The annual Mercer Island Preschool Association’s Circus event will be held this weekend, on April 27, at Mercer Island High School from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free, but tickets for games and prizes cost money. This year features the favorites such as pony rides, cake walks and bouncy houses, along with food trucks from local vendors.

Wednesday | 24

Organic Herb & Veggie Starts Sale: 12-3 p.m., April 24-25, SJCC Kesher Community Garden, 3801 East Mercer Way. A portion of sales benefit the garden. www.sjcc.org.

Thursday | 25

Emergency Volunteer Lead Quarterly Meeting: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., April 25, City Hall Council Chambers, 9611 S.E. 36th St. Meetings consist of team leads, but all interested emergency volunteers are welcome.

The Strivers Meeting: 1:45 p.m., April 25, MICEC, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Speaker: Dr. Roman Wong, chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery at Swedish Hospital. Free and open to all.

Northwest Watercolor Society Artists’ Reception & Award Ceremony: 6:30-8 p.m., April 25, MICEC Mercer Gallery, 8236 S.E. 24th St. 2013 Open Show ends May 31. Refreshments served.

Infant/Child/Adult CPR with AED: 7-9 p.m., April 25, Mercer Island Fire Station 91, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. This is not a health care provider class. Cost: $20. To reserve a space, call (206) 275-7607.

Friday | 26

Jazzercise Maui Style: 6-8 p.m., April 26, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Join Lori Mahalo and the Boogie Board. Benefit National MS Society’s WALK MS campaign.

April in Paris: 7-9 p.m., April 26, Island Books, 3014 78th Ave. S.E. Browse Island Books; complimentary wine and cheese tasting. Sponsor: Mercer Island Sister City Association.

Saturday | 27

Earth Day Celebration: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., April 27, Island Crest Park. Join EarthCorps and Parks and Recreation to restore the park. www.earthcorps.org/volunteer.php.

Medication Take Back Day: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., April 27, Mercer Island City Hall, 9611 S.E. 36th St. Dispose of expired, unused medication, behind MIPD station. (206) 275-7743.

Mercer Island Preschool Association 47th Annual Circus: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., April 27, Mercer Island High School, 9100 S.E. 42nd St. New this year: food trucks (Bistro Box, Veraci’s Pizza, Menchie’s). Free admission. mipreschoolassociation.org/circus.

“From the Met to Broadway” 5th Annual Dinner Gala & Silent Auction: 6:30 p.m., April 27, Congregational Church of Mercer Island, 4545 Island Crest Way. Five-course dinner, interactive theater, silent auction. Benefits CCMI Choir. Tickets: $45. www.ucc-ccmi.org.

Sunday | 28

An Afternoon With Charles Fox: 2 p.m., April 28, SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way. Charles Fox, renowned composer of TV hit themes and film scores, will play piano. SJCC Jewish Touch Lecture Series. Cost for admission. www.sjcc.org.

Fire & Feast Lag B’Omer Celebration: 5:30-7 p.m., April 28, SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way. Dinner picnic, campfire in Kesher Community Garden. Register: www.sjcc.org.

Tuesday | 30

Mercer Island Rotary Club Meeting: 12-1:30 p.m., April 30, MICEC, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. The general public is welcome.

Wednesday | May 1

Probus Club of Mercer Island Meeting: 10:30 a.m., May 1, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Speaker: Bellevue Mayor Conrad Lee. Public welcome.

Thursday | 2

MIVAL Meeting: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., May 2, Emmanuel Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 4400 86th Ave. S.E. General membership meeting, potluck luncheon. High school scholarship award.

Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce Luncheon: 12-1:15 p.m., May 2, MICEC, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Have you ever wondered why your property taxes went up when the value of your property went down? If you have been curious about how property taxes are determined, the speaker is King County Assessor Lloyd Hara who will explain it. Open to the public but reservations are required. Cost: $15 (members), $20 (non-members). RSVP deadline: April 30. (206) 232-3404.

Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group: 3-4:30 p.m., May 2, MICEC, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Discuss challenges, problems.

“Spring” In Full Swing Artist Reception: 5-8 p.m., May 2, MIVAL Gallery, 2836 78th Ave. S.E. “My Journey Into Abstraction” is open May 2-June 2. Art by Pia Messina. www.piapaintings.com.

Mercer Island Freemasons Meeting: 6:30 p.m., May 2, VFW Post 5760, 1836 72nd Ave. S.E. Dinner: 6:30. Meeting: 7:30. www.mercerislandmasons.org.

Friday | 3

“Meet the Artist” with Leila Akhmet Othman: 6-9 p.m., May 3, Shorewood Heights Pavilion (Activities Center), 9011 West Shorewood Drive. Refreshments provided.

Saturday | 4

CrestFest Annual Open House and Plant Sale: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., May 4, Crest Learning Center, 4150 86th Ave. S.E. Sustainably grown plants from toxin-free greenhouse. Plants sold through June 15. www.mercerislandschools.org.

