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, call 209-847-3021 or e-mail the information to mjackson@oakdaleleader.com.
Garden Event
Make plans to visit the Oakdale Community Garden on Saturday, April 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for The Garden Club’s Plant Sale. The Community Garden is at 410 E. A St., Oakdale, near the Gladys Lemmons Senior Center. This annual plant sale benefits the maintenance and upkeep of the community garden area. A wide variety of plants will be available including vegetables, herbs, perennials, annuals, house plants, garden art, potted plants, yard decor, pots, $5 bouquets, and more. The next meeting of the club will be Tuesday, April 21 at 10 a.m. at the Community United Methodist Church, 1480 Poplar St., Oakdale.
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.
Chili Fundraiser
Second Harvest of the Greater Valley is hosting its Chili Cook-Off Fundraiser on Saturday, April 18 at the Manteca Transit Center. Proceeds from the event will benefit Second Harvest of the Greater Valley’s food assistance programs, including the Summer Meal Program, which provides over 60,000 meals to children in need across San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Guests will enjoy an evening of prizes, raffles, live music, photo ops, and a variety of chili offerings, all while making an impact. For ticket purchases or more information, visit: www.localfoodbank.org/chili-cook-off
Golden Agers Dance
The Riverbank-based Golden Agers dance group is always looking to expand its membership. They 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.
Museum Gatherings
Members of the Escalon Historical Society Museum welcome all to the museum, at 1630 Main St., Escalon, to learn about local history and browse the gift shop items. The regular museum hours are Wednesdays and Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Also, a reminder that the first Wednesday of each month is designated as Reminisce Day with attendees encouraged to share stories from the community’s past, with refreshments served.
Widowed Persons Support
Open to those throughout the area, the 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 209-318-5100.
Weight Loss Group
The area’s TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) weight loss support group members 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.
Fun Bunch Walkers
Conversation and exercise – all area senior citizens are welcome to join the Escalon Senior Fun Bunch walkers, known as the Senior Steppers, as they gather for their regular walks. The group meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Bob and Dena Lease Park in Escalon, at the corner of Justin Drive and Mission Street at 9 a.m. This is a lighthearted group whose members love to get together and walk with others, enjoy some conversation and exercise. All are welcome to join the walking group during any or all of their scheduled walks during the week.
Join The Jam
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.
