Get Your Pumpkins

Pumpkins and festive gourds are available at nearby Vella Farms, 5136 Dale Road, Modesto, open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Proceeds from this event benefit the Children’s Crisis Center of Stanislaus County, Inc.; VIPS, the Visually Impaired Persons Support; and the Rotary Club of Salida.

Weekly Dances

Check out the Golden Agers at the Riverbank Community Center on Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with dancing, socializing, live music and fun for all. All adults 55-plus are welcome. Drop in, or become a member. Fees are $5 for members and $6 for non-members. Membership is $15; contact Ellie DeJesus at 209-277-5584 or Lupe Padron at 209-573-5014. The Community Center is at 3600 Santa Fe St., Riverbank.

Soroptimist Program

The Live Your Dream Award, offered through the Soroptimist organization, provides over $2.8 million in cash awards to head-of-household women in need each year. Since the program’s inception in 1972, more than $35 million has helped tens of thousands of women achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families. Women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families and seek financial assistance to continue their education or receive training can apply for the Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women. For application information, contact Christine Foreman at (209) 531-5330, or E-mail sioakdale@soroptimist.net. The application deadline is Nov. 15.

Weight Loss Group

All interested are welcome to join TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) a weight support group that meets in Oakdale every Monday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Community United Methodist Church on Poplar. This group is open to the public and anyone interested in improving their life by losing weight can contact Audrey for more information, call 209-765-7838.

Testing Site Open

Escalon Unified School District, in cooperation with the San Joaquin County Health Department and Fulgent Genetics, is hosting a COVID-19 testing site at the Escalon High School Performing Arts Center. This is free, rapid COVID testing and the site is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; enter on the Yosemite Avenue side. They will take drop-ins or you can make an appointment at https://sjc.fulgentgenetics.com/appointment. The site is open to all area residents; it is not limited to the school district, as anyone in the region is eligible to come in for the free rapid COVID-19 testing.