“The High Price of Affluence for our Youth” lecture 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. It is 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. today at 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.

Mercerdale Neighborhood Rummage Sale to benefit hurricane victims. All proceeds to go to Habitat for Humanity. It is from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, in the Mercerdale neighborhood, S.E. 34th Street. If you are a neighbor interested in helping or donating goods, contact Maria at 652-8387 or at ms.maria@gmail.com.

Island Books Fall Storytelling is from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays: Oct. 1, Kathy Currie, “Fantasy and Tales”; Oct. 8, Nancy Stewart, “Sing Along Fun”; Oct. 15, Avis Jobrack, “Surprising Tales.”

Tender Loving Community Tea is from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 6001 Island Crest Way. It is presented by the Senior Foundation of Mercer Island and is open to the public. The cost is $10/adults, $5/children to age 12, payable at the door. Hosted by Dave Ross, the tea will feature displays of the professional efforts of the Island nonagenarians (90-plus year-olds) and highlights of their personal lives. There also will be a raffle and silent auction. Proceeds help fund grants for senior programs and activities on Mercer Island. Call Leslie Scott at 232-4597 for reservations.

Opera Rescue Singers will hold a concert to benefit hurricane victims followed by a masquerade ball, New Orleans style, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Congregational Church of Mercer Island, 4545 Island Crest Way. Food and beverages will be provided. A suggested donation of $15 will be accepted at the door.

Book Signing by Kathy Adler, Mercer Island author of a children’s book “Farley and Breezy,” is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, at Island Books, 3014 78th Ave. S.E.

Fall Book Sale will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at the Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave. S.E., and on Saturday, Oct. 15. Doors open at 10 a.m. Saturday, and between 4 and 5 p.m. there will be a close-out special of $1 per bag. Members of the Friends of the Mercer Island Library will have the opportunity to purchase books before the Saturday sale. An annual family membership is $15. All proceeds go to the library.

Clubs

New Girl Scouts Troops are forming for girls ages 5 to 17. Call Jennifer Skorny at 236-5493 or jen@skorny.com for more information.

Mercer Island Preschool Association events:

? 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.

? Halloween Parade is at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 31, at Mercer Island Covenant Shores Retirement Home. Bring your Halloween bags. Residents will be passing out treats and goodies. Wear costumes. Register with Kristine at 709-8343.

? 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 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. Dish it Up! owner Andrea Reith will be the guest speaker. R.S.V.P. to Lana Ojendyk at 230-5926 no later than Saturday, Oct. 1.

Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon is at noon Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Rich Conrad, Mercer Island city manager, will discuss downtown development, Sound Transit/I-90 proposals and other issues related to city governance. The cost is $12 for members and $15 for non-members. Call 232-3404 to R.S.V.P. by Tuesday, Oct. 4.

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.

Mercer Island Visual Arts League will meet from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Mercer Island Library. All are welcome. The board meeting is at 11 a.m.

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.

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.

Every Child Ready to Read, Activities that Make a Difference is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, at Shorewood Heights Pavilion, 9011 Shorewood Drive. Free baby-sitting and refreshments provided. Discover literacy skills and activities you can do that will make a difference in a child’s life. Sponsored by the King County Library System. Call Margaret Martin to register.

Here Comes the Fire Truck! for 3- to 5-year olds is from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4. Meet the firefighters of the Mercer Island Fire Department. Learn about fire safety and see the fire truck.

Opera Preview: The End of the Affair is at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5. Lecturer Norm Hollingshead will preview Jake Heggie’s newest opera based on the famous novel by Graham Greene about an illicit love affair in World War II London.

“The Library: A Psychological Study” is at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16. A review of humorous, historically accurate stories about the particular ways individuals have interacted with books. All ages are welcome.

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, to 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.

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

Microsoft Word Basics Class 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 online at www.mipositiveplace.org or call 232-4548.

Judo Program for 6- to 15-year-olds 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. The instructor is Kevin Caraco. The cost for eight hours is $100. Register online.

Ballet/Jazz for 7- to 9-years-olds 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, 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

“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.

Family Caregivers Support Group is from 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the Mercer Island Senior Health Center, 7707 S.E. 27th St. There is no charge. Call Karin Miller at 425-688-5637.

“Learn How to Identify And Improve Your Emotional Intelligence” 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. today at the north end fire station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. The cost is $26.

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.

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

Defensive Driving is from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, and Thursday, Oct. 13, at the North End Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. The cost is $11.

Baby-sitting Class for 12- to 15-year-olds is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Boys & Girls Club boardroom. Instructed by the American Red Cross. The cost is $48.

Dog Obedience Class is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays, to Oct. 22, at the North Mercer Gym, 8817 S. E. 40th St. The instructor is Joyce BiethanSeto The cost is $95.

Seniors

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

Eastside Stroke Group will meet from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, at St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 2050 148th Ave. S.E., Bellevue.

Parkinson Support Group is from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the Mercer Island Library. Dr. Glisky, neuropsychologist of the Booth Gardner Parkinson Disease Center, will be the speaker.

Solemates will walk from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, from the Luther Burbank parking lot. The cost is $2.

Flu Shots will be given from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, and Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the Congregational Church of Mercer Island, 4545 Island Crest Way. Call 236-3545 for an appointment.

JCC

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

Parents Night Out baby-sitting is available for 4- to 11-year -olds from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. The cost is $20 for the first child and $15 for each additional sibling. Call Sarah Jaffee at ext. 242 for reservations.

TechLab Computer Classes will be held Monday, Oct. 10, in portable classroom in the parking lot. Register with Roni Antebi at ext. 269.

? Internet Explorer beginner class is from 10 to 11:15 a.m.

? Microsoft Excel is from 1 to 2:15 p.m.

Flu Shots will be given from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 11, in room 207. The cost is $28. Pneumonia shots are available for $40.

Religion

Mercer Island Presbyterian Church: Each Monday from 9 to 9:20 a.m. is contemplative prayer in the prayer chapel. Tuesday night’s soup and salad dinner is at 6 p.m. followed by diverse classes at 7 p.m. Topics include: “The Gospel of John” and “God’s Politics” by Jim Wallis. Call James Watson at 232-5596, ext. 252. LOGOS, a midweek program for elementary children, begins Wednesday, Oct. 5. Call Jennifer McLellan at 232-3042 for information. 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. Middle school youth meet from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays. 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 meet Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Thursday Morning Women’s Oasis begins at 9:15. For additional information, call 232-1015, ext. 100. The church is at 3200 78th Ave. S.E.

Christian Science Church: The church presents “The Gospel According to St. John” by Dr. Alexander Cavalli at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. A donation of $20 is requested at the door to ben Alexander Cavalli at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. A donation of $20 is requested at the door to benefit Sunrise Haven, a Christian Science nursing service. A Psalms presentation is at 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 9. Each class will present an artistic representation of Psalms. The Christian Science Reading Room is 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. The public is invited and free child care will be available during these events. 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. 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 at 10:15 in the sanctuary. Adult education classes are at 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 2. The knitting and crocheting group will meet the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. All ages, men or women are welcome. Call Pastor Constance at 232-3270. The church is at 8501 S.E. 40th St.

Mercer Island United Methodist Church: Christian education is at 9:45 a.m. Sunday and worship is at 11 a.m.. Saturday, Oct. 8, Dr. Bryan Maruhashi will hold a dental cleaning at a 40 percent discount as a fundraiser for the mission trip to Costa Rica, all proceeds going to the trip fund. Call Dr. Maruhashi at 232-3010 for an appointment for 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 232-9829 or at sage@stmonica.cc. The church is at 4301 88th Ave. S.E.