Community Briefs provides a listing of events and activities going on in and around the Oakdale and Riverbank areas. To have an event featured, e-mail the information to mjackson@oakdaleleader.com.
Widowed Persons Gather
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.
AAUW Program
On Thursday, Jan. 13, at 7 p.m., American Association of University Women (AAUW), Oakdale Riverbank Escalon Branch members and guests will hear about the history and transformation of Zinc House, near Escalon. Carol Franzia, who was a winemaker for 30 years, will share the story of how in 2018 she and her brothers Brian, Michael and Paul Franzia left the family business to become the founders of Zinc House Farm. Members and visitors attending the meeting must be fully vaccinated; wearing masks indoors, and social distancing is strongly encouraged. Prospective members interested in attending this meeting can learn the location or get further information by calling (209) 847-0271.
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. Drop in, 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 Group
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.
Testing Site Open
Escalon Unified School District, in cooperation with the San Joaquin County Health Department and Fulgent Genetics, is hosting a COVID-19 testing site at the Escalon High School Performing Arts Center. This is free, rapid COVID testing and the site is open Monday through Friday, holidays excluded, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; enter on the Yosemite Avenue side. They will take drop-ins or you can make an appointment at https://sjc.fulgentgenetics.com/appointment. The site is open to all area residents; it is not limited to the school district, as anyone in the region is eligible to come in for the free rapid COVID-19 testing.
