Around Town: Party at the barn

LE GRAND -- The Le Grand boosters club will host a dinner and dance Saturday. A social hour at 6 p.m. precedes a tri-tip and chicken dinner at

7 and dancing at 9 at Bright's Party Barn, 16120 Buchanan Hollow Road. Tickets are $30 a piece and there will be a silent and live auction. For more information, call (209) 389-9400.

MERCED

Connie Hodges -

Steven Stayner memorial

Community members who would like to make a donation to the Steven Stayner and Missing Children's Memorial is asked to make checks payable to the City of Merced Steven Stayner Trust Fund and mail it to 3387 San Fernando Ct., Merced, CA 95340. The donations will pay for a statue of two figures -- Steven Stayner at 15 and Timmy White at 5 -- to stand in the entrance to Applegate Park at 26th and M streets and will commemorate Stayner's heroic act of rescuing Timmy from a pedophile.

MERCED

Picnic indoors

Merced Chapter 282 of AARP will have its annual indoor picnic, starting with a short business meeting at 9:45 a.m. and lunch at 11 a.m. on Aug. 27 at the Merced Community Senior Center, 755 W. 15th St. Nick Koury will entertain. Tickets must be purchased in advance; none will be sold at the door.

MERCED

'50s night slated

St. Paul Lutheran Church and School will host a 50s Night from 6 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 5 at the church, 2916 N. McKee Road. There will be a classic car show with carhops and root beer floats and hamburgers will be served. Those who want to show their car or want more information, call (209) 383-3302.

ATWATER

Fiesta helps missions

A Taco Fiesta luncheon will be held on Sept. 6 at the Casablanca Restaurant, 2811 Shaffer Road. A social hour at 11 a.m. precedes the noon luncheon where patrons build their own tacos. Cost is $16 of which $5 will go to the missions. For more information or to make reservations, call (209) 723-9858.

MERCED

Fundraiser turns 18

The Merced County Historical Society's 18th annual Western BBQ and Auction will be held at 5 p.m. on Sept. 9 at Lake Yosemite. The event will start with appetizers then try slow-roasted seasoned pork and barbecued beef with bread, salad, marinated tomatoes and Bill Kirby's famous chuckwagon beans, followed by dessert and coffee.

Bigler Sound and Performance will sponsor the music and there will be a silent auction during the cocktail hour. Tickets are $40 each and drinks are on the house. For more information, call (209) 723-2401.

ATWATER

Golf at Del Rey

The Ebony Socialites of Atwater will host the eighth annual golf tournament at

8 a.m. on Sept. 13 at the Rancho Del Rey Golf Club. Cost is $75 and includes green fees, cart rental, lunch and numerous prizes. Proceeds will help support the group's high school scholarship program for 2008-2009. For more information, call (209) 769-2728.

If you would like to have your event announced in the Around Town Column, send your information to Connie Hodges at least one week prior to the event, at chodges@mercedsunstar.com. Items run according to space available.