Free concerts on tap at shopping center

CARMEL MOUNTAIN RANCH -- The final two concerts in Carmel Mountain Plaza's free Friday open-air concert series will be held from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 22 and 29 in the fountain courtyard near Barnes & Noble. Breez'n will perform Aug. 22 and The Cat-illacs on Aug. 29.

Arrive early and enjoy dinner at one of the center's many eateries. Participating restaurants are donating a percentage of their Friday evening sales in August to Rady Children's Hospital.

Carmel Mountain Plaza is at Interstate 15 and Carmel Mountain Road. Call Monica Jones at (858) 350-2791.

'Aladdin' onstage at Mission Theatre

FALLBROOK -- CAST Productions will present "Aladdin, the Disney Musical" at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22 and 23 and 2 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Mission Theatre, 231 N. Main Ave. Tickets are $8. Tickets and information: (760) 731-CAST.

Sale to benefit OGHS Grad Night

ESCONDIDO -- A garage sale to benefit Orange Glen High School's 2009 Grad Night party will be held from 3-7 p.m. Aug. 23 at 219 S. Midway. Furniture, household items, clothes, sports equipment and other items will be available for sale.

Dance performances on tap at The Vine

RANCHO BERNARDO -- These dance performances are planned at The Vine: Mojalet's Place for the Arts at the Bernardo Winery, 13330 Paseo del Verano Norte, Suite 5.

- Jamolet & Eclectic Expression: 7 p.m. Aug. 22 and 23.

- The Jumpitz: noon and 6 p.m. Aug. 24.

- Erica Buechner: 7 p.m. Aug. 29 and 30, and noon and 6 p.m. Aug. 31.

- Heather Zornes-Almanza: 7 p.m. Sept. 5 and 6, and noon and 6 p.m. Sept. 7.

Tickets are $15; $10 for students. Information: www.mojalet.com.

Youth Battle of the Bands set for Aug. 23

ESCONDIDO -- Escondido Education COMPACT will present the "Anti-Everything Bad" Youth Battle of the Bands from 4-8 p.m. Aug. 23 in the East Valley Community Center parking lot, 2247 E. Valley Parkway.

Talented local youths will try to outplay each other for boasting rights and prizes. Local favorite Rhythm and the Method will host the event and give an exhibition performance.

The family-friendly event is designed to celebrate the end of summer, provide a safe venue for youths, showcase local performers, and promote youth programs offered by Escondido Education COMPACT.

Information: (760) 839-4515; www.educationcompact.org.

Open house set at Republican headquarters

ESCONDIDO -- The North County Republican Headquarters is now open at 562 W. Grand Ave. An open house is planned for from 1-5 p.m. Aug. 23. The public is invited to attend and meet Republican candidates for the November ballot. For information, to volunteer or register to vote, call Darlene at (858) 436-5989 or Jeanne at (760) 715-1919.

'Meet the Candidates' event on tap

POWAY -- Residents of Poway's High Valley area will present a "Meet the Candidates" event from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 26 at the gazebo in Old Poway Park.

Participating candidates include Poway City Councilwoman Merrillee Boyack and challengers Jim Cunningham, Howard Collins and Chuck Cross, who will be represented by his campaign manager. Candidates will speak separately and then field questions with moderator Gary Fletcher.

The event is open to all Poway residents, especially those concerned about fire safety.

Information: Debbie Leebolt, (858) 668-0648; Gary Fletcher, (760) 458-2169; radiobarn@cox.net.

Dance to feature big-band music

ESCONDIDO -- Big John's Big Sound will play big-band music at a dance set for 1 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Joslyn Senior Center, 210 Park Ave. Free; donations welcome.

San Marcos offers preschool program

SAN MARCOS -- Raggedy Ann & Andy Preschoolers Program is a recreational enrichment program for children ages 3-5 offered by San Marcos Community Services.

The program focuses on socialization skills with an introduction to academic concepts. Five sessions are offered throughout the year: fall, holiday, winter, spring and summer. Children learn social skills while participating in arts and crafts, storytelling, outdoor play and learning fun.

Registration is under way for the fall session (Sept. 2-Nov. 21). Parents should come to the San Marcos Community Center, 3 Civic Center Drive, to fill out paperwork and pay program fees. Bring the child's birth certificate.

Class times are 9 a.m.-noon or 1-4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and 9 a.m.-noon or 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Call (760) 744-9000.

Arts and crafts classes offered

POWAY -- Stamping Details, at 14009 Midland Road, will offer these arts and crafts classes:

- "Fine Silver Jewelry Making With Rubber Stamps," 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 7. Create several pieces of fine silver jewelry using Precious Metal Clay and rubber stamps. Cost of $90 includes packet of PMC.

