* Send AROUND TOWN items to the...

* Send AROUND TOWN items to the Daily Pilot, 1375 Sunflower Ave.,

Costa Mesa, CA 92626; by e-mail to

[email protected]; by fax to (714) 966-4667; or by calling (714) 966-4625. Include the time, date and location of the

event, as well as a contact phone number.

UNTIL AUG. 27

Share Our Selves is seeking donations of new and gently used

backpacks and schools supplies to distribute to low-income families

before school starts. Information: (949) 642-3451.

UNTIL SEPT. 23

Registration for 2005 Youth Flag Football, for boys and girls ages

8 to 13. The program starts on Sept. 26 and ends on Dec. 3. Register

in person Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Balearic

Community Center, 1975 Balearic Drive, Costa Mesa. Information: (714)

754-5158.

UNTIL SEPT. 2

The Newport Beach City Arts Commission presents an art exhibition

by local artist Marilou Hogeboom at the Newport Beach City Hall

Gallery, 3300 Newport Blvd. Her exhibit features landscapes and

portraits created with acrylics and oils. Information: (949)

717-3870.

TODAY

“Feng Shui Your Way,” a free seminar and book-signing with Sandi

Miller, will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Mother’s Market, 225

17th St. East, Costa Mesa. Information: (949) 631-4741.

Join bat expert Stephanie Remington for a Back Bay Bat Walk from

6:45 to 8:45 p.m. Cost is $7 per person,and preregistration is

required. Information: (949) 923-2275.

This week’s Toddler Time topic is Mud and Muck. It will be held

from 9 to 9:45 a.m. for 2- to 3-year-olds and from 10:30 to 11:15

a.m. for 3- to 4-year-olds at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive

Center, 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach. Cost is $5 per child.

Preregistration is required. Information: (949) 923-2275.

AUG. 19

“Against The Grain: The Twin-Fin and Punk-Rock Collide” celebrates

the symbiosis of surfing and music in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

All proceeds will be donated to VH1’s Save the Music. The event will

be held from 6 to 11 p.m. at Hurley headquarters, 1945 Placentia

Ave., Costa Mesa. Free. Information: www.hurley.com.

AUG. 20 AND 21

Crossroads of the West Gun Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Orange County

Fairgrounds, buildings 10, 12 and 14, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.

Tickets are $10, $9 for seniors, children under 12 free. Information:

(714) 708-1543.

AUG. 20

The Friends of the Newport Beach Library are hosting a used book

sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Friends Meeting Room at the

library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach. Information: (949)

759-9667.

Meet owls from the Orange County Birds of Prey Center, 1 to 2:30

p.m. at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center, 2301 University

Drive, Newport Beach. $5 per participant ages 5 and up. Information:

(949) 923-2275. Preregistration is required.

Join bat expert Stephanie Remington for a Back Bay bat walk from

6:45 to 8:45 p.m. at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center,

2301 University Drive, Newport Beach. Cost is $7 per person ages 8

and up. Information: (949) 923-2275. Preregistration is required.

“Divorce: A New Beginning,” a workshop hosted by Maxine Cohen,

will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at 180 Newport Center Drive. $50.

Information: (949) 644-6435.

Girls and Boys Town of Southern California -- an organization

dedicated to the treatment and care of abused, abandoned and

neglected girls and boys -- hosts its second annual Spirit of Youth

Gala, featuring a silent auction, dinner, awards ceremony,

entertainment and dancing. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Four

Seasons Hotel, 690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach. Information:

(714) 532-2399, ext. 207.

The Musical Theatre Academy is having a Fundraising Gala at 7 p.m.

at Costa Mesa High School, 2650 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. A show is

being put on by former students who are now with Opera Pacific, Long

Beach Opera and L.A. Master Chorale or attending theater programs in

local universities. Information: (949) 955-3737.

The Parrot Education and Adoption Center will hold a seminar on

preventing and correcting your companion parrot’s behavior problems.

It will be held at 1 p.m. at the Balearic Center, 1975 Balearic

Drive, Costa Mesa. Information: o7www.peac.orgf7 or (619) 287-8200.

The Christian Outreach Center is doing its part to help prepare

children for going to back to school by giving away school backpacks

filled with school supplies. There is a maximum of two backpacks per

family and only 300 children will receive supplies. Distributions are

by appointment only at 3303 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa. Information:

(714) 641-0781.

AUG. 21

Sunday Fun-Day in the Park will feature live music, raffles, games

and activities. Food will be for sale to benefit local youth sports.

The event will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. at the corner of Bonita

Canyon Drive and Mesa View Drive. Information: (949) 644-3151.

Plein-Air Painting with Jean Marie will be held from 1 to 4 p.m.

Learn traditional plein-air techniques while painting the Back Bay.

At the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center, 2301 University

Drive, Newport Beach. Cost is $15 for children and $20 for adults,

all materials included. Information: (949) 923-2275. Pregistration is

required.

The Newport Harbor Republicans will host the 16th Annual Capitol

Update from 2 to 4 p.m., at the home of Debra and Barry Allen, 1021

White Sails Way, Corona del Mar. Invited guest speakers include

Senators Dick Ackerman and John Campbell and Assembly members Van

Tran, Chuck Devore and Todd

Spitzer.

Information: (949) 645-9127.

Historical impressionist Peter M. Small will play Franklin D.

Roosevelt at Temple Isaiah’s open house at 2 p.m., 2401 Irvine Ave.,

Newport Beach. Information: (949) 548-6900.

AUG. 23

The dedication ceremony for the Volcom Skate Park of Costa Mesa to

celebrate the 15,000 square foot skate park opening will be held from

4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the skate park, 900 Arlington, Costa Mesa. Free.

Information: (714) 754-5083.

AUG. 27

3-D pop artist Charles Fazzino will appear at Wentworth Gallery in

Newport Beach from 2 to 5 p.m, 271 Newport Center Drive, Fashion

Island, Newport Beach. Information: (949) 760-9554.

The UC Irvine Arboretum is hosting its annual summer bulb sale

from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the arboretum, south of Campus Drive and

Jamboree Road in Irvine. Admission is $2, children 12 and under free.

Information: (949) 824-5833.

The Halecrest and Hall of Fame Homeowners Associations are hosting

a chili cookoff from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Donegal

cul-de-sac, off Loren Lane in Costa Mesa.

Information: (949) 678-2078.