News, announcements and events from around the area:

Institute offers free classes

TEMECULA - The Braille Institute will offer free classes beginning next week for residents who are losing their vision.

Barbara Cruickshank, community outreach coordinator, said the classes' focus will be independent living skills.

"We teach people to adjust to their vision loss and use what vision they have through adaptive devices," she said.

Participants will learn new ways of doing daily tasks, such as cooking or managing the home. Vendors will demonstrate adaptive devices, and participants will learn how to receive talking books through the Braille Institute.

The classes also serve as a support group of sorts. "There is a lot of sharing," Cruickshank said. "People who are going through it can really help each other."

The 10-week-long course will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays, beginning April 6, at Sterling Senior Communities, 41780 Butterfield Stage Road in Temecula. For information or to sign up, call 425-1126.

Trips to Viejas, flower fields slated

TEMECULA - The Temecula Senior Service Center plans a trip to Viejas Casino on April 12.

The bus will leave at 8:30 a.m. and return at 6 p.m. The $6 cost includes one-half off the buffet.

On April 17, the center will host a trip to the Carlsbad Flower Fields, including a self-guided tour, wagon ride and shopping at Village Fair Shopping Center. The cost is $25.

Call Rose at 246-2119 for reservations.

Singles group to put on barbecue

MURRIETA - Country Club Crowd for senior singles will hold a spring barbecue at 1 p.m. April 18 at the home of member Ann Stephenson.

In addition to hamburgers, hotdogs, salad and dessert, there will be bocce ball, horseshoes and poker. Guests will need to bring their own beverages.

The cost is $8 for members and $13 for nonmembers. Make reservations to Helen Androla at 698-4931.

Hospice to host Medi-Cal workshop

SUN CITY - Craig Smedley, an estate and Medi-Cal planner, will hold a free Medi-Cal workshop Wednesday. The workshop starts at 1 p.m. at Hospice of the Valleys, 28127 Bradley Road.

Call 672-1666 for reservations.

Series to explore poems of Hardy

TEMECULA - The Temecula Library Sunday Series will explore the poems of Thomas Hardy at 2 p.m. Sunday in the library's Story Room, 41000 County Center Drive.

Group discussion will follow readings from "Thomas Hardy: The Complete Poems," edited by James Gibson.

The Friends of the Temecula Library sponsors the series. Call 699-7814 for details.

Breakfast to serve as kick-off for walk

MURRIETA - The American Lung Association of the Inland Counties will hold the Southwest Asthma Walk on May 16 at the Santa Rosa Plateau and Ecological Reserve.

Families and companies interested in participating may attend the kick-off breakfast at 9 a.m. Thursday at Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar.

The breakfast will provide information about the walk - the first time the lung association will hold the event in Southwest County.

For information, call 884-5864.

Botanic gardens to hold plant sale

RIVERSIDE - Friends of UC Riverside Botanic Gardens will hold a Spring Plant Sale this weekend.

More than 400 varieties of plants will be available, from heat-loving trees and shrubs, to miniature roses and flowering perennials, to cacti and other succulents.

The sale will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. For information, call 784-6962.

Ballroom dance has Easter theme

TEMECULA - John Irwin will serve as host and DJ for an Easter-themed ballroom dance Saturday at the Temecula Community Center, 28816 Pujol St.

Guests will be able to dance to foxtrot, swing, Latin, polka, waltz and hustle music from 7:30 to 10 p.m. They should bring their own drinks and snacks; cups and ice will be furnished. The cost is $5 per person.

Call 676-1471 or 694-6480 for information or registration.

Chamber ensemble concerts slated

TEMECULA - The Inland Valley Symphony will premier its chamber ensemble concert series April 16 and 18.

The performance will comprise Brahams' "Piano Quintet," Boccherini's "Guitar Quintet No. 4" and a Haydn quartet.

The first performance will be at 7:30 p.m. April 16 at Hope Lutheran Church, 29385 Rancho California Road in Temecula.

The second performance will be held at 2:30 p.m. April 18 at United Church of Christ, 26701 McCall Blvd. in Sun City.

Tickets cost $10 at the door; children age 15 and under attend free.

Call 677-9465 for information.

Re-enactors to take part in event

RIVERSIDE - March Field Air Museum will hold a Living History Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

The day will include a World War I camp and battle re-enactment, as well as American doughboys, foreign infantrymen and military vehicles.

There will be World War II Allied and Axis re-enactors, including the Army Air Corps crew, British airborne troopers and Russian infantry.

The museum also will open aircraft such as the B-29, B-17, C-141 "Starlifter" and C-110 "Boxcar."

Admission is $5. For information, call the museum at 697-6606.

First 5 schedules community forum

LAKE ELSINORE - First 5 Riverside will hold a "community conversation" from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Ortega High School Gymnasium, 520 Chaney St.

The commission began in December 1998 under Proposition 10, which added a tax to tobacco products to fund programs for school readiness and childhood development.

The forum is intended to help the commission prepare a plan for investing in programs to promote healthy families. It is the first in a series of "conversations" the commission plans.

The Thursday event is intended for residents of Lake Elsinore, Lake Mathews, Canyon Lake, Lakeland Village, Mead Valley, Quail Valley, Sun City, Menifee and Wildomar.

Child care will be available with reservations; call (800) 266-3880.

Circus Chimera arrives next week

LAKE ELSINORE - Circus Chimera comes to town next week, and proceeds will benefit the Riverside County Sheriff's Posse, Troop L.

Families will be able to watch clowns, contortionists, acrobats, motorcyclists and even a hula hoop hoedown at the show.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Monday, and 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, at the corner of Central and Collier in Lake Elsinore. Buy advance tickets for $6 at Orange Credit Service, 109 S. Main St., or call 245-8847. Tickets at the gate will cost $10.

Conservative writer to speak

TEMECULA - Screenwriter, columnist and author Burt Prelutsky will be the guest speaker at today's meeting of the Murrieta-Temecula Republican Assembly.

Prelutsky also will be available to sign his new book, "Conservatives are from Mars (Liberals are from San Francisco): A Hollywood Rightwinger Comes out of the Closet."

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Country Garden Restaurant, 29000 Old Town Front Street.

Call Adele Harrison at 506-1999.

Radio Aztlan festival at UCR

RIVERSIDE - The eighth annual Radio Aztlan Music Festival is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at UC Riverside's University Theatre.

The festival will feature performances from a Chicano perspective, such as labor movement protest songs and East L.A. rock 'n' roll music. Performing will be Los Jornaleros, Rosa Marta Zarate, Anthony Prieto, East L.A. Revue All Star Band, El Vuh and M.C. Blvd.

Tickets cost $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Call 787-3821 for details.

Old Town tour set for Saturday

TEMECULA - The Temecula Valley Museum will present the Historic Old Town Walking Tour on Saturday.

Docents will guide participants through the Temecula of the early 1900s.

It will start at 2 p.m. at the museum. For information, call 694-6452.