* Send AROUND TOWN items to the...

* Send AROUND TOWN items to the Daily Pilot, 330 W. Bay St., Costa

Mesa, CA 92627; by e-mail to [email protected]; by fax to (949)

646-4170; or by calling (949) 574-4298. Include the time, date and

location of the event, as well as a contact phone number.

TODAY

Judging will continue for Balboa Island’s annual holiday home

decorating contest. Judging will go on each day until 10 p.m. through

today. Some of the categories are traditional, most original and best

animated. Homes are all judged by volunteers. Information: Joanie

Cooper, (949) 675-4441, (949) 673-8700.

Costa Mesa High School will host a book fair fundraiser from 4 to

8 p.m. at Barnes & Noble Booksellers at Triangle Square, 1870-B

Harbor Blvd. A book fair voucher is required for a percentage of the

purchase to be given to Costa Mesa High School. Vouchers may be

obtained at the school’s front office or they may be received by fax.

Information: [email protected].

The ACLU of Orange County will host two speakers, Charlie Reed and

Steph Campbell, who will discuss issues related to the separation of

church and state, the faith-based initiative and how it affects the

1st Amendment, at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1259

Victoria, Costa Mesa. Information: (714) 299-4551.

WEDNESDAY

The Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center will host a

parent-and-child playtime event so children 3 to 4 years old can

learn how animals see, hear, taste, smell and feel from 10:30 to

11:15 a.m. at 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach. The cost of the

event is $5 per child. Information and registration: (949) 923-2295.

THURSDAY

The Young Executives of America will host Paul A. Motenko,

chairman of the board and co-CEO of Chicago Pizza & Brewery Inc.,

during its breakfast meeting at 7:30 a.m. at the Pacific Club, 4110

MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach. The cost is $16 for members and $25

for nonmembers. Information: (949) 721-8686.

SATURDAY

“Divorce: A New Beginning” is a workshop for men and women in the

process of divorcing or recently divorced from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

at 180 Newport Center Drive. The cost is $40. Information:

(949)644-6435.

The Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club will serve hamburgers,

cheeseburgers and hot dogs and the Orange County Model Engineers will

conduct free train rides from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Goat Hill

Junction train station at Fairview Park. Information: (949) 574-0337.

SUNDAY

Fashion Island will host its annual menorah lighting ceremony at 3

p.m. at Bloomingdale’s Courtyard. The event will be hosted by Rabbi

Reuven Mintz of the Chabad Jewish Center in Newport Beach.

Information: (949) 721-2000,

DEC. 22

The Orange County Market Place will hold its Holiday Market Place

from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Orange County Fairgrounds. Admission

will be free. There will be artisans’ and crafters’ corner, photos

with Santa Claus and seasonal entertainment.

The Environmental Nature Center will present a holiday craft

workshop in which participants can create their own special holiday

season gifts for family and friends using a variety of materials from

9 a.m. 3 p.m. The cost is $140 per student with a 10% discount for members. There will be a $25 materials fee. Information: (949)

645-8489.

The Winter Teen Camp sponsored by the city of Costa Mesa’s

Recreation Division will be from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 22 to Jan.

2 at the Downtown Recreation Center. The camp is for 7 to 9 graders.

The cost is $76 per student per week. There are only 13 spaces

available. Information: (714) 327-7560.

DEC. 23

The Environmental Nature Center will present a holiday craft

workshop in which participants can create their own special holiday

season gifts for family and friends using a variety of materials from

9 a.m. 3 p.m. The cost is $140 per student with a 10% discount for members. There will be a $25 materials fee. Information: (949)

645-8489.

DEC. 24

The Environmental Nature Center will present a holiday craft

workshop in which participants can create their own special holiday

season gifts for family and friends using a variety of materials from

9 a.m. 3 p.m. The cost is $140 per student with a 10% discount for members. There will be a $25 materials fee. Information: (949)

645-8489.

DEC. 26

The Environmental Nature Center will present a holiday craft

workshop in which participants can create their own special holiday

season gifts for family and friends using a variety of materials from

9 a.m. 3 p.m. The cost is $140 per student with a 10% discount for members. There will be a $25 materials fee. Information: (949)

645-8489.

DEC. 29

The Environmental Nature Center will present the Discovery Days

Workshop, in which participants can compete individually and in teams

in races, games and relays using inventions they’ve created to race

over the land and into the air from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dec. 29 to Jan.

2. The cost will be $140 per student with a 10% discount for members.

There will be a $15 materials fee. Information: (949) 645-8489.

The Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center will host an event

that will let visitors see and touch different kinds of insects and

to understand how the legs of different insects do different jobs to

help them survive from 11 a.m. to noon at 2301 University Drive,

Newport Beach. The cost will be $10 for each child 5 and older.

Information and reservations: (949) 923-2295.

