Events

Mercer Island Baccalaureate, an interfaith community celebration to honor all high school seniors is at 7 p.m. today, June 15, at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. A reception will follow. Speakers will be Matt Hasselbeck of the Seattle Seahawks and Dr. Paul Highsmith, former Mercer Island High School principal. Open to family and friends of graduates.

Island Books Pajama Party Storytime is at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 23: Karen Haas, “Dragons and Dreams.”

Island Sound Children’s Choir will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 18 and at 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, June 19, at the Mercer Island High School performing theater. The show is entitled “Musique.” It showcases a variety of music genres including opera, gospel, country, show music, classical, pop, and “oldies.” Tickets are $10 and available at the door. For more information call Marsha at 232-8007 or islandsound@comcast.net.

Fire Department Day at the Museum of Flight for families with young children is from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, June 24. Fire engines, bicycle helmet fittings, safety games and firefighting and emergency medical service displays. Sponsored by the King County Fire & Life Safety Association. Free and open to the public.

Ivy and Invasive Plant Removal is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 25 and from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, June 30. Meet at 84th Ave. and 32nd Street. The trailhead starts between 32nd and 33rd Street and you can park on 84th Ave. For more information call Dorli Mason at 236-3079 or FRIENDSLBP@AOL.COM.

The Actor’s Studio NW’s workshop for 10- to 13-year-olds is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, June 24, and for adult actors from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 25, and Sunday, June 26. Call 232-0591 to register and for the location or go to www.theactorsstudio.com.

Youth Theatre Northwest will perform Honk! Performances are at: 7 p.m. Fridays, July 15 and July 22, at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays, July 16 and July 23, and Sundays, July 17 and July 24. Call 232-4145 for tickets.

Clubs

Mercer Island Preschool Association’s Mom’s Night Out dinner is at 7 p.m. today at Salty’s in Seattle. R.S.V.P. to Leslie at 275-2811.

Island Books Open Book Club meets at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 30, to review “Kings of Infinite Space” by James Hynes.

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

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.

Story Time is at 11 a.m. Tuesdays, June 28 through August 2. Enjoy stories, songs and fun!

The “Princess and the Pea” for 3 year-olds and older will be performed at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 28, by Snapdragon Puppet Productions.

Medieval Feast for 6 year-olds and older is at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 29. Participants must bring a large soup can, two toilet paper rolls and a 6- by 9-inch cardboard gelatin box. Registration is required.

Dragons, Dreams and Daring Deeds summer reading program has begun. Bring your child to the library to sign up. There will be free programs, prizes and drawings as children read through the summer.

One-on-One Computer Training is available by appointment. The Interact Club, a group of Mercer Island students sponsored by Rotary, will provide the training.

Classes

Rosh Chodesh Group is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sundays June 19, July 10, August 17 and September 11. The location is confidential. For Jewish women who have experienced abuse by an intimate partner. Led by Ruz Gulko. Child-care is provided at no cost with advanced request. For information and registration call Michelle at Project DVORA (Domestic Violence Outreach Response and Advocacy) at 461-3240.

Moving Your Career Forward is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, at Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation, 3700 East Mercer Way. The workshop is led by Gary Kanter, Jewish Family Services vocational guidance counselor. Contact Marjorie Schnyder at 461-3240, ext. 3146 to register.

Little Acorn Day School has openings for 3- to 6 year-olds for the July through August summer session, and September of the 2005 school year. Call Tiana at 236-0480.

Parks & Rec

The following programs are run by the Parks & Recreation Department. For locations, go to www.miparks.net or call 236-3545.

League Gymnastics is from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, to Aug. 24, at the Mercer Island High School gymnastics room. The cost is $375.

Bands are Needed for Battle of the Bands. Deadline for registering your band is Friday, June 17. Call Diane Mortensen at 236-3590 or e-mail diane.mortenson@ci.mer-island.wa.us

Mercer Island Branch Sogetsu School of Ikebana Japanese flower arrangement is from 10 a.m. to noon Fridays, July 8 to August 19, at West Mercer Elementary, 4141 81st Ave. S.E. Register at Mercer Island Parks & Recreation at 236-3545. The cost is $48.50 for 6 classes.

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, Summer Scene day camps, and Skyhawk sports camps. Call 232-4548.

Summer Scene Camps for 5- to 9 year-olds begin soon. Register early online at www.mipositiveplace.org.

? Simply Spectacular Science! runs Monday, June 27 through Friday, July 1. It includes a field trip to the Pacific Science Center. The cost is $135.

? Summer Safari! runs Tuesday, July 5 through Friday, July 8. Animal activities, including a trip to the Woodland Park Zoo. The cost is $110.

Judo Program for all ages is from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. The cost is $30 per month. Call 232-4548 to register.

Summer Tutoring: For extra help in reading, math, or study skills, call Laurie Bowles, director of learning, at our Knowledge Points Tutoring Center at 232-4548, ext. 107 Seniors

All support groups, with the exception of the stroke group, meet at the Mercer Island Library. For locations or more information, check www.miparks.net or call 236-3545.

