Dixieland Club open today

LAKE ELSINORE -- The Lakeside Dixieland Jazz Club is presenting its monthly afternoon of Dixieland and swing music from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, at its new digs.

The music is now being played at the Women's Club, 710 W. Graham Ave. in Lake Elsinore.

The public is invited as are dancers and musicians. The featured band on Jan. 4 will be Tom's Boys, who are scheduled to appear at 3 p.m.

The cost is $5 for members and $8 for non-members.

The Women's Club is just past the library at the corner of Graham and Lowell. Parking is in the rear.

For information, call Arlene at 245-9504.

Computer classes kick off Monday

LAKE ELSINORE -- A series of computer classes is being offered at the Lake Elsinore Senior Center starting Monday.

Rick Munyon will teach the classes, which are open to beginning and intermediate level students.

Basic I will be held on Mondays and Tuesdays from 8:15 to 10 a.m. and Basic II will meet from 8:15 to 10 a.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Both courses meet two days a week for three weeks.

Class size is limited and filled on a first-come basis. Information sheets detailing the curriculum are available at the senior center, 420 E. Lakeshore Drive.

Tax course offered for residents

LAKE ELSINORE -- A three-week instructional class for people interested in preparing their own tax returns will kick off this week courtesy of the city of Lake Elsinore.

Certified tax agent Rick Munyon will teach students how to complete standard IRS and California state tax forms.

The course will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays from Jan. 5 through 20. In addition, lab time will be provided for participants to complete their returns either manually or on the computer on Jan. 26 and 27.

No computer experience is required.

A $55 fee is due upon registration. To register, call 674-2526.

The course will be held at the Lake Elsinore Senior Center, 420 E. Lakeshore Drive.

Astronomy club to meet

TEMECULA -- A photographer who specializes in artistic photos of the night sky will be the speaker for the Temecula Valley Astronomers Club meeting Monday.

Wally Pacholka has used a creative technique of "painting" the foreground of rocks and other scenery with a flashlight while capturing the night sky.

Members and non-members are welcome.

The astronomy club meets at 7:30 p.m. at the Rancho California Water District building, 42135 Winchester Road in Temecula.

Libraries feature kids programs

TEMECULA -- Plenty of children's activities are scheduled this week at the city's two libraries.

On Monday, kids of all ages can attend the Goodnight Moon Pajama Storytime, where "Bedtime Blizzard Snow Stories" will be read. The reading starts at 7 p.m. at the Temecula Public Library and children are encouraged to bundle up and to wear their pajamas.

The Reading Education Assistance Dogs program kicks off Monday and helps children improve their reading skills by allowing them to read to a therapy dog. The dogs will be at the Grace Mellman Library from 4 to 6 p.m. Mondays for the next three months.

On Tuesday at 10 a.m., a preschool storytime will be offered at the Grace Mellman Library for children ages 3 to 5. Space is limited to 25 children.

Baby Sign Storytime is offered at the Temecula Public Library each Tuesday in January at 10 and 11 a.m. The activity is open to children from birth to 23 months.

Another preschool storytime is offered for children age 3 to 5 on Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Temecula Public Library. Call 693-8980 to register.

The Temecula Public Library is at 30600 Pauba Road and can be reached at 693-8900. The Grace Mellman Library is at 41000 County Center Drive in Temecula and can be reached at 296-3893.

One-day computer classes at library

LAKE ELSINORE -- Three one-day computer classes will be offered this month at the Lake Elsinore Library.

Basic Computers will be offered on Wednesday and will cover Windows, file management, using a mouse and working on the desktop. Basic Internet will be offered on Jan. 21, covering finding material on the Internet, the Web browser and e-mail. "Office" will be offered on Jan. 28 and will cover in more detail programs such as Word and Excel.

All classes will be put on at both 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Registration is required. Call 674-4517 to reserve a spot.

Oak Grove volunteers to meet

MURRIETA -- A volunteer group, Angels for Oak Grove, meets monthly to benefit Oak Grove, a residential treatment facility and school that serves children with a variety of social, emotional, medical and neurological impairments.

Wednesday's meeting will be at Carrow's restaurant, 24640 Madison Ave.

The group meets the first Wednesday of each month. For information, call Kristen at 675-0150.

Hospital seeks weekly volunteers

SUN CITY -- Menifee Valley Medical Center is seeking volunteers to help out at the hospital.

