Thursday | 14

St. Patrick’s Day Senior Lunch: 12-1 p.m., March 14, Mercer Island Community and Event Center, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Join Parks and Recreation for a “bit of the blarney” to celebrate this Irish holiday. Wear your green. Corned beef and cabbage to be served. Cost: $5 plus tax. Reservations required; call 275-7609. Transportation available.

What’s New to Medicare: 1-2 p.m., March 14, Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave. S.E. Free seminar. Know your options, protect your rights, maintain your dignity. Presented by Bankers Life & Casualty Company.

Mercer Gallery Mixed Quartet Artists’ Reception: 6:30-8 p.m., March 14, Mercer Island Community and Event Center, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Mercer Island Arts Council presents “Mixed Quartet” with entertainment and refreshments. Open through April 12. Artists: Monika Dalkin, Karen Dedrickson, Mimi Williams, Dane Youngren.

Friday | 15

Mercer Island Directory Mailing Day: 9 a.m., March 15, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 4400 86th Ave. S.E. Volunteers are needed to help the members of the Mercer Island Guild of Seattle Children’s Hospital prepare the 2013 Directory for mailing. Interested in joining the Guild? Contact the membership chairwoman at miphonebook@gmail.com.

Classics in Film Noir Series: “The Big Heat” (Fritz Lang, 1953), 7:30 p.m., March 15, Aljoya, 2430 76th Ave. S.E. Refreshments provided.

Saturday | 16

23rd Annual Sogetsu Ikebana Annual Exhibition: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., March 16; 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m., March 17, Mercer Island Community and Event Center, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Demonstration both days: 2 p.m. (free admission). Group arrangement display is at the library, 4400 88th Ave. S.E., through March 24. www.misogetsu.org.

Lyric Arts Ensemble: “Positively Divine,” 7-8:30 p.m., March 16, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Sixteen voices and chamber orchestra present sacred music by Bach, Brahms, Mendelssohn and 21st-century composers. Will Simpson, organist. Kenneth L. DeJong, conductor. www.lyricartsensemble.org.

Monday | 18

Acacia Foundation Luncheon: 12-2 p.m., March 18, MICEC, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Speaker: Dr. Katie Baird, professor of economics, UW Department of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences; Fulbright lecturer in economics, Universidad del País Vasco; and columnist for The News Tribune. Topic: Dr. Baird’s book, “Trapped in Mediocrity: Why Our Schools Aren’t World-Class and What We Can Do About It.” RSVP to rsvp@acaciafoundation.org.

Mercer Island Historical Society Meeting: 1 p.m., March 18, MICEC, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Speaker: Bruce Fletcher, director of Mercer Island Parks and Recreation. The management team will give a presentation. Discussion will include recreation programs and events, and managing 460 acres of parks/open space, 30 miles of trails and the MICEC — with an update of upcoming parks projects. www.mihistory.org.

Adult Passover Cooking Class: 6-8 p.m., March 18, Stopsky’s Delicatessen, 3016 78th Ave. S.E. One-on-one time in the kitchen with Stopsky’s Delicatessen head chef Austin Zimmerman, who is featured in Bon Appetit magazine. Includes appetizers, wine and dinner: charoset with matzoh, salad, roasted chicken and macaroons, and recipes. Cost: $65 (guests), $55 (SJCC members). www.sjcc.org.

Teen and Tween Matzoh Roca: 7:30-9 p.m., March 18, Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way. Turn matzoh into a delicious dessert for everyone. Grades 6-12. Cost: $5. Free for SJCC members and BBYO. www.sjcc.org.

Tuesday | 19

Mercer Island Rotary Club Luncheon: 12-1:30 p.m., March 19, Mercer Island Community and Event Center, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Each meeting covers club activities and features a weekly guest speaker. The general public is welcome to attend.

Thursday | 21

Medicare and New Health Care Law Event: 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., March 21, MICEC, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Learn about Medicare options, costs, coverage. Lunch provided. Free, open to the public. Sponsors: Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA), AARP Foundation. Pre-registration required: 1-877-926-8300, www.aarp.org/wa.

Friday | 22

French Film: “Quai des Orfèvres,” 7:30 p.m., March 22, Aljoya, 2430 76th Ave. S.E. When a wealthy businessman is found murdered, police inspector Antoine finds that an ambitious singer, her jealous husband, and her obsessive photographer friend all have motives. In French with English subtitles. Free.

