Datebook lists upcoming events and items of interest for residents of Escalon, Farmington, Collegeville and the surrounding area.

Escalon City Council members, in cooperation with city staff, have scheduled a special Community Meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m., open to all interested residents. The session is designed to gather input from the community regarding what they feel is most important for the city moving forward. The session will be hosted at the Escalon Community Center, 1055 Escalon Avenue and is open to all interested.

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Escalon Farmington Community Garden Club members will gather for their next meeting on Thursday, March 7 at 1 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, 25626 Elm St., Farmington. Topic will be Master Gardner’s Program and all those interested from throughout the area are invited to attend. For more information, inquire at escalonfarmingtongc@gmail.com

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Nuts For Life, a team involved in the Oakdale-Riverbank-Escalon-Waterford Relay For Life, is hosting its tri-tip dinner for four, featuring curbside-to-go service. Pre-sale tickets only for the dinner, scheduled for Saturday, March 2 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Saron Lutheran Church, 1742 North St., Escalon. Cost is $45 and that gets you a whole BBQ tri-tip, four baked potatoes, a bag of salad, a loaf of French bread and two-liter bottle of soda. For more information, call 209-838-2892 or 209-838-2427.

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Tickets are still available for the annual Escalon High School Sports Boosters Dinner, Dance and Auction, set for Saturday, March 9 at the Escalon Community Center. Cocktails begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner served at 6:30 p.m. and dancing until midnight. This annual event includes a hosted bar, dinner, raffle drawings, live and silent auctions and dancing. Tickets will be available for purchase at Escalon High School, Room 27 at 6:30 p.m., or by contacting Melanie McPherrin at 209-603-0172. Proceeds from this event support all sports at Escalon High School.

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Economist Arthur Laffer, known as “the father of supply-side economics”, is scheduled to speak on Thursday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. as part of Stanislaus State University’s Executive Speaker Series. He is most famous for the Laffer curve, an illustration of the relationship between tax rates and government revenue. His latest book, co-authored with Stephen Moore, is “Trumponomics: Inside the America-First Plan to Revive Our Economy.” The Feb. 28 event at the Turlock campus is free and open to the public, and there will be a Q&A session following his talk.

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The Columbia College Child Development Department and the Child Development Future Educators Club invite you to the third annual Tea Party Fundraiser. The festive family-friendly event will be held on Friday, March 15 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Maple Building. Students, former students, staff and faculty will serve up treats and a variety of teas to support students and student teachers in the child development field. Funds go toward fingerprinting for students applying for teaching permits, a scholarship through the Columbia College Foundation, and student activities. Visit the website http://columbiacollegeteaparty.weebly.com/ for more information and to purchase tickets. Event tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children.

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Golden Agers weekly dances are open to those 50 and older from throughout the Central Valley and are now hosted at St. Frances of Rome Church, 2827 Topeka St., Riverbank. First time guests are admitted free. The annual membership fee is $12 and each Wednesday members pay $5 and non-members can enjoy a few hours of music and dancing for $6. The Golden Agers meet from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

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The local REO Speechtrain Toastmasters Club gathers 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 6. For more information, call (209) 869-8200.

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All are invited to the weekly meetings of TOPS, Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 1034 that gathers each Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, 1480 Poplar Ave., Oakdale. The group features help with weight loss in a supportive setting. Residents of Oakdale, Riverbank, Escalon and beyond are welcome to attend. Call Audrey Oliver at 209-765-7838 for information. You can also visit www.tops.org.