Around Town (11-17-14)

Youth Council meeting

The Merced Youth Council will discuss the selection of new members and its goals at 7 p.m. today in the Sam Pipes Room of the Merced Civic Center, 678 W. 18th St. The four members will set a date for reviewing candidates for the council’s remaining three positions, who will be interviewed and selected at a regular meeting.

Republican Women

The Merced County Republican Women’s monthly meeting will be at the Branding Iron restaurant today at 640 W. 16th St. The speaker will be veteran Casey McFarland. Social time is at 11:30 a.m., and the lunch and meeting start at noon. Call (209) 812-4398 or (209) 378-2202 to make reservations. At the next two meetings, food items will be brought in for donation to the Merced Rescue Mission, as well as items for boxes that will be sent to military men and women overseas. For more information, call Veronika Beck at (209) 349-3971.

Successful Thinkers

The Successful Thinkers Network, which includes residents from Merced and Stanislaus counties, meets from noon to 2 p.m. every Tuesday at the Four Seasons Chinese Buffet in Modesto, 1800 Prescott Road. For more information, call Gail Wilson at (209) 712-8997.

2015 tours slideshow

A slideshow presentation of 2015 tours by Merced College Community Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at 630 W. 19th St. Attendees will have a chance to learn more about the tours and ask questions. Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. RSVP at (209) 384-6224 or email communitysvc@mccd.edu.

Pet carriers

New Beginnings of Merced needs carriers for the 200-plus animals they transport from Animal Control to no-kill rescues each month. Any carriers appropriate for animals 30 pounds and under in usable condition are acceptable as well as new carriers or money for their purchase. Receipts can be provided for tax purposes. Atwater residents, please call (209) 658-8553; Merced residents, call (209) 769-8953. The group also needs volunteers, especially those who can care for kittens or dogs and their puppies for a short time. Help with photographing shelter animals is also needed. No personal vehicles are necessary. For more information, call (209) 769-2122.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly

TOPS, or Take Off Pounds Sensibly, meets Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at 2300 Cascade Drive in the clubhouse at Castle Vista in Atwater. For more information, call (209) 628-9720.

Identity theft

Edward J. Lund, certified risk management consultant with Harvard Risk Management Corp., will be the speaker at the monthly Keen-Agers Luncheon at noon Wednesday at Atwater Baptist Church, 2124 First St., Atwater. Lund will discuss identity theft issues and answer questions.

Income tax helpers

Training for volunteer income tax assistance will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Attendees will learn to prepare tax returns for free, including training materials. Attendees, in turn, volunteer at least four hours per week during tax season. To register, call the United Way at (209) 383-4242. Limited seating available.

This story was originally published November 16, 2014 at 4:38 PM with the headline "Around Town (11-17-14)."