Mercer Island High School will host the annual 24-hour Relay for Life event on Saturday, May 4, at the high school’s track. The event is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Learn more at www.mirelay.org.
Wednesday | 1
Probus Club of Mercer Island Meeting: 10:30 a.m., May 1, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Speaker: Bellevue Mayor Conrad Lee. Public welcome.
Thursday | 2
MIVAL Meeting: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., May 2, Emmanuel Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 4400 86th Ave. S.E. General membership meeting, potluck luncheon. High school scholarship award.
Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce Luncheon: 12-1:15 p.m., May 2, MICEC, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Have you ever wondered why your property taxes went up when the value of your property went down? Speaker: King County Assessor Lloyd Hara. Open to the public. Reservations required. Cost: $15 (members), $20 (nonmembers). RSVP: (206) 232-3404.
Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group: 3-4:30 p.m., May 2, MICEC, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Discuss challenges, problems.
“Spring” In Full Swing Artist Reception: 5-8 p.m., May 2, MIVAL Gallery, 2836 78th Ave. S.E. “My Journey Into Abstraction” is open May 2-June 2. Art by Pia Messina. www.piapaintings.com.
Island Girls Choir 2013-14 Auditions: 6-8 p.m., May 2, Mercer Island Covenant Church, 3200 78th Ave. S.E. Girls currently in grades 3 through 5 are welcome. Contact: Marsha, islandsound@comcast.net, (206) 232-807.
Mercer Island Freemasons Meeting: 6:30 p.m., May 2, VFW Hall, 1836 72nd Ave. S.E. Dinner: 6:30. Meeting: 7:30. www.mercerislandmasons.org.
Friday | 3
“Meet the Artist” with Leila Akhmet Othman: 6-9 p.m., May 3, Shorewood Heights Pavilion (Activities Center), 9011 West Shorewood Drive. Refreshments provided.
Team Survivor Northwest Evening: 6:30-8:30 p.m., May 3, Island Books, 3014 78th Ave. S.E. Shop at Island Books and 20 percent of proceeds will benefit TSNW. Features wine, cheese, music by Counter-Clockwise. Han’s Garden until 9 p.m.; 15% of dinner proceeds also benefit TSNW.
Saturday | 4
CrestFest Annual Open House and Plant Sale: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., May 4, Crest Learning Center, 4150 86th Ave. S.E. Sustainably grown plants from toxin-free greenhouse. Plants sold through June 15. www.mercerislandschools.org.
Mercer Island Relay for Life: 2 p.m., May 4 – 8 a.m., May 5, Mercer Island High School track, 9100 S.E. 42nd Street. Overnight fundraiser for American Cancer Society. www.mirelay.org.
Luther Burbank Playground Auction: 6:30-9:30 p.m., May 4, Cast Iron Studios, 10650 N.E. 4th Street. All are welcome at fundraiser for Luther Burbank Playground Project. Cost: $50-75. www.mipreschoolassociation.org.
Sunday | 5
Israel at 65 Celebration: 1-4 p.m., May 5, SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way. Learn culture and traditions. Concert: 3:10 p.m., Meshi Kleinstein, Avi Avliav. Free admission. www.sjcc.org.
Mercerwood Shore Club Annual Open House: 1-4 p.m., May 5, 4150 East Mercer Way. Swimming, tennis, beach activities, free hotdog lunch. www.mercerwood.com.
Tuesday | 7
Mercer Island Communities That Care Town Hall Meeting: 6:30-8 p.m., May 7, MIHS Library, 9100 S.E. 42nd Street. For more: (206) 275-7743.
Thursday | 9
NYHS Gourmet Food & Dessert Auction: 6:30-9 p.m., May 9, Seward Park, residence of Isaac Varon and Susan Marks. Free event open to all. Handcrafted delicacies to be auctioned. Benefits NYHS. RSVP to: Joy Maimon, joyalegra@gmail.com, or Melissa Rivkin, mrivkin@nyhs.net, (206) 232-5272.
Events | Ongoing
Artists Collective Spring Show: 5-9 p.m., May 2; 10 a.m.-9 p.m., May 3; 10 a.m.-1 p.m., May 4, Leslie West’s Studio, 8798 N. Mercer Way. Artists include: Leslie West, Jan Reingold, Linda Van Hare, Helene Fuhrman, Amy Duncan, Kate Hartley. http://fullcirclestudio.wix.com/artiststudiosale.
