* 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

The 2002 Holiday Snow Hill Day will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at

Balearic Community Center in Costa Mesa. The event, presented by the

City of Costa Mesa Recreation Division, is being co-sponsored by

Torelli Realty Company, which will donate 55 tons of blown ice to

create five snow runs and a play area for toddlers. The event will

also have hayrides, arts and crafts, caroling and a visit from Santa.

The center is at 1975 Balearic Drive. For more information, call

(714) 754-5158.

Sherman Library and Gardens will host a class allowing children a

chance to decorate a living tree planted in a terra-cotta pot to take

home at 9 a.m. All materials will be supplied. Registration for

parent and one child is $45, $20 for each additional child.

Pre-registration required. Sherman Library is at 2647 E. Coast

Highway, Corona del Mar. (949) 673-2261.

The Naturalists and Friends of Newport Bay will host a guided

walking tour of the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve from 9 to

10:15 a.m. The tours, which will take about two hours to complete,

will provide guests with information about the bay’s history and its

importance in our lives. The tours will begin at the corner of East

Bluff Drive and Back Bay Road. Free. (949) 786-8878.

An all-you-can-eat Christmas lunch will be held from 11 a.m. to 2

p.m. at Piecemakers in Costa Mesa. A variety of homemade dishes will

be provided among the Christmas trees. $5 per person. Piecemakers is

at 1720 Adams Ave. For more information, call (714) 641-3112.

An inaugural Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held at 5

p.m. at Triangle Square in Costa Mesa. Special guest Mayor Karen

Robinson is scheduled to attend the ceremony, which will have live

entertainment throughout the day. Triangle Square is at 1870 Harbor

Blvd., Costa Mesa. Free. For more information, call (213) 534-3298.

SUNDAY

“A Christmas Overture,” a concert celebrating the Christmas

season, will be held at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the Latter-day Saints

Church in Newport Beach. The concert, which is sponsored by The

Bonita Canyon Concert Series, will have a 50-voice choir, carolers,

the Beach City Hand Bell Choir and a 16-piece symphonic ensemble. The

church is at 2150 Bonita Canyon Drive. Free. For more information,

call (949) 642-1123.

MONDAY

A writer’s workshop will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Vision

& Dreams in Costa Mesa. The workshop will focus on how write a book

and get it published. Pre-registration required. Vision & Dreams is

at 2482 Newport Blvd. The fee is $49 and includes a workbook. For

more information, call (888) 522-4628.

Hornblower Cruises & Events will offer a holiday preview cruise

from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. today and Tuesday. The cruise will consist of

a three-course meal, on-board entertainment and water views of the

seasonally decorated shorelines. Tickets are $64 for adults and $32

for children ages 3 to 11. Reservations required. For more

information, call (949) 646-0155 or visit www.hornblower.com.

The Costa Mesa Senior Center will host a Christmas program from 11

a.m. to noon. The program will include a performance by the Page

School Choir. The event will be followed by lunch. Reservation for

lunch only are necessary. The center is at 695 W. 19th St. For more

information, call (949) 645-2356.

TUESDAY

The Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce will host its Christmas

networking luncheon at 11:30 a.m. today at the Five Crowns

Restaurant. Reservations required. The restaurant is at 3801 E. Coast

Highway. For reservations, call (949) 673-4050.

WEDNESDAY

Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award- winning author Wendy Wasserstein

will be at the Newport Beach Public Library from 7 to 9 p.m. to give

a presentation chronicling the challenges facing American women.

Wasserstein will also be available to autograph copies of her latest

book, “Shiksa Goddess (Or How I Spent My Forties).” The library is at

1000 Avocado Ave. The event, which is sponsored by Fletcher Jones

Motorcars, is $36 and includes a complimentary copy of the book. For

more information, call (949) 717-3890.

The 94th annual Christmas Boat Parade will be held from 6:30 to 9

p.m. today through Dec. 22 along the Newport Harbor. More than 100

boats will be decorated for the holidays for the two-and-a-half-hour

parade. Free for spectators, $25 for boat participants. For more

information, visit www.christmasboatparade.com.

THURSDAY

The Alzheimer’s Assn. of Orange County will host a support group

for caregivers from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Silverado Senior

Living-Newport Mesa, 350 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa. Free. (949)

641-2212.

DEC. 21

Maxine B. Cohen will host a workshop for men and women going

through a divorce from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The workshop will be

held at 180 Newport Center Drive. $40. For more information, call

(949) 644-6435.

DEC. 23

The Holiday Market Place, also known as the Orange County Market

Place, at the Orange County Fairgrounds will offer free admission

today. Santa will be around for photos. The Market Place at the

Orange County Fairgrounds is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

DEC. 31

The Oasis Senior Center will host a Monte Carlo Casino Night from

6 to 10 p.m. at the center to ring in the new year. A light meal and

wine will be provided. The center is at 800 Marguerite Ave. Tickets

are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. For more information, call (949)

644-3244.

