COMMUNITY EVENTS

2023

Chocolate Festival

The First Congregational Church of Murphys is hosting A Heavenly Chocolate Festival from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 11. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for kids under 8 years to sample the variety of chocolate treats. Adults can also purchase wine by the glass for $5. Tickets will be available at the door.

The church is located at the corner of Church and Algiers Street in Murphys.

For more information call (209) 728-3141

2023

2023

Ray Charles Tribute

The Stockton Symphony will host a tribute to the music of Ray Charles with guest conductor Victoria Bond on Feb. 11. The performance is from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

All Stockton Symphony Concerts are performed at Warren Atherton Auditorium at San Joaquin Delta College, 5151 Pacific Avenue, Stockton. For tickets visit stocktonsymphony.org.

Combat Veterans Crab Feed

The Combat Veterans of America Association will host their 8th annual crab feed on Feb. 18.

There will be food, dancing, raffles, prizes and vendors.

The cocktail hour is from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and dinner is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Tickets are $65 and parking is free.

The feed will be at the Robert Cabral Agricultural Center at 2101 E. Earhart Avenue in Stockton.

For tickets call (209) 922-6292.

Mar 4 2023

20th Annual Bob Mcmillen Memorial Fishing Tournament

San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation and the Delta Fly Fishers will present the 20th Annual Bob McMillen Memorial Fishing Tournament on March 4 at Oak Grove Regional Park in Stockton. Approximately 2,000 pounds of Rainbow Trout (including trophy-size fish) will be stocked in Oak Grove’s 10- acre lake prior to the event.

The tournament will be open to all ages and feature three competitions: Youth (ages 10 and under), Teen (ages 11 - 17) and Adult (ages 18 and over). Each competition will measure the individual heaviest weight of one trout caught by the participating contestant. Prizes will be awarded in each of the categories following the tournament.

Food will be available for purchase. Park gates will be open at 6:15 a.m., registration closes at 10 a.m. and the last weigh-in is at 12:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded shortly thereafter. There is no registration fee for the event; however, a $5 fishing permit fee and valid California Fishing License is required for anyone 16 years of age or older. A $6 vehicleparking fee will also apply. All State Fish and Game laws apply. Participants must supply their own fishing equipment.

For more information, please call San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation at (209) 331-2050 or log onto www. sjparks.com. Oak Grove Regional Park is located on Eight Mile Road and Interstate 5 in Stockton.

Mar16 2023

Goodnight Goats

Come cuddle and snuggle some baby goats and help get them ready for bed.

Spenker Family Farm is hosting Goodnight Goats from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on March 16, 17, 18, 23 and 30. Read them a story, snuggle, or play with them to help them get sleepy before we put them away for the night. This event includes approximately 30 minutes of baby goat time followed by milk and cookies (for the people).

Goodnight Goats is open to all ages. Children under 15 must be accompanied by a paid adult. One ticket per person. Children under 3 years are free. Those four years and over must have a paid ticket to enter. Tickets are $25.

Wine and cheese tasting are available afterward but not included in the ticket price. You must be 21 or over to participate in wine tasting.

For tickets or more information call (209) 367-0467 or visit www.spenkerwinery.com.

During the pandemic and having to stay indoors many people found new talents and hobbies to keep them busy. Among the areas seeing growth, yarn stores became very popular during the pandemic, as people were able to turn their hours into productive cra sessions. ere are a handful of stores that have been able to open the doors fully and get back to o ering in person knitting classes due to mandates being li ed.

One store is in Turlock called Needful ings; the shop is at 2243 Geer Road and owners are sisters Christina and Casandra Carroll. ey took over the store three years ago from the previous owners and since then have been hard at work growing the store’s potential.

For about a year now they have been o ering knitting classes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on ursdays and made them open call classes. Meaning anyone, of any age and level of knitting can come without having to make an appointment or register.

Most people bring their own materi- als to the class but the store does o er supplies for purchase at a discounted rate. e classes highlight how to crochet and knit and o er assistance with a beginner’s pattern or customers can come in with their own project.

“We like to teach the washcloth pattern, because if there are any holes or messy areas, no one ever said the washcloth wasn’t used or torn,” Christina explained of the dual purpose beginner’s pattern.

Being able to see the excitement and enjoyment when the students understand a pattern or nish their project is why the sisters continue to o er classes. ey are open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through ursday and noon until 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and can be contacted at 209-669-9009. ey also sell the yarn and materials on their website shopneedfulthings. com.

Another store where all knitting needs can be satis ed is Village Yarns in Patterson. ey are at 32 S. ird St., and the shop is owned by Samantha Taylor.

She has owned this must stop knit shop for 22 years and has a passion to not only teach but also spread the love for knitting.

Knitting classes are o ered during all business hour,s which are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and closed ursdays and Sundays. To make an appointment or call for questions about beginning a knitting class, the store can be reached at 209222-1772.

Since COVID, Taylor began to o er classes on the customers’ own schedules rather than a speci c day and time, creating very exible classes. e sessions are $10 each and all materials are o ered in store but customers are still encouraged to bring their own if they would like.

“I always suggest we start classes making scarves, they are my favorite to teach,” Taylor explained.

Gaining knitting experience is available with shops scattered all over the 209, and taking that rst step into starting a hobby in knitting is only a loop and a stitch away. ●