“The High Price of Affluence for our Youth” is from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at the Mercer Island High School auditorium. The speaker is Dr. Suniya Luthar from Columbia University in New York who will present her findings on children in affluent communities. This will launch “Mercer Island Communities that Care” a two-year community initiative under Mercer Island Youth and Family Services intended to assess risk factors and develop strategies to reduce drug and alcohol use among our youth.

“Candidates Forum” is from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, at the Mercer Island Library. All candidates for Mercer Island City Council will participate by sharing their ideas on the future of Luther Burbank Park during the park master planning process. Sponsored by Friends of Luther Burbank Park.

Blood Drive is from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E.

Island Books Fall Storytelling is from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays. Sept. 24, Meg Lippert, Fabulous Folktales; Oct. 1, Kathy Currie, Fantasy and Tales; Oct. 8, Nancy Stewart, Sing Along Fun.

Luther Burbank Park Master Plan Kick Off Workshop is from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 24, rain or shine, at Luther Burbank Park. Check in by the administration building. For more information contact Pete Mayer 236-3548 or luther.burbank@ci.mercer-island.wa.us.

Congregation Shevet Achim presents Ari Goldwag, singer, songwriter and chazzan, in concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, at Northwest Yeshiva High School, 5017 90th Ave. S.E. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Children under 3 are free.

“Going Kabbalistic Without Madonna” is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the Mercer Island Library. The speaker is Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky of Seattle. Sponsored by Congregation Shevet Achim. Refreshments will be served. There is no cost.

Mercer Island High School Homecoming Week is from Monday, Oct. 3, to Saturday, Oct. 8. This year’s theme is “Dr. Seuss.”

Clubs

Cub Scout Pack 624 will meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, at the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. All boys in first to fifth grades are welcome to join. Call Dana Melick at 275-4572 for more information.

Mercer Island Preschool Association events:

? Mercer Island Fire Station Tour is at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23. Check out the trucks and equipment. Limited space available. Contact Kristine at 709-8343.

? Parents Night Out is at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, at The Islander, 7440 S.E. 27th St. To R.S.V.P., contact Beth at 633-7911.

Mercer Island Women’s Club events:

? Newcomer’s Cocktail Party is at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Mercer Island VFW Hall. All spouses and partners are welcome. Call Nola Nevers at 232-6292 for more information.

? Women’s Club Luncheon is at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at The Palisades, 2601 West Marine Place, Seattle. Andrea Reith owner of “Dish it Up!” will be the guest speaker. R.S.V.P. to Lana Ojendyk at 230-5926 no later than Saturday, Oct. 1.

? Annual Remlinger Farm Pumpkin Tour is at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11. Rides, live entertainment, animal barn, hay jump and choose a sugar pumpkin. The cost is $6 per person. To register call Kristine at 709-8343.

Mercer Island Republican Women will meet at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 3, at the Mercer Island Library conference room. Leslie Lewallen of the Pacific Legal Foundation will speak on “Critical Land Ordinance.” Bring a friend for an interesting and informative meeting.

The ProBus Club of Mercer Island will host a forum at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. Mike Grady and Brenda Finkenbinder, candidates for City Council position #6, will answer questions.

Sons of Norway meets at 7:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month at Mercer Island United Methodist Church, 7070 S.E. 24th St.

Mercer Island Radio Operators meet at 7 p.m. every third Thursday of the month at the north fire station. The group provides backup emergency communications for the Mercer Island Public Safety Department. For information, call Bill Ellis at 232-4881.

The Senior Foundation of Mercer Island is planning a “Nonagenarian Tea and Silent Auction” in October 2005 to honor 90-year-old Mercer Island residents and to raise money for the foundation. In preparation for the event, names of senior honorees as well as small auction donations or services are requested. For more information, contact Angela Decker at 232-6600 ext. 223.

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.

Toddler Story Times for 2- to 3-year-olds with caregiver is at 10 a.m. Tuesdays, to Oct. 25. Registration is required.

Preschool Story Times for 3- to 5-year-olds is at 11 a.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 25. Registration is required.

Very Young Toddler Story Time for children 16 months to 23 months with caregiver is at 11 a.m. Wednesdays, to Oct. 26. Registration is required.

Talk Time English Conversation Class is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, starting today.

SCORE Counseling for business owners is at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. every third Thursday.

Computer Classes:

? E-mail Basics is from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 22. Registration is required.

? Microsoft Word Basics is from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 29. Learn how to create and save a document, insert images and more. Registration is required.Boys & Girls Club

Register early for all summer camps. Register online at www.mipositiveplace.org for AM/PM Pals, dance camps, Teen and Adventure Travel camps, and Skyhawk sports camps. Call 232-4548.

