Whistlestop Express June 2013 by Pacific Sun

Marin's Older Adult Community Connection Since 1954

Whistlestop june 2013

E press

ike Shapiro and the other co-owners of the San Rafael Pacifics professional baseball team have created a real life Field of Dreams at Albert Park. The players don’t make much money, but they compete with the passion of Major Leaguers and they cling to the hope of making The Bigs one day. It could happen. Just ask Sergio Romo of the San Francisco Giants. He came out of the Pacifics league. The Pacifics, in their second season, are in the Pacific Association league, along with the Vallejo Admirals, Maui Na Koa Ikaika (Kahului) and the Hawaii Stars (Hilo). They also play games against teams from the Freedom League. Most games for this season are sold out at the 700-seat stadium, but some tickets are still available online at pacificsbaseball.com. Shapiro said that several Pacifics players have played at a higher level –on minor league teams affiliated with Major League clubs. The Pacific Association is an independent professional league with no

He Saw Babe Ruth 4

Major League affiliation. However, Big League scouts often attend games. Players earn between $500 and $1,200 a month. “They are playing for the love of the game and for a chance to get discovered or re-discovered,” Shapiro said. “We try to do something good for the game of baseball and the community,” Shapiro said. “Our players get involved – visiting senior citizen facilities and hospitals. We hire lots of high school and college students for summer jobs.” Shapiro’s wife, Jane, operates the concession stand, “Jane’s First Base Café,” and their sons, Harry and Jackson, work there. Shapiro’s business partner, Eugene Lapario, has two sons who also work at the concession stand, and his wife runs the beer garden. Baseball has been a passion for Shapiro for much of his life. A graduate of Georgetown University, he played centerfield there. “Does that mean you’re

Birds of Marin 11

B y Jo h n B ow m a n JULIE VADER

Pacifics Owners Create a Real Field of Dreams

Whistlestop.org

speedy?” he was asked. “I am short and left-handed, so yes, speed is all I have left,” said the 62-year old lawyer, who played semipro ball until age 43. He added, “I also had a brief but unproductive stint in independent baseball – eight years.” After that, he served as vice president and general counsel for three Big League teams – the Giants, Nationals and Braves. And then, “I wanted to come home, to do something local, something small and in the local community. Albert Park had fallen into disrepair so a few of us got together and at first, we had a fundraising idea to fix up the park. That evolved into the dream of owning a local baseball team.” F

Old Timers Club Application 15

Table of

CONTENTS 3 4 5 7/8/9 10 11 12 14

Remembering #42 Jeffrey Gale He Saw The Babe Herb Rosem Baseball Memories Gil Deane Whistlestop Classes, Events Activities Calendar The Bird's Side of Marin Richard Pavek Multicultural News Vicky Voicehowsky & Sandra Jimenez Nona Knows Best Mary Ann Maggiore

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Marin Senior Coordinating Council, Inc. 930 Tamalpais Avenue San Rafael, CA 94901 Chief Executive Officer, Joe O’Hehir Board of Directors President, Dennis Thompson Vice President, Terry Scussel Treasurer, Michael Rice Secretary, Michael Hingson Karen Arnold • Sharon Jackson • Jane Lott • Debbie Mills Lori Peterson • Dennis Ryan • Bill Saul • Lenice Smith Bob Sonnenberg • Cynthia Wuthmann Whistlestop Express is a publication of the Marin Senior Coordinating Council, Inc. A 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization. The Mission of Whistlestop: Whistlestop believes that we share a responsibility to ensure that all Marin residents have an opportunity to age with dignity, grace and independence. Whistlestop Contact Information Main Number 415-456-9062 Whistlestop Fax 415-456-2858 www.whistlestop.org Information & Referral Office 415-459-6700 • resource@whistlestop.org Whistlestop Express Editorial, Art Direction & Sales John & Val Bowman Editors 916-751-9189 • john.bowman58@gmail.com Yvonne Roberts Development & Marketing Director Missy Reynolds Art Director mreynolds@pacificsun.com Advertising Linda Black • 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 415-456-9062. Or send an email, with your request, your name and address to INFO@whistlestop.org. Subscriptions mailed to your home are $10/year.

