Around Town (03/21/16)

Meetings with Gray

Assemblyman Adam Gray, D-Merced, will host public coffee meetings Thursday in Atwater and Livingston. Constituents can speak to him in a casual setting to discuss state and legislative issues that affect the community. Gray plans a Gustine meeting at 2 p.m. Tuesday at The Pizza Factory, 447 Fifth St.; one in Los Banos at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Eddie’s Famous Cafe, 401 W Pacheco Blvd; and a Dos Palos meeting at noon March 23 at Mom and Pop’s Diner, 2042 Blossom St.

AARP in March

The March AARP meeting will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Senior Center, 755 W. 15th St. The program features the Bear Creek Ukelele Society, who will play and sing music from the past. The center also plans a “Getting to Know You” segment. Complimentary refreshments will be served. All current members of AARP are urged to attend and bring a guest.

Drought lecture

The fourth event in Merced College’s 2015-16 Performance and Lecture Series features Merced College Landscape Horticulture professor Bryan Tassey, who will discuss what Gov. Jerry Brown’s water reduction mandate means for Merced College and the local community. The lecture is 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Allied Health Center, Room 123, at the 3600 M St. campus. For more information, call 209-386-6644.

LB mixer

The Los Banos Chamber of Commerce’s next mixer is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Office City, 939 Sixth St., Los Banos. For more information, call the chamber at 209-826-2495.

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. The fun happens from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Applegate Park Zoo, 1045 W. 25th St. For more information, call the city’s Parks and Recreation office at 209-385-6298 or email johnsonl@cityofmerced.org.

Plant sale

Merced College will hold its annual plant sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the greenhouses of the college, 3600 M St. There will be tomatoes, peppers, vegetables, herbs, perennials, succulents, fruit and shade trees, and other plants. For more information, call Elaine Valladao at 209-631-2026.

Rummage sale

A rummage sale to benefit Hmong ministries is set for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 2 at St. Paul Lutheran Church library, 2916 N. McKee Road. Items for the sale can be donated from 6 to 8 p.m. April 1 at the Parish Hall of the church. Volunteers are also needed. For more information, call Jan at 209-769-1884.

Merced River Literary Review

Editors of Merced College’s Merced River Literary Review are accepting submissions of poems, short stories, flash fiction, short plays, artwork and creative nonfiction. The deadline to submit original work is midnight April 9. All submissions must be electronic and can be sent to editors@mccd.edu. For a full list of guidelines, call Meg Withers at 209-384-6151 or email her at margaret.withers@mccd.edu.

Adult literacy tutors

The Merced County Literacy Program plans orientation and training for volunteers who would like to become tutors in Merced and surrounding counties. Orientation is from 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 19 at the Merced County Library, 2100 O St. Training is 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. April 22 at the library. To join, call Shirelle King at 209-385-7391 or email shirelle.king@mercedcountylibrary.com.

This story was originally published March 20, 2016 at 2:49 PM with the headline "Around Town (03/21/16)."