* 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 luis.pena@latimes.com; 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

Halecrest Park will be hosting a holiday boutique from 8 a.m. to

6 p.m. at 3107 Killybrook Lane, Costa Mesa. There will be handmade

crafts, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Cookie Lee Jewelry, Avon Cosmetics and

more. Child care will be available. Information: (714) 557-7234.

Martha’s Bookstore will have a champagne book signing for the

“Silent Screen Cookbook” by Joanabell Lewis from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at

308 1/2 Marine Ave., Balboa Island. Information: (949) 673-7185.

Judging will begin for Balboa Island’s annual holiday home

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

Dec. 16. 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.

A Christmas concert will be given at 5 and 7:30 p.m. at the

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Newport Beach Stake

Center, 2150 Bonita Canyon Road. The Beach City Bells and Val Jamora

and other soloists will be featured at the two performances.

Information: (949) 644-6405.

MONDAY

Judging will continue for Balboa Island’s annual holiday home

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

Dec. 16. 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.

Orange County Reads One Book, Year Two invites the public to

attend the second of two planning meetings, from 4 to 5:45 p.m., Dec.

15 at the Los Angeles Times Orange County community room, 1375

Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa. Enter through the security gate.

Information: (714) 846-8717, https://www.orangecounty reads.org.

TUESDAY

Judging will continue for Balboa Island’s annual holiday home

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

Dec. 16. 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. Information: nadine112390@mindspring.com.

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.