Events

Pickering Barn Spring Craft Show: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 4; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 5. Features works by more than 85 crafters, garden decor and gourmet food. Admission: Free. Pickering Barn, 1730 10th Ave. N.W., Issaquah. 425-413-1004 or srroundy@comcast.net.

“Super Salmon Sleuths”: 9:30-11:30 a.m. April 14 and May 12. Science program for preschoolers features slide show, exploration station, art projects, story time and fish feeding. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Presented by Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery. Cost: $5 per child. Registration required. Watershed Science Center, 125 W. Sunset Way, Issaquah. 425-392-8025, celina@issaquahfish.org or www.issaquahfish.org.

2008 Issaquah Community Auction: 6 p.m. April 26. Features dinner, wine and auction. Presented by the Kiwanis Club of Issaquah and the Issaquah Kiwanis Foundation. Cost: $75. Proceeds benefit Eastside agencies helping children and families. Hilton Garden Inn, 1800 N.W. Gilman Blvd., Issaquah. 425-392-3598 or www.issaquah.kiwanis.org.

Providence Marianwood Spring Celebration Luncheon: 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m. May 8. Theme: “Grace Among Us.” Cost: $125 suggested donation. Proceeds benefit Providence Marionwood, a nonprofit Issaquah nursing home. Snoqualmie Ridge Golf Club, 36005 S.E. Ridge St., Snoqualmie. 425-391-2895.

Donations

African Bike Drive: Through May 17. Project is seeking adult and children’s bicycles to send to Ghana. All bikes and parts are welcome, regardless of condition. Before May 17: Call to arrange pick-up or drop-off. May 17: 8:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m., drop off bikes at Sammamish City Hall, 801 228th Ave. S.E. 425-868-8448 or 425-836-4431.

Issaquah Food Bank: Accepts online cash donations, non-perishable food and usable clothing items (especially children’s and infants clothing). Food and clothing donations can be dropped off at 179 First Ave. S.E. Online donations can be made at www.issaquahfoodbank.org. Client hours: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays; 5-7 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Volunteers are also needed. 425-392-4123 or 425-392-5836.

Performances

Ladies Musical Club: 3 p.m. April 13. Cost: Free. University House Issaquah, 22975 S.E. Black Nugget Road. 206-622-6882 or www.lmcseattle.org.

Disney’s “Aladdin Jr.:” April 17-20. Presented by Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE Ensemble. Cost: $10-$12. First Stage Theatre, 120 Front St. N., Issaquah. 425-257-8600 or www.villagetheatre.org.

Cirque du Soleil: “Corteo”: April 24-May 25. Theatrical circus presents “Corteo,” described as “a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown.” Cost: $38.50-$210. Marymoor Park, 6046 W. Lake Sammamish Parkway N.E., Redmond. www.cirquedusoleil.com.

“Little Women:” Through April 27. Cost: $20-$55. Village Theatre’s Francis J. Gaudette Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah. 425-392-2202, 866-688-8049 or www.villagetheatre.org.

Classes

Sammamish Transitions Lifestyle Weight Management overview: April 4. Free seminar. Call for location and details. 888-337-1871, ext. 3, or 4sharonlu@gmail.com.

Weight Loss Club/Competition: 11 a.m. Fridays, April 4-May 22. Includes individual coaching, weigh-ins, nutrition class and prizes. Cost: $29. Call for location, details. Also: 6 p.m. Mondays, April 7-May 26, web-inar class. 888-573-9777 or www.ShapeYourSuccess.net.

National College Funding Strategies workshop: 7 p.m. April 8. Learn why the GET and 529 plans may not be the best savings options, and what else is available. Woodinville Library, 17105 Avondale Road N.E. Also: 7 p.m. April 22 at Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way. 206-437-3708.

“Teen Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Suicide:” 7 p.m. April 9. Speaker: Brent Campbell, founder of “Real World.” Eastlake High School Theatre, 400 228th Ave. N.E., Sammamish. 425-868-0593.

