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.
Garden Tours Slated
The annual fundraising Garden Tour event planned by Oakdale Garden Club is the opportunity to view six local gardens on Saturday, Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ticket/booklets are $25. Tickets are available from any Oakdale Garden Club member and locally at Ace Hardware, 1010 East F St., Oakdale, and at A Touche of Flowers, 822 West F, along with Morris Nursery, Westurf, and other nurseries in Ripon, Manteca, and Turlock. Local businesses have generously supported the event with advertisements in the ticket booklet, donations for the raffle baskets and silent auction items. For more information, contact Linda King, Event Co-Chairperson, at 916-802-0607 or at OakdaleCAGardenClub@gmail.com.
Pumpkin Decorating
Lorina’s Edible Garden, 17397 Enterprise Road, is hosting a month-long Pumpkin Decoration Sation. The station will be offered during October, open hours will be Wednesdays, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.; no reservations needed during open hours. Groups are welcome to make reservations throughout the month and can ask about lunch opportunities. For more information about scheduling a group visit, contact 209-402-7567; texts or calls are welcome. In addition to the Pumpkin Decoration Station, there are a variety of fall vegetable plant and herbs available on site. A special one-day event is also on the schedule for Friday, Oct. 13 when Lorina’s will host a Harvest Fun Day, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., featuring after school fun for all ages with games, activities, pumpkins, plus snacks and drinks available.
October Market Place
Put the date on your calendar, with the next Market Place on Poplar scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 7. All are invited to come to eat, shop and/or sell your wares at the Market Place, offered the first Saturday of each month at Community United Methodist Church, 1480 Poplar in Oakdale. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., providing an opportunity to shop for unique finds or enjoy a selection from Chef Lee’s popular lunch menu. Interested vendors can contact craftfairinfo@yahoo.com for more information on reserving a $20 booth space. The last three dates through the end of 2023 are scheduled for Oct. 7, Nov. 4 and Dec. 2.
Star Gazing Dates
The next star gazing event hosted cooperatively by the Stockton Astronomical Society, Oak Grove Docent Council and San Joaquin County Parks is set for Oct. 21. The organizations have planned monthly Astronomy in the Park nights through the end of 2023. View planets through giant telescopes after sunset at these events, hosted at Oak Grove Regional Park, I-5 at Eight Mile Road, Stockton. There is a $6 cash parking fee but no cost to attend the viewing events; all are held, weather permitting. Future dates and times are all scheduled for Saturday evenings and include: Oct. 21, 6:20 p.m., Star Cluster in Hercules, Dumbbell Nebula; Nov. 18, 4:50 p.m., Jupiter, Saturn, Star Cluster and Dec. 16, 4:45 p.m., Saturn, M33 (Triangulum Galaxy). For more information, call 209-953-8800.
Columbia College Exhibit
A collection of more than 40 watercolors and sculptures by Sonora artist and retired educator and engineer Charles W. Clyde is on display through Dec. 11, 2023 in the Columbia College Manzanita Building Rotunda at 11600 Columbia College Drive, Sonora. The upper level of the Manzanita Building is open to the public, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. After retiring from teaching in 1998, he picked up a watercolor set from his daughters’ old school supplies, and began the process of teaching himself to paint. Since then, he has produced over 200 works and continues to paint into his 90s.
Widowed Persons Support
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.
Weight Loss Group
All interested are welcome to join TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) a weight loss support group that meets in Oakdale every Monday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.; meeting at 7450 River Road, Suite 4, Oakdale. This group is open to the public and anyone interested in improving their life by losing weight. Visit the website: www.tops.org for more information and to see a list of other meeting locations.
Enjoy Accordion Music
The Good Time Accordion Club members meet on a regular basis, the first Sunday of the month at 2:30 p.m., hosted at the Escalon United Methodist Church, 2000 Jackson Ave., Escalon. Admission is $5; there are free refreshments provided. The club presents musicians of all levels and many musical styles. Anyone can bring an accordion and play or just come to enjoy listening to the musical performances. The remaining 2023 gatherings are scheduled for Sundays, Nov. 5 and Dec. 3.
Golden Agers
Check out the Golden Agers dance group 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. The Community Center is at 3600 Santa Fe St., Riverbank.
Edible Expo
The Escalon Educational Foundation will be hosting a festive Edible Expo on Saturday, Oct. 28. It will offer an opportunity to ‘Eat, Drink and Have a Ball’ and will be hosted at the Escalon Community Center starting at 6 p.m., continuing through 11 p.m., open to those 21 and over only. Tickets are $50 per individual and a reserved seating table for eight is $450. The food and beverage tasting event has seen a wide variety of offerings in the past, everything from pizza and ravioli to steak bites, as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage options. Attendees are able to walk around and socialize while sampling the foods, desserts and beverages; the event also includes music and dancing, raffle drawings and live and silent auctions. For more information or tickets, contact Adams at 209-606-6487.
