Senior humor: The funny side of agingcouncilonaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/SonomaSeniorsToday... · John Reyes and David Vicini COA EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT Marrianne McBride,

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 341

Santa Rosa, CA 95401 Dealing with debt collectors ..................page 3Volunteer of the month ........................... page 4Employee Jocelyn Duran .........................page 5All about memory part 2 ..........................page 5Hot topic .....................................................page 6–7Tiny House raffle form ...............................page 8Seismic shifts since the ’60s ...................page 950th anniversary flashback .....................page 9Senior center highlights ........................... page 11Crossword and sudoku ............................ page 11Save the date ............................................... page 12

INSIDE

SONOMA SENIORS TODAY

November 2016November hot topic: Intergenerational support. See page 6

See Humor, page 10

See Resources, page 8

Paying it forward with care

Just two months into her role of caregiver for her mother-in-law, Jennifer Alvarez knows both the challenges and rewards of serving

in that role. It can be trying and exhausting, but also uplifting, if your family steps up to provide loving support.

Jennifer’s 88-year-old mother-in-law Pat, who has Alzheimer’s disease, had been receiving assistance from her grandson Jimmy, who lived with Pat for about five years. “But Jimmy was no longer in a position to keep a careful eye on Pat

Advocating for caregivers

The theme for this year’s National Family Caregivers Month in November is “take care to give care,” a reminder that

caregivers need to take steps to secure their own health and well-being while serving in the highly stressful role they are fulfilling.

Standing ready to advocate for family caregivers is Redwood Caregiver Resource Center (RCRC), which provides support and

Senior humor: The funny side of aging

Getting old may not always seem funny, but there are aging entertainers and comics out there who have found a way

to maintain and share their sense of humor—even as they grow older.

A great example is the Rohnert Park Kut Ups, which will celebrate 45 years of entertaining the community in 2017.

“We all have fun and even when it’s not intended to be funny, sometimes it’s hysterical,” Kut Ups President Jackie McCuan, 73, said. “Most of our audience members are quite elderly and sometimes they say their sides hurt from laughing so hard.”

The Kut Ups was founded in 1972 by a woman named Betty Ferra who directed the troupe, in effect serving as its creative brain trust, as an offshoot of the Fun After Fifty Club.

The group is open to anyone over the age of 50, but it’s not all fun and games: putting on the yearly series of show requires dedication.

The majority of dancers and performers are amateurs, although a few—particularly the musicians—took the stage in their professional lives.

“We do the work, and it’s hard work,” McCuan said. “We start rehearsals in February and move toward July for the big show. It’s a big-

time commitment.”The series of “big shows” take place at

Spreckels Performing Arts Center, although there are also several “mini shows” the group takes to retirement communities and care

facilities for people who may not be able to get out.

They try to create a mix of different types of

Four generations of the Alvarez Family (l-r): Pat, Trycel, Harper and Danny.See Care, page 4

The Rohnert Park Kut Ups look at the funny side of aging.

by Cheri LieuranceMarketing Coordinator

by David AbbottAssociate Editor


SONOMA SENIORS TODAYPAGE 2 | November 2016

Sonoma Seniors Today published monthly by

30 Kawana Springs RoadSanta Rosa, CA 95404

707-525-0143 • 800-675-0143Fax 707-525-0454

www.councilonaging.com

BOARD OF DIRECTORSDeborah Roberts, Chair

Mary Meuchel, Vice ChairBonnie Burrell, SecretaryJoseph Huang, Treasurer

Corrine Lorenzen, Past ChairJeff Beeson, James DeVore. Jeanne

Miskel, Marrianne McBride, Leticia Padilla, John Pearson, John Reyes and David Vicini

COA EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT Marrianne McBride, President and CEO

Connie Aust, Director of Social and Financial Services

Zachary Carroll, Director of Legal ServicesAlyssa Kutzer, Director of Development

Charles Lindner, Director of Nutrition Services and Kitchen Operations

Editor: Cheri Lieurance, 525-0143, ext. 113

[email protected]

Associate Editor: David [email protected]

Contributors: David Abbott, Allan Bernstein, MD, Carol I. Cuzner, Cheri Lieurance,

Distribution Manager: Jeramon ShadeAdvertising: Tina McKenzie, 525-0143, ext.

100, [email protected]

Subscriptions: Use form on page 2.Sonoma Seniors Today is a publication of

Council on Aging, 30 Kawana Springs Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, 707-525-0143

[email protected] www.councilonaging.com

Sonoma Seniors Today strives to share a variety of viewpoints on subjects of interest to a broad range of its readership. Opinions and viewpoints expressed by contributors and those interviewed for articles do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Council on Aging. Readers are invited to share their ideas, opinions and viewpoints by writing to this publication. Suggestions for improving this publication are given careful consideration, and letters to the editor are welcomed. Photographs may also be submitted.

Editor’s note: Publication of all material is at the discretion of the editor; originals become the property of SST and cannot be returned. Mail all submissions to Sonoma Seniors Today c/o Council on Aging, 30 Kawana Springs Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, or email to [email protected].

All rights reserved© 2016 Council on Aging

Mission Statement

To enhance the quality of life for our aging community by providing services that promote well-being and maintain independence.

Look for a raffle form on page 8

Council on Aging (COA) recently presented Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Company’s Sonoma Division

with its “Making a Difference Award” for the company’s donation in fall 2015 of a 2011 Chevrolet Volt for use in COA’s Meals on Wheels program. Meals on Wheels provides more than 285,000 meals per year to home-bound seniors. Presenting the award to John Ghigliazza, PG&E’s Sonoma Division Manager, is COA Development Director Alyssa Kutzer.

Making a difference


Council on Aging donorsMany thanks and appreciation to our generous donors who gave gifts of support to our 16 programs and services in September, 2016.

