* Send AROUND TOWN items to the...

* Send AROUND TOWN items to the Daily Pilot, 1375 Sunflower Ave.,

Costa Mesa, CA 92626; by e-mail to lindsay.sandham @latimes.com; by

fax to (714) 966-4679; or by calling (714) 966-4617. Include the

time, date and location of the event, as well as a contact phone

number.

TODAY

“Ask the Epileptologist,” presented by Hoag neurologist and

epileptologist Dr. Barbara Swartz, is a question-and-answer session

about the research and treatment options for persons with epilepsy.

The event will be held at the Hoag Conference Center at Hoag

Hospital, 1 Hoag Drive, Newport Beach. It is free and open to anyone

who has or knows someone with epilepsy. Information: (800) 514-HOAG.

WEDNESDAY

A kindergarten information night for parents is being hosted by

College Park Elementary School. Parents will have an opportunity to

meet the teachers, visit a classroom and be oriented to the

registration procedures from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the school’s

multi-purpose room, 2380 Notre Dame Rd., Costa Mesa. Information:

(714) 424-7960.

THURSDAY

“Children are Angels,” a luncheon hosted by the Adoption Guild of

Southern Orange County, will raise money to benefit Holy Family

Services, a non-denominational adoption agency. The luncheon will run

from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Balboa Bay Club, 1221 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach. Tickets will cost $125. Information: (949) 645-6755.

Franz and Kurt Wisner, collaborators on the book “Honeymoon With

My Brother,” will speak at Sage Hill School at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5

for students and $10 for adults. Information: (949) 219-1395.

SATURDAY

A wedding open house will guide prospective brides through the

selection of wedding stationery and help them explore the latest in

bridal trends. Brides-to-be can also enter to win a dream honeymoon

in Los Cabos or Cancun, Mexico. The event will be held from noon to 4

p.m. at Crane’s Paper Makers in South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St.,

Costa Mesa. Information: (714) 979-1828.

SUNDAY

“Bach Vespers for Lent,” a concert, is being hosted b St. Michael

and All Angels Episcopal Church. It begins at 5 p.m. at 3233 Pacific

View Dr., Corona del Mar. Information: (949) 644-0463.

Cruise for a Cure, a cruise around Newport Harbor to raise cancer

awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life,

will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. on the Endeavor, 2901 Pacific Coast

Highway, Newport Beach. There will be appetizers, music and the

opportunity meet fellow relayers and supporters. Registration is $20.

All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society. Information:

https://www.acsevents.org/relay /ca/newportbeach.

The Florestan Trio will make its concert series debut. The

ensemble was awarded Britain’s Royal Philharmonic Society Award and

will perform Mozart, Beethoven and Rachmaninoff. The concert will

begin at 4 p.m., with a preview talk by Herbert Glass beginning at

3:15 p.m., at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Founders

Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Tickets will cost $58.

Information: (714) 556-2787 or https://www.ocpac.org.

MONDAY

A support group for caregivers sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Assn.

will meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Our Lady Queen of Angels, 2046 Mar

Vista Dr., Newport Beach. Information: (949) 640-1750.

The Global Poverty Gap will be the topic of the Great Decisions

discussion. The promise of globalization is that it will benefit poor

countries through trade and close the poverty gap. The discussion

will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at St. Mark Presbyterian Church,

2100 Mar Vista, Newport Beach. Information: (949) 760-1691.

MARCH 8

A support group for caregivers sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Assn.

will meet at 6 p.m. at Crown Cove, 3901 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del

Mar. Information: (949) 760-2800.

A Family Educational Series on “Types of Dementia: Difference in

Symptoms and Care,” is co-sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Assn., Adult

Day Services of Orange County and the UC Irvine Institute for Brain

Aging and Dementia. The event will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at

the University Club, UCI campus, Irvine. Information: (949) 824-2382.

MARCH 10

“Talking Heads” rocker David Byrne will display and discuss his

latest art project, “I (love) PowerPoint,” at UC Irvine. Byrne uses

PowerPoint presentation software to create eye-catching visuals. His

PowerPoint artwork was published in 2003 as a coffee-table book and

DVD titled “E.E.E.I. (Envisioning Emotional Epistemological

Information).” The free event will be held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at UC

Irvine in the Humanities Instructional Building, Room 100.

Information: (949) 824-3638 or https://www

.humanities.uci.edu/humanitech.

MARCH 14

The Middle East will be the topic of the Great Decisions

discussion. How will the war in Iraq and the creation of a

transitional government transform the Middle East? How will a

democratic Iraq relate to its neighbors and regional partners? The

discussion will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at St. Mark Presbyterian

Church, 2100 Mar Vista, Newport Beach. Information: (949) 760-1691.

MARCH 16

Board certified plastic surgeon, author of “Total Rejuvenation:

From Skincare to Scalpel,” and developer of pH Advantage skincare,

Barry Cohen will conduct several educational presentations about the

benefit of proper skincare. Immediately following his 30-minute

presentation, each person will be given a personal skin consultation.

