Music appreciation for the non-musician

ENCINITAS -- The Encinitas Senior Center will host "Music Appreciation for the Non-Musician" with lecturer Randy Malin at 1 p.m. on the first and fourth Wednesday of the month at the center, 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive. The primary focus will be the 200-year period (1700-1900) that includes Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras. Composers studied will range from Vivaldi to Dvorak. Call (760) 943-2250.

Food addicts meet Mondays

CARLSBAD -- Food Addicts Anonymous meets to help control eating problems at 11 a.m. Mondays in Room 4 at St. Michael's Church, 2775 Carlsbad Blvd. The group treats sugar, flour and wheat as substances that can be abused like alcohol or other drugs and uses a 12-step recovery program. Call (760) 433-0886; http://www.foodaddictsanonymous.org.

Library to offer computer education

ENCINITAS -- The Encinitas library will offer a series of free computer classes for adults beginning Jan. 6 in the County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price Information Literacy Lab l, 540 Cornish Drive. Class schedule:

- "Absolute Beginners Computer Basics," 2 to 3 p.m. Jan. 6 or 10 to 11 a.m. Feb. 3. Students will learn to use a mouse and other basic computer operations. Limited to those with no computer experience.

- "Introduction to Microsoft Word." The two-session class will be offered from 10 to 11 a.m. Jan. 13 and 20, or from 10 to 11 a.m. Feb. 10 and 17. Learn to create letters, reports, lists, and more. The class will cover how to type, edit and save documents; format text and layout; and insert graphics, pictures and charts. Basic knowledge of computers is required.

- "Introduction to E-mail" will be offered from 2 to 3 p.m. Jan. 14 or Feb. 11. Participants will sign up for a free Internet e-mail account using Yahoo!, then learn how to check e-mail, send messages, reply to messages, and time permitting, how to download and send attachments. Basic knowledge of computers is required.

- "Online Genealogy Research," from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 and Feb. 9. The continuing series of intermediate online genealogy searching techniques will feature a different Web site each month. January will cover the Family Search Web site and February will cover the Ancestry Library Edition and the Rootsweb Web site. Basic knowledge of computers is required.

All classes require registration. Call (760) 753-7376.

Learn to make quilts at Escondido class

ESCONDIDO -- Escondido Adult School Instructor Suzanne Stanton will lead a five-week "Magic 9-Patch Quilt" class from 9 a.m. to noon or 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 6 through Feb. 3, at the classroom, 463 Midway Drive, Suite 100, Room 1, behind the fire station.

Level 1 beginning students can make a simple version of the quilt by choosing fewer fabrics, which gives the quilt a traditional look. Level 2 students can spice up their quilt with a variety of fabrics, giving it the look of a scrap quilt. The class will demonstrate speed cutting, speed sewing and speed magic techniques. Cost is $30; the instruction book is $5. Register to (760) 739-7300, or go online to www.escondidoadultschool-rop.org.

Studio to offer beginning watercolor workshop

SOLANA BEACH -- Artist Rikki Reinholz will teach a one-day introductory watercolor class from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at the Studio of Art and Design, 743 Genevieve Ave., Suite H. Class will include basic exercises using a limited palette and transparent watercolors. Each student will go home with at least one completed painting. Cost is $100, and includes all materials.

Registration deadline is Jan. 8. Call (858) 755-6202 or visit http://www.StudioofArtandDesign.com.

Escondido Democrats to meet at library

ESCONDIDO -- The Escondido Democratic Club will discuss "Securing Our Progress and Continuing to Advance" during the group's monthly meeting from 10:30 a.m. to noon Jan. 10 in the Turrentine Room at the Escondido Public Library, 239 S. Kalmia St. Featured speakers are Jess Durfee, chairman of the San Diego County Democratic Party, and Francine Busby, party vice chairwoman for North County. Call (760) 740-8595 or e-mail communicator@cox.net.

Two libraries to hold financial workshops for women

County libraries in Vista and San Marcos are holding workshops this month on how women can secure their financial independence and plan for the future.

Both workshops will feature a presentation by Hedy Tiongco, a registered financial representative. Registration is limited to 20 women at each event. Participants can bring information on their own finances to ask specific questions.

The San Marcos workshop will be at 6 p.m. Jan. 14 at the library, 2 Civic Center Drive. Register at (760) 891-3000

The Vista workshop will be at 10 a.m. Jan. 17 at 700 Eucalyptus Ave. Register at (760) 643-5130.

MiraCosta Horticulture Club meeting

OCEANSIDE -- The MiraCosta Horticulture Club will meet at 12:45 p.m. Jan. 17 in Room 7001, MiraCosta College, 1 Barnard Drive. Jeff Moore of Solana Succulents will show how to use water-wise succulents in your garden. Refreshments and a plant raffle will follow. Call (760) 729-8172.

Vista library lecture addresses abundance

VISTA -- The Vista Community Library, 700 Eucalyptus Ave., will host a lecture at 1 p.m. Jan. 17 by Victoria Windsor, a certified staging professional. She will discuss dealing with the overabundance of things that clog houses. She refocuses priorities to help save the environment, to make better use of consumer dollars, and to start the year with a plan to manage abundance. Call (760) 643-5117.

ICS appoints new director of veterans programs

OCEANSIDE -- Interfaith Community Services has named Peggy Reiber as director of veterans programs in Oceanside. Reiber will oversee case management of veterans in the Workforce In Action Program, the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project, and the female veterans transitional housing. Call (760) 721-2117, Ext. 305.

College scholarship contest open to high school seniors

VISTA -- The Pride of Vista Lions Club is offering a free college scholarship of $2,500 for a high school senior. Entries are due by March 9 and envelopes must be postmarked by that date and mailed to The Pride of Vista Lions Club, scholarship contest, P.O. Box 258, Vista, CA 92085-0258. The contest is open to seniors of any Vista high school, charter school, private school, or home school. The contest is also open to high school seniors living in San Diego County who are recommended by an active member in good standing of the Pride of Vista Lions Club.

The eligibility criteria are: two written recommendations (one from a teacher or counselor, and one from a nonrelative); an essay of 250 to 500 words on "How I plan to use my education to preserve, protect and improve the environment of planet Earth"; one current transcript, and one completed application with community service information.

The winner must provide proof of enrollment at a two- or four-year college no later than Sept. 30, 2009, or the award is forfeited. The winner will intend to pursue an associate's or bachelor's degree in environmental sciences. Five runners-up will receive awards of $100 each. Call (760) 945-6950.

Classes on bicycle safety offered

OCEANSIDE -- The city of Oceanside Parks and Recreation Division, with the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, will offer winter classes on bicycle traffic skills.

There will be three sets of classes over two days. The first set will be from 6 to 10 p.m. Jan. 9, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 10. The second set will be from 6 to 10 p.m. Feb. 27 and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 28. The third set will be from 6 to 10 p.m. March 27 and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 28.

The course is designed for ages 14 and older. All classes are held in the community rooms at 330 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside. Preregistration is required no later than the Wednesday before each course begins. Cost is $65. Checks may be made out to the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition and mailed to P.O. Box 34544, San Diego, CA 92163.