Datebook lists upcoming events and items of interest for residents of Escalon, Farmington, Collegeville and the surrounding area.
Sign-ups are being taken now for the annual Grant Altamirano Horseshoe Tournament and Family BBQ. This year’s event, held to support the scholarship fund set up by Grant’s family and friends for his children, Aiden and Zoe, will be held on Saturday, Aug. 13 at Hogan Park in Escalon. Registration for the tournament begins at 8 a.m. and play begins at 9 a.m. The first 36 teams will be assured a spot. The cost is $100 per team and food and beverages (including adult beverages) are included. For more information, contact Brady Altamirano at 402-4087 or Nate Nash at 289-8899. Registration forms are also available at Shorty’s Sports Pub & Grill and D’Boni’s Pizza.
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The Escalon Library’s Summer Reading Club is rapidly coming to a close and the end of the summer party is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 4 at 2:30 p.m., when they will have a pizza party, discuss some of the books read and also have some prize drawings. Also, the next Toddler/Preschool Storytime at the Escalon Library will be Aug. 4 at 10:30 a.m. On Tuesdays, the drop in knitting group is open to all with an interest in the craft; bring your own materials and enjoy knitting and socialization from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
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Oakdale VFW Post will have its next monthly hamburger night fundraiser tonight, Wednesday, Aug. 3. Hours are from 5:30 p.m. to about 8:30 p.m., at the Oakdale Saddle Club Rodeo Grounds clubhouse. Attendees can stay after eating to socialize. All donations at the dessert table at the monthly dinner go to purchase wreaths for Wreaths Across America. The local VFW and Auxiliary’s goal is to have a wreath on every grave at the Santa Nella Veterans cemetery.
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Grab a cowboy hat and low-back lawn chair or blanket and settle under the shade of heritage oaks at the first ever Red Dirt and Gold Dust Music Fest (RDGDMF), set for Saturday, Aug. 6 at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds in Angels Camp. Tickets are on sale now at www.reddirtandgolddust.com for $25 each, and may also be purchased at the Angels Camp Body Shop, 1270 S. Main St., Angels Camp. The all-day event will host seven of the Red Dirt industry’s popular and up-and-coming bands. Tickets will rise to $30 the day of the event so there is great value in buying early. Parking is an additional $5 charge. No outside food, beverages or coolers will be allowed on the Fairgrounds.
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Riverbank welcomes the REO Speechtrain Toastmasters Club 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, Aug. 10. For more information, call (209) 614-8462.
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The Good Time Accordion Club meets the second Wednesday of each month for their musical and social gathering at the Escalon Community Center, 1055 Escalon Ave., with the next session on Aug. 10. Admission is $5 at the door; meetings are at 7 p.m. and the remainder of the club’s meetings for 2016 are scheduled on Wednesdays, Aug. 10; Sept. 14; Oct. 12; Nov. l9 and Dec. 14. Accordion players of all ages and levels are welcome, in addition to listening enthusiasts. The club also accepts donated accordions. For more information, contact Gayle Certini at 209-526-3627.
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The fifth annual Pete and Sheila Arellano Scholarship Golf Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 20 at the Escalon Golf course. Cost is $50 per person or $180 for a team of four and features an 8 a.m. shotgun start. There will be awards for the top three teams, raffle prizes, lunch is provided and there are special prizes for Closest to the Hole winners on three different holes along with Longest Drive prizes on holes 7 and 14. All money raised is invested back into two scholarships at Escalon High School, one scholarship for cross country and one scholarship for journalism. For more information contact Tina Arellano Jensen at 209-484-8371. You can also email Scott Page at pageduo@gmail.com or sign up in person at Escalon Golf Course.
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Saturday Aug. 20, from 8 a.m. until noon, the Escalon Lions Club will be hosting a City Wide Shred Day, for residents to dispose of accumulated paper materials that need to be securely disposed of. This event is open to all Escalon residents residing in the Escalon School District boundaries. Those attending to utilize the shredding service are asked to bring at least one can of food per box or bag of paper materials for shredding, to be donated to a local food bank. Each residential household will be limited to three copy paper sized boxes, or five grocery bags of paper to be shred. This event will be at the Escalon Park and Ride lot, at Main and Viking streets in Escalon.
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Micke Grove Zoological Society Zoo Zoom is a health-driven, family-friendly event that includes a children’s fun run, 5K race, games, crafts, award ceremony and a pancake breakfast. It is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 18 with check-in and on-site registration from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Early Bird Pre-Registration is being taken until Monday, Sept. 12. Register On-Line at: www.active.com (Search “Micke Grove Zoo”).
