The April Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce luncheon will be held at noon, April 7, at the CCMV. Tickets are $15 for members and $18 for non-members. Learn about how to become a “Certified Mercer Island Green Business” and why it is important. Meet representatives from Allied Waste, Puget Sound Energy, Cedar Grove and others to learn how to protect the environment and reduce your costs at the same time.

Wednesday | 6

Probus Club of Mercer Island meeting: 10:30 a.m., April 6, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Speaker: Michael Lyman, principal and owner of The Lyman Group, financial planners. The public is welcome. Contact: Bob Simonds, (206) 236-2190.

Top Chef Dinner: 4:30-7 p.m., April 6, Island House, 7810 S.E. 30th St. Dinner features Top Chef finalist recipes from Merrill Gardens communities nationwide, with live entertainment. Free. www.facebook.com/MerrillGardens.

Thursday | 7

Mercer Island Visual Arts League (MIVAL) meeting: 12-2 p.m., April 7, Emmanuel Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 4400 86th Ave. S.E. Henk Dawson will demonstrate how he uses a digital camera and the computer to transfer an image to canvas or watercolor paper. All meetings are open to the public. www.mival.us.

“Treasures in Miniature” Opening Reception: 5:30-8 p.m., April 7, Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce, 7605 S.E. 27th Street, #109. People’s Choice Award of $100 presented at opening reception. The small format art show is open April 7-28, presented by the Mercer Island Visual Arts League. Features 100 pieces of art and 35 artists. Gallery hours: 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Contact: Sandra Parson, (425) 445-3771, MiniatureShow@gmail.com.

Friday | 8

Parklane Gallery Artist Reception: 6-8 p.m., April 8, 130 Park Lane, Kirkland. Presenting glass masterworks of Island artist Jason Gamrath, now through May 1. www.jasongamrathglass.com.

Monday | 11

“Jews, Genetics, and the DNA Shoah Project”: 7:30 p.m., April 11, Stroum JCC, 3801 East Mercer Way. Doors open at 7 p.m. The JGSWS library and WiFi are available. Speaker: Matthew Kaplan will present research findings from studies of Jewish genetics and Jewish population history. The DNA Shoah Project is a unique humanitarian effort to reunite survivors of the Holocaust. Free: JGSWS members. $5: non-members. www.jgsws.org.

Tuesday | 12

Mercer Island Women’s Club General Meeting & Luncheon: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., April 12, Sahalee Country Club, 21200 N.E. Sahalee Country Club Drive, Sammamish, 98074. Guest speaker: Carol Cassella. Tickets: $26. RSVP required. Contact jeannebayley@comcast.net with questions.

Wednesday | 13

No One Should Be Forced: Interfaith Dialogue on Modern Slavery, 7 p.m., April 13, Herzl-Ner Tamid, 3700 East Mercer Way. Co-hosted with MI Presbyterian Church. Featuring Urmi Basu, director of New Light; and Sheila Houston, a minister in Washington state. www.h-nt.org.

Thursday | 14

“April in Paris” fundraiser for Mercer Island Sister City Association: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., April 14, Island Books, 3014 78th Ave. S.E. 20 percent of all sales will benefit the MISCA, especially its scholarship program. There will be a selection of France-related books: travel, fiction, nonfiction, mysteries, children’s and more.

Reading with Maggie Bennett: 6:30-8:30 p.m., April 14, Island Books, 3014 78th Ave. S.E. “Windy Stories: Storytelling Traditions From The Salmon River Idaho.”

Islander Middle School Communities That Care Café Conversation: 7-8:30 p.m., April 14, Islander Middle School Library, 8225 S.E. 72nd St. Featuring Marla Mitchell, IMS prevention counselor, and Derek Franklin, Communities That Care project director.

Upcoming

Mercer Island Historical Society Meeting: 1 p.m., April 18, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Speaker: Fred Jarrett, deputy county executive. www.mihistory.org.

Mercer Island Radio Operators meeting: 7 p.m., April 21, MI Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. Learn about amateur radio communications and emergency preparedness. www.mirohams.org.

Events | Ongoing

Stroum JCC Spring Break Camp: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., ongoing through April 8, 3801 East Mercer Way. Before and after camp care is available: $5 per day. No charge for Kidstown kids. Wednesday: Wacky Science Day. Thursday: Making Music Day. Friday: Pump It Up field trip. SJCC members: $55 per day; $250 for full week. www.sjcc.org.

VOICE & SVP Registration: ongoing through 3 p.m., April 11. This summer, the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services will offer two youth volunteer programs: Volunteer Outreach in Communities Everywhere (VOICE) and Summer Volunteer Program (SVP). Contact: Tambi Cork, tambi.cork@mercergov.org, (206) 275-7755.

