Events
Book Signing and Parenting Lecture: “Beyond Smart: Boosting Your Child’s Social, Emotional and Academic Potential” with longtime Mercer Islander Linda Morgan, 7 p.m., March 18, Island Books, 3014 78th Ave. S.E. Free. www.mercerislandbooks.com.
“Wizard”: 8 p.m., March 20; 2:30 p.m., March 21. Presented by SJCC Center Stage Theater. Based on “The Wizard of Oz” with a Mercer Island twist. A musical comedy appropriate for all ages. Tickets available at www.sjcc.org.
“Bye Bye Birdie”: through March 21. Friday, Saturday: 7 p.m. Saturday, Sunday: 2 p.m., Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th St. For ages 6 and up. Tickets: $15/adults, $13/youth, seniors. (206) 232-4145, ext. 109, www.youththeatre.org.
“Footloose The Musical”: 7 p.m., March 18-20, Islander Middle School, 8225 S.E. 72nd St. Tickets sold at the door. Shelly Krispin: (206) 236-6160.
Rotary Run Day: March 21. Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Pre-Race Expo: 1-5 p.m., March 20. Day-of-event registration begins at 6:30 a.m., March 21. Half Marathon Walk, Half Mile Kids’ Dash, 10k Run, Half Marathon Run, 5k Run & Walk. Traffic delays are expected: 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sponsors: Swedish Cancer Institute, Mercer Island Rotary Club. (206) 275-7765, www.mercerislandhalf.com.
2010 City of Mercer Island Spring Recycling Event: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., March 27, Mercer Island Boat Launch, 3600 East Mercer Way. Safely dispose of old equipment and household items. Acceptable items are listed at www.mercergov.org.
SJCC Communitywide Passover Seder: 6:30 p.m., March 30. Join the SJCC for a traditional second night Passover Seder with a kosher meal. Seating is limited. Reservations and payment due by March 25. Open to the community. Roni Antebi: (206) 232-7115, ronia@sjcc.org.
Spring Eggstravaganza: 3 p.m., April 3, Mercerdale Park. Lil’ Ones Egg Hunt: Egg hunt just for the little ones. Eggs, candy and prizes for everyone. Bring a basket. Find a golden egg for an “eggstra” special surprise. A separate section will be reserved for ages 1-3. Ages 1-6. www.myparksandrecreation.com.
Flashlight Egg Hunt: 8:30 p.m., April 3, Mercerdale Park. Bring a flashlight and basket. Eggs, candy and prizes for everyone. Find the golden egg a special surprise. Ages 7-10. www.myparksandrecreation.com.
Solar4MIHS: A ribbon cutting under the sun, 1:30-2:30 p.m., April 9. An unveiling of the high school’s solar panel system. Contact Harry Bolson with questions: (206) 518-2066.
Wine Tasting: 4-6 p.m., Fridays, Cellar 46, 7650 S.E. 27th St. Free. (206) 407-3016.
Classes
Basic Disaster Preparedness Class: 9-11 a.m., March 20, City Hall Council Chambers, 9611 S.E. 36th St. The city’s first Disaster Preparedness Class in the Emergency Volunteer Series, which includes nine classes with a (CERT) Community Emergency Response Team Base. Classes are held monthly with breaks in September for the City Wide Disaster Drill. RSVP to Officer Franklin: (206) 275-7905.
“Sing, Sing, Sing”: 7-8:30 p.m., Wednesdays, through March 31, First United Methodist Church in Bellevue, 1934 108th Ave. N.E. Sponsor: Northwest Sound Men’s Chorus. Free singing lessons for male singers of all ages in a cappella harmony. To register, contact: Don Ferguson, don.ferguson1@comcast.net, (206) 229-7464. www.nwsound.org.
Rain Garden Workshop: 6:30-8:30 p.m., April 1, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Learn how to build a rain garden. Participants will receive site-assessment instructions in advance and a rain garden handbook. Free; $10 suggested donation. To register (required in advance): contact Stacey Gianas at Stewardship Partners, (206) 292-9875, sg@stewardshippartners.org. www.stewardshippartners.org.
“Intro to Painting En Plein Air”: 9 a.m.-12 p.m., April 6, Aljoya Artist Studio Room, 2430 76th Ave. S.E. Jim Adkins, longtime plein air artist, to speak on painting outside with a focus on equipment, scouting and traveling issues. $50. To sign up: contact Charlette Haugen, (206) 282-1813, chhaugen@aol.com.
Stroller Strides Class: 11:30 a.m., Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays; 4 p.m., Tuesdays, Fridays, Club Emerald, 3028 78th Ave. S.E. A nationally acclaimed program that allows moms to exercise with their babies. Dawn Minter: (425) 466-3737, www.strollerstrides.com.
Groups
Stroum JCC Senior Film & Bagel Lunch: “Starting Out in the Evening,” 12 p.m., March 17, Stroum JCC, 3801 East Mercer Way. Seattle Jewish Film Festival’s annual event, about a novelist (Frank Langella) and his unlikely relationship with a grad student. Cost: $6. Reservations required. Limited seating. No tickets sold at door or online. RSVP to Roni: (206) 232-7115 ext. 269, ronia@sjcc.org. www.sjcc.org.
