THIS WEEK

Published 3:15 pm Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Tree-cycle

The city will be offering its annual holiday tree chipping service through Jan. 6. Bring your undecorated Christmas tree during daylight hours to the city’s maintenance shop at 9601 S.E. 36th St. (enter on the west side of City Hall), and it will be chipped into mulch for the city’s parks, trails and open spaces. For more information, call the maintenance department at 236-3613.

The MI Lacrosse Club will also offer a Christmas tree pick-up service, Jan. 5-6. Trees must be at curbside by 9 a.m. To make your reservation: milax@comcast.net, 232-0167.

No more monkeys jumpin’ on the bed

The Recess Monkeys will perform at the Mercer Island library for their fans, ages two and older, on Jan. 17. The event is sponsored by the Mercer Island Preschool Association. For information, contact 236-3537.

Swearing in

City Councilmembers will be sworn in and a new mayor selected at the next regular Council meeting on Jan. 7 at the conclusion of a study session set for 6 p.m. in the Council chambers at City Hall.

City meetings

An important meeting for the parks levy stakeholders group is at 6:30 p.m, tomorrow, Jan. 3, at the CCMV.

A Planning Commission meeting scheduled for tonight was cancelled.

Winter fun

The Mercer Island Parks and Recreation 2008 Winter catalog is now available, offering classes and activities for young and old. Get your copy at the library, City Hall, Parks and Rec. offices at Luther Burbank Park or view it and register online at www.mercergov.org.

Dine and dance

Come join the Mercer Island Arts Council, friends and family for a Winter Dance, Sunday, Jan. 13, at the CCMV.

Take a Cuban/Salsa dance class from 4-5 p.m. and enjoy live, the 12-piece band, Orchestra Zarabanda, between 5 and 7 p.m. $5 per person; tickets are available at the CCMV.

Events

Christmas tree pick-up service: offered by MI Lacrosse Club, Jan. 5-6. Tree must be at curbside by 9 a.m. Donations to MILC accepted. A portion of proceeds go to MI Youth & Family Services. To make your reservation: milax@comcast.net, 232-0167.

Holiday Tree Chipping: through Jan. 6, offered by the City of Mercer Island. Bring your undecorated, live Christmas tree to the City’s Maintenance Shop, 9601 S.E. 36th St. (enter on City Hall’s west side), and it will be chipped into mulch for the city’s parks, trails, open spaces. City’s Maintenance Dept., (206) 236-3613.

Art Gallery Show: Jan. 7-Feb. 22, MI Community Center, Islander Laurel Nelms’ paintings. Artist’s reception: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Jan. 17. Eileen Trists, 236-3545.

Farmers Market Community Forum: 7 p.m., Jan. 10, MI library, 4400 88th Ave. S.E. All citizens are invited to participate in creating the Island market. Callie, 232-8402.

Winter Dance: 5-7 p.m., Jan. 13, MI Community Center, Mercer Room. Cuban/Salsa dance class: 4-5 p.m. Join MI Arts Council, friends, family. $5/person. Get tickets at CCMV front desk. Orchestra Zarabanda, Seattle-based dance band. Burrito bar choice of beef, chicken, veggie: $6.50/person. www.orchestrazarabanda.com.

Lakeview Highlands Subbasin Project Open House: 7-9 p.m., Jan. 17, Island Park Elementary School Library, 5437 Island Crest Way. Join city staff, project consultant to learn more about watercourse stabilization project near West Mercer Way. Project Manager Fred Gu, fred.gu@mercergov.org, (206) 275-7803, www.mercergov.org/subbasin29.

Classes

Grief and the Holidays workshops: Jan. 3, Providence Hospice of Seattle, 425 Pontius Ave. N., Seattle 98109. Free. Ailey Armstrong, (206) 749-7702.

“Secrets of the Successful Landlord”: 6:30-8 p.m., Jan. 9, CCMV, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Christine Kenyon, (206) 275-3779. Register: MI Parks and Recreation, (206) 236-3545.

