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.
El Día Del Niño
A special event for children is scheduled for Thursday, April 28 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Oakdale’s Grange Hall, 30 Lambuth Ave., corner of West F Street and Lambuth Avenue. The focus will be on children’s mental health, providing mental health education and awareness to the children and their families. This El Día Del Niño event is sponsored by Oak Valley Hospital’s Family Support Network and Stanislaus County PEI/Raiz Promotora programs. El Día Del Niño (The Day of the Child), also known as El Día De Los Niños is a Mexican holiday that was created to celebrate children. Since 1925, this day and its celebration have grown in popularity throughout Mexico as a day to celebrate the well-being of children.
Women’s Club Gathers
The May meeting of the Oakdale Women’s Club is set for Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at noon at the Oakdale Golf and Country Club. This will be the last meeting before summer break. They will be collecting dues for the 2022–2023 year of $25 per member. New members always welcome. The group will hold the installation of officers and will also be presenting the Women of the Year. For reservations, call Karen at 209-884-2231 before Friday, April 29.
Get Ready For Chocolate
Mark the calendar – Oakdale’s annual Chocolate Festival is scheduled for the weekend of May 21 and 22, with this year being the 30th annual festival. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, located in the heart of the downtown Oakdale area, centered around South Yosemite Avenue. Tickets at the gate are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, and kids who are 12 and under are free. Presale tickets are also available on the oakdalechamber.com/events website for $4 and you can get a dollar off tickets at the gate if you bring a canned good item. The festival last year was pushed back to September due to COVID restrictions, but this year will be back in its traditional May time frame. There will be food, rides, music, classic cars, chocolate and more. For additional information, contact the Oakdale chamber at 209-847-2244 or visit their website.
Summer Theatre Opening
Hutton’s Hamlet is looking to hire a female assistant for the Summer Theatre Workshops. Time commitment would be Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. plus performance weekends (every other weekend). Theatre begins May 31 and runs until July 30. Duties would include the following: assisting in activities and games, helping other assistants in costuming the show, acting as a stage manager during performances. Must be 18 years or older. Contact Emily at actingem@gmail.com to schedule an interview.
Museum Benefit
Tickets are available now for an upcoming drawing for a refurbished antique dresser, the tickets on sale through May 7. Proceeds will benefit the Escalon Historical Museum. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased during the open hours at the museum, Wednesdays and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m.; the museum is at 1630 Main St., Escalon. The dresser was painted by Rosie’s Rustics and is a mustard yellow with batik style stencil and colorful knobs. You can also contact Wendy at 209-482-5475 or Sandy at 209-838-1275 for tickets or more information.
Weekly Dances
Check out the Golden Agers 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. Drop in, or become a member. Fees are $5 for members and $6 for non-members. Membership is $15; contact Ellie DeJesus at 209-277-5584 or Lupe Padron at 209-573-5014. The Community Center is at 3600 Santa Fe St., Riverbank.
TOPS Group Meets
All interested are welcome to join TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) a weight support group that meets in Oakdale every Monday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Community United Methodist Church on Poplar. This group is open to the public and anyone interested in improving their life by losing weight can contact Audrey for more information, call 209-765-7838.
Widowed Persons Support
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.
