Events

2nd Annual Leap for Green! Earth Day Celebration: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., April 18, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Hula-hooping, music, art projects, movies and ways to take care of environment. “Early Bird” birding exploration, “Busy Beaver” north wetlands tour with Friends of Luther Burbank Park. Suggested donation: non-perishable food item for Mercer Island Food Pantry. For kids of all ages. Joy Johnston: 275-7791. www.mercergov.org/leapforgreen.

Mercer Island Conversation on Climate Action: 6-8 p.m., April 22, Community Center at Mercer View. Join the community in a conversation about Climate Action and what you and the community can do. www.mercergov.org/conversation.

All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast: 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m., April 26, 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. 232-9185.

Youth Summit: April 26, Community Center at Mercer View. All high school students are welcome. Roundtable discussions about drug and alcohol prevalence on Mercer Island. With Communities That Care Youth Committee, the CTC Coalition’s Café Conversations. Pizza served. Michelle Morse, Youth & Family Services: 275-7755, michelle.morse@mercergov.org.

Mercer Island Schools Foundation Breakfast Fundraiser: 7-8:30 a.m., April 28, Mercer Island High School, 9100 S.E. 42nd St. Celebrate excellence in education with business and community leaders and corporate sponsors who will demonstrate their support for Mercer Island students, teachers and their schools. Donation requested. 275-2550.

43rd Annual Mercer Island Preschool Association (MIPA) Circus: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., May 2, Islander Middle School, 8225 S.E. 72nd St. Pony rides, face painting, artists, cupcake walk, big bouncy house, entertainers. For parents with kids ages 2-8. Free; $0.50/game tickets. www.mipreschoolassociation.org.

Classes

“Violence and the Heart of Healing”: Introduction, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; Individual/small group work, 1:30-5 p.m., April 18, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Speaker: Ari Cowan. Free. Register: Carol Friends, 232-9620.

The Strivers: 3 p.m., April 18, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St., Room 104. Topic: tissue engineering, printable organs, stem cell research. Speaker: Anthony Atala, M.D., director of Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Free. John Rose: 232-0863.

Aquarobics open house class: 7:30-8:30 p.m., April 20, Mercerwood Pool, 4150 E. Mercer Way; free. Classes continue Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays with fee. 232-1622.

“Into Political Revolution, the Overthrow of the Gods”: 6:30 p.m., April 23, Community Center at Mercer View. Into the Ring with Perry Lorenzo series, Seattle Opera’s education director.

Ikebana Flower-Arranging: spring classes, 10 a.m.-noon, Fridays, through April 24, Community Center at Mercer View, $60/course. Sogetsu Mercer Island Branch. Fanny Yau: (206) 349-1137. www.misogetsu.org.

“Buy A Home? Yes, You Can!”: 6-7:30 p.m., Mondays, through June 29, Windermere Mercer Island, 2737 77th Ave. S.E. Discussion, Q&A with a volunteer panel of experts. Free. Diane Rae Jones: (206) 406-5232, Diane@DianeRaeJones.com. www.windermeremercerisland.com, www.WeHelpYouBuyAHome.com.

Topics in Practical Halacha: 7-8 p.m., Mondays, Northwest Yeshiva High School, 5017 90th Ave. S.E. Teacher: Rabbi Yechezkel Kornfeld of Congregation Shevet Achim. Free.

Baby Strollercise: 10:30 a.m., Tuesdays, Community Center Parks and Recreation. Prenatal Yoga: 5:45 p.m., first/third Thursdays, Mercerwood Shoreclub. (206) 979-3008.

PUSH Exercise Class: 11:15 a.m., Fridays, through June, Community Center at Mercer View Dance Room. A mix of strength, sports drills, intervals, balance, flexibility, play. Instructor: Elizabeth Andrews. $20/drop-in. (206) 922-3218.

Groups

Mercer Island Radio Operators: 7 p.m., April 16, Mercer Island Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. Topic: message-handling workshop, learn the procedures for passing messages by radio. The public is invited. Dave Cook: 230-0397.

Mercer Island Historical Society: 1 p.m., April 20, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Topic: honey bees. Speaker: Ron Mitchell, Island beekeeper. 236-3274, www.mihistory.org.

Club Emerald Food Drive: April 20-May 1, 3028 78th Ave. S.E. For Mercer Island Youth & Family Services Food Pantry. 232-7080. www.clubemerald.org.

Mercer Island Arts Council: artists’ reception, April 30; free, open to community. New show featuring the NW Watercolor Society: through May 15, CCMV Indoor Gallery.