Judo Program for 6- to 15-years-old is from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. The cost is $35 per month. Call to register.

Hip-Hop for children 10 and older is from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, starting today. The instructor is Kevin Caraco. The cost for eight hours is $100. Register online.

Ballet/Jazz for 7- to 9-years-old is from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 22 to Dec. 8. The instructor is Debbie Nittrouer. The cost for nine classes is $90. Register online.

Amazing Arts Workshops for 6- to 10-year-olds. Jazzy Jewelry is Thursdays, Sept. 22 to Oct. 6. The cost is $30. Call for times and to register.

Fun With Clay for first to fifth grades is from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Oct. 5 to Oct. 26. The cost is $45. Call to register.

AM/PM Pals for children in full-day kindergarten through fifth grade. From 6:30 to 9 a.m. and from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Staff members accompany your child to and from the school buses to the three public elementary schools, prepare nutritious snacks, plan arts and crafts, assist with homework, play large-group games, and supervise free play with Legos, board games, computer time and more. Register online at www.mipositiveplace.org or call Sue at 232-4548.

Classes

Emergency Preparedness Classes are at the north-end fire station, 3030 78th Ave. S. E.:

? First Aid with CPR is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and Saturday, Sept. 24. The cost is $30.

? Infant/Child CPR is from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9. The cost is $15.

? Everyone Prepared-Pass It On is from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, at the City Hall Council Chambers, 9611 S. E. 30th St. It includes training in preparing for all hazards in a disaster at home, in your car, at your workplace and at your school or day care.

Mercer Island Branch School of Ikebana Japanese flower arrangement is from 10 a.m. to noon Fridays, to Nov. 4, in the Boys & Girls Club boardroom. Call Parks & Recreation at 236-3545 to register.

“Learn How to Identify And Improve Your Emotional Intelligence” presentation with guest speaker Dr. Jeanne Anne Craig is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4001 Island Crest Way.

Parks & Rec

The following programs are run by the Parks & Recreation Department. Call 236-3545, or register online at www.myparksandrecreation.com.

Becoming a Healthy Non-Dieter is from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, at the north end fire station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. The cost is $26.

Arena Sports Lil Kickers Indoor Soccer for 18 months- to 9-year-olds is Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. For dates and to register call 866-885-4881 or go online at www.arenasports.net.

Fitness Boot Camp is from 6 to 7 a.m. Mondays through Fridays to Oct. 7 at the North Mercer Gym, 8817 S.E. 40th St. The cost for three days per week is $90, for five days per week is $150.

Walk Across Washington is at 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, starting at Mercer Island City Hall, 9611 S.E. 36th St. and ending at the Park on the Lid. This walk across the state will cover more than 250 miles and more than 85 cities in a week-long celebration of healthy lifestyles and healthy communities. People will walk one or more three-mile segments. Each segment showcases the parks, trails, beauty and personality of each community. No cost. To register visit www.walkwashington.org.

Stretching and Abdominal Class is from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays, to Oct. 28, at North Mercer Gym, 8817 S. E. 40th St. S.E. The cost is $70.

Ballet is Tuesdays or Thursdays to Dec. 6 at the Boys & Girls Club. For 3- to 4-year-olds at 3 p.m.; for 5- to 6-year-olds at 4 p.m.; for 7- to 9-year-olds at 5 p.m. The cost is $91.

Clay Sculpting for 5- to 7-year-olds is from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, to Oct. 4, at the Boys & Girls Club boardroom. The cost is $76. Code #4787.

Garden Art for 3- to 4-year-olds is from 10 to 10:50 a.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 27 to Nov. 1, at the Boys & Girls Club boardroom. The cost is $85.

Seniors

Grief and Loss Support Group will meet from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, at the Mercer Island Library.

Low Vision Support Group will meet from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, at the Mercer Island Library. Independent living will be discussed.

Bellevue Art Museum Trip is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, meeting at Luther Burbank Park. The cost is $15.

JCC

Unless noted, all events take place at the Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 E. Mercer Way. For more information, call 232-7115.

Transcendental Meditation presentation is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, in the library and at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, in room 207. Learn how this simple mental technique is an effective antidote to the stresses and challenges of modern life. Open to the public. Preregistration is required at 366-0499 or at seattletm@msn.com. No cost.

Author Reading and Book Signing is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22. Eva Etzioni-Halevy, author of “The Song of Hannah,” will read from her book and autograph copies.

Galleries

Sandy Rousso and Don Stewart will exhibit their artwork at Ana’s Mexican Restaurant, 2420 76th Ave. S.E., through September.

