* Send AROUND TOWN items to the...

* 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

“Does It Take Rocket Science to Create a Good Reader?” is the

topic of a lecture to be given by UC Irvine Professor Virginia Mann

at 6 p.m. in the university club, library room at UC Irvine. The cost

is $30, and reservations are required. For more information, call

(949) 824-2511.

The Model United Nations Club of Orange Coast College will host

its second annual fund-raising dinner and silent auction from 5:30 to

9 p.m. in the college’s Student Center. The club is designed to

educate students in areas of international relations and diplomacy.

To buy tickets in advance for $10, call (714) 432-0202, ext. 26.

Tickets are $12 at the door.

Karen Cushman’s “The Ballad of Lucy Whipple” will launch a

discussion about growth and change at the Mother-Daughter Book Club,

at 7 p.m. at the Newport Beach Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave.,

Newport Beach. For more information, call 949-717-3816.

FRIDAY

Talented children ages 6 through 18 will perform at the annual

“Search for Talent” competition presented by the Exchange Club of

Newport Harbor. The show will begin at 6:30 p.m. For information and

entry blanks, call (949) 673-8701.

SATURDAY

A “How to Start Your Own Business” seminar, sponsored by the

Service Corps of Retired Executives, will take place from 8:30 a.m.

to 4 p.m. at National University, 3390 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa. The

cost is $40, $35 if preregistered. For more information, call (714)

550-7369.

Orange County Artists interested in exhibiting artwork in the

Spring 2003 Orange County Artist Juried Exhibition can bring work in

for judging to the Oasis Senior Center, 800 Marguerite Ave., Corona

Del Mar between 9 and 10 a.m. For more information, call (949)

717-3870.

“Divorce: A New Beginning,” a workshop for men and women divorced

or getting divorced, is held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 180

Newport Center Drive. Cost is $40. For more information, call

644-6435.

“Building a Better Future,” held by the Newport Harbor Navigators,

will benefit Newport Harbor High School. The benefit will be held at

the Grand Newport Plaza in the Turnip Rose Ballroom, 1901 Newport

Blvd., Costa Mesa. Tickets cost $100. For information and an

invitation, call (949) 515-6365.

SUNDAY

Classical music aficionados are invited to enjoy “Three Centuries

of Piano Music,” at 3 p.m. at the Newport Beach Central Library.

Pianist Michael Sellers will present the free program, which will

include works by Mozart, Chopin, Poulenc, Debussy and Samuel Barber.

The Newport Beach Central Library is at 1000 Avocado Avenue. For more

information, call (949) 717-3816 or visit www.newportbeachlibrary.org.

“What is Memory Loss” and “Creating a Partnership with your

Physician” are free workshops sponsored by the Alzeimer’s Assn. The

first workshop will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and the

second from 12:30 to 2 p.m., at the Presbyterian Church of the

Convent, 2850 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. To make reservations, call

(714) 545-3727.

Concert artist, singer and guitarist Steve Walters is known as the

“Singing Buddha.” He combines deep spiritual insight, humor and his

voice at 7 p.m. at the Center for Spiritual Discovery, 2850 Mesa

Verde Drive East, Suite 111, Costa Mesa. Tickets cost $10. For more

information, call (714)754-7399.

MONDAY

A Great Decisions discussion of “The Global Struggle for Women’s

Rights” is the last in an eight-week series on U.S. foreign policy

topics. The discussion will be led by Karen Speros from 7 to 8:30

p.m. at St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 2100 Mar Vista, Newport Beach.

For more information, call (949) 760-1691.

Steven Cojocaru reads from and signs “Red Carpet Diaries.”

Cojocaru, fashion correspondent for the “Today Show” and People

Magazine’s style editor, reveals the dirt beneath the red carpet of

today’s celebrities. Event starts at 6 p.m. at Book Soup South Coast

Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Suite 2400, Costa Mesa. For more

information, call (714) 689-2665.

“Grab a Falafel in Jerusalem” as part of an Israeli-style Purim

celebration courtesy of the Chabad Jewish Center in Newport Beach at

6:30 p.m. It will be held in the Radisson Hotel at 4545 MacArthur

Blvd.. The cost is $15 per adult, $10 per child. For reservations,

call (949) 721-9800.

TUESDAY

The Newport Harbor Orchid Society is hosting an orchid plant

auction from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at the Neighborhood Community Center,

1845 Park Ave., Costa Mesa. Free. For more information, call (949)

642-4148.

A free seminar called “The Role of Supplements in Fighting Cancer”

will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Mother’s Market, 225 East 17th

St., Costa Mesa. For reservations, call (800) 595-MOMS.

A “Making the Right Financial Decisions” workshop, sponsored by

the Service Corps of Retired Executives, will take place from 9 a.m.

to noon at National University, 3390 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa. The

cost is $40, $35 if preregistered. For more information, call (714)

550-7369.

The Surfrider Foundation Newport Beach Chapter is holding a public

meeting at 7 p.m. at the Oasis Center, 800 Marguerite Ave., Corona

Del Mar. Assistant city Manager Dave Kiff and Newport Harbor Master

Tom Rossmiller will discuss the clean water quality for Newport Beach

and the harbor.

WEDNESDAY

“Nanoscience, Nanotechnology, Nanofiction,” presented by assistant

professor of physics and astronomy Phil Collins at UC Irvine, will

cover the realities behind the nanotechnology revolution. Scheduled

at 7:30 a.m. at the University Club on campus, call (949) 824-4613

for more information.

Newport Beach Newcomers’ general meeting will take place at 11

a.m. at the Arches Restaurant. The club is open to all women who have

lived in the area less than 5 years. To learn more about us, call 949

645-9922.

“Tax Free College Savings -- A review of “529 Plans and Your Other

Options” is a free seminar that provides a complimentary dinner at

6:30 p.m. at the Newport Gateway Center in Irvine. Address is 19800

MacArthur Blvd. For reservations call Celeste at 1-800-876-0353.

A free seminar called “Feng Shui for a Healing Home” will be held

from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Mother’s Market, 225 East 17th St., Costa

Mesa. For reservations, call (800) 595-MOMS.

The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce will host its Newport Beach

Marine Networking and Speaker Forum from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Newport

Harbor Nautical Museum, 151 Pacific Coast Highway, Newport Beach.

Free. For more information, call (949) 729-4400.