* Send AROUND TOWN items to the...

* Send AROUND TOWN items to the Huntington Beach Independent, 1375

Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626; fax to (714) 965-4678; call

(714) 966-4690 or e-mail at hbindy @latimes.com. Submissions must be

received two weeks before publication.

TODAY

Bible Exploration Training and Assistance, an overview of the Old

and New Testaments will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays through

March 17 at Christ Presbyterian Church, 20112 Magnolia St.

Information: (714) 968-4940.

FRIDAY

God at the Movies, a movie and small group discussion, will be

held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Fridays through June 3 at Christ

Presbyterian Church, 20112 Magnolia St. Information: (714) 968-4940.

SATURDAY

The Bolsa Chica Wetlands Tour will be a walk along the loop trail

of the wetlands. Trained tour guides will discuss bird

identification, ecology, endangered species, early history and the

wetlands’ status. The walk will begin at 10 a.m. Guests will meet at

the walk-bridge at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve on the east

side Pacific Coast Highway between Warner and Seapoint avenues.

Admission will be free. Information: (714) 840-1575 or

https://www.amigosdebolsa chica.org.

The Shipley Nature Center Tour will offer visitors a chance to

hear descriptions of the center’s planned restoration to its

historical native plant habitat with the addition of water

conservation gardens. The event will begin at 10 a.m. Guests will

meet at the front gate to the Shipley Nature Center in Huntington

Central Park. Parking will be available in the Central Park Drive

parking lot off Edwards Street between Talbert and Slater avenues.

Information: (714) 842-4772 or https://www.fsnc.org.

Community for Class Size Reduction will host the second annual

Kids Rule! Family Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Perry

Elementary, 19231 Harding Lane. The event will feature children’s

games and activities, and the Huntington Beach Police and Fire

Department will display police cars and fire engines. An opportunity

drawing will also be held, with all proceeds benefiting Community for

Class Size Reduction. Information: (714) 960-7861.

SUNDAY

The Sunday Arlington West Project will set up 600 crosses every

Sunday, as a memorial to American servicemen and women who have died

in Iraq and all victims of the war in Iraq. It will take place at 8

a.m., a half block north of the Huntington Beach Pier, Pacific Coast

Highway at Main Street. Volunteers are needed to set up the crosses

at 8 a.m. and take them down at 4 p.m. Information: (949) 859-6488.

UC Irvine Extension will launch “Spa Industry Finance,” the third

course in the Spa and Hospitality Management Program, from 9 a.m. to

5 p.m. through Tuesday at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach, 21500

Pacific Coast Highway. Information: (949) 824-5414 or

www.extension.uci.edu.

TUESDAY

The Kiwanis Club of Huntington Beach Surf City Breakfast Club will

meet at 7:30 a.m. at the International House of Pancakes, 18782 Beach

Blvd. Information: Glen Cauble, (714) 848-8102 or Randy Golden, (562)

884-4145.

THURSDAY

The Huntington Beach Christian Singles will meet from 6 to 9 p.m.

at the Eclectic Cafe, 4911 Warner Ave. Suite 102. Information: (714)

625-3508.

The Huntington Beach Motivated Networkers will hold a meeting at

7:30 a.m. at Huff’s Restaurant, 7148 Edinger Ave. Information: (714)

840-5448.

FEB. 19

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 53 will offer a

boating safety course at 8 a.m. at Boater’s World, 5912 Edinger Ave.

The course will cover everything from weather safety to navigational

rules. The price is $30 and includes all necessary class materials.

Information: (714) 840-0232.

ONGOING

CIVIC GROUPS

The SOS Investment Club meets regularly on the second Monday of

each month and is seeking new members interested in studying

companies and making long-term investments. The group’s meetings are

held at 913 California St. Information: Cathy, (714) 960-7225.