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Modesto

CELEBRATION OF LIGHTS: This year's Celebration of Lights tree lighting ceremony will be held at Modesto Centre Plaza on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. City officials will be in attendance when the mayor and Santa flip the switch that will light the city's official holiday tree along with all of the lights at Tenth Street Plaza. The event is the official kickoff to the holiday season. Santa will be on hand after the tree lighting to visit with children and hear their wishes. The Johansen High School choir will perform during the event.

COATS FOR KIDS AND MORE: The California State Automobile Association is sponsoring two donation events through November. One is the News 10 Coats for Kids program. The Modesto AAA office will accept new or lightly used coats at 3525 Coffee Road. The last day for dropoff will be Thursday. Also, the AAA offices in Modesto, Manteca, Tracy, Stockton and Lodi will collect donated items to send to the Army's 118th Maintenance Unit stationed in Iraq. The Stockton-based unit has 230 soldiers, including 25 from the Central Valley. Donations may be left at the Coffee Road address. The last day for these donations is Nov. 30.

FAMILY PHOTOS WITH YOUR FURRY FRIEND: Get your pet and family Christmas pictures when the Humane Society of Stanislaus County appears at Irene's House of Pets in Roseburg Square on Dec. 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Photographer Anna Garcia will take holiday photos of your pets with proceeds to go to the Humane Society's spay/neuter fund. There also will be a holiday pet boutique, prize drawings and more. Alley Cat Guardians will have cats and kittens available for adoption. For more information, call 345-5967.

HOLIDAY FOOD AND GIFT DRIVE: A food and gift drive will be held for clients at the Haven Women's Center and the Modesto Gospel Mission. Drop off any nonperishable food and unwrapped gifts for women and children (please, no toy weapons of any kind) at the Modesto Junior College Student Center or Morris Building on the east campus or at the Financial Aid office (Yosemite Hall) on the west campus. Place items in the donation barrels. Gifts will be presented by the AAWC on Dec. 4 at 12:30 p.m. in the Fireside Lounge, MJC East Campus. For more information, call Monique Montee at 575-6789.

SIGN LANGUAGE: The Society for Handicapped Children and Adults will hold an eight-week sign language session starting Jan. 14. Beginning, intermediate, religious sign and song, and advanced/ conversational sign classes will be offered. Religious sign and song

is offered only once a year. Class sizes are limited. Registration is required by Jan. 8. The cost is $35 per person. For registration forms and class information, go to www.societyforhandicapped.org or call 524-3536.

Ceres

CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL: Join the city for the 20th annual Christmas Festival on Dec. 1 at Smyrna Park. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at 5:30 p.m. Have your picture taken with them for $1 or for free with a canned food donation. Performances by local musicians and singers will begin at 5:45 p.m. Enjoy a ride on a horse-drawn wagon down Christmas Tree Lane, partake of some free refreshments, write a letter to Santa or make Christmas crafts. For more information, call Traci Farris at 538-5682.

Merced

CHRISTMAS AT THE MUSEUM: On Dec. 2, from 1 to 4 p.m., the public is invited to experience the historic rooms of the Courthouse Museum, featuring Christmas trees decorated by schools, businesses and community organizations. Beverly Evans and her grandson will showcase their winter village with its display of miniature townspeople, sparkling lights, figurines and beautiful scenery. Live entertainment will be by the Central Presbyterian Church handbell choir (1 to 1:20 p.m.), flute students of Sandra Stocking (1:30 to 1:50 p.m.), Harmony Valley Chorus (2 to 2:20 p.m.), Golden Notes (2:30 to 2:50 p.m.), Merced High School choir (3 to 3:20 p.m.) and Maxwell Norton and friends (3:30 to 3:50 p.m.). The event is free. The Courthouse Museum is at 21st and N streets. Teachers are reminded that the museum will be open Monday through Friday mornings throughout December for walk-through tours. For more information, call the museum office at 723-2401.

CAMP FOR KIDS: The city's Parks and Community Services Department has a variety of activities planned for kids during the upcoming holiday break. The Youth Camp will be held during the Christmas break for children in first through eighth grades. Activities include classes in dance, art, music, science projects and lots of sports. Registration is limited to 50 children. The cost is $30 per week. Camp runs 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Dec. 19 through Jan. 4 and will be held at the Stephen Leonard Youth Center, 740 T St.

To register, contact the Parks and Community Services Department at 385-6855.

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