Datebook lists upcoming events and items of interest for residents of Escalon, Farmington, Collegeville and the surrounding area.
Get your tickets now for the Escalon Lions Club annual Corned Beef and Cabbage Feed to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, set for Thursday, March 16 at the Escalon Community Center. Tickets are $20 per person for the traditional meal and doors open at 6 p.m. for a social hour. Dinner begins at 7 p.m. and a drive-thru dinner will be offered starting at 7 p.m. as well. Inside, enjoy complimentary wine on the tables, raffle drawings, and live music. Tickets are available from Lions Club members or at the door. Proceeds benefit the club’s high school scholarship program.
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Help with income tax preparation for low to moderate income residents is available each week at the Escalon Community Center. Karen Corey, who helps oversee the senior meal program there, also runs the tax assistance program at the senior site each Wednesday afternoon from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; by appointment only. Call to make an appointment, 209-783-VITA (8482).
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A Student Art Showcase continues through March 30, open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, at the Stanislaus County Office of Education, 1100 H St., second floor, Modesto. The Student Art Showcase features student work from preschool to advanced high school students across Region 6, which includes Amador, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne counties.
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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, March 15. For more information, call (209) 869-8200.
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Support Relay For Life; get on board the eighth annual Ride The Rails For Relay event on the Niles Canyon Railway, with three different departure times available. The train leaves from Sunol Depot, 6 Kilkare Road, Sunol on Saturday, April 29 at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., with live entertainment on the train with free wine tasting and snacks and beverages available for purchase. You can also bring a picnic to eat on the train or in the park. Trains are handicap and wheelchair accessible. Cost for tickets is $25 for adults, children 2 to 12, $15 and under 2 ride for free. Trains run in all weather; train and crew donated by Niles Canyon Railway. Make checks payable to American Cancer Society. Locally, Gerri Andrade has tickets available, contact her at 209-324-6947 or email at gmagerri@sbcglobal.net.
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Knights Ferry History Museum and Associates have joined with the Army Corps of Engineers to host the 27th Annual Gold Country Peddlers Faire on Sunday, April 23. The event will be hosted at the Stanislaus River Park, on Covered Bridge Road, Knights Ferry, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A large selection of antiques, handmade crafts and art, as well as food booths will be on hand. Persons interested in vendor space may obtain information by contacting Vendor Coordinator Gayle Higgins at gaylethiggins@gmail.com or 209-480-3602.