- "All You Can crEATe Prima Card Buffet" class, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sept. 13. Instructor Donna Salazar will bring tools and supplies for students to make as many cards as they can in this class. Cost is $34.

- "Prima Stuff Box," 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sept. 13. Paint a wooden Prima box and decorate the lid to make a special box for storing special things in this class taught by Donna Salazar. Cost is $30.

- "Summertime Garden Collection," 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 11. Make cards designed by Linda Bradbury of Classic Expressions in this class taught by Ellie Carrel. Cost of $29 includes supplies.

Information: www.stampingdetails.com; (858) 513-8024.

OASIS offers day trips

ESCONDIDO -- OASIS Escondido will offer these day trips:

- Sept. 17: Docent-led tour of Our Lady of Angels Cathedral in Los Angeles, followed by tea and lunch in the cathedral's gardens. The group will then take a short walk to the Walt Disney Concert Hall for a docent-led tour. Cost of $84 includes coach, tours and driver's tip.

- Sept. 28: Big Bear's traditional Oktoberfest featuring German food, music and entertainment. A local docent will board the bus and give a tour of the area. Cost of $69 includes the tour, meal, admission to the Oktoberfest, coach and driver's tip.

Call the OASIS travel office at (760) 670-5538.

RB Sunrise Rotary has new member

RANCHO BERNARDO -- The Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club recently welcomed Joe Giamanco as its newest member. Giamanco is a Farmers Insurance agent based in Poway.

The RB Sunrise Rotary meets at 7 a.m. Tuesdays at the Rancho Bernardo Country Club, 12280 Greens East Road. Information: www.rbsunrise.org.

Eve Selis to headline Festival Escondido

ESCONDIDO -- Singer Eve Selis will headline the Downtown Business Association's Festival Escondido on Sept. 13 in downtown Escondido. Selis will perform from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

The festival will host four additional musical acts -- TJ Baden and Friends, Rudy T, The Jazz Ensemble and Steve White. Two stages will feature live music from noon-5:30 p.m. All performances will be free except for the Eve Selis concert, which is included in the $30 festival ticket price. Cost for the concert only is $20.

Food, beer and wine tasting will be available, and downtown art galleries and museums will host receptions and live art demonstrations from 4-8 p.m.

The Downtown Business Association will donate $5 from every ticket sold to the Men's Fellowship Recovery Center in Escondido.

Information: www.festivalescondido.com; (760) 745-8877.

Flag display to mark first anniversary of fires

RANCHO BERNARDO -- The Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo will mark the first anniversary of the Witch Creek Fires with RB Healing Field, a display of 1,100 American flags representing homes that were lost or damaged in the fires, from Oct. 18-20 at Rancho Bernardo Community Park, 18402 W. Bernardo Drive. An opening ceremony is planned for 9 a.m. Oct. 18.

Flag sponsorships are $40 if the flag will be collected in person after the event, or $45 if the flag is to be mailed to its sponsor. Proceeds will benefit the Fired Up Sisters' Grant program (www.firedupsisters.com), the Fire Station No. 33 Renovation Fund and the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo Foundation Inc.

Information: www.RBHealingField.com.

Palomar offers interior design program

SAN MARCOS -- For those with an eye on the interior design field, Palomar College offers a wide selection of classes where students have access to the latest design software.

To keep pace with the demands of technology in education, the interior design program also offers classes online. A full evening program is available for those wanting to pursue a transferable associate degree or certificate in interior design. Courses feature new computers in a renovated lab.

Fall classes begin Aug. 26. Information: Sandra Andre, Sandre@palomar.edu; Yesenia Zermeno, (760) 744-1150, Ext. 2349; www.palomar.edu/interiordesign.

On the Go to offer rides for seniors

SAN DIEGO -- On the Go, a multifaceted transportation service serving San Diego's older adult population, will launch in September.

On the Go, a program of the Jewish Senior Services Council delivered by Jewish Family Service, consists of three components offering group and individual transportation. Through the expansion of the existing Rides & Smiles program, volunteer drivers provide individual transportation for older adults to necessary medical and personal appointments. On the Go shuttles provide group transportation to Jewish Family Service's Older Adult Centers, the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, synagogues, religious events, shopping centers, and other cultural outings and events. On the Go also will offer organized excursions to locations throughout San Diego County and surrounding areas.

On the Go services are available to adults ages 60 and older who live within these ZIP codes: 92064, 92127, 92128, 92129, 92131, 92115, 92119, 92120, 91941, 91942, 92117, 92037, 92122, 92121 and 92111. Existing transportation must be inadequate or unavailable. Volunteer drivers are needed.

Information: (877) 634-6537; www.jfssd.org.