Welcome to the third Local News Digest from Monica Franks, a weekly look at Merced County news this week: the community stories, business milestones, and development updates shaping life across Merced, Atwater, Turlock, Mariposa, and the wider Central Valley. This week's edition leads with retail and growth. Costco is moving to a new Merced shopping center, Turlock is about to open a neighborhood park, and Mariposa's symphony is starting its silver anniversary season.
The most notable Merced County news this week is the October 15 announcement that Costco Wholesale will relocate its only county store to Gateway Marketplace, the new shopping center near Coffee Street and Campus Parkway off Highway 99, where it will be joined by seven more businesses. Around it, the week brought the John Lazar Park grand opening announcement in Turlock, the Mariposa Yosemite Symphony Orchestra's 25th-anniversary kickoff, and Atwater's Castle AirFest and Family Day, and every story below links to the original reporting so you can read the full details.
Merced County News This Week: Five Stories Worth Sharing
Merced's Costco is moving to Gateway Marketplace
City officials announced on October 15 that Costco Wholesale will relocate its only Merced County warehouse from 1445 R Street, its home for more than 30 years, to Gateway Marketplace, the developing shopping center near Coffee Street and Campus Parkway off Highway 99, with no move date announced yet. Costco will be joined by seven additional businesses at the center, including TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Ross, Burlington, and Five Below, a vote of confidence in Merced's growth near UC Merced that gives shoppers more choices close to home.
Turlock announces grand opening of John Lazar Park
The City of Turlock announced on October 16 that it will celebrate the grand opening of John Lazar Park on October 27, a new neighborhood park in northeast Turlock's Legends 3 subdivision along the northern half of Colorado Avenue. Named for former mayor John Lazar and built with playground equipment, an arbor, new landscaping, and a drinking fountain, the park gives Turlock families a new place to gather close to home.
Mariposa symphony begins its 25th anniversary season
The Mariposa Yosemite Symphony Orchestra opened its 25th-anniversary season this week with a fantasy-themed program, including a Fantasy Concert on October 24 at Fiester Auditorium in Mariposa and a November 1 return to The Ahwahnee in Yosemite National Park for the first time in seven years. A quarter century of performances from the small town of Mariposa to Yosemite is a milestone worth celebrating, and it keeps the arts alive for the whole region.
Atwater's Castle AirFest and Family Day returns
The 3rd Annual Castle AirFest and Family Day brought full-scale and RC aircraft demonstrations, vendors, and family activities to Castle Airport in Atwater on Saturday, October 17, hosted by the Merced County RC Club. The community festival is a family-friendly way to see aviation up close and showcases the airport and the volunteer groups that keep Atwater's community calendar full.
That is the week in Merced County. If you spot a story from your part of the Valley that deserves wider attention, a new shop worth celebrating in Livingston, a milestone at a Chowchilla school, or a development update in Winton, please send it over. Tell your local agent, and your tip could make the next digest.
Past Digests
Missed an earlier edition? Read the Local News Digest: October Week 2, covering Merced's Mercy Village groundbreaking, Turlock's remodeled Walmart, and UC Merced's mobile agtech trailers, or the Local News Digest: October Week 1, covering Merced College's new South Merced Center, bestselling author Katherine Center's Turlock library event, and Chowchilla football's home streak.
More Local Reading
For the numbers behind Merced County's housing market, read the October 2026 real estate market update. For a monthly look at what is being built across the county, the City Development Tracker: October 2026 covers new projects, road work, and council decisions, and the weekend guide for October 23-25 plans your next few days out. You can explore the Merced, Turlock, and Atwater service area pages for a closer look at each community.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Local News Digest
What is the Merced County Local News Digest?
It is a weekly roundup from Monica Franks, The Seller's Agent, covering top community, business, and development stories across Merced, Atwater, Turlock, Livingston, Winton, Chowchilla, Catheys Valley, Mariposa, and nearby Central Valley communities. Each digest links to the original reporting and focuses on positive, broadly useful news.
How are the stories in the digest chosen?
Each week's stories are selected from reputable local outlets, city and county pages, school districts, and community organizations, and every story is checked against the original source before it is published. Crime reports and politically divisive topics are left out so the digest stays useful and uplifting.
I have a local story to share. How do I suggest it?
Send it to Monica through the contact page or call (209) 345-3836. Local business milestones, school and nonprofit news, development updates, and community events from anywhere in Merced County are always welcome.
The Seller's Agent. Monica combines deep Merced County market knowledge with a polished, confident approach that gets results for home sellers across the Central Valley. Serving Merced, Atwater, McSwain, Livingston, Turlock, Winton, Chowchilla, Catheys Valley, and Mariposa. Learn more about Monica's approach on her about page.
See a story worth sharing? Tell your local agent.
Monica is always happy to hear what is happening in your neighborhood, and she is ready to talk about your home whenever you are. Call (209) 345-3836 or use the form below for a free, no-obligation consultation.
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