ONGOING

The Newport Beach Newcomers Club holds a general meeting on the

third Wednesday of every month. The organization is open to all

Newport Beach residents who have lived in the area fewer than five

years. For more information, call (949) 645-9922, or visit

newcomers-newportbeach.org.

Interfaith couples with one Jewish partner are invited to

participate in a discussion group at the Jewish Family Service of

Orange County office. The group is geared toward dealing with issues

between interfaith couples, such as raising children, observing

holidays, symbols in the home and relationships with extended

families. The cost for three sessions is $45 per couple.

Preregistration is required. Call to schedule date and time. The

office is at 250 E. Baker St., Suite G, Costa Mesa. (714) 445-4950.

Women 50 and older can join a discussion group coordinated by

Jewish Family Services to address issues such as anxiety, depression,

relationships, loneliness and family. The group meets from 10 to

11:30 a.m. Mondays at the agency offices, 250 E. Baker St., Suite G,

Costa Mesa. Preregistration required. (714) 445-4950.

Friends of the Newport Beach Public Library Used Book Store are

asking for patrons to donate books to replenish the dwindling stock.

Books may be left at any of the three branch libraries -- Balboa,

Mariners, or Corona del Mar -- or in the book closet next to the

Friends Book Store, at 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach. All

hardcover and paperback donations, with the exception of magazines

and law books, will be accepted and are tax deductible. (949)

759-9667.

The Braille Institute offers free computer classes to people with

fading vision who have difficulty seeing the computer screen. The

Oasis Center at 800 Marguerite Ave., Corona del Mar, offers six

sessions. Call to sign up for classes. (714) 821-5000.

A spiritual care class meets at 7:15 p.m. Wednesdays at 3400

Irvine Ave., Suite 114, Newport Beach. Call to reserve a seat. (949)

263-1462.

The Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce hosts networking luncheon

meetings Wednesdays from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Costa Mesa

Country Club. The cost is $13. The club is at 1701 Golf Course Drive,

Costa Mesa. (714) 885-9090.

A brain tumor support group meets the first and third Thursdays of

each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hoag Cancer Center at Hoag

Hospital, 1 Hoag Drive, Newport Beach. Free. Registration not

required. The group is designed to help patients and their families

understand and cope with the illness. (949) 574-6232.

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church hosts a mental illness support

group from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sundays in Dierenfield Hall C at 600 St.

Andrews Road, Newport Beach. (949) 574-2236.

The Jewish Family Service of Orange County sponsors a discussion

group for adult children and their parents from 6 to 7 p.m. two

Tuesdays a month at the Jewish Family Service office at 250 E. Baker

St., Suite G, Costa Mesa. $10 per person, per session.

Preregistration required. (714) 445-4950.

The Jewish Family Service of Orange County has a weekly parenting

support group. Parents learn strategies for successful parenting and

for dealing with the feelings and behavior of their children. The

group meets from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays at the Jewish Family

Service office at 250 E. Baker St., Suite G, Costa Mesa. The group

will cover managing anger, anxiety and peer pressure children

experience. Preregistration required. (714) 445-4950.

The Costa Mesa Senior Center has ballroom dancing with live music

from the Costa Mesa Music Makers from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. every Tuesday night at 695 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa. $4. (949) 548-3884.

Jewish Family Service of Orange County sponsors an ongoing healing

support group for the chronically ill. The purpose is to provide

participants with emotional and spiritual support to manage illness

and its consequences. The group meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays at the

Jewish Family Service office at 250 E. Baker St., Costa Mesa.

Attendance is free, but registration is required. (714) 445-4950.

Scrabble Club No. 350 meets from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursdays at Borders

Books, Music & Cafe at South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St. in Costa

Mesa. $3. New players are welcome. (949) 206-9822.

The Coin and Stamp Club meets from 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays at the

Oasis Senior Center. New members interested in trading, buying and

selling stamps and coins are being sought to join these informal

meetings. There are no fees required. (949) 644-3244.

Jewish Family Service offers ongoing bereavement support groups

for adults at all stages of loss. Group members share experiences,

hear how others deal with grief, receive support and learn ways to

cope with sadness and loss. One group meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at

Beth Jacob in Irvine. The second group meets at 10 a.m. Tuesdays at

Temple Judea in Laguna Hills. The third group meets at 1 p.m.

Thursdays at the Ezra Center in Anaheim. Free, but advance

registration is required. (714) 445-4950.

