By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Community Briefs
oakdale cowboy capital-281x202

Accordion Players Meet

The next Accordion Music and Social gathering of the Good Time Accordion Club is scheduled for tonight, Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Escalon Community Center. The center is at 1055 Escalon Ave., Escalon, and there is a $5 admission fee at the door. All accordion fans and performers of all skills levels are welcome. The special guest performers for the month will be Steve and Mike Trucco. For more information, contact Karl Wucherer at 209-556-3105. The club meets the second Wednesday of the month.

 

Enjoy Art Show

Delicato Vineyards is hosting its 29th annual Fine Art Show from Wednesday, Jan. 11 through Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017. Delicato Vineyards is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is on Highway 99, four miles north of Manteca. The public is encouraged to visit the judged art that will be on display throughout the Tasting Room. All art in this show will be available for sale on a first come first sale basis.

 

Join With Toastmasters

Riverbank welcomes the REO Speechtrain Toastmasters Club for regular meetings every Wednesday morning, 6:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m., at Perko’s Cafe, Patterson and Oakdale roads, Riverbank. This is a fun way to learn the self-confidence and skills needed for public speaking. All are invited to come and check out the group. The next meeting will be Wednesday, Jan. 18. For more information, call (209) 869-8200.

 

Ice Skating Fun

Modesto on Ice has returned for its second season to Downtown Modesto, running now until Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. This family-friendly ice rink offers public sessions, as well as figure skating and hockey lessons. Modesto on Ice also hosts private events. The ice rink is located at 1131 11th Street in downtown Modesto (corner of 11th and K streets). For operating hours, visit www.modestoonice.com. Every Tuesday, Modesto on Ice skate sessions will be discounted to $8 until 5:30 p.m.

 

Chocolate Event

Chocolate Lovers’ Hoedown – a buffet dinner plus community hoedown and chocolate auction is set for Saturday, Feb. 4, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds, Manzanita Building, in Sonora. All are encouraged to come ready to eat and dance. The dancing will include line, round, and circle dances, and will be called Rachel Phillips. The buffet dinner will be prepared by Chef Dave Ingram of Chef Dave Cooks! Tickets are $35 and may be purchased at The Mountain Bookshop in the Junction and Schnoog’s. For more information, call 962-0805.

 

Host Families Sought

Cultural Homestay International (CHI), a highly recognized high school exchange program, is seeking volunteer local host families for International high school students, ages 15 to 18 years of age who are coming to this area for the 2017-2018 school year or semester. These personable and academically select students are conversant in English, bright, curious, and anxious to learn about the country through living as part of a family, attending high school and sharing their own culture and language with their newly adopted host family. These exchange students arrive from their home country shortly before school begins and return at the end of the school year or semester. Each Cultural Homestay International student is fully insured, brings their own personal spending money and expects to contribute their own personal spending money and expects to contribute to their share of the household responsibilities as well as being included in normal family activities and lifestyles. Those persons interested in obtaining more information about becoming a host family or learning about Cultural Homestay International should call 1-877-737-0409. Please visit our website, www.chinet.org for more information.

 

Tax-Aide Training

With tax time fast approaching, there is still time to become a Tax-Aide volunteer. To sign on as a Tax-Aide volunteer, go to http://tinyurl.com/AARPTax-AideApplication. Tax-Aide is sponsored by the IRS and the AARP Foundation. AARP membership is not required to volunteer, or to receive Tax-Aide’s free tax preparation and e-filing service. If you enjoy helping others, have basic computer skills and are willing to complete an extensive IRS self-study course, then you can become an IRS-certified AARP Tax-Aide volunteer. After completion of training, you’ll prepare and e-file federal tax returns for low-and-middle-income taxpayers of all ages.