Events

Floraleda Sacchi Harp Concert: 7:30 p.m., April 21, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Admission: $10. Discounted $5 youth tickets available at Bli Music on Mercer Island. www.brownpapertickets.com/event/106731.

Leap for Green Celebration: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., April 24, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Celebrate Earth Day with the Mercer Island community. For kids of all ages, featuring the Reptile Man, Alleyoop, recycled arts and crafts, folk music by Patrick and Friends, and electric bikes. Bring nonperishable food items to donate to the Mercer Island Food Pantry. Free. (206) 275-7609, www.mercergov.org/leapforgreen.

Friends of Luther Burbank Park Guided Wetland Tour: 2 p.m., April 24. Meet at Community Center at Mercer View, East Patio. Part of Leap for Green. Wear boots and weather-appropriate gear. Sue Stewart: 232-7402.

European Musical Feast: 7-10 p.m., April 24, Congregational Church on Mercer Island, 4545 Island Crest Way. Features food and music from five countries. The Congregational Church choir presents music with the cuisine of each country. $40. (206) 232-7800, office@ucc-ccmi.org.

Crest Plant Sale: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., May 1, Crest Learning Center, 4150 36th Ave. S.E. Features a variety of herbs, vegetables and flowers to choose from, and live music.

“Raising Kids and Changing Today’s Drinking Culture: Uniting Community Leaders to Offset Powerful Norms”: 7-9 p.m., May 4, Mercer Island High School Commons, 9100 S.E. 42nd St. Help MI Youth and Family Services/Communities That Care take underage substance abuse prevention to a new level at this presentation and community dialogue featuring Nancy Lee, Islander and social marketing expert. Limited space. RSVP to Sharon Broz: sharon.broz@mercergov.org.

“Whatchamadoozie” Musical: April 23-May 8, Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th St. Friday, Saturday: 7 p.m. Saturday, Sunday matinees: 2 p.m. For ages 5 and up. Opening Night Gala: $17/adults, $15/youth, seniors. Tickets: $15/adults, $13/youth, seniors. Special ticket offer: Pay What You Will performance, 2 p.m., April 25; limited seating; advanced reservations encouraged. (206) 232-4145, ext. 109. www.youththeatre.org.

Groups

MIVAL Art Gallery: Thursday Artist and Gallery Reception, 5-7 p.m., April 22. With “Into Spring” new monthly exhibition. (206) 683-9455, www.mival.us.

Rummage Sales: 5-8 p.m., April 23; 9 a.m.-4 p.m., April 24, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., April 24, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 8501 S.E. 40th St., with $1 per bag sale from 3-4 p.m. A portion of proceeds will be donated to Mercer Island Youth & Family services. www.mipc.org.

Rotary at Work Day: 8 a.m., April 24, Rotary Park, across from St. Monica Church and the library. Rotary Club of Mercer Island teams up with Parks and Recreation to plant shrubs and small trees around the well building, add topsoil and mulch to disturbed areas. Bring work gloves. All are welcome. Coffee and pastries provided. (206) 419-0657, mike.cero@mercergov.org.

Earthcorps Volunteer Event: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Clarke Beach: April 24, remove blackberry patch, English ivy. Island Crest Park: May 8, remove invasive plants. Snacks, tools, gloves provided. Sign up online: www.earthcorps.org.

Katan Children: Earth Day Celebration, April 24-25, Katan, 2856 80th Ave. S.E. A variety of children’s eco-friendly activities in celebration of Earth Day are offered. www.katanchildren.com.

Super Seniors: monthly luncheon, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., April 28, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, Fireside Room, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Ages 60+, but all ages welcome. Speaker: Betsy Zuber, MI Youth & Family Services geriatric specialist, on “Aging Well.” www.mipc.org.

Emergency Volunteer Lead Quarterly Meeting: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., April 29, City Hall Council Chambers, 9611 S.E. 36th St. Emergency preparedness meeting consists of team leads from committees such as Disaster Medical, Search & Rescue, Shelter. Officer Jennifer Franklin: (206) 275-7905.

