The Stroum Jewish Community Center will host a Kesher community garden lecture tonight, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m. The lecture is titled  “Herbavoracious Cooking” by Michael Natkin. The lecture is $10 for non JCC members and $5 for JCC members. Learn more at www.sjcc.org.

Thursday | 18

3rd Thursday Community Art Walk: 5:30-8 p.m., Aug. 18, North end town center, northwest downtown zone. Family event. Meet local business owners, enjoy tastings and entertainment. Final art walk of the summer. www.mercergov.org.

3rd Thursday MIVAL Gallery Art Show: 5-8 p.m., Aug. 18, MIVAL Gallery, 2836 78th Ave. S.E. The Gallery will be open late and offer a variety of activities along with other merchants. Nannette Bassett: (206) 232-8148, nannettebas@gmail.com. www.mival.us.

Saturday | 20

Volunteer Search & Rescue Training: 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Aug. 20, Main Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. 6th Disaster Preparedness Class in the Emergency Volunteer Series. This training focuses on light search and rescue taught by Mercer Island Fire. RSVP to Officer Franklin: (206) 275-7905.

Sunday | 21

Being Jewish in Shanghai: 7:30 p.m., Aug. 21, Temple B’nai Torah, 15727 N.E. 4th St., Bellevue. Werner Glass will give a presentation and slideshow about his Jewish life in Shanghai of 14 years, including the time that Japan occupied the city (1937-1945). Glass was born in Berlin in 1927 and fled with his family to China in 1933. He holds degrees from Syracuse and MIT in chemical engineering. Glass moved to Mercer Island in 2009. The event is free. RSVP to: assistant@wsjhs.org or (206) 774-2277.

Monday | 22

Back To School Special Event Sale: 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Aug. 22-27, Mercer Island Thrift Shop, 7710 S.E. 34th Street. Features National Charity League girls as fashion consultants. The entire store is discounted on Aug. 22.

Jazzercise One-Day Sale: New customers can register free, Aug. 22, for Jazzercise at the Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. No joining fee; free first month of unlimited classes, with unlimited passes. Buy online Aug. 19-22: jazzercise.com (click “Find a Class”).

Saturday | 27

Outdoor Movie: Disney’s “Tangled,” Aug. 27, Mercerdale Park. The movie begins at dusk or approximately 8:30 p.m. PG. Costumes are encouraged for a Prince & Princess Party at 7:30 p.m. For more information: (206) 275-7609.

Wednesday | 31

Islander Aquathon: 6:15 p.m., Aug. 31, Luther Burbank Park. Pacific Aquathon Series. 500 meter swim/5k run or 1k swim/10k run. Presented by Dilettante.

First Day of School for Islander Middle School students: Aug. 31. 6th grade: Students arrive at 8:10 a.m. and meet in cafeteria/MPR at 8:25 a.m. 7th and 8th grade: students drop off bags in 1st period classroom at 11:10 a.m. and meet in gym at 11:25 a.m. 7th and 8th graders, please note: 1) Buses will run three hours later than the usual pick-up time. 2) Lunch will be available for only 6th graders. Lunch is not scheduled this first day of school for 7th and 8th graders.

Thursday | 8

Grief & Loss Support Group for Senior Adults: 1-2:30 p.m., Sept. 8, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Presented by Mercer Island Youth & Family Services Department. Facilitator: Betsy Zuber. Open to any senior adult who has experienced the loss of a spouse, partner, friend or family member. Registration required. Free. Betsy Zuber: (206) 275-7752, betsy.zuber@mercergov.org.

Friday | 9

Mercer Island High School Class of 1961 50-Year Reunion: Sept. 9-10. Reunion includes a boat ride around Mercer Island, no-host gathering at the Roanoke, dinner on Saturday night. Contacts: Trudy Webster Krastins, (425) 641-3976, kktk@comcast.net; Missy Martine Day, (425) 868-1451, missy@idledown.com.

Events | Ongoing

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”: Ongoing through Aug. 28. Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th St. Fridays/Saturdays: 7 p.m. Sundays: 2 p.m. Wednesdays/Thursdays: 2 p.m. For tickets and information: (206) 232-4145 ext. 109. www.youththeatre.org.

Friends of the Mercer Island Library Silent Auction: 10 a.m., ongoing through Sept. 6. Features special books and media, during regular library hours. All bids must be made in writing at the library. All proceeds support Mercer Island Library programs and activities.

Upcoming

Mercer Island High School Class of 1981 30-Year Reunion: Sept. 16-17. All 1981 classmates are invited to attend. If you know classmates who would like to attend, please share the information. Wormburner Golf Tournament: Sept. 16, Willows Run Golf Course. Evening Get-Together: Sept. 16, Roanoke Inn. Reunion Dinner: Sept. 17, Mercer Island Community Center. Sign up at: www.mihsclassof81.com.

“The Sky’s The Limit” Auction: 5-9 p.m., Sept. 17, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 8501 S.E. 40th St. HTLC Youth and Social Concerns committees are raising funds for the 2012 National Youth Gathering and Mission Trip to New Orleans. Cost: $30 for food, beverages. Child care available. info@htlcmi.org, (206) 232-3270. www.htlcmi.org.

Library

A Reader’s Journal Workshop: 1 p.m., Aug. 20. Presented by Susan Olds. Learn how to create a unique journal for recording your books. Bring a blank journal of any size. A handout will be provided to take home with instructions on creating your interior pages. Limited to 12 people. Please register.

“The Fog Machine,” Pre-publication Event: 2 p.m., Aug. 21. Would you like to get involved with a book before it hits the stores and then follow it to publication? Author Susan Follett wants to share her pre-published manuscript and hear how it resonates with you. Contact: Vicki Heck, vaheck@kcls.org, (206) 236-3537.

Mercer Island Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale: Sept. 9-11, during library open hours. Pre-sale for members: Sept. 8. Nonmembers can join at the door. Over 10,000 books of all genres plus media. Most items priced 50 cents to $2. New items will be added daily.

The Frazzled Mom’s Guide to Friendship and Renewal: 1:30 p.m., Sept. 18. Join local Mercer Island co-authors, Linda Williams Rorem and Carol Gullstad, as they discuss ways to make women happier and healthier. Please register.

eReader and Digital Downloads Demonstration: 10 a.m., Sept. 24. Learn how to download KCLS eBooks to your eReader or computer during this Digital Downloads demonstration.

Mercer Island Saturday Matinee Film Series: “Libeled Lady” (1936), 1 p.m., Sept. 24.

Children

Baby and Me Story Times: 10:15 a.m., Sept. 20 and 27. Ages 3 to 12 months with adult.

Very Young Toddler Times: 10 a.m., Sept. 21 and 28. Ages 12 to 24 months with adult.

Story Time for Terrific Twos: 11 a.m., Sept. 21 and 28. Ages 2 to 3 with adult.

Preschool Story Times: 10:30 a.m., Sept. 22 and 29. Ages 3 to 5 with adult.

Teens

Teen Zone: 1:45 p.m., Mondays, Sept. 12-26. Hang out, do homework, play board games or just chat.

Teen Advisory Board: 7 p.m., Sept. 20. Voice your opinions on the books, magazines, programs and services the library offers teens while earning one volunteer credit hour and munching on light refreshments.

Online Teen Readers: Check out an online book group for teens. Online Teen Readers are teens reading and talking about books on their own schedule. Find out more at blogs.kcls.org/onlineteenreaders or on Facebook: KCLS Online Teen Readers.