Events

Real Parenting Town Hall Meeting: “Keeping Our Kids on Track and Preparing for the High School Years,” 7-8:30 p.m., April 16, Islander Middle School. Discuss parenting strategies for preventing teen alcohol/drug abuse with a panel of Mercer Island parents. Cynthia Goodwin, cindy.goodwin@mercergov.org.

Island Crest Way & Merrimount Drop-in Meeting: 7-9 p.m., April 16, Community Center at Mercer View. Review the project with Island residents, discuss the review’s results and project’s next steps with staff, consultant team. www.mercergov.org/ICWMerrimount; Anne Tonella-Howe, (206) 275-7813, anne.tonella-howe@mercergov.org.

IslandVision Community Meeting: on Farmers Market and Earth Day Fair, 7 p.m., April 17, MI Library. Callie Ridolfi, 232-8402.

Youth Theatre Northwest Festivals: “Youth on the Fringe,” student-produced short plays: 8 p.m., April 17-20. Tickets: $8. www.YouthTheatre.org, (206) 232-4145 ext. 100.

Leap for Green Earth Day Celebration: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., April 19, Community Center at Mercer View. Open to the community. Free admission. www.mercergov.org/leapforgreen, 275-7609.

Fire Department Annual Pancake Breakfast: 9 a.m.-noon, April 19, North end MI fire station. Nonperishable food donations to benefit Northwest Harvest, Mercer Island Food Bank. 275-7607.

Restore Pioneer Park: annual Mercer Island Earth Day event, 1-5 p.m., April 20. Join EarthCorps, local neighbors, Parks and Recreation. Remove invasive plants. Chris LaPointe, (206) 322-9296 ext. 217, chris@earthcorps.org; www.earthcorps.org.

JCC Passover Seder celebration: 6:30 p.m., April 20, Stroum JCC, 3801 E. Mercer Way. Kosher dinner catered by Nosh Away. All are welcome. $35 member/$50 non-member adult, $25 member/$35 non-member senior, $22/kids ages 7-15, free/kids 6 and under. Reservations: Roni Antebi, 232-7115 ext. 269, ronia@sjcc.org; seder@sjcc.org.

Hope Clinic screening: April 21, 12301 N.E. 10th Pl., Bellevue. Free screening for adults, children with suspected reading difficulties, dyslexia, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders. Reservations: (425) 462-7800.

Spring Fiction Book Sale: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., April 25; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., April 26; 1-5 p.m., April 27, Mercer Island Library. Paperbacks, hardbacks, children’s books for sale. (206) 236-3537.

Island Children’s Choir 2008-09 auditions: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., April 26-May 3, MI Covenant Church. Open to grades 3-4. No appointments necessary. Marsha Woerner, 232-8007, islandsound@comcast.net.

Emerald City Ringers handbell choir concert: 7:30 p.m., May 3, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church. Sacred music, show tunes, marches. (206) 232-5595.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA): Train to become a volunteer advocate in court for abused, neglected children. Help the legal system work toward safe, permanent homes for children. Must be at least 21, attend 28 hours of training. (206) 296-1120, casa.group@kingcounty.gov, www.metrokc.gov/kcsc/depcasa.htm.

Volunteers needed: MI Youth & Family Services seeks front desk office volunteers at the Luther Burbank building to provide customer service, staff assistance: 9 a.m.-noon, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays; 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Fridays. Kim Richards, 275-7611; www.mercergov.org/yfs.

Classes

Foundation Class – Overcoming Series Part II: 1-2 p.m., Sundays in April, New Hope International Church. “Let go of fear and worry”: April 20. “Live a life of discipline”: April 27. Sign up: 275-1042.

The Book of Revelation/Unexpected Fire Conference: 7:30 p.m., April 25; 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., April 26; 10 a.m., April 27, New Hope International Church. Speaker: Dr. Peter Wyns. Free. www.peterwyns.org.

The Marriage Course: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Wednesdays, through May 28, Mercer Island Covenant Church. $60/couple. Childcare available. Features dessert, video presentation, discussion; an opportunity to spend time together as a couple, looking at important issues in your marriage. www.micc.org.

Clubs

Mercer Island Historical Society: 1 p.m., April 21, Community Center at Mercer View. Speaker: Robert Bostwick, who went to the Luther Burbank Boys School. (206) 236-3274, www.mihistory.org.