Island Children’s Choir Auditions: 5-6:30 p.m., April 29, May 6, Mercer Island Covenant Church, 3200 78th Ave. S.E. Open to girls currently in third through fifth grades. For 2010-11 season. No preparation or appointment necessary. (206) 232-8007, islandsound@comcast.net.

Probus Club of Mercer Island: Annual Spring Luncheon, 12 p.m., May 5, Aljoya, 2340 76th Ave. Members are encouraged to carpool from the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church as parking is limited at Aljoya. Bob Simonds: (206) 236-2190.

Puget Sound Association of Phi Beta Kappa: “Kaffeeklatsch: In the Footsteps of Remarkable Women,” 2 p.m., May 8, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Julie Hungar will read excerpts from her recent book, co-written with Janet Lieberman: “The Wisdom Trail: In the Footsteps of Remarkable Women.” The public is invited. Suggested donation: $5. president@psa-pbk.org; www.psa-pbk.org.

Mercer Island Historical Society: meeting, 1 p.m., May 17, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Speaker: Harry Rutstein, author of “In the Footsteps of Marco Polo: A Twentieth Century Odyssey.” www.mihistory.org.

Lively Saints of Mercer Island Covenant Church: luncheon, 12 p.m., May 18, Mercer Island Covenant Church, 3200 78th Ave. S.E. Luncheon program for the community: “From China to Japan (A 25-year Journey)”. Mel Metcalf, a Covenant missionary, will speak on having prepared to go to China in 1948 and then suddenly being rerouted to minister in Japan. $7. Registrations accepted. Ages 50+ years. www.micc.org.

Classes

“Back to the Greeks” Two-Part Series: 7 p.m., Aljoya Conference Center, 2430 S.E. 76th. April 15: Part One, “Greek Art and Philosophy.” April 29: Part Two, “Homer’s Odyssey.” Speaker: Lance Rhoades, Mercer Island Art Council “Classics on Film Program” scholar, lecturer and leader. Multimedia presentations and discussions. Free admission and parking. www.mercergov.org/artscouncil.

CPR Classes: Infant/Child/Adult CPR with AED: 7-9 p.m., April 22, May 17, June 28; $15 check/cash at event. First Aid and Adult CPR with AED: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., May 1 and 15, June 5; $30 check/cash at event. Mercer Island Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. Reserve a space: (206) 275-7607.

Master Gardener Plant/Information Clinics: 1-5 p.m., Fridays, April 23-Aug. 27, Rite Aid, 3023 78th Ave. S.E. Bring your gardening questions to the annual clinic.

“The Way to Pray” Series: 7:30-9 p.m., Congregation Shevet Achim, 5017 90th Ave. S.E. April 26: “When You Come Really Really Late, Then What?” May 10: Part A “Shavuot Style.” May 17: Part B “Shavuot Style.” Speaker: Rabbi Kornfeld, on the structure of the Shabbos davening.

Drawing for Botanical Illustration: 10 a.m.-1 p.m., May 10-11, Aljoya Artist Studio Room, 2430 76th Ave. S.E. Workshops open to the public. Louise Smith, instructor at the UW and the Center for Urban Horticulture, will teach how to draw natural flora. $95. To sign up, contact Charlette Haugen: (206) 282-1813, chhaugen@aol.com.

Volunteer Emergency Communications: 9 a.m.-12 p.m., May 15, City Hall Council Chambers, 9611 S.E. 36th St. Third disaster preparedness class of nine in the Emergency Volunteer Series, to focus on emergency communications. With a (CERT) Community Emergency Response Team Base. RSVP to Officer Franklin: (206) 275-7905.

“Inroads: A Spiritual Path to Inner Freedom, Wisdom and Creativity”: 1 p.m., May 15, Congregation Shevet Achim, 5017 90th Avenue S.E. Speaker: Rabbi Mark Spiro, “LivingJudaism” executive director. Childcare available.

Library

4400 88th Ave. S.E.

(206) 236-3537

www.kcls.org/mercerisland

Adults

STARS Workshop: “Making Science Fun,” 1 p.m., April 22. Discover ideas for designing creative science activities with low-cost materials and ways to teach basic science concepts. Speaker: Dr. Sobey, author of “Wacky Water Fun With Science” and “Fantastic Flying Fun With Science.” Provides 2 hours of STARS credit in Curriculum Development.

