Around Town (09/02/16)

Focus groups

Merced College is launching an initiative to develop a new brand identity for the 54-year-old institution. Leaders want to build focus groups made up of members of the community, including alumni, business leaders, parents of students and others, to participate in one of the hourlong focus group sessions. The focus groups will meet noon to 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Margaret M. Randolph Board Room of the Barker Administration Building on campus, 3600 M St. To participate or to find out more, call the Merced College Office of Public Affairs at 209-381-6470.

Leaders classes

The Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce and the Merced College Emerging Leaders Institute will kick off a new round of workshops beginning with “Employee Engagement: Improve Performance, Productivity and Retention” from 8 a.m. to noon and repeated 1-5 p.m. Sept. 1 and 8. It’ll also be offered from 1-5 p.m. Wednesday and Sept. 14. The workshop is $23 and is worth a half-unit of college credit. All the classes are held at the Merced College Business Resource Center, 630 W. 19th St. For more, call 209-386-6733.

Junior Leadership

The Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for Junior Leadership Merced, a program open to high school juniors and seniors. The program provides leadership skills, local business tours, local government official meetings and information on the community. Apply at www.merced-chamber.com under “Programs” or at https://scholarship1.typeform.com/to/XIzSml. For more, call 209-384-7092. Deadline is Sept. 9.

Bible study

Yosemite Church is kicking off new women’s Bible studies for the fall with both morning and evening options. “The Armor of God” by Priscilla Shirer will be featured 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sept. 12, and 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 13 at Yosemite Church, 2230 E. Yosemite Ave., Merced. For more, call 209-383-5038.

MHS 1952

Reservations and payment are required by Sept. 15 for the Merced High School Class of 1952 reunion. Lunch is 11 a.m. Oct. 15 at the Italo-American Hall, 1351 W. 18th St., Merced. Members of the classes of 1951 and 1953 are also invited. Lunch will be served at 12:15 p.m. A breakfast buffet will follow 9-11 a.m. Oct. 16 at the Merced Courtyard by Marriott, 750 Motel Drive. Cost per person for lunch is $36, and breakfast is $18. For more, call Sally Parker Landels at 209-726-3726.

Street sale

The city of Chowchilla presents the Treasure Hunters Market from 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 24 on Trinity Avenue between Second and Third streets in Chowchilla. This is a marketplace that may appeal to both sellers and buyers. Applications are available at a cost of $25 for an 18-foot-by-15-foot booth space. Questions can be emailed to Info@CityOfChowchilla.org or call 559-665-8615, ext. 110. Find more at www.CityOfChowchilla.org.

This story was originally published September 1, 2016 at 2:36 PM with the headline "Around Town (09/02/16)."