Whistlestop FEBRUARY 2011
E PRESS
Whistlestop.org
The Leading Information Resource for Marin's Active Aging Movement
African-American History Month
Dominican Professor Reflects on Her Experience as One of the Little Rock Nine by JOHN BOWMAN
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hen Melba Pattillo Beals walks the halls of Dominican University, a stirring chapter in American history walks with her. Dr. Beals, chair of Dominican’s Communications Department, where she teaches journalism, is a member of the Little Rock Nine, the group of African-American students who integrated Little Rock, Arkansas, Central High School in 1957. In honor of African-American History Month, Whistlestop Express had a conversation with Dr. Beals recently. Her name and those of the other eight students are forever linked to the names of Gov. Orval Faubus and President Dwight D. Eisenhower. She and her classmates found themselves in the middle of one of the most dramatic showdowns in U.S. history, pitting the President against the governor. Faubus defied the U.S.
Murmurations page 11
Supreme Court decision in Brown v Board of Education, which called for the desegregation of all public schools in the United States. The governor used the Arkansas National Guard to block black children from entering Central High School. President Eisenhower countered on Sept. 24, 1957, by ordering the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army to Little Rock and by federalizing the entire 10,000 member Arkansas National Guard, taking it out of the hands of the governor. Melba Pattillo was 16 years old at the time and recalls, “The struggle, the shock of the struggle stunned me. As a child you do not expect it to be such a struggle, to experience such violence. You don’t expect human beings to treat other human beings that way. It takes a great deal of energy to survive such extraordinary danger.” The danger was immense. Melba and her friends were met by a menacing crowd of
Jeff Stoffer's Financial Nuggets page 13
Dr. Melba Pattillo Beals 1,000 screaming adults and children at the school, including men carrying ropes. One of the most famous photographs from that period shows an erect and determined Melba walking toward the school with a mob of white people behind her and one white girl screaming at her back, the girl’s face contorted into a hateful countenance. Someone later threw acid into Melba’s face. “My bodyguard (Danny) acted swiftly,” she recalls. “He rushed me to a water fountain and we Continued on page 7 R L N V D R L N T L R D D L V R N ND T L F R R D L T BN N T T R R N P H L P P V J P R T F T P T N D R V T D P D DD N B L R D L D H H R
Word Search page 15
Table of
Whistlestop
CONTENTS 3 4 5 6 8/9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Readers Write In Paul Liberatore Mystic Table Mark Lindsay Recipe of the Month Half Marathon At Whistlestop Whistlestop Activities Calendar The Bird's Side of Marin Richard Pavek The HOPE Program Sally Douglas Arce Financial Nuggets Jeff Stoffer Grand Mom Audrey Mettel Fixmer Puzzle
Marin Senior Coordinating Council, Inc. 930 Tamalpais Avenue San Rafael, CA 94901 Chief Executive OfďŹ cer, Joe O’Hehir Board of Directors President, Dennis Thompson Vice President, Terry Scussel Chief Financial OfďŹ cer, Jeff Stoffer Secretary, Michael Hingson +AREN !RNOLD s %VA "ROWN s *ANE ,OTT $EBBIE -ILLS s -ICHAEL 2ICE Whistlestop Express is a publication of the Marin Senior Coordinating Council, Inc. A 501 (c) 3 not-for-proďŹ t organization The Mission of Whistlestop: 4O PROMOTE THE INDEPENDENCE AND WELL BEING OF -ARIN #OUNTY S OLDER ADULTS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO enhance their quality of life. Whistlestop Contact Information Main Number 415-456-9062 Whistlestop Fax 415-456-2858 www.whistlestop.org Information & Referral OfďŹ ce 415-459-6700 s RESOURCE WHISTLESTOP ORG Whistlestop Express Editorial, Art Direction & Sales John & Val Bowman Editors s JOHN BOWMAN GMAIL COM Missy Reynolds Art Director mreynolds@paciďŹ csun.com Advertising Linda Black s 415-485-6700, Ext. 306 Whistlestop Express is printed on recycled paper To be added to, or taken off, the email list for Whistlestop Express, please call EXT /R SEND AN EMAIL WITH YOUR request, your name and address to ).&/ WHISTLESTOP ORG Subscriptions mailed to your home are $10/year.
