Here’s our weekly round-up of events from April 24 – 30 on Mercer Island:

Mercer Island School Foundation: Breakfast of Champions Fundraiser
Tuesday, April 25, 7 – 8:30 am
Mercer Island High School, 9100 SE 42nd Street

Come celebrate excellence in education with business, community leaders, and corporate sponsors who will demonstrate their support for Mercer Island students, teachers, and their schools. This will be a wonderful opportunity to hear inspirational stories from students of all grades and help raise funds for the Mercer Island Schools Foundation. The morning’s showcase program will feature student and teacher speakers who have participated in Mercer Island Schools Foundation funded programs.
Learn more >>

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Story Times at the Library
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

Join the Mercer Island Children’s Librarian for stories, songs, rhymes, and fun in these 30-minute programs designed especially for you and your young child.

Tuesday, April 25
Young Toddlers (12 – 24 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Toddlers (2 – 3 years) – 11:30 am – Noon

Thursday, April 27
Infants (0 – 12 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Preschoolers (3 – 6 years) – 1 – 1:30 pm

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Bringing the Farm Home: How to Grow True Organic Vegetables
Tuesday, April 25, 6 – 7 pm
New Seasons Market, 2755 77th Ave SE

If you’re into growing true organic food, then this is an hour you won’t want to miss! Join Randy Ritchie, founder of Malibu Compost, to learn the tricks to maximizing the production, quality, and health of your vegetable garden.
Learn more >>

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Medicare Made Clear
Tuesday, April 25, 7 – 8:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

This workshop will provide an overview of the different parts of Medicare (Parts A, B, C, D) and its supplements, what they cover, and how they work. There will be a discussion about the different ways you can receive your benefits, including the pros and cons of each, as well as the approximate costs. We will also cover enrollment and eligibility guidelines.

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Community Coffee Hour
Wednesday, April 26 & Friday, April 28, 9 – 10 am
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street

Join Mercer Island Parks & Recreation for Community Coffee Hour every Wednesday and Friday! This is a free program for kids, teens, adults, seniors, and families. Enjoy a hot cup of coffee in a fun and engaging atmosphere with people from the community.

For more information, call MICEC at 206-275-7909 or email at [email protected].

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Storybook Corner
Wednesday, April 26, 10:30 – 11 am
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE

Bring your little ones in to enjoy popular picture books read by our staff or special guests.
Learn more >>

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Kaleidoscope Play & Learn
Wednesday, April 26, 10:30 am – Noon
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

Have fun singing songs, telling stories, reading books, creating art, and playing. Kaleidoscope Play & Learn is in English. Ages 5 years and younger with caregiver. Sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library.

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Spring into Health: Veggies with New Seasons Market Nutritionist
Wednesday, April 26, 5 – 6 pm
New Seasons Market, 2755 77th Ave SE

Meet with the nutrition team at New Seasons Market on Mercer Island for a free store tour, packed with nutrition tips and information on foundational tools you’ll need to develop new healthy habits, eat better, and feel great. This week, the theme is about vegetables. Registration required.
Learn more >>

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12th Annual SJCC Circle of Friends Luncheon
Thursday, April 27, 11:30 am – 1 pm
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way

Join SJCC for the 12th annual Circle of Friends Luncheon, where they’ll be welcoming their new CEO, Amy Lavin, and honoring Judy Neuman, SJCC CEO from 2009 to January 2017. A minimum gift of $180 per guest is requested. Check-in is at 11:30 am, and the lunch and program will be from noon – 1 pm.

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Tabletop Thursdays
Thursday, April 27, 4 – 7 pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street

Drop by for an afternoon of board games, video games, playing pool or ping-pong, and hanging out. The Community & Events Center has a huge selection of games, and the staff is always up to taking on a new competitor. Games include: Codenames, Mission Red Planet, Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, Connect 4, Monopoly, and more. Free for ages 7 – 14.

For more information, call MICEC at 206-275-7909 or email at [email protected].

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Wayfinding Signage Design Open House
Thursday, April 27, 5:30 – 7 pm
City Hall Council Chambers, 9611 SE 36th Street

Hosted by the Department of Public Works, the City of Mercer Island needs the help of a citizen’s stakeholder group in designing Wayfinding Signage. This signage will be used to direct motorists to our Town Center and guide pedestrians and bicyclists from the Aubrey Davis I-90 Regional Trails to local amenities and attractions in the Town Center. We need the community’s help in selecting a preferred concept for the signage. Please drop by to view and comment on the proposed concepts.

