Events

30th Annual Fine Arts Showcase 2009: “Creative to the Core,” 5:30-9 p.m., March 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. 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.

2nd Annual Leap for Green! Earth Day Celebration: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., April 18, Community Center at Mercer View. For kids of all ages. 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. Join the Reptile Man, artist Marita Dingus, Island businesses. Suggested donation: non-perishable food item for Mercer Island Food Pantry. Joy Johnston: 275-7791. www.mercergov.org/leapforgreen.

Classes

How to Sell Items on eBay: 4-5 p.m., March 25, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Presenter: Youth & Family Services. Register: Cheryl Manriquez, 275-7869.

Wellness Lecture Series: “Eye Vey!”, 6:30 p.m., March 26, Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way. Learn about age-related eye diseases. Speaker: Michael Rizen, M.D., Ph.D., Ophthalmologist Eye Clinic of Bellevue. Lisa Kutzke: (206) 388-1987.

First Aid with Adult CPR: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., March 28, North Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. $30 by check or cash at event. Reservations: 275-7607.

“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.

AARP Driver Safety Program: 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., March 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.

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.

“Understanding Important Resources for Russian-Jewish Genealogy”: 7 p.m., April 13, Stroum Jewish Community Center. Speaker: Michael Steinore. Learn how to locate, understand and utilize important sources of Russian-Jewish genealogy. Presented by Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State. www.jgsws.org.

Infant/Child and Adult CPR Class: 7-9 p.m., April 14, North Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. $15 by check or cash at event. Reservations: 275-7607.

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.

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.

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

Groups

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

MI Covenant Church Knitting Group: March 30. Knitting/crocheting garments for Russian orphans. Accepting contributions of leftover wool yarn, acrylic, needles, unfinished projects. Sallie: (425) 881-7210.

The Strivers: lecture, 1:45 p.m., March 31, Community Center at Mercer View Room 104. Speaker: Dr. Buddy Ratner, University of Washington professor. Topic: regenerative medicine and the synthesis of a new generation of biomaterials that promote healing and anti-inflammatory processes. John Rose: 232-0863.

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.

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.

The Mercer Island Library will be temporarily closed during the morning of Tuesday, April 14, for staff training, and will reopen at noon.

Spring Book Sale: April 1-5, during library hours. Features fiction, non-fiction, hardback, trade, mass market and children’s books. Mercer Island Friends of the Library.

Spring Concert: classical guitarist Julian Catford, 3:30 p.m., April 5. Features a variety of guitar stylings including classical, Latin/Spanish and light jazz. Refreshments.

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.

Adults

Talk Time: 7 p.m., Wednesdays, March 25, April 1-29. Improve speaking and listening skills in English conversation group.

“Library Databases — An Introduction” Computer Class: 9 a.m., March 26.

Beyond the Basics of eBay Selling: 6 p.m., April 2. Learn advanced selling and photography tips, and best practices for creating compelling listings that will draw the most bids.

Mercer Island Library Saturday Matinee: “The Verdict” (1982), 1 p.m., April 4. “Road to Perdition” (2002), 1 p.m., April 18. Informative discussion with film historian, Lance Rhoades. Refreshments provided.

Basic Digital Photography: 2 p.m., April 5. How to shop for a digital camera, take more interesting photos.

Microsoft Word Computer Classes: 9 a.m. Microsoft Word Level I: April 9. Microsoft Word Level II: April 16.

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

“Global Voices: One World” Poetry Workshop: 2 p.m., April 26. In cooperation 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.

Children/Families

Baby Rhyme Time: 10:15 a.m., March 27, April 24. 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., March 31. Ages 2-3 with caregiver.

Story Time for Wonderful Ones: 10 a.m., April 1. Stories, songs, finger plays. Ages 12 to 24 months with caregiver.

Songfest: 11 a.m., April 7. Join Patrick Doherty for music with movement, singing, clapping. Ages 2-5.

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.

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 Zone: 1:45 p.m., Mondays, April 6-27. Hang out, do homework, play video games.

Poetry Workshop with Lorie Ann Grover: 3:30 p.m., April 8. Lorie Ann Grover, author of “Hold Me Tight” and “On Pointe,” helps teen poets transform life experiences into verse poetry. Collage and writing exercises.

SAT Practice Test and Strategy Session: 10:15 a.m., April 11. Take a full-length SAT practice test. Return at 10:15 a.m., April 25, for a comprehensive analysis from Kaplan.

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

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 by phone or drop-in on March 25 and is open online at www.myparksandrecreation.com.

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

Widow and Widowers Grief & Loss Support Group: 1-2:30 p.m., April 9. For senior adult men and women who have lost a spouse or partner in death. Free. Reservations: Betsy Zuber, 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.