Jewish Family Service of Orange County provides a support and

discussion group for persons recovering from childhood or teenage

sexual abuse. The group meets from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays at 250 E.

Baker St., Costa Mesa. Advance registration is required. (714)

445-4950.

Two-hour kayak tours with a trained naturalist guide are offered

at 10 a.m. Sundays from the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort. The

resort is at 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach. $20, or $10 for

California Wildlife Campaign and Newport Bay Naturalists and Friends

members. (800) 585-0747.

A yoga and dance class is held from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. Tuesdays at

the Center for Spiritual Discovery, 2850 Mesa Verde Drive East, Suite

111, Costa Mesa. (714) 754-7399.

The Rev. Connie Ryckman leads

a discussion group using the book “Conversations with God” from

noon to 1 p.m. Tuesdays at the Center for Spiritual Discovery, 2850

Mesa Verde Drive East, Suite 111, Costa Mesa. Bring a lunch. (714)

754-7399.

Marshall’s Tae Kwon Do in Costa Mesa offers free self-defense

classes to airline pilots and flight attendants. Classes are taught

by three-time U.S. National Champion Tom Marshall. Marshall’s is at

333 E. 17th St., Suite 13, Costa Mesa. (949) 574-0122.

A Dealing with Divorce support group is offered by Jewish Family

Service of Orange County. The group is led by an experienced

counselor and meets at 6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Jewish Federation

campus, 250 E. Baker St., Suite G, Costa Mesa. (714) 445-4950.

The Sea Scouts’ ship Del Mar

711 of Orange County offers a program for boys and young men ages

14 to 18 interested in sailing, seamanship, piloting, navigation and

cruising. Meetings are from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at the Sea Scouts

Sea Base, 1931 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach. (949) 642-6301 or

(949) 551-8591.

Oasis Senior Center offers ongoing assistance, counseling and

referral services for seniors. (949) 644-3244.

The Costa Mesa Senior Citizen Square and Round Dance Club seeks

experienced dancers to join its group from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursdays at

the Costa Mesa Senior Center, 19th Street and Pomona Avenue, Costa

Mesa. (714) 545-5669.

Arthritis Foundation instructor Hillary Stone leads an exercise

class at 11 a.m. Thursdays at the Jewish Senior Center, 250 E. Baker

St., Costa Mesa. (714) 513-5641.

The Newport Beach Newcomers Club meets at 10 a.m. the third

Wednesday of each month, except July and December, at varied

locations. The group, a social organization for people who have lived

in Newport Beach for fewer than five years, meets for events,

activities and field trips. (949) 645-9922.

The Thursday Morning Women’s Club, a 40-year-old friendship club,

is seeking new members. The club, which includes golf, bridge,

walking and gourmet sections, meets at 11 a.m. on the second Thursday

of every month at the Radisson Hotel in Newport Beach. The luncheon

is $23 and includes entertainment. The hotel is at 4545 MacArthur

Blvd. (714) 842-5863.

The Newport Beach Walking

Club meets at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and at 7

p.m. Sunday. Walkers should meet at the intersection of Hospital Road

and Superior Avenue. Free. (949) 650-1332.

The American Legion meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of every

month. The meetings, which deal with veteran issues and community

service, will be held at the Costa Mesa Air National Guard. The

national guard is at 2651 Newport Blvd. Free. Mary Holler, (714)

546-2777; or Bill Mimiaga, (949) 650-0894.

Nightly meetings for those

who want to overcome nicotine addiction are offered in Costa Mesa

and Newport Beach. (714) 774-9106 or (800) 642-0666.

The Newport Sports

Museum, a nonprofit organization, operates a free museum at 100

Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach. The museum, which has one of the

world’s largest collections of sports memorabilia, is open from 9

a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. (949)

721-9333 or www.newportsports-

museum.org.

The Estancia High School

Parent Teacher Student Assn. hosts a monthly paper drive every

Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon in the school’s northwest parking lot,

on the corner of Estancia North and Placentia. Newspapers that are

bound, loose or bagged are accepted. Cardboard and bound material

such as phone books and thick magazines are not. Also, bins are

available for drop off every day of the month. All funds raised go to

the association. Free. The school is at 2323 Placentia Ave., Costa

Mesa. (949) 515-6500.

Oasis Senior Center offers a

daily telephone contact program for seniors who have a limited

local support system. They also offer ongoing computer classes that

teach the basics of Word, Quicken, Print Shop and Internet usage.

(949) 644-3244.

The Costa Mesa

Communicators Toastmasters Club meets from noon to 1 p.m.

Wednesdays at the Orange County Department of Education, 200 Kalmus

Drive, Costa Mesa. Meetings are open to anyone who wants to improve

his or her public speaking skills. (714) 444-8783.