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.
Floodplain Program
At their upcoming meeting, members of the local American Association of University Women (AAUW) Oakdale, Riverbank, Escalon Branch will learn how River Partners has worked for the last 10 years on the restoration of the Dos Rios State Park floodplain, California’s largest floodplain restoration project. Associate Restoration Scientist, Claudia Quintero Delgado, will be the guest speaker for the Thursday, March 13 AAUW dinner meeting being held at Aemetis Properties in Riverbank. Reservations are needed for the event. Members, guests and prospective members can make reservations and get more information about the meeting, which begins at 6 p.m., by emailing membership director, Gail Marganelli at gmarganelli@att.net.
Corned Beef Dinner
Mater Christi YLI #140 in Oakdale will be hosting its 52nd annual Corned Beef Dinner on Saturday, March 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the new St. Mary’s Parish Center, Oak and Olive, in Oakdale. Tickets are available at a cost of $15 for adults, $7 for children ages seven to 12 and those six and under are admitted free. Come enjoy this traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner; all are welcome to attend.
Weekly Dances
Enjoy local dancing and get some exercise each week. 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.
Crab Feed
The Escalon American Legion Post 263 is planning a Crab Feed for Saturday, March 15. Cost to attend the crab feed is $70 per person, with limited seating. Doors open at 5 p.m., and dinner will be served starting at 6 p.m. The menu includes crab, shrimp, pasta, dinner roll and salad. Contact Fallon Nunes for tickets, 209-484-3641. Regular meetings of the Escalon American Legion are held the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.; potential new members are encouraged to attend.
Birding For Boomers
Enjoy a special family program on Sunday, March 16, as all ages are welcome to join in ‘Birding for Boomers’ and everyone else, offered at Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park, 4520 W. Eight Mile Road, Stockton. The Nature Center at the park is the gathering place for the event, which gets underway at 1 p.m. Come experience the birds and other wildlife that are out and about on birdwalk day. Learn tips for birdwatching; bring binoculars if you have them. This is a free event and no reservations are required. There is a $6 cash parking fee. Call 209-953-8814 for more information.
St. Patrick’s Fundraiser
This year will be the 59th annual fundraising St. Patrick’s Day dinner put on by the Escalon Lions Club. Date for the event is Thursday, March 20 and dinner will be served at the Escalon Community Center. Tickets are $40 each and are available at Caliber Collision, 2228 Main St., Escalon; D’Boni’s Pizza, 2249 Jackson Ave., Escalon; or from any Escalon Lions Club member. You can also contact Danell Quintana at 209-838-7783. Happy hour begins at 6 p.m. to kick off the evening, with the traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner served beginning at 7 p.m. Takeout orders will be available and there will also be raffle drawings and auction items up for bid during the evening.
Jam Sessions
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 continues 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.
Walk For Fun
The Escalon Senior Fun Bunch Walkers invite everyone in the area to join them for their weekly walks. The group meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at a park in Escalon. They meet at the corner of Justin Drive and Mission Street at 10 a.m. Fun Bunch walkers are a lighthearted group whose members love to get together and walk with others, enjoy some conversation and exercise. You do not have to be a Fun Bunch member to attend; all are welcome to join the walking group during any or all of their scheduled walks during the week.
Weight Loss Support
Members of the local TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) weight loss support group meet in Oakdale every Monday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.; the meeting is 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.
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, 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.
Widowed Persons Meet
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.
Astronomy Nights
Enjoy upcoming Astronomy in the Park programs, being offered at Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park, at I-5 and Eight Mile Road, Stockton. Though admission to the events is free, there is a $6 cash parking fee. All programs are hosted, weather permitting. Those planning to attend are encouraged to get there early and enjoy astronomy activities in the Nature Center, then view planets through giant telescopes after sunset. On Saturday, April 5, the program is set for 6:45 p.m., featuring Jupiter, Mars and the Orion Nebula. Two events are scheduled in May, on Saturday, May 3 at 8:20 p.m., view the Hercules Globular Cluster, Mars and Jupiter; on Saturday, May 31 at 8:20 p.m., view Mars and the Hercules Globular Cluster. Astronomy in the Park is presented by The Stockton Astronomical Society, Oak Grove Docent Council and San Joaquin County Parks.
