On Wednesday, Oct. 30 bring the kids to a Fall Festival at Escalon Covenant Church, featuring their popular Trunk or Treat, from 5:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. Escalon Covenant is at 1155 Escalon Ave.; there will be candy, games, decorated cars, music, free hot dogs and more. All kids are welcome to come in costume and make the rounds of the decorated cars, playing games and receiving a variety of candy treats.
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Wednesday, Oct. 30 you can sign up for the Escalon Wrestling Club from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at D’Boni’s Pizza and a second sign-up date, also at D’Boni’s, will be on Sunday, Nov. 3 from 11 a.m.to 2 p.m. The club is open to all skill levels, ages 5 to 18, male and female. The fee of $75 includes a team shirt and SCWAY membership card. Cost is $35 for El Portal wrestlers. Practices are scheduled to start on Tuesday, Nov. 5 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more information, contact Derek Scott at 209-499-3941 or via email at descott@escalonusd.org or Brianne Cerasi at 209-404-6217.
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Escalon 4-H Hunter’s Breakfast fundraiser is set for Saturday, Nov. 2. Breakfast will be served at the Van Allen Elementary School multi-purpose room, running from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Menu includes pancakes, eggs, linguica, ham, biscuits and gravy, and beverages. Attendees will also have the chance to meet members of the 4-H Club that will be at work serving the breakfast and there will be opportunity drawings offered as well. Tickets are available from all Escalon 4-H members or you can call for more information or tickets at 209-838-2011. The prices are $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 3 to 10; two and under eat for free.
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Oakdale Women’s Club will host a Luncheon Meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 5 in a session open to all those interested. The Guest Speaker at the OWC luncheon will be Ms. Pam Dumas, Business Manager of the Oakdale Tourism and Visitors’ Bureau. Her presentation will include a Power Point video dealing with her organization’s focus on tourism and bringing people in to visit the region. The luncheon cost is $16 per person, begins at noon and is planned at the Oakdale Golf and Country Club, 243 N. Stearns Road, Oakdale. The civic-minded OWC organization welcomes anyone interested in attending the November luncheon/program. For more information or to make reservations for the event, call Karen at (209) 848-2231.
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The Escalon FFA Ag Boosters will host its Bovine Bingo fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 9. Festivities will begin at 10 a.m. at the Escalon Auction Yard, corner of Lone Tree and Escalon-Bellota roads. Cost is $20 per square and the first ‘plop’ by Cow A will win the $500 grand prize. Additional Cow B and Cow C prizes will be determined by the ticket sales. There is also a $50 bonus prize if you are present and your square wins. Tickets are available for Bovine Bingo from Escalon FFA members or by contacting April Adams at 209-606-6487. All proceeds benefit the Escalon High School FFA program.
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The Edible Expo, being hosted by the Escalon Educational Foundation, is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 16. Hours for the event will be 6 p.m. to midnight with the event at the Escalon Community Center; cost is $50 per person or reserve a table for eight at $400. Along with the food and beverage samples, there will be music and the chance to socialize, along with live and silent auction items being up for bid. To donate auction items, contact Melanie McPherrin at 209-603-0172. For tickets or more information, contact April Adams at 209-606-6487.
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Sending out a call for vendors and customers, it’s the La Grange Odd Fellows’ Christmas Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free to the public in the cozy atmosphere of the historic IOOF Hall, 30018 Yosemite Blvd., La Grange. The fair is hosted by the Odd Fellows of Lafayette Lodge #65. The event will showcase an array of crafts items, including Western art, jewelry, sewn creations, plant arrangements and organic edible goodies. Refreshments and drawings for raffle prizes will be featured as well. Crafters can call now; vendor spaces are currently available, $25 for 6’ by 8’, first come first served. For more information call Patty (209) 604-4444.
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To commemorate the 244th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, the local Marine Corps League Detachment will host a traditional birthday celebration including the cutting of the cake, flag presentation and the annual birthday message from the commandant. Keynote speaker will be Gold Star Father Michael Anderson Sr., whose son Michael Anderson Jr. was killed in action in Iraq in 2004.
The event will be held Sunday, Nov. 10 at the Stanislaus Veterans Center, 3500 Coffee Road, Modesto and includes a dinner of either chicken or beef, live music and dancing and a fundraising raffle. Tickets are $30 per person or $50 a couple but there is a $5 discount for tickets purchased before Oct. 31 and is free to active duty servicemen. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for socializing and no host bar with dinner being served at 7 p.m. For tickets or more information, contact Mike Pelucca at 209-324-2977 or Bill Johnson at 209-896-5057 or go to www.mcl019.org.
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The Stanislaus County League of Women Voters will host its next Lunch and Learn Program on Thursday, Oct. 31 at noon. All are welcome to join the group at Ridgway’s Restaurant and Lounge, Century Center, 2401 E. Orangeburg, Modesto for this informative session. Heath Flora, California State Assembly member representing the 12th District, will speak about pending legislation and other matters of concern to area residents. He will also answer questions from the audience. The public is invited to this event. Lunch, chef’s choice, is available at $16. Reservations are not required. For more information, call the League at 209-324-3375.*****
Soroptimist International of Oakdale is accepting applications for its Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women program. This program provides cash grants to women who are working to better their lives through additional schooling and skills training. Women are eligible to apply if they have the primary financial responsibility for themselves and their dependents including children, spouse, siblings, and/or parents, are attending an undergraduate degree program or a vocational skills training program, and have financial need. Women throughout the Oakdale, Riverbank and Escalon areas are encouraged to apply for an award. Apply online at http://bit.ly/LYDApply or contact Jackie Hair, Chairperson, sioakdale@soroptimist.net, (209) 840-2134. The deadline to apply is Nov. 15.
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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, Nov. 6. 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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Golden Agers weekly dances are open to those 50 and older from throughout the Central Valley and are hosted at the Riverbank Community Center, 3600 Santa Fe 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.