Opera Preview: “Amelia,” 7 p.m., May 5. Presented by lecturer Norm Hollingshead, with musical excerpts. “Amelia” is Seattle Opera’s first world-premiere opera in more than three decades; based on an original story by Stephen Wadsworth.

Great Singers — Three Post-War Italian Tenor Greats: Giuseppe Di Stefano, 7 p.m., May 10; 7 p.m., May 20, Carlo Bergonzi; 7 p.m., May 24, Luciano Pavarotti. Lectures presented by lecturer Norm Hollingshead, with musical excerpts.

Urban Chickens 101: 2 p.m., May 15. Get a brief, general overview on what to consider when raising chickens. Registration required.

Book Group: “Digging to America,” by Anne Tyler, 7:30 p.m., May 17.

Children

Baby Rhyming Times: 10 a.m., Tuesdays, through April 27. Books, music, nursery rhymes, tickles and bounces for pre-walkers. Ages 3-12 months with caregiver.

Preschool Story Times: 11 a.m., Tuesdays, through April 27. Ages 3-5.

Pajamarama Story Time: 7 p.m., May 3. Ages 3 to 7 with adult.

Baby Rhyming Time: 10 a.m., May 4. Books, music, nursery rhymes, tickles and bounces for pre-walkers. Ages 3 to 12 months with adult.

Preschool Story Time: 11 a.m., May 4. Ages 3 to 5 with adult.

“I am NOT Sillye”: 10:30 a.m., May 12. An interactive show with original songs, crowd-pleasing favorites and silliness. Dan Cohen is an award-winning singer/songwriter who has performed on Disney’s JoJo’s Circus and Nickelodeon television. Ages 3 and older with adult.

Chinese Story Times: 10:30 a.m., Saturdays, through May 22. Ages 3-7 with adult.

Teens

SAT Prep with Sandweiss: 2-5 p.m., Sundays, through April 25. The series includes three prep sessions, a practice test and a review of test results. Participants must register for and attend all five sessions.

SAT Prep Series with Kaplan: 12 p.m., May 8 and 15. Join Kaplan for a practice SAT, as well as a score and strategy session. Registration required.

Teen Advisory Board: 7 p.m., May 18. Earn one volunteer credit hour and voice your opinions on teen materials, services and programs.

Meet the Author: Laurie Halse Anderson, 1 p.m., May 22. Laurie Halse Anderson will discuss her works, “Speak,” “Chains” and “Wintergirls,” and take questions from the audience via video conference. http://blogs.kcls.org/onlineteenreaders.

Teen Zone: 1:30 p.m., Mondays, through May 24. Hang out, do homework, play board games. Ages 12 and up.

Homework Time with Boys & Girls Club: 1:45 p.m., Mondays, through May 31. Start with Homework Time at the library and get help from Boys & Girls Club tutors. Then, catch a van to the club for games, crafts, activities. Contact (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

Spring/Summer 2010 Registration: The new catalog is available online, at the library and the Parks and Recreation office. Sign up online or call 275-7609 for spring classes and summer camps.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers: 9:45 a.m.-12 p.m., Mondays, through May 24, Clarke Room. Educational series to help family caregivers take care of themselves while caring for a relative with a chronic illness. Registration required.

Men’s & Coed Softball Leagues: 6-9:30 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, May through August. Each league has two divisions: intermediate and advanced. Games are played once a week. Ryan Daly: (206) 275-7863. $677/team. Location: Homestead Park.

Senior Golf: Mondays, through Oct. 25. Registration is required for any golf outings: $22/season.

Seniors

Widow and Widowers Grief & Loss Support Group: 1-2:30 p.m., May 13. A support group for senior adult men and women who have lost a spouse or partner in death. Free. To reserve a spot, call Betsy Zuber at (206) 275-7752.

Senior Lunch at Covenant Shores: 12 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays. Park at CCMV and ride the shuttle; transportation is also available round-trip from your home. $5. Registration required: call 275-7895 and press 2 to leave a message to reserve a spot.

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, leave a message by 4 p.m. the day before shopping. $2.