Events; Clubs; Library; Classes ; Parks & Rec; Seniors; JCC; Religion; Galleries

Events

The Arlington Northwest Memorial to honor soldiers who lost their lives serving our country in Iraq, comes to Mercerdale Park this Saturday, Feb. 19. Volunteers are needed to set up at 7 a.m., serve as docents and take down the memorial at dusk. Contact peacemakerpress@yahoo.com or call 232-6751 to sign up.

Rose Parade travel meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Mercer Island Auditorium. This information meeting is for MIHS band parents, family and friends who wish to travel to Pasadena for the Tournament of Rose Parade. Special packages for travel are available.

Children’s concert: The Mercer Island High School Symphonic Orchestra’s Children’s Concert is at 2 p.m. and the District Orchestra Concert is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, at the Performing Arts Center at the high school. Featured are pianists Seniore Kai Swenson and Karen Zemplenyi playing the Carnival of the Animals by St. Saens.

Clubs

The Mercer Island Guild of Children’s Hospital will meet at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 18, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church to address envelopes for the 2005 Directories. Volunteers are welcome. Call Mary Ann at 232-5836 for information.

Open Book Club meets at 7:30 p.m. the last Thursday of each month at Island Books. All are welcome to attend. Feb. 24, “Mountains Beyond Mountains” by Tracy Kidder; March 31, “The Girl Who Played Go” by Shan Sa.

The Buddhist book talk is at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28, at the Mercer Island Library. Jody Monahan, a teacher from the Kadampa Buddhist Temple in Ballard, will speak on “How To Solve Our Human Problems: The Four Noble Truths,” by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

The ProBus Club of Mercer Island will meet at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 2, at the Presbyterian Church. Eva Coblentz, from the Consumer Outreach and Education Coordination Department for the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, will discuss consumer fraud, particularly against seniors. The public is welcome.

Mercer Island Radio Operators (MIRO) meets at 7 p.m. every third Thursday of the month at the north-end fire station. MIRO is a volunteer organization that provides back-up emergency communications for the Mercer Island Public Safety Department. For information, call Bill Ellis at 232-4881.

Formal dress drive fundraiser for Cinderella’s Trunk, a non-profit organization benefiting teens, women, and men of all ages, will be held during the month of February. Drop-offs can be made at the Four Seasons’ Dry Cleaners, Corry’s C02 Dry Cleaners, MIHS counselor’s office. For pick-up service, call Cynthia Schreiber at 236-1071.

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.

Free training in the new SAT will be from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22. Registration required.

Read Three, Get One Free! for 12- to 18 year-olds. Read three books, write three short reviews and get a new paper book free. Books read for school count for this program. Check with the library or www.kcls.org/read3 for more information and to register.

Toddler time for 2- to 3-year-olds and caregiver, is at 10 a.m. Tuesdays, to Feb. 22. Stories, songs finger plays and fun. Call to register.

Preschool storytime for 3- to 5-year-olds is at 11 a.m. Tuesdays, to Feb. 22. Stories, songs, puppets and fun. Call to register.

Opera Preview: Florencia en el Amazonas is at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23. Presented by Norm Hollingshead. Sponsored by the Friends of Mercer Island Library.

Pajama storytime is at 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 28. Come dressed ready for bed and enjoy stories, songs and puppets.

“Anansi the Spider” and other tales from Africa will be read in celebration of Black History Month at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 25. Presented by Clay Martin’s Puppet Theater. Folktales from Africa with an emphasis on animal heroes. Puppet designs are based on African art from collections at the Seattle Art Museum.

Classes

CPR and first aid classes will be held at the north-end fire station. Instructors are Mercer Island firefighters. To register, call 236-3600. Class schedule is as follows:

• First aid and adult CPR is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26. The fee is $30.
• Adult CPR is from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, Feb. 16 and March 23. The fee is $15.
• Infant/child CPR is from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 16. The fee is $15.

Parks & Rec

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

Income tax help for taxpayers with middle and low-incomes is at 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Fridays, through April 9 and from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays, through April 9 at the Mercer Island Library. Call 236-3545 for reservations.

Emerald Queen Casino trip is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18. Pick-up at Luther Burbank Park. The cost is $11. Contact Roni Antebi at 232-7115, ext. 269 to register.

Doggie academy is from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays, to March 12, at the North Mercer gym. The cost is $9.

“Adventures in creative writing” camp for fifth- through seventh-graders is from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, through Friday, Feb. 25, at West Mercer Elementary. Unleash your creativity and wild imagination with Barbara Winkelman during mid-winter break. The cost is $75.

Paintball for 11- to 15-year-olds is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23. The cost is $61.

Seniors

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, Feb. 17, at the Mercer Island Library.

Eastside stroke group will meet from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21, at St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Bellevue.

Senior lunch is at noon Tuesdays and Thursdays, at Covenant Shores in the lodge. The fee is $4.25. Call Lynda King at 236-3549 by 10 a.m. the day before to place your order. There is no parking at Covenant Shores, but a free shuttle service leaves at 11:45 a.m. from the south Luther Burbank parking lot and returns after lunch. Call 236-3456.

“Crafts on your own” for seniors is from 9:30 a.m. to noon, Tuesdays, at Covenant Shores Lodge. Bring your favorite craft hobby and meet new friends. The cost is $3.50.

JCC

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

Live jazz at lunchtime is at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17. Jazz pianist Richard Dean plays the piano. Program is free, with a $1 suggested donation for refreshments. Bring a brown bag lunch and enjoy.

“From the Shadchan to J-Date: the history and wisdom of Jewish matchmaking” is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, in the activities room. Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg is the speaker. Contact Roni Antebi at ext. 269 for more information.

Early Childhood services art show is from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27. Artwork by kids using the theme of “light.”

