Out and About is your guide to upcoming events in and around the Riverbank area.
Free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs will be offered through the last week in March in Riverbank. Volunteers trained and certified by the IRS will provide tax preparation assistance on Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Riverbank Library, 3442 Santa Fe St., Riverbank. Call 209-869-7008 for an appointment. Taxpayers must bring ID and social security cards for each person who will be on their tax return and they should bring the prior year’s tax return, if available. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to make an appointment, although walk-ins may be helped if time permits. For more information, contact Victoria Holt at the Riverbank Library at 209-869-7008.
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Nuts For Life, a team involved in the Oakdale-Riverbank-Escalon-Waterford Relay For Life, is hosting its tri-tip dinner for four, featuring curbside-to-go service. Pre-sale tickets only for the dinner, scheduled for Saturday, March 2 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Saron Lutheran Church, 1742 North St., Escalon. Cost is $45 and that gets you a whole BBQ tri-tip, four baked potatoes, a bag of salad, a loaf of French bread and two-liter bottle of soda. For more information, call 209-838-2892 or 209-838-2427.
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Golden Agers weekly dances are open to those 50 and older from throughout the Central Valley and are now hosted at St. Frances of Rome Church, 2827 Topeka 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 a.m. to 1:30 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 Wednesday, March 6. For more information, call (209) 869-8200.
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The Columbia College Child Development Department and the Child Development Future Educators Club invite you to the third annual Tea Party Fundraiser. The festive family-friendly event will be held on Friday, March 15 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Maple Building. Students, former students, staff and faculty will serve up treats and a variety of teas to support students and student teachers in the child development field. Funds go toward fingerprinting for students applying for teaching permits, a scholarship through the Columbia College Foundation, and student activities. Visit the website http://columbiacollegeteaparty.weebly.com/ for more information and to purchase tickets. Event tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children.
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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.
