* 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.

WEDNESDAY

Orange County for Dean, a political organization supporting the

presidential campaign of Democrat Howard Dean, will, host a Meetup at

7 p.m. at Karl Strauss Brewery, 901A South Coast Drive, Costa Mesa.

Newport Beach Senior Services and Recreation will present a new

series of drawing and painting workshops by artist and lecturer Mimi

Sharon Stein for beginners through advance students in mixed-media

from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning today and lasting eight weeks in

the Jorgensen Center at 2005 Dover Drive, The cost is $66.

Information: (949) 644-3151.

THURSDAY

Book Soup South Coast Plaza will present mystery writer Jerrilyn

Farmer, author of “Perfect Sax,” in conversation with mystery writer

Nathan Walpow at 4 p.m. at 3333 Bristol St., Suite 2400. Information:

(714) 689-2665, https://www.booksoup.com.

FRIDAY

The Environmental Nature Center will present a Full Moon Walk from

6:30 to 8 p.m. at the center, 1601 16th St., Newport Beach. The cost

is $2 for adults and $1 for children. Information: (949) 645-8489.

SATURDAY

There will be a Computer Fair at the Orange County Fair &

Exposition Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 10 and 11 in Building

No. 10 at the Orange County Fair & Exposition Center. The cost is $5

for adults; children 10 and younger get in for free. Information:

(800) 800-5600. https://www.ocfair.com.

JAN. 12

The UC Irvine Center for Unconventional Security Affairs will

host a forum, “Are Schools as Safe as They Should Be,” with keynote

speakers Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona and Orange County

Superintendent of Schools William M. Habermehl from 8:30 to 11:30

a.m. at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center, 100 Academy Way, Irvine.

Information and reservations: (949) 824-9670, cusa@uci.edu.

JAN. 14

Sherman Library & Gardens will present “Floral Design Using

Tropicals,” a floral design class, at 9 a.m. at 2647 East Coast

Highway, Corona del Mar. The cost is $45 and preregistration is

required. Information: (949) 673- 2261. https://www.slgardens.org.

JAN. 15

Laura Schlessinger will sign her new book “The Proper Care and

Feeding of Husbands” at 7:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble Booksellers,

Metro Pointe, 901B South Coast Drive. Information (714)444-0226.

JAN. 16

A Home Remodeling and Decorating Show will be held starting today

in buildings No. 10 and 12 and in the Parade of Products at Orange

County Fair & Exposition Center. The show will be open from noon to 8

p.m. today. The cost is $5.75 for adults, $3 for seniors and free for

children younger than 12. Information: (818) 557-2950.

JAN. 17

The TEX*US Guitar Show will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in building

No. 14 at the Orange County Fair & Exposition Center. The cost is $10

for adults, children 12 years old and under are free. Information:

(918) 288-2222.

A Home Remodeling and Decorating Show will be held in buildings

No. 10 and 12 and in the Parade of Products at Orange County Fair &

Exposition Center. The show will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

today. The cost is $5.75 for adults, $3 for seniors (55+) $3 and free

for children younger than under 12 are free. Information: (818)

557-2950.

The West Coast Reptile Show will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in

building No. 17 at the Orange County Fair & Exposition Center. The

cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and younger.

Information: (714) 826-6600, https://www.radicalreptiles.com.

The Parrot Education and Adoption Center, a nonprofit

organization, will have a seminar on parrot nutrition from 1 to 2:30

p.m. at the Balearic Community Center, 1975 Balearic Drive, Costa

Mesa. Information: (949) 631-3606, https://www.peac.org.

JAN. 18

A Home Remodeling and Decorating Show will be held in buildings

No. 10 and 12 and in the Parade of Products at Orange County Fair &

Exposition Center. The show will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

today. The cost is $5.75 for adults, $3 for seniors and free for

children younger than 12. Information: (818) 557-2950.

The West Coast Reptile Show will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in

building No. 17 at the Orange County Fair & Exposition Center. The

cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and younger.

Information: (714) 826-6600, https://www.radicalreptiles.com.

The School of American Ballet will host auditions for intermediate

to advanced ballet dancers from 12 to 18 years old for its summer

course. The auditions will be from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at the Jimmie DeFoe

Dance Center, 151 Kalmus, Suite G3, Costa Mesa. The application fee

is $20. Girls must bring pointe shoes, and all applicants must

provide nine-digit Social Security numbers.

Whittier Law School professor Michael Bazyler will discuss and

sign his new book “Holocaust Justice” at 7 p.m. at Borders Books

Music and Cafe in Costa Mesa, 1890 Newport Blvd.

JAN. 22

Hoag Hospital will host “Nutrition for the Lung Cancer Patient,” a

daytime lung cancer support group, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Hoag

Cancer Center, conference room A. The speaker will be Kathy Pham, a

Hoag Hospital nutritionist. Information: (949) 760-5542.

The Friends For Planned Parenthood luncheon, at 11:30 a.m. at

Sherman Library & Gardens, will focus on sex education in the Santa

Ana Unified School District. Teen activists from Campfire USA and

Girls Inc. will discuss a curriculum that only teaches abstinence

until marriage. Sherman Library & Gardens is at 2647 E. Coast

Highway. Information: (714) 633-6373, ext. 121.