November 2016 | PAGE 3

AnnuAl AppeAlMalcolm R. and Gwen BrownBrown LeaseholdsKris and Jerry DouganMarjorie and Ian FraserJohn FredericksBarbara GeganLeslie Haney-FesslerRuth HarrisElizabeth MallinsonHilda MansfieldJohn J. MergetPaul A. MouzakisGeorge and Cheryll PowersDouglas A. RobertsBarbara Doyle Roy

AnnuAl AppeAl: MeAls on Wheels

Colonial Park Inc.Joseph W. DoctorchikCaryn PrinceKeith and Carmen Taylor

GenerAlTerry Lynn AbramsLinda ArchieDennis and Dona AstiMarsha CalhounNyla FleigNancy LevinLois NimmoMerton F. PrestonProfessional Fiduciary Association of

CaliforniaLynn M. ScuriRobert and Mary Sue TrosperYourCause, LLC - Chevron/

Medtronics Matching Employee Funds

GenerAl: MeAls on Wheels

Cheri BankmannWalter DCostaJeffrey McPhersonG. Harry MorseJeannette PacchettiPaul ScrimgeourMuriel SmithVerihealthTom and Bobbi Wilkins

sustAininG MeMbersPatricia BallardCharlotte BellDoni BirdRichard and Carolyn BischofDenelle BloomPhyllis J. BoilesDominic P. BosqueJohn T. BraytonLillian BrownKenneth and Sharon BurgeLee CamfieldTammera and Paul CampbellCarrie and Art CarneyJerry and Marcy ClausenTeri ClintonBarbara CoenMaureen CoffeyCheryl C. CumminsPat and Leland DavisDonald and Renee DeorseySusan B. DixonBeth EckenrodCarroll E. EstesTim and Karen ExleyRichard E. FennellLeigh GaltenNora Gibbs

Tom GrahamGeorge M. and Lynda L. HarringtonHank HickeyCarol HintzeLinda HoneysettLinda IllsleyJoni JonesJim KaumeyerKelley Rentals Property

Management, Inc.-Therese KelleyLionel and Gerry LennoxSteven and Patricia LevenbergJanet M. MacDonaldPaul McBrideGary and Mary MeagherDavid MelanconCynthia MooreWilliam and Carolyn MorrisseyKathleen MouatKathleen and Tom NeuwirthRon PaganoGary PendersJoan PetersonKaren PowellSusan RandallRoger Karraker and Nancy RappoltRae RehnSteven and Elizabeth RichardsMrs. Mary Ann RovaiSteve SagehornGeorge D. SalomonGeorge D. SalomonCarol SandersBob and Claudia Santini

Susan SavonisNicholas and Lamkje SonnegaArvid SorumEdward and Joan SteigerAdam SteinStems Floral DesignWallace StewartBarbara Swary & Stewart

LauterbachJ. and Richard ThayerJan VolkMarty WaitMark and Sandra WalheimCarla WedemeyerLinda WilkersonAlexander and Rachel WilliamsPaul ZarnAnn and Richard Zimmer

sustAininG MeMbers: MeAls on Wheels

Chady Wonson and Bruce AlbertPaula AldenMartha BeckAlex S. BendahanDaisy BogartMary M. CookGlenn CoxeCarin and Thomas CutlerStephen HeidlJeanne HuffmanBill and Donna InmanRoberta and Charlie JurecekJames Kopriva

Steve NielsenDana and Ken StokesJune WhitesidesPaul and Lynn Wycoff

tributes

In Honor of Maria Pia Breschi

Paolo Breschi

In Honor of Heidi DarlingMichael Gadoua

In Memory of Mina CohenTerry Abrams

In Memory of Carol DompeDiane Brabetz

In Memory of Joan GorhamWendy Gorham

In Memory of Anita AndersonBarbara Wheeler

Any errors or omissions in these listings are inadvertent. If your name was omitted, please accept our apologies and let us know by calling 525-0143, ext. 100.

Dealing with debt collectors: part 1By Zachary Carroll Director of Legal Services

Are you being harassed on the phone by debt collectors? If so, it is important to learn your rights and how to handle

these phone calls. This column is the first in a series dealing with debt collectors.

First, we’ll talk about some actions you should never take as they may severely impact your rights.

Many debt collectors will try to get you to make a “good-faith” payment immediately. You should never do this. The main reason collectors attempt a payment is that in most cases there is a “statute of limitations” that applies to debt. What this means is that if the owner of a debt has not initiated legal action in court within a certain amount of time they are forever prevented from legally enforcing the debt. In many instances making a payment on an old debt will restart the time period in which the debt owner can enforce the debt.

Another thing you should never do with a phone collector is make a promise to pay or admit that you owe the debt. The best advice is just to say nothing and ask that they communicate with you in writing. If you make a promise to pay or admit you owe the debt you may allow the debt owner to collect.

Finally, do not ever give financial information over the phone to a debt collector. There is no reason for it even if you intend to pay. Any payment or information should be done in writing so you both have a record and have a reasonable amount of time to review.

All of the above is good to know, but debt collectors can be pushy and even intimidating or threatening.

Please know that there is very little that a phone collector can actually do (without obtaining a court order, which generally takes months). If the collector threatens garnishment, levies, or even arrest you should immediately end the call and obtain legal advice.

Our next column will cover options to stop these phone calls.

Zachary A. Carroll, Esq. received his law degree from Empire College School of Law in 2008.

For more information about services, go to www.councilonaging.com/services/legal-services or call Zachary Carroll directly at 525-0143, ext. 143.

We invite you to submit a question for Zachary’s column (with your first name and city) by sending it to zcarroll@councilonaging.com.------------------------------------------------------

Disclaimer: The information provided in this column is general in nature, and cannot be deemed legal advice, nor does it give rise to an attorney-client relationship. The contents of this column are not intended as attorney advertising or as a solicitation for legal services. Our Legal Services Department prepares trusts, wills, advance health care directives and powers of attorney.


Care, continued from page 1

When Cyndy Brooks Logan graduated from Santa Rosa High School in 1966, most college-educated women

became nurses or teachers. Neither profession appealed to Cyndy, so after graduating from Santa Rosa Junior College, she followed her childhood desire to become a wife and mother.

Being the mother of three bright and active children, two boys and a girl, was every bit as fulfilling as Cyndy had dreamed. However, a divorce from the father of her children when

they were 7, 11 and 13, necessitated that she seek employment outside the home. That was 1985, and the world was rapidly changing.

After investigating other careers, she decided to take a one-year medical transcription course and was subsequently hired on at Sonoma County Community Hospital. Cyndy eventually became supervisor of this 13-employee department. After she had been at the hospital for 10 years, the County of Sonoma decided it could no longer sustain a community hospital. It was to be operated by by Sutter Hospital.

Wanting to keep her Sonoma County benefits, Cyndy accepted a position in the Investigations Bureau at the Sonoma County Sheriff ’s Department. She remained there until her retirement at age 61, in 2009.

For several years Cyndy volunteered her services in different arenas. One day she was reading the Press Democrat and there was a blurb about volunteer jobs through the Council on Aging. The Council was seeking seniors to be trained for its Peer Support Program.

This article immediately caught Cyndy’s attention. After a 12-week training with Brian Augustine, Clinical Supervisor of the Peer Support Program, the senior volunteers go into

the homes of Sonoma County seniors who are struggling with mental health issues surrounding the challenges that go along with aging.