When booking a time slot for the seminar, clients will need to pay

$25, which will be redeemable for products on the day of the event.

There will be a total of four sessions and seats are limited. The

event will be at Macy’s in South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa.

Information: (714) 556-0611, Ext. 2377.

MARCH 17

The 10th annual Shamrocks and Rainbows spring fundraiser presented

by the Assistance League of Newport-Mesa will feature silent and live

auctions, a luncheon by the Balboa Bay Club and a performance by

Patrick Cassidy. The event will start at 10:30 a.m. at the Balboa Bay

Club, 1221 West Coast Highway, Newport Beach. The cost is $75. All

proceeds benefit the philanthropic projects of the Assistance League

of Newport-Mesa. Information: (949) 645-6929 or https://www.alnm.org.

MARCH 21

Global Water Issues will be the topic of the Great Decisions

discussion. Scarcity of water in many regions creates problems and

conflict for large numbers of the world’s population. What policies

should be adopted to ensure water quality? What international actors

or governments will make the greatest impact on improving water

governance? The discussion will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at St.

Mark Presbyterian Church, 2100 Mar Vista, Newport Beach. Information:

(949) 760-1691.

MARCH 25

Senior Insurance Specialist Sue Tarvin will lead a discussion

about Medicare 2005 deductibles and copayments, the new Medicare

supplement (Medigap) plans, senior HMOs, and Hoag’s Golden Health

PLUS program. The free event will begin at 1:30 p.m. in Hoag

Hospital’s conference center, 1 Hoag Drive, Newport Beach.

Information: (800) 514-HOAG.

ONGOING

Share in the passion of the arts and become a member of the

Newport Beach Arts Foundation. Meetings are the second Tuesday of

every month at 6 p.m. in the office of Karen Butera, Inc., 2824 East

Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar. Information: (949) 673-7205.

The Creating is Genius Center is offering three workshops:

“Creativity is Genius: How to Balance Active and Passive Aspects of

Creating,” Tuesdays from 9 to 11 a.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.; “Minds-On

Playtime: How asking questions makes you smarter and learn more

easily,” Tuesdays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and Wednes- days from 9 to

11 a.m.; and “2 Books a Month,” beginning in March, the group will

discuss “Middlesex,” Tuesdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and Fridays from 10

to 11:30 a.m. Workshops are held at the center, 509 31st St., Suite

202, Newport Beach. Information: (949) 584-1512 or

https://www.creatingisgenius.com.

Divorce: A New Beginning, a workshop for men and women who are in

the process of divorcing or are newly divorced, is held the 3rd

Saturday of each month. The workshops are from 10 a.m. to noon at 180

Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach. The fee is $50. Information: (949)

644-6435.

Centennial Farm is held every Monday through Friday from 1 p.m.

to 4 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the

Orange County Fair and Exposition Center, 88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa.

Information: (714) 708-1916.

Farmer’s Market is held every Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in

the main lot of the Orange County Fair and Exposition Center, 88 Fair

Dr., Costa Mesa. Information: (714) 573-0374.

Orange County Marketplace is held every Saturday and Sunday from 7

a.m. to 4 p.m. in the main lot of the Orange County Fair and

Exposition Center, 88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa. Admission is $2.

Information: (949) 723-6660 or https://www.ocmarketplace.com.

Brain Tumor Support Groups are held the first and third Thursday

of every month at the Hoag Cancer Center Auditorium, 1 Hoag Dr.,

Building 41, Newport Beach. Information: (949) 764-5542.

A Zen JumpStart program will run through April 10. It includes six

Tuesday sessions, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and an all-day Sunday

retreat on April 10. The program will be held at the Zen Center of

Orange County, 120 E. 18th St., Costa Mesa. The cost is $175.

Information: (949) 722-7818 or https://www.zcoc.org.

Tappercize classes will be

offered at West Newport Community Center Tuesday and Thursday

evenings from 7 p.m.

to 8 p.m. Tappercize is a cardiovascular way to exercise where you

can burn calories and tighten and tone your muscles. Information:

(949) 722-1301.

Toastmasters International,

an organization that helps people lose their fears of public

speaking and improve communication skills, meets Mondays (except the

first Monday of the month) in Suite J of the Center for Spiritual

Discovery, 2850 Mesa Verde Dr. East, Costa Mesa. Information: (949)

979-9988.

Relieve stress through meditation meets every Monday from 8:00

a.m. to 8:40 a.m. You begin your day refreshed and renewed with

gentle meditation that’s sure to relieve the stress and tension of

everyday life in the Center for Spiritual Discovery, 2850 Mesa Verde

Dr. East, Costa Mesa. Information: (714) 754-7399.

Dance your prayers meets Tuesdays from 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Come and celebrate the sacred in yourself by using yoga- movement

meditation with Marilynn Quam-Valenzuela in the sanctuary of the

Center for Spiritual Discovery, 2850 Mesa Verde Dr. East, Costa Mesa.

Cost is $10 per class. Information: (714) 754-7399.