Mercer Island Visual Arts League: Artist Reception, 5-7 p.m., March 18, MIVAL Gallery, 2836 78th Ave. S.E. New exhibition: March 18. Meet the artists and stimulate your senses. Food and refreshments served. www.mival.us.
“Turn the Page, Tips and Text for These Times”: 6-8:45 p.m., March 18, Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation, 3700 East Mercer Way. Women of Seattle’s Jewish community are invited to gather together, connect and learn. $25: kosher dinner and registration. $72: Turn the Page supporter. Register online: www.jewishinseattle.org.
Mercer Island Radio Operators: meeting, 7 p.m., March 18, Mercer Island Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. Learn about amateur radio communications and emergency preparedness. MIRO Chairman Dave Cook: (206) 230-0397. www.mirohams.org.
Revival Night: 7:30 p.m., March 19, New Hope International Church, 9170 S.E. 64th St. Prayer, worship. www.newhic.org.
Mountains to Sound Greenway Volunteer Event: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., March 20, Upper Luther Burbank Park. Remove invasive species. Meet at the corner of 84th Avenue S.E. and S.E. 32nd Street. Register at www.mtsgreenway.org.
Mercer Island Fine Arts Advisory Committee Showcase: March 23-24, Mercer Island High School, 9100 S.E. 42nd St. Admission: free for children under age 18, MISD students, staff and their partners. Ticketed admission by donation is asked of all others. Minimum donation: $7 per single ticket, in advance; $10 at the door. For a schedule of events, go to www.mifineartsed.org/FineArtsShowcase2008.asp.
Earthcorps Volunteer Event: Clarke Beach, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., March 27. Remove blackberry patch. Snacks, tools, gloves provided. Sign up online: www.earthcorps.org.
Women Painters of Washington Gallery: “2010 Annual Members’ Show,” March 17-April 27, Kaewyn Gallery, 10101 Main St., Bothell. Free. Open to the public. www.womenpainters.com.
Mercer Island High School Class of 1960 50th Class Reunion: Sept. 9-12. Alumni are invited to pass the word on to other alumni. For reservations and information, contact: Linnet (Dunden) Botkin at jandlbotkin@live.com, or Ga Neille (Crocker) Hostvedt: ginnie55@aol.com.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA): Train to become a volunteer advocate for abused and neglected children in court. Must be 21 and have references. (206) 296-1120, casa.group@kingcounty.gov.
Library
4400 88th Ave. S.E.
(206) 236-3537
www.kcls.org/mercerisland
Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale: April 8-11, library lobby. During library open hours. This mini-sale will feature adult and children’s fiction, non-fiction and multimedia. New items will be added daily.
Adults
Saturday Matinee Film Series: 1 p.m. “Some Like It Hot”: March 27. Screenings of Billy Wilder’s most notable films with refreshments and commentary by film historian, Lance Rhoades.
Talk Time: 6:30 p.m., Wednesdays. Improve your speaking and listening skills in this English conversation group.
Children
Preschool Story Times: 11 a.m., Tuesdays, March 16-30. Ages 3-5. Please register.
Story Time for Wonderful Ones: 10 a.m., Wednesdays, March 17-31. Ages 12 to 24 months with adult.
Story Time for Terrific Twos: 11 a.m., Wednesdays, March 17-31. Ages 2-3 with adult.
“The Tiger and the Dried Persimmon”: 7 p.m., March 29. Ages 3 and up with adult. Join the Thistle Theatre for this Korean folktale about a young tiger.
Teens
Teen Zone: 1:30 p.m., March 22. Ages 12 and up. Hang out, do homework, play board games.
SAT Prep with Sandweiss: 2-5 p.m., Sundays, March 28, April 4-25. The series includes three prep sessions, a practice test and a review of test results. Participants must register for and attend all five sessions.
Homework Time with Boys & Girls Club: 1:45 p.m., Mondays, through March 29. Start with Homework Time at the library and get help from Boys & Girls Club tutors. Then, catch a van to the Boys & Girls Club for games, crafts, activities. Contact (206) 436-1947. Register at www.mipositiveplace.org.
Parks & Recreation
Events take place at the Community Center at Mercer View (CCMV) unless otherwise noted.
8236 S.E. 24th St.
(206) 275-7609
www.myparksandrecreation.com
Spring/Summer 2010 Registration: Sign up for spring classes and secure a spot in summer camps. Online: March 19, www.myparksandrecreation.com. Phone/walk-in: March 24, 275-7609.
Ballroom Dancing: 6:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesdays, March 10-31. $50.
Salsa Dancing: 7:45-8:45 p.m., Wednesdays, March 10-31. $50.
Senior Golf: Mondays, March 22-Oct. 25. Both 9 or 18 hole golf in local courses. Season introduction meeting: 10 a.m., March 19. Registration is required for any golf outings: $22/season.
After School Nature Program: 2:30-4:30 p.m., Mondays, through March 29. Hands-on after-school program with a Nature Vision Naturalist. Nature topics, stories, snacks, provided by Friends of Luther Burbank Park. Ages 4-9. $77.
Seniors
Grocery Shopping Transportation: Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Get transportation to a North-end grocery store and one errand. Call 275-7895, press 1 and leave a message by 4 p.m. the day before shopping. $2.