Maggie LeMoie, Jean Jack and Jim Jaime will exhibit their artwork at the Washington Mutual Building, 7900 S. E. 28th St. through October.

Helen Schwedenberg, Dave Tracy and Don Stewart will exhibit their artwork at Island House, 7810 S.E. 30th St., to Nov. 15.

Rose Preston will exhibit her artwork at the Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave. S.E. Wednesday, Oct. 5.

Yolanda Agress, Pia Messina and Colleen Mohn will exhibit their artwork at The French Market Cafe, 7525 S. E. 24th St., through November.

Religion

Mercer Island Presbyterian Church: “Local Missions Sundays” is Sept. 25 from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Come and hear about MIPC’s involvement in missions locally. Each Monday from 9 to 9:20 a.m. is contemplative prayer time in the prayer chapel. Tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. is the fourth annual ice cream social, sponsored by Super Sixties. Tuesday night’s soup and salad begins at 6 p.m. Sept. 27; at 7 p.m. are diverse classes. Topics include: “The Gospel of John,” “God’s Politics” by Jim Wallis, “The Marriage Course,” and “Jesus Interprets God’s Word.” Call James Watson at 232-5596, ext. 252. A concert to dedicate the pipe organ is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, in the sanctuary. The church is at 3605 84th Ave. S.E.

Congregational Church of Mercer Island: Worship service and Sunday school is at 10:30 a.m. Sundays. High school youth meet after worship. The first and third Tuesdays the spiritual formation group meets at 7:30 p.m. LOGOS is from 4 to 7 p.m. tonight. Middle school youth meet from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight. The church is at 4545 Island Crest Way.

Mercer Island Covenant Church: Sunday services are at 9 and 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. Adult and children’s Sunday schools are at 9 a.m. The high school youth group meets at 4:45 p.m. Sundays. Middle school youth meet at 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Community dinners are at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Alpha and Kids Club begins at 6:30 p.m. today. Women’s ministry kick off is Friday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m. Find out about the women’s programs and meet the new senior pastor’s wife, Wendy Asimakoupoulos. For additional information, call 232-1015, ext. 100. The church is at 3200 78th Ave. S.E.Christian Science Church: The Christian Science Reading Room is temporarily located at the Christian Science Church at Island Crest Way and S.E. 47th Street. The room is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Mondays. Call 232-0175 for more information, or e-mail fccsmi@attglobal.net.

Emmanuel Episcopal Church: Sunday services are at 8 a.m. (Rite I) and 10 a.m. (Rite II) with choir. Church school begins at 10 a.m. Children’s choir begins at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 25. The public is invited to the Emmanuel Celebrates Children! party at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 25. Contact Connie Clark-Redmond for details at 230-5723. The church is at S.E. 44th Street and 86th Avenue S.E.

Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation: Help us to help the victims of Katrina by sending a check made out to Herzl-Ner Tamid and earmarked “Hurricane Relief.” “Men Cooking for Shabbat” is from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays in the HNT kitchen. The materials fee is $65. For more information, contact Herzl-Ner Tamid at 232-8555. The synagogue is at 3700 East Mercer Way.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church: Sunday worship services are at 8 a.m. in the chapel and 10:15 in the sanctuary. At 6 p.m. Wednesday, family night begins with worship and dinner in the fellowship hall followed by activities for all ages. Call Pastor Constance at 232-3270. The church is at 8501 S.E. 40th St.

Mercer Island United Methodist Church: Sunday worship is at 11 a.m. Sunday school classes are at 9:45 a.m. Choir schedules: Adults rehearse from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 4- to 8-year-olds rehearse at 5 p.m. Wednesdays; Trinity Singers, 9- to 17-year-olds, practice at 11:30 a.m. Sundays. All choirs regularly sing in worship. Adult education classes are at 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 2. The knitting and crocheting group will meet at 6:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month. All ages, beginners, experienced crafters, men and women are welcome. The church is at 7070 S.E. 24th St.

St. Monica Catholic Church: Friends of the Needy, FON, will help serve and deliver food to downtown shelters from 5:15 to 7:15 p.m. Tuesdays. Meet in the church kitchen. For information, contact the youth minister at sage@stmonica.cc or 232-9829. The church is at 4301 88th Ave. S.E.

Off Island

The Notre Dame Club is hosting a benefit luncheon at 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at Qwest Field event center to kick off the traditional weekend festivities of the Notre Dame vs. University of Washington football game Saturday, Sept. 24. Tickets are $125 per person and can be purchased at www.wwnotredameclub.com or by calling The Moyer Foundation at 298-1217.