Around Town (05/02/16)
Ramp closure
A PG&E project on the California Department of Transportation right-of-way will close the Atwater Boulevard offramp from southbound Highway 99 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday. Emergency services, if needed, will be allowed to use the exit; there will be crews on the ground, however. For more information, call Caleb Haus at 559-430-6327.
Bike to Work
People are asked to try to go without a car and join the two-wheel crowd for at least one day during Bike to Work and School Day on Thursday. Five “energizer stations” are planned around town at different times to offer free food, drinks, T-shirts and goodies to bicycling commuters. For times and locations for the stations, go to www.mercedbicyclecoalition.org.
Jazz Ensemble
The Merced College Jazz Ensemble will play at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Merced College Theater, 3600 M St. Director Ken Taylor will be joined by guest vocalists Kandyce Drake and Mark Naylor. Tickets cost $10 general, or $8 for students, seniors and military personnel. For more information, call 209-384-6284 or 209-386-6644 or go to www.mccd.edu/thearts.
Kids classes
Free art classes for children ages 3 to 5 are planned at the Epekel Art Gallery, 1733 Canal St. in Merced. They are from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 13 and May 20, and June 10, 17 and 24. To register for the limited seats, call Kimberly Zamora at 209-658-0661 or email kimberly@mercedarthop.org.
Chowchilla market
The Chowchilla Treasure Hunters Market will be 8 a.m.-noon Saturday on Trinity Avenue between Second and Third streets. Sellers can rent an 18-by-15-foot space for $25. Applications can be picked up at Chowchilla City Hall, downloaded from www.CityOfChowchilla.org or requested by email at Info@CityOfChowchilla.org. The application deadline is May 4. For more information, call 559-665-8615, ext. 110.
El Capitan dinner
El Capitan High School baseball’s fundraiser is set to begin with a cocktail hour at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, with dinner and auctions to follow at 7 p.m., at the Pilkington residence, 1920 Canyon Drive in Merced. Dinner is $25 per plate and will be catered by Florencio’s Fine Mexican Restaurant. For more information, call coach Ruiz at 209-631-7606 or email aruiz@muhsd.org.
Atwater gardens
The Atwater Garden Club will present its 37th annual Garden Tour from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at gardens in the area. Tickets are $15 and a tour map is included. For tickets and more information, call 209-201-2804 or 209-777-3524.
Mother’s Day meal
St. Paul Lutheran Church Hmong Outreach Ministries is sponsoring a Mother’s Day dinner at 5 p.m. Sunday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2916 N. McKee Road in Merced. Treat your mother, your neighbor or your friend to chicken stir fry, rice, salad, dessert and beverages for $10 for adults, $5 for children under 10. For tickets, call 209-722-6101. RSVP by Thursday.
Calling Italians
The Merced County Historical Society and a committee from the Merced Italian Catholic Federation are looking for the community’s help to record family stories and obtain artifacts and photos to showcase how Italian Americans contributed to the growth and development of Merced County. That will be the focus of an exhibit at the Merced County Courthouse Museum in spring of 2017. Those interested in contributing should call the museum at 209-723-2401 or email mercedmuseum@sbcglobal.net.
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 May 1, 2016 at 3:31 PM with the headline "Around Town (05/02/16)."