Datebook lists upcoming events and items of interest for residents of Escalon, Farmington, Collegeville and the surrounding area.
Head Start San Joaquin, a program of the San Joaquin County Office of Education, is offering one final day for applications in Escalon. The program provides quality early education services for children from birth to age 5, features a highly qualified teaching staff, serves healthy meals for students, offers services for pregnant women and their families and provides support services to families as they prepare for their child for school. Applications will be accepted at the Dent Elementary School campus, 1998 Yosemite Ave., Escalon, from noon to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28. For more information, call 209-636-0005.
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Toddler/Preschool Storytime at the Escalon Library, 1540 Second St., is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 27 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. Also don’t forget that the Senior Gentle Exercise Class is open to local seniors every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., in the Ekholm Meeting room at the library, focuses on strength and flexibility.
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Come join the fun at Saron Lutheran Church, 1742 North St., Escalon on Friday, Oct. 28. Festivities start at 6 p.m. and this will be a ‘potato bar, bunco and raffle night’ with proceeds to benefit the Escalon Ministerial Association’s Christmas Fund. Cost is $20 per person and includes dinner and the game night. Tickets may be purchased at the door. All are welcome to attend. The EMA Christmas Fund provides food vouchers for those in need during the holidays, helping local families have a brighter Christmas. For more information, call 209-838-0654 or 209-838-7695.
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Riverbank United Methodist Church will be holding its annual “Holiday Bazaar and Soup Lunch” on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28 and 29 at the Church at the corner of Atchison and Third streets, Riverbank. Bazaar shopping will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with many holiday items, baked goods, and other crafts. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Available at the luncheon will be homemade corn chowder, cream of broccoli soup, chicken noodle soup, vegetable beef soup, white beans with ham, and Portuguese beans with linguica for $3.50 and many flavors of fruit and cream pies for $2.50 per slice.
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The Delta Tule Trekkers are hosting a fun “Spooky Walk” at Caswell Memorial State Park, 28000 Austin Road, Ripon, this coming Halloween weekend. Walks will be offered both Saturday, Oct. 29 and Sunday, Oct. 30. Families and individual walkers are invited to join the group on either a 5k or 10k walk through the wonderful oak woodlands at the park. There will be a costume contest on Saturday with prizes offered. For more information call (209) 931-0557 or visit the club website at www.deltatuletrekkers.org.
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Escalon’s annual Veterans’ Day activities are in the planning stages and Escalon American Legion Post 263 Adjutant Vince Giovaniello is looking for entries for the parade. The events of Friday, Nov. 11 will start with the parade on Main Street in Escalon, kicking off at 10:30 a.m. There will be a brief Memorial Service at the Community Center Memorial Wall following the parade and a chicken barbecue at the city’s Community Center served from noon to 3 p.m. Giovaniello is the parade coordinator and more information about participating in the parade is available by contacting him at 209-869-6978 or 209-604-9100. Parade entries are due by Nov. 7.
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Riverbank welcomes the REO Speechtrain Toastmasters Club for regular meetings every Wednesday morning from 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. 2. For more information, call (209) 614-8462.
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The Escalon 4-H Hunter’s Breakfast fundraiser will be Saturday, Nov. 12 at Van Allen School from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Come enjoy a hearty breakfast at a good price and support the local 4-H programs at the same time. Tickets are available from 4-H members and more information is available by contacting Amy at 209-838-0151 or Tina at 209-838-2011.
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U.S. Representative Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) encourages all interested students to send in their submissions for California’s 10th District Congressional App Challenge before the Nov. 2 deadline. This challenge invites middle and high school students to compete with peers to create and showcase their software application, or “app,” for mobile, tablet or computer devices on a platform of their choice. The best app will be displayed in an exhibit in the U.S. Capitol. Submissions will be accepted until midnight on Nov. 2, 2016 and will be judged by a panel of local judges. Additional details are available at https://denham.house.gov/congressional-app-challenge. Questions should be directed to Kassi Fortado with Rep. Denham’s Modesto office at (209) 579-5458.
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The 2016 holiday season will kick-off as hundreds of families will join together to light-up Tree of Lights throughout San Joaquin County. This year Hospice of San Joaquin’s Tree of Lights program is in its 28th year of helping area families honor a loved one on one of the eight trees of lights. Escalon’s tree will be lit Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. The tree lighting will be hosted by the City of Escalon and Escalon Chamber of Commerce. The tree is located at Main Street Park, corner of Main and Second streets. To dedicate a light in memory or honor of a loved one, or for details about any of the upcoming Tree of Lights events, call (209) 957-3888 or visit www.hospicesj.org/treeoflights.
