VISTA -- The AARP's Tax-Aide Program is looking for volunteers to assist at the McClellan Senior Center with phone calls beginning Jan. 22 through April 15. Volunteers are needed for morning and afternoon shifts to answer phone calls and schedule appointments Monday through Thursday. The center is at 1400 Vale Terrace Drive. Call Tax Coordinator Gary Doze at (760) 734-1676.

Seminar explores business tax issues

VISTA -- A free two-hour seminar on business tax issues will be held from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Jan. 25 in the community room at the Vista Library, 700 Eucalyptus Ave. The Small Business Development Center of MiraCosta College will present the material. Information on tax issues; schedule payments; state and federal requirements for business owners; and tax advantages between self-employed versus corporation will be covered. The seminar is part of a series sponsored by the city of Vista's Weed & Seed program, SBDC of MiraCosta College, Vista Adult Education and Community Housing Works. To reserve a seat or for more information, call Kathy Valdez at (760) 643-2892.

Toe Tappers perform at senior center

VISTA -- The Toe Tappers will perform at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 25 at the McClellan Senior Center, 1400 Vale Terrace Drive. Lunch will be served and the menu includes pineapple chicken, island rice, oriental blend vegetables, tossed salad and pumpkin custard. Parisian Cafe Salad and soup of the day also will be offered.

Suggested contribution is $3 per meal for those age 60 and over; those younger than age 60 pay $5. For lunch reservations, call (760) 724-3362 the day before or the morning of the luncheon.

School to hold rummage sale Jan. 20

OCEANSIDE -- Empresa Elementary School will hold a rummage sale from 7 to 11 a.m. Jan. 20 at 4850 Avenida Empresa. The sale will include furniture, household items, kids toys, clothing, books, holiday items and more.

Travel group visits garment district

OCEANSIDE -- Travel with Oceanside Senior Center's Happy Wanderers travel group to the Los Angeles Garment District on Feb. 20. The cost is $46 per person and includes round-trip transportation and lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory. Attendees on this one-day trip can shop for discounted clothing, jewelry and other special featured items. To reserve a seat, call (760) 435-5250. The reservation deadline is Feb. 9.

Bowling tournament slated

OCEANSIDE -- The "Bowling for Vegas Tournament" will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 10 at Surf Bowl, 1401 S. Coast Highway. Fifty percent of the proceeds will go to the Officer Dan Bessant Memorial Fund. Officer Bessant was killed in the line of duty in Oceanside on Dec. 20. Fifty percent of the proceeds will go to the Oceanside Baker 2 Vegas Relay Fund. The tournament will feature four-person teams bowling three games. Top team prizes will be awarded and there will be door prizes and a 50/50 raffle. Lane sponsors are also needed. For more information, contact Toni Epps at (760) 435-4900 or Steve Regalado at (760) 435-4871.

Get ready for retirement

OCEANSIDE -- A new Adult Transition course for the Baby Boomer generation (1946 to 1964) will be held at the Oceanside Senior Center, 455 Country Club Lane, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on three Thursdays, Feb. 1, 8 and 15. The course will be repeated on three Saturdays, February 3, 10 and 17. Cost is $45 per person and $75 per couple and is taught by Dr. Steve Barnes, PhD. and Mr. Patrick H. Davis, M.S.W. who are cofounders of the Institute for Applied Critical Thinking. To register, call the Oceanside Senior Center at (760) 435-5250 or register on line at http://IACT-NOW.com/Register/AdultTRansition.

The year 2006 marked the beginning of the largest retirement wave in American history. In 2007, more than 12,000 Americans every day are eligible to retire. Many have not prepared and many more (3,400,000 retires each year) are asking "What's next?" "How do I fill my time?" "What will become of me, my lifestyle and my future?" "How does my retirement affect others?" and "What do I need to know?" The question is: "Are You Ready?"

This three-day course will focus on three important questions that every retiree needs to consider: The first class will explore "Retirement, what does it really mean (to me)?" The second class will center on "What will become of me, my lifestyle, and my future?" Finally, the third class spotlights, "What do I need to know?"

All written material is included. For more information and course outline go to http://IACT-NOW.com/AdultTransition/AreYouReady. Come join other pre- and post-retirees on a journey of discovery, change and understanding.

Barnes has a lengthy, distinguished career at San Diego State University in Adult Education. Davis is an Adjunct Professor and lectures at Palomar College Community Development and San Diego State University, Interworks Institute - Adult Learning. Their institute offers essential skills training to employees and to other adults who seek help in life transitions in pre- and post-retirement, knowledge transfer (family and work 'Brain Trust'), mentoring training and legacy creation.

Vista pageant orientations set

VISTA -- The Miss Pride of Vista and Miss Teen Tri City Scholarship Pageants will be held on March 3. Orientations for the pageants are scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 23 and 30 at Round Table Pizza, 923 E. Vista Way.

Contestants for Miss Pride of Vista must be Vista residents, ages 17 to 24. Miss Teen Tri City contestants must be Oceanside/Vista residents age 13 to 17. Pageants include an interview, sportswear and evening gown competitions and an onstage impromptu question. Contestants also compete for essay and speech awards, Best Smile, Top Seller and Miss Congeniality.

There also will be a People's Choice Award. At $1 per vote, all the money is presented onstage to the San Diego Center for the Blind.

Miss Pride of Vista 2007 will receive a $2,000 cash scholarship and Miss Teen Tri City 2007 will receive a $1,000 cash scholarship. Additional prizes for the queens include a custom gold and diamond ring and pendant designed by John Shakarian, jeweler; professional photo packages; spa packages; gift baskets and more. All contestants receive goodie bags filled with gifts donated by local businesses.

The pageants are the biggest Pride of Vista Lions Club fundraiser. All money raised is used to fund the club's community projects. Contact Kimberly Kogler at (760) 644-3124 or Eleanor Hutchins at (760) 724-2875.

North County Forum to host political scientist

VISTA -- North County Forum will host Dr. Mike Byron from 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 27 at Palomar UU Fellowship, 1600 Buena Vista Drive. Byron will talk about and sign his new book, "Infinity's Rainbow: The Politics of Energy, Climate and Globalization."

Byron has a doctorate in political science and teaches all aspects of political science and political economy at San Diego-area colleges. He was the 2004 Democratic party candidate for Congress in the 49th District. He spent the next two years researching and writing his new book. He and his wife, Ramona, are both Navy veterans and live in Oceanside.

"Iraq for Sale," a documentary on who is profiting from the war in Iraq, also will be shown at the meeting . There will be a social hour before the program at 3 p.m. with pizza and refreshments. The meeting is free and open to the public. Call Dick Eiden at (760) 758-2410 or e-mail ncforum@sbcglobal.net.

Soroptimists set for annual Salad Luncheon

OCEANSIDE -- Soroptimist International of Oceanside-Carlsbad will hold its 27th annual Salad Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Beach Community Center, 300 North The Strand.

Guests will enjoy a homemade salad buffet and prominent men in the community will serve as waiters. Guests can feast on Soroptimist members' specialties, including Zona Murray's cranberry spinach salad, Callie Stewart's Southern cauliflower celebration, Judy High's Southwestern souffle, Pat & Oscar's breadsticks, deviled eggs and an array of homemade desserts, to name a few.

Proceeds benefit local nonprofit agencies via the Soroptimist Community Service Fund, which distributes grants to worthy organizations such as the Women's Resource Center, Boys & Girls Clubs, Vista Community Clinic, North County Health Services, Canine Companions and many others.

Tickets cost $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Free parking is provided at the city lot adjacent to the band shell. Call (760) 433-0320.