Around Town (6/11/15)
Merced Sun-Star business awards
The Merced Sun-Star on Wednesday launched a new program aimed to recognize the community’s best businesses and their owners. The Excellence in Business program will grant eight awards to area businesses, and one person in the community will receive the Hall of Fame award. Winners will be announced July 29 in the Sun-Star. To nominate a business or to nominate a person for the Hall of Fame award, click here. The deadline to submit nominations is July 16.
African American Catholic Ministry
The African American Catholic Ministry of Merced will host an educational meeting and work to form an action group to prevent excessive use of force by law enforcement. The meeting will include a viewing of the film “Selma,” with guest speakers afterward. The event begins at 2 p.m. Sunday at 671 E. Yosemite Ave. RSVP by email to rhpjack@aol.com or by calling (209) 777-1361.
Iraqi survivor
The Merced County Republican Women will host a survivor from Saddam Hussein’s regime as speaker at 11:30 a.m. Monday at the Branding Iron. The meeting begins at 11:30 a.m. with lunch served at noon. Lydia Kano, born in Baghdad, says she is one of four children who survived Saddam’s regime. With the help of her parents, she came to the U.S. in 1979 and is now an American citizen with a college degree. She will talk about the Islamic State and the genocide of Assyrian Christians. To make reservations, call (209) 812-4398 or (209) 761-0550 by June 11. For more information, call Veronika at (209) 349-3971.
High-Speed Rail Authority open house
The HSR Authority will have an open house meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. June 17 at Madera Community College, Room TM-11, 30277 Avenue 12, Madera. For more information, call (559) 385-7025 or (559) 248-6373.
Merced-Atwater tea party meeting
The Merced-Atwater tea party’s regular monthly meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 18 at the Atwater Memorial Building, Fifth Street and Broadway Avenue in Atwater. The speaker will be Eric Eisenhammer, founder of the Coalition of Energy Users. He will be talking about the California Air Resources Board, fracking, gas taxes and job creation. This event is open to the public.
Genealogy lecture
Barbara Washburn is the speaker this month at the Merced County Genealogical Society meeting. Washburn is a family history specialist with more than 20 years of experience. Her topic is “Finding Lost Cousins and Living Relatives.” The meeting is at 1 p.m. June 20 in the Gracey Room, Merced County Library, 2100 O St. The meeting is open to the public.
Woman of the Year nominations
Nominations are being taken for the 2015 Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce’s Woman of the Year. The award will be presented during the chamber’s annual installation and awards banquet June 25. For more information, an application and guidelines, call (209) 384-7092.
If you would like to have an event announced in Around Town, send information to aroundtown@mercedsunstar.com at least 10 days before the event. Items run according to space available.
This story was originally published June 10, 2015 at 2:58 PM with the headline "Around Town (6/11/15)."