Whistlestop Express june 2013

Whistlestop

perspective B y Jo h n bow m a n What’s Important To a Little Leaguer?

is name was Craig. He was a long-legged kid and he seemed to talk non-stop. I was a young Little League baseball manager. It was tryout day that Saturday morning in April some 50 years ago, a day I thought of recently as I drove by Albert Field, home of the Pacifics baseball team. Something about the empty field, the brilliant green outfield grass and the spring weather took me back. As I watched Craig throw the ball from deep in the outfield to home plate, I was impressed and wondered why he was out here in a pool of players who had not made the cut on their individual teams. As managers, we had a chance to add one of these boys to each of our teams. When the players took their turns at the plate, Craig impressed me even more as he slashed a liner down the leftfield baseline. I asked a veteran manager why Craig had wound up in this collection of cast-offs? The old-timer smiled and said that Craig was a bit of a character, a talkative kid who drove his manager batty with all of his questions. “Don’t be tempted,” the old-timer warned. “He’ll drive you crazy, too.” I could not resist. I picked Craig, and he became my new right-fielder. I learned quickly that he was high maintenance, but I liked him and he had talent. He wanted to try out for every position on the team and was especially fond of pitching. He threw the ball very hard

but never seemed to grasp the idea of the strike zone. So I kept him in the outfield. In our third game of the season, I got a taste of Craig’s quirkiness. The score was tied and the other team had loaded the bases. Their best batter strolled to the plate. From deep in right field I suddenly heard a shout. I couldn’t make it out at first but then I got it. “Time out! Time out!” Craig was yelling. All eyes turned to right field and we watched as Craig came loping in toward the infield. The umpire asked what was going on. “Beats me,” I said. The ump called time out and Craig and I met near first base. “Mr. Bowman,” Craig said breathlessly. “Monday is a holiday, right?” I acknowledged that yes, Monday was Memorial Day. “Then will we have practice?” Craig wondered. I stifled a laugh and reassured him that we all would have the day off on Monday. He turned to the umpire and said, “Okay, time in!” and trotted back to his position. I wondered as I gazed out at Albert Field where Craig is today and if he is still asking questions. F Bowman is co-editor of the Whistlestop Express.

The Day I Saw Number 42

B y J e ffr e y G a l e , No v a to (Excerpt from the History Channel Magazine)

he date was May 18, 1947; I was seven years old. Each and every Sunday from April through September, my father would take me to a Sunday doubleheader, either at Chicago’s Comiskey Park at 35th and Shields, home of the White Sox, or Wrigley Field at Addison and Sheffield, home of the Cubs. My late father, Max, came to America from Poland in 1906 after pogroms against the Jews drove his family to abandon its iron foundry and settle on Chicago’s West Side. There was a buzz throughout Chicagoland that spring Sunday morning because for the first time in Major League Baseball history, an African American would play in a game in Chicago. As Jackie Robinson Jackie Robinson was slotted to play second trotted out to base for the Brooklyn second base, I Dodgers inside the remember Chicago ivy-covered walls of Wrigley Field. police officers and More than 48,000 ushers applauding. fans jammed in Wrigley Field just to watch batting practice and to be there when No. 42, wearing Dodger blue, inaugurated a new era on the North Side. My papa and his brother-in-law, Abe Marco (who was a bootlegger in Chicago during Prohibition), had a box for all Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears home games. Sitting near us that day in the box were Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole, two diehard Brooklyn Dodgers fans who rode the rails together from New York City on the Twentieth Century Limited to sing the national anthem as a duet before the opening game. As Jackie Robinson trotted out to second base, I remember Chicago police officers and the ushers applauding in the very first inning. The mayor had asked them to suspend fire laws so that those 48,000 fans of America’s national pastime could sit in the aisles and stand with the bleacher bums. Of course, Robinson led Brooklyn to a doubleheader sweep of the last-place Cubs and went on to win the National League pennant before the Yankees beat them in the World Series. F

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Whistlestop Express june 2013