Mercer Island Farmers Market Poster Contest: MIFM is seeking artwork for its 2011 poster. Entry deadline: April 15, Mercer Island library front desk. Entries must be submitted by original artist, ages 10-18, and must include the slogan: Farms, Families & Friends – Experience our Market! Accepted sizes: 8.5×11 or 9×12. All entries will be juried by the Mercer Island Visual Arts League (MIVAL). The winner will be announced at the MIFM fundraiser, May 15, at Lilly’s Restaurant. Prize: $50 market gift certificate.

Mercer Island Film and Social Group for Teens: 7-11 p.m., Saturdays, Johnson residence home theater on Mercer Island. The Johnsons are forming a social film group for teens and seeks up to seven members (ages 16–19). Local, professional filmmakers come once a month. Refreshments included. Contact: Allen Johnson, allen3@allenjohnsonjr.com.

MIVAL Gallery: new show, “Artful Eye,” is open, featuring 28 local artists including Pat Howie, Yolanda Agress, Susanne Foster, Mary McKelvey, Raleigh Nowers, Kevin Au, Susan Kilka and many more. A portion of the sales proceeds creates an art scholarship for a local MIHS student. The show will run for a month. Gallery hours: Thursday to Saturday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Nancy Schaps Memorial Grant: The Mercer Island PTA Council is currently accepting applications for the Nancy Schaps Memorial Grant (formerly Scholarship). A grant award up to $500 will be given to an elementary, middle or high school student facing the terminal illness or recent loss of a parent. Applications and information are available from the Mercer Island PTA Council by contacting Paula Orehek at (206) 236-2537 or orehekp@comcast.net, or any MIYFS counselor in MI schools.

Library

Saturday Matinee: “Munnabhai Meets Mahatma Gandhi,” 1 p.m., April 9. “Treeless Mountain,” 1 p.m., April 23.

Pain Stompers – How to Maintain Hope in the Face of Chronic Pain: 1:30-3 p.m., April 10. Do you or does someone you know suffer from frequent or chronic pain? Dr. Vicki Rackner’s Pain Stompers workshop offers relief to pain sufferers and those that care for them. She will cover seven steps helpful in responding to someone in physical, emotional or even financial pain.

Great Singers: Maria Callas Three-Part Series, 7 p.m., April 11 (“The Final Years”). Lecture series on three great opera singers of the 20th century: Enrico Caruso, Luciano Pavarotti and Maria Callas. Presented by Norm Hollingshead, who will illustrate his commentary with recorded musical excerpts from his own collection of recordings.

Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale: April 14-17. Sale in lobby during library open hours. Come find great bargains.

Homemade Beer: The Basics of Homebrewing, 7 p.m., April 20. Nate Muller will provide an introduction to the world of homebrewing.

One-on-One Computer Assistance: A KCLS volunteer instructor can give you one-on-one instruction. Please make an appointment: (206) 236-3537.

Children & Families

Wonderful Ones Story Times: 10 a.m., Wednesday, April 6. Ages 12-24 months with adult.

Terrific Twos Story Times: 11 a.m., Wednesdays, April 6-27. Ages 2-3 with adult.

Lego Animation: 10 a.m.-12 p.m., April 8. Presented by Lucas Allenbaugh of Clay Animation Network. Ages 8 to 12. Bring in LEGO® pieces from home or use the ones brought by the instructor to create your own stop-motion LEGO® movies. Students will learn how to operate a digital camera, construct props and backgrounds, and add sound effects and voice-overs. Registration required. Please register for one session only.

Baby and Me Story Times: 10 a.m., Tuesdays, April 12-26. Ages 3 to 12 months with adult.

Preschool Story Times: 11 a.m., Tuesdays, April 12-26. Ages 3 to 5 with adult.

Shake, Rattle and Roll Early Literacy through Music for Very Young Toddlers: 10 a.m., Wednesdays, April 13-27. Join Nancy Stewart for a three-week music workshop for you and your youngster. Nancy will share music, movement and activities that will enhance early learning for very young toddlers 12 to 24 months.

Teens

Teen Zone: 1:45 p.m., Mondays, April 11-25. Ages 12 and older. Hang out, do homework, play board games or just chat.

Meet the Author: Sara Zarr, 7 p.m., April 12. Meet National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr, author of “Story of a Girl and Sweethearts” via hi-tech satellite high jinks. Zarr will discuss her writing process and answer questions.

Teen Advisory Board: 7 p.m., April 19. Voice your opinions on teen materials, services and programs while earning one volunteer credit hour and munching on light refreshments.

Online Teen Readers: Read and comment on book reviews from local teens. Submit your own book reviews; if your review is chosen as a featured review, receive a coupon for free ice cream. http://blogs.kcls.org/onlineteenreaders.