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* Send AROUND TOWN items to the Huntington Beach Independent,

18682 Beach Blvd., Suite 160, Huntington Beach, CA 92648; fax to

(714) 965-7174; call (714) 965-7176 or e-mail [email protected].

Submissions must be received two weeks before publication. A complete

listing may be found at www.hbindy.com.

TODAY

The Church of Jesus Christ

of Latter-day Saints will hold a blood drive from 2 to 8 p.m. at

the Huntington Beach North Stake, 5402 Heil Ave. Participants must be

17 years of age, 110 pounds and in good health. Donors are advised to

eat a good meal and drink a lot of fluids before donating.

Information: (714) 842-6388.

SATURDAY

The Clara Barton chapter of the National Society Daughters of the

American Revolution will meet at 9:30 a.m. at Community United

Methodist Church, 6652 Heil Ave. Membership in Daughters of the

American Revolution is open to any woman who is at least 18 years of

age and can prove lineal bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided

in achieving American independence. Information: (714) 848-4297.

The Vibe Tribe will present “Introduction to Yoga as a Practice,”

with John Childers. The special class will take place from 2:30 to 5

p.m. The cost is $35. The Vibe Tribe is at 301 Main St. Information:

(714) 536-4988. www.vibetribeyoga.com

JAN. 25

The Bolsa Chica Conservancy will hold a service day from 9 a.m. to

noon. The group will meet at the walkbridge on Pacific Coast Highway

south of Warner Avenue for all work. Information: (714) 846-1114.

Huntington Beach Hospital will host a seminar about comprehensive

surgical weight control. Dr. Brian Quebbamnn, will discuss the latest

option including the laparoscopic gastric bypass and the newer

option, the Lap-Band adjustable gastric banding system at 9 a.m. The

hospital is at 17822 Beach Blvd., Suite 367. Information: (714)

843-5566.

JAN. 28

The Huntington Beach

Chamber of Commerce Small Business Assistance Center will hold a

special seminar, “How to Start and Run Your Own Business.” The event

will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at 2100 Main St., suite 200.

Reservations are required. Information: (714) 536-8888.

ONGOING

CIVIC GROUPS

The Huntington Beach Host Lions Club meets at 7 p.m. every first

and third Thursday of the month at Meadowlark Golf Course Club House,

16782 Graham St. The club’s purpose is to create and foster a spirit

of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing

voluntary service through community involvement and international

cooperation. Information: (714) 964-6212.

The Huntington Beach American Legion Post 133 meets the third

Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Rodgers Seniors’ Center,

1706 Orange Ave. (corner of 17th Street and Orange Avenue). The

Women’s Auxiliary Unit 133 meets at the same time at the same place.

Information: Cmdr. Johnson, (714) 968-4061.

Huntington Beach

Newcomers hold their Main Event Luncheon on the second Tuesday of

each month. The group’s purpose is to develop interest in the

community through a wide range of groups. Information: Connie

Tredway, (714) 969-0571, or Myrna Haire, (714) 962-2449.

The Friends of the Shipley Nature Center invites new members to

join. The group meets every second Saturday of the month to discuss

restoration of the Shipley Nature Center in Huntington Beach Central

Park. Meetings take place at 9 a.m. every second Saturday of the

month at the Huntington Beach Central Library, 7111 Talbert Ave.

Information: (714) 892-0875.

The Toastmasters Club

179 meets from 6:30 to 7:50 a.m. every Wednesday at Coco’s, 6886

Bolsa Ave. All who are interested in improving their speaking,

listening and leadership skills are invited to join. Information:

(714) 848-8244.

The Toastmasters Club 770 meets at 7 p.m. the second and fourth

Tuesday of each month at Coco’s, 6886 Bolsa Ave. The group helps

improve communication and leadership skills. Information: (714)

848-6485.

The Clara Barton chapter of the National Society Daughters of the

American Revolution meets at 9:30 a.m. every third Saturday at

Community United Methodist Church, 6652 Heil Ave. Membership in

Daughters of the American Revolution is open to any woman who is at

least 18 years of age and can prove lineal bloodline descent from an

ancestor who aided in achieving American independence. Information:

(714) 848-4297.

CLASSES

The Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce Small Business Assistance

Center offers individual counseling on virtually any aspect of your

small business. Sessions take place from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every

Friday. Reservations are required. Information: (714) 536-8888.

MEDICAL

Affiliated Counseling

Services offers a variety of support groups, parent education

sessions and divorce mediation consulting at 16152 Beach Blvd, Suite

280. Information: (714) 848-5804.

The Huntington Beach Community Clinic is offering anonymous HIV

testing and risk assessment for $25 at 8041 Newman Ave. Information

or appointment: (714) 847-3356.

The Huntington Beach Community Clinic offers free preventive

health and workplace safety workshops that are presented in the

workplace. Information and scheduling: (714) 847-4222, ext. 231.

