* Send AROUND TOWN items to the...

* Send AROUND TOWN items to the Daily Pilot, 1375 Sunflower Ave.,

Costa Mesa, CA 92626; by e-mail to [email protected]; by fax to

(714) 966-4679; or by calling (714) 966-4617. Include the time, date

and location of the event, as well as a contact phone number.

TODAY

MSNBC.com online columnist Peter Greenburg will sign and discuss

his new book, “Hotel Secrets from the Travel Detective,” at 7 p.m. in

the Friends Meeting Room at Newport Beach Central Library, 1000

Avocado Ave., Newport Beach. The cost is $12, or $10 for Library

Foundation members and $5 for students. Information: (949) 717-3890.

The Zen Center of Orange County offers a “Zen JumpStart” program

from 7 to 8:30 p.m. through Dec. 5 at 120 E. 18th St., Costa Mesa.

The sessions include group and individual instruction. The cost is

$15. Information: (949) 722-7818 or https://www.zcoc.org.

WEDNESDAY

Dr. Andrea Purcell will host a free seminar, “Painful and Swollen

Joints Got You in a Pinch?” from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Mother’s Patio

Cafe, 225 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa. Information: (949) 631-4741.

Erika Lynn Quiggans, assistant dean of admissions at Lewis & Clark

College in Portland, Ore., will host Newport-Mesa District College

Night from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Orange County Fairgrounds, 88 Fair

Drive, Costa Mesa. Information: (800) 444-4111.

THURSDAY

Hoag Cancer Center director of program development Nancy Raymon

will hold a free lecture on “Resources for the Lung Cancer Patient”

from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Hoag Cancer Center’s Conference Room A, One

Hoag Drive, Newport Beach. Information: (949) 760-5542.

FRIDAY

The Mind Institute will honor top educators and students at its

2004 Education Awards Dinner at 4500 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach.

The guest presenter is California Secretary for Education Richard

Riordan. Information: (949) 640-4000.

A “Halloween Moon Walk” will begin at 7 p.m. at the Environmental

Nature Center, 1601 16th St., Newport Beach. Families are invited to

wear costumes and participate in Halloween activities. The cost is

$3. Information: (949) 645-8489.