He Remembers Seeing Babe Ruth from 55-cent Bleacher Seats b y H e rb R os e n

grew up in Manhattan’s East Harlem during the 1930s. The boys on my block, E. 108th Street, were thoroughly immersed in baseball. We played in the spring and summer and talked about it year round. The lines were evenly drawn between Giant and Yankee fans, and we constantly argued about which was the better team. This was the era of wooden ships and iron men. There was no such thing as a pitch count. The pitcher stayed in the game as long as he was effective. Thus, Carl Hubbell, the Giants’ ace lefty, hurled an 18-inning shutout in 1933, beating the Cardinals 1-0. This was part of Hubbell’s skein of 46 consecutive scoreless innings. Hubbell also performed a remarkable feat in the 1934 AllStar game at the Polo Grounds. I still remember sitting around the listening to the It was the era of radio game with my friends wooden ships and exulting as Hubbell struck out in and iron men. successive order, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmy Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin, the pride of the American League. When my friends and I could cobble together 55 cents for a bleacher seat, plus 10 cents carfare, we would take the subway up to the Polo Grounds or Yankee Stadium, less than a half hour away, and watch our heroes in action. I saw Babe Ruth play in 1934, his last year with the Yankees. Then there was Bill Terry, the Giants’ player/manager, an elegant first baseman, who was the last National Leaguer to end the season with a .400 batting average. There were many other greats in those days — the Yankees’ Lou Gehrig and Lefty Gomez, who I believe spent his later years in Novato, Hank Greenberg, the Bronx boy who starred for Detroit, and Dizzy Dean of the St. Louis Cardinals, who occasionally pitched with only a two-day rest. Now, 80 years later, it’s time to play ball again. So buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, I don’t care if I never get back ...F Herb Rosen, 90, lives in Mill Valley.

Who Is That Masked Duck?

hen asked who’s inside the costume of Sir Francis Drake, the Pacifics mascot, team owner Mike Shapiro replied with a smile, “Oh, we cannot reveal his identity; he’s just Drake.” However, our crack investigative team has discovered the identity of the 7-foot tall Drake. He is Casey Doyle, a local college student who keeps fans entertained with his antics at every home game. The mascot is sponsored by Drake Terrace, an Independent Living and Assisted Living facility in San Rafael. F

Spitting in Ump’s Face Proves to be Bad Idea b y G i l D e a n e

ay back around 1945, when there was still a Pacific Coast League, the Hollywood Stars were playing the Los Angeles Angels and the Stars were at bat in a game at Gilmore Field. Frenchy Uhalt, a very fast player for the Stars, was on first and then, when the next batter singled, Uhalt tried to make it all the way to third. He was about 15 feet from the third base bag when the ball was relayed to Eddie Mayo, the Angel’s third baseman. Mayo had the ball in his glove when Uhalt started his slide. Uhalt looked like a dead duck! But guess what? The umpire called him safe and the usually docile Mayo blew up at the call. He was ejected from the game; the ump said that Mayo spit in his face. Mayo was banned from baseball for life, but since this happened during WWII, there was a shortage of players and the next season, Mayo was called up to the majors and played for Detroit. So much for lifetime bans! By the way, I was there. F Gil Deane, now in his 80s, lives in San Anselmo.

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Keep Learning at WHISTLESTOP

For a complete list of classes, visit whistlestop.org

Greek/Persian Festival June 22 • 12:30- 4:30pm | Jackson Cafe | Fee: $50 The Rotary Club of Marin Sunrise is sponsoring a Greek/Persian Festival to benefit Meals on Wheels. Please join us for a glorious fun 1/2 day with Food, Music, Dancing, Beauty Pageant by Greeks and Persians. This is the ultimate sign of two historical traditions coming together. The audience will vote on best food (Mezes, Main Meal, Desserts) as well as the best music, dance and of course the most beautiful men and women! ESL Summer Classes We are offering a summer session of English classes. Registration is required. Fee: New students: $15/Returning spring semester students: free Basic English Monday & Wednesday • 2-3:30pm • June 3-July 17 Intermediate English Monday & Wednesday • 2-3:30pm • June 3-July 17 Advanced Reading and Conversation Monday & Wednesday • 2-3pm • June 10-July 24

English Pronunciation Monday & Wednesday • 1-2pm • June 3-July 17 English Conversation Tuesday & Thursday • 2-3:30pm • June 4-July 18 NEW! Russian Social Group Thursdays • 1-2pm This is a great opportunity for Russian speakers to have a support group and a good time in the community. If you are interested in participating or know someone who is, please contact Vicky Voicehowsky at 457-0586 or Anna Ladyzhenskaya, at 336-8430. NEW! Whistlestop is forming a new Portuguese social group! This is a great opportunity for Portuguese speakers to have a support group and a good time in the community. If you are interested in participating or know someone who is, please contact Sandra Jimenez, 456-9062. German Social Group Announcement Mondays • 11am-12:30pm | Caboose 2 For our German speaking friends. A heartfelt welcome to all!