Events | Ongoing

YTN Summerstock Auditions: March 17-20, 27, Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th Street. Youth actors (grades 3-12) sought for 30th anniversary Summerstock Season, including “Godspell,” “Shrek: The Musical,” and “Chaos Theory.” Audition appointment required. Contact: Jessi, (206) 232-4145, ext. 100. www.youththeatre.org.

“Little Women”: ongoing through March 24, Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th Street. YTN continues its 2012-2013 school season with the classic by author Louisa May Alcott. Tickets: (206) 232-4145, ext. 109. www.youththeatre.org.

Parks & Recreation Senior Golf Program: Mondays, April 1-Oct. 28. Nine hole, 18 hole options, local golfing courses. Transportation available ($5), green fees on your own. Fee plus tax: $24 (resident); $28 (nonresident). Contact: Katie, (206) 275-7862.

Events | Upcoming

Prenatal Yoga Workshop: 1:30-3:30 p.m., March 23, Yogabliss, 7803 S.E. 27th St. Well-being for pregnancy. Any trimester, and any level of yoga experience. Ease pregnancy symptoms, prepare for labor, meet moms-to-be in the community. Sign up in advance. Contact: (206) 979-3008, mercerislandyoga@yahoo.com. www.mercerislandyoga.org.

“March Into My Heart” Book Signing: 2-4:30 p.m., March 24, Island Books, 3014 78th Ave. S.E. “March Into My Heart: A Memoir of Mothers, Daughters, and Adoption,” written by Patty Lazarus, is a personal story written so that others may find the strength to reach toward adoption as a solution to their struggle with infertility and achieve their dreams of a family. 

Cascade Lodge Sons of Norway Potluck, Program & Business Meeting: 6:30 p.m., March 26, Mercer Island United Methodist Church, 7070 S.E. 24th Street. Gay Engelsen will present: “Trolling for Salmon and Profit in Southeast Alaska.” Everyone is welcome. Contact: (425) 957-7692.

Cercle Francophone – French Conversation Evening: 7-9 p.m., March 26, Howell residence. Sponsor: Mercer Island Sister City Association. Informal French conversation evening for anybody who wants to improve his/her French. The only “rule” is to speak French. All levels of French welcome. For location and driving directions, contact: Beth Brennen, 232-7650; Monica Howell, 232-2983.

Library

4400 88th Ave. S.E.

(206) 236-3537

www.kcls.org/MercerIsland

Sing with Our Kids for Adults Only: 7 p.m., March 14. Presented by Nancy Stewart. Remember your favorite songs and learn fun and creative ways to share them with your children, grandchildren or children you work with.

Saturday Film Series – A Place at the Table: “Mondovino,” 1 p.m., March 16. “Kings of Pastry”: 1 p.m., March 23. Each screening includes an educational lecture and Q&A led by film historian Lance Rhoades. KCLS invites everyone to find ‘a place at the table.’ Discuss fresh ideas about food, cooking, nutrition and growing and using locally produced food. Nonperishable food donations accepted for local food banks. www.kcls.org/cooks.

Drop-In to Learn about eBooks: 10 a.m., March 23. Get started with KCLS eBooks.

One-on-One Computer Assistance: 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., March 23. Do you need extra help on the computer? A KCLS volunteer instructor can give you one-on-one assistance. Please register.

Children & Families

Young Toddler Times: 10 a.m., March 13. Ages 12-24 months with adult.

Toddler Story Times: 11 a.m., March 13. Ages 2-3 with adult.

French Story Times: 10:30 a.m., March 16. Ages 3-7 with adult. Please register.

Wombat Stew Puppet Show: 7 p.m., March 25. Performed by Melody and Charlie Williams. A gooey, yummy, zany, funny, puppet-show based on Marcia Vaughan’s popular books. Brimming with songs and stories, this variety show is noisy fun for all ages.

Teens

Teen Advisory Board: 7 p.m., March 26. Teens, voice your opinions on the programs and services the library offers you.

Study Zone: 4 p.m., Tuesdays. Grades K-12. Drop in for free homework help from trained volunteer tutors.

Teen Zone: Study and Games, Mondays–Thursdays, after school. Hang out, do homework, play board games or just chat.