Around Town (03/16/16)

Food bank boxes

Merced County Food Bank’s Drought Food Assistance Program is a free temporary program designed to provide assistance to people in Merced County. Those receiving a food box will be asked to self-certify that they live in a household where drought conditions have caused underemployment or unemployment, or reduced their income. People can receive the roughly 30-pound boxes of food up to two times a week. The Merced County Food Bank at 2000 W. Olive Ave. is open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday. For more, call 209-726-3663.

MHS Class of 1966

Invitations have been mailed for the 50-year reunion of Merced High School’s Class of 1966 to be held Sept. 24. If you have not received your invitation, email Sharon Spinardi at classof66mhs@gmail.com or call Kay Morgan at 209-725-0182.

Family-style meal

The Italian Catholic Federation plans a family-style polenta and chicken dinner with wine from 5 to 7 p.m. March 23 at the Italo-American Lodge, 1351 W 18th St. Adults eat for $15, children for $7.50. Proceeds benefit scholarships and other programs. Tickets available from Robyn Piro at 209-383-4817 or email priorl@aol.com. No tickets sold at the door.

Elks breakfast

Merced Elks plan a meal 8 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Merced Elks Lodge, 1910 M St. Pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs and fruit, with juice and coffee is $6 for adults, $3 for children. Profits go to Merced Elks Park Children’s Charity and Trust. For more, call Clint at 209-761-6801.

Free baseball clinic

The El Capitan High varsity baseball team plans a free baseball clinic for all ages from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday March 19 from 9:30 to 12:30 p.m. at the school’s baseball field, 100 Farmland Ave. Check-in is at 9 a.m. Players should bring a glove, hat, sneakers or cleats, and long pants. Bats and helmets are optional. For more, call Coach Ruiz at 209-631- 7606.

Easter at the zoo

Applegate’s Easter Extravaganza will include an egg-coloring station, Easter egg scavenger hunt, spring crafts, games, a bounce house and an opportunity to pet bunnies from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 25 and 26 at Applegate Park Zoo, 1045 W. 25th St. For more, call the city’s parks and recreation office at 209-385-6298 or email johnsonl@cityofmerced.org.

‘Macbeth’

Merced Shakespearefest presents “Macbeth” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Merced Theatre, 301 W. Main St. Tickets are $15 general, $10 for students. Visit the box office, call 209-381-0500 or go to www.mercedtheatre.org. For more information, call 209-723-3265.

Motorcycle run

The Atwater Kiwanis Club and Blue Star Moms of Merced plan the 11th annual motorcycle ride called Veterans Memorial Support the Troops Run at 10 a.m. April 9. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at Merced Power Sports, 265 W. 15th St. For more, call 209-617-8552, email president@star212.org or go to www.star12.org.

New museum exhibit

Merced County Courthouse Museum kicks off its new exhibit “Gold Fever! The Untold Stories of California’s Gold Rush” with an open house at 5 p.m. March 17 at the museum, 21st and N streets. Merced author and educator Eugene Hart will present at 6 p.m. For more, call 209-723-2401.

This story was originally published March 15, 2016 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Around Town (03/16/16)."