Mercer Island Women’s Club: potluck dinner, 6:30 p.m., April 24. Newcomers and women interested in joining the club are welcome. RSVP: Lenore Defliese, 232-7092.

Women Painters of Washington: Gallery receptions, 4-6 p.m., first Thursday. “Visions” exhibition, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through April 25, Women Painters Gallery, Columbia Center third level, 701 Fifth Ave., Seattle. “Mischief” exhibition: April 29-Aug. 1. Free, open to the public. www.womenpainters.com.

Mercer Island Preschool Association: Circus, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., April 26, MI High School. Open to families, young children. Pony rides, carnival games, bounce houses, cupcake walks, face painting. Tickets: 50 cents. Kimberly Orndorff, (206) 722-3158, kimorndorff@hotmail.com; www.mipreschoolassociation.org.

Mercer Island Food Allergy Group: Playdate for children with food allergies, 2-4 p.m., May 4, Lakeridge Elementary School playground. Games, activities for kids, parents. Dawn Jorgenson, 232-0650.

Mercer Island Visual Arts League (MIVAL): Artists displaying their work through April on the Island are Ken Claflin, Countrywide Savings and Loan; Cissy Gray, MI Physical Therapy; Claudia Zimmerman, library; Cassandra Chamberlain, New Vision Eyecare; Sharon Driscoll, Dr. Troy Thomas Dentistry; Judith Roan, Expressions Hair Salon; Jean Davis, Chamber of Commerce.

Library

The following events take place at the Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave. S.E., unless otherwise noted. Please call 236-3537 for more information. Registration is required.

Adults

Computer Classes: Microsoft Word Level I, 9 a.m., April 17. Microsoft Word Level II:

9 a.m., April 24.

Shakespeare’s 444th Birthday Celebration: 11 a.m., April 19. Features “Westside Story” (Natalie Woods, George Chakiris), 1 p.m.

Friends of the MI Library Spring Book Sale: April 24-27. Sale proceeds benefit the library.

Opera Preview lecture: “I Puritani,” 7 p.m., April 30.

Children

Celebrate Shakespeare Day: Cartoon Show, 11 a.m.; Magic Show, noon, April 19. Fun events, cake.

Pajama Story Time: 7 p.m., April 28. Ages 3 to 7. Wear pajamas; enjoy stories, songs.

Teens

2nd Annual Teen Poetry Contest: teens in grades 6-12 are invited to submit original poetry by April 16. Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd places. The top 10 selected poems will be read aloud by the authors at the Poet’s Cafe, April 29.

Afternoon Movie Group: 3:30 p.m., Wednesdays.

Teen Zone: 1 p.m., Mondays. Hang out, do homework, board games, DDR, Guitar Hero.

Game On: 7 p.m., April 22. Video games, Mario Kart, Guitar Hero on the Wii, PS2, GameCube.

Mercer Island Poets’ Cafe: 7 p.m., April 29. Celebrate the poetry of Mercer Island’s teen writers at the 2nd annual Mercer Island Poets’ Cafe. Winners of the Mercer Island Teen Poetry contest will be announced, and the top 10 selected poems will be read aloud by the authors.

Parks &

Recreation

Call (206) 275-7609 or register online at www.myparksandrecreation.com to receive a catalog of the Mercer Island Parks & Recreation Department events. Register for spring/summer activities online. All events are held at the Community Center at Mercer View (CCMV), 8236 S.E. 24th St., unless otherwise specified.

Classic French Films: “La Grande Illusion” (1938), 6:30 p.m., April 24, Community Center at Mercer View. Join the Mercer Island Arts Council, Sister City Association for film presentation. Post-film commentary from Lance Rhoades, film historian. Free admission, popcorn.

Drop-in preschool: 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday. $5/hour.

Classes

Must register: call 275-7609.

Cooking Class: “Spring Salads and Side Dishes,” 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., April 17. Features Lisa Odegard of Odegard Epicurean. $56.

Children’s Technology Workshop: Junior Gamemaker, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Thursdays, April 17–June 5; Grades 3-5; $156. Senior Gamemaker: 5:45-6:45 p.m., Thursdays, April 17-June 5; Grades 5-8; $156. Fundamentals of computer programming, video game design.