JAN. 22

Hoag Hospital will host “Nutrition for the Lung Cancer Patient,” a

daytime lung cancer support group, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Hoag

Cancer Center, conference room A. The speaker will be Kathy Pham, a

Hoag Hospital nutritionist. Information: (949) 760-5542.

ONGOING

The Newport Center Toastmaster’s Club can help you improve your

public speaking skills or polish your business presentations. Members

come from a variety of professional disciplines and backgrounds. The

group meets every Monday morning from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at 610 Newport

Center Drive, Newport Beach. Validated parking is available in the

parking structure next to 24 Hour Fitness. Guests are welcome. For

more information, call (949) 721-5732.

Sole Comfort and Laura’s House have teamed up to help those in

need by collecting shoes from Dec. 1 through 31 at Sole Comfort,

Corona del Mar Plaza, 836 Avocado Ave. Laura’s House is committed to

ending the cycle of domestic violence and strengthening families.

Information: (949) 644-5939.

The City of Costa Mesa’s Recreation Division will have

registration for its 2004 basketball league for adult players from 8

a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 5 to 16 at the Downtown Recreation Center, 1860

Anaheim Ave. Information: (714) 327-7563.

The Newport Beach Public Library is holding its holiday food drive

through today. There will be Share Our Selves bins at the library for

donations of canned goods and non-perishables. Donations can be

dropped off during regular library hours: from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday through Thursday; from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday

and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Information: (949) 717-3801.

South Coast Plaza will have its Santa’s Village through Dec. 24 at

Carousel Court. Shoppers can make crafts at the Alpine Wood Shop,

Holiday Trimmings Shop and the Village Bake Shop. The cost varies per

craft. Information: (714) 435-2083, https://www.southcoastplaza.com.

South Coast Plaza will have its famous carousel transformed from

horses to Santa’s reindeer until Dec. 28. The cost for a ride is $1.

Information: (714) 435-2083, https://www.southcoastplaza.com.

South Coast Plaza will have Santa’s Express Train running through

Jan. 4 at the Crate & Barrel/Macy’s Home Store wing on Level 2.

Information: (714) 435-2083, https://www.southcoastplaza.com.

The Newport-Mesa cribbage club meets on the second and fourth

Wednesdays of every month from 6:45 to 9 p.m. at Oasis Senior Center,

800 Marguerite Ave. in Corona del Mar. The cost is $2. Information:

(949) 646-5293.

The ACLU of Orange County meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of

every month at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1259 Victoria St.

in Costa Mesa. Each month’s meeting will feature a different speaker

on issues relating to the Bill of Rights. Information: (714)

957-6107.

Macy’s in Costa Mesa invites Orange County nonprofit organizations

that provide services and programs to the HIV/AIDS community to apply

for participation in Macy’s South Coast Plaza’s Passport In Store

fund-raiser. This year’s event will be held on Oct. 4. To receive an

application to participate, call (714) 556-0611, ext. 4231.

Yoga classes will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to

12:40 p.m. for nine weeks at West Newport Community Center.

Registration is $54 for one class each week or $100 for two days a

week over nine weeks for Newport Beach residents. Others pay an

additional $5. For more information, call (949) 644-3151.

Costa Mesa’s Recreation Division offers three-hour theme birthday

parties for up to 20 guests at the Balearic Community Center weekdays

from 5 to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 4 to 7 p.m. and

Sundays from 4 to 7 p.m. Parties for children 5 to 12 will consist of

lunch/dinner, games, crafts, prizes, cake with ice cream and

supervision by staff. Parties cost $250 or $300. For more

information, call (714) 754-5158.

Five new wines will be served on Bayside Restaurant’s terrace

overlooking Newport Harbor every Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The

cost is $15 per person. For more information, call (949) 721-1222.

A variety of private, semi-private and group swim lessons will be

offered this summer at the Marian Bergeson Aquatic Center at Corona

del Mar High School. Options include one-on-one instruction on

Saturdays and a Monday through Thursday program for all ages and

levels. Call (949) 644-3151, or register in person at Newport Beach

Recreation and Senior Services at 3300 Newport Blvd.

Children, teens and adults can now register for summer

recreational boating classes offered through Newport Beach Recreation

Services. Call (949) 644-3151, or visit the Newport Beach Recreation

and Senior Services a 3300 Newport Blvd. for more information.

Professional and licensed soccer trainers with the All-England

Soccer Academy are available for one-on-one, small group and large

group training. For more information, call (949) 395-5103.

Jewish Family Service is sponsoring a teen support group for high

school students that meets Mondays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Tarbut

V’Torah Upper School in Costa Mesa. For information or to register,

call (714) 445-4950.

The First Page -- Fine Children’s Books, at 270 E. 17th St., No.

10 in Costa Mesa, offers free story time Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays

and Saturdays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4

to 5 p.m. For more information, call (949) 645-5437.

Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach offers wine tasting every

Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for $15 per person, featuring five

new wines each week. For more information, call (949) 721-1222.