FEB. 3

Hoag Hospital will present a community education class on “Heart

Attack: Signals and Actions” by Dr. Lee Carter at 6 p.m. at the Hoag

Hospital Conference Center in Newport Beach. Information and

reservations: (800) 514-4624, https://www.hoaghospital.org.

FEB. 5

Hoag Hospital will present a community education class on

“Stroke: The Warning Signs” by Dr. Subbarao Myla at 6 p.m. at the

Hoag Hospital Conference Center in Newport Beach. Information and

reservations: (800) 514-4624, https://www.hoaghospital.org.

FEB. 10

Hoag Hospital will present a community education class on “What

is Arrhythmia” by Dr. Brian Chesnie at 6 p.m. at the Hoag Hospital

Conference Center in Newport Beach. Information and reservations:

(800) 514-4624, https://www.hoaghospital.org.

FEB. 11

Hoag Hospital will present a community education class on

“Drug-Elting Stent: Setting a New Standard” by Dr. Richard Haskell at

6 p.m. at the Hoag Hospital Conference Center in Newport Beach.

Information and reservations: (800) 514-4624,

https://www.hoaghospital.org.

FEB. 17

Hoag Hospital will present a community education class on

“Setting the Pace: The Latest Pacemakers and Devices” by Dr. Neala

Hunter at 6 p.m. at the Hoag Hospital Conference Center in Newport

Beach. Information and reservations: (800) 514-4624,

https://www.hoaghospital.org.

Book Soup South Coast Plaza will start its new book club “We Want

Fiction” at 7 p.m. at 3333 Bristol St., Suite 2400. The first book

for discussion will be “The Great Fire” by Shirley Hazzard.

Information and reservations: (714) 689-2665.

FEB. 21

The Parrot Education and Adoption Center, a nonprofit

organization, will have a seminar on feather-destructive behavior

from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Balearic Community Center, 1975 Balearic

Drive, Costa Mesa. Information: (949) 631-3606, https://www.peac.org.

FEB. 24

Hoag Hospital will present a community education class on “The

New Guidelines on Hypertension” by Dr. Richard Blankenbaker at the

Hoag Hospital Conference Center in Newport Beach. Information and

reservations: (800) 514-4624, https://www.hoaghospital.org.

FEB. 25

Hoag Hospital will present a community education class on “Heart

Healthy Cooking” by Hoag chef Richard Reilly at 6 p.m. at the Hoag

Hospital Conference Center in Newport Beach. Information and

reservations: (800) 514-4624, https://www.hoaghospital.org.

FEB. 26

Hoag Hospital will present a community education class on

“Innovations in Cardiac Surgery” by Dr. Douglas Zusman at the Hoag

Hospital Conference Center in Newport Beach. Information and

reservations: (800) 514-4624, https://www.hoaghospital.org.

FEB. 28

Hoag Hospital will present a community education class on “Blood

Pressure and Cholesterol Screening” from 7 to 11 a.m. at the Hoag

Hospital Conference Center in Newport Beach. The cost is $25.

Information and reservations: (800) 514-4624,

https://www.hoaghospital.org.

ONGOING

The Newport Center Toastmaster’s Club can help you improve your

public speaking skills or polish your business presentations. Members

come from a variety of professional disciplines and backgrounds. The

group meets every Monday morning from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at 610 Newport

Center Drive, Newport Beach. Validated parking is available in the

parking structure next to 24 Hour Fitness. Guests are welcome.

Information: (949) 721-5732.

The City of Costa Mesa’s Recreation Division will have

registration for its 2004 basketball league for adult players from 8

a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 5 to 16 at the Downtown Recreation Center, 1860

Anaheim Ave. Information: (714) 327-7563.

South Coast Plaza will have Santa’s Express Train running through

Jan. 4 at the Crate & Barrel/Macy’s Home Store wing on Level 2.

Information: (714) 435-2083, https://www.southcoast plaza.com.

The Newport-Mesa cribbage club meets on the second and fourth

Wednesdays of every month from 6:45 to 9 p.m. at Oasis Senior Center,

800 Marguerite Ave. in Corona del Mar. The cost is $2. Information:

(949) 646-5293.

The ACLU of Orange County meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of

every month at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1259 Victoria St.

in Costa Mesa. Each month’s meeting will feature a different speaker

on issues relating to the Bill of Rights. Information: (714)

957-6107.

Yoga classes will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to

12:40 p.m. for nine weeks at West Newport Community Center.

Information: (949) 644-3151.

Costa Mesa’s Recreation Division will provide a three-hour theme

birthday party for up to 20 guests at the Balearic Community Center

weekdays from 5 to 8 p.m.; Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 4 to 7

p.m.; and Sundays from 4 to 7 p.m. Parties for children 5 to 12 will

consist of lunch/dinner, games, crafts, prizes, cake with ice cream

and supervision by staff. Parties cost $250 or $300. Information:

(714) 754-5158.