By CVJC STAFF

The life and legacy of late civil rights trailblazer the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be recognized in Merced this Monday, Jan. 15 with a parade and celebration in his honor.

The day’s festivities will begin with the parade at the Merced Amtrak Station, located at 324 W. 24th St. Participants will start gathering at the station at 10 a.m. and the parade will begin at 11 a.m., according to the event’s Facebook page.

The parade will proceed to the Art Kamangar Center at the Merced Theatre, located at 301 W. Main St. There, a celebration will take place from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. The theme of this year’s event is “Not A Commemoration, But A Continuation.”

The parade, which has been going on for decades, draws people from all walks of life, ages and backgrounds in Merced County, and includes school marching bands, appearances by local elected officials and more.

King was murdered at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968. President Ronald Reagan approved recognizing King’s birthday as a federal holiday in 1983.

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District 2 candidates to face off at town hall

A town hall between Merced County District 2 candidates Josh Pedrozo and Annissa L. Fragoso is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17 at the Merced Civic Center in the Sam Pipes Room, 678 W. 18th St. in Merced.

The event is being sponsored by the NAACP Merced branch. The event is free to the public and questions can be submitted to http://www.mercednaacp.com

Pedrozo is the incumbent supervisor and has previous political experience serving as a member of the Merced City Council. Fragoso is an insurance agent who serves as president of the Merced County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. 

District 2 includes part of the City of Merced, UC Merced and adjacent communities. 

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Upcoming government meetings

Merced City Council — Open session begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16. Merced Civic Center, 678 W. 18th St. in Merced.

Livingston City Council — Open session begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16. Livingston City Hall, 663 Main St. in Livingston.

Gustine City Council — Open session begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16. Gustine City Hall, 352 Fifth St. in Gustine.

Dos Palos City Council — Open session begins at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16. City-County Building, 1554 Golden Gate Ave. in Dos Palos.

Los Banos City Council — Open session begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17. Los Banos City Hall, 520 J St. in Los Banos.

Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG) Board of Directors, 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18. Merced County Administration Building, 2222 M St. in Merced.