* Send AROUND TOWN items to...

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

Costa Mesa, CA 92627; 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. A complete listing is available at

www.dailypilot.com.

TODAY

An eight-week course providing an in-depth look at substance abuse

among athletes will be held Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to

1:10 p.m. at Orange Coast College. The course, which begins today,

will be listed as Health Education 138 in OCC’s schedule. $11 per

unit. The college is at 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. For

application or registration information, call (714) 432-5072.

The City of Costa Mesa Planning Division will hold an open house

from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The public is welcome. Learn about new resources

and meet city’s planning commissioners and staff. The division is on

the second floor of City Hall, at 77 Fair Drive. Free. (714)

754-5604.

WEDNESDAY

A mediation procedures workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30

p.m. at Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa. The workshop is sponsored

by the Area Board XI on Developmental Disabilities along with the

Institute of Administration Justice at McGeorge School of Law and

Whittier Law School. Free. The school is at 3333 Harbor Blvd. For

reservations, call (714) 558-4404.

The Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce will hold a business after

hours mixer at the Country Inn by Ayres from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free

for members, $10 for potential members. The Country Inn is at 325

Bristol St., Costa Mesa. For more information, call (714) 885-9090.

THURSDAY

The International Studies Program at UCI will host lecture on the

winners and losers of global climate change from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in

the university’s Social Science Plaza A, Room 1100. The lecture will

be presented by Ralph Cicerone, UCI chancellor, and Daniel G.

Aldrich, professor of Earth System Science. Free. For more

information, call (949) 824-8687.

FRIDAY

Project Cuddle will host its second annual Costume Gala at The

Wyndham Hotel in Costa Mesa. Dinner will begin at 8 p.m. preceded by

cocktails at 7 p.m. The event will be held in celebration of Project

Cuddle’s six years of saving babies from abandonment. $75 per person.

The hotel is at 3350 Avenue of the Arts. (714) 432-9681.

SATURDAY

The fifth annual Caring For Creation conference will be held from

8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Newport

Beach. The conference, hosed by the Orange County Interfaith

Coalition for the Environment, will include workshops on ecology and

spirituality, simplicity, empowering consumers and many more. An

interfaith panel with representatives from the Hindu, Islamic, Native

American and Sikh faith communities will be present. The church is at

2100 Mar Vista Drive. $30, $15 for students. For more information

call (714) 273-1476, e-mail ecofaith@ocice.org or visit

www.ocice.org.

The Center for Spiritual Discovery will host an outreach service

day to provide community assistance from 9 a.m. to noon at a local

shelter for abused children and at two convalescent homes. For more

information, on volunteering call (714) 754-7399.

Christ Lutheran Church and School will hold its ninth annual Fall

Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Members of the Costa Mesa Police

Department will be in attendance to show some of their equipment and

answer questions. The festival will consist of old-fashioned carnival

games, a boutique with unique and holiday gifts, home baked candies,

treats and dishes and live entertainment throughout the day.

Admittance is free and open to the public. The church is at 760

Victoria St., Costa Mesa. (949) 548-6866.

A program on how predators capture their prey and how prey avoid

being captured will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at The Peter and

Mary Muth Interpretive Center. The program is best suited for ages

six and up. Space is limited. The center is at 2301 University Drive,

Newport Beach. $3 per person. For reservations, call (714) 973-6829.

The 10th annual Top Dog Fashion Show will be held at 11 a.m. at

the Newport Dunes Resort. The categories will include of best formal

wear, best casual wear, best lingerie/pajamas, best swimwear and best

master/pet look-alike. Proceeds raised from the event will benefit

the Orange County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

and Companion Pet Retreat. Participants should check in at 9:30 a.m.

Registration is $8 prior to Oct. 25 and $12 on the day of the event,

parking is $8 per car. The resort is at 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport

Beach. (949) 729-DUNE or visit www.newportdunes.com.