After discovering Macaroni Kid through a friend, Gina Benezra decided last month to start her own version of the weekly e-newsletter for children’s events on Mercer Island. The e-newsletter is published for communities nationwide by local “Publisher Moms.”

“Nobody [covered] Mercer Island, so since I grew up there, I decided to focus on Mercer Island,” said Benezra, who now lives in Issaquah. Benezra is the daughter of the late Eileen Mintz.

The newsletter, available at www.mercerisland.macaronikid.com, features events, plays, community information, recipes and book information. Subscribers are invited to join for free.

“Macaroni Kid and its family of Publisher Moms are dedicated to delivering the scoop on all the family-friendly events and activities happening in their communities each week,” the Web site reads.

“This Week’s Picks” for Mercer Island include CCMV Indoor Playground events, Italian story times at the library, and the Mercer Island Preschool Association circus, to take place on April 10, along with recipes for Matzo Rocca Passover candy and Easter Jellybean Bark.