Around Town (1-4-13)

Planning Commission

The next meeting of the Merced City Planning Commission will be 7 p.m. Wednesday at 678 W. 18th St. Call (209) 385-6858.

At Playhouse Merced

Playhouse Merced will present the comedy "Dearly Departed" from Jan. 11-20 at the Merced County Arts Council. The playhouse will hold auditions for its next mainstage musical, "Jesus Christ Superstar," at 1 p.m. Jan. 12; all roles are open. Auditions for the "Broadway Sing-Off" will be at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at the playhouse. Call (209) 725-8587 or go to www.playhousemerced.com.

Lions' cioppino dinner

ATWATER -- The Merced Breakfast Lions Club will hold its 33rd annual cioppino dinner at 6 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Atwater APC Hall, 1420 Third St. Tickets are $40 per person. There will be numerous raffle prizes, including Monterey Bay Aquarium tickets, a big-screen TV and more. Call (209) 384-0727 or email kharrison@mercedbreakfastlions.org.

Museum docent training

The Merced County Courthouse Museum will hold its annual docent training from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 19 at the museum, 21st and N streets. Coffee and breakfast rolls will be provided. Make a reservation by calling (209) 723-2401. New and returning docents are welcome.

Merced SPCA meeting

The Merced Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals meets the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 500 Buena Vista Drive, except when the first Monday is a holiday. Call (209) 723-8953 or (209) 384-7722.

If you would like to have your event announced in the Around Town Column, send your information to Connie Hodges at least 10 days prior to the event, at chodges@mercedsunstar.com. Items run according to space available.