Community Briefs provides a listing of events and activities going on in and around the Oakdale, Riverbank and Escalon areas. To have an event featured, e-mail the information to mjackson@oakdaleleader.com.
Funky Market
Make some time to stop by the Funky Market 209 on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Kerr Park in Oakdale, 840 N. Stearns Road. Running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be vendors, food, live music, classic cars and family fun. A new amazing singing duo out of Oakdale will be performing, sisters Maria Isabelle and Natalie Rose. There are expected to be 80-plus vendors with a variety of items. For more information, visit www.theserendipitysocial.com
Beard Competition
The Bearded Gods of Mythology is hosting, in conjunction with Contentment Brewing Company and the Modesto Beard and Mustache Coalition, a beard competition in Modesto on Saturday, Sept. 24 at the brewery. Registration is scheduled from noon to 1:30 p.m. and competition in a variety of beard growing categories begins at 2 p.m. and runs through 6 p.m. There is no charge for spectators to attend; registration fee for competitors is $20 per category. Proceeds will benefit Bikers Against Child Abuse.
Bake Sale Planned
Members of the Escalon Farmington Garden Club will be hosting a bake sale at El Portal Middle School, 805 First St., Escalon, on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 8 a.m. to noon. Proceeds will help fund the Garden Club’s scholarship program. There will be several varieties of cookies, and other sweets; the bake sale is timed to run in conjunction with the upcoming citywide yard sale in Escalon. The treats are designed to sustain shoppers in their quest to find treasures at the sale and support the scholarship fund.
Women’s Club Program
Members of the Oakdale Women’s Club invite all to make reservations and attend their next luncheon/meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at Oakdale Golf and Country Club, 243 N. Stearns Road, Oakdale. The OWC will be welcoming Pamela Kelly of the Oakdale Rescue Mission as special guest speaker. The Oakdale Rescue Mission’s desire is to enhance the lives of the entire community of Oakdale and reaches out to transform lives and provide hope through support services to the homeless and others in need. As a special note: The Rescue Mission is in need of white crew socks to be given to its clients as needed. All donations are greatly appreciated. The buffet luncheon provided by the Country Club staff and meeting will begin at noon. Cost of the luncheon is $23. The OWC encourages those in attendance to wear pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month. For more information and reservations, call Karen at (209) 848-2231 by Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022.
Annual Bazaar Returns
Excited to be back after two years of COVID-19 shutdown, the Escalon United Methodist Church at 2000 Jackson Ave., Escalon, will offer its annual fall bazaar on Saturday, Oct. 29. More details to be released soon; organizers are asking people to ‘save the date’ and get ready to enjoy the chance to shop for unique crafts, handmade items and homemade goodies just in time for the approaching holiday season.
Author Fair Scheduled
The Stanislaus County Library is hosting the 11th Annual Local Author Fair on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will take place outside on the 16th Street side of the Modesto Library portico. Local authors will have the opportunity to promote their works, as well as sell and sign copies of their publications. The Local Author Fair is an opportunity for members of the community to meet and support local writers of various genres. This event helps heighten public awareness of the local arts culture in an engaging and memorable way. For more information, contact Susan Lilly at 209-558-4813.
Blood Donors Sought
Though 62 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood, only about 3 percent does. Your donation is needed now. By making an appointment to help save lives with the American Red Cross, donors can pump up the blood supply and keep it from falling to shortage levels. Platelet donors are especially needed. Donors can schedule an appointment to give using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Weekly Dances
Check out the Golden Agers at the Riverbank Community Center on Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with dancing, socializing, live music and fun for all. All adults 55-plus are welcome. Just drop in to check it out or become a member. Fees are $5 for members and $6 for non-members. Membership is $15; contact Ellie DeJesus at 209-277-5584 or Lupe Padron at 209-573-5014. The Community Center is at 3600 Santa Fe St., Riverbank.
Weight Loss Support
All interested are welcome to join TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) a weight support group that meets in Oakdale every Monday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Community United Methodist Church on Poplar. This group is open to the public and anyone interested in improving their life by losing weight can contact Audrey for more information, call 209-765-7838.
Widowed Persons Group
Oakdale Widowed Persons Group invites you to join them the first Saturday of each month for breakfast at 9 a.m. and on the third Tuesday of each month for lunch at 1 p.m.; call for locations. All are welcome to join the group no matter how long ago you lost your spouse. For more information, contact Barbara at 209-322-2184.
