The eighth annual Island Books Night will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., March 30, at Island Books. The theme is “Banquet of Books,” featuring reviews by Roger and Nancy Page of current sellers, and the event is hosted by the Senior Foundation. Bring a copy of a favorite contemporary book and share briefly what makes it special; call Barbara (232-2835) to reserve a space to speak. Raffle tickets will be sold for $5 for a luncheon cruise for 6-8 people with hosts Martha and Fredric Weiss aboard their 37-foot Nordic tug, Teewinot. Proceeds go toward supplies and emergency preparedness kit assembly for Island seniors. Island Books is located at 3014 78th Ave. S.E.

Wednesday | 30

MIHS Fine Arts Showcase: 5:30-9 p.m., March 30, MIHS Gym/Commons, 9100 S.E. 42nd St. The 32nd annual celebration of the arts in Mercer Island schools features visual arts displays by every K-5 student, IMS and MIHS art students, and band, orchestra, choir and dramatic performances. This fundraiser benefits MISD fine arts programs. www.mifineartsed.org.

Thursday | 31

Island Books Book Club: 7:30 p.m., March 31, Island Books, 3014 78th Ave. S.E. “The Imperfectionists,” by Tom Rachman. Set against the backdrop of Rome, Tom Rachman’s wry, vibrant debut follows the lives of the reporters, editors and executives of an international English language newspaper as they struggle to keep it and themselves afloat.

Tuesday | 5

Local Author Event with Aida Kouyoumjian: 6:30-7:30 p.m., April 5, Bellevue Club, 11200 S.E. 6th Street, Bellevue. Mercer Island resident Aida Kouyoumjian will talk about her book: “Between the Two Rivers.” 688-3384, memberevents@bellevueclub.com.

Wednesday | 6

Probus Club of Mercer Island meeting: 10:30 a.m., April 6, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Speaker: Michael Lyman, principal and owner of The Lyman Group, financial planners. The public is welcome. Contact: Bob Simonds, (206) 236-2190.

Top Chef Dinner: 4:30-7 p.m., April 6, Island House, 7810 S.E. 30th St. Dinner features Top Chef finalist recipes from Merrill Gardens communities nationwide, with live entertainment. Free. www.facebook.com/MerrillGardens.

Friday | 8

Parklane Gallery Artist Reception: 6-8 p.m., April 8, 130 Park Lane, Kirkland. Presenting glass masterworks of Island artist Jason Gamrath, now through May 1. www.jasongamrathglass.com.

Upcoming

“Jews, Genetics, and the DNA Shoah Project”: 7:30 p.m., April 11, Stroum JCC, 3801 East Mercer Way. Doors open at 7 p.m. The JGSWS library and WiFi are available. Speaker: Matthew Kaplan will present research findings from studies of Jewish genetics and Jewish population history. The DNA Shoah Project is a unique humanitarian effort to reunite survivors of the Holocaust. Free: JGSWS members. $5: non-members. www.jgsws.org.

Mercer Island Women’s Club General Meeting & Luncheon: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., April 12, Sahalee Country Club, 21200 N.E. Sahalee Country Club Drive, Sammamish, 98074. Guest speaker: Carol Cassella. Tickets: $26. RSVP required. Contact jeannebayley@comcast.net with questions.

Island Books Sister City Benefit: Reading with Maggie Bennett, 6:30-8:30 p.m., April 14, Island Books, 3014 78th Ave. S.E. “Windy Stories: Storytelling Traditions From The Salmon River Idaho.”

Islander Middle School Communities That Care Café Conversation: 7-8:30 p.m., April 14, Islander Middle School Library, 8225 S.E. 72nd St. Featuring Marla Mitchell, IMS prevention counselor, and Derek Franklin, Communities That Care project director.

Mercer Island Historical Society Meeting: 1 p.m., April 18, Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Speaker: Fred Jarrett, deputy county executive. www.mihistory.org.

Mercer Island Radio Operators meeting: 7 p.m., April 21, MI Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. Learn about amateur radio communications and emergency preparedness. www.mirohams.org.

Breakfast of Champions: 7-8:30 a.m., April 26, Mercer Island High School, 9100 S.E. 42nd Street. Parking available in student lots and on the street. www.mercerislandschoolsfoundation.com.

Events | Ongoing

Stroum JCC Spring Break Camp: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., April 4-8, 3801 East Mercer Way. Before and after camp care is available: $5 per day. No charge for Kidstown kids. Monday: Cooking Day. Tuesday: Zoo Day. Wednesday: Wacky Science Day. Thursday: Making Music Day. Friday: Pump It Up field trip. SJCC members: $55 per day; $250 for full week. www.sjcc.org.