The clients are allowed 12 to 20 sessions in which they work toward goals that are important and meaningful to them. The counselors act as coaches in this regard. Cyndy enjoyed the training and sensed, almost from the beginning, that she had found her life’s calling. This sense of meaning was reinforced when she was assigned to her first client.

After the 20 sessions she had with this client, the 70-year-old woman handed Cyndy a letter that said: “Dear Cyndy, It is with a grateful heart I say thank you for the kind and selfless service you provided during one of the most challenging periods in my life. I was overwhelmed physically, mentally and spiritually. Your generous weekly visits bolstered my healing process… I could not have gotten from there to here without your loving and compassionate presence.”

Volunteer of the Month:

Cyndy Brooks Logan

For information about volunteering for Council on Aging, contact Michele Leonard, Director of Volunteer Services, 525-0143, ext. 147 or [email protected].

PAGE 4 | November 2016

while trying to work full time,” Jennifer said. “Her dementia had progressed and [the situation] became unsafe.”

Facing the challenge of finding a place other than a nursing home where Pat could receive more supervision, Jennifer and her husband Danny decided to offer Pat a home.

The need for Pat to move coincided with a need by Jennifer’s daughter Trycel and her husband to find care for their two-month-old

daughter Harper. So Jennifer decided to leave her full-time job so she could take care of both Pat and Harper.

“[Leaving my job] gave me the opportunity to have Harper as well. I feel very lucky that I get to do this,” Jennifer said. “It isn’t easy by any means, but I just feel like everyone in the family is affected in such a positive way, rather than having had to make the really tough decision of having to put Pat in a home. I didn’t feel she was ready for that yet.”

Living with someone who has Alzheimer’s is difficult. “Sometimes when someone asks you a question 20 times, you have to remember they are just tired or having an off-day. When I feel frustration coming on, I give her hugs. [The person you are taking care of] can feel your tone of voice and feel your body language no matter what level of dementia or Alzheimer’s they might be dealing with.”

Even in such a short period of caregiving, Jennifer has discovered some outside resources that have helped her with coping strategies, including a support group at Vintage House Senior Center in Sonoma where she can talk with others going through similar experiences.

Jennifer also takes Pat to Council on Aging’s Senior Social Club at Vintage House twice a week, where Pat can socialize with other seniors, enjoy art projects and entertainment, and have lunch with other social club clients.

“Every time I pick her up she is so appreciative and she calls the people there her friends,” Jennifer said. “I think it really helps with her health and well-being, as well as mine.”

Also helpful is how much Jennifer’s family has embraced the living arrangement and agreed to pitch in. Pat spends one weekend a month each with her husband’s siblings Dana and Paul.

“That gives us a nice balance of some time to ourselves, too, to refresh and move forward,” she said.

Jennifer’s youngest daughter Chelsy, who lives with her mother and father, has agreed to watch over Pat while Jennifer returns to a favorite activity aimed at maintaining Jennifer’s own well-being. “I’m an avid hiker and stepped away from that for a while to get focused on this acclimation.”

Jennifer’s children have rallied around Jennifer and Pat in a way that warms Jennifer’s heart. “Our four kids live close and they frequent our house, and I think it’s just brought us a deeper admiration for how we can pay it forward. I feel deeply in my heart that it is the right thing to do. And I do know Pat appreciates it. She may not be able to articulate it, but I know she has a thankful heart.”

SONOMA SENIORS TODAY November 2016 | PAGE 5

All about memory part 2: What can possibly go wrong?By Allan Bernstein, MD

We often think of the brain as the ideal computer, but actually it is much better. Like a computer, it can gather

information, sort it, store it and retrieve it. It needs a power source and needs to be protected from the elements. It also needs to be cleaned out from toxic programs, or toxic chemicals. The brain, however, can self-repair and can even add capacity. My computer isn’t able to do that.

The power source for the brain is glucose and oxygen. Lack of either causes damage that can be permanent. Since both of these elements are carried via the bloodstream, taking care of your vascular system is critical to brain health. Heart attacks and strokes are our main concerns. Heart attacks may deprive the entire brain of all nutrients. Strokes deprive selected areas of the brain, depending on which vessel may be blocked or damaged. Cell death starts in three to five minutes when oxygen is cut off and brain cells die at a rate of a million cells a minute if blood flow is not restored.

The availability of defibrillators for heart attacks and clot busting drugs for strokes has saved numerous brains. High blood pressure, a treatable condition, damages arteries in the brain (and elsewhere) often creating mini-strokes that may not be recognized, though the accumulated damage may show up as slowing of memory.

Micronutrients are also essential for brain health and memory function. Most of our diets have adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals, but our ability to absorb them properly decreases with age, certain medications and gastro-intestinal illnesses. Vitamin B-12, essential for memory, may become deficient as we age. It is one of the “fixable” causes of memory loss. Antacids and acid blocking medications may impair the ability to absorb B-12.

Depression, anxiety and sleep disorders all impair memory. They prevent recognition of new material and prevent the encoding process needed to properly store material. They may slow the retrieval of existing material. Each of these processes are treatable, some with medications, but many can be modified with behavioral treatments.

Toxic chemicals that injure the brain and the memory system are often found at home. Alcohol remains a potential toxin, though it seems to be dose-related. The “safe” dose is actually quite low. More than one drink a day for women and two for men seems to be the upper limit. Tobacco smoke is bad for the heart, lungs and brain, though pure nicotine seems less toxic in small doses.

Lead and mercury exposure over time may show up as memory loss. There is still a lot of mercury in San Francisco Bay and all the fish that live there. Smokey environments are known

to cause brain damage. The drugs in the medicine cabinet and even in over-the-counter medications may interfere with memory. Many of the sleeping pills in use have only been tested in one or two month trials. Taking them for longer than three months can start to impair memory. Benadryl (diphenhydramine), sold

without a prescription, can cause memory decline over a one-year period. Stopping it may reverse the problem. Other medications can cause memory loss as a side effect. This issue should be raised with your physician if memory seems to be a problem.

We all worry, appropriately, about dementia in general, and Alzheimer’s disease in particular. Dementia is defined as a gradual decline in memory function, for both making new memories and retrieving old ones. Dementia can be vascular in origin, resulting from

multiple strokes and high blood pressure. It can follow multiple episodes of head trauma, such as ”dementia pugilistica” suffered by boxers and CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) experienced by football players. We see it in people with a long history of drug abuse, including cocaine and methamphetamine. Dementia causes changes in spacial orientation, decision making, mood, and recognition of faces and voices. It can change personalities (for better or worse).

