thursday 1|23

Kosher-Style Lunch

9am-6pm. Enjoy this annual feast of East Coast Jewish deli food. Lunch includes a hot pastrami or corned beef sandwich, dill pickle, salad and dessert. $8.50 benefits Temple Beth El and local charities. Pick up at the temple, 1212 Riker St., Salinas. 424-9151.

Eco-Farm Conference All day today through Saturday. The public may register for the 23rd annual Ecological Farming Conference, the largest sustainable agricultural conference west of the Mississippi. Fifty-seven workshops, other events, at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove. $50 for each half-day. Call 763-2111 or visit www.eco-farm.org for details.

Women's Financial Luncheon Noon. Kurt Eakin of Edward Jones Investments and Ann McGrath of Van Kampen Funds host a free luncheon presentation to help women plan for financial security. California Grille inside the Doubletree Hotel, Monterey. Reserve at 656-9767.

Republican Women's Luncheon Noon. Dr. Williamson Evers, education policy advisor to President Bush during the 2000 campaign, will speak on education at the Carmel Republican Women's Federated club luncheon at Rancho Canada Golf Club, Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel. $20. Call 659-2819.

Pakistan's Nuclear Imperative 1-2:30pm. Brigadier Feroz Kahn, former director of arms control for the National Command Authority's Strategic Plans Division, will address a small lunch workshop on Pakistan's Nuclear Imperative: Managing Nuclear Capability. CNS Seminar Room (D100), Monterey Institute of International Studies, 400 Pacific St., Monterey. 647-4154.

Success For Kids 6:30pm. Cheryl Von Flue of The Learning Place in Salinas discusses child behavior and how to teach your child to learn better with simple words and techniques. For parents of young children. Free at the Montessori Learning Center, 30 Hitchcock Rd., Salinas. Call to register: 455-1546 or 444-9284.

Medical Marijuana 6:30pm social hour, 7:30pm speech. Rev. Lynette Shaw, a leader in the medical marijuana movement, speaks in the Round Table Pizza banquet room, 1717 Fremont Blvd., Seaside. $5/students free. Sponsored by FED-UP. Call 394-6470.

friday 1|24

Heisler Moot Court 7pm. The ACLU and Monterey College of Law present this year's Heisler Moot Court, focused on the unique legal questions of "enemy combatants" (American citizens held incommunicado, without lawyers, in U.S. military brigs). A distinguished panel of judges hears oral arguments from four fourth-year law students. Free, in the Steinbeck Forum, Monterey Conference Center, One Portola Plaza, Monterey. Call 373-3301 for information.

Gary Regina at Bookworks 7-10pm. Gary Regina produces trance-like rhythmical sounds through looping, using woodwinds, flutes, sax, percussion, guitar, wind synthesizer and a drum machine to create trip-hop, world and ambient music. Bookworks Cafe, 667 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. 372-2242.

Healing Our World Conference 7-9pm today at Reynas Gallery, 311 Third St., San Juan Bautista, 10am-6pm Sat. and Sun. at the Community Center in San Juan Bautista. Astrology, animal communication, Native healing, intuitives, booksignings. Call Reynas Gallery at 623-2379 for registration info.

saturday 1|25

Help Kids Succeed

8:30am-1pm. Parents, grandparents and residents are invited to a one-day conference on helping your kids succeed. Sponsored by the Parent Center of the Salinas Adult School, 20 Sherwood Pl, Salinas. $5 per family; free admission and child care for first 50 dads who register. Call 753-4273.

Mushroom Hunt 9am. Join Dick Morrison and Bruce Delgado on a mushroom hunt at the former Fort Ord. Meet in front of the Fort Ord thrift store. Call 373-4341 for details.

Tree Planting 10am-1pm. Join the City of Salinas and Return of the Natives Project in a day of tree planting. Meet at Veterans Memorial Park, E. Laurel Ave., Salinas; follow signs to parking area. For details call 582-3689.

Writers' Workshop 10am-4pm today and tomorrow. Amber Coverdale Sumrall, editor of 12 anthologies, producer of the Santa Cruz Writers' Project annual "Celebration of the Muse," and a leader in the campaign to protest Navy bombing in Big Sur, leads a two-day work/playshop with poet, teacher and playwright Claire Braz-Valentine called "How to Write your Way Through Gloom and Doom to the Light at the End of the Tunnel." $200, includes lunch on both days. Call Amber at 477-4375 for details.

Bliss Body Conditioning 10:30am. Beatrice Lynch leads an introductory class of BLISS, a method of body conditioning originally designed to rehabilitate injured dancers. Free at the Sophia Center at the Thunderbird Bookshop, in the Carmel Barnyard Shopping Center.

