Around Town (8/6/2015)

Pre-kindergarten registration underway

Registration for pre-kindergarten and transitional kindergarten at Bear Country Preschool and continues through the of the month. Parents will have the chance to meet teachers and review the curriculum at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Bear Country Preschool on 2115 Wardrobe Ave. Classes being Aug. 17. For more information, call 209-722-2327.

Merced pianist Doug Rowan in concert

Merced native Douglas Rowan will host a free solo piano recital at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Lakireddy Auditorium at UC Merced. Rowan, a 2014 Golden Valley High School graduate, attends Brigham Young University – Idaho as a piano performance major. Douglas also is attending the Chautauqua Institution in New York. The recital will be free. Donations will be accepted and will benefit the Golden Valley Cardinal Regime and jazz bands.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony in Los Banos

The Los Banos Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony 10 a.m. Tuesday for Surf’s Up Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, 107 W. Pacheco Blvd. in Los Banos. For more information, call 209-826-2495.

Exhibit reception at arts center

A free reception for the exhibit “Enlightened Perspectives: Interdisciplinary Art – A Mixed Media Show” will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 14 at the Merced County Arts Center, 645 W. Main St. The exhibit showcases the collaborative work of UC Merced science researchers and local artists. Refreshments and snacks will be served. The exhibit runs through Sept. 29.

Barbecue Rib Cook-Off at Club Mercedes

Club Mercedes will hold its second annual Barbecue Rib Cook-Off Aug. 15 at 569 W. Ninth St. Doors open at noon. Cover charge is $5 per person, 21 and older. Food and beverages are available for an extra charge. Music will be by D.J. Chill Zo from 2 to 4 p.m. and the Kowhoon Band from 4 to 9 p.m. Space is still available to enter the cook-off. For more information, call 209-383-9906 or 209-769-7252.

Harvest of Hope charitable dinner

Catholic Charities Merced will host its first Harvest of Hope event Aug. 28 at St. Patrick’s Parish, 671 E. Yosemite Ave. No-host cocktails will be at 6 p.m., followed by a barbecue dinner at 7 p.m. The event will raise funds to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and other causes. Organizers are seeking sponsors. Individual tickets are $75 apiece. For more information or to buy tickets, call 209-386-3718.

25th Bill Kirby Western Barbecue & Auction

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 cost $50 and are on sale in 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.

Merced High Class of ’65 reunion

Merced High School Class of 1965 will hold its 50th Reunion at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Branding Iron Restaurant, 640. W. 16th St. in Merced. No host bar, dinner $35. For more information, contact Linda Boyer Roland at croland@prodigy.net or 209-383-3312.

Cancer patient drivers

The American Cancer Society is seeking volunteers for its Road to Recovery program, in which volunteers drive cancer patients to treatments. Volunteers can arrange their own schedules. Volunteers with a reliable car, a current driver’s license and insurance are desired. For more information, call 800-227-2345 or go to www.cancer.org.

Children’s play group in Merced

Challenged Family Resource Center is offering a play group for children up to 5 years old from 11 a.m. to noon each Tuesday at 827 W. 20th St. For more information, call 209-385-5314.

Shoe drive

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Merced County has launched a fundraiser seeking donations of old shoes, slippers, flip-flops, cleats, and roller skates. The shoes support the program as well as individuals in developing nations such as Ghana. Shoes can be dropped off at the CASA office, 2824 Park Ave., Suite A. For more information, call 209-722-2272.

Story time in Merced, Livingston

Come join the fun at 10 a.m. Wednesdays for Baby Story Time and at 10:30 and 11:15 a.m. Fridays for Preschool Story Times at the Merced County Library, 2100 O St. Preschool Story Time is 10:30 a.m. Thursdays at the Livingston library, 1212 Main St. Story time helps increase children’s print awareness and vocabulary and instills a love of books. For more information, call the Merced library at 209-385-7484 or the Livingston library at 209-394-7330.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly

Take Off Pounds Sensibly meets Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at 2300 Cascade Drive in the clubhouse at Castle Vista. For more information, call 209-628-9720.

New Beginnings Merced

New Beginnings Merced is a nonprofit dedicated to saving shelter animals and finding them new homes. The group needs volunteers, especially those who can care for kittens or dogs and their puppies for a short time. Help with photographing shelter animals is needed, as are people who can transport them to rescue organizations, for which no personal vehicles are needed. For more information, call 209-769-2122.

This story was originally published August 5, 2015 at 2:56 PM with the headline "Around Town (8/6/2015)."