Alzheimer’s disease is a specific type of dementia defined by the accumulation of beta amyloid plaques in the brain and tangles of tau protein. The condition starts slowly with amyloid being seen in people up to 10 years before any symptoms. Until recently we were only able to confirm the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s on autopsy, but more recently a PET scan using a radioactive tracer has become available to identify amyloid plaque on a single scan. A PET tracer for tau protein was approved earlier this year. Both of these tests are still considered research tools and so are not available as part of a standard medical evaluation for memory loss. They may allow us to identify the earliest onset of Alzheimer’s disease before it becomes symptomatic, adding a window of opportunity for research into new treatments.

There are currently no good

pharmacological treatments for dementia, so prevention strategies are essential. Identifying and modifying known risk factors can make a huge difference in the incidence of dementia, the severity and rate of progression.

The next part in this series will review research in the North Bay and the role of stress factors and diet, among other things, that are risk hazards for dementia.

This is the second of a three-part series about brain function and aging by Dr. Allan Bernstein, MD, a neurologist with decades of experience teaching, conducting research and treating patients. He was also involved in stroke treatment and research with Kaiser for 34 years, where he started stroke and dementia programs in the East Bay, and in 2009 led the stroke certification efforts for the former Palm Drive Hospital.

Dr. Bernstein can be reached at allan.bernstein@sonomawestfoundation.

Q:

A:

How can you invest in the well-being of Sonoma County seniors?Set up a charitable trust or estate plan that will help us feed and care for seniors now and into the future.For information on how you can help Sonoma County seniors, call Marrianne McBride, President & CEO,707.525.0143, Ext. 111.

The Council on Aging is proud to announce that the Endowment Fund is managed by Exchange Bank. The Exchange Bank continuously serves Sonoma County community charitable endeavors.

For more information, call 707.524.3151.

Employee of the Month:

Jocelyn Duran

Jocelyn Duran started with Council on Aging in 2015 as an intern through the Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) program. She

worked in our Nutrition Department assisting with whatever she could. When the department needed a part-time employee to fill an Assistant Office Manager role, there was no question that Jocelyn was the perfect candidate. Jocelyn jumped right into her duties with ease. In addition to being a joy to work with, she gives 100 percent every day, always has a smile on her face and has wonderful interactions with our clients. We are lucky to have Jocelyn as part of our team at Council on Aging. Congratulations on being our October employee of the month, Jocelyn.

Allan Bernstein, MD


Hot Topic: Intergenerational support

Schools of Hope program: seniors and school kids to connect

Retired and looking for a meaningful way to spend the days? United Way of the Wine Country sponsors a program that

can help enhance the lives of local schoolchildren.

The Schools of Hope Program improves the reading skills of young students in Northern California by sending volunteer tutors into area classrooms to help children at a crucial time in their development.

United Way found that children who are not proficient in reading by the end of third grade are four times more likely not to complete high school on time with their peers.

“We really started with one goal: to increase reading skills,” Jennifer O’Donnell, Vice President of Community Benefit for the organization, said. “An ancillary effect is that it benefits teachers too: It has eased stress. They feel more supported and the students feel better about themselves.”

While the program, aimed at first- and second-graders, will take volunteers of any age, O’Donnell said it is a good way for seniors to connect with their communities.

It is also a rewarding way to pass the time, according to 79-year-old Arlene Dickerson, who has volunteered at the Thomas Page Academy in

Cotati since 2013.The school has 420 students with

approximately 174 English language learners. Schools of Hope provides 15 tutors—mostly senior citizens—to the school to mentor 12 students enrolled in the program.

“I was looking for somewhere to volunteer my services and saw an ad for a meeting at the Rohnert Park library,” she said. “It looked like

something I would feel comfortable doing.”Dickerson spent her life helping her

children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with their schoolwork and thought it was important to continue to pass on her knowledge.

“Reading is an important thing to learn,” she said. “I enjoy being around [the students] and


The lasting connection between a grandmother and a granddaughterBy Meagan Rugani, Donor Relations Officer

There is no generational divide when it comes to love. For 25 years, I was graced with the love and affection of my dear

Bubby. A strong Czech woman, my grandmother was the matriarch of our family. As a single mother, she worked full-time, sang in her church choir and made time to volunteer in her community.

For my sister and me, Bubby was our caregiver, confidant and cheerleader. Her kindness knew no bounds. She befriended strangers she met on the bus, sewed for her church fundraisers and comforted many with her meals. Through my young eyes, Bubby showed me how a single act of kindness could bring hope, even if just to one person.

My grandmother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis started a serious family conversation about her future living arrangements. The consensus among my mother, sister and I, was that Bubby had supported and cared for us, and now we would reciprocate that same love and care.

Instead of her pushing me in my stroller, I

pushed her in the wheelchair. Instead of a bib, I draped a small hand towel over her blouse. While her independence waned, her love did not. We laughed and we cried together. I cared about her well-being as much as she still pined for mine.

My college experience spanned more than classes, study sessions and parties. The seven years I spent as a co-caregiver with my mother and sister were the most poignant years of my young adult life. Alzheimer’s disease took my grandmother’s mobility and independence, but it did not rob us of the deep bond we forged when I was young.

With my grandmother’s love and support, my aunt became a nurse, my uncle became a police officer and my mother became a physical therapist. Today, my sister is pursuing her nursing degree, and I have recently joined the passionate family at the Council on Aging, whose mission of promoting the health and well-being of seniors is deeply ingrained in my heart.

Bubby was the foundation of three generations of family members driven to serve and care for people in their communities.

This past year, I married Ryan, the love of my life. Bubby was not in her seat, but she attended my wedding. My Bubby will never meet her great-grandchildren, but she will hold them every day. My Bubby will continue to share kindness in the world because she lives in me.

Pictured (l-r): Meagan’s ‘Bubby’ Lillian Spolar; Meagan’s sister, Courtney McIntosh, and Meagan.

See Schools, page 8

by David AbbottAssociate Editor

The Schools of Hope program pairs tutors of all ages with North Bay first- and second-graders to help increase reading proficiency by third grade.


Donate with Amazon Smile!

Do you shop online at Amazon.com? Shop on Amazon Smile and Amazon will donate to Council on Aging.

To sign up, go to smile.amazon.com. Sign in using your email and password. In the search box, type “Council on Aging for Seniors” and select it. That’s all you have to do. Your cost will remain the same, but Amazon will donate .5 percent of your purchase to Council on Aging.

When you shop Amazon, always shop at amazon.smile.com.

Boomer and millennial work together to secure business success

The business world is a place where the deep, practical experience of older professionals, when teamed with the

innovation and enthusiasm of young entrepreneurs, can create a win-win scenario.

