Notes about your surroundings

Honor Roll--Shirley Dettloff, mayor of Huntington Beach and a member of the California Coastal Commission representing Los Angeles and Orange County, will receive the Conservator of the Year Award on Thursday from the Bolsa Chica Conservancy. The luncheon program begins with a reception at 11:30 a.m. at the Waterfront Hilton Beach Resort, 21100 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach. Tickets cost $65 per person. Dettloff was a founding member of the League for Coastal Protection, the Amigos de Bolsa Chica and the Bolsa Chica Conservancy. Information: (714) 846-1114.

Ship of Ghouls--Beware of slimy, slithering creatures on the Halloween “Blood & Guts” Harbor Cruise offered by the Orange County Marine Institute. Trips aboard the R/V Sea Explorer are from 1:30 to 3 p.m. and 3:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday. Put on your costume and look out for fanged worms and other scary denizens of the sea. Children can trick or treat with the creepy crew. Cost is $11 for adults, $8 for seniors and children 4 to 12 years old. One child will be admitted free with a paying adult. The institute is at 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. (949) 496-2274.

Sky High--Gaze at the moon, Jupiter and Saturn through telescopes at Orange Coast College on Friday in Costa Mesa. Astronomy students will set up 14 telescopes from 6 to 10 p.m. along the western boundary of the Adams Street parking lot on campus. Free. Information: Nicholas Contopoulos, (714) 432-5550, or the mathematics and science division, (714) 432-5846.

Growth Funds--Nonprofit groups can apply for grants ranging from $300 to $1,000 to plant trees on public property. For an application, send a legal-size, self-addressed envelope stamped with 55 cents in postage to: Tree Society of Orange County, c/o Fullerton Arboretum, Cal State Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92834-6850. This year, grants totaling up to $5,000 may be awarded. Information: Dorothy, (714) 992-4967 or Gloria, (714) 879-1938.

* Send items for consideration to Vicky Clepper, The Times Orange County, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Fax: (714) 966-7711.