Kid Safe Program Offered at St. Joseph’s Medical Center

At Kid Safe, a free safety education program for children at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Burbank this weekend, children can attend workshops covering everything from when to call 911 to how to be a good baby sitter.

The St. Joseph’s emergency room head nurse will conduct the first-aid workshop; firefighters the class on fire safety, and a children’s social worker the one on personal safety (which deals with inappropriate adult behavior). There will also be a class on drug and alcohol abuse.

Children and their parents will line up outside the auditorium where they will have time to scan the blackboard listings for times and age requirements of all classes. At the door, they will sign up for whatever interests them and then line up and go off to each workshop as a group. Classes will be held every half hour to an hour, with 15 to 35 children in a class. Parents are encouraged to attend with their children so they will be familiar with what is discussed and be able to elaborate on the topics at home.

Reserve police officers will be on hand to provide free photo and fingerprint identification cards for children. They’ll be using regulation FBI cards. Children will be able to tour the center’s labor, delivery and recovery unit to see where babies are born and to peek in at the newborn nursery. Rounding out the day will be refreshments, “Kidasaurus” T-shirts and balloons--all free.

Kid Safe runs today and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free parking is available. Enter on Buena Vista Street at the emergency sign. Information: (818) 843-5111, Ext. 7438.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Scottish Highland Games--The local Scottish community, kilted to a fare-thee-well, gathers at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa this weekend for two days of traditional games, dancing, food and, of course, bagpipe music. Athletic events, held continuously both days, include the crowd-pleasing tossing of the caber--a telephone pole that one person must toss end over end. There’s also hammer throwing, rugby and soccer. Children usually love to watch dogs herd sheep and ducks. In addition to the usual fairgrounds fast food, Scottish treats such as meat pies and bangers will be available. Admission for adults is $7 for one day, $10 for two. Children, 5 to 14, are $2 a day. Younger than 5, free. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Sunday. Information: (714) 548-2946.

St. Elmo’s Village Festival--This is year 17 for this artistic community’s street fair celebration of “Be the best you can be.” There will be almost nonstop entertainment today, Sunday and Monday from noon to dusk. The big show is Sunday at 4 p.m. with Mayor Tom Bradley, Jeff Bridges and Edward James Olmos of “Miami Vice” expected to say a few words. Visitors can see the huge mural, which covers 10 houses and garages, plus an exhibit of less gargantuan art. Admission is free. The festival is at 4832 St. Elmo Drive. Enter off La Brea Avenue, one block south of Venice Boulevard. Information: (213) 935-6123.

CLASSES

Wind Trap Workshop--This weekend’s Sunday Open Sunday workshop at the Junior Arts Center in Barnsdall Park will focus on wind traps, or wind socks, those brightly colored three-dimensional banners that are attached to poles and, once they catch the wind, fly in the breeze. Using fabric and ribbons, artist Cindy Isles will show children and their parents how to create their own wind traps. The free workshop is from 2 to 4 p.m. Barnsdall Park is at 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Information: (213) 485-4474.

FILMS

Film Shorts for Kids--Today at 11 a.m. the Children’s Film and Television Center of America will premiere “The Legend of Firefly Marsh,” a short film about a boy’s quest to discover whether a mysterious monster is real. Also on the 90-minute program: “Circus, Circus,” “Waffles,” “The Shrinking of Treehorn,” “One,” “The Box” and “Fun in Scribbleland.” The screening is at the Rialto Theater, 1923 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena. Admission is $2. The same films will be shown again next Saturday at the USC Norris Cinema Theater. Information: (213) 743-8632.