Such is the case of the advisor/advisee relationship between Ludwig Furtner, 66, and Cassie Langstraat. 24. Furtner is a volunteer advisor for the Sebastopol Entrepreneurs Project (SEP), which offers individualized consulting, co-working space, and classes for local business owners. Langstraat, who recently started a nationally distributed publication—Permaculture Magazine North America—with a business partner, needed help getting the enterprise firmly planted on solid financial ground.

Furtner retired approximately five years ago, after a career that included business and product development for two of the largest forest products and building materials companies in North America—Weyerhaeuser and Boise Cascade. After retiring, he sought and found an opportunity to share his expertise on a volunteer basis through SEP.

“I generally work on new business opportunities; that’s what most of our clients are pursuing. And my background aligns very well with those types of opportunities,” Furtner said. “My expertise is in customer identification, market segment targeting, and cost analysis to make sure when the business is successful, that it’s profitable.”

That happened to be just the type of assistance Langstraat needed after, in early 2016, she and her business partner Hannah Apricot Eckberg launched their quarterly magazine, an offshoot of its parent publication Permaculture International. The magazine is currently available by subscription and at retail outlets, including independent bookstores like Copperfield’s, natural food groceries and co-ops.

The association with SEP initially started with Langstraat and Eckberg renting co-working space at the SEP headquarters on Gravenstein Highway North, near Sebastopol, to save on office costs. It didn’t take her long to realize, that at $50 per month, SEP’s advising services were cost effective even for a start-up.

“I already had done a business plan,” Langstraat said. “So it was actually a great time to meet up with these guys because I needed to know how to implement it.”

Langstraat and Eckberg share a background in writing and editing and a passion for permaculture, but neither had experience in financial management. That role ultimately fell to Langstraat.

“That was all very new to me,” she said. “But I was really passionate about figuring it out.”

Furtner was matched with Langstraat and a key part of his advising has focused on how to do long-term revenue planning.

“With a quarterly publication, you have to always be looking down the road because your revenue—including subscriptions and ad sales—occur on a quarterly basis, while business expenses are incurred on a much more frequent basis,” Furtner said. “So keeping track of cash flow has been really important.”

As lead advisor for Langstraat, Furtner has been able to “pull in” other SEP advisors—including a chief financial officer, banker and attorney—to help Langstraat on accounting

practices, loans and contracts.Over the months of advising, Furtner and

Langstraat have established a relationship of mutual trust and respect based on the common goal of making Permaculture Magazine a success.

“[What I get from Ludwig] is a beautiful conglomeration of support and wisdom,” Langstraat said. “The support might actually be the biggest part because anyone who starts a business knows it is insanely hard and often scary. Ludwig has been there for me during some of my deeply insecure moments, and has explained to me that everything will be okay, in a practical, numbers-founded way that I will actually believe.”

As for Furtner, the process of engaging with young entrepreneurs provides him with exposure to new industries and ways of thinking.

“And I also get the benefit of having a young, energetic, bright individual to work with who is pursuing a personal dream based on business fundamentals that can make it successful,” he concluded.


Ludwig Furtner and Cassie Langstraat.


Resources, continued from page 1

Schools, continued from page 6

resources for family and other unpaid caregivers, from counseling to care planning.

“We have an expertise in caregiving for people with neurocognitive impairments, but we also serve families caring for frail elders and seniors caring for younger people who have disabilities,” Nancy Powers-Stone, Director of RCRC, said.

Caring for a loved one with dementia, resulting from Alzheimer’s disease or other conditions, makes caregiving for a family member even more challenging, because of the personality and cognitive changes taking place.

“That’s what makes Redwood Caregiver Resource Center different in our approach to families. It’s not a matter of simply saying ‘you need a hoyer lift,’ ‘you should get a ramp to make [getting around] easier,’ or ‘let me tell you about the disease process,’” Powers-Stone said. “We have mental health clinicians working with folks to say, ‘ah, we get it.’”

The support provided by the organization can extend throughout the course of caregiving.

“There is nothing we can do to change the course of a degenerative disease or a chronic condition,” Powers-Stone said. “But we accompany families through diagnosis, in the trenches of caregiving, and even after the person has passed on.”

RCRC even assists caregivers once they are no longer able to care for family member at home.

“With placement of a loved one in a residential care facility or skilled nursing facility comes a whole new set of caregiver challenges around guilt, grief, sadness, the practical issues of interfacing with staff, and advocacy for your frail loved one,” Powers-Stone said.

To help meet caregivers’ diverse range of needs, RCRC also works with and refers family caregivers to a wealth of resources in the community, including adult day programs, private case managers, geriatricians, diagnostic centers, home health agencies, discharge planners, the Food Bank and other “safety net” programs.

As a part of RCRC since 1987, Powers-Stone has developed an immense respect for the people who care for family members.

“We really need to celebrate what these families do. We talk about heroes; these are regular folks who do this out of love and concern,” she said. “And there is a really fine line between love and obligation that caregivers walk every day. One day, they may say ‘I do this out of love,’ the next day they may say, ‘I do it just because someone has to.’ It’s inspiring.”

Staff from Redwood Caregiver Resource Center (l-r): Nancy Powers-Stone, Connie Lorenz, Alexis Glidewell, Marsha Marin and Maisie Hak.

appreciate how they look at life.” She added that one of the most rewarding

aspects of the program is getting a child who does not like to read interested in doing it.

“A lot of them don’t like to read,” Dickerson said. “Normally they don’t like it because it is too hard. The challenge is to make them interested. It’s really rewarding seeing the change in them.”

The program’s site coordinator at Thomas Page Academy, Teresa Sullivan, knows the importance of early reading skills, as she is a second grade teacher.

“It’s great for me and I definitely see a benefit,” she said. “The biggest thing is the reader’s confidence. The tutors help them see themselves as readers.”

Sullivan appreciates the interactions between Dickerson and her students.

“Arlene is very encouraging and nurturing. I think her students feel very comfortable with her, almost like they would be reading with their grandmother,” Sullivan said. “She has always been very enthusiastic about the program and very excited when she sees the growth in her students. When she has difficulty with getting a student to stay focused, she goes out of her way to ask questions and try new things that will work with her student.”

For Dickerson though, it is a way to give back to her community and she recommends it for “seniors who don’t like wasting their time.”

“I’m 79 years old, and as long as I can keep going and my mind is alert, I’m going to keep doing it,” she said. “I wish more people in my age

group would take this on. It’s beneficial to you and the children and it seems like there are more [students] coming in each year.”

The Schools of Hope Program accepts volunteers from all walks of life and all educational levels. A second wave of tutor recruitment takes place in December for tutoring beginning in early February.