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Whistlestop Express February 2011
PERSPECTIVE
by JOE O'HEHIR
Help Us End Loneliness
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ccording to data compiled from the 2007 U.S. Census American Community Survey, of the 38,000 non-family households in Marin, 81% (or 31,000 households) were occupied by someone who lives alone. Of the households occupied by someone living alone, 35% or 11,000 households were lived in by someone 65 years or older. A recent study out of the University of Chicago suggests that loneliness contributes to poorer health for older adults. Those who feel lonely face even greater health risks. “Social disconnectedness is associated with worse physical health, regardless of whether it prompts feelings of loneliness or a perceived lack of social support,â€? said the study’s co-author Linda Waite, a Professor in Sociology at the University of Chicago. Older adults who feel most isolated report 65% more depressive symptoms than those who feel least isolated. The consequences of poor mental health can be substantial, as deteriorating mental health reduces older adults’ willingness to stay physically and/or socially active. Researchers have also discovered that lonely older adults had higher blood pressure readings than those who were not lonely. In addition, tests showed that the older group of lonely people had signiďŹ cantly higher levels of the stress hormone epinephrine. This hormone is involved in the â€œďŹ ght or ightâ€? response in the body, and researchers say that
elevated epinephrine levels suggest that lonely older adults live in a heightened sense of arousal that can have long-term effects on heart disease. Marin now has nearly 11,000 older adults living alone, and this number will only get larger as our population ages. The lonely older adults could be your parents, neighbors, siblings, or friends. When someone is unable to get out of their home or is unable to drive, they can lose their independence and that leads to a lonely, isolated existence. Our mission at Whistlestop is to end loneliness for Marin’s older adults. You have seen our Whistlestop buses travelling around the county, helping individuals with a disability get out of their homes to go for doctor’s appointments, go shopping, or visit relatives and friends. We also offer a warm and friendly atmosphere at Whistlestop's Active Aging Center, where older adults can come to relax, enjoy an affordable, delicious, fresh meal, take a class, make new friends, and stay socially connected. Our Whistlestop Help Desk is a one stop shop for older adults and their families to ďŹ nd the resources they need to live a fulďŹ lled life. We cannot ďŹ ght loneliness alone. We need your help. You can do something good for an older adult by donating, volunteering, or leaving a legacy gift to Whistlestop. Now is the time to give locally where you can see the difference. âœŚ
Readers
WRITE IN Lost, Then Found: Sharing Our Stories, Singing Our Songs (Written by Paul Liberatore in the Marin Independent Journal)
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histlestop had the trappings of a Manhattan literary salon one afternoon last week as a coterie of proud authors signed copies of their new books, then took turns reading from their work for a rapt audience. The book-signing soiree was for “Lost, Then Found: Sharing Our Stories, Singing Our Songs,â€? a self-published anthology of writing by 20 seniors in the 2010 Remembrance Writing 101 Workshop, a group that meets on Thursday afternoons at the senior center. Its mission is to give “older adults a written voiceâ€? by encouraging them to share their stories. It’s facilitated by the workshop’s creator, 73-yearold Claudia Carroll, who earned a degree in arts education from Harvard when she was 65. “As older adults, we have the right to re-create our memories as we please, to pass them on to others — to our children, to our grandchildren, to our friends and families,â€? she said. “That’s what we do in remembrance writing. This is a wonderful gift to yourself and to others.â€? Carroll, who teaches various writing techniques to jog elderly memories, started Remembrance Writing 101 at Whistlestop in May. It’s the ďŹ rst project of her newly launched Dreamcatcher, a nonproďŹ t writing, editing and publishing service for older adults. “In this group, none of us are professional writers,â€? said 63-year-old Sandra Miller Brim, who has a piece in the anthology about a centenarian friend, titled “102 Years of Singing Life’s Song.â€? “This workshop is an inspiration for everyone to write their memoirs,â€? she went on. “None of us had that experience before. But by the end of the class time, we felt like we were writers. It was wonderful.â€? The next session of the workshop begins Jan. 13, and will meet for two hours on Thursday afternoons throughout the coming year, until there is enough material for the next book. “This is actually what we’re trying to encourage, keeping people engaged, getting them out