Hoag Health Center offers

a variety of free day and evening health-related seminars,

including on low-fat cuisine, decoding food labels, snoring,

hypertension and more. The center is at 19582 Beach Blvd. Dates and

times vary. Information: (800) 514-HOAG.

Family Health Awareness Day is held from 10 a.m. to noon the first

Saturday of each month. Get a free blood pressure check, body fat

analysis, postural analysis and range of motion study. Hosted by Dr.

Robert Swain at 8907 Warner Ave. Popcorn and balloons for everyone.

Information: (714) 842-6122.

PARENTING/FAMILY

The Huntington Beach Mothers Club offers weekly playgroups,

outings, parties and support for families in Huntington Beach and the

surrounding cities. We also offer charity fund-raiser events

throughout the year. Information: (877) 230-6835.

www.HBMothersclub.org.

The Huntington Beach Community Clinic offers parenting classes

from 7 to 8 p.m. Mondays at 8041 Newman Ave. $10 per session.

Information: (714) 847-3356.

The North Huntington

Beach Mom’s Club Playgroup meets weekly at Huntington Beach parks.

Playgroups meets at 3 p.m. Mondays, at noon Tuesdays, at 11:30 a.m.

Wednesdays and at 11 a.m. Thursdays. Information: Briggitte

Mulholland, (714) 373-5488.

The Moms Offering Moms Support Club, a nonprofit support group for

stay-at-home mothers, organizes daily activities for mothers and

their children, including park play days, fun field trips and

age-appropriate play groups. Special-interest activities just for mom

are included. Every month, members have service projects to assist

several organizations within Orange County. Information: Jennifer

Gambino, (714) 846-7274.

The Pacific Coast Mothers Club, based in the Huntington Beach

area, is actively seeking new members. The group offers stay-at-home

and employed mothers an opportunity to socialize and make lifelong

friends with other moms, kids and families. The club offers weekly,

age-specific play groups, children’s parties and activities, fun and

educational monthly outings just for moms, and volunteer

opportunities that benefit local charities. Information: Andrea Le

Grand, (714) 901-5315.

A parent education group meets in 8- to 10-week sessions. The

group is sponsored by Affiliated Counseling Services and will focus

on how to manage parental stress. Parents will discuss appropriate

discipline and use of “time outs,” temper tantrums, chores,

schoolwork and teen rebellion. The meetings take place from 7 to 8:30

p.m. Thursdays at 16152 Beach Blvd., 280. Information: (714)

848-5804.

SUPPORT GROUPS

The Lupus Foundation of America Huntington Beach support group

meets the first Thursday evening of each month. Information: (714)

848-9781.

The National Alliance for

the Mentally Ill, a support group for family and friends or those

caring for the mentally ill, meets the second and fourth Thursday of

the month from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Community United Methodist

Church, 6652 Heil Ave., Room 7. Information: (714) 842-4461.

A support group for family members and friends of people with

severe or chronic mental illness meets through Affiliated Counseling

Services, 16152 Beach Blvd., Suite 280. The group, led by a licensed

therapist, meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Information: (714)

848-5804.

Affiliated Counseling

Services Inc. sponsors support groups for women from 10:30 a.m. to

noon Wednesdays and from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursdays at 16152 Beach Blvd., Suite 280. Cost is based on a sliding scale. Information: (714)

848-5804.

Affiliated Counseling

Services offers a recovery support group for people with 90 days

sobriety from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays at 16152 Beach Blvd., Suite

280. For cost and details call (714) 848-5804.

Codependency support

groups meet from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays at Affiliated

Counseling Services, 16152 Beach Blvd., Suite 280. Information: (714)

848-5804.

A diabetic support group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. the first and

third Thursday of each month at Huntington Beach Hospital, 17772

Beach Blvd. Information: (714) 898-6938.

The Alzheimer’s Assn. of Orange County co-sponsors a free support

group for caregivers living in the Huntington Beach area at 7 p.m.

the first and third Tuesday of each month at Christ Presbyterian

Church, 20112 Magnolia St. (714) 968-4940.

A free one-hour divorce

mediation consultation with an experienced attorney and

psychotherapy is available the first and third Saturdays of each

month at Affiliated Counseling Services, 16152 Beach Blvd., Suite

280. Learn the benefits associated with this method of terminating a

marriage with no costs or obligation. Reservations required. (714)

848-5804.

Weekly support groups for men and women, led by a licensed

marriage, family and child counselor and dealing with issues such as

depression, relationships, codependency, inner-child work and

self-healing, take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. each Tuesday, from 7 to

8:30 p.m. each Thursday and from 7 to 8 p.m. on Mondays at Affiliated

Counseling Services, 16152 Beach Blvd., Suite 280. Low-fee counseling

available. (714) 848-5804. A group for women meets from 10:30 a.m. to

noon Wednesday and from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday.