Events

Puget Sound Blood Center Drive: 1-7 p.m., March 19, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. 1-800-398-7888, www.psbc.org.

Luther Burbank Park Restoration: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., March 21, Upper Luther Burbank. Half-day options available. Mountains to Sound Greenway. Register: (206) 812-0122, volunteer@mtsgreenway.org. www.mtsgreenway.org.

Island Boy Scouts’ “Food For All”: March 21. Island Boy Scouts will pick up food donations from Mercer Island homes on Saturday morning for the MI Youth & Family Services Food Bank and Hopelink. 275-2796.

37th Annual Mercer Island Rotary Run: March 22, Community Center at Mercer View. Online registration open through March 20. Walkers: 7:30 a.m. Half Mile Kid’s Dash: 8:30 a.m. Half Marathon Run: 9 a.m. 5k Run and Walk: 9:30 a.m. 236-5323, ext. 1920, www.mercerislandhalf.com.

Ginger’s Pet Rescue Fundraising Event: 4-5:30 p.m., March 22, Studio 904 Salon, 3041 78th Ave. S.E. Speaker: Kim Sgro, KCACC Exposed co-director, to discuss the current status of animal welfare in King County. RSVP March 18: 232-3393.

“Knit, Pray, Run”: 5 p.m., March 22, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Community worship and prayer focus for those affected by the realities of cancer. Held in tandem with community MI Rotary Half Marathon, which targets fighting colon cancer. All are welcome. Paul Barrett: 232-5595 ext. 219.

“Fiddler on the Roof”: through March 22, Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th St. 7 p.m., Friday, Saturday; 2 p.m., Saturday, Sunday. Tickets: 232-4145 ext. 109. www.youththeatre.org.

30th Annual Fine Arts Showcase 2009: “Creative to the Core”, 5:30-9 p.m., March 24-25, Mercer Island High School. Co-sponsors: MISD, Mercer Island Fine Arts Advisory Committee. Admission: donation requested for adults; $7/advance, $10/door. www.mifineartsed.org.

Spring Recycling Collection: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., March 28, Mercer Island Boat Launch, 3600 East Mercer Way. City of Mercer Island. Plastics not accepted. For a list of acceptable items to recycle, go to www.mercergov.org or call 275-7608.

Classics on Film: “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid,” 6:15 p.m., April 2, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. “Rififi”: 6:15 p.m., March 19; Classic French Films with MI Sister City Association. Film historian Lance Rhoades shares commentary. Free. 275-7609.

3rd Annual Mercer Island Rat Show: 11 a.m.-4 p.m., April 4, VFW Hall, 1836 72nd Ave. S.E. Family activities, cakewalk, raffle, rat race, rats for adoption, rat supplies sale. Sponsor: RatsPacNW, nonprofit social welfare club dedicated to the humane treatment of animals. $3/adults, $2/children.

Classes

AARP Driver Safety Program: 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., March 24, 31, Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way. For adults ages 50 and up. Improve driving skills. Formerly AARP 55-Alive. $14 ($12/AARP members). Herb Kotkins: (425) 653-5958.

How to Sell Items on eBay: 4-5 p.m., March 25, Community Center at Mercer View. Presenter: Youth & Family Services. Register: Cheryl Manriquez, 275-7869.

Wellness Lecture Series: “Eye Vey!”, 6:30 p.m., March 26, Stroum Jewish Community Center. Learn about age-related eye diseases. Speaker: Michael Rizen, M.D., Ph.D., Ophthalmologist Eye Clinic of Bellevue. Lisa Kutzke: (206) 388-1987.

“Discover 5 Essential Elements that Guarantee Successful Homeownership”: 6 p.m., Mondays, through March 30, 2737 77th Ave. S.E., Suite 100. Free parking. Registration: (206) 406-5232, www.WeHelpYouBuyAHome.com.

Youth Empowerment Seminar (YES): March 31-April 4, Mercer Island Country Club, 8700 S.E. 71st St. Yogic practices. Art of Living Foundation. Ages 14-18. Fee. Register: http://secure.artofliving.org. Aninda Mattoo: (206) 941-2038.

