Here’s our weekly round-up of events from October 17 – 23 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 to 45-minute programs designed especially for you and your young child.
Tuesday, October 18
Young Toddlers (12 – 24 months) – 10:30 – 11:00 am
Toddlers (2 – 3 years) – 11:30 am – Noon
Thursday, October 20
Infants (0 – 12 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Preschoolers (3 – 6 years) – 1 – 1:30 pm
Candidates Forum
Hosted by MI PTA Council and the League of Women Voters
Tuesday, October 18, 7 pm
Northwood Elementary Commons, 4030 86th Ave SE
Come hear from all of the candidates running for the 41st District House and Senate Seats as well as the OSPI Superintendent Candidates. This forum will be moderated by Hilary Benson, a reporter, writer, editor, and Mercer Island resident. Audience attendees will have the opportunity to submit written questions after candidate statements and questions from the moderator.
End of Life Discussion Series: Death With Dignity: Hastening the End
Tuesday, October 18, 7 – 9 pm
Congregational Church on Mercer Island, 4545 Island Crest Way
There are various ways to hasten the dying process, such as refusing treatment and voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED). Washington State also allows terminally ill, mentally competent adults with six months or less to live to receive a prescription for life-ending medication. Our speaker is Gretchen DeRoche, who started volunteering to help others at the end of their lives nearly 30 years ago. She began as a caregiver in the AIDS community in 1986, receiving the prestigious Jefferson Award in 1992 honoring her community and public service. She is now the client support volunteer coordinator for End of Life Washington, and in that role, she has accompanied many people as they have opted for a hastened death.
Storybook Corner
Wednesday, October 19, 10:30 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 >>
Play and Learn 
Wednesday, October 19, 10:30 am – Noon
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
Have fun singing songs, telling stories, reading books, creating art and playing.
Wisdom Cafes: The Liberating Effect of Clearing Space: It’s Not About the ‘Stuff’
Wednesday, October 19, 1 – 2:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
Most of us want to reduce the ‘stuff’ we don’t want or need anymore, from the tangible to the intangible. What is mental house-keeping? We’ll share some of our best tips for unburdening ourselves. Registration required.
Song of Lahore
Wednesday, October 19, 7 pm
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way
$15 | $10 SJCC members, students, seniors, youth
A documentary film by Academy Award-winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Seattle’s Andy Schocken (in attendance). Lahore was once a haven for a musical culture passed down for centuries to the beat of the tabla drum. Today, Islamization, ethnic divisions, war, and corruption have torn apart the cultural fabric of Pakistan. Followed by Q&A. Rated PG. Co-presented with TASVEER. This film is part of the 11th Seattle South Asian Film Festival, the largest in the country, October 14 – 23.
Learn more >>
College Admissions in the Digital Age: How to Use Social Media in your College Search and Application Process
Wednesday, October 19, 7 – 9 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
You’ve heard the social media horror stories, but there are actually many positive ways of using social media in the college research and application process. A former admissions counselor shares tips on how to research colleges effectively, show demonstrated interest, and increase your likelihood of receiving an offer of admission and scholarship money! Both students and parents welcome. Presented by Heather Parry, Parry College Counseling. Registration not required. Sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library.
Earthquake Preparedness Day
Thursday, October 20, 10:20 am – 12:20 pm
Various locations
The Mercer Island community is participating in the “Great Washington Shake Out.” At 10:20 am on October 20, 2016, residents across Washington will practice their “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” skills in The Great Washington ShakeOut. Major earthquakes can happen anywhere you work, live, or travel and we need to be prepared. The ShakeOut is our chance to practice how to protect ourselves when an earthquake strikes. The goal is to prevent a major earthquake from becoming a catastrophe for you, your family, and your community. We do this by planning, preparing and practicing what we will do when an earthquake strikes. You may only have seconds to protect yourself in an earthquake. Frequent practice results in successful outcomes. You can participate as well: individuals, families, businesses, schools, colleges, government agencies and organizations are all encouraged to practice your emergency plans and prepare. For additional information click on the link below: http://www.shakeout.org/washington/
Sound Transit Informational Session
Thursday, October 20, Noon
Mercer Island School District Building Boardroom
Join us for this upcoming Sound Transit informational session. The City will present on Sound Transit 2 Mobility and Dr. Plano will present his views on Sound Transit Ballot Measure as it applies to the district. There will be ample Q & A time.
For more information please visit:
The City’s Light Rail Mobility Negotiations and Opportunities web page
City Handout PDF
Vision Mercer Island web page
Vision Mercer Island Letter to City Council Members
Cooking Class & Film: In Search of Israeli Cuisine
Thursday, October 20, 7 pm class; 7:45 pm film
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way
Cost: Class & film: $15 | $10 SJCC members; Film only: $10 | $8 SJCC members
Follow James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Solomonov on a cinematic and culinary tour of Israel’s vibrant food scene in this documentary by two-time Oscar nominee Director Roger Sherman. Join us before the film to cook and sample recipes from Solomonov’s ZAHAV Cookbook, winner of the 2016 James Beard Award for Best Cookbook. Signed cookbooks for sale online and at the event. Rated PG.
