The Mercer Island Arts Council and Mercer Island Visual Arts League will hold their first art walk of the season at the South end shopping center beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 19. The walk features local art and music at Island businesses, refreshments, drawings and more.

Wednesday | 18

Free Social Security Seminar: 4 p.m., May 18, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Speaker: Kirk Larson, public affairs specialist, Seattle office of the Social Security Admin. For those nearing their Social Security election timeframe. Sponsor: MassMutual Financial Group. Free. Open to the public. RSVP to (206) 346-3271 or mokonski@finsvcs.com.

Thursday | 19

MIVAL Reception & Gallery Opening: 5:30-8 p.m., May 19, MIVAL Gallery, 2836 78th Ave. S.E. Meet the three high school artists who were awarded this year’s MIVAL scholarships. Their work will be featured for the coming month with new work by gallery artist members. www.mival.us.

Third Thursday Art Walk: 5:30-8 p.m., May 19, South end shopping center. Student art and music will be featured at the South end shopping center. Free family event. A prize drawing follows. Music performance by students in outdoor covered areas from 5:30-6:45 p.m.

Mercer Island Radio Operators meeting: 7 p.m., May 19, Mercer Island Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. Learn about amateur radio communications and emergency preparedness. www.mirohams.org.

Friday | 20

Island Book Sale: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., May 20-21, Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, 4001 Island Crest Way. First annual book sale presented by Mercer Island Thrift Shop and the Island LDS. Contact: Logan Ens, 275-7753.

“Listen To, Trust, and Follow Without Fear”: 7:30 p.m., May 20, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Speaker: Lorenzo Rodriguez, Christian Science healing practitioner and The Christian Science Board of Lectureship member.

Mercer Island Presbyterian Church Concert Series: 7:30 p.m., May 20, MI Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Jonathan Wohlers and Naomi Shiga present a duo organ concert in the sanctuary. A reception with the artists will follow. For information, contact Sue Sherwood: (206) 300-0313.

Saturday | 21

Mercer Island Learning Lab Fundraising Garage Sale: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., May 21, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 8501 S.E. 40th Street.

Seattle Co-Arts 61st Annual Juried Show: May 21, Mercer View Gallery, 8236 S.E. 24th St. The public is invited to the Artists Reception from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony: 3:30 p.m. Gertrude Hollis, a member of Seattle Co-Arts for 39 years, will be honored at the reception. Contact: Judith Heim, (206) 542-3231.

Parents Night Out PARTY: 5-10 p.m., May 21. Summer camp kickoff with a carnival, popcorn, cotton candy, bonfire and s’mores, pizza dinner, games and more. Swimming pool open; movie in auditorium. Contact: Youth and Family Program Manager Matthew Korch. (206) 388-0830, mattk@sjcc.org.

Sunday | 22

Israel Day: 4-8 p.m., May 22, Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way. A community celebration of Israeli Independence Day with activities exploring different segments of Israeli society. The Jewish Fair features local and Israeli-made products for purchase. Kosher barbecue: 6 p.m., Herzl-Ner Tamid, with a traditional Lag b’Omer bonfire and singalong; RSVP for BBQ required. Tickets online or at door. Contact: Roni Antebi, (206) 388-0832, ronia@sjcc.org.

Wednesday | 25

Lunch and Lecture for Seniors: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., May 25, Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way. Speaker: Richard Benton, Hazel D. Cole Fellow at the UW Stroum Jewish Studies Program for 2010-11. Topic: “The Parting of the Ways: Judaism and Christianity in the First Century.” www.sjcc.org.

Thursday | 26

Fostering Empathy in Children: 6:30-8:30 p.m., May 26, Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way. Join longtime SJCC educators to discuss the intentional fostering of empathy in young children. SJCC members: $10. General admission: $15. www.sjcc.org.

Saturday | 28

Open House for Pastor Greg: 1-3 p.m., May 28, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Celebrate Greg and Wendy Asimakoupoulos’ years of participation in Mercer Island Covenant Church and the community. Attendees may send brief notes for the couple to jbaxter@micc.org or MICC, PO Box 2, Mercer Island, Wash., 98040.

Wednesday | 1

Probus Club of Mercer Island Meeting: 10:30 a.m., June 1, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Hubert Locke, Ph.D., retired dean of the UW Evans School of Public Affairs, will discuss his “Reflections on the War on Terror.” The public is welcome. Contact: Bob Simonds, (206) 236-2190.

Upcoming

Free Electronics Recycling Event: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., June 4, Mercer Island United Church of Christ, 4545 Island Crest Way. All recycling services are free. Proceeds from recycled raw materials fund operations and benefit local charities, homeless shelters and food banks. www.1greenplanet.org.

Jewish Touch Series: “A Legacy for the Future,” 5:30 p.m., June 5, Stroum JCC, 3801 East Mercer Way. Gerard Schwarz lectures on life after the Seattle Symphony and shares his compositions. Members, seniors: $5. General admission: $10. www.sjcc.org.

Carved In Stone: Tips For Cemetery Research: 7:30 p.m., June 13, Stroum JCC, 3801 East Mercer Way. Doors open at 7 p.m. Speaker: Deb Freedman. Presented by Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State. JGSWS members: free. Nonmembers: $5. www.jgsws.org.

Events | Ongoing

“Gulliver’s Travels”: May 20-June 12, Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th St. Performances: 7 p.m., Fridays. Matinees: 2 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets: (206) 232-4145, ext. 109. www.youththeatre.org.

“The Jewish Touch” lecture series: 7-8:30 p.m., May 24, 31. Longtime KING-FM host Steve Reeder focuses on Leonard Bernstein works. Bernstein is an iconic figure in 20th century music. www.sjcc.org.

“Islander Hoop Camp”: June 20-23, June 27-30, Mercer Island High School, 9100 S.E. 42nd St. For boys entering grades 1-12. Cost: $140/session. www.mibasketball.org.

Library

Intro to Bike Commuting: It’s How We Roll: 7 p.m., June 9, Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave. S.E. Presented by Cascade Bicycle Club. Learn about riding through traffic safely or arriving in style for the first meeting of the day. Register online or call (206) 236-3537.

Children

Stories from Junk Puppet Land: 7 p.m., May 23. Presented by Zambini Brothers. All young children are welcome with an adult.

Summer Reading Sign-Up Party: 2:30 p.m., June 13. Ages 3 and older with adult. Build an ice cream sundae and watch a presentation the library’s summer events.

Teens

Teen Zone: 1:45 p.m., Mondays, ongoing through June 6. Ages 12 and older. Hang out, do homework, play board games or just chat.

Silent Study Time: 3:30 p.m., June 6-10, 14. Come to the small meeting room for silent study.

Group Study Time: 3:30 p.m., June 7-10, 14. Bring your books to the large meeting room.