of their homes, ending loneliness and getting them involved,â€? said Yvonne Roberts, Whistlestop’s director of development and marketing. “And this is a wonderful way for them to capture their memories and share them with future generations.â€? Workshop participants range in age from 50something to 90-something. At 96, Fran Cohen describes herself as “the oldest with a young heart.â€? One of her pieces in the anthology is about 1914, the year she was born. It’s titled “The Way the World Was.â€? She is a tiny woman with the excited manner of someone who has discovered something new. She’s one of four seniors in the workshop who won creative writing awards in the Marin County Fair. Before taking the workshop, she had never written a word in her long life. Another fair winner is Ali Rostambiek of San Rafael, an 80-year-old Iranian who came to the U.S. when he was 60. Carroll helps him translate his writing from Farsi into English. He hopes someday to return to Iran, but not until it’s more welcoming politically. âœŚ
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The Mystic
TABLE b y M A R K Beets Redux
L
ast month we roasted lots of beets. We assumed, for the sake of illustration, that we were overzealous and cooked too many to eat at one meal. We used some of them last month to make a simple-but-hearty beet salad. This month, we’ll do something entirely different with the remaining beets. We’ll chop them up and make a pasta sauce from them. Like last month, for the sake of clarity, we’ll present the entire recipe from scratch, with enough beets for only this dish. This sauce reminds me of the Roman dish, aglio e olio,
L I N D S AY
spaghetti with garlic and olive oil. We get the same robust flavor of chopped garlic sautéed in extravirgin olive oil, but the beets add their lovely color and a complex sweetness to the dish. The dish is very simple and fast to prepare, especially if you have some leftover, roasted beets in the fridge. Romans, being the insomniacs that they are, eat aglio e olio late at night. Likewise, I can imagine cooking up a big bowl of beets and spaghetti for a party
crowd at midnight during a holiday party. This dish is festive and irresistible. Food like this illustrates how inventive we can be with leftover ingredients. We could have made another salad on the second day of our beet marathon but it’s far more fun to transform our leftovers into something new. Life is too short to be bored. Reinvent your leftovers! ✦
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The Whistlestop Express February 2011
Recipe of
THE MONTH Spaghetti with Roasted Beets, Garlic and Olive Oil
With memory loss, I am still… a gardener traditional loyal
Serves 4 8 fresh beets, medium-sized 3 garlic cloves, chopped fine 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil hot, dried, red pepper flakes, salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 1 pkg imported Italian spaghetti
Who I Am
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reheat the oven to 400º F. Cut the leaves and root end from the beets and wash thoroughly. Discard the leaves. Wrap the beets tightly in aluminum foil — it’s best to make 2 packages each of 4 beets — and bake them for about an hour. Test the beets with a skewer. Once they are soft, remove them from the oven, open the foil packages and let them cool to the touch. Peel and dice into 1/2-inch cubes. Set them aside. Put a large pot of water on the stove, turn the burner to high. Place the garlic and oil in a large sauté pan and turn the burner to medium. Sauté the garlic until it emits its lovely scent. Add the red pepper flakes. You want the garlic to be colored a very pale gold but do not brown it or let it burn. You must watch this very carefully. When the garlic just begins to color, add the beets and some salt and pepper. Toss vigorously, cook for several minutes and then take the pan off the burner. Taste for seasoning and adjust, if necessary. The sauce should taste a bit too salty. When the pot of water starts to boil, add a good amount of salt. Put a few ladles of hot water into a large, pasta bowl to warm it. Then add the spaghetti to the pot and stir the water immediately for a minute or two. This keeps the pasta from sticking together. Gently reheat the sauce while the pasta is cooking, keeping an eye on it. Once the pasta starts to soften, test it constantly by eating a strand every minute or so. When the pasta is just slightly too firm, or molto al dente as Italians would say, drain the pasta. Pour out the water from the bowl it was heating and add the spaghetti. Toss the sauce and spaghetti, adding a little bit of fresh olive oil. Serve immediately in shallow bowls. ✦
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Half Marathon Set for April 23 at McNear’s Beach Park
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he third annual Marin County Half Marathon is scheduled for Saturday, April 23 at McNear’s Beach Park in San Rafael. All races are both walker and runner friendly. There are also 10k and 5k events. The Half Marathon (13.1 miles) features a scenic run through the rolling hills on the road and along the waters of San Pablo Bay for the first part, then turns inland and back into the trail sys-
