Around Town (01/04/16)
Merced SPCA membership meeting
The first 2016 membership meeting of the Merced Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at First Baptist Church, 500 Buena Vista Drive. The meeting is open to the public. Merced SPCA promotes the prevention of cruelty to animals in Merced County and educates the public on animal care and the benefit of spaying and neutering, while encouraging responsible adoption of pets to loving and permanent homes. Hundreds of discarded pets are placed in permanent homes each year by Merced SPCA, a no-kill shelter for dogs and cats. For more information about the meeting or to volunteer to help the Merced SPCA, call the shelter at 209-384-7722.
Behavioral Health board meeting
The next meeting of the Merced County Behavioral Health board will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Mental Health Department, 1137 B St. The meeting is open to the public.
Mental illness classes
Family-to-Family Education weekly classes will be offered beginning Thursday 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, email namimerced@aol.com or go to http://namimerced.org.
Grant, award opportunities at Courthouse Museum
The Merced County Historical Society is accepting nominations and applications for history awards and grants from $200 to $2,500. Application forms are available at the museum office or by calling 209-723-2401. Completed applications must be received by Friday and should be sent to: Merced County Courthouse Museum, 21st and N streets, Merced, CA 95340. All of the awards and grants will be presented at the Historical Society’s annual meeting in February.
Winter Coat Drive
The United Way Of Merced County’s Winter Coat Drive runs until Jan. 30. The following items can be donated: coats, hats, gloves, boots, shoes, scarves, snow pants. Items can be dropped off at 658 W. Main St. For more information, call 209-383-4242.
Library volunteers
The Friends of the Merced County Library bookstore, just inside the main branch at 2100 O St., offers hardbacks, paperbacks, CDs, DVDs, VCR tapes, children’s books, audiobooks and other items for sale. All are donated. Prices range from 25 cents to $2. All proceeds go to the library to buy new materials.
Free venue rentals
The Pacheco Village and Pacheco Court apartments in Los Banos offer free venue rentals. The rental includes a meeting space with a capacity of up to 60 and well-equipped club rooms with kitchens. It is available for local clubs, organizations, churches and nonprofit agencies to use for meetings and activities. For more information, call 209-826-8300 or go to the leasing office at 2241 Gilbert Gonzalez Jr. Drive.
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 January 3, 2016 at 2:34 PM with the headline "Around Town (01/04/16)."