Active members of the volunteer team provide four hours of service a week. No experience is necessary and training is provided. Volunteers must be 16 years old.

The next orientation is set for 8:30 a.m. to noon on Thursday.

For information, call 679-8888, Ext. 7254.

Activities on tap at outlet center

LAKE ELSINORE -- Preschoolers can get a jump start on their exercise Friday at the weekly kids program at The Lake Elsinore Outlets.

Representatives from Animal Friends of the Valleys will visit the Kids' Outlet on Friday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Kids will see some of the animals from the shelter and discuss pet safety and care.

The rest of the month's activities include:

- Jan. 16: Children will create their own Crunch Art critter.

- Jan. 23: Anthony the Magician will visit and perform magic tricks.

- Jan. 30: Kids will learn about healthy eating from Sherry Bean, Juice Plus coordinator.

Kids Outlet is a free weekly program featuring arts, crafts and other activities each Friday morning.

The Outlets is at 17600 Collier Ave. For information, call 245-0087 or visit www.lakeelsinoreoutlet.com. The program is held in Suite 106, near Bath & Body Works.

Book group to discuss novel

TEMECULA -- Members of the Temecula Library Book Discussion Group will meet Jan. 12 to discuss "Loving Frank: A Novel."

The members meet from 1 to 3 p.m. at Temecula Public Library, 30600 Pauba Road.

On Feb. 8, the group will review several different books on Abraham Lincoln in honor of his 200th birthday.

For information, call Jo-Ann at 302-5315.

Display to feature the Model T

TEMECULA -- The Model T Ford will be the subject of both an exhibit and a talk this month at Temecula Valley Museum.

The exhibit, titled "The Model 'T' Ford: 100th Anniversary," will be available for viewing from Jan. 10 through Feb. 22. It will feature a 1915 Model T Roadster and a 1922 Model T Center Door, photographs, original footage of the car's production and antique signs from gas stations and dealerships of the era.

Also, Chuck West, a historian and a member of the San Diego Model T Club, will give a talk at 6 p.m. Jan. 15 at the museum.

The museum is at 28314 Mercedes St. in Old Town Temecula. For information, call 694-6450.

SERVING THE FLAG

Petty officer returns from deployment

MURRIETA -- Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Victor R. Torres recently returned from a six-month overseas deployment.

Torres, along with fellow sailors and Marines aboard USS Capt St. George with the Peleliu Expeditionary Group conducted maritime security operations and community relations projects.

While deployed, the ship made port visits to Penang, Malaysia; Manama, Bahrain; and Brisbane Australia.

Additionally, the expeditionary group rescued six mariners from a sinking vessel in the Strait of Balabac and thwarted a pirate attack on a civilian merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden.

Torres is the son-in-law of George Elskamp of Murrieta.

COMMUNITY NOTES

Outreach ministry puts on Christmas party

LAKE ELSINORE -- Community Outreach Ministry put on its seventh annual Christmas party for children of prisoners last month.

More than 400 gifts were donated to 200 children, who each also got a stocking stuffed with goodies.

The party included a hot dog lunch, puppet show, face painting, and holiday arts and crafts. Gifts were delivered to other children who were not able to participate.

The celebration was held Dec. 14 at Trevi Entertainment Center in Lake Elsinore.

The annual party is put on by Community Outreach Ministry in Wildomar in conjunction with Gem of the Valley Church, Prison Fellowship and Angel Tree.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Lake Elsinore

Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District board of directors -- 9 a.m. study session, Monday, 31315 Chaney St., Conference Room A.

Lake Elsinore Planning Commission -- 6 p.m. Tuesday, Cultural Center, 183 N. Main St.

Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District board of directors -- 4 p.m. Thursday, board room, 31315 Chaney St.

Canyon Lake

Canyon Lake City Council -- 5 p.m. special meeting, 7 p.m. regular meeting, Wednesday, Municipal Building, 31512 Railroad Canyon Road.

Temecula

Temecula Planning Commission -- 6 p.m. Wednesday, City Council chambers, 43200 Business Park Drive.

Riverside

Western Riverside Council of Governments -- 2 p.m. Monday, County Administrative Center, 4080 Lemon St.

County Board of Supervisors -- 9 a.m. Tuesday, County Administrative Center, 4080 Lemon St.

County Planning Commission -- 9 a.m. Wednesday, County Administrative Center, 4080 Lemon St.