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Out and About 11/21/18
Out and About

Out and About is your guide to upcoming events in and around the Riverbank area.

 

Local Realtor Kevin Benziger is trying to fill his Super Kev Trailer with toys for the young fire victims in Butte County. For the rest of November up through Dec. 21, the effort is aimed at collecting new, unwrapped toys to be delivered to the kids of Paradise. Those wishing to help can bring any new, unwrapped toy to Academy Mortgage at 102 Grove Ave., Oakdale or call Benziger for more information, 209-848-3673.

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To help boost donations to local food banks during the holiday season, all Save Mart and FoodMaxx stores will once again hold the annual Holiday Give. Share. CARE! Drive, making it easier for shoppers to donate. At checkout, customers can tear off a coupon and hand it to the cashier. A coupon for $2 feeds one person breakfast; $3 feeds one person lunch; and $5 feeds one person dinner. The coupon shoppers choose will be added to their grocery bill, and the tax deductible contribution will be noted on their receipt. One hundred percent of all donations go to the local food bank assigned to each store. Locally, Save Mart stores in Oakdale and Riverbank are participating in the campaign. Donations at checkout are underway now and will end Friday, Dec. 28.

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On Saturday, Dec. 1 enjoy the Dickens Faire, featuring a Farmer’s Market and Craft Boutique, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., part of special activities benefitting McHenry Mansion in Modesto. Booths will be on 15th Street and McClatchy Square and the Mansion Gift Store will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tours of the Mansion will be offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free admission. On Tuesday, Dec. 4 join in for a Christmas Tea, with spaces available at a 1:30 p.m. seating at the mansion, corner of 15th and I streets. Reservations are required and the cost is $30 per person. Call Janie at 209-522-1739 for information and to make reservations.

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While Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the more widely known retail holidays, Giving Tuesday is becoming pretty popular in its own right. Celebrated on the Tuesday following American Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday helps raise awareness that charity is an important component of the holiday season. Giving Tuesday is positioned right in the midst of the most popular time for charitable giving. This year, Giving Tuesday will be observed on Tuesday, Nov. 27. In 2017, Giving Tuesday soared to new heights when technology mogul Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda, announced their foundation would match up to $2 million in donations to Giving Tuesday fundraisers started on Facebook.

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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, Nov. 28. 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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The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is conducting an art contest to select the design for the state’s 2018-2019 upland game bird stamp. The California Upland Game Bird Stamp Art Contest is open to all U.S. residents ages 18 and over. Entries will be accepted from Nov. 20 through Dec.7. For contest information and entry forms, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/upland-game-bird-stamp.