Scrapbooking Made Easy: 9:30-11:30 a.m., April 19. Ages 8 and up. $29.

Global Warming Seminar: 6:30-9 p.m., April 22. Ages 15 and up. $14.

Intermediate Italian: 7-9 p.m., Tuesdays, April 22-June 10. Ages 16 and up. $161.

“Parenting Your 1–4-year-old”: 7:30–9 p.m., Wednesdays, through April 23, Calkins Room. Instructor: Donna Ellis, M.C. Learn techniques for parenting this phase in your child’s development. $61/individual; $91/couple.

Wellness Lecture Series: “One Thing: Taking Personal Action on Climate Change,” 6:30-7:30 p.m., April 24, JCC, 3801 E. Mercer Way. Speaker: Dan Oshea, Sales Accountant Executive of the Mountain Radio 103.7. Free, open to the public. 206-232-7115, www.sjcc.org/fitness/wellness.

Collette Vacations Presentation: 10 a.m.-12 p.m., April 28. An informational meeting highlighting upcoming, affordable trips for the year. Katie Borden, 275-7862. Free.

Babysitting Class: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., May 3. Ages 11-17. $48.

Dog Obedience Classes: 4:30-5:30 p.m., Sundays through May 18. No dogs the first night. $96/six weeks.

Belly Dancing: 7-8 p.m., through May 27, Dance Room. $81, 8 weeks; $12/drop-in.

MI Writing Club: 4:15–6:15 p.m., through May 27. Grades 2-3. $115.

Hula Hoop Dance Class: 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m., through June 12, Dance Room. Instructor: Marcie Spahi. For adults. 10 weeks/$121; drop-in/$12.

ABC & Reading: 2-3 p.m., Fridays, through June 27, Slater Room. For ages 3-5. 12 weeks/$325; sibling/$292.

Spanish through Creative Arts & Games: 3:30–5 p.m., Fridays, through June 27, Slater Room. For ages 3-5. 12 weeks/$325; sibling/$292.

Golf Program: Mondays through Oct. 27. 9 and 18 Hole offered. Transportation available weekly to different courses. $20/membership. Kirk Willms, 275-7863.

Jazzercise: 9:30-10:30 a.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

Writing Club: 4–6 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays. For grades 2–5.

Bridge lessons: 10 a.m.-noon, Tuesdays, Thursdays. Instructor: Aidee Pokroy. $63/six weeks.

Parks & Rec. Seniors

Solemates Walking Group: depart CCMV at 8:30 a.m., April 23. $2.

Trailmates Hiking Group: Little Si, April 24. Moderate hike, 4-7 miles. Limited space: 10 hikers. $5. Fran Call, 232-4032.

Grocery shopping transportation: Wednesday mornings. Call 275-7895, ext. 1, leave a message by 4 p.m., day before shopping. $1.

Senior Lunch at Covenant Shores: noon, Tuesdays, Thursdays. Park at CCMV, ride shuttle to Covenant Shores; transportation available round-trip from home if you don’t drive. $4.25. Registration required: 275-7895, ext. 2, leave message.

Boys &

Girls Club

All events take place at the Boys & Girls Club, 2825 West Mercer Way, unless otherwise noted. For more information or to register: 232-4548, www.mipositiveplace.org.

Guitar Classes: pre-teen guitar, 3 p.m., April 28. Instructor: Bosworth of MusicWorks. 11 and under.

Champions Gymnastics (K-3rd grade) class: registration is open. Session 1: 5-5:45 p.m., through April 30. $100. My Gym, Bellevue.

Rock Shop: 4 p.m., Mondays. Jam session for beginners on all instruments who have had six months of lessons. Rhythm, lead playing, classic rock songs, basic 12-bar blues structure. 9 classes/$189.

MI Judo Dojo: practices 6:15-8 p.m., Tuesdays. Instructor: Harold Yamada.

Preschool

Preschool Rainy Day Gym: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Wednesdays through May 1. Indoor playground. $3/visit.

JCC

All events are located at the Stroum JCC, 3801 E. Mercer Way. Please contact Roni Antebi at (206) 232-7115 ext. 269 or ronia@sjcc.org to RSVP and register for all events.

