Nonperishable food item donations are being accepted through Sept. 25. Contact: Lee Rich, (425) 970-3323.

Library

eReader and Digital Downloads Demonstration: 10 a.m., Sept. 24. Learn how to download KCLS eBooks to your eReader or computer during this Digital Downloads demonstration.

Mercer Island Saturday Matinee Film Series: “Libeled Lady” (1936), 1 p.m., Sept. 24.

Children

Very Young Toddler Times: 10 a.m., Sept. 21 and 28. Ages 12 to 24 months with adult.

Story Time for Terrific Twos: 11 a.m., Sept. 21 and 28. Ages 2 to 3 with adult.

Preschool Story Times: 10:30 a.m., Sept. 22 and 29. Ages 3 to 5 with adult.

Baby and Me Story Times: 10:15 a.m., Sept. 27. Ages 3 to 12 months with adult.

Teens

Teen Zone: 1:45 p.m., Mondays, through Sept. 26. Hang out, do homework, play board games or just chat.

Online Teen Readers: Online book group for teens: blogs.kcls.org/onlineteenreaders.