News, announcements and events from around the area:

Adoption info session planned

VISTA —— Family Connections Adoptions, a Christian nonprofit adoption agency, will hold a free information session from 9 to 11 a.m. April 16 at its office at 220 Escondido Ave. Families interested in learning more about adoption can receive a free information packet by calling (760) 941-4240.

Women's group plans discussion

ENCINITAS —— The Women's Alliance Towards Compliance Holding Accountability (WATCHA) is an organization to support women who have children with special needs.

The group encourages those who have filed complaints with the California Department of Education or the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, to attend a meeting and discussion on "Achieving Compliance to Improve Education Outcomes" at 1 p.m. April 16 at 937 S. Coast Highway 101, in the courtyard by Starbucks Coffee.

For information, e-mail specialedsnafu@yahoo.com or call (619) 607-0950.

Health education conference set

LA JOLLA —— The Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine and Pfizer will host a free health education conference, "Your Health Up Close," for the community from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 16 at the Schaetzel Center at Scripps Memorial Hospital, 9890 Genesee Ave. For information or to register, call (800) SCRIPPS or visit www.scrippsintegrativemedicine.org.

Ask-A-Principal Hotline offered

The National Association of Elementary School Principals will hold its 16th annual Ask-A-Principal Hotline from April 17 through 19. The event is a toll-free phone and e-mail service offered in English and Spanish for parents, grandparents or anyone with questions about education, schools or children. Approximately 125 educators will staff the phones and computer terminals while they are attending NAESP's annual convention.

Call (800) 944-1601 or e-mail the hotline through the Web site at www.naesp.org during the following days and times: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 17; 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 18; and 4 to 10 a.m. April 19. Computer users also can e-mail on April 16.

LSM Art League to meet

LAKE SAN MARCOS —— The Lake San Marcos Art League will meet from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. April 18 in the Recreation Lodge at Lake San Marcos, 1105 La Bonita Drive.

Artist Brian McPartland of Carlsbad, whose medium is watercolors, will give a demonstration.

For information, call (760) 729-4145 or (760) 744-7475.

'Give Burns the Boot' drive set

SAN DIEGO —— The fifth annual "Give Burns the Boot" countywide firefighter boot drive will be held April 19. During the morning and afternoon commutes, and outside of Petco Park before Firefighters Night at the Padres, hundreds of uniformed firefighters from throughout the county will be standing at various intersections collecting donations in their boots.

All proceeds will benefit the Burn Institute's fire and burn prevention programs and burn survivor support programs such as Camp Beyond the Scars for burn-injured children.

For information, call (858) 541-2277 or visit www.burninstitute.org.

Hospice teleconference set for April 20

The Hospice Foundation of America's 12th annual National Bereavement Teleconference,will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 20. The program, "Living With Grief: Ethical Dilemmas at the End of Life," will be moderated by Cokie Roberts, ABC News political commentator and NPR senior news analyst. Continuing education credits are available for a wide range of professions. For information about this satellite broadcast, call the Elizabeth Hospice in Escondido at (800) 797-2050 or visit www.elizabethhospice.org.

Artist packet presentation is the topic

POWAY —— The North County Society of Fine Arts will meet at 7 p.m. April 21 in the activity room at the Poway Senior Center, 13094 Civic Center Drive.

San Diego artist Stephen C. Wagner will give a lecture on the topic "Make It So You Make It: Preparing Your Artist Packet," offering information on artist packet presentation, documentation and pricing.

The program is open to the public. Cost is $3 for nonmembers. For information, call Valerie Raymond at (858) 748-0535 or visit http://ncsfa.org. For information on Wagner, visit his Web site at www.stephencwagner.com.

Parent Advocates Seeking Solutions to meet

POWAY —— Parent Advocates Seeking Solutions, a support group for parents of children ages 15 and older who have developmental disabilities, will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. April 21 at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, 16275 Pomerado Road. The topic will be basic nutrition and dietary issues. For information, call (858) 748-2594.

Center for Children gala planned

SAN DIEGO —— The San Diego Center for Children will hold its annual dinner at 6 p.m. April 21 at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina, 333 W. Harbor Drive.

Presented by Lennar Homes, the Polynesian-themed event will include a performance by the children as well as a reception, silent auction and sit-down dinner. Phil Dietz of the United Way of San Diego County will serve as master of ceremonies.

Sponsorships, as well as table and individual tickets, are still available. For information, call Dana Nitti at (858) 277-9550, Ext. 244, or e-mail dnitti@centerforchildren.org.

Volunteers sought for park restoration, cleanup

Volunteers of all ages are needed at California state parks on April 23 for the eighth annual California State Parks Foundation's Earth Day 2005 Restoration & Cleanup.

