This week's events – March 13 – 19

March 11, 2017 | by Julia Hess

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Here’s our weekly round-up of events from March 13 – 19 on Mercer Island:

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, March 14
Young Toddlers (12 – 24 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Toddlers (2 – 3 years) – 11:30 am – Noon

Thursday, March 16
Infants (0 – 12 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Preschoolers (3 – 6 years) – 1 – 1:30 pm


Storybook Corner
Wednesday, March 15, 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 >>


Kaleidoscope Play & Learn
Wednesday, March 15, 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.


MIYFS presents “Successful Parenting on Mercer Island” 
Wednesday, March 15, 7 – 8:30 pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street

The Mercer Island Youth & Family Services Community Advisory Board will host a community forum on successful parenting on Mercer Island featuring a panel discussion with local parenting professionals along side Island teens.

Each presenter will give a brief introduction about their background and the work they do in the community relevant to the well-being of young people. This will be followed by an interactive Q & A panel discussion. The event will also include group breakout sessions. Light refreshments provided. All parents and teens are invited to attend; no RSVP required.

Please direct any questions to Derek Franklin, MIYFS Programs Manager at 206-275-7745 or derek.franklin@mercergov.org.
Learn more >>


St. Patrick’s Day Senior Luncheon
Thursday, March 16, Noon – 1 pm | Ages 65+
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street

Join us for a “bit of the blarney” as we celebrate this Irish holiday. Be sure to wear green! Corned beef and cabbage lunch will be served at noon. Reservations required.  Call 206-275-7609 to reserve your spot. Transportation is available. Luncheon cost is $5.50.


Board Game Thursdays 
Thursday, March 16, 4 – 7 pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street

Drop by for an afternoon of board games and hanging out. We have a huge selection of games and our staff is always up to taking on a new competitor. Games include: Codenames, Mission Red Planet, Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, and all your favorites- Ticket to Ride, Connect 4, Monopoly and MORE. Free for ages 7 – 14.
Learn more >>


Mercer Island Directory Mailing Day
Friday, March 17, 9 am
Emmanuel Episcopal Church – Social Hall, 4400 86th Ave SE

Come stuff envelopes! Volunteers are needed to help the Mercer Island Guild of Seattle Children’s Hospital get the 2017 Directory ready for mailing. Refreshments. Parking-west side. Questions? Contact: [email protected] or 206-232-3903
Learn more >>


Youth Theatre Northwest presents TEXT
March 10 – 26 | Fridays & Saturdays, 7 pm; Sundays, 2 pm
Youth Theatre NW – Parish Hall Theatre, 4400 86th Ave SE

TEXT uses original scenes, music, and movement to present the lives of two different groups of friends. Some characters face universal trials like: stress, school dances, sexuality, and navigating the growing pangs of friendship. Others grapple with additional issues from depression to eating disorders. A moving and often humorous glimpse into the lives and hearts of teenagers told in their own authentic voices. TEXT is not merely a performance–it is a conversation that will last beyond the final curtain.
Learn more >>


Restoration Event
Saturday, March 18, 9 am – 3 pm
Luther Burbank North Wetland, 2040 84th Ave SE
Meet: North Parking Lot

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.
Learn more >>


Shabbat Unplugged: Up Close with Reptiles
Saturday, March 18, 10 – 11 am
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 E Mercer Way


This week’s Shabbat Unplugged will feature some special guests from the Woodland Park Zoo. We’ll  talk about our responsibility to treat animals and our ecosystem with compassion (rachum), and meet some of the zoo’s Ambassador Animals who will help illustrate the vast array of tools reptiles use to survive and thrive. With the Next Generation Science Standards in mind, zoo staff will teach us about what makes a reptile a reptile, how they use their environment to shape their needs, and how those very same environments have shaped their lives.
This event is free; make sure to RSVP before the event.
Learn more >>


James H. Osborne, Author of Will Your Way Back
Sunday, March 19, 4 – 6 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE

James H. Osborne suffered a tragic spinal cord injury from a road cycling accident that rendered him quadriplegic. He’s been fighting for nine years to recover his body, and his book Will Your Way Back chronicles his journey, an exercise of will, to walk again, and live independently. His story is unique and compelling, and if you have ever suffered loss, or have a loved one who is suffering this way, you will draw hope from his inspiring story. There will be a Q&A and books for sale!
Learn more >> 


Tales of the Alchemysts Theatre presents “Lost and Found in Love” by Isaac Bashevis Singer
Sunday, March 19, 4:30 pm (doors open at 4 pm)
Stroum Jewish Community Center Theater, 3801 E Mercer Way

Tales of the Alchemysts Theatre is a new performance company comprised of seasoned local professional actors and musicians dedicated to bringing provocative and entertaining Jewish literature to life. Join them for an evening of dramatic storytelling with a staged reading of Isaac Bashevis Singer’s short stories set to live music, followed by a Q&A. Click the link below to learn more and purchase tickets online.
Learn more >>


SJCC Service Event: Dinner at Our House
Sunday, March 19, 5 – 7 pm
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 E Mercer Way

Stroum Jewish Community Center
Do you like to cook? How about helping those in need? SJCC is partnering with YouthCare, an organization working to fight homelessness among Seattle teens, to cook dinners in the SJCC kitchen. Dinner will then be delivered to YouthCare’s Jackson Street facility to be served that evening. Please join us for a couple hours to help battle food insecurity among homeless teens! If you’re interested in participating, please email SJCC Community Connections Professional Ken Di Raimondo or call 206-388-0839.
Learn more >>