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Keep Learning at WHISTLESTOP

For a complete list of classes, visit whistlestop.org

Welcome Summer Lunch & Music! Friday June 21st • 11:00-1:30pm Show Times: 11:45am-12:15pm & 12:45-1:15pm Jackson Café No registration necessary Please join us at Jackson Café to welcome the summer with accordion player Ellen Karel. Ellen has been playing accordion for 15 years. She started out in San Francisco with the Gospel Accordion to Women and now plays all around Marin. Who Am I Now? For Ages 55 and Older Saturday, June 15 • 10am-4pm • Woodacre The journey of aging requires a letting go of outworn roles and self-images. But as we let go we discover new beginnings and a deepening insight into the meaning of the Buddha’s teaching on impermanence and noself. Who am I now? What matters now? What is my focus now? Join with others who share the perspective of being over 55. Visit www.spiritrock.org/calendar. JEWELRY CLASS Once a Month: Thursday, June 20 • 1:30-2:45pm Fee: $8 per class (includes materials) Maximum space available: 10 people Registration and payment required prior to class. Local artist Maria Barsesat will show you how to

Marin County Commission on Aging Thursday, June 13 • 10am-12:30pm Where: San Rafael Community Center, Club Rooms Topic: Memory Issues Speaker: Dr. A. Michael Wolfe, PhD, clinical psychologist in neuropsychology

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SPECIALISTS IN GERIATRIC IN-HOME THERAPY AND WELLNESS

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Whistlestop Express june 2013

make beautiful, simple and easy jewelry items for yourself or as gifts. DROP-IN COMPUTER LAB Mondays & Wednesdays • 10am-Noon Volunteer computer tutors are available to work with you one-on-one if needed. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Be a part of our incredible family of volunteers, have fun, inspire others, and gain the satisfaction of being an active member of your community. Contact: Millie, 456-9062 x117 or volunteer@whistlestop.org • Board/Card Game Leaders • Bi-lingual Computer Teacher • English Tutors • Jackson Café Servers • Information and Referral Office • Drivers for Meals on Wheels Program IN-KIND DONATIONS NEEDED Mah Jongg sets, Chess set, Dominos, Ping Pong table, books, yarn, movies on DVDs. If you have items to donate, please call 456-9062. MEMOIR WRITING CLASS FOR OLDER ADULTS Thursdays • 2-4pm • 8-week workshop, starting Thursday, May 16-July 18 (No class July 4 and July 11) Fee: $5 per student per class, plus one-time materials, materials fee of $2 | Registration: Requested Barbara Withers will lead you in stimulating group activities to preserve family and community histories, as well as providing an opportunity for personal growth in a creative experience. Maximum of 15 students to ensure each participant has an opportunity to read their writing assignment each week. NEW! Men’s Group Forming If you are 60+ and are interested in participating in some ‘soul talk’ and exploring topics such as courage, loss, identity, goodness, aloneness, connection, and truth as they relate to the aging process, please contact Arvin Paul at 510-417-1542 or Vicky Voicehowsky, 456-9062. Date and time are to be determined by the group. NEW! Conversation Group for 90-Year-Olds & Older 3rd Thursday of every month • 1:30 to 3pm Join this group for lively conversation. One rule: no discussing ailments! Contact Virginia Dziomba if you are interested, 456-6647.

Affordable Senior Housing Options In Marin 2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month 2-3:30pm | Whistlestop Active Aging Center Fee: Free Get clarity and direction on senior housing availability from Leslie Klor. Leslie has worked in senior housing for 20 years and can outline options and answer questions for you. Come on a drop-in basis. Homeshare Program This is a free referral service for seniors that provides an alternative, affordable way of meeting housing needs with numerous benefits to renters and homeowners alike. Do you have a home, apartment or condo to share? Do you need a place to call home? Call Leslie Klor at 456-9062 x132. Senior Center Without Walls This program is designed to reach isolated, homebound seniors. They provide free activities, friendly conversation, and an assortment of groups on telephone conference lines to adults aged 60+ in California who find it difficult to participate in outside activities on their own. Call 1-877-797-7299 to find out more. Telephone Reassurance Program Feeling isolated and alone? Looking for Peace of Mind? Looking for connection? The Telephone Reassurance Program may be right for you. Receive a free morning check-in phone call twice per week. Call Leslie Klor at Whistlestop Senior Center for more information 456-9062 x132.