tem of China Camp State Park. The 10k (6.2 miles) is all road with a small portion of trail and the 5k (3.1 miles) all road. This is a great opportunity to set your New Year's resolution to getting healthy. With all net proceeds going to very worthwhile charities, the Marin County Half Marathon, 10k and 5k events attract famous musicians, celebrities and athletes who embrace the scope of what takes place at this very special race. Registration is now open at www.marinmarathon.com. ✦
Volunteers Honored at Whistlestop Whistlestop volunteers honored recently for the wonderful work they do for older adults. Left to right, back row: Gene Dyer, Rob Harrison, Ed Essick, Marc Greenberg, George John, Celeste Purcell, Amido Rapkin, Scott Marcum, Denise Bertucelli, Judy Countermine, Lynn Huelsmann, Janice Lovi and Linda Sampson. Left to right, front row: Letitia Sanders, Paula Ross, Edna Trimm, Claudia Carroll, Jean Harrison, Yee Coleiro, Mehrbanoo Esmaili, Left to right, kneeling: Herman Clasen and Denise Scussel
Imspeaking.com Kicks Off Series with Mike Singletary
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ward-winning journalist and author Joan Ryan will interview Mike Singletary, new assistant head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, at the kick-off session of the Im speaking series February 16 at 8pm. Singletary received the Walker Camp “Man of the Year” award based on his reputation for integrity, leadership and contributions benefiting his community, country and fellow man. A Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee, Mike is also the author of three books including, Daddy’s Home at Last, and has seven children with his wife Kim. The series is produced by longtime Marin native Gary Ferroni, and other speakers to appear include Valerie Plame Wilson, ex-CIA officer and author of Fair Game (March 3); Marin’s Sammy Hagar, Grammy Award winner and Rock and 6
Whistlestop Express February 2011
Roll Hall of Fame inductee (April 1); Richard Picciotto, FDNY Chief and highest-ranking firefighter to survive the World Trade Center collapse (Sept. 9); and Robert Wittman, founder of the FBI Art Crime Team and referred to as the most famous art detective in the world. (October 6). Sold as a series, tickets for all five events range from $195 to $475. A limited number of individual tickets are available for $47. Tickets are available for purchase online at imspeaking.com; by mail by downloading a request form from the website; in person at the Marin Center Box Office or by calling 415-499-6800. For more information, info@imspeaking.com or phone 415381-2022. Please mention Whistlestop so that we receive a portion of the proceeds. The imspeaking.com series takes place at the Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium, 10 Avenue of the Flags at Civic Center Drive in San Rafael. ✦
MELBA BEALS—Continued from page 1 washed my eyes with water. It was a quick and brave act on his part. They took me to a physician who said that saved the quality of my sight.â€? Melba moved to Santa Rosa a year later, after the Ku Klux Klan put a bounty on her head — $10,000 dead and $5,000 alive. With the help of the NAACP, she moved in with foster parents, Dr. George McCabe and his wife, and ďŹ nished high school at Montgomery High. She earned her bachelor’s degree at San Francisco State University, her masters in journalism at Columbia University and in 2009 completed her Doctoral Degree in Education at the University of San Francisco. She has written a book about her experience, titled Warriors Don’t Cry. The book has now been made into a play, which Dr. Beals saw at Bushnell Theatre in Hartford, CT. “It was stunning to watch my life unfold on stage,â€? she said. When asked if her students know about her experience she replied, “I try not to bring it up. I have two or three lives, as we all do. On one hand, my name is etched in the ceiling of the Capitol. And I am a teacher and I have a family. But they will ask questions after they see something on TV or read it in the papers.â€? She also has received numerous honors and awards, including the Congressional Medal of Honor, and is a much sought-after motivational speaker. Does she stay in touch with the others in the Little Rock Nine? “Of course. We are like family; we’re brothers and sisters. I just spoke with Carlotta yesterday.â€? Carlotta Walls LaNeir was another of the nine, which also includes Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, Jefferson Thomas, Terrence Roberts, Minniean Brown, Gloria Ray Karlmark, and Thelma Mothershed. They have been invited back to the Oprah Winfrey program in 2011 to do a reprise of an earlier show. Dr. Beals turned 69 on December 7, 2010. She understands her role in history, but makes every effort to not overstate it. How does she want to be remembered? In an interview in Marin Magazine, she answered, “As a good mother, and as a child of God who struggles hard daily to qualify ‌ also as someone who was kind and friendly and who merely wanted what was due to her: equality and the right to be the best I can be.â€? âœŚ
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Keep Learning at