Tutoring sessions last 30 minutes during the school day beginning in early October and extending through mid-May. Tutors must commit to at least one tutoring session per week.

To apply online, go to www.unitedwaywinecountry.org or contact Community Benefit Coordinator Emmanuel Moon at 528-4485 x103 or [email protected].

2nd Annual Tiny House Raffle to Benefit Meals on Wheels—Raffle Form


Like to see Sonoma Seniors Today in full color? Visit www.councilonaging.com and click on “News & Events,”

then “Sonoma Seniors Today.”

50th anniversary flashbackIn celebration of Council on Aging’s 50th anniversary in 2016, we are featuring news from national and community history through the decades.

From April 2009 issues of the Press Democrat:

America’s favorite prime time doctors closed the doors of the award winning, “ER” on April 2, 2009. In the show’s prime, “ER” had an average of 32 million viewers, and collected 122 Emmy awards over the course of its 15 years of airtime.

As part of the economic recovery package of 2009, paychecks showed a slight increase with a new federal tax credit. The paycheck bump equated to a pay boost of $10.25 in 2009 and $7.70 in 2010, per paycheck.

The Press Democrat’s Sonoma Pets section featured chickens as the new, feathered companion. The article pointed out that the appeal of chickens as pets is their ability to bond with their caregivers, especially as chicks.

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Seismic shifts since the 1960s: Popular musicBy Carol I. Cuzner

The number one hit on the Billboard Top 100 in the first week of April 1966 was “The Ballad of the Green Berets” by Staff

Sergeant Barry Sadler. The rest of the Top 10 hits spanned the gamut of the music genres popular at the time:

• “19th Nervous Breakdown,” The Rolling Stones;• “(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration,” The Righteous Brothers;• “Daydream,” The Lovin’ Spoonful;• “Homeward Bound,” Simon and Garfunkel;• “Nowhere Man,” The Beatles;• “California Dreamin’,” The Mama and The Papas;• “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’,” Nancy Sinatra;• “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down),” Cher; and,• “Sure Gonna Miss Her,” Gary Lewis and The Playboys.The 1960s were an

era that saw the revival of folk music, the rise of protest songs, the development of soft rock and country rock, and the evolution of rock’n’roll into a hard-charging format perfect for teens and 20-somethings to thumb their noses at “the establishment.”

Popular music segued into the 1970s with a return to a more easy-listening style, even in the rock category. The Captain and Tennille crooned “Lonely Night,” Gary Wright offered “Dream Weaver,” and the Bellamy Brothers charted with “Let Your Love Flow.” But the ’70s also saw the rise of three very contrary new genres: reggae (Jimmy Cliff in the film “The Harder They Come”), disco (with the top hit in April 1976, “Disco Lady” by Johnnie Taylor) and punk.

Rap music—rhymes spoken over instrumental mixes created from snatches of recorded music—arose on the streets of New York at the end of the 1970s (such as “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugar Hill Gang, 1979).

Developed in the same period and in a parallel way was hip-hop, which mixed in more melody and relied more on DJs to create the sounds.

Ballads and anthems were popular in the 1980s. Top hits in April 1986 were “Secret

Lovers” by Atlantic Star and “Nikita” by Elton John. Harder-rocking hits were “Kiss” by Prince and The Revolution and “Addicted to Love” by Robert Palmer. The start of the MTV channel in August 1981 launched the music video phenomenon. It made stars of performers such as Madonna and Guns’n’Roses and turned Michael Jackson into The King of Pop, with his propulsive videos for “Thriller,” “Beat It” and “Billy Jean.”

Rap began to dominate popular music in the 1990s. “Down Low” by R. Kelley was

number four on the April 1996 hit list. Yet

ballads were number one and number two: “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion and “Always Be My Baby” by Mariah Carey.

The early 2000s was another pivot

point when genres proliferated and new

star performers came on the scene. In the

Top 40 chart in the first week of 2006 were

Beyoncé (“Check On It”), Mary J. Blige (“Be Without

You”), Kelly Clarkson (“Walk Away”), Carrie

Underwood (“Jesus, Take the Wheel”) and Kanye West (“Gold Digger”).

Today, popular music is mostly the rap/hip-hop, soul and country genres. Rock has permeated country, soul has taken over the easy-listening niche, and rap turns up everywhere. The top hits in April 2016 show all this cross-fertilization: “Work” by Rihanna, “Love Yourself ” by Justin Bieber, “7 Years” by Lukas Graham, “Stressed Out” by 21 Pilots, and “My House” by Flo Rida. Also charting were Megan Trainor, Adele and The Weeknd.

For a fascinating perspective on the current global music scene, go to the website Every Noise At Once, put together by Glenn McDonald. It has an amazing interactive scatter-plot graphic of all 1,496 genres of music. You can read quirky histories and commentaries about modern music on his EchoNest blog (www.blog.echonest.com).


Improving the lives of seniors with Meals on Wheels A growing portion of our population—the eldest—is quietly struggling with the impact of isolation as they lose independence and struggle to remain in their homes for the duration of their lives. They will tell you: Meals on Wheels changed our lives—the meals keep us healthy but the daily visit and social connection is life sustaining.

Council on Aging provides 17 programs in the areas of Social, Financial, Legal, Nutrition and Health, with our greatest need of support for our Meals on Wheels program. This past year we provided 280,000 meals to 1800 seniors. While other Meals on Wheels programs reduce the number of days they deliver and limit the number of clients they serve, with your help, we have not done so. An investment in Meals on Wheels is tangible. For every $3 you provide, one person receives a home delivered meal.

Radiation oncologist Dr. Marc Fields sees patients who are very sick, and many are elderly and home alone. Knowing how important regular meals are to his patients during treatment, Dr. Fields made a personal decision to support Council on Aging’s Meals on Wheels program.

“I noticed that many of my patients benefit from the Meals on Wheels. Without a personal visit and a meal, these people feel isolated and would not really be independent. So it makes all the difference,” Dr. Fields says.

This holiday season, we ask you to join Dr. Fields in supporting the Meals on Wheels program with a single gift or by becoming a sustaining member with a monthly or quarterly gift. On behalf of the 118,000 seniors here in Sonoma County, thank you for recognizing the value of helping our aging population remain healthy and independent.

Your contribution this holiday season will make a difference.

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Mail your tax deductible donation to: Council on Aging 30 Kawana Springs Rd., Santa Rosa, CA 95404

entertainment. For instance they have even performed “Phantom of the Opera,” but much of the show harkens back to vaudeville and “tongue in cheek dancing, with guys in tutus.”

In one show, three male dancers were dancing in tuxedoes with mannequins on rollers.

