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.
Back To Gardening
Members of the Escalon Farmington Community Garden Club are planning their first meeting of the fall season. The September General Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 1 at 1 p.m. at Trinity Church, annex building, 1900 California St., Escalon. Guest speaker will be Jack Hall, president of the Modesto Camera Club. The meeting will also include snacks, a door prize, and raffles. For more information, call 209-613-8708.
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).
Fireworks Night
Join the Modesto Nuts baseball team for a special ‘Last Chance for Fireworks’ show on Friday, Sept. 9 at John Thurman Field in Modesto; first pitch is at 7:05 p.m. and the evening will conclude with a post-game fireworks show. This special event is presented by Chicken Ranch Casino. For additional information, call 209-572-4487 or visit modestonuts.com.
Autumn Cruise
The Escalon Lions Club Autumn Cruise Car Show is still going strong and this year, the 26th edition of the fall classic is set for Saturday, Sept. 10. All proceeds raised through the car show go to the Escalon Lions High School Scholarship Fund. The organization has raised and presented several thousand dollars’ worth of scholarships through the years. Pre-registration is going on now and the first 150 entrants will receive a free goodie bucket. There will be over 50 separate car show awards presented to entries and there will also be an $800 participants only drawing. The cruise is set up in downtown Escalon, in and around the city’s Main Street Park, and typically brings in several hundred classic cars, trucks and motorcycles. The show is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Enjoy Dancing
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 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.
Bunco Fun
The annual Bunco Night hosted at Saron Lutheran Church is on the schedule for Saturday, Sept. 17. Dinner and sign-in begins at 6 p.m. with a 7 p.m. start for the Bunco games. Proceeds go to the EMA, Escalon Ministerial Association, food voucher program. That program provides vouchers for use at local markets during the holidays for those in need. Tickets are $25 per person and the price includes Bunco, dinner and drinks. Raffle tickets will be available separately for various prize drawings. For more information, contact Saron Lutheran Church at 209-838-7695.
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.