WHISTLESTOP BREAD & ROSES Whistlestop wants to say a special thank you to Bread & Roses for providing live entertainment for our special luncheons throughout the years. The music groups are extremely talented and caring people, who are volunteering their time. Our reward is watching the older adults walk out from our special luncheons with big smiles and a lighter step. The music is healing and uplifting. We appreciate the hard work you do for many agencies. Thank you for being a part of Whistlestop. BEGINNING COMPUTER/PICTURE CLASS ST ND &RIDAY s TO PM Computer Room | Fee: $15 | )NSTRUCTOR Gene Dyer 0REREQUISITE Basic Computer Skills Pre-registration required: call Learn to transfer your digital photos from a camera, CD or flash drive onto your computer and how to send and receive them with your friends and family by attaching them to emails. Bring camera and cable. ADVANCED COMPUTER/PICTURE CLASS RD &RIDAY s TO PM Computer Room | Fee: $15 )NSTRUCTOR Gene Dyer 0REREQUISITE Basic Computer Skills Register: call Learn how to Tell a Picture Story on computer monitors and TVs in slide shows, using Word, PDF, PowerPoint Presentations and movie formats. COMPUTER LAB $2/0 ). #,!33 7EDNESDAYS s AM TO NOON Computer Room | Free Whistlestop offers free drop-in computer instruction every Wednesday from 10am to noon in the Computer Room. Price Hall, a computer technician, is present to answer your questions and provide one-on-one instruction. 8
The Whistlestop Express February 2011
GMAIL FOR OLDER ADULTS &RIDAY -ARCH AM TO NOON Computer Room | Fee: $56 )NSTRUCTOR Susan Wilkins Registration required: call It’s easy to stay in touch with old friends and family using the Internet. We will be setting up a Google account, which includes the free email program, Gmail. We will explore Google calendar, Google Reader, blogs and search the internet using Advanced Search. We will also explore Social Networking … what is it? Do I need it? We want you to succeed in this course and recommend that you be familiar with the mouse and keyboard before enrolling. Instruction in this class is not textbook-based. This class is in partnership with the College Of Marin. AARP DRIVER SAFETY PROGRAM AT WHISTLESTOP &EBRUARY s AM TO PM Information and to register: call Sharpen your driving skills through the AARP Driver Safety program. This course is developed to help drivers 50 years or older adjust to age-related changes in vision, hearing and reaction time. Medication and its effects on driving will also be addressed. At the end of this course, a certificate of completion will be given, which may save you money on auto insurance.
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GET FREE TAX HELP! February 1 to April 15 Whistlestop and Novato’s Margaret Todd Senior Center Schedule appointments starting January 24: call 415-459-6700 Whistlestop is offering a free tax service by IRS-certiďŹ ed tax preparers for people with basic, uncomplicated tax situations to help them ďŹ le their 2010 tax returns. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY Volunteers with sewing experience needed to make curtains for the Jackson CafĂŠ. Whistlestop will provide the material. Must have your own sewing machine. For more information: call 415-456-9062 “KNIT YOUR PARTâ€? KNITTING GROUP %VERY /THER 7EDNESDAY s PM Lounge | Free | ConďŹ rm Day: call 415-456-9062 Everyone is knitting squares to eventually put together and make an afghan to give to charity. Bring your needles (size 7 or 8) and any yarn you might have lying around. Everyone is welcome to come and join us! MARDI GRAS LUNCHEON 4HURSDAY &EBRUARY s NOON TO PM Jackson CafĂŠ | Fee: $6 for older adults, $9 for under 60 Reservations required: call 456-9062 Please join us for a delicious meal and live entertainment. ART FROM THE HEART ST RD 4HURSDAYS s AM TO NOON Lounge | &ACILITATOR Carin Powers | Free To sign up: call 415-456-9062 Join us for a fun new art program! We will use a variety of media (paints, pastels, collage, etc.) Come explore your world from a whole new vantage point. You may even reacquaint yourself with your inner child! All levels are welcome. No experience necessary.
GENTLE CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES ND 7EDNESDAY s NOON TO PM Arcade | Fee: $2 #HIROPRACTOR Dr. Jennifer Burns. Sign-ups will be taken on the day chiropractic services are offered only. Available on a ďŹ rst-come, ďŹ rst-served basis. Do you suffer from back or neck pain, tension headaches or aching muscles and joints? For relief from aches and pains of everyday stress and strains, visit Whistlestop to see a chiropractic professional who provides safe, gentle and effective chiropractic care. WHISTLESTOP TEA DANCE &RIDAY &EBRUARY s TO PM Fee: $2 Enjoy music, dancing, fun people, rafe, and light snacks and refreshments. For information: call 415-456-9062 VIETNAMESE LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION Year of the Cat 2011 Thursday, February 10 TO PM Jackson CafĂŠ | Fee: $6 for older adults, $8 for under 60 Reservations required: call 415-456-9062 Please join us at Whistlestop to celebrate the 2011 Year of the Cat Vietnamese New Year! Enjoy dinner and a lion dance. DEUTSCHE GESELLSCHAFT (GERMAN GROUP) -ONDAYS AND OR 4UESDAYS s AM TO PM Wir haben eine neue Idee in Whistlestop wo wir eine Deutsch sprechende Gruppe Zusammen bringen und wir uns in Deutsch amusieren konnen. Wir freuen uns auf Ihr kennen lernen, bitte rufen Sie fur Auskunft.
