Datebook lists upcoming events and items of interest for residents of Escalon, Farmington, Collegeville and the surrounding area.
Join the Escalon American Legion at the post rooms on Second Street for a special Saturday night dinner, Sept. 21 starting at 5 p.m. Donations are welcome for the dinner, open to all, with this month’s menu featuring homemade chicken and beef enchiladas, refried beans, Spanish rice, chips and salsa and beverages. Come enjoy dinner and some friendly conversation.
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Escalon High Class of 1974 will gather for its 45th reunion on Saturday, Sept. 21 beginning at 5 p.m. The festivities will be at the Escalon Community Center Park and will feature a no host taco truck for dining. For more information, contact EscalonHigh1974@gmail.com.
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Escalon FFA and the Escalon Agriculture Department are currently looking to gather data from past students and participants in the FFA program regarding their successes after graduating from the program. Those participating can remain anonymous; the goal is to gather information to help determine the validity of the program by learning how the FFA can impact students even after high school graduate. The survey can be found at the following website: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/85DH9YM.
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Donors of all blood types are urgently needed to ensure a sufficient supply for patients. Type O and B blood donors are especially needed. Make an appointment to donate blood now by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Donors in the local area can visit three different Blood Donation Centers operated by the Red Cross, open on a variety of days and times. In Modesto, the Blood Donation Center is at 1900 W. Orangeburg Ave.; in Sonora, the Blood Donation Center is at 850 Sanguinetti Road; and in Stockton, donors can visit the North Stockton Blood Donation Center, 2888 West March Lane.
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Mark the calendar for the Thursday, Oct. 3 meeting of the Escalon-Farmington Garden Club, set for 1 p.m. at the Escalon Library and open to all interested from Oakdale, Riverbank, Escalon, Farmington and surrounding communities. This will be a pumpkin-themed Bake Sale & Garden Herb meeting in Escalon and the library is at 1540 Second Street. An Open-to-the-Public Pumpkin and Pumpkin-themed Bake Sale starts at 2 p.m., with pumpkins, pumpkin-themed baked goods, and fall fairy gardens available for sale at the entrance to the Escalon Library. Proceeds benefit the EFCGC scholarship program for Escalon High School students. For more information, email escalonfarmingtongc@gmail.com or call 209-844-6213.
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Scheduled for the first through third Saturdays and Sundays of the month, sign up now for the Sandhill Crane Wetland Tours at Woodbridge Ecological Reserve, 7730 W. Woodbridge Road, Lodi. Online registration has begun for those wishing to participate in these guided tours, which run October through February. Registration is available online at www.wildlife.ca.gov/regions/3/crane-tour. A one-day Lands Pass must be purchased to attend and instructions are available on the same website. Tours fill fast and registration may be done as much as six weeks in advance.
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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.
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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, Sept. 25. For more information, call (209) 869-8200.
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Golden Agers weekly dances are open to those 50 and older from throughout the Central Valley and are hosted at the Riverbank Community Center, 3600 Santa Fe 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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Local service organization Soroptimist International of Oakdale is accepting applications for its Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women program. This program provides cash grants to women who are working to better their lives through additional schooling and skills training. Women are eligible to apply if they have the primary financial responsibility for themselves and their dependents including children, spouse, siblings, and/or parents, are attending an undergraduate degree program or a vocational skills training program, and have financial need. Women throughout the Oakdale, Riverbank and Escalon areas are encouraged to apply for an award. Apply online at http://bit.ly/LYDApply or contact Jackie Hair, Chairperson, sioakdale@soroptimist.net, (209) 840-2134. The deadline to apply is Nov. 15.
