Family night dinner

The Tracy Elks Lodge will have a Family Night Dinner at 5:30 p.m. today at the lodge, 6400 E. 11th St.

Barbecue chicken will be served.

Cost is $7 per person. For information: 835-4413.

Guide dog homes

Bright Eyes Guide Dogs for the Blind Puppy Raisers is searching for volunteers to raise puppies.

Adults and kids are needed to teach puppies obedience.

For information: Linda Rubino, 835-3922.

Youth symphony auditions

The Central Valley Youth Symphony will have auditions for new members Aug. 29, 31 and Sept. 1 in Stockton.

Musicians ages 8 through high school are encouraged to try out. What the symphony needs most are young musicians who play percussion, trumpet, trombone, French horn, bass, cello and viola.

For information: 888-367-2897.

Bean fest contest signups

The Tracy Dry Bean Festival now has applications available for its Chili Bean Cook Off, the Spam Cook Off, the Spam Carving contest, the Salsa Cook Off, and the Jalepeno Eating Contest.

Competitions will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 9 at the downtown festival. Entry fee for each competition is $5 fee. Forms are available at the Tracy Chamber of Commerce, 223 E. 10th St.

For information: Sofia Valenzuela, 835-2131.

Fitness camp

Cutting Edge Fitness will have a series of free, one-hour morning fitness camps in August at the Tracy Sports Complex on West 11th Street.

For information: James Hardman, 740-3707.

Cyclist meeting

Central Valley Wheelers’ club meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Aug. 8 at Tracy Cyclery, 130 W. 11th St.

Local cyclist Jeff Inkes will be the featured speaker and will discuss his recent Ride the Rockies trip that covered 422 miles and nearly 25,000 feet of climbing over five days.

The Central Valley Wheelers are dedicated to promoting cycling and rides in Tracy and surrounding areas. For information: www.valleywheelers.org.

Interfaith raffle

Tracy Interfaith Ministries will sell raffle tickets for a new-car drawing to raise the $400,000 needed to finish its new building on Grant Line Road.

The drawing will be Sept. 23, at the new building, corner of Grant Line Road and Parker Avenue.

To buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win a new Ford Mustang or Ford Fusion, call Tracy Interfaith Ministries, 836-5424.

Blood drive

The Sutter Tracy Community Hospital and the Delta Blood Bank will sponsor a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday in the east and west community rooms at the hospital, 1420 N. Tracy Blvd.

For information: 832-6010.



n “Briefs” announces news about events, organizations and people in the Tracy and Mountain House areas. Items will be considered on the basis of space availability, public interest and timeliness. Questions may be directed to the newsroom at 830-4280. Press releases may be mailed to the Tracy Press, P.O. Box 419, Tracy 95378-0419; dropped off at 145 W. 10th St.; e-mailed to tpnews@tracypress.com; or faxed to 835-0655.