About your surroundings

Color It Free--Recycled latex paint in a variety of colors is being offered to nonprofit and government organizations for community improvements by the Orange County Integrated Waste Management Department. The new paint product is custom mixed, requires a minimum order of 50 gallons and takes about one month to receive. Beige paint, which has been given out for the past four years, is available immediately with a minimum five-gallon order.

The paint is a blend of 50% new paint and 50% recycled paint collected from the department’s four household hazardous waste collection centers. Designed for exterior use only, the paint has been used in the past for graffiti cover-up, housing rehabilitation, city beautification projects, church and charity projects and community clean-up programs.

To obtain the free paint, call Jeri Muth at (714) 834-4118 or Tim Grogan at (714) 834-4131. If you have leftover latex paint you would like to recycle or questions regarding the safe disposal of other household hazardous waste, call the Information Hotline at (714) 834-6752.

Hiss-tory--Paleontologist Mark Roeder will be teaching two workshops, on sharks and reptiles, Monday at the Vincent Jorgensen Community Center next to the Mariners Branch Library, 2005 Dover Drive, Newport Beach. “Slimy Creatures--Reptiles” meets from 1-3 p.m. and “Sharks!” meets from 3:30-5:30 p.m. The workshops are for children 7 to 12 years old. Cost is $15 each. Information: (714) 644-3151.

Outdoor Classroom--During the winter break, children 6 to 10 years old can explore nature and science at the Oak Canyon Nature Center weekdays from Dec. 30 to Jan. 10. Each day’s session focuses on a special nature topic and may include trail walks, games, crafts, activities, experiments and live animal presentations. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Participants should bring a sack lunch. Cost is $8 per class. The nature center is at 6700 E. Walnut Canyon Road, just off Nohl Ranch Road near the Anaheim Hills Golf Course. Information: (714) 998-8380.