Around Town (7/20/2015)

Tax credit workshop

The Merced County Department of Community and Economic Development is hosting a workshop Friday on the California Competes Tax Credit to highlight how businesses can apply for tax credits. The workshop will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Castle Airport Conference Center, 1900 Airdrome Entry in Atwater. It is free to businesses of all sizes. To RSVP, go to http://bit.ly/1gIIIEg.

Prop. 47 information

The Merced Organizing Project will host a Proposition 47 information session and reclassification clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 7081 N. Winton Way in Winton. The event, a collaboration with the Merced County Public Defender’s Office and Lifeline CDC, will educate people on Proposition 47 (the Reduced Penalties for Some Crimes Initiative) and help individuals with the application process. Free child care services will be provided. For more information, call 209-872-8405.

Flapjack Fundraiser

The Merced-area Crime Stoppers will host its annual Flapjack Fundraiser from 8 to 9:45 a.m. Aug. 1 at Applebee’s, 1734 W. Olive Ave. The cost is $10 per person. The Crime Stoppers program allows any individual to report information about crimes and criminals and remain anonymous. For more information, call 209-761-5303.

Chicken Dinner-to-Go

The Yosemite Gateway Council of the Blind is holding its annual Barbecue Chicken Dinner-to-Go on Aug. 5. Pickup is available from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at 1240 D St. Orders can be placed by emailing yosemitegatewayccb@gmail.com or by leaving a message at 209-722-8118.

Health fair

Castle Family Health Centers will hold the eighth annual Summer Family Health Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 8 at 3605 Hospital Road in Atwater; admission is free. The event offers free health screenings for vision, hearing, diabetes and blood pressure, as well as breast exams and dental for children. Sports physicals are $25 each and can be obtained Aug. 3-8; call 209-381-2027. There will be free entertainment by five dance groups and music, free lunch, free raffles and activities for children. For more information, call 209-381-2000, ext. 7210.

Barbecue, auction

The Merced County Historical Society will host its 25th annual old-time Western barbecue in memory of Bill Kirby at Lake Yosemite on Sept. 8. The event will feature live and silent auctions for dinners, vacation getaways, antique items, gourmet food and artwork. Tickets are $50 at the Courthouse Museum gift shop. Proceeds benefit museum programs and the Bill and Tom Kirby Agricultural Scholarship at Merced College. For more information, call the museum office at 209-723-2401.

Hunter education class in Merced County

The Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation Los Banos Chapter and California Department of Fish and Wildlife will host a free hunter education class at the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and and 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. Lunch will be provided Saturday. Full attendance is mandatory for both days to complete the requirements to obtain a hunter education certificate. The certificate is required to purchase a hunting license in California. Preregistration is necessary to obtain required class materials by calling 209-564-2070.

Stuff the Bus event in Merced

Donations for the Stuff the Bus event can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Walmart, 3055 Loughborough Drive in Merced. The group is looking for school supplies, school clothing and shoes for teenagers in need, as well as cash donations. Residents can become sponsors by hosting a collection box for school supplies or sponsoring the actual school bus where the group collects all school supply donations. Deadline for sponsorships is Monday. Call 209-385-8990 for more information.

This story was originally published July 19, 2015 at 1:44 PM with the headline "Around Town (7/20/2015)."