Transportation Numbers Scheduling Rides: 454-0964 Cancelling Rides: 457-4630 Eligibility Coordinator, Janet Van Rijsbergen 456-9062, ext. 160
janet.vanrijsbergen@whistlestop.org
Whistlestop.org 9
Whistlestop CLASS
LOCATION
MISC.
COST
MONDAYS
10:30–NOON 11:00–NOON 11:00–12:30 PM 2:00–4:00 PM 4:00–5:30 PM
Persian Group Computer Literacy German Group ESL Citizenship
Lounge Computer Lab TBD Caboose/Café Caboose
472-6020 for info Open Open Jan 24th-May 18th 454-0998 for info
Free Free Free Free Free
TUESDAYS
TIME
This Month at Whistlestop
10:00–2:00 PM 9:15–10:30 AM 10:45–11:45 AM 11:00–12:30 1:00–3:00 PM 2:00–3:30 PM
Asian Group Whistlesizers Cardio Exercise German Group Spanish Class English Conversation
Caboose Caboose Caboose TBD Caboose Board Room
454-1552 for info Open Open Open Open 454-0998 for info
Free $2 Free Free Free Free
FRIDAYS THURSDAYS WEDNESDAYS
ACTIVITIES
9:00–10:30 AM 10:00–11:30 AM 10:00–NOON 10:30–NOON 11:00–NOON 2:00–4:00 PM 2:00–4:00 PM
Tai Chi Qigong Seniors' Circle Computer Lab Persian Group Corazón Latino ESL Adv. Remembr. Writing
Caboose Board Room Computer Lab Lounge Caboose Caboose/Café Board Room
Suggested Donation Open Open 472-6020 for info Open Jan 24th-May 18th Open
$10 Free Free Free Free Free $5
10:00–2:00 PM 10:30–NOON 9:15–10:30 AM 2:00-3:30 PM 2:00–3:00 PM 2:00–4:00 PM
Asian Group Art from the Heart Whistlesizers English Conversation Vietn.Citizenship Remembrance Writing
Caboose Lounge Caboose Caboose Caboose Board Room
454-1552 for info Open Open 454-0998 for info 454-1552 for info Open
Free Free $2 Free Free $5
11:00–1:00 PM 1:30–3:30 PM 1:30–3:30 PM 2:00-4:00 PM
Loom Knitting ACASA Spanish Club Friday Movie
Caboose Board Room Caboose Jackson Café
1st Fri. Arts & Crafts Peer Counseling Open Free Snacks/Drinks
Free Free Free Free
Jackson Café
Monday-Friday 11:30am-1:30pm Located in Whistlestop Active Aging Center
LUNCH MENU
The Caboose, Computer Lab, Board Room and Jackson Café are all located at Whistlestop’s Active Aging Center – 930 Tamalpais Ave., San Rafael.
