Out and About is your guide to upcoming events in and around the Riverbank area.
The Concerts in the Park/Family Night Out festivities continue tonight, Wednesday, Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. and end at 8 p.m., featuring fresh produce, food, entertainment and more. It is held at Community Center Park, on Santa Fe Street, across from Cardozo Middle School.
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Escalon Lions Club continues to host its summer ‘Pre-Cruise’ Friday night car shows every week at Hula’s Restaurant on Jackson Avenue. Show hours are 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; this week will be the final Friday prior to the Autumn Cruise. All are invited to come display their classic autos or just come to enjoy the show and talk some shop, with the last Friday event set for Sept. 2. Featured are music, prize drawings, good food available at Hula’s and the chance to learn more about some classic cars. The annual downtown cruise is also fast approaching, set for Saturday, Sept. 10.
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September activities have been planned at the Riverbank branch library. The first special event is set for Saturday, Sept. 3 at 2 p.m., with Terry Harper of the Heirloom Garden Club offering a talk on how to put in a winter garden. On Tuesday, Sept. 6, youngsters can attend an Autumn Leaf Suncatchers Craft event, set for 3:30 p.m. Library staff will help kids make suncatchers with colorful tissue paper. On Wednesday, Sept. 7, the Friends of the Library will gather for its regular monthly meeting, set for 5 p.m. For more information on any of the upcoming events, call the library at 869-7008.
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Riverbank welcomes the REO Speechtrain Toastmasters Club 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. 7. For more information, call (209) 614-8462.
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Members of the Singles Skirts ‘n Flirts Square Dance Club, which includes members from Escalon, Oakdale, Riverbank and beyond, put on a demonstration recently at the downtown Farmers Market in Oakdale and are due back to provide another demo at the Sept. 7 market. Also, the next session of ‘learn to square dance’ starts on Wednesday, Sept. 14 and runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Oakdale Grange Hall. The first Wednesday is free. The club meets at the Grange Hall, corner of F Street and Lambuth Avenue in Oakdale. Call for more information, Audre at 581-3883 or Jeri at 681-2699.
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The Stanislaus County Library is looking for local published authors from around the Central Valley to take part in the seventh annual Local Author Fair on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to noon. The event will take place outside on the 16th Street side of the Modesto Library portico. Local authors will have the opportunity to promote their works, as well as sell and sign copies of their publications. There is no cost to participate, but advance registration is required as space is limited. Interested authors should contact Laura Ferrell at (209) 558-7817 to request an event registration form. Completed forms must be received by Friday, Sept. 9 in order to participate.
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Foothill Horizons Outdoor School will host an Open House on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at their Sonora site. There is no fee to participate. Operated by the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE), this event is geared towards parents whose children have attended or will attend Foothill Horizons Outdoor School. This is also an opportunity for parents to evaluate Foothill Horizons as a place to send their children to summer camp during the summer of 2017. Participants should wear casual clothing and comfortable shoes. For additional information, including directions, visit the website www.foothillhorizons.com, or call 209-532-6673.
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Cultural Homestay International (CHI), a non-profit high school organization is looking for volunteer local host families for international high school boys and girls. These students are 15 to 18 years old and are coming to this area for the school year or semester. Those persons interested in obtaining more information about becoming a host family should call Adrianne Koford, 1-707-637-3775 or e-mail, akofordchi@gmail.com.
