Around Town: Artists' receptions set for college art gallery

The Merced College Art Gallery will feature Rebecca Fogg with a reception Jan. 23 from 6 to 7 p.m. at 3600 M St. The title of the exhibit is "Plenty of Ocean" and it will be at the gallery through Feb. 7, 2013. Oscar Torres' "Drawing and Painting" will be at the gallery Jan. 23 to Feb. 29 with a reception Feb. 1 from 6 to 7 p.m. Call (209) 384-6064 or contact french.s@mccd.edu.

Spring college classes focusing on fitness

Merced College Community Services is offering spring 2013 classes, including ones on strength and stretch, fitness boot camp, aikido, zumba, belly dance fitness, yoga and more. To learn more, call (209) 384-6224 or go to http:// mercedcommunityservices. com.

County First 5 program to hold meeting today

First 5 Merced County will hold its monthly commission meeting at 5:15 p.m. today at 676 Loughborough Drive. For more information, call (209) 385-7337 or go to www.first5mercedcounty.org.

Health centers plan classes on gardening

Golden Valley Health Centers offers free monthly gardening classes from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the dental building at 737 W. Childs Ave. The next class is Tuesday, then Feb. 12 and March 12. Call (209) 385-5260.

Sierra Club speaker will focus on food

The Merced Sierra Club will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at Merced United Methodist Church, 899 Yosemite Park Way. The speaker will be Tom Willey and the topic will be "Everyone Who Eats Is a Farmer." Call (209) 723-4747.

Miss Merced County will be crowned soon

ATWATER -- Miss Merced County 2013 will be crowned at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Buhach Colony High School Performing Arts Center at Buhach Road and Avenue Two in Atwater. Former Miss Yosemite Valley title holders Courtney Caron and Jacquelyn Grossman will be the hosts of the show. Admission is $20. For more information, call (209) 261-9363.

Free presentations by mental illness group

Free presentations sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Merced County will be held at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 23 at 480 E. 13th St. Janet Spangler will be the speaker. Call (209) 384-2498.

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.