Around Town (06/27/16)
HSR workshop
The group planning the state high-speed rail stop in Merced plans its second workshop from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Merced Senior Community Center, 755 W. 15th St. For more information, go to www.cityofmerced.org/about/high_speed_rail or email Frank Quintero at quinterof@cityofmerced.org.
Dance fest
The Festival of Dance continues at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at Merced College Theater, 3600 M St. The show features Denisa’s School of Dance. Tickets are $10 general; $8 for youths, students, seniors and military personnel. For more information, call 209-381-6470.
ESL for adults
Merced College is offering free English as a second language classes for adults in three locations within the district. Beginning and intermediate level classes will continue through July 28 and students may register anytime in class. Merced College’s Business Resource Center, 630 W. 19th St., offers classes from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays; free parking available. Classes are also from 6 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday through Thursday in Building A, Room 105, at the Los Banos Campus, 22240 Highway 152; parking permit required. The Chowchilla Alternative Education Center, 445 Trinity Ave., has classes from 9 a.m. to noon every Monday through Thursday. For more information, call 209-381-6542.
Run in Atwater
The Run for Independence is 7:30 a.m. July 4 at Ralston Park in Atwater. Race distances are 2 or 5 miles. Walkers are welcome in the 2-mile race. Preregistration is $25 for adults; 18 years and younger, $20. Race-day registration starts at 6 a.m. Cost for all on race day is $30. For more information call, 209-617-4042 or 209-658-1156.
Our Lady in LB
The Society of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is extending an invitation to the 83rd Our Lady of Mount Carmel celebration on July 14-17. The celebration Mass, featuring classic Italian hymns, will be 11 a.m. July 17 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1621 Center Ave. in Los Banos. A traditional luncheon follows the Mass. For more information and for the entire schedule of events, call Tracey at 209-826-0903 or Joanne at 209-826-4610.
LGBT center
The Merced LGBT Community Center is a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, along with family and friends, to congregate and find support and resources. The doors at 1744 G St., Suite H, are open on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 3 to 7 p.m.; Wednesday from 4:30 to 7 p.m.; and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, contact Jamie Bradley at mercedtransday@gaycentralvalley.org or 209-626-5551.
Summer classes
Merced College’s noncredit program has begun its summer class offerings in more than a dozen locations in Merced County. Aimed at adults, the classes offered include needlecraft and sewing, beginning quilting, music therapy, bus-driver training, medical assistant, mature-driver improvement, and career and life planning. A complete schedule of classes and locations is at www.mccd.edu/explore/continuing.html. Classes are free, but some charge for materials. For more information, call 209-381-6540.
Free venue
The Pacheco Village and Pacheco Court Apartments offer free venue rentals. There is meeting space for up to 60 people as well as community rooms with kitchens available for local organizations, churches and nonprofit agencies to use for meetings and activities. For more information, call 209-826-8300 or visit the leasing office at 2241 Gilbert Gonzalez Jr. Drive in Los Banos.
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 June 26, 2016 at 3:05 PM with the headline "Around Town (06/27/16)."