The Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon for November begins at noon tomorrow, Nov. 3, at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center (formerly the CCMV). Mercer Island School District Superintendent Gary Plano is the speaker. To RSVP and for ticket information, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 232-3404.

Wednesday | 2

Probus Club of Mercer Island meeting: 10:30 a.m., Nov. 2, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Speaker: Douglas Hainline, Ph.D. Topic: the advent of socialism in the UK and Europe. The public is welcome. Bob Simonds: (206) 236-2190.

Beginning Ballroom: 7:40-8:40 p.m., Nov. 2-30, Community and Event Center, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Learn the basics of a variety of ballroom dances. Students will focus on lead and follow roles, timing and basic patterns. Fee: $54 (resident), $64 (nonresident).

Thursday | 3

Chamber Membership Luncheon: 12 p.m., Nov. 3. Speaker: Dr. Gary Plano. The Mercer Island School District is celebrating 70 years of educating young people. Now Mercer Island schools are recognized as some of the best in the state and nation. Dr. Plano will bring Chamber members up to date on issues and challenges that MISD faces. Luncheon cost: $15 (members), $18 (nonmembers, members without reservations). 232-3404, info@mercerislandchamberofcommerce.org.

MIVAL (Mercer Island Visual Arts League) Meeting and Annual Potluck: 12-2 p.m., Nov. 3, Community and Event Center, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. The meeting is open to the public. Members are asked to bring a dish to share. The program will include viewing MIVAL’s Holiday Show exhibit.

Friday | 4

Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” Opening Night: 7 p.m., Nov. 4, Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th Street. Performances are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 20. For tickets and information: www.youththeatre.org.

French Film: “The Gleaners & I,” 7:30-9 p.m., Nov. 4, Aljoya Theatre, 2430 76th Ave. Free. Co-hosts: Mercer Island Sister City Association and Mercer Island Arts Council. Introduction and post commentary by Lance Rhoades, UW instructor of cinema studies. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres served. 232-5413.

Saturday | 5

Islander Middle School and Sturtevants Ski n Snowboard Swap: 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Nov. 5, Islander Middle School, 8225 S.E. 72nd Street. Features Ski & Board Swap. 50% Off Sale: 3-4 p.m. New and gently used winter sports clothing and equipment for sale. Co-sponsor: Sturtevant’s Winter Sports. Consignment check-in: 3-6 p.m., Nov. 3; 3-7 p.m., Nov. 4. www.miskiswap.net.

Tuesday | 8

Lively Saints (50+ Years Young) Luncheon: 12 p.m., Nov. 8, Mercer Island Covenant Church, 3200 78th Ave. S.E. Speaker: Jim Landerdahl. Topic: the people and facility at the SeaTac Airport USO Center working “until every one comes home.” The USO-PSA center provides all branches of the military with 24/7 travel assistance. $7. www.micc.org, (206) 232-1015.

Mercer Island Sister City Association French Conversation Evening: 7-9 p.m., Nov. 8, at the home of Jane Meyer Brahm. Casual French conversation practice for beginner to native French speakers. For driving directions and more information, call Jane at 232-0701, Monica at 232-2983 or Beth at 232-7650.

Thursday | 10

KCLS 2012 Preliminary Budget Meeting: 2 p.m., Nov. 10, Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave. SE. Community meeting to discuss proposed strategic plans and budget allocations for the coming year. An opportunity for public discussion to help shape services in libraries, online and in communities throughout KCLS. www.kcls.org, (206) 236-3537.

Veterans Day School’s Out Camp: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Nov. 10-11, Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way. Welcoming all K-5th graders. Features play in the gym, swimming, interactive art projects and more. Please make sure to pack a swim suit for the pool. Morning and afternoon care are available. www.sjcc.org.

12th Annual Artists Studio Holiday Sale: Nov. 10-12, the studio of Leslie West, 8798 N. Mercer Way. 6-9 p.m., Nov. 10; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Nov. 11; 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Nov. 12. Featured artwork from a dozen artists: mixed media assemblages, handcrafted jewelry, glass art, ceramics, cards, chocolate and more. Please bring a nonperishable food item for the Mercer Island Food Pantry. www.wix.com/fullcirclestudio/artiststudiosale.

Friday | 11

Shabbat Lectures: Nov. 11-12, Northwest Yeshiva High School, 5017 90th Ave. S.E. Shabbat dinner: 5:50 p.m., Friday. “Kabbalistic Secrets for Wealth and Health,” 7 p.m., Friday. Saturday: “What’s the Greatest Mitzvah in the Torah?” and “The Secret to Having Perfect Children.” Speaker: Rabbi Moshe Gruenstein, scholar in residence. www.shevetachim.com.

Veterans Day Celebration: 4:30 and 6 p.m., Nov. 11, community toast to veterans, Roanoke Inn, 1825 72nd Ave. S.E. $1 pints all day: Budweiser and Coors Light in appreciation for the men and women who have served our country.

Saturday | 12

Disaster Mental Health Training for Volunteers: 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Nov. 12, City Hall Council Chambers, 9611 S.E. 36th Street. Eighth disaster preparedness class in Emergency Volunteer Series. The series is 10 classes in total with a (CERT) Community Emergency Response Team Base.  RSVP to Officer Franklin: (206) 275-7905.

Saturday Matinee: “Woman of the Year” (George Stevens, 1942), 1 p.m., Nov. 12, Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave. S.E. Part of the “Mercer Island Public Library Film Series on Newspapers and Other Media,” with Lance Rhoades, Mercer Island Movie Matinee Series program director.

