Around the Region (01/19/18)

MODESTO

What: Yokuts Group/Sierra Club

When: Friday, 6:45 p.m.

Where: College Avenue Congregational Church, 1341 College Ave.

Info: The Yokuts Group/Sierra Club will be meeting to have their annual slide show of Yokuts and Audubon Society members of recent trips, nature and birding adventures. The meeting starts at 6:45 p.m. with a social period; and the meeting will start at 7 p.m. The meeting is free and open to non-members. For more information contact Elaine 209-300-4253.

What: Hwy 99 PT Cruiser Club Meeting

When: Friday, 6 p.m.

Where: Perko’s Cafe, 901 N Carpenter Road

Info: The Hwy 99 PT Cruiser Club will be having its next meeting at Perko’s Cafe. The club invites the public and other PT Cruiser fans to join the club for a no-host dinner and social. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. For more information email Elaine D. Ixcot at ptelaineix@yahoo.com.

What: Awesome Spot Fundraiser

When: Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: O’Brien’s Market, 839 W. Roseburg Ave.

Info: O’Brien’s Market in the Roseburg Square invites the public to a fundraising effort the the Awesome Spot playground located at Beyer Park. The public may bring a limit of five boxes per person for paper shredding, CRV recyclables and E-waste. Whatever the value of the recyclable donations, O’Brien’s Market matches and applies to the City of Modesto’s “Adopt A Park” program, “The Awesome Spot Playground”. Volunteers are also needed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information contact Marlene Champlin at 209-482-7821 or marlene@campbelladvertising.com or visit theawesomespotplayground.com.

What: Fill-A-Truck Foodraiser

When: Saturday, 9 a.m. to Noon

Where: O’Brien’s Market, 4120 Dale Rd.

Info: The public is invited to help with Pete’s Moving Service in its Fill-A-Truck Foodraiser. They will be collecting non-perishable food items that will benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties. For more information contact Melissa Brichka at 209-534-4258 or visit facebook.com/PetesMovingServices.

ARNOLD

What: Guided Snowshoe Walks

When: Saturdays, 1 p.m.

Where: Calaveras Big Trees, 1170 CA-4

Info: The Calaveras Big Trees Association invites the public on its guided snow-shoe walks, snow conditions permitting. Snowshoes are provided free to the first 30 people who show up prior to the 1 p.m. starting time. Snow shoes are available for adults and children, or you can bring your own. Suggested check by 12:30 p.m. to make sure there are adequate snow shoes available. If you use the park’s snowshoes you must stay with the guide. Experience on snowshoes is not required. Children are welcome when accompanied by an adult. The snowshoe walks take about 90 minutes. For more information contact the visitors center 209-795-1196 or email cbta@bigtrees.org or visit bigtrees.org.

ESCALON

What: Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser

When: Saturday, Jan. 27, 4:30 to 7 p.m.

Where: Escalon United Methodist Church, 2000 Jackson Ave.

Info: The Escalon United Methodist Church invites the public to its annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser. The dinner is all-you-can-eat and includes spaghetti with meat sauce, salad with Italian dressing, garlic French bread, ice cream cup dessert and punch or coffee to drink. Take-out dinners are available. Tickets are $8; children 5-12 $4; under 5 free. All funds go to help programs of the church. For more information contact the church office at 209-838-2020.

TURLOCK

What: Turlock MusiCadets Alumni Band seeks players

When: Saturday, Feb. 24, 1 to 3 p.m.

Where: Westfork Estates - Activity Room, 500 N Tully Road

Info: The Turlock MusiCadets Alumni Band, a pro marching band, is seeking qualified musicians to perform at Portuguese Festas on Sundays, April through July. First rehearsal is Saturday, Feb 24, 1 to 3 p.m. For more information and sign up, contact Duane 209-347-0756, or Gary at 209-613-5884, or email duanelbryant@gmail.com.

75 YEARS AGO: It was announced that the mother of a fallen Modesto Marine Private, Mrs. Steven M. Greer, christened a destroyer escort ship in his name. The U.S.S. Charles R. Greer, was named after the Marine private who, while in the Philippines on Dec. 29, 1941, lept from his foxhole, with the help of another Marine, to help a stalled medical truck carrying two wounded men and drove it to the hospital through enemy fire. Greer was awarded the Army’s Silver Star for Gallantry by General Douglas MacArthur. Rear Admiral W. L. Friedell, commandant of the Mare Island Navy Yard, read the commendation during the christening ceremony. The U.S.S. Greer was the sister ship of the U.S.S. Whitman, that were both launched the previous day.

This story was originally published January 18, 2018 at 2:10 PM with the headline "Around the Region (01/19/18)."