“It looked like they were on roller skates, but one of the heads fell off,” McCuan said. “I heard people yelling ‘her head came off.’ A top-notch troupe would not have gone out with mannequins with heads that would have fallen off. We invite trouble.”

Performer Barbara Colahan has been with the Kut Ups for nine years and has done comedy for the past three years. Colahan has prior stage experience, dancing for 18 years with a group known as the Calypipers in Drytown, Calif. in Amador County.

She lived in Foster City at the time, but moved to Sonoma County to care for her ailing mother.

“It’s so much fun and the people we meet are fabulous,” Colahan said. “But it’s a tough gig. Sometimes we practice three times a week and also have technical and dress rehearsals.”

Some of the highlights of her time with the Kut Ups were the “Blonde on a Plane” skit, featuring a recently married couple and a psychologist, and a visit last year from a Raiderette, who taught a group of women how to dance with pom poms.

“The gal was so great; she must have been 20 years old,” Colahan said. “She taught us all the steps.”

The size of the troupe has dwindled over the years, but they hope to recruit some “younger” people in order to keep the organization going toward its 50th year.

Dancers and comedians can join through weekly workshops and rehearsals. Yearly dues are currently $75 per year. Contact choreographer Ariel Weymouth-Payne for rehearsal information at [email protected]. Singers and musicians may contact Musical Director

Larry Broderick at [email protected] to be placed on a waiting list.

Aging with humorJeffrey Weissman is a 58-year-old comedian

based in Petaluma who has spent his life performing since he took to the stage in 1972. Highlights of his career include an appearance on “Back to the Future Pt. II,” Clint Eastwood’s “Pale Rider” and “War Games.”

He has portrayed Charlie Chaplin, Groucho Marx and Stan Laurel, among others and has even created a character that he takes to Renaissance fairs, such as Much Ado About Sebastopol, a fundraiser for the Sebastopol Union School District.

But he knew at a young age that he wanted to devote his life to comedy.

“I knew when I was a kid: My babysitter loved Omar Sharif,” Weissman said. “I was really fond of that babysitter.”

He began to “get serious” at age 11 and started performing stand-up at 16. His father ran clubs in the Los Angeles area, so Weissman has learned from some of the greats, such as Don Adams and “Uncle Miltie” Berle.

As a lifelong comedian and actor, Weissman has seen a lot of changes in the entertainment industry and in himself as he begins to feel the effects of aging.

“I did a lot of stunts when I was younger and I’m carrying a lot of pain from old injuries,” he said. “I’m also feeling cynical about comedy. So much of it now goes to the lowest common denominator.”

Weissman harkens to the early days of modern comedy and cites comedians such as Robin Williams and Paula Poundstone who “told stories” not jokes.

“I love the art of the set-up and the brain tease,” he said. “Guys like Rick Overton who does politics in a smart way. I like comics that tickle your brain rather than insult you.”

As he approaches his 40th high school reunion, Weissman reflected on his life and career.

“It used to be that people over 50 were the enemy,” he said. “Now that I’m the enemy, I have to maintain my sense of humor.”

More about Weissman can be found at www.jeffreyweissman.com.

Humor, continued from page 1

Petaluma resident Jeffrey Weissman performs as Groucho Marx, one of the many classic characters he has developed in nearly 45 years of comedy.


Senior Center highlights

November Crossword Puzzle Solution on page 12

November 2016 | PAGE 11

*Answers found in this issue

Supply the missing numbers so that every row, column and 9-digit square contain only one of each number. No math skills are required, and no guesswork. For hints on doing Sudoku puzzles, go to www.websudoku.com, or send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Sonoma Seniors Today, 30 Kawana Springs Rd., Santa Rosa, CA 95404. (Solution on page 12.)

Across 1 Venerable humor magazine 4 Elegant 9 Rocky Mountain park14 Baba or Muhammad15 Financial backer16 Grayish lavender17 Radon or mustard18 Bangkok residents19 Glass kitchenware20 Ancient Peruvian civilization22 Volunteer at Thomas Page Academy*24 Cook with oil25 Depression pres.27 Time period29 Settle in32 Kitchen appliances35 Be plural36 Water bird38 Historic item40 Toxic element in San Francisco Bay*42 Postpone44 File45 Thespian47 Operate49 Protein involved in Alzheimer’s

disease*50 TV show “___ Company” 52 Climb down a cliff54 Yoga requirement55 London time, for short56 Expression of surprise59 Attack with severe criticism63 Nautical starter67 Musical “slow”69 Sesame Street character71 Type of Buddhism72 Slinky cloth73 Farious preceder74 Snitch75 Starts76 Rub out77 FussDown 1 Ancient gift bringers 2 Actor Alda 3 Saucer 4 Rested 5 Unscathed 6 Seaweed substance 7 Woman’s headdress 8 Otherwise 9 Ruler10 Initials for Jocelyn’s internship program*11 Territory12 Always13 Hot looking21 Coll. football conference 23 Web26 Telegraphic signal28 Declare29 Construct30 Under, poetically31 Print media32 Express contempt

33 Thrill34 Strong rope fiber35 Menu term37 Often poetically39 Computer heart, for short41 Residence hall43 Chemicals in reactions46 Explanations48 Phono. speed unit51 And so forth, briefly53 School grp.56 Too57 Old car58 Stake60 Peak61 Travel group62 Hawaiian art form64 Jewish scribe65 Looked at a book66 Upon68 Can metal70 Draw

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16

17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28

29 30 31 32 33 34

35 36 37 38 39

40 41 42 43 44

45 46 47 48 49

50 51 52 53

54 55

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67 68 69 70 71

72 73 74

75 76 77

www.CrosswordWeaver.com

Sebastopol Senior Center

167 N. High St., Sebastopol, 829-2440 www.sebastopolseniorcenter.org

• Thursday, Nov. 3, 1-2 p.m. In and Outs of Medicare. Independent insurance broker Greg Gurtner will discuss the ins and outs of Medicare. He will explain how the system works, what changes are coming and what will be available for 2016.• Tuesday, Nov. 15, 1-3 p.m. Our Annual Thanksgiving potluck. We will provide turkey and ham. Please sign up at the Senior Center. Suggested contribution: $3 Wisdom Counts Member, $4 Associate Member.• Sunday, Nov. 20 from 3-5 p.m. An afternoon of poetry by members of Rumi’s Caravan. This special event will feature a lineup of poets reciting poetry in classic oral tradition. Coffee, tea and light snacks will be served. Sign up at the Senior Center at 829-2440 or online at www.sebastopolseniorcenter.org. Admission $15. All proceeds benefit the Sebastopol Area Senior Center.

