Wednesday | 15

“Heroines of the Bible”: “Her Story, My Story,” 7:30 p.m., Dec. 15, CCMV, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. A new six-lesson monthly series. First class: “Sarah: Mother of Intention.” Presenter: Devorah Kornfeld. Register: roshchodeshmi@gmail.com.

Thursday | 16

Community Center at Mercer View 5th Anniversary Party: Open House, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Dec. 16. Reception Celebration: 6:30-8:30 p.m., 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Festivities include live music, games, food. The Mercer Island community is invited. (206) 275-7609. www.mercergov.org/ccmv.

MIVAL Gallery Artist Reception & Festivities: 12-7 p.m., Dec. 16, 2836 78th Ave. S.E. Features more than 25 local artists in December. Reception and festivities for 3rd Thursday Art Walk. www.mival.us.

Mercer Island Radio Operators meeting: 7 p.m., Dec. 16, Mercer Island Fire Station 91, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. Learn about amateur radio communications and emergency preparedness. www.mirohams.org.

Holiday Performances

“Excerpts from the Nutcracker”: 7 p.m., Dec. 17, 19; 2 p.m., Dec. 18-19; Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th St. Island Youth Ballet and the Children’s Dance Conservatory of MI perform. Tickets: $20. www.iybnutcracker.com.

“A Dickens Of A Christmas”: Dec. 18-19, MIHS Performing Arts Theater, 9100 S.E. 42nd. Island Sound performs. Saturday: 7 p.m. Sunday: 2 p.m. Tickets: $14. www.islandchoralexperience.com.

Upcoming

MIHS Varsity Cheerleaders Basketball Little Cheer Clinic: 4-5:30 p.m., Jan. 4 and 6, 2011. Little Cheer participants will have the opportunity to cheer at halftime in the MIHS basketball game on Jan. 7. Open for elementary and pre-K girls. Register by Dec. 20 to receive a free clinic T-shirt. Contact: sandpang@yahoo.com.

Sogetsu School of Ikebana Japanese Flower Arranging Winter Classes: 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Fridays, Jan. 14-Feb. 11, 2011, CCMV, 8236 S.E. 24 St. Instructor: Mitsuko Hakomori. Cost: $50 for 5 classes. (206) 236-3545.

Adult Flag Football League: Friday nights, Jan. 14-Feb. 11, 2011, South Mercer Playfields turf. Game times: 6:15 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8:45 p.m. Registration deadline: Jan. 3. 6-on-6 teams. Eight games with two referees, intermediate-sized ball. Top teams go to playoffs. Mid-level league. Cost: $450 before Dec. 17; $525 after Dec. 17. Contact: (206) 275-7609, Ryan.Daly@mercergov.org.

Events | Ongoing

Art Lecture Series: “A Celebration of American Art,” 7-9 p.m., Dec. 16, 21, Stroum JCC, 3801 East Mercer Way. Dec. 16: “American Folk Art Traditions.” Dec. 21: “In the American Grain: The World of Andrew Wyeth.”

MIVAL Holiday Art: MIVAL Gallery is serving hot cider and refreshments during December. MIVAL Art Gallery & Art/Craft Show runs through Dec. 17: CCMV, 8236 S.E. 24th St. This is a multimedia holiday show featuring Mercer Island artists. Artwork, jewelry, glasswork and more are available for purchase. A sales percentage goes to support Mercer Island Arts Council arts and cultural programming. Open to the public. www.mival.us.

Winter Break Camp: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Dec. 20-24, 27-31, Stroum JCC, 3801 East Mercer Way. Swimming, field trips, sports, arts and crafts projects. Contact: Youth and Family Program Manager Matthew Korch, (206) 388-0830, mattk@sjcc.org.

Mercer Island Lions Annual Community Christmas Tree Sale: 1-8 p.m., Tuesday-Friday. Saturday: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Farmers New World Life Insurance Company lot, 3003 77th Ave. S.E.

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 | Ongoing

Adults

Opera Preview: 7 p.m., “Barber of Seville,” Jan. 5. Norm Hollingshead’s commentary includes recorded musical excerpts from his collection of recordings.

One-on-One Computer Assistance: Do you need extra help on the computer? A KCLS volunteer instructor can give you one-on-one assistance. Call (206) 236-3537 to make an appointment.

Children & Families

Preschool Story Times: 11 a.m., Jan. 11, 18. Ages 3 to 5 with adult.

Baby Rhyme Times: 10 a.m., Jan. 11, 18, 25. Ages 3 to 11 months with adult.

Very Young Toddler Times: 10 a.m., Jan. 12, 19, 26. Ages 12 to 24 months with adult.

Toddler Story Times for Terrific Twos: 11 a.m., Jan. 12, 19, 26. Ages 24 to 36 months with adult.

Pajamarama Story Time: 7 p.m., Jan. 31. Ages 3 to 7 with adult.

Teens

Teen Zone: 1:45 p.m., Jan. 3, 24, 31. Hang out, do homework, play board games or chat. Teen Zone is a place to complete group work for school or catch up with friends. Ages 12 and older.

Teen Advisory Board: 7 p.m., Jan. 18. Voice your opinions on teen materials, services and programs while earning one volunteer credit hour. Light refreshments served.

Silent Study Time: 3:30 p.m., Jan. 18-21. Come to the small meeting room for silent study.

Group Study Time: 3:30 p.m., Jan. 18-21. Bring your books to study in the large meeting room.

Online Teen Readers: OTRs (ott-ers) are teens reading and talking about books on their own schedule online. Do you love to read, but never seem to have the time or the motivation? Would you like to read more, but you can’t think of a “good” book? If you answered yes to any of these questions, join OTRs.