Events

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.

Big Read Events: Book-It All Over! presents the “Call of the Wild,” 7:30 p.m., May 3, Youth Theatre Northwest. Book Talk on “The Call of the Wild”: 10 a.m., May 11, Aljoya. Author Kirby Larson to speak: 8:25 a.m., May 14, Islander Middle School. Open Book Club: 7:30 p.m., May 14, Island Books.

Shakespeare’s 445th Birthday Celebration: 4:30 p.m., May 7, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Features MIHS’s English Honors Student Poetry Contest and Read-Off, hosted by Jeff Woolley, Renaissance and Shakespearean scholar.

Classics on Film: “Hamlet” (starring Sir Lawrence Olivier), 6 p.m., May 7, Community Center at Mercer View. Commentary by Lance Rhoades, University of Washington film historian.

National Day of Prayer Service: 7-8:30 p.m., May 7, Mercer Island Covenant Church, 3200 78th Ave. S.E. Sanctuary is open 6 a.m.-9 p.m. 232-1015, www.micc.org.

“The Wizard of Oz”: through May 9, Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th St. 7 p.m., Friday/Saturday; 2 p.m., Saturday/Sunday matinee. Reserved seating: $13. 232-4145 ext. 109. www.youththeatre.org.

Luther Burbank Park Volunteer Restoration: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., May 16. Invasive plant removal in Upper Luther Burbank with Mountains to Sound Greenway. Half-day options available. (206) 812-0122, mtsgreenway.org.

Relay For Life: May 16-17, Mercer Island High School Stadium, 9100 S.E. 42nd St. Participants raise money to fund cancer research and support, then gather at MIHS. Student-led, community event to fund cancer research and remember those who battle cancer on a daily basis. American Cancer Society. Will Voit: (206) 920-6305, willvoit@comcast.net.

Seattle Mariners Mercer Island Night: May 18. Mariners vs. Los Angeles Angels. Sponsor: Mercer Island Baseball Booster Club. Bring your team, class, club, family, friends with these specially discounted tickets: $15/each, with group blocks available. www.mariners.com/mihs (password: Mercer). Wendy Rosen: 232-0468.

3rd Thursday Art Walk: “BBQ Blues and Brews,” 5:30-8 p.m., May 21.

Classes

CPR: First Aid with Adult CPR, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., May 9; $30 by check or cash at event. Infant/Child and Adult CPR Class: 7-9 p.m., May 26; $15. Main Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. Reservations: Jolene Judd, 275-7607.

AD/HD and Coexisting Conditions: 7-8:30 p.m., May 11, Mercer Island Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. Presentation with Dr. Pomeroy, owner of Brain Health NW. Sponsor: ADD Resources. jscarlin@juno.com, www.addresources.org.

History and Genealogy of the Jews of Rhodes and Their Diaspora: 7:30 p.m., May 11, Congregation Ezra Bessaroth, 5217 S. Brandon St., Seattle, 98118. Doors open at 7 p.m. Sponsor: Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State, Ezra Bessaroth, Sephardic Bikur Holim. Presenter: Leon Taranto.

“Buy A Home? Yes, You Can!”: 6-7:30 p.m., Mondays, through June 29, Mercer Island Windermere, 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 at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. 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 Arts Council: artists’ reception, 6-8 p.m., April 30; free, open to community. New show featuring the NW Watercolor Society: through May 15, Community Center at Mercer View, Indoor Gallery, 8236 S.E. 24th St.

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

Probus Club of Mercer Island: annual spring luncheon, 12 p.m., May 6, Aljoya, 2340 76th Ave. Members and guests should carpool due to limited parking in old Safeway lot on 76th Avenue. 236-2190.

Mercer Island Visual Arts League (MIVAL): meeting and awards luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., May 7, Community Center at Mercer View. MIVAL will announce its 2009 high school senior winners of three scholarships. Featuring students’ presentations of their art and MIVAL members’ art show-and-tell. The public is welcome.

Country Village Day School Walk-a-Thon: 10 a.m.-12 p.m., May 9, Mercer Island High School track, 9100 S.E. 42nd St. 232-7107.

Spring Fling! Fashions and Brunch: 10:30 a.m., May 9, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 8501 S.E. 40th St. Mother/daughter brunch. Macy’s fashions to be modeled. Benefits hunger drive with Thrivent Financial. $10. 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.

Mercer Island Women’s Club: luncheon, May 12, Overlake Golf & Country Club, 8000 N.E. 16th St., Medina. Social hour: 11 a.m. Lunch: 12 p.m. Speaker: Dr. Beverly Chico, hat expert and former Smithsonian exhibit curator. Hat contest with prizes for most creative, funniest and prettiest hat. Reservations deadline: May 2. Limited space. Esther Barsher: 232-9280.

Mercer Island Job Finder’s Club: workshop, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Tuesdays, May 12-June 16, Community Center at Mercer View. Facilitator: Terry Pile (Career Advisors). Sponsor: Mercer Island Youth & Family Services. Free. Registration required: (206) 275-7869, cheryl.manriquez@mercergov.org.