Boating Safety: 5-9 p.m., Jan. 8-9, Medina City Hall; Jan. 22-23, MI Fire Station 91. MI Marine Patrol’s parks certified instructors. $15. Pre-register: Marine Patrol, (206) 236-5309, keith.mcdonough@mercergov.org. www.mercergov.org/boatersafety.

Conscious Fathering: Dads, meet the needs of the next generation, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Jan. 10, Stroum JCC. Speaker: Bernie Dorsey, Conscious Fathering Program founder. $10/person, $17/couple, JCC membership not necessary. To register: Andy, andyl@sjcc.org, (206) 232-7115 ext. 304.

CPR classes: First Aid and Adult CPR, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Jan. 12; $30, check or cash. CPR (adult, infant, child): 7-9 p.m., Jan. 16; $15, check or cash. Through MI Fire Dept. To sign up: (206) 236-3600.

Protect Yourself and Your Money: Be a Fraud Fighter, 2 p.m., Jan. 17; 6 p.m., Jan. 24, Sunrise of Mercer Island, 2959 76th Ave. S.E. Informative presentation on how scams work. Learn how to stay safe. (206) 232-6565.

Clubs

Probus Club meeting: 10:30 a.m., Jan. 2, MI Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Speaker: Wash. Attorney General Rob McKenna. Open to public. Bob Simonds, probobus@comcast.net.

Mercer Island Visual Arts League (MIVAL) meeting: 12:30 p.m., Jan. 3, MI Library, 4400 88th S.E. The Board convenes at 10:30 a.m. Members, please bring an art piece for “Show and Tell,” for prizes. Potluck luncheon. All are welcome.

Second Saturday Stories: 11-11:30 a.m., Jan. 12, Island Books, 3014 78th Ave. S.E. Margaret Read MacDonald: “Little Rooster Pecks up a Tale.” Ages 3 and up. (206) 232-6920.

Island Baseball Club: Open registration for MI spring boys baseball, now through Jan. 31. MI Pony Baseball sign-ups, ages 13-17. Chris Mead, (206) 963-2572; islandbaseballclub@yahoo.com, http://eteamz.active.com/IslandBaseballClub/index.cfm.

Cellar 46 wine tasting: 2-6 p.m., Saturdays, Mercer Building, 7650 S.E. 27th St., Suite 120. Free. Ryan Allison, (206) 407-3016, www.cellar46.com/events.

MI Directory: If you are new to MI, have moved or changed address/telephone numbers on MI, please let the Mercer Island Telephone Book know for the updated 2008 Book. Non-profit, benefits Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center. Karin Pangborn, (206) 232-7046; Lynn0308@aol.com.

Library

The following events take place at the Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave. S.E., unless otherwise noted. Please call 236-3537 for more information.

Adults

Classics on Film: “Notorious,” 1 p.m., Jan. 5. “Shadow of a Doubt”: 1 p.m., Jan. 19. Alfred Hitchcock films; discussion with film historian, Lance Rhoades. Refreshments provided.

Opera Preview: “Pagliacci,” 7 p.m., Jan. 9. Lecture by Norm Hollingshead. Study Zone tutors: share your skills with kids. KCLS is recruiting volunteers.

Children, Families

Must register for all.

Toddler Times for Twos: 10 a.m., Tuesdays in January. Ages 2, 3.

Preschool Story Times: 11 a.m., Tuesdays in January. Ages 3, 5.

Story Times for Wonderful Ones: 10 a.m., Wednesdays, Jan. 9-30. Ages 12-23 months.

Baby Story Time: 10:30 a.m., Jan. 11. Ages 6 to 12 months.

Recess Monkeys: Musical Concert, 7 p.m., Jan. 17. Ages 2 and up.

Teens

Teen Zone: 1 p.m., Jan. 7, 14, 28. Games, homework, hang out.

Teen Advisory Board: 7 p.m., Jan. 15. Earn a volunteer credit.