Mercer Island Relay for Life: 2 p.m., May 4 – 8 a.m., May 5, Mercer Island High School track, 9100 S.E. 42nd Street. Overnight fundraiser for American Cancer Society. www.mirelay.org.

Luther Burbank Playground Auction: 6:30-9:30 p.m., May 4, Cast Iron Studios, 10650 N.E. 4th Street. All are welcome at fundraiser for Luther Burbank Playground Project. Cost: $50-75. www.mipreschoolassociation.org.

Events | Upcoming

Israel at 65 Celebration: 1-4 p.m., May 5, SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way. Learn culture and traditions. Concert: 3:10 p.m., Meshi Kleinstein, Avi Avliav. Free admission. www.sjcc.org.

Mercerwood Shore Club Annual Open House: 1-4 p.m., May 5, 4150 East Mercer Way. Swimming, tennis, beach activities, free hotdog lunch. www.mercerwood.com.

Mercer Island Communities That Care Town Hall Meeting: 6:30-8 p.m., May 7, MIHS Library Presentation Room, 4400 88th Ave. S.E. For more: (206) 275-7743.

Native Plant Sale: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., May 11, Mercerdale Park, S.E. 32nd Street and 77th Avenue S.E. Benefits Central Puget Sound Chapter Washington Native Plant Society. www.wnps.org.

Mercer Island Sister City Association Annual Soirée: May 17, Kaspar’s Restaurant on Lower Queen Anne in Seattle. No-host wine reception, five-course French-inspired feast. Reservation deadline: May 10. www.mercerislandsistercity.org.

MIHS Class of 1993 20-Year Reunion: Aug. 16-17. RSVP, payment due: May 15. Contact: Becca (Culver) Bishop, migrads93@gmail.com. www.facebook.com/groups/498131986866831.

Library

4400 88th Ave. S.E.

(206) 236-3537

www.kcls.org/MercerIsland

Place-Based Oral History on Mercer Island: 7 p.m., April 30. Local project brings people together to talk about favorite MI places.

Computer Class: Microsoft Excel Level 3, 7 p.m., May 1. Registration required.

Opera Preview: “Voix Humaine/Suor Angelica,” 7 p.m., May 1. Presented by Norm Hollingshead.

STARS Workshop – Curriculum Development Based on Favorite Children’s Books: 7 p.m., May 2. Presented by Darlene Cook, ECE Trainer & Consultant. Please register.

A Place at the Table: Dining at Downton Abbey – A Trial by Fork, 1 p.m., May 4. Presented by Tames Alan. www.kcls.org/cooks.

Sing With Our Kids – For Adults Only: 7 p.m., May 9. Remember your favorite songs; learn fun and creative ways to share them.

Computer Class: One-on-One Assistance, 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., May 18. Registration required.

Drop-In to Learn About eBooks: 1 p.m., May 19. Get started with KCLS eBooks.

Parenting Teens: Internet Safety and Cyberbullying, 7 p.m., May 21. Join Seattle Police Department’s Stefanie Thomas to learn about the reality of teens as targets online. Thomas will address issues of privacy and the protection of personal information. Specifically, learn about ways to recognize and prevent cyberbullying and how to monitor your teen’s social networking behavior.

Children

Puppets Please Marionettes: 7 p.m., April 29. Ages 2 and older with adult. Have your camera ready as colorful animal characters sing, dance and roller skate. This program is part of the El Dia-Children’s Book Day Celebration.

Young Toddler Story Times: 10 a.m., Wednesdays, May 1-15. Ages 12-24 months with caregiver.

Toddler Story Times: 11 a.m., Wednesdays, May 1-15. Ages 2-3.

Infant Story Times: 10 a.m., Tuesdays, May 7-14. Newborn to 12 months with adult.

Preschool Story Times: 11 a.m., Tuesdays, May 7-14. Ages 3-5 with adult.

Spring Nature Sketching: 1:30 p.m., May 11. Presented by Molly Hashimoto. Ages 8 and older. Let the spring buds and blooms you see in Mercer Island Library’s Learning Garden inspire you to draw and paint-use pencil, pen and watercolor to capture all the beauty of the emerging season.

Musical Fun with Alleyoop: 7 p.m., May 16. Ages 3 and older with adult. Join storyteller and musician Al Hirsch for stories, music, activities and fun.

Teens

SAT Practice Test: 11 a.m., April 27; 1 p.m., May 18. Practice for the May SAT. Receive the test back with answers the same day. There will be optional time for questions and essay help. Presented by Kaplan Pre-College Test Prep. Get tips and your scores back on Thursday, May 23, 6:30 p.m. at the library. Please register.

Poetry Cafe: 2 p.m., April 28. Read your poetry, read others’ poetry or simply listen.

Teen Advisory Board: 7 p.m., May 28. Teens, help plan programs in the library and in the community.

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 with some exceptions. Hang out, do homework, play board games. No Teen Zone on Monday, May 27.