Events | Upcoming
Native Plant Sale: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., May 11, Mercerdale Park, S.E. 32nd Street and 77th Avenue S.E. Benefits Central Puget Sound Chapter Washington Native Plant Society. www.wnps.org.
Mercer Island Boys & Girls Club Spring Party and Auction: 6 p.m., May 11, West Mercer Island Boys & Girls Club, 2825 W. Mercer Way. Theme: Prom “Forever Young.” Register online: mi.positiveplace.org.
“My Grandfather Came From Poison” and “Who The Heck Is Ida Gerskill: Some Challenges of Researching Jewish Names”: 7 p.m., May 13, SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way. Presenter: Meredith Hoffman, professional genealogist from Boston. Doors open: 6:30 p.m. Cost: $5 (nonmembers).
Mercer Island Sister City Association Annual Soirée: 7:30-9:30 p.m., May 17, Kaspar’s Restaurant on Lower Queen Anne in Seattle. No-host wine reception, five-course French-inspired feast. Reservation deadline: May 10. www.mercerislandsistercity.org.
Eastside Symphony Concert: 7:30 p.m., May 18, Redmond Performing Arts Center, 17272 N.E. 104th St., Redmond. Last concert of season. Features Islander Natalya Ageyeva on piano. www.eastsidesymphony.org.
Mercer Island Farmers Market For The Love of Food Benefit Dinner: 6-9 p.m., May 19, Aljoya, 2430 76th Ave. S.E. Deadline to buy tickets: May 12. Eat, shop and learn about 2013 MIFM season. Online registration: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/346398. www.mifarmersmarket.org.
Library
4400 88th Ave. S.E.
(206) 236-3537
www.kcls.org/MercerIsland
Computer Class: Microsoft Excel Level 3, 7 p.m., May 1. Registration required.
Opera Preview: “Voix Humaine/Suor Angelica,” 7 p.m., May 1. Presented by Norm Hollingshead.
STARS Workshop – Curriculum Development Based on Favorite Children’s Books: 7 p.m., May 2. Presented by Darlene Cook, ECE Trainer & Consultant. Please register.
A Place at the Table: “Dining At Downton Abbey – A Trial By Fork,” 1 p.m., May 4. Presented by Tames Alan. www.kcls.org/cooks.
Sing With Our Kids – For Adults Only: 7 p.m., May 9. Remember your favorite songs; learn fun and creative ways to share them.
Computer Class: One-on-One Assistance, 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., May 18. Registration required.
Drop-In to Learn About eBooks: 1 p.m., May 19. Get started with KCLS eBooks.
Parenting Teens: Internet Safety and Cyberbullying, 7 p.m., May 21. Join Seattle Police Department’s Stefanie Thomas to learn about the reality of teens as targets online. Thomas will address issues of privacy and the protection of personal information. Specifically, learn about ways to recognize and prevent cyberbullying and how to monitor your teen’s social networking behavior.
Children
Young Toddler Story Times: 10 a.m., Wednesdays, May 1-15. Ages 12-24 months with caregiver.
Toddler Story Times: 11 a.m., Wednesdays, May 1-15. Ages 2-3.
Infant Story Times: 10 a.m., Tuesdays, May 7-14. Newborn to 12 months with adult.
Preschool Story Times: 11 a.m., Tuesdays, May 7-14. Ages 3-5 with adult.
Spring Nature Sketching: 1:30 p.m., May 11. Presented by Molly Hashimoto. Ages 8 and older. Let the spring buds and blooms you see in Mercer Island Library’s Learning Garden inspire you to draw and paint-use pencil, pen and watercolor to capture all the beauty of the emerging season.
Musical Fun with Alleyoop: 7 p.m., May 16. Ages 3 and older with adult. Join storyteller and musician Al Hirsch for stories, music, activities and fun.
Teens
SAT Practice Test: 1 p.m., May 18. Practice for the May SAT. Receive the test back with answers the same day. There will be optional time for questions and essay help. Presented by Kaplan Pre-College Test Prep. Get tips and your scores back on Thursday, May 23, 6:30 p.m. at the library. Please register.
Teen Advisory Board: 7 p.m., May 28. Teens, help plan programs in the library and in the community.
Study Zone: 4 p.m., Tuesdays. Grades K-12. Drop in for free homework help from trained volunteer tutors.
Teen Zone: Study and Games: Mondays-Thursdays, after school with some exceptions. Hang out, do homework, play board games. No Teen Zone on Monday, May 27.