Study Zone: Homework help, math, science, WASL, SAT prep.

Parks & Recreation

Call (206) 275-7609 or register online at www.myparksandrecreation.com to receive a catalog of the Mercer Island Parks & Recreation Department events. All events are held at the Mercer Island Community Center, 8236 S.E. 24th St., unless otherwise specified.

Winter Classes

Must register: call (206) 275-7609.

Hoop, Breathe & Dance: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., begins Jan. 8.

Writing Club: 4-6 p.m., begins Jan. 8, 9. For grades 2-5.

Cooking Class: Winter Hors d’oeuvres, 5-8 p.m., Jan. 8.

FEMME Training, Mothers & Daughters: 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Jan. 12.

Drop-in preschool: 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday. $5/hour. 236-3545.

Jazzercise: 9:30-10:30 a.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

Bridge lessons: 10 a.m.-noon, Tuesdays, Thursdays. $63/six weeks. Instructor: Aidee Pokroy. 236-3545.

Volunteer bus drivers: needed for Island senior transportation. No endorsements necessary. Jeanette, 230-6845.

Parks & Rec. Seniors

Grief and Loss support group: 1 p.m., Jan. 10.

Grocery shopping transportation: Wednesday mornings. Call 236-3456; leave a message by 4 p.m., the day before shopping. $1.

Boys & Girls Club

All events take place at the Boys & Girls Club, 2825 West Mercer Way, unless otherwise noted. For more information or to register: (206) 232-4548, www.mipositiveplace.org.

“Winter Wonderland”: 10-11:30 a.m., Jan. 7. Stories, crafts by MI Librarian, Margaret Martin. Flannel board, finger plays, songs. Share the wonders of snow. Make a snowman with paper, paint, glitter. $2.

Champions (K-3rd grade) Gymnastics class: registration opens Jan. 15. Session 1: 5-5:45 p.m., March 5-April 30. $100. My Gym, Bellevue.

Baseball/softball: registration open now through Jan. 18. Late registration opens Jan. 19. $25 late fee. Limited space. Boys and girls, ages 5-12. Season: March to mid-June, excluding All-Stars. T-Ball, $90; Sluggers, Minors, $90; Rookies, $115; Softball, Player Pitch, $135; plus current annual membership, $30.

MI Judo Dojo: practices 6:15-8 p.m., Tuesdays. Instructor: Harold Yamada. Sign up: ongoing. Evergreen State Open Judo Tournament at Boys & Girls Club: April 5, 2008, free.

Preschool Rainy Day Gym: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Wednesdays through May 1, 2008. Indoor playground for toddlers, preschoolers. $3 per visit.

Special preschool events: January through March.

Youth Baseball Player Development Program (PDP): registration is open. Sign up online, over the phone, by e-mail or at the Club. Youth Baseball League registration will open soon. www.mipositiveplace.org.

Youth

2008 Winter Cheer Clinic: 1-3 p.m., Jan. 13, 27, MI Community Center. Elementary students invited. $40/1 day; $60/2 days. Paige Linton, (206) 230-9033, pglinton@aol.com.

Religion

Congregational Church of Mercer Island: Sunday worship, 10:30 a.m., nursery care provided. Children’s Sunday School during worship. Adult Education: 9 a.m., Sundays. Bible Studies: 7:45 p.m., Wednesdays; 6:15 p.m., Thursdays. 4545 Island Crest Way, (206) 232-7800, office@ucc-ccmi.net, www.ucc-ccmi.org.

Congregation Shevet Achim: morning minyan, 6:45 a.m., Monday, Thursday; 6:55 a.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday. Shabbat services: 9 a.m. between Sukkot, Pesach; 9:30 a.m. between Pesach, Sukkot. Northwest Yeshiva High School sanctuary. President Rich Gilmore, (206) 232-1060.

