Briefing RSM Thru Nov. 24: Worthwhile Events This Week

By Martin Henderson

A look at what's going down and coming up for Rancho Santa Margarita and residents of the surrounding area. 

• UFC Gym in Rancho Santa Margarita is holding a food drive, and today is Macaroni Monday. You can drop off food items during the fitness studio's business hours. It benefits Second Harvest Food Bank in Orange County, and with every can/item donated through Nov. 26, get a raffle ticket for UFC Gym gear. Click here for more details.

• Looking to invest in real estate but don't know how to do it? A free workshop in Mission Viejo is Tuesday, 6 p.m. Click here for details. You'll need to RSVP. 

• Looking to dine out on Wednesday, and support a good cause at the same time? Dine at Selma's Chicago Pizzeria and the restaurant will donate 20 percent of the food bill to raising awareness for men's health and prostate cancer; one catch, you'll have to mention "Movember" when placing the order. Click here for more details. 

• Ask the superintendent anything. Joe Farley, the head man of the Capistrano Unified School District, will take questions from the public Wednesday, 7 p.m., at the Performing Arts Center at Capistrano Valley High in Mission Viejo. Anticipated topics include the district’s new funding mechanism, its transition to the Common Core state standards, and other items of interest to stakeholders.

• Thinking about homeschooling your child? Crown Homeschool Co-op meets Wednesdays in Rancho Santa Margarita. Click here for some additional details.

• Folk/pop singer songwriter Dan Krikorian, who has the distinction of having penned the official theme song of Costa Mesa (his hometown), performs Thursday at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. Tickets are $12.

• A few years ago, Tesoro did everybody's dirty work and knocked top-seeded Servite out of the Southern Section playoffs. On Friday, the Titans will have a similar task as they play at Bellflower St. John Bosco hoping to KO one of the nation's best teams in the second round of the Pac-5 playoffs. On the bottom half of the bracket, second-seeded Mission Viejo has a tough battle at Santa Ana Stadium when it takes on Mater Dei. It takes three more wins to claim a championship. 

• The second annual OC Jingle Bell Run/Walk takes place Sunday in Laguna Niguel to benefit the Arthritis Foundation. Click here for details.