The Community Calendar includes listing of events in and around the region that might be of interest to local residents. To have information included in this weekly calendar of events, email mjackson@oakdaleleader.com.
The 2020 Relay For Life Kickoff is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Oak Valley Medical Plaza at 1425 W. H St., Oakdale. Theme for 2020 for this Oakdale-Riverbank-Escalon-Waterford event will be ‘Carnival’ and teams will also be able to select a cancer color for use at their booth on the day of the event. Registration can be done online by visiting the Relay For Life website. A special feature at the kickoff meeting will be a two-for-one sale of luminaria bags; the bags purchased in memory of someone lost to the disease or in honor of those who have won their battle or those still fighting the fight. At kickoff, two bags can be purchased for $10; the bags line the walking path at Relay and provide a light throughout the night.
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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 10:30 a.m. to 1 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 Jan. 15. 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.
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Running 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 is available for those wishing to participate in guided tours, which run through February. A one-day Lands Pass must be purchased in advance (instructions are on the registration website). Tours fill quickly; to register or for more information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/regions/3/crane-tour.
