Around Town (08/16/16)

Street Faire

The Merced Downtown Street Faire continues 5-10 p.m. Thursday on Main Street between K and M streets. Food, games, shopping and other entertainment is planned.

Dinner and gospel

The Potter’s Place Inc. plans a fundraiser at 5 p.m. Saturday at 644 W. Main St. A buffet-style meal of spaghetti, meat sauce, salad, bread, dessert and drinks will accompany a gospel concert from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. For more, call 209-384-9547 from 8 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

Aikido classes

Merced Community Services will offer aikido classes from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays Aug. 30 to Oct. 20. The cost is $65 per person. For more, call 209-384-6224 or email communitysvc@mccd.edu.

Barbecue benefit

New Beginnings for Merced County Animals is hosting “Grillin’ 4-A-Cause,” a barbecue dinner from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at a private home in Hughson. Barbecued ribs, chicken and corn with three sides and homemade peach pie and ice cream will be on the menu. Tickets are $50 each and can be found at Christina’s Fine Clothing, Valley Animal Hospital or Santa Fe Pet Hospital. Proceeds benefit animals at the shelter. For more, call 209-769-8953.

Western BBQ

The Merced County Historical Society will host its 26th annual Bill Kirby’s Western BBQ and Auction, an old-time 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 live and silent auctions. Tickets cost $50 and are on sale in the Courthouse Museum Gift Shop, at N and 21st streets in Merced. Live music will be performed by the Evening Edition Jazz Combo. For more, call the museum at 209-723-2401. Proceeds benefit museum programs and the Bill and Tom Kirby Agricultural Scholarship at Merced College.

ServSafe class

Merced College Community Services is offering a ServSafe Workshop from 8 a.m. to noon, followed by exams from noon to 2 p.m., on Sept. 15 and Sept. 22. The cost is $179 per participant. For more, call 209-384-6224 or email communitysvc@mccd.edu.

Job fair

The Veterans Job and Information Fair will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 29 at the American Legion Hall, 939 West Main St., Merced. Organized by the Merced Veteran Employee Committee, the job fair is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Henry.timothy@edd.ca.gov or 209-576-6118.

Hospital volunteers

Mercy Medical Center, 333 Mercy Ave., Merced, is taking applications for volunteers who can work in the gift shop, front lobby desk, surgical waiting room desk and the pavilion. Shifts are from 8 a.m. to noon or noon to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. Ask for an application at the lobby desk, or go to www.mercymercedcares.org. For more, call 209-564-5000.

Gun raffle

Wetlands South, a nonprofit that looks to preserve wetlands in the Central Valley, and the Cook family plan a drawing for a Weatherby .270 Magnum in memory of “Grandpa Sam” and “Brother Sam Cook” on Oct. 7. Limited tickets are available for $100. For tickets, email Bob Cook at wetlandsouth@comcast.net or go to wetlandsouth.weebly.com.

This story was originally published August 15, 2016 at 3:29 PM with the headline "Around Town (08/16/16)."