Early Childhood programs open registration for 2005-2006 will be Tuesday, Feb. 22. Programs are for children 3 months through 6 years of age. For more information, call Hila Michaely at ext. 253.

“Simply Tsfat: Magical Music” is at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 5. A folk-rock band from the Israeli city of Tsfat. For advance tickets contact the Seattle Kollel at 206-722-8289 or info@seattlekollel.org

Brunch for singles 40 and older is at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 6. Guest speaker from AishSeattle will lecture on “The five levels of pleasure.” Registration is $9 per person. Contact Roni Antebi at ext. 269.

Taking care of our Children: drug awareness and prevention, is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 9. The speaker will be Steve Morris, Jewish Family Service Director of Counseling Services.

Raising boys: A discussion with parents about their son’s emotional development, is from 10 to 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 10. The workshop is lead by Andrew Koerner, Jewish Family Service Clinical Therapist. The cost is $15 per person.

Winter camps at the JCC for kindergarten through eighth grade, field trips, sports, swimming, arts and more. The cost is $50 per day, JCC camp membership is required. Contact Nicci Burrell at ext. 242 for dates.

Food talks will be offered from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Thursdays, March 24, “Mental gymnastics: Food and mood;” April 14, “Power eating: build muscle, boost energy, cut fat;” May 12, “Can 8-a-day keep cancer away? The latest science on water and health.” The cost is $15 per lecture or $55 for the entire series. To register, contact Karla Anderson at ext. 272 or e-mail karlaa@sjcc.org

Religion

Mercer Island Presbyterian Church: Registration for MIPC preschool is in progress. General public deadline is March 1. Call Molly van der Burch at 232-5596, ext. 250. Winter Alpha course will be from 1 to 2:45 p.m. every Thursday, through May 5 (except for winter and spring break); Alpha will be from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays March 1 through May 24 (skipping spring break week) and includes dinner. Contemplative Prayer is from noon to 12:20 every Thursday, in the library. “Super 60s and Beyond,” a program and lunch for seniors, is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, including a program, lunch and fellowship. James Watso’s Night Bible Study continues at 7 p.m. Thursdays, in the Fireside room, discussing Matthew Chapter 6. For more information, contact the church at 232-5595. The church is located at 3605 84th Ave. S.E.

Congregational Church of Mercer Island: A SpeakUP 2005 youth event, a weekend retreat for high school students, will be Friday, Feb. 11 through 13. Men’s breakfast at 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 12, followed by an outside work party from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 232-7800. The church is located at 4545 Island Crest Way.

Mercer Island Covenant Church: Women’s ministry meetings are from 9:15 am. to 11:30 a.m. Thursdays , with free childcare available. The winter session will explore various topics via video and guest speaker. Each Wednesday, there will be a community dinner at 5:30 p.m. Cost: $3 per person. Kid’s Club happens at 6:15 p.m. each Wednesday, followed by Alpha class at 6:30 p.m. Childcare is available. Registration has begun for the women’s retreat, held March 11-13 at Camp Cascades in Yelm. Call the church for a registration form. For more information, call 232-1015. Covenant Church is located at 3200 78th Ave. S.E.

Emmanuel Episcopal: Registration opens to the public for Emmanuel Day School and for EDS and Emmanuel Church families on Wednesday, Feb. 16. The new building will be dedicated by Bishop Warner on Sunday, March 6. Call 232-1572 or e-mail the church at mail@emmanuelmi.org . The church is located at S.E. 44th Street and 86th Avenue S.E.

Herzl-Ner Tamid conservative congregation: A special presentation, “Bringing the Bible Alive in the Modern Age,” featuring Dr. Robert Alter will be held to March 1, “Men cooking for Shabbat” will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday evenings in the HNT kitchen. Materials fee is $65. For more information, contact Herzl-Ner Tamid at 232-8555. The synagogue is located at 3700 East Mercer Way.

The Christian Scientist Church: A book discussion on “The Reforming Power of the Scriptures,” by Mary Metzger Trammel and William G. Dawley is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 8. Everyone is welcome. The Christian Science Reading Room has been relocated to the Christian Science Church at Island Crest Way and S.E. 47th. 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: Services at 5 p.m. Sundays will be replaced by regular 6:30 p.m. services on Wednesdays. Wednesdays in Lent, through March 16, there will be 6 p.m. dinner, 6:30 vesper service, 7 to 8 p.m. education for all ages. “Lunch bunch” meets at noon for a senior lunch on Feb. 10. Call 232-3270 for more information. The church is located at 8501 S.E. 40th St.

Mercer Island United Methodist Church: Adult Bible study happens at 7 p.m. Mondays through Feb. 28. Men’s fellowship and prayer meetings are at 9:30 a.m. and women’s fellowship and prayers are at 10 a.m., both every Tuesday, men’s prayer is also at 6:30 a.m. Thursdays. An administrative council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15. The church is located at 7070 S.E. 24th St. Call 232-3044 for more information.

Congregation Shevet Achim: For further information or Shabbat dinner reservations, call 206-275-1539, or visit the Web site at www.shevetachim.com . Congregation Shevet Achim is located at 5017 90th Ave. S.E. in Northwest Yeshiva High School.

St. Monica: Friday night Lenten soup supper will be at 6 p.m. each Friday during Lent. The suppers will offer hot soup and bread and a Lenten program that ends in time for the stations of the cross. St. Monica youth night will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 27 for high schoolers; and from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 28 for middle schoolers.

Galleries

The Chamber Art Gallery’s new show continues through March 31, featuring paintings by Kevin Curry and Robert Pare. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The gallery is located at the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce, 7612 S.E. 27th St.

Colleen Mohn and Jean Davis will show their paintings at Ana’s Restaurant in February and March.