Around Town: Mature driver course offered at Merced College

The Merced College Continuing Education Office will offer two mature-driver improvement classes from 5 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. A $2 fee is required. For more information, call (209) 381-6540.

MERCED

Freedom Fund Banquet

The Freedom Fund Banquet will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Boys and Girls Club. Keynote speaker will be UC Merced Chancellor Steve Kang.

MERCED

Disability Awareness Night

Challenged Family Resource Center will host a Disability Awareness Night at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Merced Civic Center, 678 W. 18th St. in the Sam Pipes Room. Topics will include Autism Spectrum Disorders, Down syndrome, ADD/ADHA and mental illness in youth. For more information, call (209) 385-5314.

MERCED

Hinds Hospice fundraiser

Hinds Hospice of Merced will host its fundraiser, "Joey and Maria's 25th Wedding Anniversary" at 6 p.m. Saturday, at St. Patrick's Parish Hall. Come for an evening of Italian feasting, balloon popping with hundreds of great prizes and an interactive theater performance. The show pokes fun at the trials of marriage, raising a family and the court trials of Uncle Vinnie. Cost is $100 per person and all proceeds will benefit Hinds Hospice Merced. For more information, call (209) 383-3123.

MERCED

Holy hip hop

Christian Life Center will host a community celebration known as "Holy Hip Hop Transformed" with a car show at 5 p.m. on Aug. 29. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. This gospel rap concert is open to the public and many prizes will be given away. It will take place at the church, 650 E. Olive Ave. For more information, call (209) 383-2273, ext. 122 or go to myspace.com/

holyhiphopconcert.

MODESTO

Christian adoptions

Family Connections Christian Adoptions will hold a free information session at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 4 at 1120 Tully Road. Family Connections specializes in placing waiting children from California and around the world. For more information, call (209) 524-8844.

ATWATER

Annual Fall Festival

The Atwater Chamber of Commerce will host its 32nd annual Fall Festival from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 13 at Ralston Park on Third Street. There will be food booths, vendors with hand crafted items, local businesses and merchant displays, children's activities, local entertainment, a classic car and motorcycle show and health fair. Vendors and car show entrants may pick up an application at the Chamber of Commerce office, 1181 Third St. Local bands, dance groups, cheer teams, etc. that would like to volunteer for an entertainment slot at the event or for more information, call (209) 358-4251 or go to chamber@atwaterchamber

ofcommerce.org.

If you would like to have your event announced in the Around Town Column, send your information to Connie Hodges at least one week prior to the event, at

chodges@mercedsunstar.com. Items run according to space available.