Around Town (06/16/16)

Zoning code

A public forum on the city of Merced’s zoning ordinance update is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Sam Pipes Room of City Hall, 678 W. 18th St. City staffers are set to gather public input on the document. For more, call 209-385-6858 or email planningweb@cityofmerced.org.

Museum exhibit

Merced County Courthouse Museum will open its “Let’s Google That Old Road” exhibit at 5 p.m. Thursday. At the exhibit opening, Merced County ghost town historian Herb Wood will give a PowerPoint presentation, “Old Roads and Forgotten Trails,” at 6 p.m. The event is free to the public. For more, call 209-723-2401.

New Amtrak train

Amtrak will begin offering a seventh daily round-trip train for the track that runs from Bakersfield to Oakland, passing through Merced, according to a news release. The new train will begin service Monday. For more, call Amtrak at 916-595-0219.

Bobcat writers

The UC Merced Writing Project is hosting its seventh annual Bobcat Young Writers Academy from Monday through June 30. The academy is for students entering first through eighth grades in the fall and will be held Monday through Thursday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the UC Merced campus. Registration is $215 for first child, $190 for each additional child in family. For more, email ncole2@ucmerced.edu.

Outdoor concerts

Chowchilla’s Sizzlin’ Summer Nights Music in the Park Concerts opens the 2016 season with singer-songwriter Brandon Pasion and his band. The country-rock music style is set for 7:30 p.m. June 23 in Veterans Memorial Park, Robertson Boulevard and Sixth Street, in Chowchilla. All performances in the six-week series are free through July 28. For more, visit www.CityOfChowchilla.org, or call the city at 559-665-8615, ext. 110.

Sunday dance

This month’s dance will be 2-5 p.m. June 26 at Merced Senior Community Center, 755 W. 15th St. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Music is by Gloria and Friends. Cost is $8, which includes refreshments and door prizes. For more, call 209-723-0839 or 209-628- 9734.

Zoo camp

Merced Applegate Zoo plans two zoo camp sessions this summer at the Rossotti Center. The first for ages 6-9 is July 11-15 and the other is for ages 10-12 from July 18-22. Each session is 9 a.m.-noon and will be limited to 25 children. Registration forms are in the zoo gift shop, 1045 W. 25th St., between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Registrations must be returned by July 1. Cost is $40 per child and $35 for each additional child in the same family. Call 209-725-3337.

Safety class

Merced’s Parks and Recreation Department offers a Hunter Safety and Range Instruction class July 16-17 at the Senior Community Center, 755 W. 15th St. It’s $15 per person and registration is required at www.wildlife.ca.gov. For more information, call the office at 209-385-6235, visit www.cityofmerced.org, find the office on Facebook or stop by the office at 678 W. 18th St.

LGBT center

The Merced LGBT Community Center is a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, along with our family and friends to congregate, find support and resources. Our doors at 1744 G St., Suite H, are open on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 3-7 p.m.; Wednesday from 4:30-7 p.m.; and Saturday from noon-5 p.m. For questions, contact Jamie Bradley at mercedtransday@gaycentralvalley.org or call 209-626-5551

This story was originally published June 15, 2016 at 4:52 PM with the headline "Around Town (06/16/16)."