Events

Island Books Book Signing: 7-8:30 p.m., Feb. 12, Island Books, 3014 78th Ave. S.E. Features Northwest photographer Fred Milkie Jr. and family, with a slide show. Milkie recently released a new photography book of Mount Rainier titled “Alone Around the Mountain: A Visual Memoir.” www.mercerislandbooks.com.

Classics on Film Series: “Bringing Up Baby” (1938), 7 p.m., Feb. 27, Aljoya Theater, 2430 76th Ave. S.E. “Smiles of a Summer Night” (1955): 7 p.m., March 13. Presented by MI Arts Council with MI Sister City Association. With host Lance Rhoades, Classics on Film director. Complimentary parking in Mercer Building lot behind Starbucks. (206) 275-7609, ejleithe@comcast.net, www.mercergov.org/artscouncil.

Wine Tasting: 4-6 p.m., Fridays, Cellar 46, 7650 S.E. 27th St. Free. (206) 407-3016.

Classes

“Body, Balance & Beauty 2010”: 4-6 p.m., Feb. 11, Mercer Wellness Chiropractic, 7650 S.E. 27th St. Open house featuring presentations by Dr. Bill Warburton about hormone issues in women and symptoms relief; complimentary mini massages. (206) 275-4870.

Infant/Child/Adult CPR with AED: 7-9 p.m., Feb. 11, Mercer Island Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. This is not a health care provider class. $15 by check or cash at event. Reservations: (206) 275-7607.

Literary Lecture Series: Romantic Literature, 7 p.m., Feb. 18 and 25, Aljoya, 2430 76th Ave. S.E. Presented by Jeff Woolley, director, “Shakespeare and Friends on Mercer Island”; MI Arts Council and MI Sister City Association. Complimentary parking in Mercer Building lot behind Starbucks. (206) 275-7609, ejleithe@comcast.net, www.mercergov.org/artscouncil.

First Aid and Adult CPR with AED Class: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Feb. 20, Mercer Island Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. $30 by check or cash at event. Reservations: (206) 275-7607.

“How to Get Paid to Buy Your First Home”: 6-7 p.m., March 3, Windermere Mercer Island, 2737 77th Ave. S.E. Presented by Diane Rae Jones, Windermere Real Estate. Free. (206) 232-0446, www.windermeremercerisland.com.

Sogetsu School of Ikebana Japanese Flower-Arranging Winter Classes: 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Fridays, through March 5, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24 St. Instructor: Mitsuko Hakomori. $80. Shirley Hill: (425) 558-0889, shirleyhill@live.com.

“Portraits in Leadership: Timeless Tales for Inspired Living”: 7:15 p.m., Tuesdays, through March 16, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Presented by the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI). Speaker: Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky, of the Chai Center of Greater Seattle. (206) 290-6301. www.myJLI.com.

Stroller Strides Class: 11:30 a.m., Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays; 4 p.m., Tuesdays and Fridays, Club Emerald, 3028 78th Ave. S.E. A nationally acclaimed program that allows moms to exercise with their babies. Dawn Minter: (425) 466-3737, www.strollerstrides.com.

Groups

Earthcorps Volunteer Event: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Clarke Beach: Feb. 13, remove invasive plants. Island Crest Park: Feb. 27, plant native trees. Snacks, tools, gloves provided. Sign up online: www.earthcorps.org.

Mercer Island Radio Operators: meeting, 7 p.m., Feb. 18, Mercer Island Fire Station 91, 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: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mercerdale Hillside Park ecological restoration: Feb. 20. Full day and half-day shifts available. To sign up: (206) 812-0122, volunteer@mtsgreenway.org, www.mtsgreenway.org/volunteer.

West Mercer Elementary School 2010 Science Fair: 5-8 p.m., March 1, 4141 81st Ave. S.E. All-inclusive event for grades K-5. Pacific Science Center’s “Volts and Jolts” show starts at 6:15 p.m. Food will be sold throughout the evening.

Lively Saints of Mercer Island Covenant Church: “The B-52 and Me Too” luncheon program, 12 p.m., March 16, MICC, 3200 78th Ave. S.E. Speaker: Capt. Dave Wellman, who served in the Air Force as a B-52 pilot in Vietnam. $7. Register at MICC or call (206) 232-1015.

Women Painters of Washington Gallery: “Light in the Air,” open through April 30, 701 Fifth Ave., Columbia Center Building, Suite 310, Seattle, 98104. Free and open to the public. www.womenpainters.com.

Library

4400 88th Ave. S.E.

(206) 236-3537

www.kcls.org/mercerisland

Adults

Saturday Matinee Film Series: 1 p.m., Feb. 13, 27. Features screenings of Billy Wilder’s most notable films with refreshments and commentary by film historian, Lance Rhoades.

Opera Preview: “Falstaff,” 7 p.m., Feb. 24. Based upon Shakespeare’s “Merry Wives of Windsor.” Presenter Norm Hollingshead will share musical excerpts from his own recordings.

Talk Time: 6:30 p.m., Wednesdays, through Feb. 24. Improve your speaking and listening skills in this English conversation group.

Children

Italian Story Time: 1:30 p.m., Feb. 14. Ages 3-7 with adult.