In San Diego County, restoration and cleanup projects will take place at the following state parks:

• South Carlsbad State Beach: Volunteers will remove two large stands of orunda from the bluffs at the campground. Meet at 8 a.m. at the South Carlsbad State Beach entrance and bring work clothes, a hat, sturdy shoes, sunscreen, snacks and water. The project ends at 2 p.m. Call Kyle Knox at (858) 755-2063.

• Cuyamaca Rancho State Park: Volunteers will assist with the restoration of the Monument, West Mesa and Arroyo Seco trails. Meet at the Green Valley Campground at 7:30 a.m. and bring work clothes, a hat, sturdy shoes, sunscreen, snacks and water. The project ends at 1 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Call the Earth Day hotline at (760) 765-0623.

• Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area: Volunteers will participate in a cleanup of both campsites and open sites adjacent to and in-between trails and roads. The project begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m. Participants should bring work clothes, a hat, sturdy shoes, sunscreen and water. Call Eric Hollenbeck at (760) 767-5391.

Annual Women's Conference scheduled

OCEANSIDE —— The North County African American Women's Association will present the ninth annual Women's Conference, Creative Connections, "Past, Present, Future," April 23 in Building 3400 at MiraCosta College, 1 Barnard Drive. All women and teens are invited to attend. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 for teens, which includes a continental breakfast and lunch. For information, call (760) 414-1083.

Italian genealogy group to meet

CARMEL MOUNTAIN RANCH —— The San Diego area chapter of POINTers In Person, an Italian genealogy interest group, will hold a luncheon meeting at 11 a.m. April 23 at the Olive Garden restaurant, 11555 Carmel Mountain Road.

Anyone interested in researching their Italian family tree is welcome. Reservations are required by April 21. Call Jo at (760) 734-1920 or e-mail pointsd@yahoo.com.

Beta Sigma Phi to observe 74th anniversary

FALLBROOK —— The Hidden Valley Vista Council of Beta Sigma Phi International sorority invites all Beta Sigma Phis —— active, inactive and transferees —— to the "Give the Gifts of Sisterhood" luncheon celebrating the 74th anniversary of the founding of the sorority. The luncheon will get under way at 10:30 a.m. April 30 at the Da Giorgio Ristorante Italiano. Cost is $19.

Degree, Order of the Rose, Silver Circle and Golden Circle rituals and installation of new officers will be conferred. For reservations, call (760) 743-3459.

Northrop Grumman retirement group to meet

LAKE SAN MARCOS —— The San Diego Northrop Grumman Retirement Club will hold its semiannual meeting May 4 at the Lake San Marcos Country Club.

Mary Lee Siddens, a director with TRW, Northrop Grumman Space Technology, will speak about TRW and how it has integrated into the NG family.

Social hour will begin at 11 a.m. followed by lunch at noon and the speaker at 1 p.m. Cost is $15 for NG employees/retirees and $18.25 for guests.

Attendees are asked to bring nonperishable food items for donation to Interfaith Community Services.

Reservations are required by April 29. Call Dolores Hayman at (760) 967-6918.

Jewish Community Center offers summer camps

LA JOLLA —— The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, Jacobs Family Campus, is offering Camp Jaycee this summer for youths ages 10 months through 12th grade.

More than 40 camps are available, including surfing, water polo, theater, Web design, sports, teen camps and others. With the exception of a few specialty camps, most include swimming lessons taught by experienced swim instructors at the Olympic-size Friedenberg Pool at the community center. Limited bus transportation is available from Carmel Valley, Del Cerro, Del Mar, Rancho Bernardo and Scripps Ranch. Extended hours also are available before and after the camps.

A Camp Jaycee Open House is planned from 1 to 3 p.m. April 17. This is also the last day for multisession family discounts.

The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, Jacobs Family Campus, is at 4126 Executive Drive. For information or to request a camp catalog, call (858) 362-1132 or view the catalog online at www.lfjcc.org.

OGHS class of 1974 to host reunion

ESCONDIDO —— The Orange Glen High School class of 1974 reunion picnic will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 30 at Felicita Park, Picnic Area No. 4. Parking fee is $2.

Bring your own food and drinks; three barbecue grills will be available. Also, bring a photo of yourself and/or family. For information, call Peggy King at (760) 798-1952.

Conner's Cause for Children has new director

NORTH COUNTY —— Marsha Lyon recently was appointed to the position of executive director of Conner's Cause for Children, a local charity that provides financial assistance to families with children who have life-threatening illnesses. Linda Sullivan has assumed the role of director of program services. For information about the organization, call (858) 679-1220 or visit www.connerscause.org.