Around Town (08/04/16)
Adoption event
The Merced Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals no-kill animal shelter plans an adoption event from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at Petco, 1230 Commerce Ave., Atwater. The shelter dogs are looking for a home. For more information, call the SPCA at 209-384-7722.
Ghost hunting
Full Spectrum Paranormal and the Friends of Columbia State Historic Park plan “Paranormal Prospecting” from 8:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday at Columbia State Historic Park, 1255 Jackson St., Columbia. The three-hour, guided tour by flashlight is a search for ghosts. Participants must be older than 18, and not all areas of the tour are accessible to those with disabilities. The tour is $50 and tickets are available at www.friendsofcolumbiashp.com. For more information, email Amber Cantisano at Amber.Cantisano@parks.ca.gov or call 209-536-2913.
‘Back 2 School’
The Salvation Army is hosting “Back 2 School” night from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at its center, 1440 W 12th St., Merced. There will be face painting, entertainment, water slides, balloon artists and free haircuts. Staff will serve food, drinks and more. The Army takes donations for this sort of benefit. For more information, call Lt. Kim Boyd at 209-383-4225.
New artwork
The Merced Superior Courthouse has new artwork on display in the second-floor Jury Assembly Room at 2260 N St. The artwork is provided by artists from throughout Merced County. Artwork is displayed for a three-month period. For information on displaying artwork at the courthouse, call the executive assistants at 209-725-4171.
Breakfast in La Grange
The La Grange Odd Fellows of LaFayette Historical Lodge 65 serves its monthly breakfast the second Sunday of each month at the IOOF Hall, 30018 Yosemite Blvd. in La Grange. The next one is from 8 to 11 a.m. Aug. 14. Biscuits and gravy, ham and cheese omelets, sausage and French toast are served for $6 for adults and $3 for ages 7 to 12. Children 6 or younger eat free. For more information, call Chris at 209-853-2128 or email renwah@sonnet.com.
Merced Pride
The Merced LGBT Community Center plans Merced Pride from 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 21 at Applegate Park, 1045 W. 25th St. The public is welcome. For more information, go to www.mercedlgbtcenter.org, email mercedinfo@gaycentralvalley.org or call 209-626-5551.
Western barbecue
The Merced County Historical Society will host its 26th annual Old-Time Western Barbecue in memory of Bill Kirby at 5 p.m. Sept. 13 at Lake Yosemite. Organizers ask diners to buy tickets ahead of time. There will be both a live and silent auction. Tickets cost $50 and are on sale in the Courthouse Museum Gift Shop at N and 21st streets in Merced. There will be music from Evening Edition Jazz Combo. For more information, call the museum at 209-723-2401. Proceeds benefit museum programs and the Bill and Tom Kirby Agricultural Scholarship at Merced College.
Free venue
The Pacheco Village and Pacheco Court Apartments offer free venue rentals. Meeting space with capacity for up to 60 people and community rooms with kitchens are 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 August 3, 2016 at 2:50 PM with the headline "Around Town (08/04/16)."