Relationship Burnout 7pm. Learn why relationships burn out in this lecture by Tom Bishop, Ph.D., and his wife Sarah Bishop. Free. Crossroads Community Room, Crossroads Shopping Center, Carmel. 624-8110.

Genealogy Meeting 7pm.The Monterey County Genealogical Society holds its monthly meeting with Frank Elsberry speaking about Personal Ancestral File, v. 5. Family History Center at the LDS Church, 1024 Noche Buena, Seaside. 424-4546.

Calligraphy Guild 7pm. All proficiencies are welcome to join the Sea Scribes Monterey Bay Calligraphy Guild's monthly meeting. Park Lane Hyatt Classic Residence, 200 Glenwood Circle, Monterey. 625-3742.

Writers Workshop 7pm. This Month's Writers Roundtable features mystery writer Nancy Jacobs, who will speak about "Using Personal Experiences in Fiction." Free. Thunderbird Bookshop, 3600 The Barnyard, Carmel. 624-1803.

Poetry Circle/Open Mic 7pm. The Monterey library again hosts its open mic night and poetry sharing session. Bring friends and poetry. Free. Monterey Public Library, 625 Pacific St., Monterey. 646-3949.

Dale Carnegie Management Workshop 8:29am. Learn new and exciting managerial methods to enhance leadership and personnel management skills, including, presumably, the eye-catching innovation of giving events quirky times. Laurel Inn, 801 West Laurel Drive, Salinas. 408-378-5244.

Steinbeck Teachers Workshop Junior high and high school teachers are encouraged to attend this two-day workshop on how to teach the works of Steinbeck in a manner of shared inquiry. Day one is held at the National Steinbeck Center and focuses on Of Mice and Men and The Pearl, and the second day takes place in San Jose and is a discussion of The Grapes of Wrath. For more information, call 775-4730.

Halloween Bowls 7pm. Kids decorate bowls in an autumnal style. $30 includes snack and drinks. Corner House Ceramics, 271 17th St, Pacific Grove. 646-1929.

Fishing for the Cure Spend a day fishing in a bass tournament at Lake Naciamento and raise funds to cure juvenile diabetes. Over $15,000 in prizes will be awarded including a 3-night stay in a houseboat on Lake Shasta. $100. Call 755-2979 for more information.

Memory Walk 8am registration, 9am walk. Raise money and awareness for the Monterey County Alzheimers Association by strolling along the beautiful Monterey coastline. Teams and individual walkers welcome. Meet at Custom House Plaza, Monterey. 647-9890.

Word Play 10am. Play word games and stimulate your creativity. Bring a pen and paper. Call to reserve space. Carmel Valley Library, 65 West Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley Village. 659-2377.

Pumpkins to Presents 10am. Handcrafted items, baked goods and cafe make this autumn craft fair a fun way to spend the day. Cypress Community Church, Hwy. 68 and Corral de Tierra, Salinas. 646-9540.

Bug Walk 10am. Kids of all ages are invited to witness the role of insects in organic farming. Participants get to release ladybugs into the fields. Free. Earthbound Farm Stand, 7250 Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel. 622-3406.

First Saturday Morning 10:30am. Games, songs and stories for kids and their families, featuring a sing-along. $3 adults, $2 kids, babies are free, and no family will be charged more than $10. Morgan's Coffee and Tea, 498 Washington, Monterey. 649-6080.

Birth and Parenting Fair Noon. Get pampered and informed about various options for childbirth at this groovy event, featuring live entertainment, specialists, childbirth professionals, vendors and service providers and a raffle. Families welcome. Free. Big Sur River Inn, Highway One in Big Sur. 667-2281, 384-0236 or 455-1145.

Free Yoga Class 4:30pm. Stephanie Ford teaches an introductory yoga class this week and next. Spector Dance Marina, 3343 Paul Davis Dr., Marina. 236-8390.

Tulip Vase Making 6:30pm. Learn how to make a beautiful vase for yourself or a special friend. $28. Corner House Ceramics, 231 17th St., Pacific Grove. 646-1929.

Foggy Moon Dance and Auction 7:30pm-midnight. Monterey Contra dancers presents its eighth annual Foggy Moon Contra dance featuring caller Becky Hill from Cleveland, Ohio and the hot sounds of the Grovemongers from Rochester, NY. $12, at the YMCA, 600 Camino El Estero, Monterey. 373-7559.

Historic Home Tour 10am. Pacific Grove homes are some of the most beautiful around, with old Victorians painted in as many colors as one can imagine. This year's tour features 12 homes, one inn and one church. $15 donation appreciated. Pacific Grove Chamber of Congress, Forest and Central, Pacific Grove. Call for map, 373-3304.

