Around Town (8/19/2015)

Merced-Atwater Tea Party meeting

The Merced-Atwater Tea Party regular monthly meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Atwater Memorial Building, Fifth Street and Broadway Avenue in Atwater. The speaker for the evening will be Stan Thurston, mayor of Merced. The group will also conduct its monthly straw poll for the presidential candidates. This event is open to the public.

Church event to focus on Syrian conflict

Creekside Evangelical Free Church of Merced will host an event about a persecuted church in Syria. The speakers will be the Rev. Nerses Balabanian and his wife Sevan, who grew up and have served in Syria and Lebanon. They will speak about their recent visit to the Middle East and share stories of persecution from Islamic State and the conflict in Syria. The event is at 7 p.m. Saturday at the church, 2876 G St. in Merced. The event is free and open to the public.

Hot August Nights Bunco in Merced

The Wesley Foundation will host its Hot August Nights Bunco at 3 p.m. Aug. 30 at Wesley Hall United Methodist Church, 899 Yosemite Parkway in Merced. The event supports the foundation, a Christian fellowship for college students. Admission is $10 and provides for fun and snacks. There will be prizes awarded for the top point earners as well as for the biggest loser, but no cash prizes. For tickets and more information, call 209-723-9007.

Mental illness education in Merced

NAMI Merced County is offering Family-to-Family, a 12-week class for people who care for or about someone with a serious mental illness. Participants will learn about mental illness, getting care for their loved one and support for themselves, medications, and many other aspects that will help them get through this traumatic situation. One class is offered in English and the other in Spanish. Classes begin at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 3 at 480 E. 13th St. in Merced. Space is limited and preregistration is required. For more information call 209-381-6844 or email namimerced@aol.com.

Merced Senior Club barbecue

The Merced Senior Social Club will host an old-fashioned barbecue with a raffle at 11 a.m. Sept. 4. at 755 W.15th St. in Merced. Admission is $5 and includes a raffle ticket. Tickets sold from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday. For more information, call 209-383-6057.

Merced County Radio Control Club event

The Merced County Radio Control Club presents Combat Mania at 9 a.m. Sept. 5 at 500 S. Bert Crane Road in Atwater. Spectators are welcome. There will be food and drinks for sale. For more information, call (209) 631-1835.

25th Bill Kirby Western 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 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. Call the museum office at 209-723-2401.

Youth behavior issues class

NAMI Basics is a six-week class for parents and caregivers of children whose behavior problems have become alarming. The class is for families looking for help, education and support coping with their child’s problems. Basics begins Oct. 1 at 5:30 p.m. at 480 E. 13th St. in Merced. Space is limited and preregistration is required. For more information, call 209-381-6844 and a volunteer will call back within 24 hours, or email namimerced@aol.com.

This story was originally published August 18, 2015 at 2:58 PM with the headline "Around Town (8/19/2015)."