Community Briefs provides a listing of events and activities going on in and around the Oakdale, Riverbank and Escalon areas. To have an event featured, e-mail the information to mjackson@oakdaleleader.com.
ACS kickoff event
The American Cancer Society’s signature fundraising event, Relay For Life, will be hosted at Johansen High School in Modesto on May 18 and 19. The Relay For Life of Greater Stanislaus County encompasses teams from several communities throughout Stanislaus County as well as some from neighboring counties. The official team kick off will be hosted at the Doubletree Hotel in Modesto on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m. This will be the time for those interested in joining a team and those who are already part of the Relay For Life to get geared up for the 2024 event. Theme for this year is ‘A World with More Birthdays’ and the fundraising goal for the 2024 event has been set at $175,000. Relay will run from 9 a.m. Saturday, May 18 through 9 a.m. Sunday, May 19. To get involved, you can register for the 2024 event by going to: www.relayforlife.org/stanislausca
Artwork displayed
Coming to a close soon, stop by the Delicato Tasting Room for the annual Delicato Fine Art Show, at 12001 S. Highway 99, Manteca. There is a vast selection of themes ranging from landscapes, farm life and wild animals to portraits and florals. All art displayed is for purchase. The exhibit will remain on display in the Delicato Winery Tasting Room through Sunday, Feb. 25; the Tasting Room is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. All Delicato visitors and friends of the artists are welcome to view and vote for their favorite piece of art during the show. The artist who collects the most votes will receive the Visitor’s Choice Award and a $100 Delicato gift certificate.
Golden Agers Dance
Members of the Golden Agers dance group meet at the Riverbank Community Center on Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with dancing, socializing, live music and fun for all. All adults 55-plus are welcome. Just drop in to check it out or become a member. Fees are $5 for members and $6 for non-members. Membership is $15. The Community Center is at 3600 Santa Fe St., Riverbank.
TOPS Meeting
All interested are welcome to join TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) a weight loss support group that meets in Oakdale every Monday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.; meeting at 7450 River Road, Suite 4, Oakdale. This group is open to the public and anyone interested in improving their life by losing weight. Visit the website: www.tops.org for more information and to see a list of other meeting locations.
Widowed Persons Gather
Oakdale Widowed Persons Group invites you to join them the first Saturday of each month for breakfast at 9 a.m. and on the third Tuesday of each month for lunch at 1 p.m.; call for locations. All are welcome to join the group no matter how long ago you lost your spouse. For more information, contact Barbara at 209-322-2184.
Jam Session
The ‘Jammers’ are a loosely knit group of local musicians who gather regularly to play and share music. Members of The Jammers set up and play at Medlen’s House of Beef in Oakdale, on the patio, the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. The fun begins around 3 p.m. and typically continue until about 6 p.m., a full afternoon of music. Acoustic musicians are welcome to come and play. Featured instruments usually include guitar, fiddle, banjo, ukulele, etc. The public is welcome to stop by, listen to the music and even sing along. No cost to attend.
March Meet
Community United Methodist Church in Oakdale is continuing with the first Saturday of the month special events at the church site, 1480 Poplar, Oakdale and the next gathering, a Community Meet-Up, is set for Saturday, March 2. The format has been changed up a bit from last year, with a goal of creating a place where people come to meet-up, whether it’s for food, fun, socializing or a little bit of each. For March 2, several vendors have already signed up to come with their crafts, vintage sewing machines, embroidery work, sweet treats, candles, original art, and more, with hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Chef Lee will also continue cooking up items for breakfast and lunch each month. Individuals or groups wanting to reserve a table are requested to e-mail in advance for more information and availability. The new e-mail address for more information is: MeetUpOakdale@gmail.com.
Screening Program
Residents living in and around the Oakdale area can learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and other chronic, serious conditions with affordable screenings by Life Line Screening. The Oakdale Event Center will host this community event on Friday, March 8. The screening site is at 335 N. Eighth Ave., Oakdale. Consultants will work with you to create an affordable package that is right for you based on your age and risk factors. Call 1-877-237-1287 or visit the website at www.lifelinescreening.com. Pre-registration is required.
Irish Music
The ‘lads and lasses’ of Brennan’s Parlor host a monthly Irish music jam (aka “Ceilidh”) in the back room of the H Bar B Saloon, located at 401 E. F St., Oakdale. Gatherings are on the third Monday of the month, and run from 6 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. They welcome anyone – players, singers, or listeners – with an appreciation for Celtic music to join the fun. As the song says, “Come into the parlor, there’s a welcome there for you.”
Star Gazing
The next Astronomy in the Park event is scheduled for Saturday, March 16 at Oak Grove Regional Park, I-5 and Eight-Mile Road, Stockton. The Pleiades, Mercury and Perseus Double Cluster will be viewed at 7:15 p.m. during the March event. The Stockton Astronomical Society, Oak Grove Docent Council and San Joaquin County Parks host the events, which are free and staged weather permitting. There is a $6 cash parking fee at Oak Grove. Shows are scheduled throughout the year on Saturday evenings The viewing is done through giant telescopes after sunset. On April 13, the 7:40 p.m. start time will feature Jupiter, M81 and M82 (Bodes Galaxies). For additional information, call 209-953-8814 or 209-953-8800. Viewing is cancelled in the case of inclement weather.
