Around the Region (03/14/13)

Modesto

• LATINO EMERGENCY COUNCIL MEETING

When: Friday, 8:15 a.m.

Where: El Concilio, 1314 H St.

Info: The free monthly meeting of the Latino Emergency Council features guest speaker Becky Fortuna, public information officer for the Modesto City Schools district, on the topic of emergency preparedness in the school system. For more, call Dale at (209) 613-1058.

• PT CRUISER CLUB

When: Friday, 6 p.m.

Where: Perko's, 901 N. Carpenter Road

Info: PT Cruiser lovers are invited to join the monthly meeting of the Highway 99 PT Cruiser Club. It meets the third Friday of each month for no-host dinner and social time.

• SIERRA CLUB-YOKUTS GROUP MEETING

When: Friday, 6:45 p.m.

Where: College Avenue Congregational Church, Fellowship Hall, 1341 College Ave.

Info: Sierra Club members Kathy and Jim Clarke will share their experiences as volunteer docents at Mono Lake. This free event will include refreshments and socializing; nonmembers are welcome. For more, call (209) 529-2300.

• MARTY'S MARCH

When: Saturday, 11 a.m.

Where: McHenry Bowl, 3700 McHenry Ave.

Info: Family and friends of homicide victim Marty Kent ask residents and victims of violent crime to "take a stand with us against violence and unite our community" by joining Marty's March. Marty, 17, was shot and killed outside his house in the 900 block of Leon Avenue in west Modesto on Jan. 2. Authorities have arrested two men suspected in the homicide. To learn more about the case and the march, go to www.martysmarch.org.

• BUNCO

When: Saturday, 3 p.m.

Where: Family Connections Christian Adoptions, 1120 Tully Road

Info: Stanislaus County Legal Professionals Association is holding its first bunco membership drive. $15 includes bunco play, food and drinks. For more information or to RSVP, email jan@goss-law.com.

Turlock

• DEMOCRATIC CLUB

When: Today, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Sweet River Grill and Bar, 2600 Geer Road

Info: The Turlock Democratic Club meets on the second Wednesday of the month. On the agenda this month will be a review of bylaws and election strategies. The club will gear up for its spring social and community activities calendars. All are welcome. For more, call (209) 485-0818.

Riverbank

• BLOOD DRIVE

When: Friday, 2 to 7 p.m.

Where: Riverbank Community Center, 3600 Santa Fe Drive

Info: The Eric Hinman Memorial Drive and Delta Blood Bank will hold a blood drive in honor of Riverbank community member Eric Hinman. For more, call Wendy at (209) 595-0496.

Atwater

• SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PRESENTATION

When: Saturday, 10 a.m.

Where: Castle Air Museum, 5050 Santa Fe Drive

Info: The Frontiers of Science and Engineering Lecture series features Professor Marcos Garcia-Ojeda of the University of California at Merced with the presentation "The Double-Edged Sword: How Uncontrolled Inflammation Leads to Autoimmune Disease." For more, email mscheibner@ucmerced.edu.

Sonora

• BOOK NOOK OPEN HOUSE

When: Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Tuolumne County Library community room, 480 Greenley Road

Info: Friends of the Tuolumne County Library are holding an open house to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Book Nook. Activities will include a children's program, discussion on e-books, a session on behind the scenes of book sorting and pricing. For more, call (209) 533-5507.

Send Region items to Region, The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto 95352; call (209) 578-2330; fax (209) 578-2207; or email region@modbee.com.