Around Town: Artists' receptions set for college art gallery

The Merced College Art Gallery will feature Rebecca Fogg with a reception Wednesday 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. Oscar Torres' "Drawing and Painting" will be at the gallery Wednesday through Feb. 29 with a reception 6 to 7 p.m. Feb. 1. Call (209) 384-6064 or email french.s@mccd.edu.

Communication will be focus of workshops

Merced College and the Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce will offer professional development workshops on communication in the workplace from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Jan. 31 at 630 W. 19th St. Cost is $23. Participants will earn a half-unit of college credit. Call (209) 386-6733 or visit http://customerserviceacademy.org.

UC Merced to offer writing project series

The UC Merced Writing Project Outreach Series 2013 will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, March 9 and April 20 at 5200 N. Lake Road, Room 209. Cost is $50 per person. Call (209) 381-6559 or email xthao2@ucmerced.edu.

Salad buffet luncheon scheduled for church

Veritas Parlor No. 75 invites the public to attend its annual Children's Foundation salad buffet luncheon at 11 a.m. Feb. 2 at United Methodist Church, 899 Yosemite Park Way. Raffles and drawings for children's book sets and other items will be held. Call (209) 722-3747.

New county librarian to be welcomed Feb. 4

Friends of the Merced County Library invites the public to welcome the new Merced County librarian, Diane Satchwell, at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 4 in the Gracey Room, 2100 O St. Call (209) 580-4182 or email edit2enth@aol.com.

Atwater church will be site for USDA handout

ATWATER -- Effective Feb. 13, the site for the USDA commodities handout will be Atwater Baptist Church, 2124 First St. It occurs the second Wednesday of every month. Call (209) 726-3663.

Mental illness support groups held biweekly

Merced County National Alliance on Mental Illness holds biweekly support groups for families affected by serious mental illness. Call (209) 381-6844; a volunteer will return the call within 48 hours.

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.