COMMUNITY & CLUBS:

Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club member Phil D’Agostino has taken on the responsibility for the club’s Patriotism Essay Contest for Costa Mesa Middle and High schools. A half dozen members will read the essays and select winners at the club’s Nov. 8 luncheon.

As Veterans Day approaches, the Costa Mesa Kiwanis club is calling for middle and high school students to submit essays on the following topic: Generations of men and women have served their country in the armed services, including those who are serving around the world. How can citizens who are not in the military serve their community and their country?

The essay contest is open to all Costa Mesa middle and high school students. High school submissions must be at least 250 words. Middle school submissions must be at least 150 words. Only one essay per student. Teachers may submit class sets.

Essays must be submitted to your school counselor. For more information, contact Phil D’Agostino at (949) 515-6500.

 BACK WITH A NEW UFO MESSAGE

Longtime UFO investigator Bob Wood will present “Researching Leaked UFO Documents” twice this coming week. First at the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa dinner meeting at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday and at the Newport Harbor Exchange Club noon luncheon meeting on Oct. 25, with both meetings being held at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. Wood will cover how he became interested in UFOs and what documents say about studies of this sensitive topic since 1941. Guests interested in UFO research are welcome at both meetings.

 CLUBS SUPPORT MAIL TRAIN FOR IRAQ TROOPS

This is the third year that local Rotary clubs and the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council have participated in a drive to send Thanksgiving and Christmas boxes to troops in Iraq.

Obtain from the post office a flat-rate priority mailing box and customs form 2976A to show its contents.

Then fill the box with items such as beef jerky, cards, batteries, chips, non-melting candy, gum, DVDs, CDs, letters and a pound of ground coffee or tea.

Then send boxes to those troops at Freedom Rest.

Include a note with your name and contact information. The address for Freedom Rest is: Mr. Craig Miller Administrator MWR USMI, Freedom Rest, APO AE 09316.

 WORTH REPEATING

From the Thought for the Day as provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council, “There are two types of people — those who come into a room and say, ‘Well, here I am!’ and those who come in and say, ‘Ah, there you are.’ ”

— Frederick L. Collins

COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Sundays in the Daily Pilot. Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655 or by e-mail to jdeboom@ aol.com.