Events

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.

Keewaydin Open House: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., May 1; 12-5 p.m., May 2, VFW Post 5760, 1836 72nd Ave. S.E. Open to the public, free of charge. History, patriotism and preservation subjects and displays supporting local veterans’ efforts to earn national level grant funding as part of the Seattle-Puget Sound region “Partners in Preservation” campaign. www.vfwmercerisland.org/events.

All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast: 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m., May 2, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 4400 86th Ave. S.E. The annual fundraiser is hosted, prepared and serviced by Boy Scout Troop 457 members. Pancakes, ham, fruit salad, juice, coffee, tea.

“Amelia” Opera Preview: 5 p.m., May 2, Aljoya, 2430 76th Ave. S.E. Presented by Mercer Island Preview Group of Seattle Opera Guild. Wine/Silent Auction: 5 p.m. Dinner: 6 p.m. Live preview: 7:30 p.m. $65.

“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.

41st District Town Hall Meeting: 10-11:15 a.m., May 8, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. The public is invited to a discussion forum with state senator Randy Gordon. www.sdc.wa.gov/senators/gordon/town-hall.

“Whatchamadoozie” Musical: through 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. Tickets: $15/adults, $13/youth, seniors. (206) 232-4145, ext. 109. www.youththeatre.org.

Groups

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.

Mercer Island Visual Arts League (MIVAL) meeting: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., May 6, Aljoya Retirement Community. MIVAL will announce the recipients of the MIVAL High School Seniors scholarships of 2010. The students, their parents and art teachers are invited to the awards luncheon, featuring students’ and MIVAL members’ art presentations. The public is welcome. www.mival.us.

Earthcorps Volunteer Event: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Island Crest Park: May 8, remove invasive plants. Snacks, tools, gloves provided. Sign up online: www.earthcorps.org.

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.

Mercer Island Radio Operators meeting: 7 p.m., May 20, 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.

Mercer Island Chamber: elementary art from Island schools is on display through June 11 at 7605 S.E. 27th St., Suite 109. (206) 232-3404.

Classes

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

Pioneers of Cinema Multimedia Series with Lance Rhoades: “The Entrepreneurs,” 7:30 p.m., May 1; Mack Sennett, creator of the Keystone Cops who discovered Charlie Chapman, Buster Keaton and Gloria Swanson. “The Inventors Behind the Camera,” 7:30 p.m., May 15; developer of cinematic sound to the first “Talkie,” and other innovators. “The Talent”: 7:30 p.m., May 22; featuring Mary Pickford, America’s sweetheart and brilliant businesswoman. Aljoya Theater, 2430 76th Ave. S.E.

“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. Louise Smith, instructor at the UW and the Center for Urban Horticulture, will teach how to draw natural flora. Workshops open to the public. $95. To sign up, contact Charlette Haugen: (206) 282-1813, chhaugen@aol.com.

“The Y Chromosome and Beyond: Tracing Your Genealogy with the ‘Other’ DNA”: 7:30 p.m., May 10, Stroum Jewish Community Center Auditorium, 3801 E. Mercer Way. Speaker: Bennett Greenspan, founder and CEO of Family Tree DNA. Presented by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State. Doors open at 7 p.m. JGSWS library and WiFi are available. Free/JGSWS members, $5/nonmembers. www.jgsws.org.

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.

“Mindset: Positive Skills for Powerful Kids”: 7-9 p.m., May 20, Mercer Island High School Performing Arts Center, 9100 S.E. 42nd St. Speaker: Carol Dweck, Ph.D. Learn how to encourage the “growth” mindset and create a love of learning and resilience. Tickets: $20 advance, $25 at door. www.parentmap.com.

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

Library

4400 88th Ave. S.E.

(206) 236-3537

www.kcls.org/mercerisland

Adults

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

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 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

Senior Spring Brunch and Pancake Toss: 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m., May 13, Mercer Room. $5. Reservations required: call 275-7609.

Widow and Widowers Grief & Loss Support Group: 1-2:30 p.m., May 13. 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.

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.

Off-Island

Women Painters of Washington Gallery: “Wonder” Exhibition, May 4-July 30, 701 5th Ave., Seattle. First Thursday Gallery Reception: 4-6 p.m., May 6. Free. Open to the public. www.womenpainters.com.

Planning for Senior Care: 4-6 p.m., May 6, The Hilton Bellevue, 300 112th Ave. S.E., Bellevue. Speaker: Paul Hogan, CEO of Home Instead Senior Care, will offer a free public talk on planning for senior care, available options, financial planning, being a caregiver to an elderly parent, insurance options and the state of senior care in America.