SAN PASQUAL VALLEY - The San Dieguito River Park will host public stargazing parties from 5 to 11 p.m. Feb. 10 and March 10 (weather permitting) at the San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park, 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, 1.5 miles east of the Wild Animal Park. Parking is available at the San Diego Archaeological Center.

On the Net:

Information: http://www.sdrp.org or (858) 674-2270.

Coin, stamp expo slated

PALA - The International Coin & Stamp Collectors Society will present its Premier Coin, Currency & Stamp Expo from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 9, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 10 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Pala Hotel & Casino on Highway 76, five miles east of Interstate 15.

Admission prices are $3 for adults; $2 for seniors; and free for youths ages 14 and younger. Tickets are good for all three days of the show.

Information: (818) 997-6496, iibick@sbcglobal.net or http://www.bick.net.

Contemporary Women to meet

SAN MARCOS - The Contemporary Women of North County will meet Feb. 12 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: Laura, (760) 945-9669 or http://www.cwonc.org.

Famous magician to make local appearances

The International Brotherhood of Magicians, Ring 76, will sponsor a lecture by renowned magician Mark Wilson, author of the popular book "Mark Wilson's Course in Magic," and his wife, Noni Darnell, at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 at Jack's Magic Place, 4275 University Ave., San Diego. Cost is $25; $20 for members. Call Jack White at (619) 299-9037.

In addition, Wilson and Darnell will conduct a private workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 14 in San Marcos. The workshop is designed for serious students of the magical arts. Space is limited to 15 people. Cost is $50. Call Michael Johnson at (760) 747-4627.

A complete schedule of Wilson events is available at http://www.sandiegomagicnews.com.

Send a Singing Valentine Feb. 14

NORTH COUNTY - Quartets from the Palomar Pacific chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society once again will be available to deliver Singing Valentines to scores of special sweethearts on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14.

A typical Singing Valentine costs from $35 to $55 and includes two love songs sung in barbershop harmony, a personalized card and a balloon bouquet. Men and women alike can be on the receiving end.

To order a Singing Valentine, call (760) 726-5615. Quartets will be available all day Feb. 14 throughout North County.

Parkinson's support group to meet

VISTA - The North County Parkinson's Support Group meets from 10 a.m. to noon the second Wednesday of each month at the Gloria E. McClellan Senior Center, 1400 Vale Terrace Drive. The Feb. 14 meeting will feature a Tri-City Medical Center occupational therapist and a share-and-care session. Call (760) 940-2763.

Breast cancer support group meets

OCEANSIDE - A breast cancer support group meets from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at Tri-City Medical Center, 4002 Vista Way. Inquire at the front desk about classroom location. Call (760) 940-3119.

Networking women to meet

LAKE SAN MARCOS - North County Women in Networking will hold a luncheon meeting from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 14 in the Terrace Room at the Lake San Marcos County Club, 1750 San Pablo Drive.

Guest speaker Sandra Fichter from the Vista Community Clinic will discuss women's health issues.

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

Parent advocates group 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. Feb. 15 at St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church, 16275 Pomerado Road. The program topic will be provided by Arc. Call (858) 748-2594.

Make a blanket for a child in need

ESCONDIDO - Bits & Pieces, at 426 W. Second Ave., will hold a "sew-in" from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 17, National Make a Blanket Day, for those who wish to donate quilts and blankets to children in need through Project Linus. Fabric will be provided; however, participants must bring their own sewing machines. Those who donate a quilt or blanket on or before Feb. 17 will receive a ticket for a drawing to win a brand new Janome sewing machine.

Bits & Pieces, owned by Suzanne Ream, serves as a year-round blanket drop-off location for the San Diego North County Coastal/South-West Riverside County chapter of Project Linus. Other locations that provide this service include Sowing Sisters, 2801-A Roosevelt St., Carlsbad; and Temecula Valley Sewing Center, 28780 Old Town Front St., Suite D3, Temecula.

Members of Altrusa International Inc, North County Coastal chapter, inspect, label and distribute the donated blankets to hospitals, foster care facilities, shelters, churches and other groups.

To make a monetary donation to the cause, make checks payable to Project Linus and mail to 3830 Valley Centre Drive, Suite 705-135, San Diego, CA 92130-3320.

Polish-American club to meet

ESCONDIDO - The Polish American Social Club of North County will meet Feb. 17 at American Legion Hall, 230 Park Ave. Social time will begin at 4:30 p.m. and the meeting will start at 5. A Valentine's dinner-dance will follow. For information, call Marion at (760) 741-2605 or Richard at (760) 746-5730.

North County residents among music competition winners

LA JOLLA - La Jolla Symphony and Chorus held its 48th Young Artists Competition on Jan. 27 at Mandeville Auditorium at UC San Diego. The competition was open to talented young musicians from or studying with a music teacher in San Diego County or Baja California. Nine winners were selected for first-, second and third-place awards in both vocal and instrumental categories. Three most-promising awards also were presented.