Animal Volunteer Training 11am-1pm. The Monterey County Animal Services Center holds an orientation and animal-handling training session for people interested in volunteering. Positions available include dog-feeding shifts, donation pick-up, clerical support and more. Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. Animals Services Center, 2840 Fifth Ave., Marina (former Fort Ord). Reserve space at 442-3857.

Princess The Signing Horse 2pm. Sean Senechal shows a video of her horse Princess, whom she taught to speak "animal sign language," and will show parts of the episode of Animal Planet that featured the two of them. Sean will discuss communication with animals, and the seminars she leads on language training. Borders bookstore in the Sand City shopping center.

Weston By Sotheby's 2pm. Denise Bethel of the photographs department at Sotheby's New York will lead a walk-through and discussion of Passion and Precision: Photographs from the collection of Margaret W. Weston, an exhibit opening today at the Monterey Museum of Art's Civic Center. 559 Pacific St., Monterey. Reservations: 372-5477. Ms. Bethel and her colleague Christopher Mahoney will be in the area Jan. 24-26, and are available to evaluate private collections. To make an appointment call Robin Venuti at 372-7515.

sunday 1|26

Aromas Grange Breakfast

7-11:30am. The year's first Aromas Grange pancake breakfast, in the Aromas Grange Hall, costs $2 for kids, $3.50-$5 for adults.

Bridal Show 11am-4pm. "A Day to Remember" bridal show will let the soon-to-be-wed see exactly what our area has to offer. Monterey Conference Center, 1 Portola Plaza, Monterey. $7.

Weed Bash 10am. Join the California Native Plant Society in a weed bash at Soberanes Creek. Meet at 10am behind Brinton's on Carmel Rancho Blvd., Carmel. Call Bob at 647-8826 for more information.

Argentine Tango Party 4-8pm. Argentine tango dance party, $10. Carmel Scout House, corner of Mission and 8th, Carmel. 394-1520.

monday 1|27

Hostel Travel

6:30pm potluck dinner, program at 7pm. Heinz Hubler shares travel experiences and shows slides of New Zealand. Free. Monterey Hostel, 778 Hawthorne, Monterey. 372-5762 or 649-0375.

tuesday 1|28

Hunter Education Course

6pm. Carmel Associated Sportsmen, Inc and Central Coast Fly Fishing sponsor a hunter education course Jan.28-30 and Feb. 4-6 at 6pm, Feb. 8 and 15 at 8:30am. $10. Call instructor Geoff Malloway for details at 626-6586.

Pajama Storytime 7pm. Monterey Public Library invites families with children aged 3 and older to hear stories about California and the West. Pajamas and teddy bears welcome. 625 Pacific St., Monterey. 646-3934.

wednesday 1|29

Latino Family Workshop

8:30am-4:30pm. The Latino Social Work Network of Monterey County, Monterey County Health Department and Clinica De Salud sponsor an all-day workshop on identifying, engaging and serving Latino families with health and mental health needs. Monterey County Leadership Institute, 2354 Garden Rd., Monterey. Presenters from the Xipe Totec Hispanic Institute of Transcultural Psychotherapy. $30, register by Jan.22; call 772-8150 or 755-4510 to see about availability.

Understanding Aging 2pm. The Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula presents a lecture on the physical and mental aspects of aging, at the Sally Griffin Senior Center, 700 Jewell Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. Call 375-4454.

Tenants' Rights Workshop 6-7:30pm. The Housing Advocacy Council of Monterey County presents a free workshop focusing on tenants' rights and responsibilities at the Prunedale branch of the Monterey County Free Libraries. Call for information 424-9186.

Take Another Look at the Church 7pm. St. Angela's Parish invites former or non-practicing Catholics to "Take Another Look at the Catholic Church." Ninth and Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. Call 646-8866 or 655-4160 for more information.

East Coast Swing 7-9pm. A three-week session at the Monterey Youth Center begins tonight (sorry, no lifts or drops). Pre-register at the Monterey Recreation and Community Services department, 546 Dutra St., Monterey, 646-3866. For information call 646-3873.

monday 1|27

Health Care Decisions 7pm. Dr. Olga McVay, a naturopathic physician, leads a workshop on "making informed decisions about your health care," including how to evaluate physicians and drugs, and setting realistic goals. Naturopathic Medical Center, 350 Reservation Rd., Marina. Free. 277-9856.

