Datebook lists upcoming events and items of interest for residents of Escalon, Farmington, Collegeville and the surrounding area.
The Escalon Public Library will host Science Saturday on Saturday, July 6 with a special chemistry presentation by The Science Wizard at noon. All ages are invited; also check out the wide variety of ongoing programs at the library and sign up for the Summer Reading Club. The library is at 1540 Second St., Escalon.
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Tickets for the Miss Escalon Pageant – which is scheduled for Wednesday, July 10, 6 p.m. at the Escalon Community Center, will be on sale at the Main Street Stage on Monday, July 8 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; contact Lexi with questions at 209-480-0728. Tickets include dinner prior to the pageant and desserts during the event.
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Women’s Center-Youth & Family Services (WCYFS) will host its seventh annual Christmas in July donation drive. The drive outlines specific programmatic needs for clients, especially youth and young adults starting school. Needs include summer wear, school supplies, hygiene products, and more. The complete list can be found at www.WomensCenterYFS.org, and donations will be accepted now through July 31, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 620 N. San Joaquin St., Stockton. For questions or additional information, call (209) 941-2611.
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The McHenry Mansion Docent Council has planned its Fourth of July activities. The public is invited to join in the Independence Day celebration on Thursday, July 4. Self-guided walk-through tours of the beautiful historic Victorian McHenry Mansion will start at 8:30 a.m. prior to this year’s 145th annual parade in Modesto and will continue following the parade until 1 p.m. The Mansion, located on the parade route at 906 15th St., Modesto, welcomes the public to designate chairs and blankets along the street in front of the Mansion to watch the parade. Since 1874, the City of Modesto has celebrated the Fourth of July with a parade through downtown. The 2019 parade theme is “Celebrating Our Freedoms” and the McHenry Foundation will have pop-up booths selling coffee, donuts, hot dogs, cold drinks, water and ice cream during the parade.
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Next up at Hutton’s Hamlet is the musical comedy, The Wild, Wild, Wildest West, set for Friday, July 5 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 6 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are now on sale in the music store at 149 Church Ave., Oakdale and the show is staged in the chapel at the northeast corner of West G Street and South Church Avenue. For more information, call 209-848-1216.
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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 10. For more information, call (209) 869-8200.
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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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A series of special summer camps is available for youngsters, ages 5 to 11, at Micke Grove Zoo, running 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. Register at mgzoo.com and keep in mind that camps fill up fast. Cost is $110 per week for Zoo members, $125 per week for non-members. In addition to special themes, there will be games, crafts, activities and animal encounters featured for participants. Dinosaurs are the focus beginning July 8 and Wild Water Play Days wrap up the summer starting on July 15. For more information, call 209-331-2138.
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The San Joaquin County Agricultural Hall of Fame is requesting nominations for outstanding agricultural leaders and mentors in the community. Now in its 35th year, the Agricultural Hall of Fame honors those individuals who have contributed to agriculture and to their community in significant ways. Each year, awards are given to at least three living recipients, as well as posthumous ones. Nomination forms are available from the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce website, and need to be submitted by 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9 in order to be considered. For more information, call Timm Quinn at 209-292-8423 or visit the Stockton Chamber of Commerce, www.stocktonchamber.org website and click on the Ag Hall of Fame link in the events drop down menu.
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The Modesto Junior College Foundation is celebrating “MJC … Beacon of Hope” at this year’s Summer Sonata which is slated for Thursday, July 18 at Greens on Tenth, located at 947 10th Street in downtown Modesto. The event, held in Green’s banquet facility, begins with a reception and silent auction at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:45 p.m. After dinner there is a program and a live auction. The cost to attend the Summer Sonata is $150 per person ($110 is tax deductible) and event proceeds benefit college programs, campus projects and student scholarships. To purchase Sonata tickets call the Foundation Office at (209) 575-6068.
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The Central California Art Association at Mistlin Gallery in downtown Modesto is planning the Fourth Annual Autumn Art Festival. This is the CCAA’s members-only juried art show and fundraiser at the Mistlin Gallery from Aug. 13 through Oct. 4. It is a great time for artists to join the organization, meet their peers and compete for cash prizes. Look online or visit the gallery for membership information. Artist prospectus/entries are due at the gallery by Saturday, July 27. For more information go to www.ccaagallery.org or call Mistlin Gallery at 209-529-3369.
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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.
