Top Ten Things I’m Thankful for About Merced

Photo by steve newvine

Our guests are safely back home after a visit.  And like I explained to them why Merced is a great town to live in, I will give you my top ten list concerning Merced. Here are my top ten things I’m thankful for about my life in Merced County. 

Please note these are not in any particular order.

Pacific ocean

1.  Merced is just two hours away from the Pacific coast.  

You can get there from here or here from there in just a little over two hours.  That makes family outings doable.

2.  Two-thousand Thanksgiving dinners were served at the Merced Rescue Mission on the holiday. 

That satisfied the hungers of two-thousand people, and made dozens of volunteers feel good about their service to the community.

3.  Our two Colleges: 

UC Merced (founded 2005) and Merced College (founded 1962)

uc merced college

A business colleague once told me that having an institution of higher learning is a great community cultural asset as well as an economic engine.  We have two, and both are important to the fabric of Merced.

Yosemite national park 

4.  Yosemite National Park and the gift of the scenic vistas we can enjoy on a clear day in Merced County.

staymer-statue 

5.  The Steven Stayner statue at Applegate Park. 

While it’s a fitting tribute to a local hero, it also reminds us to watch and protect our children.  If you are not familiar with the story of Steven Stayner, go to the Park and read the inscription on the base of the statue.  Then hug your kids the next time you see them.

6.  Easy navigation along most of our lettered or numbered streets in the City of Merced. 

If you know the alphabet or can count, you shouldn’t have any problem getting around our city.

7.  This website, (mercedcountyevents.com)  and the Sun Star’s community events section. 

Both prove there really are a lot of things going on practically any weekend.

Merced Theatre

8.  Merced Theatre.

It has hit the ground running since the grand opening earlier in the year with everything from classic movies to symphonies, to cowboy singing groups to Johnny Cash impersonators.

9.  Neighbors who keep an eye on their neighbors’ homes while folks are away, or even if something doesn’t look quite right.

almond blossoms in merced

10.  Sunshine. 

What a great feeling it is to wake up practically every morning knowing the sun will likely be out and helping to make each day just a little bit brighter.

 There’s a lot to be thankful for.  This list could be a lot longer.

 Steve Newvine lives in Merced. 

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