UNDER 60 PRICES Main Entrée $6.75 Turkey Sandwich $4.00 Soup $2.00 Hamburger $5.25 Pizza $5.00 Salads $4.00
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60+ PRICES Main Entrée Turkey Sandwich Soup Hamburger Pizza Salads
$4.00 $3.00 $1.50 $4.25 $4.00 $2.50
Whistlestop Express February 2011
OTHER ITEMS Tuna Salad Side Fresh Fruit Cup Desserts Beverages
$1.25 $1.00 $1.50 $1.00
The Bird's Side
OF MARIN
b y R I C H A R D PAV E K
Murmurations
S
itting on my Walkstool with my camera in my lap, just North of Highway 37, I was watching two harriers off in the distance, hoping they would turn and hunt closer to me. Behind me was a vineyard, its green leaves already assuming the vibrant colors of autumn. Gradually, I became aware of a faint, low-pitched murmuring sound behind me, and then without warning, a subtle pressure pushed against my back. Startled, I turned to a
rush of hundreds of silent birds – starlings – flying through the vineyard behind me on murmuring wings. I barely managed to capture a single usable image before they were off in a great cloud sinking down between the rows. In less than a minute the cloud shot up from the vineyard and proceeded to twist and coil its way through the late afternoon sky, a mesmerizing aerial display that would have had a delighted Terpsichore clapping her hands, had she been there to see it. These amazing perfor-
mances are common in the UK where there may be as many as ten thousand starlings in one of these “Murmurations.” No one knows why the starlings do this but they have been doing it for centuries. You can see a video of the aerial dance on my blog at: www. RichardsBirdBlog.com Each weekend I email an interesting bird photo to a select list. If you’d like to be added just ask SHENmaker@ MSN.com. ✦ ‘Till next month, Richard www.Whistlestop.org 11
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early one-fifth of older adults in America suffer from depression, but many of them may not realize it. “People, including friends and family, often don’t recognize the symptoms of depression,” says Patty Lyons, MA, MFT, supervisor of The HOPE Program and Senior Peer Counseling, a program within Marin County’s Community Mental Health Services. “It is not uncommon for us to imagine unbearable sadness and uncontrollable crying when we think of depression. However, depression can look and feel very different and many may try to explain away these symptoms of depression. For example, it is not uncommon for someone with depression to have digestive problems or unexplained aches and pains.” The following are signs that a person might be experiencing ongoing depression and emotional distress. s &EELINGS OF EMPTINESS WORTHLESSNESS OR FEELING unlovable s ,ACK OF INTEREST IN DOING THINGS THE PERSON ONCE enjoyed s .ERVOUSNESS RESTLESSNESS IRRITABILITY s )NABILITY TO CONCENTRATE s &EELING LIKE LIFE DOESN T SEEM WORTH LIVING s %ATING OR SLEEPING MORE OR LESS THAN USUAL s %XPERIENCING HEADACHES OR STOMACHACHES It is important to remember that depression is not a normal part of aging. In fact, many older people are satisfied with their lives, even when confronted with health problems or the loss of friends or a spouse. Resources: s 4HE (/0% 0ROGRAM AND 3ENIOR 0EER #OUNSELING, a multi-disciplinary approach for those over 60. Home and office visits offered. Phone number 415-473-4306 s 3ENIORSn!Tn(OME A program of Jewish Family and Children’s Services, Marin County, which offers a range of services to meet individualized needs 415-4493777 or info@seniorsathome.org. ✦ Sally Douglas Arce is with Full Court Press Communications.
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Whistlestop Express February 2011
Visiting AngelsÂŽ Can Help Share the Care
Financial
NUGGETS by JEFF STOFFER, CFA, CFPÂŽ
Bonds: Too Much of a Good Thing? (Part IV)
A
re we in a bond bubble or not? Proponents point to several factors: huge amounts of money poured into bonds since 2007, superior performance of bonds over stocks in the last 40 years and current historically low interest rates. The two most recent “bubblesâ€? – real estate this decade, and technology stocks in the 1990’s – are all too fresh in most of our minds. Investors were ďŹ xated on the opportunity to make quick gains. Speculation was rampant and people used leverage, i.e., borrowed money, to enhance returns. In the context of the current investment environment for bonds, the word “bubbleâ€? seems like an over-reaction (or perhaps a media buzz?). Investors have ocked toward bonds not for quick proďŹ ts, but for price stability and a steady income stream. Those attributes might make us feel warm and fuzzy about bonds, but investors’ attitudes can hardly be called euphoric. Why then all the fuss? The ďŹ rst major concern is ination. Recall that ination erodes the value of your original investment. It may take several more years, but at some point the economy will return to stronger growth, bringing with it the risk of ination. A big spike in ination could bring about a sell-off in bonds. Those selling into the fear will lock in losses. Those with more patience will continue to receive interest income and eventually the return of their principal. In a previous installment, we noted the risk inherent in “herdâ€? behavior, when investors follow the crowd. The favored asset can become overpriced. This increases the risk that investors could see more volatility, or wider price swings. In the future we expect more volatility and the eventual return of ination. Those who know what to expect and who keep clear heads will weather the storm better than most. Next month we’ll look at what our conclusions mean for investing in bonds. âœŚ Jeff Stoffer is a Whistlestop Board member.