Spring Brunch and Fashion Fling: 10:30 a.m., May 9, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 8501 S.E. 40th St. Mother/daughter brunch. Benefits hunger drive with Thrivent Financial. 232-3270.

Second Saturday Stories: 11-11:30 a.m., May 9, Island Books, 3014 78th Ave. S.E. “Fabulous Folk Tales” with Meg Lippert. Ages 3 and up. 232-6920.

“Loving Hearts and Hands For His Little Lambs” Knitting Group: 10 a.m., last Monday of month, Mercer Island Covenant Church, 3200 78th Ave. S.E. All knitters, crocheters, quilters welcome. Bring your own project to work on or work with our projects. 232-1015.

Toddlers of Mercer Island (TOMI by MIPA): 10-11:30 a.m., Tuesdays, VFW Hall, 1836 72nd Ave. S.E. Ages 0-6. $3/child, MIPA members; $5/nonmembers. www.mipreschoolassociation.org.

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS): 9:30-11:30 a.m., first/third Friday, MI Covenant Church. For mothers with children ages birth-K. Childcare provided. www.micc.org.

Senior Men’s Tennis Doubles: seeking players, 6:45-8:15 a.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Location: Seattle Tennis (Amy Yee) Center, 2000 MLK Way, and Homestead Field during spring. Al Skinner: 232-3450.

Women Painters of Washington: “Bel Canto” gallery exhibition, through April 30. 206 105th Ave. N.E., Bellevue. (425) 455-0607, www.womenpainters.com.

Library

4400 88th Ave. S.E.

236-3537

www.kcls.org/mercerisland

Registration required.

During the “Look to Your Library” week, the library is accepting donations of nonperishable food in the lobby on behalf of the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services Food Bank.

Look to Your Library Series

Look to Your Library Stations: 9-11 a.m., May 1-8. Daily demonstration and personal assistance stations offering information for people looking for work and those struggling with small businesses.

Business Planning Simplified: 12-1:30 p.m., May 3. Join SCORE Small Business Counselor, Paul Hirz, for an interactive workshop that will help you identify small business resources, simplify the planning process from research to selling, and help you find customers.

Job Application Skills 1: 9-10:30 a.m., May 4. Learn how to create and use an e-mail account for job seekers, practice sending attachments. Registration begins April 20.

Job Application Skills 2: 9-10:30 a.m., May 5. Learn how to work with a resume template, update your information, fill out online job applications quickly and easily. Registration begins April 20.

Think Like an Interviewer: 9 a.m.-12 p.m., May 6. Join Ronald J. Auerbach, author of “Think Like an Interviewer: Your Job Hunting Guide to Success” for a hands-on career workshop.

Health Care Options: 10 a.m.-12 p.m., May 7. Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) offers free health care coverage counseling.

Avoid Foreclosure: 6-7:30 p.m., May 7. ACORN housing counselors to discuss how to help homeowners avoid foreclosure in this economy.

Adults

Microsoft Word Level II Computer Class: 9 a.m., April 16.

Mercer Island Library Saturday Matinee: “Road to Perdition” (2002), 1 p.m., April 18. Discussion with film historian, Lance Rhoades. Refreshments provided.

“Searching the Internet for Beginners” Computer Class: 9 a.m., April 23.

“Global Voices, One World” Poetry Workshop: 2 p.m., April 26, with Jack Straw Productions.

Opera Preview: “The Marriage of Figaro,” 7 p.m., April 29. Join opera lecturer Norm Hollinshead. Sponsor: Friends of the Mercer Island Library.

Talk Time: 7 p.m., Wednesdays, through April 29. Improve speaking and listening skills in English conversation group.

Children/Families

Infant Blanket Story Time: 10:15 a.m., April 17. Bring a blanket. Ages 1-8 months with caregiver.

“There’s a Dinosaur in My Backyard”: 11 a.m., April 21. Join singer/songwriter Courtney Campbell for dinosaur songs, stories.

Baby Rhyme Time: 10:15 a.m., April 24. Ages 9-14 months.

Stories for Spring: Toddler Story Time, 10 a.m., April 28. Ages 2-3.

Springfest: 11 a.m., April 28. Preschool activities to celebrate spring. Ages 3-6.

Terrific Two’s Story Time: 10 a.m., Tuesdays. Stories, music, rhymes. Ages 2-3 with caregiver.

Preschool Story Time: 11 a.m., Tuesdays. Stories, music, puppets, Early Literacy alphabet activities. Ages 3-5.

Teens

Teen Advisory Board: 7 p.m., April 21. Voice opinions on teen materials, services, programs. Earn one volunteer credit hour.

Teen Zone: 1:45 p.m., Mondays, through April 27. Hang out, do homework, play video games.