Learn more >>
Mercer Island High School Food Truck Frenzy & All-Island Band Night
Friday, October 21
Food Truck Frenzy: 4 – 6:30 pm
All-Island Band Night / Football Game: 5:45 – 10 pm
Organized by the Mercer Island Schools Band Booster Club, the MIHS Food Truck frenzy will feed hungry Islanders before the evening’s All Island Band Night and MIHS football game. The food trucks will be open for business from 4 to 6:30 pm. Seating will be available in the MIHS Commons. After getting your food-truck fare fill, head over to MIHS stadium for a performance you won’t want to miss. All Island Band Night is Mercer Island’s largest outdoor concert of the year featuring bands from all MISD schools with students from grades 5-12. Then cheer on the MIHS football team as the play the Lake Washington Kangaroos.
Mercer Island School District calendar >>
MIPC “Pipes and Pizzazz” Concert
Friday, October 21, 7:30 – 9:30 pm
Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave SE
Cost: Free
Internationally acclaimed organist Dave Wickerham is back by popular demand, performing on our beautiful Pipe Organ. He will play a varied program, including Popular Hits, Movie Themes, Classical Favorites, and Church music. The audience is encouraged to make requests, which he will include in a Grand Medley!
Learn more >>
Fitness Revolution
Saturday, October 22, 8 am – 3 pm
Mercer Island Community & Events Center, 8236 SE 24th Street
Presented by Evolve Events & Let’s Move Mercer Island – Fun, energetic, and interactive sessions to build your success in health, wellness, nutrition & happiness. Cooking demos, workout demos, life-balance coaching, surviving the holidays tips, and fit-family hints. Join us for a day of fun, sweat, and inspiration! Great raffle prizes too! For more information and to register, visit www.evolvefitnessevents.com.
Learn more >>
Medicine Take Back Day
Saturday, October 22, 10 am – 2 pm
City Hall, 9611 SE 36th Street
Note: Take drop-offs to the west side of the building / lower loading dock area.
Bring your expired, unwanted or unused prescription and over-the-counter medications to City Hall for Medicine Take Back Day. This one-day event provides residents with a no-cost, anonymous collection of unwanted and expired prescriptions (including narcotics) as well as over-the-counter medicines. Protect our kids, families and environment by properly disposing of your unwanted and expired medicines. Medicines in the home are a leading cause of accidental poisoning, and flushed or trashed medicines can end up polluting waterways and fish. Rates of prescription drug abuse are alarmingly high: over half of teens abusing medicines get them from a family member or friend, including the home medicine cabinet, and often without anyone’s knowledge.
Learn more >>
Youth Theater Northwest presents Pirate’s Booty
October 22 – 30; Saturdays, 10 am and 2 pm; Sundays, Noon and 2 pm
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 4400 86th Ave SE
Cost: $10 per child; Parents and babes in arms are free!
Kids: Skittle me timbers! Who will help us save Halloween? The Pirate Queen of the Seven Seas has begun collecting Halloween candy as treasure. Without candy, Halloween is in danger of being canceled forever. The pirate crew needs your help to save Halloween by convincing the pirate queen to return the candy. Climb aboard The Jolly Rancher and help save the day!
Parents/Caregivers: Celebrate the Halloween season by bringing theater magic to the enchanting and sprawling campus of Emmanuel Episcopal Church. In contrast to a traditional haunted house, this Halloween activity is a non-scary, 30-minute guided adventure specifically created for the most imaginative tots, preschoolers, and early elementary age children. Best for ages 3-8
Learn more & buy tickets >>
Restoration / Planting Event
Saturday, October 22, 11 am – 1 pm
Wildwood Park, 7400 86th Ave SE
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.
Mercer Island Pumpkin Walk
Saturday, October 22, 6 – 8 pm
Pioneer Park, Island Crest Way & 68th Street
Cost: Free
Join in this NEW fun and festive non-scary pumpkin walk through Pioneer Park. The NW Perimeter of the trail will be glowing with a display of carved pumpkins for families of all ages to enjoy. The starting point will be on the Fire Station Trail (across from Starbucks), and Jack O’ Lanterns will line the trail adjacent to 84th Ave SE. To make this event a success , we need your help! Please consider adding your own carved pumpkin to the display! If you’d like to participate, please bring your carved pumpkin to the corner of 84th Ave SE and SE 68th St on October 22nd between 2 and 4 pm (we’ll provide candles). You do not need to bring a pumpkin in order to participate in the walk. Jack O’ Lanterns can be retrieved immediately following the event.
Learn more >>
Sing With Our Kids Fall Family Sing-Along
Sunday, October 23, 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
Bring the whole family for a sing-along celebration of nocturnal animals, fall harvest, and a touch of things that go “Boo!” Sing-along with Nancy Stewart and enjoy a story or two from Linda Ernst, Children’s Librarian. Event in partnership with Sing With Our Kids. All ages welcome.