Effective Parenting in a Defective World: 7-9:30 p.m., April 3, New Hope International Church, 9170 S.E. 64th St. DVD class by Chip Ingram. Learn how to raise positive kids in a negative world; building relationships that bond; how to develop your child’s full potential. 275-1042, www.newhic.org.

Mary Wayte Pool swimming lessons: 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m., March 30-April 3. Five lessons. $38. (206) 296-4370.

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

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.

Groups

Mercer Island Guild of Seattle Children’s Hospital: Mercer Island Directory mailing, 9:30 a.m., March 20, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 4400 86th Ave. S.E. Seeking volunteers to help with mailing. Free directory for volunteers. Karin Pangborn: 232-7046.

Sogetsu Mercer Island Branch: Ikebana flower-arranging spring classes, 10 a.m.-noon, Fridays, March 20-April 24, Community Center at Mercer View. $60/course. 19th Annual Exhibition: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., March 28; 11 a.m.-4 p.m., March 29; demonstrations at 2 p.m. Free. Fanny Yau: (206) 349-1137. www.misogetsu.org.

Probus Club of Mercer Island: 10:30 a.m., April 1, MI Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Speaker: John Rindlaub, CEO of Pacific Northwest Region of Wells Fargo Bank. Open to the public. Bob Simonds: 236-2190.

MI Covenant Church Knitting Group: last Monday of month. Knitting/crocheting garments for Russian orphans. Accepting contributions of leftover wool yarn, acrylic, needles, unfinished projects. Sallie: (425) 881-7210.

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.

Women Painters of Washington: “Sojourns” Gallery exhibition, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., through May 1, 701 Fifth Ave., Seattle. Free. 624-0543, www.womenpainters.com.

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.

Library

4400 88th Ave. S.E.

236-3537

www.kcls.org/mercerisland

Registration required.

Adults

Computer Classes: 9 a.m., Thursdays. Using the Library Catalog: March 19. Library Databases — An Introduction: March 26.

Writing Series: “The Seven Deadly Sins of Editing,” 2 p.m., March 22. NY Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni to review common mistakes that writers make when editing manuscripts.

STARS Workshop: “Building Great Relationships with Children,” 7 p.m., March 23. Speaker: Kathy Slattengren, of Priceless Parenting. Discuss handling parenting challenges. Provides 2 STARS credits in child guidance.

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

Children/Families

Infant Blanket Story Time: 10:15 a.m., March 20.

Baby Rhyme Time: 10:15 a.m., March 27. Ages 9-14 months.

Pajamarama Story Time: 7 p.m., March 30. Ages 3-7 with families.

Toddler Times for Terrific Twos: 10 a.m., Tuesdays in March. Ages 2-3 with caregiver.

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.

Story Times for Wonderful Ones: 10 a.m., Wednesdays, through March 25. Ages 12-24 months with caregiver.

Teens

Teen Zone: 1:45 p.m., March 23. Hang out, do homework, play video games.

Boys & Girls Club

2825 West Mercer Way

232-4548

www.mipositiveplace.org

Registration: Now open for girls spring soccer (ages 6-14), baseball (ages 8-18), softball & T-ball (ages 5-12), track (ages 6-12).

Super Sitters: March 26. Babysitting instruction, discussion, role play, video presentation, games, final quiz. $25/session.

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 opens on March 20 at www.myparksandrecreation.com and by phone or drop-in on March 25.

Open House for Pete Mayer: 3-5 p.m., March 19, Groveland Room. Join the city to say good-bye, good luck and thank you to Pete Mayer for nine years of service and dedication to the city of Mercer Island. Light refreshments.

Supporting Your ADD/ADHD Child’s Gifts: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., March 28, Clarke Room. For parents of kids ages 7-17. Instructor: Margit Crane. $82 ($42/spouse).

After-School Nature Program: Session 1, 2:30-4:30 p.m., Mondays, April 6-27, 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.

Seniors

Caregivers Support Group: 3-4:30 p.m., March 19, Slater Room.

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.