Datebook lists upcoming events and items of interest for residents of Escalon, Farmington, Collegeville and the surrounding area.
Escalon High School’s music program is presenting its first ever ‘coffee house music concert’ on Thursday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. The evening of music will be hosted in the EHS Theater/Performing Arts Center on the high school campus. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased from any EHS music student or you can purchase a ticket at the door. Tickets will include coffee, hot chocolate, dessert, and live music.
Tables and chairs will be set up in the theater to allow for groups to sit together and enjoy refreshments while listening to the music. The Feb. 7 event is being put on as a fundraiser for the school’s music department.
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Members of the Escalon-Farmington Garden Club are inviting all those interested in any kind or form of gardening to attend their next meeting, including any Oakdale Garden Club members. The club strives to have motivational speakers on topics that will enhance our gardening enjoyment. The meeting is set for Thursday, Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. at the Escalon Library, 1540 Second St., Escalon. For more information, text or call 209-613-8708 or email lorainenicholson@att.net.
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Upcoming blood donation opportunities through the American Red Cross in the local area include Tuesday, Feb. 12, Escalon Christian Reformed Church, 2203 California St., Escalon, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and Wednesday, Feb. 13, Gene Bianchi Community Center, 110 S. Second Ave., Oakdale, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All eligible donors, especially platelet donors and blood donors with type O blood, are urged to make an appointment to give to help restock the shelves for hospital patients. Eligible donors can find a blood or platelet donation opportunity and schedule an appointment to donate by using the free Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). The Sonora Blood Donor site at 850 Sanguinetti Road is also open Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday for donors.
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The next Team Meeting for the 2019 Relay For Life of Oakdale-Riverbank-Escalon-Waterford will be held Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Royal Oak Conference Room, 1425 W. H St., Oakdale, adjacent to Oak Valley Hospital. All are welcome to attend to learn more about the event, which is set for Saturday, April 27, 9 a.m. to midnight at Oakdale High School.
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Nuts For Life, a team involved in the Relay For Life, is hosting its tri-tip dinner for four, featuring curbside-to-go service. Pre-sale tickets only for the dinner, scheduled for Saturday, March 2 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Saron Lutheran Church, 1742 North St., Escalon. Cost is $45 and that gets you a whole BBQ tri-tip, four baked potatoes, a bag of salad, a loaf of French bread and two-liter bottle of soda. For more information, call 209-838-2892 or 209-838-2427.
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The third annual Fun Color Run presented by the Escalon Educational Foundation will hit the streets of Escalon on Saturday, Feb. 9. Cost to register is $30 for adults ages 18-plus now through Friday, Feb. 8; $40 on race day. Cost for youth, ages 17 and under is $20 through Feb. 8; $30 on race day. There will be both a 5k and a one mile walk/run offered and the races start and end at El Portal Middle School, 805 First St., Escalon. Check-in on race day will run from 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. and the color run takes off at 8 a.m. There will be early T-shirt and bib pick up on Thursday, Feb. 7 at D’Boni’s Pizza from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
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Planning is underway for the annual Escalon High School Sports Boosters Dinner, Dance and Auction, set for Saturday, March 9 at the Escalon Community Center. Cocktails begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner served at 6:30 p.m. and dancing until midnight. This annual event includes a hosted bar, dinner, raffle drawings, live and silent auctions and dancing. Tickets will be available for purchase at Escalon High School, Room 27 at 6:30 p.m., or by contacting Melanie McPherrin at 209-603-0172. Proceeds from this event support all sports at Escalon High School.
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Local Girl Scouts are currently taking in-person and online cookie orders for their annual sales of the traditional springtime treat. On Friday, Feb. 22, the National Cookie Weekend and the first day of booth sales begin. The last day for sales will be Sunday, March 17. Girl Scouts Heart of Central California covers 18 counties including San Joaquin and Stanislaus. To find a cookie booth, enter your zip code in the Cookie Finder website, www.girlscoutshcc.org/findcookies or by downloading the Girl Scout Cookie Finder app for your IOS or Android mobile device.
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Central Valley Community Resources, CVCR, is hosting its third annual Crab Feed fundraising dinner, to be held this year at the Escalon Sportsman’s Club on River Road. It’s set for Saturday, Feb. 9, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and dinner from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be a silent auction held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Also, there will be dancing and a no host bar. The menu for this event, in addition to Caribbean-style crab, includes tri-tip, jambalaya, rice, corn bread, and much more, according to organizer Darlene Barber-Martinez. She said individual tickets for the event will sell for $50, or $90 for a couple. CVCR is raising money to support their transition program for teens who are aging out of the foster care program, between 18 and 21-plus years of age, helping them establish themselves to continue their education or find employment. For more information, call 209-869-3055.
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Delicato Family Vineyards is hosting its 31st annual Fine Art Show in February. 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 basis. Numerous styles of art from many West Coast artists will be on display at the Delicato Fine Art Show, which runs through Feb. 22. Visitors are encouraged to taste the latest wine releases and cast a vote for a favorite piece of art. The winning artist will receive the coveted Visitors’ Choice Award. Delicato Vineyards is open daily, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is off Highway 99 at exit 246, four miles north of Manteca.
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All are invited to the weekly meetings of TOPS, Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 1034 that gathers each Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, 1480 Poplar Ave., Oakdale. The group features help with weight loss in a supportive setting. Residents of Oakdale, Riverbank, Escalon and beyond are welcome to attend. Call Audrey Oliver at 209-765-7838 for information. You can also visit www.tops.org.
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On display now at Modesto Junior College is an exhibit of art works by Mariam Pakbaz, with the show continuing through Thursday, Feb. 7 in the Art Gallery on the East Campus, 435 College Ave., Modesto. This first art gallery show of the spring semester features Pakbaz’s paintings and drawings that reflect the inner workings of her mind. The gallery is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday and admission is free.
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Golden Agers weekly dances are open to those 50 and older from throughout the Central Valley and are now hosted at St. Frances of Rome Church, 2827 Topeka St., Riverbank. First time guests are admitted free. The annual membership fee is $12 and each Wednesday members pay $5 and non-members can enjoy a few hours of music and dancing for $6. The Golden Agers meet from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
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The local REO Speechtrain Toastmasters Club gathers 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, Feb.13. For more information, call (209) 869-8200.