Conversation with the Rabbi for Passover: 12:30 a.m., April 17. Conversation with Rabbi Toban of the Seattle Kollel about Passover. Have a Torah experience.

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., April 18. Roozengaarde gardens, gift shop; lunch, shopping in La Conner. Lunch on your own. $15 (get picked up by the CCMV bus).

“The Death of a Baby”: 12:30-1:30 p.m., April 21. Speaker: retired lawyer Al Ziontz on true stories of cases from his files at a round table meeting. Discussion, question and answer session.

Poker game: 12:30-3 p.m., April 22.

Computer classes – Word: 10–11:15 a.m., April 23, 30, May 7. Join a trained instructor on the King County Library System’s Techlab to learn Microsoft Word. Students must attend all three meetings. Free.

The Active Seniors Club Presents: 10:30 a.m., April 23. Lessons learned from Holocaust survivors. Features photographs of Holocaust survivors and their children, with interviews describing what the children learned from their parents; audio visual presentation by Doris Bean and photographer Ron Hammond.

Introduction to Mah Jongg: 2–4 p.m., Mondays, through April 28. Learn the tiles, game rules. $10/members, $15/non-members.

Mah Jongg: 12:30-3:30 p.m., Fridays, Polack Lounge. Ancient Chinese game of skill, chance. Free/JCC members, $2/non-members.

Bridge Group: 12:30-3 p.m., Fridays, Room 200. Prior Bridge playing experience required. Coffee, tea. Bring brown bag lunch. Free/JCC members, $2/non-members.

Religion

Congregational Church of Mercer Island: Sunday worship at 10:30 a.m., nursery care provided. Children’s Sunday School during worship. Adult Education: 9 a.m., Sundays. High School Youth Group/Sunday School: 6 p.m. Middle School Youth Group: 6-8 p.m., Wednesdays. Bible Studies: 7:45 p.m., Wednesdays; 6:15 p.m., Thursdays. 4545 Island Crest Way, (206) 232-7800, office@ucc-ccmi.net, www.ucc-ccmi.org.

Congregation Shevet Achim: Shabbat services, 9 a.m. between Sukkot, Pesach; 9:30 a.m. between Pesach, Sukkot. Northwest Yeshiva High School sanctuary, 5017 90th Ave. S.E. Hospitality@shevetachim.com; President Rich Gilmore, (206) 232-1060.

Emmanuel Episcopal Church: Sunday worship services/Holy Eucharist, 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. Contemporary Eucharist: 5 p.m., chapel. Emmanuel Children’s Breakfast: 9 a.m. Children’s Choir rehearsal: 9:30 a.m. Emmanuel Day School Dad’s Night: 7-8 p.m., April 16. Diocesan-wide Ministry Resource Day: April 19, Highline Community College. Bridge Ministry Dinner: 4 p.m., April 20, Parish Hall. Tai Chi classes: 6:30 p.m., Mondays, chapel. Bible Study: 1 p.m., Tuesdays, Parish Library. Healing Service: 9:30 a.m., Wednesdays. Tea and Talk Knitting Group: 2 p.m., Thursdays. 4400 86th Ave. S.E. 232-1572, mail@emmanuelmi.org.

First Church of Christ, Scientist: services and Sunday School, 10 a.m. S.E. 47th & Island Crest Way. Wednesday meetings: 7:30 p.m. Childcare available. Reading Room: open weekdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 7605 S.E. 27th St. 232-0175, fccsmi@hotmail.com.

First Taiwanese Presbyterian Church: Christian Education, 9:15 a.m. Worship: 10:40 a.m., Sundays, Fireside Room. Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. (206) 232-5595.

Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation: services, 6 p.m., Fridays and 9:15 a.m., Saturdays. Daily Minyan: 7 a.m. Minyan at 9 a.m. on Sundays, secular holidays. Pre-Neg: 5:30 p.m., Fridays. 3700 E. Mercer Way. (206) 232-8555, www.h-nt.org.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church: Sunday worship schedule, 8 a.m., 10:15 a.m. (childcare available). Sunday School/education hour: 9 a.m. Midweek Compline service: a new ongoing worship offering, 7 p.m., Wednesdays. “Worship Workshop” with David Locke: 6:30 p.m., Wednesdays, explore the whys and hows of liturgy, then let your voice ring out in the Atrium for evening prayers. Bible Study: 10 a.m., Thursdays. 8501 S.E. 40th St. (206) 232-3270. www.htlcmi.org.

