Out and About is your guide to upcoming events in and around the Riverbank area.
Members of the Escalon Farmington Community Garden Club (EFCGC) invite all area gardeners to gather with them for their first meeting of the season on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m., at the Farmington Methodist Church meeting hall, 25626 Elm St., Farmington. The meeting is open to people from around the region who are interested in gardening and small-scale farming. For more information, email escalonfarmingtongc@gmail.com or call 209-844-6213.
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Make plans to attend the Jacob Myers Park Ride-Run-Hike Trail Potluck Fundraiser at the Brenda Athletic Club, 200 Norwegian Ave., Modesto. Date for the fundraiser, which is sponsored by the Friends of Jacob Myers Park, is Saturday, Sept. 14 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Cost is $7 for adults, $5 for kids under 12. There will be an appetizer bar, live music, a potluck buffet and barbecued chicken, swimming, pool volleyball and $1 raffle tickets available for various prize drawings. A beer and wine tasting is offered for an additional $5 fee. To get involved as a sponsor, contact Jim Sughrue at 209-380-5704 or jdsughrue@gmail.com. You can also call the Brenda Athletic Club, 209-571-2582, for more information. Sponsors will receive free event tickets and donor recognition, as well as updates on the ongoing trail project.
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The Riverbank Parks and Recreation Department is seeking volunteers for the 2019 Halloween Haunted Hayride. Volunteers for this event will plan and operate Scare Sites at the late October festivities. Planning a scare site at the event can be a lot of fun for families, groups, or organizations, and also gives you the chance to win the first place prize of $500. Second Place will receive $100 and Third Place will get $50. For those interested there will be a Haunted Hayride Volunteer Meeting on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. in the Rotary Picnic area at Jacob Myers Park. For more information or questions call 209-863-7150 or email jpetit@riverbank.org.
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Story Time has started back up at the Riverbank Library and will be offered on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. with Bilingual Story Time on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. A special event will be offered on Monday, Sept. 9 when Mayor Richard O’Brien will read to preschool kids at 11 a.m., after regular Story Time. The monthly Art Lab is on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 3:30 p.m. The kids will learn to make leaf relief out of leaves, foil, cardboard and paint. For ages 9 and up there will be Crochet Water Balloons on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 3:30 p.m. The Teen Book Club is meeting Friday Sept. 20 at 3:30 p.m. to discuss the book ‘The Iron Trial’ by Holly Black. Light refreshments are provided by the Friends of the Riverbank Library. The Riverbank Book Club for adults is on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 4 p.m. and there will be a discussion on the book ‘The Traveler’s Gift’ by Andy Andrews.
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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 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
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Local service organization Soroptimist International of Oakdale is accepting applications for its Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women program. This program provides cash grants to women who are working to better their lives through additional schooling and skills training. Women are eligible to apply if they have the primary financial responsibility for themselves and their dependents including children, spouse, siblings, and/or parents, are attending an undergraduate degree program or a vocational skills training program, and have financial need. Women throughout the Oakdale, Riverbank and Escalon areas are encouraged to apply for an award. Apply online at http://bit.ly/LYDApply or contact Jackie Hair, Chairperson, sioakdale@soroptimist.net, (209) 840-2134. The deadline to apply is Nov. 15.
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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, Sept. 11. 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.
