TURLOCK - In 1956, Dr. Marion Collins pioneered the first emergency medical information system with the establishment of MedicAlert Foundation. Fast forward 55 years, and the nonprofit, charitable foundation remains at the forefront of the medical identification and information industry. Providing the functionality of an e-Health Information Exchange, MedicAlert has expanded its service offerings to remain the leading emergency medical information service.

The foundation prides itself on being both “high tech” and “high touch”; providing electronic medical records and other advanced healthcare services, yet maintaining its live call center where members and first responders speak with customer care agents from its Turlock headquarters.

TURLOCK - Local company Lancaster Painting helped out a community school in a huge way this past weekend. On Saturday, the company gathered 40 volunteers to paint and fix up $5,000 worth of repairs at Community Continuum College at 1731 Colorado Avenue, all for free! From 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., volunteers young and old, pitched in to give the building a much needed "facelift."

The makeover was part of the company's "Paint It Forward" project that owner Steve Talkington started as a way to give back to the community. After receiving 16 nominations last year and voting on the business or residence that needed the most help, the company chose Continuum College, an adult day training center for developmentally disabled adults, as the winner.

In addition to Lancaster, other community organizations stepped in to make the day a little more easier for everyone.

TURLOCK - The Mother Lode Mineral Society will host the 45th Annual Gem, Jewelry and Rock show on March 12 and 13, at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds located at 900 North Broadway in Turlock.

Proceeds from the show will go to providing scholarships for earth science students, supporting college classes with equipment and instruction and doing classroom presentations for K-12 about the rock cycle, minerals and fossils.

The annual show features everything from dinosaur fossil exhibits to an expert editor for the magazine "Rock & Gem." Attendees will have the opportunity to make unique jewelry out of natural rocks and gemstones.

To learn more about how you can support the local community, visit www.turlockgemshow.com and www.motherlodemineralsociety.com.