LOCAL CALENDAR

Thursday Friday March 8-9

To have your event included, please submit information in writing at least one week in advance by email to recorder@portervillerecorder.com, Attn: Community Calendar, or by fax to 784-1689. For information, call 784-5000, Ext. 1048. CLUBS THURSDAY Porterville Exchange Club

meets at noon on Thursdays at Giovanni’s Pizzeria & Arcade, 45 N. Second St. For more information call 789-3929.

Porterville Optimist Club

meets at noon on Thursdays at RJ’S Cafe, 81 W. Putnam Ave. For more information, call 781-5764.

Porterville Breakfast Rotary Club

meets at 6:30 a.m. each Thursday at Jenny Lynn’s Cafe, 670 S. Plano St. For information, call 359-2695.

Orange Belt Lodge No. 303

Free and Accepted Masons meets at 7:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Porterville Masonic Center, 2440 W. Henderson Ave. on even months and Exeter Masonic Center, 128 So. E. Street in Exeter on odd months. For more information, contact Master Tim Perrotta at 679-0912, or Ben Hagan at 592-2836.

Happy Honker Model A Ford Club of Porterville

meets at 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Golden Hills Mobile Home Estates recreation room at 720 E. Worth Ave. New members are welcome. For more information contact Carson Blaydes 539-3815. Tulare Kings Mensa,

the high IQ society in the South Valley, meets at Panera Bread, 4103 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia, at 5:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month for coffee, bagels, sandwiches and conversation. Prospective members are encouraged to attend. For more information, call 280-9774.

The Valley Oak Quilt Guild

meets at 10 a.m. the second Thursday of each month at Tulare Community Church. There is a $5 charge for guests attending the meeting, or $20 to join the guild. For more information, call Barbara Daniel at 534-2299, or Linda Toledo at 651-0706. CLASSES

THURSDAY Exercise at the Porterville Senior Nutrition site is from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Monday through Thursday at 280 N. 4th St. Lunch is available each day at noon. Call the day prior for lunch reservations. For more information, call 7824725.

Crack O’ Dawn Country-western Line Dancing classes

are held from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday at the Old Santa Fe Depot (Senior Center), 280 N. Fourth St. All ages are welcome. Beginners on Monday and Wednesday; intermediates on Tuesday and Thursday. Cost is $5 per day or $100 for 24 sessions. For more information call Sylvia at 202-9105.

Orientation for becoming a CASA volunteer advocate

is held Mondays at 5:30 p.m. and Thursdays at noon, except for holidays. Call for orientation location. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. For more information, call 625-4007 or www.casatulareco.org. Parenting Class in Spanish is at 6 p.m. each Thursday at the Family Crisis Center, 211 N. Main St., Porterville. For more information, call 781-7462. FRIDAY Building Trades Classes are held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays at 27488 Avenue 150, Porterville. Beginner through advanced classes in residential electricity are offered. For more information, call Bobby Powell at 782-8567. Healthy Hearts Senior Exercise meets at 9 a.m. each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, excluding holidays, at the Porterville Church of the Nazarene. ENTERTAINMENT

THURSDAY A Thursday Night Dance is held each Thursday at the Veterans Hall, 1900 W. Olive Ave. Doors open at 6 p.m. and dancing starts at 7 p.m. with music by Jerry Hall and Trick Shot. For more information, call 791-7695. Boppy Time is from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. each Thursday at the Porterville Public Library at 41 W. Thurman Ave. MEETINGS

THURSDAY

(California State Retirees) meets the second Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. at the Porterville Senior Center at 280 N. 4th St. Lunch is available. For information contact Carolyn 756-5954 or Marlene 784-1616. SUPPORT

THURSDAY AA Springville meets Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Lighthouse Chapel at 35811 Rio Vista Dr. For more information, call 542-0800. Al-anon meetings are held Thursdays, except holidays, at 5:30 p.m. at 348 N. G St., Porterville. The Porterville Public Library has Al-anon and Alateen books available. Call 7848636 if you have any questions. This meeting is for adults only. AA meets each Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Porterville 12-Step Recovery Club at 186 N. D St. at the corner of D and Walnut. For more information, call 539-3814. Gamblers Anonymous meets at 6 p.m. each Thursday at Porterville Church of the Nazarene, 2005 W. Olive Ave. For more information, call Dave Snow at 359-1365. A breast cancer support group for women diagnosed with breast cancer meets from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Sequoia Regional Cancer Center, 4945 W. Cypress Ave., Visalia. For more information, call Sheri Leimbach at 624-3209. ONGOING

Porterville Historical Museum, located at 257 N. D St., is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for students. Children age 6 and under are free. Friends of the Museum and sponsors are also free. For more information call 784-2053, go to www.portervillemuseum.org ,or visit the museum’s Facebook page.

Zalud House Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Admission is $2 for adults and 50 cents for children. The garden is available for special events. For more information, call 782-7548 or the Heritage Center at 791-7695.

Porterville Art Association gallery is located at 151 N. Main St. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and admission is free. Art work is changed every two months. The gift shop features items handcrafted by members. The PAA gallery is located at 151 N. Main St. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and admission is free. For more information, call 784-4323.

Shepherd, the new costumed mascot for the Porterville Police Department, is available to appear at youth-oriented meetings and events. The mascot’s purpose is to spread the motto — “Stand Up and Speak Out!” According to the Police Department, Shepherd will be encouraging the community to “Stand Up” for family, friends and community, and “Speak Out” against drugs, bullies and crime. To check Sergeant Shepherd’s availability for events targeting youths in the community call Sgt. Rick Carrillo at 782-7563.

Porterville Youth Center offers free recreation for youths after school. The center is open from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and is located inside the Heritage Center at 256 E. Orange Avenue. The Youth Center offers a stimulating environment for youths ages10 to 18 and there are no registration fees or monthly costs. The Youth Center’s game room features pool and pingpong tables, game consoles, foosball, board games and more. Members can also enjoy arts and crafts, organized sports and regular adventure trips. Access to the Margaret J. Slattery Children’s Library located inside the Heritage Center offers students a computer lab with Internet access. A quiet classroom is also available for homework assistance. Parents and children must be present when enrolling. Visit the Youth Center for a tour, or visit the City of Porterville website or call 791-7695 for more information. FRIDAY

Night Market has started for the 2017 season, and will continue through the fall. The market is held each Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. in downtown Lindsay. It features food, vendors and other activities.

Elks Lodge TGIF dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. every Friday at the lodge on the corner of Main Street and Morton Avenue. The first Friday of the month is steak night. Cost varies. Public welcome. For more information, call 784-1342.