Latter Day Saints Mormon Church: Sacrament meeting, 9 a.m. Sunday School: 10:10 a.m. Priesthood, Relief Society, Young Women: 11:10 a.m. 4001 Island Crest Way. 236-2957.

Mercer Island Covenant Church: worship services, 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., Sundays. Sunday School for all ages: 9:45 a.m. High School Youth Group: 6:30 p.m., Sundays. Marriage Course: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Wednesdays, through May 28, $60/couple. Middle School Youth Group: 7 p.m., Tuesdays. Men’s Open Prayer Group: 6:15 a.m., Wednesdays. Community Dinner: 5:30 p.m., Wednesdays, $3/adults, $1.50-$2/children. Women’s Oasis Bible Study: 9:15 a.m., Thursdays, childcare provided. Women’s Prayer Ministry: 8 a.m., Thursdays. MOPs (Mothers of Preschoolers): 9:30 a.m., first/third Fridays. Men’s Bible Study: 6:30 a.m., Saturdays. 3200 78th Ave. S.E. (206) 232-1015, ext. 100, www.micc.org.

Mercer Island Presbyterian Church: Sunday worship — Breakfast Service, 8:15 a.m.; Traditional Service, 10:35 a.m.; Evening Service, 5 p.m. Young Adult BBQ’s: Mondays, 6-7:30 p.m., begins April 21, Paul and Devon Barrett’s home, paul@mipc.org. New Women’s Bible Study, “A Shepherd’s Look at Psalm 23”: 9:30-11 a.m., Fridays, April 18-June 6, Fireside Room; Stephanie Creswell, cresfamily@comcast.net. Handel’s Easter “Messiah”: 10:35 worship, April 20; Festival Choir, orchestra, MIPC organist Jieun Kim Newland, MIPC Director of Music Ministries Cheryl Storey. Super 60’s & Beyond: 10 a.m.-1 p.m., April 23; lunch featuring Terry Moreman, MI Chamber of Commerce director. J-J-J Jitterbug! Dance Lessons: after 5 p.m. worship service, April 20, 27, May 4, Fellowship Hall, Rich Stillman. Yakima River View Hike: 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., May 3, meet at MIPC; 4-5 mile hike, 1,000-foot elevation gain. Seekers/Joiners Class: 6:30-8:30 p.m., May 8, 15, 22, learn more about MIPC. Adults Mariners Game Night Out: May 9, limited group seating; $11/each; Whitney Showalter, whitneys@mipc.org. Women’s Bible Study: 10-11:30 a.m., Mondays, Fireside Room; Linda Fowler, 232-3307, Linda.fowler@comcast.net. 3605 84th Ave. S.E. (206) 232-5595, www.mipc.org.

Mercer Island United Methodist Church: Sunday School, 10 a.m. Sunday worship: 11 a.m. Childcare available. All are welcome. 7070 S.E. 24th St. (206) 232-3044, www.miumc.org.

New Hope International Church: Sunday services, 10 a.m. (English), 2 p.m. (Thai). Book of Revelation/Unexpected Fire Conference: April 25-27. Foundation Class — Overcoming Series Part II: 1-2 p.m., Sundays in April, sign up in church lobby. A prayer session is available for those who need healing. 9170 S.E. 64th St. (206) 275-1042, www.newhic.org.

Redeemer Lutheran Church: worship and kids’ services, 10 a.m. Fellowship and Bible study: 11 a.m. All are welcome. Redeemer is handicap-accessible. Worship is uplifting, joyful. 6001 Island Crest Way. Pastor Bill Clements, (206) 232-1711, www.redeemerlutheranchurch.us.

St. Monica Catholic Church: Are you interested about the Catholic faith? You are invited to join St. Monica Catholic Church’s RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation Adults) program, an ancient church process to enable anyone to learn about and participate in the Roman Catholic faith. All are welcome. The class meets 7:30-9 p.m., Wednesdays, St. Monica School Library, 4320 87th Ave. S.E.; Dan Stevenson, 232-9829. Childcare provided. 4301 88th Ave. S.E. (206) 232-2900.