ESCONDIDO - Work off those holiday excesses and start the New Year off right. Daley Ranch naturalist and marathoner Don Parnell will lead a 50-mile, progressive hike beginning Jan. 10 and ending Jan. 14. Each day's hike will start at 8:30 a.m. at the La Honda Drive entrance and cover nearly every trail at Daley Ranch. Special certificates of completion will be awarded to each person who finishes all 50 miles.

Although this is essentially a physical workout event, flora and fauna observations are always in order. Call (760) 839-4241 or (760) 839-4680.

USS Midway Blood Drive begins today

SAN DIEGO - The USS Midway Blood Drive will be held today and Jan. 5 at all San Diego Blood Bank donor centers.

The first 500 donors at the blood bank's neighborhood donor centers will be awarded a free ticket to visit the USS Midway aircraft carrier museum, 910 N. Harbor Drive. In addition, all blood donors will receive a powder blue AFC West Champion Chargers T-shirt through Jan. 13.

The North County Donor Center is at 1340 W. Valley Parkway, Escondido. The North Coastal Donor Center is at 161 Thunder Drive, Vista.

Information: (800) 4MY-SDBB or http://www.sandiegobloodbank.org.

Youth orchestra to hold auditions

SAN MARCOS - The Civic Youth Orchestra will hold auditions for its primary strings, wind ensemble, intermediate string orchestra and chamber strings ensembles from 9 to 10 a.m. Jan. 6 at Palomar College, 1140 W. Mission Road.

To schedule an audition appointment, call general manger Rebecca Washburn at (858) 484-9635. For information, call Executive Director Deborah Stanley at (760) 715-4448 or go to http://www.sandiegocyo.org.

Contemporary Women to meet

SAN MARCOS - The Contemporary Women of North County will meet Jan. 8 at the Wood House in Woodland Park, 1148 Rock Springs Road. Social time will begin at 6 p.m. followed by the meeting at 6:30.

CWONC is a nonprofit organization that supports community service efforts in North County, many focusing on issues involving women and children.

Information: http://www.cwonc.org.

SD Horticultural Society to meet

DEL MAR - The San Diego Horticultural Society will meet at 6 p.m. Jan. 8 in the Surfside Race Place at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Entomologist Dr. David Kellum will discuss "Bugs: the Good, the Bad and the Invasives."

The meeting will include a Plant Forum, where plant experts will discuss plants and answer questions, followed by an opportunity drawing. Admission is free. Information: (760) 295-7089, http://www.sdhortsoc.org.

Quilting group to meet, host workshops

POWAY - The Friendship Quilters of San Diego will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 8 at Valley Elementary School, 13000 Bowron Road. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Sandi Cummings will speak on "Thinking Outside the Block."

In addition, the group will host the following workshops:

• "Free-form Units With Inserted Strips," 2 to 5 p.m. Jan. 7.

• "Cutting Double," 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 8.

For workshop locations and information, call Candice Dalton at (858) 486-2007.

Genealogy group plans meetings, offers class

CARLSBAD - The North San Diego County Genealogical Society will hold a business and sharing meeting at 10 a.m. Jan. 9 in the Carlsbad City Council chambers, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive. Judy Michaels will offer information about the new NSDCGS Project.

The Computer-Oriented Genealogy Group, sponsored by North San Diego County Genealogical Society, will meet at 1 p.m. that day at the same location. Genealogy librarian Mary Van Orsdol will discuss "Searching on www.Clusty.com."

In addition, the group will offer a free beginning and refresher genealogy class from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Cole Library, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive.

For information about the meetings, call (760) 630-5720. For information about the class, call instructor Margaret Reed at (760) 757-0528.

Relay for Life meeting planned

SAN MARCOS - A planning/organizational meeting for the American Cancer Society's 2007 San Marcos Relay For Life will be held at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 9 in Room B on the second floor of Kaiser Permanente, 400 Craven Road.

Organizers are hoping to attract volunteers for the event, which raises funds for cancer research, education and services. Relay team captains, planning committee members and corporate and individual sponsors also are needed. The 2007 San Marcos Relay for Life will take place April 14 and 15.

For information, call event Chairman Warren Henderson at (951) 243-4900 or go to http://www.cancer.org and click on "Relay for Life."

Networking group to award scholarships

LAKE SAN MARCOS - North County Women in Networking will honor its 2006-07 scholarship recipients at a luncheon scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Jan. 10 in the Terrace Room at the Lake San Marcos County Club, 1750 San Pablo Drive.

The meeting also will feature a guest speaker from Cal State San Marcos.

Cost is $20; $18 for members. For information and reservations, call Beth at (760) 231-7419.

Diabetes support group to meet

OCEANSIDE - The North County Diabetes Support Group will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 11 in the Community Room at the Oceanside Mission Branch Library, 3861 Mission Ave.

