“HAVE A LITTLE FAITH” SNEAK PREVIEW
The Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts will present a free exclusive sneak preview screening of best-selling author Mitch Albom’s “Have A Little Faith,” starring Laurence Fishburne, Bradley Whitford, Anika Noni Rose and Martin Landau.

Albom is the best-selling author of “Tuesdays With Morrie” and “Five People You Meet In Heaven.” The free screening will be held on Friday, Nov. 18 at 9 p.m. at the Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts in the Saban Theatre; 8440 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills.  The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with special guests led by Rabbi David Baron.

PROGRAMS AT DESCANSO
Enjoy the garden inside and out this November when Descanso Gardens presents programs sure to increase enjoyment of plants. Enjoy guided walks in the Gardens, learn new moves with your pruners and visit a local floral landmark.

Heritage Oak Walk takes place on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m.: Experience the giants in the Descanso landscape, the Coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia). These trees, some centuries old, are the remainders of a forest that once blanketed the region. Descanso curator Wen Wang leads this informative walk. Free with Gardens admission. At the Center Circle.

Register for classes at the Visitor Center or by phoning (818) 949-7980. Admission to Descanso Gardens is $8 general, $6 seniors/students with I.D., $3 children 5 to 12; children 4 and younger free.

ACCARDI, QUESADE READING AT FLINTRIDGE BOOKSTORE
Moonday East welcomes poets Millicent Borges Accardi and Ruben Quesada for the Nov. 20 reading. The reading will take place 2 p.m. at the Flintridge Bookstore in La Cañada.

Millicent Borges Accardi, a Portuguese-American poet, is the author of three books: “Injuring Eternity,” “Woman on a Shaky Bridge,” and forthcoming in 2012, “Only More So.” She has won fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the California Arts Council among others. Her work has also received three Pushcart Prize nominations. Accardi’s poetry has appeared in over 50 publications

A native of Los Angeles and a first-generation Costa Rican American, Ruben Quesada’s debut collection of poetry is titled “Next Extinct Mammal” (Greenhouse Review Press, 2011). He holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of California, Riverside and is a PhD candidate in English at Texas Tech University where he teaches English and creative writing. He also curates “Codex Journal,” a quarterly journal of poetry and poetics. Awards include residencies from the Squaw Valley Community of Writers, Idyllwild Arts Academy, Lambda Literary Foundation Retreat, Vermont Studio Center, Santa Fe Art Institute and Napa Valley Writers’ Conference.

Moonday is hosted by Alice Pero and Lois P. Jones. The East Side reading occurs on the third Sunday of every month from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a feature and open mic. Find future features at: www.moondaypoetry.com

Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse is located at 1010 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada Flintridge, at the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Angeles Crest Highway.  For more information, call (818) 790-0717.

OSMOND NAMED GRAND MARSHAL OF HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE
Marie Osmond, television/film star and Grammy Award nominated recording artist will reign as the grand marshal of the historic 80th anniversary Hollywood Christmas Parade benefiting Marine Toys for Tots and presented by The City of Los Angeles and Associated Television International. The parade takes place on Sunday, Nov. 27 at 6 p.m.  Erik Estrada and Laura McKenzie will serve as broadcast hosts of the parade and Dean Cain will serve as host of the music portion of the nationally televised special of the parade airing on the Hallmark Channel on Monday, Dec. 12, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time/Pacific Standard Time) and 5 p.m. (Central Time). The parade is scheduled to air on additional days and times throughout the holiday season on the Hallmark Channel, the Hallmark Movie Channel and in syndication across the country.  This year’s parade will include celebrities from film, television and stage; award winning bands; colorful equestrians; ornate floats, balloons and specialty characters.

CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY
A Christmas choral concert is being performed by the Towne Singers, a 92-member chorus from local communities

The concert is being held on Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. at Pasadena First United Methodist Church. Tickets prices are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Children under age 11 are $8.

Pasadena First United Methodist Church, 500 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena

GEARING UP FOR PARADE
The 35th Annual Montrose Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 3. Those wishing to participate as a sponsor and be part of the parade publicity, become a parade participant, or get information on the parade should visit the parade website www.montrosechristmasparade.com for all parade entry forms and information.

You may also call (818) 259-5195 for information.

GLEN ED/SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES MEETING
Glendale Education/Social Justice Advocates will meet from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at the Pacific Park Library, 501 S. Pacific Ave. to discuss issues affecting our schools.

For more information, contact gesja_email@yahoo.com or (818) 248 4967.

QUARTERBACK CLUB HOLDING MEETINGS
The Glendale YMCA Quarterback Club meets every Tuesday until Thanksgiving at the Glendale Elks Club at 11:30 a.m. There are guest speakers and coaches from local schools Glendale Community College, Glendale High, Hoover High, Crescenta Valley High, St. Francis High and Village Christian High Schools update the membership on their progress through the season.

Lunch is $16, membership is $50. Call (818) 240-0897 with questions.

Glendale Elks Club, 120 E. Colorado Blvd., Glendale

COMMUNITY OUTREACH WORKSHOP
The public is invited to attend a free event at the La Crescenta Library on Wednesday, Dec. 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to learn about foreclosures/short sales /loan modifications, notices of default /bankruptcies and more.

There will be a panel of experts in the fields of accounting, distressed property, law, mortgage lending, loss mitigation, etc. to answer questions. For more information, call Mark at (818) 470-1101.

La Crescenta Library, 2809 Foothill Blvd., La Crescenta

FOREST LAWN TO HOLD ANNUAL CANDLE LIGHTING MEMORIAL SERVICES
Forest Lawn® will again hold its annual candle lighting memorial services this holiday season.  Services are being held on Dec. 12 at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills, Hall of Liberty Plaza, 6300 Forest Lawn Dr. On Dec. 13 a Spanish service will be held. On Dec. 14, Forest Lawn-Glendale, Museum Plaza, 1712 Glendale Ave. will hold a service. On Dec. 15 a Spanish service will be held.

Each of the services will be held from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will feature holiday songs, inspirational messages and candle lighting in memory of a family member or friend. Refreshments will be served following the services. The services are open to all community members at no charge.

VHH OFFERS BEGINNINGS
The Verdugo Hills Hospital BEGINNINGS Family Education Program offers babysitting classes designed for boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 15. The babysitting class is an interactive course that teaches participants valuable skills, including infant/child CPR, basic first aid, home/auto safety, accident prevention, telephone skills, safety tips, when to call 911, poison control, fire/earthquake plans and other helpful childcare advice. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a babysitting course completion certificate.

Upcoming babysitting class is Nov. 26. The class is a single, one-time class, held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at VHH in the Council Room (located on the fourth floor).

Class fee is $35/person. Reservations are required. For more information or to register, call (818) 952-2272. For a list of additional classes offered by the Family Education Program, visit www.vhhospital.org.

VHH, 1812 Verdugo Blvd., Glendale, 91208