Winning first place in the vocal category was soprano Alexis Grenier of Escondido. The first-place winner in the instrumental category was violinist Pasha Tseitlin of Rancho Santa Fe.

Other winners included Lorant Najbauer of San Diego, bass-baritone, second place vocal; Courtney Allison Ross of La Mesa, soprano, third place vocal; Elda Peralta of Chula Vista, messo-soprano, most promising vocal; Gordon Cheng of Escondido, piano, second place instrumental; Erica Jean Poole of San Diego, piano, third place instrumental; Jose Miguel Rivera Gomez of Tijuana, piano, most promising instrumental; and Margaret Zhou of San Diego, cello, most promising instrumental.

Daughters of the British Empire to gather

POWAY - The Daughters of the British Empire in Southern California Inc. will hold its annual council meeting and luncheon March 3 at the StoneRidge Country Club, 17166 Stoneridge Country Club Lane.

Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. followed by the council meeting at 10. No-host cocktails will be served at 11:30 a.m. with lunch to follow at noon. The guest speaker will be Mary Penty, the organization's national president.

Cost is $27.50. Reservations are required by Feb. 23. Make checks payable to DBE in So. Cal. Inc., indicate entree choice (poached salmon or roast barbecue of tri-tip beef) and send to State Treasurer Pam Haney, 1582 Berenda Place, El Cajon, CA 92020.

Information: Pam Haney, (619) 447-8331 or padresfanpam@aol.com.

Forest Home group plans annual luncheon

LAKE SAN MARCOS - Forest Home Women's Auxiliary of North County will hold its 15th annual Special Event from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 17 at the Lake San Marcos Country Club, 1750 San Pablo Drive.

This year's theme is "God's Perfect Plan: The Tale of the Three Trees." Channel 10 News anchor Carol LeBeau will be the guest speaker, and vocalists Kathy Christofferson and Kathy Garriott will provide musical entertainment. A silent auction preceding the luncheon will include baskets, collectibles, See's Candy and other items.

Cost is $25. Reservations are required by March 7. Call Karen Campbell at (760) 727-2686.

School Supplies Drive under way

SAN DIEGO - San Diego area The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf stores and the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation have teamed up for a mid-academic year School Supplies Drive to benefit children at the Polinsky Children's Center.

Area residents are encouraged to drop off school supplies through Feb. 28 at any of the 16 The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf stores in San Diego County. Items most needed include blank CD ROMs, pencils, pens, erasers, pencil boxes or pouches, rulers, binders, spiral notebooks, calculators, multi-subject notebooks, flash drives, construction paper, art sets, colored pencils and lined paper. Those who donate five or more items will receive a free cup of regular blend coffee or tea.

For information and store locations, go to http://www.coffeebean.com.

Register for Breast Cancer 3-Day

Registration is under way for the 2007 Breast Cancer 3-Day series, a three-day, 60-mile walk to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer programs. The San Diego Breast Cancer 3-Day will be held Nov. 9 through 11. Early registration ensures that participants will have ample time to train and raise funds in hope of creating a world without breast cancer.

Proceeds from the walk are used for breast cancer research and community outreach programs. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization receives 85 percent of the net proceeds and the remaining 15 percent goes to the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.

For information or to register, go to http://www.The3Day.org or call (800) 996-3DAY.

ADHD support available

SAN DIEGO - Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or CHADD, is the nation's largest not-for-profit organization for individuals and families living with ADHD.

The San Diego County chapter holds meetings three times a month in different locations around the county - Clairemont, Encinitas and Rancho Bernardo - to share information and support. Meetings are free and open to the public.

Information: http://www.CHADDSanDiego.org.

Senior volunteers sought

SAN DIEGO - The Senior Companion Program is seeking volunteers. Individuals who are at least 60 years old, have a limited income and a desire to help others are encouraged to participate. Volunteers receive an hourly tax-free stipend, reimbursement for travel expenses and earn paid sick and vacation time.

Volunteers help homebound elderly and disabled residents by providing them with friendly visits, taking a walk, assisting with daily living tasks, etc. The need is especially high in Ramona.

Volunteers are asked to contribute at least 15 hours per week. Paid training is provided. Call (619) 291-6814 or (760) 789-0440.

Internship program available

SAN DIEGO - The California Coalition for Rural Housing is accepting applications for its 10th annual Internship Program for Diversity in Nonprofit Housing and Community Development.

The one-year, paid program is designed to provide university students with an intensive, pre-professional learning experience in the housing and community development field. It is aimed at students completing their junior year at their respective universities.

The priority date for submissions of applications for the 2007-08 academic year is March 30; however, applications will continue to be accepted until all positions are filled.

Information: call Gisela Salgado at (619) 741-0633; http://www.calruralhousing.org.