Preschool Story Times: 11 a.m., Feb. 16, 23. Ages 3-5. Please register.

Pajamarama Story Time: 7 p.m., Feb. 22. Ages 3-7 with adult.

Baby Rhyming Times: 10 a.m., Tuesdays, through Feb. 23. Ages 3-9 months with adult. Please register.

Story Time for Wonderful Ones: 10 a.m., Wednesdays, through Feb. 24. Stories, rhymes, music, activities. Ages 12-24 months with caregiver.

Story Time for Terrific Twos: 11 a.m., Wednesdays, through Feb. 24. Stories, music, Early Literacy activities. Ages 2-3 with caregiver.

Teens

Teen Zone: 1:30 p.m., Feb. 22. Ages 12 and up. Hang out, do homework, play board games.

Homework Time with Boys & Girls Club: 1:45 p.m., Feb. 22. Start with Homework Time at the library and get help from Boys & Girls Club tutors. Then, catch a van to the Boys & Girls Club for games, crafts, activities. Contact Joan Calden, Ben Ramage for more on Teen Scene: (206) 436-1947. Register at www.mipositiveplace.org.

Parks & Recreation

Events take place at the Community Center at Mercer View (CCMV) unless otherwise noted.

8236 S.E. 24th St.

(206) 275-7609

www.myparksandrecreation.com

Family Valentine’s Dance: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Feb. 12. Dancing, refreshments, photos, games and more. Ages 2-12. $16 per child and one family member; $5 each additional family member.

Beginning Salsa Dancing: 7:45-8:45 p.m., Wednesdays, through Feb. 17. Introduction to the music’s rhythm and timing, and the technique in leading and following. No partner needed. $50/5 weeks.

Super Sitters Babysitting Course: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Feb. 20. Learn basic babysitting skills, safety and infant child care. Bring a lunch. Instructor: Overlake Hospital Medical Instructors. Ages 11-15. $50.

Seniors

Widow and Widowers Grief & Loss Support Group: 1-2:30 p.m., Feb. 11. A support group for senior adult men and women who have lost a spouse or partner. Free. To reserve a spot, call Betsy Zuber at (206) 275-7752.

“Sweet Cakes” Valentine’s Day Tea: 2-3:30 p.m., Feb. 11. Features a variety of teas or coffee, finger sandwiches, sweet cakes, valentine treats, door prizes. Bring a tea cup or teapot. $5. Reservation required. Call 275-7609 to reserve a spot.

Senior Social Program: Tuesdays, Thursdays, through Feb. 23, Slater Room. Activities, lunch.

Grocery Shopping Transportation: Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Get transportation to a North-end grocery store and one errand. Call 275-7895, press 1 and leave a message by 4 p.m. the day before shopping. $2.

Stroum JCC

3801 East Mercer Way

(206) 232-7115

www.sjcc.org

Mercer Island Early Childhood School Open House: 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Feb. 11. The SJCC invites families interested in enrolling in Early Childhood Education programs for the 2009-10 or 2010-11 school year to meet administrators and teachers, see classrooms and learn more about the school’s philosophy. Director Darci Lewis: (206) 388-1993, DarciL@sjcc.org.

Health Talk: “Hearing Loss: How to Recognize It, How It Affects You and What You Can Do About It,” 12 p.m., Feb. 11. Speakers: Allison Zarkos, M.A., and Susan Bean, M.S., certified audiologists at Virginia Mason Listen for Life Center. Please RSVP.

Poker Game: 12:30-3:30 p.m., Feb. 11.

Bowling Wii Game: 12:30-1:30 p.m., Feb. 11.

Tot Shabbat: 9:45-10:30 a.m., Feb. 12. Parents and children are invited to join Erik, with Cantor Kurland from Herzl-Ner Tamid, and celebrate Shabbat with songs and challah.

Bridge: 12:30-3 p.m., Feb. 12.

Mah Jongg: 1-3:30 p.m., Feb. 12.

Active Seniors Club: “Israeli Popular Music and Anthems of Israel,” 10:30 a.m., Feb. 14. Talk begins at 11 a.m. Speaker: Naomi Sokoloff, professor of Hebrew, from the University of Washington Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilization.

“55 Alive” Driver Safety Course: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Feb. 16 and 23. This AARP course is designed for motorists over age 50. Emphasis is on defensive, accident-free driving. Insurance companies provide a discount on auto insurance when the course is completed. Register with Herb Kotkins: (425) 653-5958.

“Purim: Feasting, Fasting and Faith” special lecture: 12 p.m., Feb. 22. Speaker: Barbara Binder Kadden, past director of Jewish Education Center of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle with expertise in Jewish life and literacy. Learn about the relationship between food and faith, the role that food has played in Judaism, and the significance of fasting in Jewish tradition. For reservations contact Roni at RoniA@sjcc.org or (206) 232-7115, ext. 269.

Musical Celebration with Steven Lowe: “Vive La Différence! A Survey of the Great French Composers,” 12:30-2 p.m., Feb. 24, March 3, March 10. $35/SJCC members, $45/non-members. Explore music ranging from Jean-Baptiste Lully through Jean-Philippe Rameau, Hector Berlioz, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and other Gallic composers. Please register.