Around Town (12-03-14)

HIV/AIDS discussion

There will be a roundtable discussion about HIV/AIDS from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the LGBT Center, 1744 G St., Suite H, Merced. The discussion will be lead by the Merced County Department of Public Health.

Candy Cane Christmas Bazaar

The United Methodist Women will have their 84th annual bazaar from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at 899 Yosemite Parkway in Merced. There will be an 11:30 a.m. luncheon. Tickets are $10. Call Joyce at (209) 617-8119 for tickets or information. There will be attic treasures, a silent auction, the candy room, bake shop, boutique and handmade items room, jam/jelly room, Christmas room, egg rolls and Hmong stitchery.

Nativity festival

The public is invited to a Nativity Festival from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday at the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1108 E. Yosemite Ave., Merced. The event will include more than 200 Nativity scenes from around the world and musical presentations.

Republican women meeting

The Merced County Republican Women will meet Dec. 15 at the Branding Iron, 640 W. 16th St., Merced. Meet and greet at 11:30 a.m., lunch at noon. Those planning to have lunch should call (209) 812-4398 or (209) 378-2202 by Dec. 11 to reserve. The meeting will include a guest speaker from the Salvation Army. Members are asked to bring food items to donate to the Salvation Army and unwrapped toys for the Toys for Tots program. For further information, call (209) 349-3971.

Dos Palos Christmas parade

The 20th annual Downtown Dos Palos Christmas Parade will start at 6 p.m. Thursday. It will start at D.E.S. Park, down Blossom Street to Center Avenue, turn left and end at the Scout hut at Center Avenue and Marguerite Street. Afterward will be the mayor’s lighting of the Christmas tree and a visit from Santa Claus. For details, call organizers at (209) 704-1053 or Shelley Wright at (209) 509-6529.

Foster children’s Christmas

The Merced County Foster Parents Association will have a Christmas party for foster children on Dec. 13. The group is looking for donations of money, toys, clothing, diapers and canned food to benefit the children. For more on the program, call Louise Klock at (209) 658-0445.

SPCA Christmas Home Tour

The Merced SPCA’s 22nd Annual Christmas Home Tour will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 14. Tickets are $15 each. Proceeds benefit the SPCA Adoption Center. After the tour, there will be a raffleat Vista Ranch, 7326 Highway 140, Merced. Tickets are available at Maciel and Co., A Blooming Affair, Wash and Wag, Christina’s Fine Clothing and Expressions of Love Floral. For more information, call (209) 384-7722.

BloodSource seeks donations

BloodSource Merced is hosting its 2014 Season of Giving drive until Dec. 31. Those who donate blood will receive a commemorative T-shirt and other items. Last year more than 900 people gave blood, helping to save more than 2,700 lives. The group hopes to collect more than 1,000 donations this month to help 3,000 local patients in need. BloodSouce is located at 382 E. Yosemite Ave. in Merced and 1040 W. Monte Vista Ave. in Turlock. For more information, visit bloodsource.org or call (866) 822-5663 to schedule a donation appointment.

Planada Christmas tree lighting

The annual youth community Christmas tree lighting in Planada is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Houlihan Park, near Gage Street and East Stanford Avenue. The event is free.

Lions Club collects eyeglasses

Livingston Lions Club has five new collection points for used eyeglasses in Livingston: Livingston Rite Aid, Livingston Medical Center, True Value, Livingston Fitness and Liberty Market. Used eyeglasses will be recycled to people in need around the world. Call Jill at (209) 489-7533 for more information about the Livingston Lions Club.

This story was originally published December 2, 2014 at 4:30 PM with the headline "Around Town (12-03-14)."