Around Town (1/9/15)
Mental illness
The National Alliance on Mental Illness Merced County is offering Family-to-Family, a 12-week class for people who care for someone with a serious mental illness. Family members and friends learn about the brain, what happens when mental illness strikes, getting care for their loved one and support for themselves, medications, communicating and many other aspects that will help them get through a traumatic situation. One class is offered in English and the other in Spanish. The classes begin at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 15. For more information, call (209) 381-6844 and a volunteer will call back within 24 hours; or email namimerced@aol.com.
Beginners tai chi
A class for beginners in tai chi is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Jan. 20 at United Methodist Church, 11695 Olive Ave. in Livingston. The class is taught by George Balliet. For more information, call (209) 394-2264.
Genealogical Society
The Merced County Genealogical Society will meet at 1 p.m. Jan. 24 in the Gracey Room of the Merced County Library, 2100 O St. Get started learning how to trace roots at the society’s annual program for beginners with a free packet of materials, forms and tips to help find ancestors. The meeting is open to all; no membership is required.
Crab, cioppino
Buhach Pentecost Inc. will hold its All You Can Eat Crab Cioppino Dinner on Feb. 7 at 2880 N. Buhach Road. Adults $45, children $20. No-host cocktails at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. Dancing to live music by Flashback from 8 p.m. to midnight. For more information, call (209) 752-2503 or (209) 499-9097.
Cease-fire dinner
Feet Changing Lives, the organization that maintains Merced Ceasefire walks, plans its second annual fundraising dinner at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Merced Senior Center, 755 W. 15th St. Tickets are $25 per person, and the doors open at 5:30 p.m. For more information or to buy tickets, call (209) 676-9824, (209) 600-9458 or (209) 769-3050, or email feetchanginglives@gmail.com.
Grief sharing
Central Presbyterian Church is hosting a 13-week Grief Share Group every Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. The group will meet at the Hoffmeister Center, 1920 Canal St. For more information and/or to RSVP, call the church office at (209) 723-0491.
Weight loss
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.
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 8, 2015 at 6:01 PM with the headline "Around Town (1/9/15)."