“How to Help My Child Successfully Transition into Kindergarten:” 7-9 p.m. April 21 and 23. Open to parents of 2008-2009 kindergarteners in Issaquah School District. No children allowed, and no childcare provided. Locations: April 21 at Challenger Elementary School Multipurpose Room, 25200 S.E. Klahanie Blvd., Issaquah; April 23 at Maple Hills Elementary School Commons, 15644 204th Ave. S.E., Renton. skjakle@aol.com or rebeccajc@comcast.net.

“Busy Moms—Successful SuperMom: Myth or Reality?:” 9:30-11 a.m. April 24. Life coach will offer practical strategies for defining your own success, setting realistic expectations, and living your best life. Cost: Free. Registration required. Panera Bread meeting room, 17262 Redmond Way, Redmond. 425-533-4377.

“Three New Forestry Markets:” 6-9 p.m. April 30. Presented by Northwest Certified Forestry and King County’s Open Space Acquisitions Program. Registration required. Miller’s Community & Arts Center, 4597 Tolt Ave., Carnation. 360-316-9317.

Ikebana (Japanese floral art) class: 10 a.m.-noon Thursdays through May 1 and May 8-June 5. Cost: $76, plus materials. South Bellevue Community Center, 14509 S.E. Newport Way, Bellevue. 425-452-4240.

Libraries/Books

Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way. 425-392-5430 or www.kcls.org. Library activities include:

• Game On!: 3 p.m. April 4, 11 and 18. Teenagers can play video games at the library.

• Dewey and Sketch Road Show: 11 a.m. April 8. Join Dewey and Sketch on a fantastic adventure to teach Dewey how to read.

• Opera Preview—“I Puritani”: 7 p.m. April 17.

• Issaquah Alps Family Hike: 1 p.m. April 20. Three-hour hike led by experienced leaders and teachers. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Call for details, registration.

• Manga & Anime Mashup: 4 p.m. April 23.

• Issaquah Library Book Group: 7 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of the month. Topics include: April 23, “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life” by Barbara Kingsolver; May 28, “Blood of Flowers” by Anita Amirrezvani. Sponsored by the Friends of the Issaquah Library. Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way. 425-392-5430.

• Guitar Hero Tournament: 3:30 p.m. April 25. All ages welcome.

• Story times: Library offers various child, family and foreign language story times. Call for details.

• Talk Time: 1 p.m. Mondays; 6:30 p.m. Thursdays. No meetings April 7 or 17. Practice English in a fun, friendly environment.

Sammamish Library, 825 228th Ave. N.E. 425-836-8793 or www.kcls.org. Library activities include:

• Sammamish Book Discussion Group: 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month. Topics: April 16, “River Town, Two Years on the Yangtze” by Mark Helprin.

• Recess Monkey concert: Noon and 3 p.m. April 19. Cost: Free; tickets required.

• Story Slam: 6:30 p.m. April 23. Open to ages 6-17 to audition their original songs, stories and poems for a production at the Moore Theatre in Seattle. Auditioners have five minutes to present their works.

• Musik Nest: 7 p.m. April 24. Open to ages 2-3 with an adult to share songs, dance, and rhythm.

• Mother Daughter Book Club: 7 p.m. the last Wednesday of the month. Open to girls ages 9-12 and their mothers. Topics: April 30, “Julie of the Wolves” by Jean Craighead George.

• Talk Time: 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Adults can improve their English speaking and listening skills in this conversation group.

• Teen Book Lovers Club: 3:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month.

• Read Three, Get One Free: Students in middle-high school can read three books, write three short reviews, and get a new paperback book for free. Call for details.

• Story times: Library offers various story times for children and families. Call for details.

• Study Zone: 4-6 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays. Students in kindergarten-12th grade can drop in for homework help.

Organizations

Eastgate Expounders Toastmasters Club: Noon Tuesdays. The President’s Distinguished Club. Exponent Conference Room, 15375 S.E. 30th Place, Suite 250, Bellevue. www.eastgateexpounders.org.

Eastside Genealogical Society: 7 p.m. the second Thursday of the month. All are welcome to attend and learn how to search for family. Also: 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays and 1-3 p.m. Wednesdays, genealogy help offered. Bellevue Regional Library, 1111 110th Ave. N.E., Bellevue. 425-747-6926 or www.rootsweb.com/~wakcegs/.