Caregivers Support Group is from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, June 16, at the Mercer Island Library.

Eastside Stroke Group is from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Monday, June 20, at St. Andrews Lutheran Church, Bellevue.

Trip to Remlinger Farms is from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, June 20. The cost is $15, lunch is included. Meet at Luther Burbank parking lot.

Parkinson Support Group is from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 21. A video will be shown on “Managing Parkinson Disease: Straight Talk & Honest Hope.”

Galleries

The Chamber Art Gallery’s One-Woman Show with Genny Rees, “Master of Flowers,” will run through June. The gallery is at the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce, 7612 S.E. 27th St. Call 232-3404 for information.

Wanda Hughes will be exhibiting at Mercer Island Library through June.

Jean Jack and Esther Akrish are exhibiting their paintings at Ana’s Restaurant, 2420 76th Ave S.E., through July.

Mercer Island Visual Art League’s Junior Art Show registration for students in kindergarten through 12th grade is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 5, at Wells Fargo Bank, 3001 78th Ave. S.E. Participants may pick up entry forms after today at the bank or the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce. Anyone interested in sponsoring an award should contact Genny Rees at 232-6354.

JCC

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

Early Morning Exercise For Ages 60-Plus from 7 to 8 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Call Karla Anderson at ext. 272 for more information.

Morris J. Alhadeff Memorial Golf Tournament and Joannie Alhadeff Bridge and Mah-Jongg Challenge begins at noon Monday, June 27, at Glendale Country Club in Bellevue. Contact Marcie Wirth at ext. 261 or Linda Behlke at ext. 226 for more information.

Religion

Mercer Island Presbyterian Church: Bible Study for Women is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Mondays in the Fireside Room. Young mothers are welcome at Moms & Tots program of fellowship, Bible study and education, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., Fridays. Child-care is provided. Adult Ministries is offering a series “Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths” by Bruce Feiler led by James Watson from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Sundays June 26 to July 31. Vacation Bible School “Shouting in the Hush Arbor” is from 1 to 3:15 p.m. Monday, July 11, through Friday, July 15, at the church. For more information call Eliana Maxim at 232-5595 at ext. 209 or elianam@mipc.org. The church is at 3605 84th Ave. S.E.

Congregational Church of Mercer Island: High school youth group meets at noon each Sunday. First Friday dinner and discussion is at 6:30 p.m. Middle school youth group meets from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays. The church is at 4545 Island Crest Way.

Mercer Island Covenant Church: Family night and ice cream party is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, June 24. The new Veggie Tale’s Movie, Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Samson’s Hairbrush will be shown. Register now for Vacation Bible Camp during the week of July 25 through July 29th. The theme is “Serengeti Trek.” The camp is open to all children entering kindergarten through sixth grade. The church is at 3200 78th Ave. S.E.

Emmanuel Episcopal Church: Sunday services are at 8 a.m. (Rite I) and 10 a.m. (Rite II.) Children’s music program and adult education are at 11:30 a.m. For information on church programs call 232-1572 or e-mail the church at mail@emmanuelmi.org. The church is at S.E. 44th Street and 86th Avenue S.E.

Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation: “Men cooking for Shabbat” will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays in the HNT kitchen. Materials fee is $65. For more information, contact Herzl-Ner Tamid at 232-8555. The synagogue is at 3700 East Mercer Way.

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, at 11 a.m. Sundays, and at 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 232-0175 for more information, or e-mail fccsmi@attglobal.net.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church: There will be one service at 9 a.m. Sundays during the summer starting June 19. Wednesday family night dinner is at 5:45 p.m., worship at 6:30 p.m. The Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study meets at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 18, in the fellowship hall. An auction and dinner supporting the church outreach program and the elevator fund is Saturday, July 30. The church is at 8501 S.E. 40th St.

Mercer Island United Methodist Church: Men’s fellowship and prayer meetings are at 9:30 a.m. and women’s are at 10 a.m., both every Tuesday. The church is at 7070 S.E. 24th St.

Congregation Shevet Achim: Congregation Shevet Achim is at 5017 90th Ave. S.E. in Northwest Yeshiva High School.

St. Monica Catholic Church: Morning Adoration is from 7:30 to 7:45 a.m. in the Adoration chapel for high school students only. Adoration chapel potluck is Saturday, June 25, after the 5 p.m. Mass. Prayer for middle school students only is from 8 to 8:25 a.m. every Wednesday in the Islander Middle School occupational therapy room in the sixth-grade hall. Start your day with prayer, Krispy Kremes and friends. Middle school and high school: St. Monica Youth Summer Nights is from 8 to 9:30 p.m. every second and fourth Wednesday starting today through Aug. 24. Bring your friends. Malitia Emmaculata Camp for 13- to 17-year-olds is from Wednesday, June 29, to Sunday, July 3. Contact the youth minister, sage@stmonica.cc or 232-9829. The church is at 4301 88th Ave. S.E.