Community news briefs for Friday, Dec. 12

By North County Times | Friday, December 12, 2008 12:10 AM PST ∞

NC Singers to offer holiday concerts

ENCINITAS ---- San Diego North Coast Singers will open its 16th annual holiday concert season with two special performances, including "Magical Music," at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at San Dieguito United Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdelena, and "Heart of the Holidays" at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 925 Balour Drive. Cost is $12 for adults, $5 for students. Call (760) 944-1866 or visit http://www.northcoastsingers.com.

Senior legal services offered

ENCINITAS ---- Del Mar Community Connections offers many legal services (advanced health care directive, power of attorney, wills, and more) free for seniors 60 and older in the 92014 ZIP code area. Private consultations with an attorney from Elder Law & Advocacy are offered by appointment only. Call (858) 792-7565.

UCSD offers aid to unemployed

SAN DIEGO ---- To help San Diegans in this difficult time, UC San Diego Extension continues to offer $100,000 in career seminar grants to help unemployed San Diegans attend seminars on changing careers, networking, resumes, corporate politics, salary negotiation, and mastering the interview. Seminars are taught by a team of career specialists with experience in helping with career search and professional development. To apply for the grants, unemployed San Diegans should visit http://extension.ucsd.edu/careergrant. Grant recipients will need to provide proof of unemployment status to enroll. To sign up for the free workshops, go to http://extension.ucsd.edu/careerworkshops or visit http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu

American Legion to host bingo games

ENCINITAS ---- Weekly bingo games start at 6:30 p.m. every Monday at the American Legion Post 416, 210 W. F St. Call (760) 753-5674.

Singing offers outlet for those with Parkinson's

ENCINITAS ---- "Tremble Clefs: Therapeutic Singing for People with Parkinson's Disease and their Caregivers," a program supported by Parkinson's Disease Association of San Diego, meets from 1 to 2:30 p.m. every Tuesday at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 890 Balour Drive. Director and speech therapist Karen Hesley will oversee the program, which includes community outreach though practice and performance. Call (760) 940-2763.

MS support group gathers at library

CARDIFF ---- The National Multiple Sclerosis Society Women's Support Group will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. every third Wednesday in the Cardiff Library's community room, 2081 Newcastle Ave. Call (760) 753-4027.

Rotary meets at Elks Club

CARDIFF ---- The Encinitas Rotary Club meets at noon Wednesdays at the Elks Club, 1393 Windsor Drive. Call (760) 431-0224, e-mail john.osborne@att.com

Longtime club changes agenda

ENCINITAS ---- The Encinitas Moonlighter's Toastmasters Club has closed after serving the community with meetings at Encinitas City Hall for the past 16 years. Alumni of the club are invited to an informal social get-together at 5:30 p.m. every third Thursday of the month. Location varies.

Call (760) 632-0068, or e-mail dave@peisersolutions.com.

Visit http://www.toastmasters.org

Botanical garden to offer docent training sessions

ENCINITAS ---- Quail Botanical Gardens, 230 Quail Gardens Drive, is offering a six-class series to train volunteers interested in becoming docents. Each three-hour class in the series is self-contained. Students can begin with any class, but must attend all six to complete docent training. Topics include: "Botany Boot Camp and Herbs," "Deserts and Succulents," and "Tropical Rain Forests, Palms, and Cycads." Cost is $40 for the entire six-class series.

Registration required. Call (760) 436 -3036, Ext. 206, or e-mail info@qbgardens.org, http://www.qbgardens.org

City to offer day camp during school holiday

ENCINITAS ---- The city of Encinitas Parks and Recreation Department will operate the Seaside Day Camp from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, and from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays, from Dec. 22-24 and Dec. 29-31 out of the Scout House in Glen Park, 2149 Orinda Drive. Camp is offered to 6- to 12-year-olds. The camp features arts and crafts, games, special events, sports, and tournaments. All activities will be staffed with experienced and CPR/first aid-trained leaders. Space is limited in the weekly camps and registration is recommended. Call (760) 633-2759 or go to the office at 505 S. Vulcan Ave. or the Encinitas Community Center at 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive. Online registration is available at http://www.EncinitasRecReg.com.

Senior center hosts bingo

CARLSBAD ---- The Carlsbad Senior Center hosts games of bingo from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays at the center, 799 Pine Ave. Bingo game packets stop selling at 1 p.m. Sponsored by the Carlsbad Senior Citizens Association. Call (760) 602-4650.

Group seeks senior tennis players

CARLSBAD ---- Senior tennis players are needed to play at noon Mondays and Wednesdays at Laguna Riviera Park, corner of El Camino Real and Kelly and Park Drive. Call (760) 729-6167.

Tour guides needed for Carrillo Ranch

CARLSBAD ---- Docents are needed to become tour guides for schoolchildren at Carlsbad's landmark Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park. Volunteers will be trained on the "Hollywood Connection," the history of a California working ranch, and native plants and animals before sharing their knowledge with visiting school groups. Call (760) 476-1042 or e-mail emnca@ci.carlsbad.ca.us.

Caregivers meet Wednesdays

CARLSBAD ---- Brighton Gardens of Carlsbad will host the caregiver support group led by licensed therapist and author Sandy Braff at 6 p.m. on Dec. 17 and on each first and third Wednesday at the second floor "Country Kitchen," 3140 El Camino Real. Call (760) 720-9898.

Group deals with grief, loss issues

CARLSBAD ---- Hospice of the North Coast hosts its 26-week, ongoing series of meetings "Pathways Through Grief and Loss," from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Tuesdays at the office, Hospice of the North Coast ---- The HOPE Bereavement Center, 5441 Avenida Encinas, Suite A. Meetings offer education and discussion on topics of interest for adults who have lost a loved one. Call (760) 431-4100, e-mail hnc@hospicenorthcoast.org, visit http://www.hospicenorthcoast.org

Seniors to party ‘At the Riverside'

CARLSBAD ---- The Carlsbad Senior Center's Senior Safari trip, for adults 50 and over, will visit Laughlin, Nev., for a Christmas party on Dec. 17-19. Buses leave at 9 a.m. Dec. 17 from the Carlsbad Senior Center parking lot, 799 Pine Ave. The trip will include two nights at the Riverside Resort, with a Christmas party. Cost is $99 for Carlsbad residents, $109 for non-residents. Add $20 for single occupancy. Senior Safari excursions require a certain amount of walking. Call (760) 602-4650, or register online at http://www.CarlsbadConnect.org.

Single travelers meet at Carlsbad restaurant

CARLSBAD ---- The Single Travelers Club will meet for happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 23 at the Bellefleur Restaurant, 5610 Paseo del Norte, in the Carlsbad Outlet Mall. Reserve by Dec. 22. Call (760) 721-8412.