The meeting is open to all diabetics, as well as those interested in learning more about the disease and its treatment and health consequences. Cindy Garvey will moderate and present topics of interest.

Call Farley at (760) 945-4559.

Bird-watching trips scheduled

The Palomar Audubon Society will offer these bird-watching trips. For details, go to http://www.palomaraudubon.org (Field Trips).

• 8:30 a.m. Jan. 13, Oak Hill Memorial Park, Escondido. The group hopes to see the zone-tailed hawk that frequently visits the cemetery in search of gophers. Easy walking conditions.

• 8:30 a.m. Jan. 20, Lake Norconian, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Norco, Riverside County. Generally off limits to the public, Lake Norconian has an extraordinary collection of water fowl. The group expects to see the Wilson's snipe. Easy walking conditions.

• 8:30 a.m. Jan. 27, San Pasqual Valley Agricultural Trail, Escondido. The group hopes to see resident birds such as the cactus wren, greater roadrunner, phainopepla and a few raptors. Moderate walking conditions.

Palomar College employee receives award

SAN MARCOS - Marlene deLeon of Palomar College's Educational Television department recently was selected by the Directors of Educational Technology/California Higher Education (DET/CHE) as its 2006 Member of the Year.

Honored at the 21st annual DET/CHE conference in San Francisco, deLeon was recognized "for outstanding contributions, leadership and achievements in service to DET/CHE and the profession."

DeLeon, who has worked in the distance education field for 20 years, has served on the executive board of DET/CHE as the Southern Regional director, as well as vice president in 2003 and president in 2004. She also was responsible for planning the 2003 DET/CHE conference.

Christian Women's Club to meet

LAKE SAN MARCOS - "A New Perspective" is the theme of the San Marcos-Vista Christian Women's Club luncheon scheduled for Jan. 15 at the Lake San Marcos Country Club, 1750 San Pablo Drive. Cost is $11.

The special feature will be a fashion show by Week-enders. Fashion coordinator Mary Jane Relth will "build new fashions" as she shows the latest styles.

Vickie Posey, a professional soloist from Oceanside, will entertain, with Winnie Pointer of Vista providing background music.

Speaker Jeanne Wheaton, an interior designer from Rancho Santa Fe, will share how to "Lead a Re-designed Life."

The club has no membership dues. All women are welcome. Reservations are required by Jan. 12. Call Vera at (760) 727-1372 or Muriel at (760) 744-3744.

Forum for Alzheimer's caregivers slated

LAKE SAN MARCOS - Health Care Group's ActivCare Residential Alzheimer's care facilities and the George G. Glenner Alzheimer's Family Centers Inc. will host a Town Hall Forum titled "Alzheimer's in the Family" from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Lake San Marcos Resort Conference Center, 1025 La Bonita Drive. A continental breakfast will be served.

The free forum for family caregivers will address the issues facing families caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease. A panel of experts will discuss various issues facing those assuming the role of the caregiver and the profound impact of Alzheimer's disease on the family.

In addition, the Glenner Alzheimer's Family Centers will provide free adult day care during the forum at one of its three centers. Reservations are required. Call (800) 736-6674 at least one week before the event.

To sign up for the forum, call ActivCare Point Loma at (619) 224-7300.

Networking group meets Tuesdays

SAN MARCOS - LeTip's North County Professionals networking group meets for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays at LaPlaya Cantina and Grill, 1020 W. San Marcos Blvd., in Old California Restaurant Row. Those interested in joining the group can call Sandi Hadley at (760) 942-2156.

Senior Gleaners seeks volunteers

NORTH COUNTY - Senior Gleaners of San Diego County members pick fruit and collect supermarket-donated groceries that would otherwise go to waste to give to nonprofit organizations.

Anyone age 55 and older is welcome to join the group or attend its bimonthly meetings at the Rancho Bernardo Library. Volunteers are needed to assist with picking, driving and supplying pickup trucks for delivering. Call (760) 746-1674 or (619) 582-2299.

Nonprofit organizations in need of fruit can call (760) 432-0772 for information.

Ms. Senior San Diego entrants sought

SAN DIEGO - Senior women are invited to compete for the title of Ms. Senior San Diego 2007 on Feb. 16 and 17 at the Balboa Park Club. The contest is sponsored by Ms. Senior American Inc. and San Diego Parks and Recreation Services, Senior Division.

The winner and the top two runners-up will compete with other regional winners for the Ms. Senior California 2007 title. Individual state queens will then compete for the crown of Ms. Senior America 2007 later in the year in Las Vegas.

Participants must be 60 or older, a U.S. citizen and have a talent and life philosophy to share. Early registration is recommended. Deadline for completed applications is Jan. 15. For information and an application, call Barbara Jones, San Diego pageant director, at (760) 744-0338.