Central Coast Art Association 7pm. The CCAA meets in the yoga room at Sunset Center, San Carlos and Eighth, Carmel. Oil painting demo by Mark Farina. Free. Call 644-9224.

ongoing events

Feel the Beat 7pm. Drum circle meets each Monday, no drum required. Sing, dance, chant or drum your heart out. Free. Unitarian Church, Aguajito Rd. at Hwy. 68, Carmel. 624-7404 or 643-2298.

Personal Growth Workshop Weekly meeting each Saturday to explore the healing and growth aspects of writing. 11:30am. Limited space, call ahead to Frank Losik, 784-0646.

Eagle Watching Tours Lake San Antonio offers Eagle Watch Boat Tours from Jan. 5 through Feb. 23. $10 per person, $8 for seniors and kids under 12. Call the Monterey County Parks Dept., 755-4895.

Cribbage Club Cribbage enthusiasts meet every Wednesday at 6:30pm in the Oldemeyer Community Cednter, 986 Hilby, Seaside. Call 883-0963 for details.

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.

Peace Vigil The Peace Coalition of Monterey County holds a vigil for peace every Sunday from noon to 2pm at Window on the Bay Park, Monterey. The Salinas Action League holds a peace vigil every Friday from noon to 1pm outside the Salinas Post Office; and the Women's League for International Peace and Freedom passes out anti-war information every Monday from noon to 1pm outside Morgan's Coffee and Tea in Monterey. The public is invited to stop by or join the vigil.

Friends Of Jung Monterey Peninsula Friends of Jung meet Fridays at 7pm for book discussion and Mondays at 7pm for Dream Work sessions. Call 649-4018 for details.

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.

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 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.

Carmel Heritage Walking Tours Saturdays at 9:30am, join the Carmel Heritage Society in touring and learning about the town's history. Meet at the First Murphy House, Lincoln and Sixth, Carmel. 624-4477.

Carmel Walks 10am and 2pm Tue-Fri., meet outside the Lincoln Inn (Lincoln and Ocean Ave.) for this two-hour walk through historic Carmel. $20, reservations encouraged. 624-2700.

Poetry Workshop Every Wednesday from 6:30 at Bookworks, at 667 Lighthouse Ave. in Pacific Grove, come share and improve your poetical rants. Call Ryan at 373-3829 for more information.

Meditation for Peace 5:30pm, Sundays. Unity Church hosts this event held by Emphasis on Communication, a new weekly meditation session to encourage peace. Free. Unity Church, 601 Madison St., Monterey. 649-1835.

announcements

Basketball Camp Applications are being accepted until April 15 for the Ten Star All-Star summer basketball camp. Players from 50 states and 8 countries attended in 2002; acceptance by invitation only. Boys and girls aged 10-19. Call 704-373-0873.

NAACP Awards Banquet Reservations must be made by Jan. 29 for the NAACP's annual life membership banquet, to be held Feb. 15 at the Embassy Suites in Seaside. Keynote speaker is Benjamin Todd Jealous, director of the U.S. Domestic Human Rights Program of Amnesty International. Tickets are $50; call 394-4445.

Cypress Grove Open House Cypress Grove High School for the Arts and Sciences invites the public to its open house celebration Saturday, Feb. 1 from 1-4pm, for students entering 7th to 12th grade in Fall 2003. 225 Normandy Rd., Seaside. Call 392-0200 or visit www.cypressgrovechs.com for more information.

Love Run/Walk Volunteers The Monterey Rape Crisis Center needs volunteers for its annual "Together with Love" 10K/5K Walk/Run, scheduled for Feb. 9 at Lovers Point, Pacific Grove. Call Amanda at 373-3955 or 633-2953.

Silent Auction Items Sought John XXIII AIDS Ministry requests silent auction items for their Valentine's Day Ball. For information or to donate, call 655-1737.

Nominees for Public Service Awards Nominate a volunteer for the 27th annual Community Service Awards. Different age groups, unsung heroes (paid) and corporate stars are all welcome as nominees. 757-3206 or e-mail dsk@hotcity.com for information.

Theater For Kids Children's Experimental Theater announces its mid-year registration for the second half of its 43rd Conservatory year. Contact CET at 624-1531.

Auditions for Talent Show The Seaside Talent Show, to be held March 1, is now auditioning talented youth 4-18. For more information, call 899-6805.

Book Fund Donate money to the Pacific Grove Public Library for books. You may specify what type of purchases you'd like to be made with your contribution. For more information about how to help, visit them at 550 Central Avenue, Pacific Grove.

Charter School Applications The Monterey Bay Charter School is accepting applications for the fall until March 14. Tuition-free Waldorf education for K-8. Call 655-4638.