Diwali (Festival of Lights) Celebration 2011: 5-11 p.m., Nov. 12, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Tickets: only available online at www.sulekha.com/tickets (click on ‘Seattle’). Prices: $15 (adults), $8 (child 5–12), free for children 4 and under. Tickets are limited and must be purchased through Sulekha.com by Nov. 8. Tickets will not be sold at the event. Nonperishable food donations for YFS food bank accepted.

Photographer/author Phil Borges at Island Books: 7 p.m., Nov. 12, Island Books, 3014 78th Ave. S.E. Borges is the author of “Tibet: A Culture on the Edge.” He is the recipient of numerous photography and humanitarian awards. He has hosted television documentaries for the Discovery Channel and National Geographic. www.mercerislandbooks.com.

Events | Ongoing

Mercer Island Thrift Shop 36th Anniversary Sale & Holiday Showcase: 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Nov. 7-12, 7710 S.E. 34th Street. On Monday, Nov. 7, all store merchandise will be 35 percent off. There will be store discounts through the week. www.mercergov.org.

MIVAL Gallery Art Show: ongoing through Nov. 13, MIVAL Art Gallery, 2836 78th Ave. S.E. Featured artists through Nov. 13: June Lindsey (pottery), Pia Messina (paintings). Contact: Nannette Bassett, (206) 232-8148, nannettebas@gmail.com. www.mival.org.

Engaging Israel Project: A Shalom Hartman Institute Lecture & Study Series, 7:15-9:15 p.m., Tuesdays, through Jan. 10, Stroum JCC, 3801 East Mercer Way. Led by Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, of Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation. Cost: $150 per person ($275 per couple). www.sjcc.org.

Mercer Island Community Fund Grant Applications: Deadline for grant applications is Jan. 31, 2012. Applications acceptable from organizations that benefit the Mercer Island community in six categories. For information and guidelines, contact grants chair Gail Steinitz: momda@mindspring.com, www.micommunityfund.org.

Upcoming

Infant/Child/Adult CPR with AED: 7-9 p.m., Nov. 14, Mercer Island Fire Station, 3030 78th Avenue S.E. This is not a health care provider class. $15 (check or cash the day of the event). Call (206) 275-7607 to reserve a space.

Annual Senior Thanksgiving Lunch: 12-1 p.m., Nov. 18, Community and Event Center, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Registration is required and transportation is available; call (206) 275-7609 to reserve your spot. Fee: $5 plus tax.

Classics on Film: “Waste Land” (Lucy Walker, Karen Harley, João Jardim, 2010), 7:30-9 p.m., Nov. 18, Aljoya Theatre, 2430 76th Ave. Part of “Economies of Scale,” a documentary film series with Q&A and commentary by Lance Rhoades. Free admission, parking and popcorn. www.mercergov.org.

Breakfast with Santa: 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Dec. 3, Community and Event Center, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Register your family for Breakfast with Santa. Brunch is provided and Santa and his elves will be available for a visit and photos. Reservations are required. Fee: $7 plus tax ($5 per child). (206) 275-7609.

Library

National Novel Writing Month Writers Panel: 1 p.m., Nov. 5. Take 30 days and write 50,000 words. Mercer Island Library wants to support all local writers in this endeavor with a panel of top local authors to nudge you on your way to writing and publishing.

eReader and Digital Downloads Demonstration: 3:30 p.m., Nov. 5. Learn how to download KCLS eBooks to your eReader or computer during this Digital Downloads demonstration.

STARS Workshop – Growing Your Preschooler’s Brain: 7 p.m., Nov. 14. Presented by Kathy Slattengren. Find out how you can help your child develop the social skills, language skills and behavior traits that will lead to success in grade school. For parents and child care providers who care for children ages 1 to 5.

Rick Steves’ Travel Series: Mediterranean Cruises 101, 7 p.m., Nov. 16. Based on Rick’s new guidebook, this class teaches you how to take a Mediterranean cruise “through the Back Door.” Get a port-by-port rundown of the top Mediterranean cruise destinations, with tips on how to get into town and make the most of your limited time. The rest of the class is an introduction to cruising for first-timers.

Children & Families

Very Young Toddler Times: 10 a.m., Wednesdays, Nov. 2-23. Ages 12 to 24 months with adult.

Story Time for Terrific Twos and Threes: 11 a.m., Wednesdays, Nov. 2-23. Ages 2 to 3 with adult.

Preschool Story Times: 10:30 a.m., Thursdays, Nov. 3-17. Ages 3 to 5 with adult.

Chinese Story Times: 10:30 a.m., Saturdays, Nov. 5-12. Ages 3 to 7 with adult.

Pajama Story Time of the Season: 7 p.m., Nov. 21. All ages welcome with adult.

Baby and Me Story Times: 10:15 a.m., Tuesdays, through Nov. 22. Ages 3 to 12 months with adult.

Teens

Online Teen Readers: Wonder what other teens in the area are reading? Online Teen Readers are teens reading and talking about books on their own schedule: online.blogs.kcls.org/onlineteenreaders.

Teen Zone: 1:45 p.m., Mondays, Nov. 7-28. Hang out, do homework, play board games or read.

Write to Win College Applications: 7 p.m., Nov. 15. Presented by Jonathan Brown. Learn practical strategies to put together a winning application, find out what colleges are looking for when they evaluate essays, and get ideas on how to generate a narrative that will get you noticed. Please register.

Finding the Right College: 7 p.m., Nov. 17. Learn how to weigh different factors–like size, location and majors–to determine if a college is right for you.

Kaplan SAT Practice Test: 12:30 p.m., Nov. 20 and 27. Check your SAT test-taking skills at this four-hour practice test simulating the real thing. Come back on November 27 to find out your scores and learn some strategies for improvement.  Please register.

Teen Advisory Board: 7 p.m., Nov. 22. Voice your opinions on the books, magazine, programs and services the library offers teens.