Around Town (12/14/15)
AARP meeting: Home fire alarms
The AARP Merced monthly meeting will be Wednesdayfrom 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Merced Senior Community Center, 755 W. 15th St. The Fire Department will talk about the home fire alarm program. After the meeting, lunch will be served for $5 and desserts will be provided by members. The meeting is open to the public.
Republican Women Christmas meeting
The Merced County Republican Women’s next meeting will feature a performance by the Classic Christmas Carolers, who will wear “old-fashioned caroler” costumes and stroll around tables. The meeting is set for 11:30 a.m. Dec. 21, and lunch will be served at noon at the Branding Iron. If you plan on having lunch, call 209-812-4398 or 209-761-0550 by Dec. 16. They will also be collecting Toys for Tots.
Christmas Eve celebration
Join ISMA Ministries Inc. in celebrating Jesus this Christmas season from 3 to 6 p.m. Dec. 24 at McCombs Youth Center, 615 W. 15th St. Refreshments are provided. This event is free. For more information, call 209-725-1761.
CASA volunteer training class
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Merced County will begin a new volunteer advocate training class Jan. 20. An orientation is scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 29. CASA is a nonprofit organization that trains volunteers to provide support and advocacy for abused and neglected children in the Merced County Foster Care System. For more information, call 209-722-227.
Rose-pruning workshop
The Atwater Garden Club will offer a free rose-pruning workshop at 1 p.m. Jan. 9 at Bloss Memorial Rose Garden on Cedar Avenue. For more information, call 209-357-9422.
Mariposa Kops for Kids
The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office and its Deputy Sheriff’s Association is seeking donations for its 19th annual Kops for Kids program. Donations go toward toys for children whose parents cannot afford to give them Christmas presents. Monetary donations or new and unwrapped toys can be sent via mail to the sheriff’s office at P.O. Box 276, Mariposa, CA 95338 or dropped off at the sheriff’s office at 5099 Old Highway in Mariposa. Checks can be made payable to the Mariposa County Deputy Sheriff’s Association. For parents or guardians of children under 18, applications to register for the program are available at the Mariposa County Human Services Building, 5362 Lemme Lane.
Toys for Tots
The U.S. Marine Corps, with help from American Legion Riders Chapter No. 83, is collecting new and unwrapped toys to help local children. Donors who bring a toy will receive a free meal Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The meal – which consists of a hamburger, potato salad and baked beans, and also may be purchased for $6 – will be served at the American Legion Building, 939 W. Main St. For more information, call Linda Perry at 209-769-8499.
Mental illness classes
Family-to-Family Education weekly classes will be offered beginning Jan. 7 at 480 E. 13th St. from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The National Alliance on Mental Illness’ Family-to-Family Education Program is a 12-week course for family members of individuals with severe brain disorders including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, clinical depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Instruction and course materials are free to class participants. The course discusses the clinical treatment of these illnesses and teaches the knowledge and skills family members need to cope more effectively. For more information, call 209-381-6844, e-mail namimerced@aol.com or go to http://namimerced.org.
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 December 13, 2015 at 3:30 PM with the headline "Around Town (12/14/15)."