* 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

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.orangecountyreads. 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. A book fair voucher is required for a percentage of the

purchase to be given to Costa Mesa High School. Vouchers may be

obtained at the school’s front office or they may be received by fax.

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.

SATURDAY

“Divorce: A New Beginning” is a workshop for men and women in the

process of divorcing or recently divorced from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

at 180 Newport Center Drive. The cost is $40. Information:

(949)644-6435.

The Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club will serve hamburgers,

cheeseburgers and hot dogs and the Orange County Model Engineers will

conduct free train rides from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Goat Hill

Junction train station at Fairview Park. Information: (949) 574-0337.

SUNDAY

Fashion Island will host its annual menorah lighting ceremony at 3

p.m. at Bloomingdale’s Courtyard. The event will be hosted by Rabbi

Reuven Mintz of the Chabad Jewish Center in Newport Beach.

Information: (949) 721-2000,

DEC. 22

The Orange County Market Place will hold its Holiday Market Place

from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Orange County Fairgrounds. Admission

will be free. There will be artisans’ and crafters’ corner, photos

with Santa Claus and seasonal entertainment.