Vintage House Senior Center

264 First St. E., Sonoma, 996-0311 www.vintagehouse.org

• Thursday, Nov. 3, 1:30–3 p.m. Active Aging Lecture: “Family Caregiving, Been There … Am There, Will be There,” with Jennie Chin Hansen, RN, MSN, former CEO of the American Geriatric Society and president of AARP. Family caregiving and how caregivers can access information and support they need to care for loved ones and friends. Free of charge. Call 996-0311 to reserve.• Saturday, Nov. 12, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Flu Shots: Representatives of the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center will be at Vintage House, 264 First St. East, Sonoma, $20 donation suggested. No one turned away for lack of funds.• Thursday, Nov. 24, 3 p.m. Thanksgiving Day dinner for Sonoma Valley seniors. Reservations taken Nov. 1 through Nov. 18. Dinner served at 3 p.m. at VH or delivered to those who are homebound. Call 996-0311 for details. Free of charge. Donations gratefully accepted.

Windsor Senior Center9231 Foxwood Drive, Windsor, 838-1250

• Monday, Nov. 7, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Ted Talks Brown Bag Lunch: Bring a brown bag lunch and enjoy November’s TED Talk videos on “The Best Stats You’ve Ever Seen”; “This Is What Happens When You Reply To Spam Email”; and “The Danger of a Single Story.” Free.• Monday, Nov. 14, Crafters’ Nook: Stop by the Senior Center lobby and browse our 3rd annual Crafters’ Nook. Handcrafted items, made by Senior Center participants will be on display and available for purchase Monday through Thursday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m.-noon, through Dec. 23.


Save the Date (Events are free unless otherwise indicated)Working for YouInformation & Assistance/Case Navigator:Do you need help with senior resources? Call us any time for information, assistance and help managing resources. Call 525-0143. Sebastopol sen iors only: call the Russian River Senior Center at 869-0618.

Senior Financial Services:Our bonded and insured counselors assist individuals who are unable to handle bill paying, checkbook reconcilia-tion, eligibility documentation for retire ment programs, and other financial needs relative to their daily money management. This program is especially designed for the forgetful senior or someone with poor vision and often protects them from financial abuse and late fees associated with forget ting to pay their bills. For peace of mind, call Connie Aust, Director, at 525-0143, ext. 108.

Senior Peer Support:This program is to help seniors struggling with seri ous mental illness to access services and programs that help them develop skills and social support, leading to a more constructive and satisfying life. After an assessment visit by COA case managers and a licensed marriage and family therapist, clients are matched with trained volunteers for 12 weekly sup port sessions to develop a care plan solution with the client’s approval, then follow-up with progress notes. Sponsored by the Department of Mental Health Services. Call Michele Leonard, Director of Volunteers, 525-0143, ext. 147, for information.

Lawyer Referral Service:If you are 60 or older and need an attor ney, you will be referred to a panel of elder law attorneys experienced in working with seniors. An initial half-hour consultation is $40. If you retain the attorney for further services, fees will be at the attor ney’s usual rate. The service is certified by the California State Bar, Certification #0111. Call 525-1146.

Senior Meals:Council on Aging Meals on Wheels Program personally delivers over 285,000 fresh meals to seniors each year. We also staff ten dining sites that provide nutritious meals as well as companionship. Therapeutic meals and nutritional counseling are available for seniors with special needs. Call 525-0383 for information on home delivery or dining site locations.

The Noble Spoon:The Noble Spoon is the Council on Aging’s affordable gourmet option, available at select fine grocery stores, that offers restaurant-quality, fine dining entrées prepared fresh and ready for microwave or oven. See councilonaging.com/TheNobleSpoon for links to store locations.

Senior Social Club:This service has helped hundreds of people to recon nect with others through our Adult Day Program activities, offering the opportunity to gather for meals, exercise, entertainment, companionship, and arts and crafts. The programs are held in Healdsburg, Sonoma, Sebastopol and Santa Rosa, and provide respite for family members. Call Laurel Anderson at 525-0143, ext. 103.

Senior Legal Services:Available are simple trusts, wills and durable powers of attorney for health care and finance. Please call 525-0143, ext. 140, for an appointment.

Senior Care Navigator:Our experienced staff provides advocacy-based long-term care management for seniors having difficulty navigating the local senior service delivery system. Our Senior Care Coordinator creates an individualized and thoughtful care plan to reflect and preserve the senior’s values and lifestyle choices, while maximizing opportunities for posi-tive change and maintaining quality of life. We work in collaboration with home health care agencies and pro-vide integrated services through other Council on Aging services. Our fees are very competitive with private care managers in our community. Call 525-0143.

Nov. 2 through June 7, 2017: The Free Seniors Movie Series begins again on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016. A selection of four films will be shown on the first Thursday of every month through June 7, 2017 at the Third Street Cinemas. The theater is located at 620 3rd Street in downtown Santa Rosa, between Santa Rosa Avenue and D Street (behind the 3rd Street Aleworks, 1-1/2 blocks from the Transit Mall).The movies are free for seniors 60 and older, and begin at 10 a.m. No tickets are needed and the doors open at 9:30 a.m. For a list of the movie titles for each month, call the week of the series at 525-8909 x 2.Nov. 19: TELLABRATION! is coming Saturday, Nov. 19, from 7-9 p.m. to the Glaser Center, located at 547 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. This will be the 6th year Do Tell Story Swap has produced this event that brings some of the best storytellers in the Bay Area to Santa Rosa for an evening of stories. This is a free community event that brings some of the best storytellers in the Bay Area to Santa Rosa for an evening of telling tales in the oral tradition. Diane Ferlatte, Jacquelyn Lynaugh, Kenneth Foster and Cal Johnson present a dynamic mix of personal, traditional, and innovative stories meant to make you think and laugh and remember. This event is free, although donations

will be accepted. For more information, email [email protected] or go to dotellstoryswap.org.

Call Today: Offer Ends September 30th!(707) 778-7883 or (800) 949-2434

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November Crossword solution

M A D S U A V E E S T E S A L I A N G E L M A U V E G A S T H A I S P Y R E X I N C A A R L E N E F R Y

F D R E R A E N C A M P S T O V E S

A R E H E R O N R E L I C L E A D D E F E R R A S P A C T O R S T E E R T A U

T H R E E S R A P P E L M A T G M T

A H A S C A T H E A E R O L E N T O C O U N T Z E N S A T I N M U L T I R A T O P E N S E R A S E A D O


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Senior humor: The funny side of agingcouncilonaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/SonomaSeniorsToday... · John Reyes and David Vicini COA EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT Marrianne McBride,