Tuesday | 30

East Link Light Rail Public Hearing: 4-7 p.m., Nov. 30, Bellevue City Hall, 450 110th Ave. N.E., 98009. The public is invited to comment on the East Link SDEIS. All comments received from Nov. 12 through Jan. 10 will be addressed in the Final EIS in 2011. eastlink.sdeis@soundtransit.org.

Hannukkah Cooking Class: Sufganiot (Israeli Donuts), 6:30-8:30 p.m., Nov. 30, Stroum JCC, 3801 East Mercer Way. Cost: $10 (members); $15 (general admission). Join Israeli native Liat Avitan to learn how to make this traditional treat. A sufganiyah (plural, sufganiyot) is a ball-shaped doughnut that is fried, pierced, injected with jelly or custard, and then topped with powdered sugar. Contact: Roni Antebi, (206) 388-0832, ronia@sjcc.org.

Musical Theatre Workshop with Center Stage: 7-8:30 p.m., Nov. 30, Stroum JCC, 3801 East Mercer Way. This workshop is for teens. Learn basic singing and acting concepts used by musical theatre performers. Improvise, sing and create GLEE-style performances. Contact: Performing Arts Coordinator Deborah Jacoby, (206) 388-0824, DeborahJ@sjcc.org.

Wednesday | 1

St. Monica Parish School Open House: 8:45-10:45 a.m., Dec. 1, 4320 87th Ave. S.E. Features informational, student-led tours of the school. Contact: Connie Anastasi, development director: (206) 232-5432, ext. 174. www.stmonicasea.org.

Probus Club of Mercer Island Holiday Luncheon: Dec. 1, Covenant Shores. Buses will shuttle members and guests between 11:15 and 11:45 a.m. from the MI Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Performance by baritone Matthew Kuehnl. $30. Bob Simonds: (206) 236-2190.

Friday | 3

Holiday Tree Lighting & Firehouse Munch: 7-9 p.m., Dec. 3, Mercerdale Park and North Fire Station. Gather with your family, friends and neighbors for an evening of holiday merriment at the community tree lighting ceremony and caroling at Mercerdale Park. Santa photos, treats and children’s entertainment will follow at the firehouse. Bring an unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots drive. For all ages. Free.

Mercer Island Girls Basketball Jr. Hoopsters Winter Camp: Dec. 3. Run by MIHS varsity coaches and players. Grades K-5. K-Grade 2: 9-10 a.m. Grades 3-5: 10-11 a.m. Cost for seven sessions: $90. Register at www.migb.org.

Saturday | 4

A Time to Grieve: 10-11:30 a.m., Dec. 4, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 4400 86th Ave. S.E. A monthly drop-in group for adults who have experienced the death of a loved one in the past year. Presented by Providence Hospice of Seattle. Registration not required. (206) 749-7704. www.providence.org/hospiceofseattle.

Breakfast With Santa: 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Dec. 4, Community Center at Mercer View, Mercer Room, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Bring the whole family to this festive breakfast with Santa. Includes a visit and pictures with Santa and elves. Reservations required. Call 275-7609 to reserve your spot. For all ages. $5.

Earthcorps Volunteer Event: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Dec. 4, Pioneer Park, Island Crest Way NW corner and S.E. 68th Street. Remove invasive plants, such as ivy, and plant native trees. Snacks, tools and gloves provided. Sign up in advance at www.earthcorps.org/volunteer.php.

Children’s Craft Workshop: 1-4 p.m., Dec. 4, Mercer Island Covenant Church, 3200 78th Ave. S.E. All children are welcome. Make gifts for friends, family and teachers. Advance sign-up is recommended. Registration forms showing craft selections are available at www.micc.org or 232-1015, ext. 105.

Sunday | 5

Coming Home for Hanukkah: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Dec. 5, Stroum JCC, 3801 East Mercer Way. Gather with family and friends, light the menorah, sing songs. A communitywide Hanukkah celebration with PJ Library® Story on Stage, Center Stage teen theater company performance, experiential art activities, a family mitzvah project, dreidel game, community candle-lighting ceremony. Contact: Roni Antebi, (206) 388-0832, RoniA@SJCC.org.

Friday | 10

French Film: “Joyeux Noel” (Merry Christmas; Benno Furman, Danial Bruhl), 7:30 p.m., Dec. 10, Aljoya Theater, 2430 76th Ave. S.E. Free, including parking and popcorn. In conjunction with the Mercer Island Sister City Association.

Events | Ongoing

“Fantastic Mr. Fox”: Dec. 2-12, Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th St. Thursday/Friday: 7 p.m. Saturday/Sunday matinees: 2 p.m. For tickets and information: (206) 232-4145, www.youththeatre.org.

“Excerpts from the Nutcracker”: 2 p.m., Dec. 11-12, 18-19; 7 p.m., Dec. 17, 19, Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th St. General admission: $20. VIP Platinum: $30. (206) 275-4750. Tickets: www.iybnutcracker.com.

Groups | Ongoing

MIVAL Indoor Art Gallery: now through Dec. 17, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. This is a multimedia holiday show featuring Mercer Island artists. The exhibits are updated every two months. Open to the public. Art work is for sale with a percentage of the sales going to support Mercer Island Arts Council arts and cultural programming.

Parks and Recreation Wilderness Adventure Program: Tuesdays, Thursdays. After-school program that will harness children’s creativity and encourage outdoor learning. Preschool: 2-3 p.m. Island Park Elementary Students: 3:30-5 p.m. Call for details. Must preregister. (206) 275-7862.

Mercer Island Community Fund: Grant applications from organizations that benefit the Mercer Island community are being accepted through Jan. 31, 2011. Contact grants chair Gail Steinitz for information and guidelines: gailsteinitz@micommunityfund.net.

Mercer Island Guild of Seattle Children’s Hospital: The Guild is preparing the 2011 Mercer Island Directory. Residents who have moved to the Island or changed addresses or phone numbers, please send an update for the directory. Contact: Karin Pangborn, (206) 232-7046, miphonebook@gmail.com.

Library

www.kcls.org/mercerisland

Children/Families

Pajamarama Story Time: 7 p.m., Nov. 29. Ages 3 to 7 with adult.

Preschool Story Times: 11 a.m., Nov. 30. Ages 3 to 5 with adult.

Teens

Online Teen Readers: Join OTRs (ott-ers), teens who are reading and talking about books on their own schedule online. http://blogs.kcls.org/onlineteenreaders.