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Whistlestop Express February 2011
by AUDREY METTEL FIXMER
Living the Slow Evolution of Race
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sually when senior citizens marvel at the progress we have seen in our lives, the first thing that comes to our minds is technology advances in communication or transportation. One of the greatest wonders of our time, however, has to be the progress of race relations we’ve seen unfold. I grew up in Aurora, Illinois, in the 1930’s and 40’s. My first interaction with a black child was an encounter I had while walking to school one morning when I was about seven. My daily route took me past one home of a black family, where countless children raced around their front yard. I walked on the other side of the street. One day somebody in the group yelled, “There she is, Snowball! There’s your girlfriend! Go get her!” Before I could think, this wiry little black kid came tearing across the street, leaping on me and planting a big kiss on my cheek. I took off running, my heart pounding in my chest, and the spot on my cheek burning for the remaining few blocks to school. From then on, I found another. My private high school experience during World War II was just as sheltered, but in college I loved the one black girl in the school, Joyce. Then came the Civil Rights era, where we all got an education, to say nothing of an awareness of racial prejudice. That was a rude awakening for me, but it still did not touch me directly until many years later when my wonderful granddaughter, Bridget, married a young man from Africa. We all loved Sira from the day we met him. He was well educated, polite, loving and so dedicated to his selfless work with handicapped people. Frankly, though, I worried about an interracial marriage. In the six years since Sira has been in our family, he has become one of our dearest grandchildren. He has provided us with two precious greatgrandchildren. ✦ Audrey has been publishing her column in the Madison, WI, Diocesan Catholic Herald for 15 years.
Easy Ways to Give to
WHISTLESTOP (And to Do Something Good for an Older Adult) s Ask your bank TO DESIGNATE 7HISTLESTOP AS A BENElCIARY )T DOESN T COST YOU ANYTHING AND THE BANK WILL DONATE JUST BECAUSE YOU CHOSE 7HISTLESTOP AS YOUR FAVORITE NONPROlT IN -ARIN
s Get involved. 6OLUNTEER YOUR TIME TO HELP US SERVE MEALS PREPARE A MAILING OR SET UP FOR AN EVENT #OME HANG OUT AT THE !CTIVE !GING #ENTER "Y SHOWING UP YOU ARE HELPING TO MAKE THE #ENTER FULL OF MORE ENERGY ✦
Bread & Roses Connects Heart-to-Heart through Music
Word
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ASSANDRA &LIPPER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF "READ 2OSES SAID WAS A VERY BUSY YEAR FOR THE GROUP AND 7HISTLESTOP WAS THE SITE OF MUCH OF THAT BUSY NESS h,AST YEAR THERE WERE ABOUT ENTERTAINERS WHO PERCassandra Flipper FORMED FOR "READ 2OSES AUDIENCES AND WE PRESENTED OVER SHOWS 4HREE BANDS AND TWO INDIVIDUAL MUSICIANS PERFORMED AT 7HISTLESTOP THE #HRISTMAS *UG "AND WITH SEVEN MUSICIANS ON BOTH TRADITIONAL AND HOMEMADE INSTRUMENTS LIKE A WASHBOARD 4OM 4ORRIGLIA WHO PLAYS THE ACCORDION 0EEK 3AWYER A SINGER ACCOMPANIED ON PIANO BY *IM 3HELLBURNE 4HE "UBS A "EATLES TRIBUTE BAND WITH 0ETER 0ENHALLOW $AVID ,USTERMAN AND +URT (UGET ON GUITAR BASS AND CELLO AND THE !RTFUL #ODGERS AN EIGHT PIECE JAZZ BAND 3HE ADDED THAT WHENEVER "READ 2OSES PERFORMS AT 7HISTLESTOP h4HE MUSICIANS HAVE A GREAT TIME 4HEIR SPIRITS ARE LIFTED WHEN THEY SEE THE AUDIENCE ENJOYING THE MUSIC ! HEART TO HEART EXCHANGE HAPPENS v $IRECTOR &LIPPER DOES NOT PLAY IN THE BAND BUT h) DO PLAY IN THE BELL CHOIR IN MY CHURCH AND THREE OF OUR PRODUCERS ARE MUSICIANS #AROL 'AUTHIER -ARIAN (UBLER AND &RANSECA ,EE )N FACT THEY ALL OCCASIONALLY PERFORM AT OUR SHOWS v "READ 2OSES WAS FOUNDED IN BY -IMI &ARI×A 4HE MISSION IS THE SAME TODAY AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING TO BRING JOY HOPE AND HEALING THROUGH LIVE MUSIC TO PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO GET OUT TO HEAR LIVE MUSIC ALL AROUND THE 3AN &RANCISCO "AY !REA 4HESE VOLUNTEER MUSICIANS GIVE COMFORT TO EVEN MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE ISOLATED FROM SOCIETY IN VARIOUS TYPES OF FACILITIES n HOSPITALS DRUG AND ALCOHOL REHAB SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOLS HOMELESS SHELTERS DETENTION FACILITIES ✦
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