Eastside Quilters: 10 a.m.-noon and 7-8:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month. St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 2650 148th Ave. S.E., Bellevue. www.eastsidequilters.com.

German Interest Group: 1-3 p.m. the first Friday of the month. Group is part of the Eastside Genealogical Society. Bellevue Crossroads Community Room, 15600 N.E. Eighth St., Bellevue. www.rootsweb.com/~wakcegs/.

Haiku Northwest: 7-9 p.m. the first Thursday of the month. Haiku sharing and discussion group. All are welcome. Contact coordinator via Web site to confirm location. Often (not always) at Bellevue Regional Library, 1111 110th Ave. N.E., Bellevue. 206-240-0871 or http://hometown.aol.com/WelchM/Haiku-Northwest.html.

Issaquah Amateur Radio Club: 7:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month. Open to anyone, licensed or not, who is interested in Ham Radio. Issaquah Valley Senior Citizens Center, 75 N.E. Creek Way, Issaquah.

Issaquah Guild of the Children’s Hospital: 11 a.m. the third Thursday of the month. New members welcome. 765 Rainier Blvd. N., Issaquah.

Issaquah Kiwanis: Noon Wednesdays. Gibson Hall, 105 Newport Way S.W. 425-392-4016 or www.issaquah.kiwanis.org.

Issaquah Rotary: 12:15 p.m. Tuesdays. Tibbetts Creek Manor, 750 17th Ave. N.W., Issaquah. www.issaquahrotary.org.

MOMS Club of Sammamish Plateau: 10 a.m. the third Friday of the month. Children welcome. Group also meets for playgroups, outings, moms’ night out, book club and craft nights. Pine Lake Covenant Church, 1715 228th Ave. S.E., Sammamish. 425-836-5015 or momsclubsammamish@yahoo.com.

Mothers and More Sammamish/Redmond chapter: 7 p.m. the first Thursday of the month. Members participate in scrap-booking, book club, movies out, Clutter Club, kids play groups and more. See Web site for details, locations. www.redmondmothersandmore.org.

Rotary Club of Sammamish: 7:30 a.m. Thursdays. Bellewood Retirement Apartments, 3710 Providence Point Drive S.E. 206-940-9098 or www.sammamishrotary.org.

Sammamish Area Woman’s Club: 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month. Club is a General Federation of Women’s Club Cascade Woman’s Club. Members participate in volunteer projects in the local area. New members welcome. Meetings in members’ homes; call for location. 425-898-8603.

Sammamish Chamber of Commerce: 7:30-9 a.m. April 8, joint Breakfast Networking with Redmond Chamber. Cost: $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Whole Foods of Redmond, 17991 N.E. Redmond Way. • 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m. April 17, Chamber Luncheon with speaker Sheriff Sue Rahr. Bake’s Place, 4135 Providence Point Drive S.E., Issaquah. www.sammamishchamber.org.

Sammamish Kiwanis Club: 7 a.m. Wednesdays. Breakfast is provided and all are welcome. Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church, 22818 S.E. Eighth St. 425-922-3861.

Toastmasters of Sammamish: 7:15-8:15 p.m. Tuesdays. Room 121 at Mary Queen of Peace Church, 1121 228th Ave. S.E., Sammamish. 425-894-3424, tmofsamm@yahoo.com or www.tmofsamm.org.

Writing Group: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Meet with other writers to discuss your work and sip tea. Tiger Mountain Tea Company, Gilman Village, 317 N.W. Gilman Blvd., Suite 47, Issaquah. 425-941-2559.

Public Meetings

Sammamish

City Council: Meets at the Council Chambers at City Hall, 801 228th Ave. S.E., Sammamish. 425-295-0511.

Parks and Recreation Commission: 6:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month. Council Chambers at City Hall, 801 228th Ave. S.E., Sammamish. 425-295-0580.

Planning Commission: Meets at the Council Chambers at City Hall, 801 228th Ave. S.E., Sammamish. 425-295-0525.

