The Mercer Island Sustainability Education Group will address the city Planning Commission at 7:30 p.m. today at City Hall, 9611 S.E. 36th St. The public is welcome. The anticipated topics are:

? How do we encourage community mobility and independence for all residents?

? How can we encourage environmentally-friendly site design?

? How can we facilitate and encourage the construction of efficient and environmentally-friendly buildings?

Island Books Fall Storytelling is from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays. Sept. 10, Tia, Sing, Dance and Play!; Sept. 17, Debbie Deutsch, Welcome Fall; Sept. 24, Meg Lippert, Fabulous Folktales.

Mercer Island Covenant Church will honor local police and fire departments at the 9 and 10:45 a.m. services titled “Remembering 9/11: Four Years later” on Sunday, Sept. 11. All visitors will receive a free copy of Lisa Beamer’s audio book, “Let’s Roll.” The church is at 3200 78th Ave. S.E.

Blood Drives are from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, at St. Monica Catholic Church, 4301 88th Ave. S.E., and from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E.

Mercer Island Senior Resource Fair is from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 8355 S.E. 40th St. Free health screenings. No cost to attend. For more information, call 425-466-5345.

Mock Scholastic Aptitude Test Exam is from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Mercer Island High School commons. Pre-registration is encouraged to ensure space. The cost is $20 before Wednesday, Sept. 21. Bring pencils and a calculator. The test is open to anyone. A follow-up session is from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, in the MIHS lower commons. Proceeds benefit the MIHS PTSA Senior Party. Call Kim York, at 230-9237, or BruceKim@aol.com with questions.

Clubs

The Mercer Island Preschool Association:

? The Fall Potluck Picnic is from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at the picnic shelter at Lid Park. To R.S.V.P. and for directions, contact Sarah at 275-3059.

? A Coffee Social is from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Sept. 21. To R.S.V.P. and for directions, call Lauren at 275-3709. Open to all moms and their young children.

? 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.

The ProBus Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. today at the Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. The speaker will be John Nance who will address “The Humanization of American Business.” The public is welcome.

Family Caregivers Support Group will meet from 3 to 4 p.m. today at the Mercer Island Senior Health Center, 7707 S.E. 27th St. Open to all who are concerned about an aging member of the family. No cost. Call 425-688-5637 for more information.

Mercer Island Visual Arts League will meet at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at the Mercer Island Library. Artist Nancy Bogni will demonstrate how to render the human figure with woodstick and china ink. The board will meet at 11 a.m. All are welcome.

The Mercer Island Women’s Club Kickoff Luncheon is Monday, Sept. 12, at Broadmoor Country Club, 2340 Broadmoor Drive E., Seattle. Social hour and activity sign-up begin at 10 a.m. Lunch is at 11:30 a.m. Contact Charlotte Rountree at 425-649-0778.

Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce will meet from noon to 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 8501 S. E. 40th Ave. The speaker is Ric Illgenfritz, CEO of Sound Transit, who will discuss Sound Transit’s plans and projects that will affect Mercer Island. The cost is $12 for members, $15 for non-members. R.S.V.P. at 232-3404.

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 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.

The following event takes place at the Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave. S.E. Please call 236-3537 for more information.

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

Classes

Mercer Island Branch School of Ikebana Japanese flower arrangement is from 10 a.m. to noon Fridays, Sept. 16 to Nov. 4, in the Boys & Girls Club boardroom. Call Parks & Recreation at 236-3545 to register.

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 all ages is from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. The cost is $30 per month. 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.

Parks & Rec

The following programs are run by the Parks & Recreation Department. Call 236-3545.

Beginning Bridge Lessons are from 9:45 to 11:45 a.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 13 to Oct. 18, at Covenant Shores, 9150 Fortuna Drive. The cost is $61. Code #4695.

Stretching and Abdominal Class is from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays, Sept. 19 to Oct. 28, at North Mercer Gym, 8817 S.E. 40th St. S.E. The cost is $70. Code #4751

Clay Sculpting for 5- to 7-year-olds is from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 20 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. Code: #4785.

Seniors

Grief & Loss Support Group is from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at the Mercer Island Library.

Eastside Stroke Group is from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, at St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 2050 148th Ave. S.E., Bellevue.

Senior Trip to Puyallup Fair is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16. Meet at Luther Burbank parking lot. The cost is $15. Code #4603.

Galleries

Maggie LeMoie, Jean Jack and Jim Jaime will exhibit their artwork at the Washington Mutual Building through October.

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

JCC

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

Ninth Annual Seattle Escape from the Rock Triathlon is Sunday, Sept. 11, beginning at Luther Burbank Park. For details and registration, contact envirosports.com. Sponsored by the JCC.

“The Joys and Challenges of Child-Raising” lecture is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15. Vicki Smolke from Bellevue Community College will be the speaker. The cost is $15 per individual and $25 per couple for non-member families. To register, contact Carla Hershman at 232-7115, ext. 304.

Live Jazz at Lunchtime for Seniors is from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, in the auditorium.

Shabbat Dinner for Singles 40 years old and older is at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16. An evening of company and a catered kosher dinner. The cost is $11. R.S.V.P. to Roni Antebi at ext. 269.

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.

Religion

Mercer Island Presbyterian Church: At 9:15 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, during Christian education time, people may explore the church. The hunt begins in the courtyard. Follow maps and learn about the building. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, there will be a workshop: “Writing Your Spiritual Journey,” led by Carol and Ed Morrison. From 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Sundays, Sept. 18 to Oct. 23, a Christian education class: “Exploring the Way” will help participants answer the question, “Exactly what’s meant by the spiritual journey?” Call Kathy Rule at 232-1887 for more information. Also from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. “Local Missions Sundays” is Sept. 18 and 25. Come and hear about MIPC’s involvement in missions locally. 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 the worship. Choir potluck dinner and practice is at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8. Men’s breakfast is at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, with an outside work party from 9 a.m. to noon. The first and third Tuesdays the spiritual formation group meets at 7:30 p.m. All church committees meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12. 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. At 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, is the installation service of the new senior pastor, Greg Asimakoupoulos. Dr. David McKenna will be the speaker. A reception will follow. The public is welcome. 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: Beginning Sunday, Sept. 11, services are at 8 a.m. (Rite I) and 10 a.m. (Rite II) with choir. Welcome home Sunday, including Emmanuel Day School’s ice cream social, is at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2. Church school begins at 10 a.m. and children’s choir is at 11:30. Adult education continues with a lecture program on the Palestinian/Israeli conflict on Wednesdays, Sept. 7 and 14, at 7 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m. Yoga class is at 11:45 a.m. Mondays in the chapel. The church is at S.E. 44th Street and 86th Avenue S.E. E-mail: @emmanuelmi.org.

Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation: “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, Sept. 11, worship services will resume 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: Worship resumes at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. The church will celebrate a pass-it-on meal following worship in honor of 25 years of the Calvin Brett Burtenshaw Theological Fund’s support for students working toward a Christian service career. Rally Day will be Sunday, Sept. 18, and will mark the beginning of Sunday school classes at 9:45 a.m. The church is at 7070 S.E. 24th St.

St. Monica Catholic Church: The Second Annual St. Monica Golf Classic begins with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, at Echo Falls Country Club, honoring Deacon Jack Warfield. The entry fee is $150 per person. Contact Tricia Johnson at 425-557-8285. 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.