Datebook lists upcoming events and items of interest for residents of Escalon, Farmington, Collegeville and the surrounding area.
The final ‘pre-cruise’ Friday night car show leading up to the annual Escalon Lions Club Autumn Cruise in September will take place this week in Escalon’s Main Street Park. The show is scheduled for July 20. There is no entry fee for the pre-cruise gathering; those interested can just bring their classic cars to the Main Street Park for an evening of music, shop talk and looking over the classics; the show will run from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and all makes and models of vehicles are welcome.
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John Nilsen will appear in piano concert on Sunday, July 29, at 1 p.m. at the Escalon United Methodist Church at 2000 Jackson Ave., Highway 120. CDs will be available for purchase and refreshments will be served. Over the past 35 years, he has averaged 225 shows a year, performing as a solo pianist, solo guitarist and as a member of his two bands. Nilsen is a native of the Pacific Northwest, born in Seattle and raised primarily in Portland, where he has been a resident for many years. He began studying piano at age six and guitar at age twelve. He attended Southern Oregon University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English. He loves to get out on the rivers, into the forests and onto the mountains of the region. The people, landscapes, weather, and tenor of life in the Pacific Northwest frequently influence Nilsen’s musical themes.
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Bringing their soul and R&B sounds to Ironstone Amphitheatre on Saturday, July 21 at 8 p.m. with three decades of tracks like “Brick House,” “Easy,” and “Nightshift” the Grammy award winning artists The Commodores along with The Isley Brothers and The Family Stone will bring classic Motown to Murphys. To order tickets or for more information, call 1-866-820-4553 or visit https://murphys.eventticketscenter.com.
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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, July 25. For more information, call (209) 869-8200.
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Visionary Home Builders is offering a Homebuyer Education Class at its Homeownership Center on Saturday, July 28. This one-day class reviews all aspects of home purchase, including understanding credit scores and good faith estimates, budget analysis, housing payment affordability, and developing your home buying team. A Class Registration Form is available at Visionary Home Builders’ Homeownership Center in downtown Stockton at 315 N. San Joaquin St., or can be downloaded at www.visionaryhomebuilders.org. Pre-registration is mandatory. Classes are held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Organizers are already planning for the annual Ice Cream Social hosted each August at the Escalon United Methodist Church on Jackson Avenue. Date for this year’s event is Saturday, Aug. 4 and the social starts at 6 p.m., featuring homemade ice cream and a variety of sweet treats. All are welcome; no charge to attend but donations are gratefully accepted.
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The Great Valley Museum on the West Campus of Modesto Junior College is offering training for new docents to share information about the habitats, animals, and plants of the Central Valley with museum visitors. Docents are trained to lead guided tours for school and adult groups. A background in science is not required, just enthusiasm for working with people. For more information or to register, call (209) 575-6196 or go to GVM’s “Volunteering” page found at www.mjc.edu/gvm.
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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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Golden Agers weekly dances are open to those 50 and older from throughout the Central Valley at the Riverbank Community Center. Doors open Wednesdays at 9 a.m.; the center is at 3600 Santa Fe St., and 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.