VOICE & SVP Registration: ongoing through 3 p.m., April 11. This summer, the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services will offer two youth volunteer programs: Volunteer Outreach in Communities Everywhere (VOICE) and Summer Volunteer Program (SVP). Contact: Tambi Cork, tambi.cork@mercergov.org, (206) 275-7755.

Mercer Island Film and Social Group for Teens: 7-11 p.m., Saturdays, Johnson residence home theater on Mercer Island. The Johnsons are forming a social film group for teens and seeks up to seven members (ages 16–19). Local, professional filmmakers come once a month. Refreshments included. Contact: Allen Johnson, allen3@allenjohnsonjr.com.

Mercer Island Farmers Market Poster Contest: MIFM is seeking artwork for its 2011 poster. Entry deadline: April 15, Mercer Island library front desk. Entries must be submitted by original artist, ages 10-18, and must include the slogan: Farms, Families & Friends – Experience our Market! Accepted sizes: 8.5×11 or 9×12. All entries will be juried by the Mercer Island Visual Arts League (MIVAL). The winner will be announced at the MIFM fundraiser, May 15, at Lilly’s Restaurant. Prize: $50 market gift certificate.

Library

Great Singers: Maria Callas Three-Part Series, 7 p.m., April 4 (“The Glory Years”) and April 11 (“The Final Years”). Lecture series on three great opera singers of the 20th century: Enrico Caruso, Luciano Pavarotti and Maria Callas. Presented by Norm Hollingshead, who will illustrate his commentary with recorded musical excerpts from his own collection of recordings.

Saturday Matinee: “Munnabhai Meets Mahatma Gandhi,” 1 p.m., April 9. “Treeless Mountain,” 1 p.m., April 23.

Pain Stompers – How to Maintain Hope in the Face of Chronic Pain: 1:30-3 p.m., April 10. Do you or someone you know suffer from frequent or chronic pain? Dr. Vicki Rackner’s Pain Stompers workshop offers relief to pain sufferers and those that care for them. She will cover seven steps helpful in responding to someone in physical, emotional or even financial pain.

Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale: April 14-17. Sale in lobby during library open hours. Come find great bargains.

Homemade Beer: The Basics of Homebrewing, 7 p.m., April 20. Nate Muller will provide an introduction to the world of homebrewing. He will cover basics of beermaking using malt extract, including a discussion of beer ingredients, equipment needed and the basic beermaking process.

eReader and Digital Downloads Demonstration: 3-5 p.m., April 29. Learn how to download KCLS eBooks to your eReader or computer during this digital downloads demonstration.

One-on-One Computer Assistance: A KCLS volunteer instructor can give you one-on-one instruction. Please make an appointment: (206) 236-3537.

Children & Families

Wonderful Ones Story Times: 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 30, April 6. Ages 12-24 months with adult.

Terrific Twos Story Times: 11 a.m., Wednesdays, March 30-April 27. Ages 2-3 with adult.

Baby and Me Story Times: 10 a.m., Tuesdays, April 5-26. Ages 3 to 12 months with adult.

Preschool Story Times: 11 a.m., Tuesdays, April 5-6. Ages 3 to 5 with adult.

Lego Animation: 10 a.m.-12 p.m., April 8. Presented by Lucas Allenbaugh of Clay Animation Network. Ages 8 to 12. Bring in LEGO® pieces from home or use the ones brought by the instructor to create your own stop-motion LEGO® movies. Students will learn how to operate a digital camera, construct props and backgrounds, and add sound effects and voice-overs. Registration required. Please register for one session only.

Shake, Rattle and Roll Early Literacy through Music for Very Young Toddlers: 10 a.m., Wednesdays, April 13-27. Join Nancy Stewart for a three-week music workshop for you and your youngster. Nancy will share music, movement and activities that will enhance early learning for very young toddlers 12 to 24 months. You must attend all three sessions.

Teens

Teen Zone: 1:45 p.m., Mondays, April 11-25. Ages 12 and older. Hang out, do homework, play board games or just chat.

Meet the Author: Sara Zarr, 7 p.m., April 12. Meet National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr, author of Story of a Girl and Sweethearts via hi-tech satellite high jinks. Ms. Zarr will discuss her writing process and answer questions.

Teen Advisory Board: 7 p.m., April 19. Voice your opinions on teen materials, services and programs while earning one volunteer credit hour and munching on light refreshments.

Online Teen Readers: Read and comment on book reviews from local teens. Submit your own book reviews; if your review is chosen as a featured review, receive a coupon for free ice cream. http://blogs.kcls.org/onlineteenreaders.