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Educational Funding Forum 
Thursday, April 27, 7 pm
West Mercer Elementary School, Multipurpose Room, 4141 81st Ave SE

Please join us for a discussion on several factors regarding school budgets that will affect the children of Mercer Island.

The School District has announced a projected $1.8 million shortfall (source: Mercer Island School Board Meeting 3/27), and although this number is in flux, the anticipated budget cuts range from $1.4 million to $1.9 million. The District has also begun discussions on how to reduce the budget, including teaching staff reductions. That shortfall will be even larger if the Mercer Island Schools Foundation does not meet its fundraising goal. The School District and the Mercer Island Educators Association are scheduled to negotiate their next 3 year contract.

You will have an opportunity to hear from Senator Wellman, Representative Senn, MISD Superintendent Plano, MISD Board President D’Souza, the Mercer Island Educators Association, and the Mercer Island Schools Foundation. There will be ample audience question and answer time.
Learn more >>

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Opera Preview: The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Thursday, April 27, 7 – 8:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

In a lecture sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library, learn all about Mozart’s money-making hit, “The Magic Flute,” along with the history behind Mozart’s last months of life. This free lecture, provided to increase the enjoyment and appreciation of Seattle Opera productions, will feature Norm Hollingshead, with recorded musical excerpts. Space is limited. First come, first seated.

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Open Book Club: The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney 
Thursday, April 27, 7:30 – 9 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE

For the April Open Book Club, Island Books will be reading and discussing The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney. This bestselling novel follows four grown—albeit slightly dysfunctional—siblings as they look forward to receiving a family inheritance, which they hope will solve all their problems. Funny and heartwarming, The Nest offers up some great discussion topics.

Island Book’s open book club meets the last Thursday of every month. Our staff facilitator chooses both fiction and nonfiction titles. All are welcome to attend, and if you purchase your book at the store, you’ll receive a 10% discount.
Learn more >>

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Community Appreciation Day 
Friday, April 28, 9 am – 5 pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street

Mercer Island Parks & Recreation wants to thank Mercer Island residents for all that they do for the community. Drop by the Mercer Island Community & Event Center for this free event that will have treats, refreshments, drop-in recreation programs, use of the Fitness Room, and more!

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Independent Bookstore Day 
Saturday, April 29, 8 am – 8 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE

Island Books is one of several independent book stores that will be hosting festivities for the nationally-recognized Independent Bookstore Day (April 29th). This day-long festival at Island Books includes receiving a special loyalty card that will earn you a 25% discount on all purchases for an entire year if you get a full set of stamps at Seattle-area stores that day — cards are first come, first served. There will be free doughnuts, coffee, and mimosas, all-day coloring for kids, musical entertainment, in-store visits from local authors, giveaways, and so much more!  Check out the link below to get a complete list of all the exciting activities.
Learn more >>

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Restoration Event
Saturday, April 29, 9 am – 3 pm
Mercerdale Hillside Park, 77th SE & SE 32nd
Meet: Corner of 76th Ave SE & SE 37nd Pl

Each year, Mercer Island citizens donate hundreds of hours of their time to maintain the community’s parks and open spaces: picking up litter, planting trees, cutting down ivy, painting over graffiti, or repairing trails.

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Anxiety: It’s Not All in Your Head 
Saturday, April 29, 10 – 11 am
New Seasons Market, 2755 77th Ave SE

Join Naturopathic Physician Mary Browning, ND to learn about anxiety. Dr. Browning will be talking about ways to find out the root cause of your anxiety and healthy approaches to relieve it.

There is so much that can be done to help reduce anxiety. Don’t continue to suffer; it’s possible to bring back the calm in your life. Free. Registration required.

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Lighthouse Gallery Youth Art Show: Opening Reception 
Sunday, April 30, 2 – 4 pm
Covenant Shores Lighthouse Gallery, 9150 Fortuna Drive

Come check out the opening reception for MIVAL Jr.’s very first art show on Sunday, April 30th! This unique exhibit will showcase art from students in 6th – 12th grade. You can view the art from April 29th – June 3rd.

MIVAL Junior is a Mercer Island Visual Arts League program that supports, mentors, and empowers young artists (grades K – 12) to initiate art events, create art, network, and participate in art- related activities.