Food drive

Letter carriers will collect canned food as they deliver mail Saturday.

Food collected will be given to Tracy Interfaith Ministries, and anyone who wants to donate can put nonperishable food in a bag placed near the mailbox.

Food can also be dropped off at the Post Office, 125 W. Ninth St., or at Tracy Interfaith Ministries, 311 W. Grant Line Road.

Coffee with the Cops

Tracy police officers will be on hand at 9 a.m. Saturday at Java Makers, 835 S. Tracy Blvd., to meet the public and discuss neighborhood and community issues.

For information: Lt. Wade Harper, 831-6696 or wade.harper@ci.tracy.ca.us.

Community forum

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church will host a community forum titled, Growing Together: Building Community in Uncertain Times, starting at noon Saturday at the church, 1218 Holly Drive.

The forum aims to address suffering caused by the sagging economy and bring together social services and those they can help at the forum.

For information: Mark Hall, 609-7044.

Democrats meet

The Democratic Club of Greater Tracy will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday on the third gloor of the Platinum Business Center, 902 Central Ave.

The group will discuss statewide propositions in the upcoming special election.

For information: David Sul, 839-1593 or dsul@tracydems.org.

Chess tournament

Freiler School will host a chess tournament from 4:40 to 6 p.m. Friday at the school, 2421 W. Lowell Ave.

All kids through high school age are eligible, and all players will compete against four to six players in their age group. Everyone who plays gets a trophy.

For information: Tom Langland, 830-0368 or tom@tracychess.org; Tiger Azama, 831-5170 or tazama@tusd.net.

Parent club fundraiser

The 2009 West High Senior Safe and Sober Parent Club will host a dinner-dance fundraiser from 6 to 10 p.m. May 16 at the Tracy Inn, 24 W. 11th St.

There will be a no-host bar, a buffet of lemon chicken, London broil, and pasta for dinner, a DJ, a silent auction and a raffle.

For information: Rebecca Lopez, 510-299-1600.

Art garage sale

The Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, students and Tracy artists will host a sale of bargain-priced artwork, art supplies and fine arts publications from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 16 at the theater, 715 N. Central Ave.

The event is free, but registration is required for sellers, who can contact arts coordinator Vanessa Carrera at 831-6276.

Poster contest

The Tracy Performing Arts Foundation is sponsoring a poster and booklet design contest for its 2009 summer day camp and the performance of the play “Treasure Island.”

The deadline to submit an entry is May 20, and entries should be sent to Deborah Littleton via e-mail at deborah@debographix.com, or mailed to P.O. Box 1604, Tracy 95378-0587.

The winning submission will become property of the foundation, and original handmade artwork will only be returned if submitted with a self-addressed stamped envelope with appropriate postage.

For information: 629-2506 or www.tracyperformingartsfoundation.org.

Art and wine festival

Tickets have gone on sale for the 17th annual food and wine festival co-sponsored by the West Side Pioneers and Soroptimist International of Tracy.

This year’s event, named A Taste of Tracy’s Best, will be from 1 to 4 p.m. June 14 at the Tracy Community Center. A variety of food and wine offerings will be featured.

Tickets, $30 per person, can be purchased at the Tracy Historical Museum at the corner of 12th and Adam streets, or by calling the museum at 832-7278 or Judith Odegaard at 835-2328.

• 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.