Emmanuel Episcopal Church: Sunday services and Holy Eucharist, 8 a.m., 10 a.m.; church school, nursery care; children’s choir, 11:30 a.m. Contemporary service: 5 p.m., Holy Eucharist in the chapel. Holy Eucharist, healing service: 9:30 a.m., Wednesdays. 4400 86th Ave. S.E. 232-1572, mail@emmanuelmi.org.

First Church of Christ, Scientist: services and Sunday School, 10 a.m. S.E. 47th & Island Crest Way. Wednesday meetings: 7:30 p.m. Childcare available. Reading Room: open weekdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 7605 S.E. 27th St. 232-0175, fccsmi@hotmail.com.

First Taiwanese Presbyterian Church: Christian Education, 9:15 a.m. Worship: 10:40 a.m., Sundays, Fireside Room. 3605 84th Ave. S.E. (206) 232-5595.

Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation: services, 6 p.m., Fridays and 9:15 a.m., Saturdays. Daily Minyan: 7 a.m. Minyan at 9 a.m. on Sundays, secular holidays. Pre-Neg: 5:30 p.m., Fridays. 3700 E. Mercer Way. (206) 232-8555, www.h-nt.org.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church: Sunday worship schedule, 8 a.m., 10:15 a.m. (childcare available). Sunday School/education hour: 9 a.m. 8501 S.E. 40th St. (206) 232-3270. www.htlcmi.org.

Latter Day Saints Mormon Church: Sacrament meeting, 9 a.m. Sunday School: 10:10 a.m. Priesthood, Relief Society, Young Women: 11:10 a.m. 4001 Island Crest Way. 236-2957.

Mercer Island Covenant Church: worship services, 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., Sundays. Sunday School for all ages: 9:45 a.m. Middle School Youth Group: 7 p.m., Tuesdays. Men’s Open Prayer Group: 6:15 a.m., Wednesdays. Community Dinner: 5:30 p.m., Jan. 9, $3. Women’s Oasis (Bible Study): 9:15 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 10; childcare provided. High School Youth Group: 7 p.m., Thursdays. Women’s Prayer Ministry: 8 a.m., Thursdays. Men’s Bible Study: 6:30 a.m., Saturdays. Kids’ Friday Fun Night: New Year’s Party, 7-9 p.m., Jan. 4, first-fifth graders. 3200 78th Ave. S.E. (206) 232-1015, ext. 100, www.micc.org.

Mercer Island Presbyterian Church: Kindermusik registration: Haley Montoya, (206) 325-1233, adovesong@gmail.com. 3605 84th Ave. S.E. (206) 232-5595.

Mercer Island United Methodist Church: Sunday School, 10 a.m. Sunday worship: 11 a.m. Childcare available. All are welcome. 7070 S.E. 24th St. (206) 232-3044.

New Hope International Church: Sunday services, 9 a.m. (English), 2 p.m. (Thai). Prayer & Revival Service: 7:30 p.m., Jan. 4. Winter Apparel Drive: through Jan. 26, accepting donations of socks, scarves, pants, sweats, gloves, blankets; items must be new or used in good condition. Register for Truth Project class: Jan. 11-12, PJ Hancock, (206) 275-1042. A prayer session is available for those who need healing. 9170 S.E. 64th St. (206) 275-1042 ext. 3, www.newhic.org.

Redeemer Lutheran Church: worship and kids’ services, 10 a.m. Fellowship and Bible study: 11 a.m. All are welcome. The church is handicapped accessible. Worship is uplifting, joyful. 6001 Island Crest Way. Pastor Bill Clements, (206) 232-1711, www.redeemerlutheranchurch.us.

St. Monica Catholic Church: Are you interested about the Catholic faith? You are invited to join St. Monica Catholic Church’s RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation Adults) program, an ancient church process to enable anyone to learn about and participate in the Roman Catholic faith. All are welcome. The class meets 7:30-9 p.m., Wednesdays, St. Monica School Library, 4320 87th Ave. S.E.; Dan Stevenson, 232-9829. Childcare provided. 4301 88th Ave. S.E. (206) 232-2900.