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.
May Music
Members of the Oakdale Community Dance Band will present their dance for May on Thursday, May 22. The program will include several selections of big band dance music, many of which feature talented local vocalists. The free performance starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Gladys Lemmons Senior Community Center, 450 East A St., Oakdale, and residents from throughout the area are invited to attend and dance or just listen. The May 22 dance will be your last chance to enjoy the live music of the Community Dance Band until the band returns from its summer break on the fourth Thursday of August; Aug. 28. All are encouraged to attend and enjoy the fun at the May 22 event.
Memorial Dedication
Mark the calendar and make plans to attend the Escalon Farmington Community Garden Club dedication ceremony for a Blue Star Memorial Marker. The program is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 24 at the Escalon Community Center, 1055 Escalon Ave., Escalon. All Armed Forces members, Veterans and members of the community are invited to help Garden Club members honor past and present service men and women through the dedication of the Blue Star Memorial Marker.
Weekly Dances
Enjoy local dancing and get some exercise each week. Members of the Golden Agers dance group 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. 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.
Weight Loss Support
Members of the local TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) weight loss support group 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.
Jam Sessions
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.
Walk For Health
The Escalon Senior Fun Bunch Walkers invite everyone in the area to join them for their weekly walks. The group meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at a park in Escalon. They meet at the corner of Justin Drive and Mission Street at 9 a.m. Fun Bunch walkers are a lighthearted group whose members love to get together and walk with others, enjoy some conversation and exercise. You do not have to be a Fun Bunch member to attend; all are welcome to join the walking group during any or all of their scheduled walks during the week.
See The Stars
Scheduled for Saturday, May 31, view Mars and the Hercules Globular Cluster at the Astronomy in the Park program. Offered at Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park, at I-5 and Eight Mile Road, Stockton, the program begins at 8:20 p.m. Though admission to the event is free, there is a $6 cash parking fee. All programs are hosted, weather permitting. Those planning to attend are encouraged to get there early and enjoy astronomy activities in the Nature Center, then view planets through giant telescopes after sunset. Astronomy in the Park is presented by The Stockton Astronomical Society, Oak Grove Docent Council and San Joaquin County Parks.
Widowed Persons
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.
Brennan’s Parlor
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
