Community Briefs provides a listing of events and activities going on around the Oakdale, Riverbank and Escalon areas. We welcome submissions of one-time or ongoing gatherings in the region. To have an event featured, call 209-847-3021 or e-mail the information to mjackson@oakdaleleader.com.
Gardeners Resume Meetings
Members of the Escalon Farmington Community Garden Club are getting ready for the start of a new year, following their summer break. They have scheduled the first meeting of the season for Thursday, Sept. 3. The gathering will be hosted at Escalon United Methodist Church, 2000 Jackson Ave., Escalon, and run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., with guest speaker Amy Thorpe of Rising Sun Farm & Garden first on the program, followed by refreshments, door prizes and the business meeting.
Women’s Wellness
The Center for Health Improvement, 1300 W. F St., Oakdale, will be hosting EmpowerHER, a Women’s Wellness Luncheon. Featured guest speaker is Dr. Carmela Solimine, a family care physician who specializes in women’s health. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and is a collaborative effort of the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce and Oak Valley Hospital District. To reserve your seat at the Sept. 9 event, visit: bit.ly/EmpowerHERwomenswellness or call Ashley Ardis, Event Coordinator for the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce at (209) 505-9393 or Cher Bairos, CEO for the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce at (209) 496-1134. Tickets, at $40 per person, are available now and early purchase is recommended; ticket price includes lunch and the presentation.
Weekly Dances
The Riverbank-based Golden Agers dance group is always looking to expand its membership. They meet at the Riverbank Community Center on Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with dancing, socializing, live music and fun for 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.
Fall Festival
The Farmington Fall Festival is on the calendar for Saturday, Oct. 17 at Jacob Strojan Park in Farmington, at 25626 Elm St., adjacent to the Farmington United Methodist Church. The festival will run from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Spokesperson Crystal Kalebaugh said they are looking for vendors offering homemade goods, sweets and treats, and crafts. They also anticipate having face painting and food options on site. The tent spaces are 10-by-10 and $40 is due as a deposit to secure the space when signing up. Vendors are also asked to provide a raffle basket. Those signing up to participate are asked to be set up by 10 a.m. on the morning of the event. This will be the third year for the festival, and many of the vendors offer up Halloween and autumn-themed items, as well as some with décor, crafts and gifts, to get a head start on shopping for the holidays. For more information, contact Kalebaugh at clkx1979@yahoo.com or call her at 209-404-3531.
Saturday Market
Make plans to attend the Oakdale Morning Market, offered on Saturday mornings and situated along North Third Avenue. The Market, put on through Love Oakdale, presents a wide variety of vendors. Food and beverage booths, fresh fruits and vegetables, unique merchandise, live music, a kids area for projects and activities, a special section featuring the work of young entrepreneurs and more are included. Hours for the weekly Saturday market are 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., which continues through Sept. 26.
Walking Group
All area senior citizens are welcome to join the Escalon Senior Fun Bunch walkers, known as the Senior Steppers, as they gather for their regular walks. The group meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Bob and Dena Lease Park in Escalon, at the corner of Justin Drive and Mission Street at 9 a.m. This is a lighthearted group whose members love to get together and walk with others, enjoy some conversation and exercise. All are welcome to join the walking group during any or all of their scheduled walks during the week.
Monthly Jam
The ‘lads and lasses’ of Brennan’s Parlor host a monthly Irish music jam (aka “Ceilidh”) in the back room of the H Bar B Saloon, 401 E. F St., Oakdale. Gatherings are on the third Monday of the month, and run from 6 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. They welcome anyone – players, singers, or listeners – with an appreciation for Celtic music to join the fun.
Designer Bag Bingo
Soroptimist International of Oakdale is planning its Designer Bag Bingo fundraiser, scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 4 at the Gene Bianchi Community Center, 110 S. Second Ave., Oakdale. This year’s event features 10 bingo games awarding premium designer handbags, an expanded raffle, and new interactive game experiences designed to elevate the excitement for all attendees. Tickets are currently for sale on the group’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/sioakdale
Museum Open
Members of the Escalon Historical Society Museum welcome all area residents to stop by and tour the museum, at 1630 Main St., Escalon, to learn about local history and browse the gift shop items. The regular museum hours are Wednesdays and Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Also, a reminder that the first Wednesday of each month is designated as Reminisce Day with attendees encouraged to share stories from the community’s past, with refreshments served.
Widowed Persons
Open to those throughout the area, the 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 209-318-5100.
Apply For Awards
Women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families and seek financial assistance to continue their education or receive training can now apply for the Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women. Information about the application is available at the Soroptimist International of Oakdale website (www.sioakdale.org) or Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/sioakdale), or by contacting Ruth Bright via email at nitis1975@yahoo.com. The deadline to apply is Nov. 15. The Soroptimist International of Oakdale club will provide a $1,000 cash award to its award recipient, who will then advance to the Soroptimist Sierra Pacific Region level.
TOPS Meeting
The area’s TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) weight loss support group members meet in Oakdale every Monday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.; the meeting is 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.
Patio Music
The ‘Jammers’ are a loosely knit group of local musicians who gather regularly to play and share music. Members of The Jammers set up and play at Medlen’s House of Beef in Oakdale, on the patio, the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. The fun begins around 3 p.m. and typically continues until about 6 p.m., a full afternoon of music. Acoustic musicians are welcome to come and play. Featured instruments usually include guitar, fiddle, banjo, ukulele, etc. The public is welcome to stop by, listen to the music and even sing along. No cost to attend.