Poet’s Cafe: 7 p.m., April 28. Listen to the top 10 poets from the Mercer Island Library Teen Poetry Contest share their award-winning poems. Refreshments.

Boys & Girls Club

2825 West Mercer Way

232-4548

www.mipositiveplace.org

Registration is now open for summer camps, including Skyhawks Sports Camps, weekly themed day camps for children ages 5-14, Science Adventure Camps, Art Camps, Lego Camps, Moviemaking Camps.

Make a Difference with Movie Making: 5-6:30 p.m., Mondays, through April 20. Class members will focus on documentaries, public service announcements. Learn editing, film techniques, interviewing processes. Ages 8-11. $100.

Movie Making Advanced – Media in Sports: 5-6:30 p.m., Tuesdays, through April 21. Trick photography, editing, storytelling techniques. Create short films, commercials. For students with prior multimedia experience. Ages 11-14. $100.

Parks & Recreation

Community Center at Mercer View (CCMV)

8236 S.E. 24th St.

275-7609

www.myparksandrecreation.com

Registration for spring and summer recreation programs and camps is open. See the spring/summer Recreation Guide for full descriptions or online at www.myparksandrecreaton.com.

Dance Team: 3:30-5 p.m., Wednesdays, April 15-June 17, Dance Room. Learn dance or improve your technique. Basics of “spirit squad” style dance: Jazz, hip-hop, pom dance styles. Open to all levels from beginning to advanced. Ages 11-16. $152 (10 weeks).

F.E.M.M.E. Safety: 9 a.m.-12 p.m., April 25. Personal safety training for girls and women in high school and college, and mothers. This class will address safety issues facing young women at high school/college campuses during their daily activities. $67/mother and daughter.

Adult Whitewater Rafting: April 25, Toutle River, near Mt. St. Helens. Leave from CCMV at 8 a.m. Participants should be in good physical condition and able to paddle effectively. Ages 18 and up. $97.

After-School Nature Program: Session 1, 2:30-4:30 p.m., Mondays, through April 27, Craft Room. Hands-on, after-school programs with a Nature Vision Naturalist. Explore a nature topic, share a story. Snacks provided. Ages 4-9. $62.

Counselor in Training Program: 6-7:15 p.m., Wednesdays, May 13-June 10. Learn all aspects of working with children in a day camp setting. Each C.I.T. will become First Aid and CPR certified. After five-week training, experience hands-on training by shadowing at a camp for one week this summer. Ages 13–16. $132.

Men’s Softball Teams: The city of Mercer Island is looking for a few teams to round out its yearly softball league. Games will be played between mid-May and the end of August. Teams will play weekly on Wednesdays at 6 or 7:30 p.m. $677/team. 275-7863.

Seniors

Parks & Recreation Senior Golf Program: Mondays. “Niners” and “Handicappers” take weekly trips to local golf courses.

Senior Lunch at Covenant Shores: noon, Tuesday, Thursday. Reservations: call 275-7895, press 2, leave a message. $5.

Grocery Shopping Transportation: Wednesday morning. Call 236-3456, leave a message by 4 p.m., the day before. $1.

JCC

3801 E. Mercer Way

206.232.7115, ext. 269

www.sjcc.org

Registration required.

Men’s Health Seminar: “Are You Spending Too Much Time in the Bathroom?” 12 p.m., April 21. Topic: signs and symptoms of BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) and most up-to-date treatment options including medication, surgery. Speaker: Dr. Richard Pelman, M.D., of Bellevue Urology.

Active Seniors Club: 11 a.m., April 22. Topic: the growth of anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism on college campuses today. Speaker: Professor Paul Burstein, of the University of Washington.

Mah Jongg: 12:30 p.m., April 24, Polack Lounge. Free/SJCC members, $2/non-members.

Bridge: 12:30 p.m., April 24. All levels welcome, prior bridge playing experience necessary. Bring a brown bag lunch. Free/SJCC members, $2/non-members.

Opera Sings The Soul: “Expolring Brundibar,” 4:30 p.m., April 26. Lecture series on opera and its connection with Jewish themes, composers and performers, presented by the SJCC and Seattle Opera. Speaker: Mina Miller, artistic director of Music of Remembrance. $10.

Poker Game: 12:30 p.m., April 28. Play Texas hold’em, Omaha, 7 card Hi/Lo, Dealer’s choice.

SJFF movie and performance: 12-2 p.m., April 29. Musical performance by Cantor Marina Belenky. Movie “Beau Jest” (2008), a romantic comedy. $7/advance ticket purchase required. No tickets sold at the door. Limited seating.