Womens Political Caucus 1pm. The National Womens Political Caucus, a group that encourages women to be active in politics, holds its seventh annual reception for elected and appointed women office holders of Monterey County. $5 donation appreciated, RSVP by Oct. 4. McGowan Residence, 27185 Prado Del Sol, Carmel. 373-3818.

Thomas Steinbeck Book Signing 2pm. John Steinbeck's son follows in dad's footsteps and writes a book. Author reception and book signing for Down To A Soundless Sea. Free with admission to museum. National Steinbeck Center, One Main St., Salinas. 796-3833.

Michigan State Alumni 3pm. Meet other MSU alumni and the Honorable Dolores Cook, trustee to the university. Forge in the Forest Restaurant, Fifth and Junipero, Carmel. RSVP to Tammy Pike at the university, 1-877-MSU-ALUM, and call 625-2417 for more info.

Painting at Point Lobos 3:30pm. Learn about plein air painting while experiencing the beauty of Point Lobos-join The Informalists, a group of local plein air painters, as they paint live for a group of 20 guests. Event includes wine and a picnic. For more information, call 625-5686.

Rideshare Week Leave your car at home today, and join in the spirit of Rideshare Week, scheduled today through Friday in Monterey and San Benito counties. Employers are encouraged to coordinate carpooling, bicycling and use of public transport one day this week. Posters and brochures are available to participating companies. Call 888-BAY-POOL for more information.

Seaside Day Camp During the school intercession for MPUSD, games, excursions, arts and crafts abound at this two-session day camp. Session One runs this week, Session Two next week. $60 residents, $70 non-residents plus $10 activity fee. Oldemeyer Center, 986 Hilby Ave., Seaside. 899-6805.

Hungry Reader Book Group Noon. Bring a brown bag lunch and share good books you've recently read in this discussion and book-sharing group. Cookies provided, drop-ins welcome, admission free. Monterey Public Library, 625 Pacific St., Monterey. 646-3477.

Child Advocate Training A five-week training course in becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate begins today. You will learn to help abused, neglected and abandoned children get the care and representation they need in a system that so often overlooks their needs. Call CASA at 455-6800 for more information.

Art Spirit Hour Noon. This month's theme is fabric landscapes. Free. Salinas Adult School Art Department, 20 Sherwood Place, Salinas. 753-4268.

Tea Dance for Seniors Noon. The City of Seaside hosts a dance and social mixer for seniors, featuring the Scoot Band Trio playing a variety of swing, fox trot, cha cha, waltzes and more. $3. Oldemeyer Center, 986 Hilby, Seaside. 899-6805.

Councilwomen Get in Touch 3-7pm. City Councilwoman Ruth Vreeland and City Council candidate Cheryl Jencks will be at Portola Plaza during the weekly farmers market, as part of a series of talks in parks around the area. Portola Plaza, Alvarado and Del Monte, Monterey. 375-0288.

Young Professionals Mixer 6pm. The Monterey County Young Professionals Group hosts its first mixer, to promote networking and socialization. $15 covers two drinks and appetizers. RSVP ASAP. Montrio Bistro, 414 Calle Principale, Monterey. 372-2259.

Kids Art Night 6pm. Kids learn to paint crafts, make holiday gifts and make pottery and mosaics. $12 includes snack and drinks. Corner House Ceramics, 231 17th St., Pacific Grove. 646-1929.

League of Women Voters Noon. Luncheon with discussion of governance and the issues facing Monterey County today. Free. Monterey Elks Lodge, 150 Mar Vista Dr., Monterey. 648-8683.

Watercolor, Printmaking and Silk Painting 6pm. Last day to enter this class taught by Carol Baker and Jane Flury. Hilltop Park Center, 871 Jessie St., Monterey. 373-1494.

African Drum and Dance Classes Drum at 11am and dance at noon in these classes promising "joy, healing and excitement every Sunday." Park Avenue Performing Arts Studio, 33 Park Ave., Monterey. 246-2314.

Tennis for Kids Hartnell offers these three-week classed designed for students with no tennis experience, or for intermediate players. Bring a racquet and an unopened three-pack of balls to the first class. Saturdays, no class on 10/12. Beginner class is 10:30-11:50, intermediate is 12:120. Through 10/26. $38. Hartnell Tennis Court, 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. 755-6866.

Hora Karmel Folk Dance Singles and couples welcome to join this dance group every Thursday. 6:30pm beginners group, 7:30pm intermediates. Marina Recreation Center, 2nd Ave. & 9th St., Marina. 384-8129.

Belly Dance Classes On-going Tuesday and Wednesday classes at Hartnell College in Salinas and the Carmel Ballet Academy in Carmel. Egyptian, Persian, Gypsy and Turkish techniques. Advance notice is appreciated. 643-2775.