Mercer Island Youth Soccer Club: Select Tryouts for Boys and Girls U-12 to U-15, 4:30-9 p.m., May 19-20, Preston Fields, Preston Fall City Rd. S.E. and S.E. 87th Pl., Preston. Select Tryouts for GU-16: 5-6:30 p.m., May 16-17, Islander Middle School Turf Field. www.miysc.org.

“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: Homestead Field during spring. Al Skinner: 232-3450.

Women Painters of Washington: “Summer Dreaming” gallery exhibition, May 5-July 31. First Thursday Gallery Reception: 4-6 p.m., May 7. 701 Fifth Ave., Suite 310. (206) 624-0543, www.womenpainters.com.

Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce Gallery: Elementary Art Display, through June 17, 7613 S.E. 27th St. Featuring 100 paintings from West Mercer second-graders. 232-3404.

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 & Family Services Food Bank.

Look to Your Library Series

Job Finding Techniques: 9-11 a.m., May 1. Learn latest job searching strategies including strategic networking, effectively using job boards, job fair etiquette, using the social networking media, working with recruiters. Speaker: Terry Pile, of Career Advisors.

Look to Your Library Stations: 9-11 a.m., May 1-8. Daily demonstration and personal assistance stations offer 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.

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.

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.

Big Read

“Gold Rush! Panning for Gold”: 2 p.m., May 2. Based on Jack London’s “Call of the Wild.” Ages 5 and up.

Big Read Matinee: “Balto” (G), 1 p.m., May 16. Adults, teens and families. The story of a dog who survived the blizzards of Alaska to bring medicine to the children of Nome.

Adults

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, April 29, May 6-27. Improve speaking and listening skills in English conversation group.

Get Known Before the Book Deal: 2 p.m., May 3. Presentation based on Christina Katz’s book. Learn how to name, claim, cultivate and explain a writer’s platform from scratch.

Three Spanish Operatic Greats: Victoria de los Angeles, 7 p.m., May 4; Alfredo Kraus, 7 p.m., May 11; Montserrat Caballe, 7 p.m., May 18. Speaker: Norm Hollingshead.

Computer Classes: 9 a.m. E-mail Level I: May 14. E-mail Level II: May 21. E-mail Level III: May 28.

Children/Families

Pan for Gold: 2 p.m., May 2. Presented by Klondike Gold Rush National Park. Meet a sled dog, pan for gold, Klondike Gold Rush stories.

French Story Times: 10 a.m., Saturdays, May 2-May 30. Join Patricia Balaise-Caves for stories, songs, activities in French.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo: 11 a.m., May 5. Join Marco Cortez and Margaret Martin for songs, stories, activities. Ages 3-5.

“Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse”: 7 p.m., May 19. Presented by Youth Theatre Northwest. Ages 3-5 and families. Sneak preview.

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 Zone: 1:45 p.m., May 11 and 18. Hang out, do homework, play video games.

Chill with Author Deborah Reber — Ways to De-Stress: 3:30 p.m., May 13. Speaker: Deborah Reber, author of “Chill: Stress-Reducing Techniques for a More Balanced You” and many of the Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul series.

Teen Advisory Board: 7 p.m., May 19. Voice opinions on teen materials, services and programs; earn one volunteer credit hour.

Parks & Recreation

Community Center at Mercer View (CCMV)

8236 S.E. 24th St.

275-7609

www.myparksandrecreation.com

Registration for summer camps and beginner adult sailing is open. See the spring/summer Recreation Guide for full descriptions or online at www.myparksandrecreation.com.

Supporting your ADD/ADHD Child’s Gifts: Parent Workshop, 9-11 a.m., May 2. $62.

Youth After School Adventure Program: 2:30-4:30 p.m., Mondays, May 4-June 8, Craft Room. Hands-on, after-school programs with a Nature Vision Naturalist. Explore a nature topic; story, snack. Limited to 10-20 participants. Ages 4-9. $77.

Knife Skills Cooking Class: 6-7:30 p.m., May 7. $41.

Wenatchee Whitewater Rafting: May 9. Trip leaves from CCMV. Ages 10 and up; children under 18 must have a caregiver. $89 with transportation and lunch included.

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.

Dance Team: 3:30-5 p.m., Wednesdays, through 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).

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

Parkinson’s Disease Support Group: 2-3:30 p.m., May 5, Groveland Room.

Caregivers Support Group: 3-4:30 p.m., May 7, Slater Room.

Widow and Widowers Grief & Loss Support Group: 1-2:30 p.m., May 14. For senior adult men and women who have lost a spouse or partner in death. Free. Reservations: Betsy Zuber, (206) 275-7752.

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

232-7115, ext. 269

www.sjcc.org

Registration required.

Mah Jongg: 12:30 p.m., Fridays, Polack Lounge. Free/SJCC members, $2/nonmembers.

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