Reunions

West Seattle Indians Class of 1958 50th Year Reunion: June 6-8. All school reunion will be June 6 at the high school. Weekend also includes golf, dinner and farewell brunch at various locations. West Seattle High School, 3000 California Ave. S.W., Seattle. 253-931-1136.

Support

Alzheimer’s Association caregiver support group: 6-7:30 p.m. the second Thursday of the month. Free information and support group is open to care partners, family members and friends of individuals with dementia. Aegis of Issaquah, 780 N. Juniper St. 425-313-7364 or www.alzwa.org.

Angel Care Breast Cancer Foundation: Trained survivors offer free emotional support to the newly-diagnosed, enhancing emotional recovery while going through treatments. Will attend consultations, chemotherapy and radiation appointments and have volunteers in your community. 206-417-3484, 877-417-3484 (toll-free), www.angelcarefoundation.org or e-mail angelcare@angelcarefoundation.org.

Eastside Compassionate Friends: 7:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month. Group welcomes families who have experienced the death of a child of any age. Group has no religious affiliation. Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, 10021 N.E. 124th St., Kirkland. 425-325-0357.

Hearing Loss Association: 1 p.m. the second Saturday of the month. Lake Sammamish Foursquare Church, 14434 N.E. Eighth Street, Bellevue. 425-746-1074 or e-mail greymare25@aol.com.

Veterans

USS Maddox Destroyer Association Reunion: Sept. 3-7. For DD-168, DD-622 and DD-731. Reunion will take place in Oklahoma City, OK. For details, contact Cliff Gillespie at 337-616-8450 or cwgilles45@aol.com.

82nd Airborne Division Association reunions: Association is seeking veterans from the 82nd Airborne Division to join in conventions and other special events throughout the country. Call or e-mail for details: 937-898-5977 or srgabn@aol.com.

Volunteers

Angel Care Breast Cancer Foundation: Breast cancer survivors needed to provide support for others battling cancer. Must be one year past the end of treatments and have good interpersonal skills. 206-417-3484, 877-417-3484 (toll-free), www.angelcarefoundation.org or angelcare@angelcarefoundation.org.

Evergreen Hospice: Volunteers age 18 or older needed to help terminally ill patients and their families throughout King and Snohomish counties. Training provided. 425-899-1040 or www.evergreenhealthcare.org.

Family Law CASA of King County: Children’s needs can get lost in the dispute between separating parents. Do you want to advocate for such a child? Volunteer for Family Law CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) of King County. 206-748-9700 or www.familylawcasa.com.

Issaquah Chamber of Commerce: Chamber is seeking friendly volunteers to assist in providing a warm welcome and information to visitors at our Issaquah Visitor Information Center. Help is needed 1-5 p.m. Mondays and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. 425-392-7024 or tbarry@issaquahchamber.com.

Issaquah History Museums: Volunteers needed to welcome visitors four hours per month at the Train Depot and Gilman Town Hall. Training provided. 425-392-3500 or volunteer@issaquahhistory.org.

Overlake Hospital Medical Center’s Cancer Resource Center: Volunteers needed to greet resource center visitors, assist clients in using the center’s self-serve functions, answer phones and provide clerical support. Training provided. Application, interview and orientation required prior to training. 425-688-5369.

Red Cross Disaster Action Team: American Red Cross is seeking King County volunteers to respond to local disasters. Volunteers must be on-call one week out of six, and will receive free training. 206-726-3566 or www.seattleredcross.org.

Stitches from the Heart: Volunteers needed to knit, crochet or quilt blankets, sweaters, hats and booties for babies in need. Items go to hospitals across the country. Patterns available. Donations of yarn or money also appreciated. Call for details. 866-472-6903, stitchfromheart@aol.com or www.StitchesFromTheHeart.org.

Trail work: April 19 and 22. Volunteers needed to help build the Grand Ridge Trail (April 19) and rebuild the Little Si Trail (April 22). Registration required; contact Issaquah REI. 425-313-1660, ext. 203, or tasars@rei.com.