Afro-Latin Jazz Dance Twice-a-week class combines dance techniques of jazz, funk African and Latin dance for those aged 8-18. Performance opportunities available. Monday and Friday afternoons, call to pre-register. Pacific Grove Recreation Department, 515 Junipero, Pacific Grove. 648-5730.

Friends of Acoustic Music Those with instruments and/or who sing are welcome to join in every Saturday from 2-5pm at Sculpture House & Gardens Gallery, Highway 1, Carmel Highlands. 624-2476.

West African Drum Classes Features authentic rhythms and culture from Senegal. Drums available. All skill levels, drop-ins welcome. $15, $5 drum fee. Classes held Thursdays from 7:30-9pm at Salinas Valley Yoga, 248 Main St., Salinas; and Fridays from 6:30-8pm at Chautauqua Hall, 16th and Central, Pacific Grove. 754-8779.

MPC Certified Farmers' Market Every Thursday from 2:30-6pm, this farmers' market sells produce, crafts, fresh food and much more. Monterey Peninsula College, Parking lot A, 930 Fremont St., Monterey.

The Old Monterey Market Place This year-round, rain or shine market takes place every Tuesday from 4-8pm. Vendors offer a wide variety of fresh produce, flowers, arts, crafts and jewelry. Alvarado St., Monterey. 655-2607.

Historic Garden Tours Guided tours of the historic gardens of Old Monterey are offered every Tuesday at 1:30pm, May through September. The tours focus on the Cooper Molera Adobe and Larkin House gardens, covering plant identification and lore and the stories of romance and tragedy that unfolded around them during the early years of California. 657-6348.

Historic Monterey Walking Tours Guided tours of downtown Monterey focusing on California's history from 1842-1849 begin daily at 10:30am. The 2pm daily tour focuses on California's history from the 1820s to the 1840s. Free. 649-7118.

Family Night The Monterey Recreation and Community Services Department hosts evenings for teens and their families to play, talk, eat and enjoy. Billiards, Ping-Pong, foosball, video games and more. 5-8:45pm. Monday: Monterey Youth Center, 777 Pearl St., Tuesday: Casanova-Oak Knoll Park Center, 735 Ramona Ave., Wednesday: Hilltop Park Center, 871 Jessie St., Thursday: Archer Park Center, 542 Archer St. 646-5665.

Community Events in Salinas Salinas Community Center provides a wide variety of interesting stuff throughout the week, such as after-school teen lounges, tai chi on Mondays and Fridays, and Mother/Child music classes on Thursdays. Call for information and times. Salinas Community Canter, 940 North Main St., Salinas. 758-7351.

Salinas Adult School Many classes such as pottery, yoga, belly dancing, feng shui, scrap booking, etc. will be offered through the creative living program. Call for information 753-4268.

Jung Dreamworkers Meeting Every Monday at 7pm. Call for an introductory interview and reservation. 694-4018.

Human Resources Training Friday classes to help train non-profit organizations in effective human resources skills, led by The Personnel Office, a team of management consultants and human resource specialists. Through Nov. 4, $250 for entire series. 754-5880.

Craft Fair The Salinas Adult School needs crafters for its annual Art, Quilt and Craft Show to be held Nov 15 and 16.

Work Your Body Park Avenue Performing Arts Studio offers classes in belly dancing, Samba, West African dance and yoga, and also has studio space available for rent. Call 384-4141 or e-mail janette@brennernetwork.com.

American Legion Benefit Veterans Day fundraiser taking place Nov. 9 needs your help. Register ahead of time for $15 alone or $25 per couple before Nov. 1. Join in the BBQ, Entertainment and enter the raffle for fun prizes. For more information, call Mike at 596-1962.

Homework Pals Monterey Public Library is seeking volunteers for their homework assistance program. Volunteers must be able to commit to at least two hours a week. Training and materials provided.

Volunteer Docent Training Become trained to help the Monterey State Historic Park and find out about our area's most interesting places, history and people. Volunteers are needed in the Cooper Museum Store, Lake El Estero Visitor Park, Pacific House Museum and for special events. Training begins Oct. 5th. For more info or to apply, call 649-7109

Pre-register for Wrestling Junior High and High School students are invited to join in this course in the fundamentals of wrestling taught by Roberto Dixon. $27 residents, $35 non-residents. Monterey Sports Center, 301 East Franklin, Monterey. 646-3439.

Disaster Training The Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) offers a new disaster preparedness training session from Oct. 2 to Nov. 6. Free, Call 646-3719 for more information about learning what to do in the case of an earthquake or fire, how (not) to handle hazardous materials, and practical safety tips.

Salinas Reads Week Volunteer to spend an hour in a classroom reading to kids, to show them the joys of books. To sign up, call Aline Sanchez at 751-7310.