GOING PLACES Marin YMCA and Whistlestop would like to invite you to join Adventures in Culture. The Y plans older adult trips to different locations such as museums, attractions, gardens, and much more. Friday June 7 DiRosa Preserve Guided Tour, Napa Fee: Facility Members, $26; Program Members, $31; Community Members, $36. Come visit the Preserve with us! Enjoy a 1.5 hour guided tour of the grounds. After the tour we will have lunch (your expense) at Cornerstone restaurant. After you can enjoy local shopping if you wish. Depart 9:45am, return about 3pm. Friday June 21 Culinary Institute of America, St Helena Fee: Facility Members, $35; Program Members, $40; Community Members, $45. Enjoy a 45-minute guided tour of the historic Greystone building, including the Corkscrew Museum, the Breitstein Collection, Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies. Depart 10:15am, return about 3pm. To register for a trip or hike, please contact Lisa O’Brien, MARIN YMCA, 446-2113 or Vicky Voicehowsky, 457-0586. Injured? With Special Needs that Keep You from Getting Fit?

Contact me and we can Design a Specialized Routine Just for You

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Important Numbers Marin Access Call Center: 454-0902 Get Qualified to Ride: 456-9062, x106 eligibility@whistlestop.org Schedule a Ride: 454-0964 Cancel a Ride: 457-4630 STAR Volunteer Driving: 454-0969 Meals on Wheels: 457-4636

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Whistlestop Weekly ACTIVITIES This Month at Whistlestop

fridays

thursdays

wednesdays

tuesdays

mondays

TIME

CLASS INFO

COST

Relax Chair Massage Open $4/8min. Language AM Monday 457-0586 Free Exercise Zumba 457-0586 $6 Learn Computer Lab Open Free Language Persian Social Group 472-6020 Free Language English as a 456-9062 $15 Second Language (ESL) 3:30–5PM Language Citizenship Class 454-0998 $25

9–NOON

10–11AM 10–11AM 10–NOON 10:30AM–1PM 2–3:30PM

9:15–10:15 AM 10:00–NOON 10:45–11:45AM 11–12:30PM Noon–1PM Noon–3PM 1–2PM 1–3PM 2–3:30PM 3–4PM

Exercise Whistlesizers Open $2 Relax Mah Jongg Open Free Exercise Cardio Exercise Class Open Free Language German Social Group Open Free Language French Class 457-0586 Free Relax Manicurist Appt. Needed Free Language French Social Group 457-0586 Free Language Learn Spanish Open Free Language English Conversation 454-0998 $10 Language Learn Italian 454-0998 $24/mo

Exercise Tai Chi Qigong Sugg. Donation $10 or less Support Seniors' Circle Open Free Learn Computer Lab Open Free Language Persian Social Group 472-6020 Free Support Corazón Latino Open Free Language English as a 456-9062 $15 Second Language (ESL)

9–10:15AM 10–11:30AM 10–12PM 10:30AM–1:30PM 10:30–11:30AM 2–3:30PM

9:15–10:15AM 10–NOON 11–NOON 2–3:30PM 2–4PM 2:30–3:30PM 3–4PM

Exercise Whistlesizers Open $2 Relax Knit!!! 457-0586 Free Exercise Zumba Open $6 Language English Conversation 454-0998 $10 Learn Memoir Writing Class Open $5/class Exercise Balance Class Sugg. Donation $10 Language Learn Italian 454-0998 $24/mo

11:00–NOON 1:30–3:30PM 1:30–3:30PM 2–4PM 2–4PM 2:30–3:30PM

Support Brown Bag Pantry 456-9062 Free Support ACASA Peer Counseling Free Language Practice Spanish Open Free Learn Arts & Crafts w/Vicky June 14 & 28 $3 Exercise Ping-Pong June 7 & 21 Free Exercise Yoga Open $3

For a complete list of all classes, visit whistlestop.org

Jackson Café

Monday-Friday 11am-1:30pm Located in Whistlestop Active Aging Center • Open to the Public •

Lunch Menu 60+ Prices/Under 60 PriceS (Prices Subject to Change)

Main Entrée $4.95/$6.95 (+$1 for Seafood Entrées) Sandwiches $4.25/$6.25 Soup du Jour $1.75 cup/$2.95 bowl Hamburger w/Fries $4.25/$6.25 Garden/Caesar Salads $3.50-$4.50 Other Items Tuna Salad Side $1.25 Beverages $1.00 Desserts/Fruit $2.00 Cheese $0.50 Avocado $1.00

The Caboose, Computer Lab, Board Room and Jackson Café are all located at Whistlestop’s Active Aging Center – 930 Tamalpais Ave., San Rafael. 10 Whistlestop Express june 2013

b y R I C HA R D P AVE K Photos © richard pavek

The Bird's Side OF MARIN

Great Egret, largest of the Egrets

Black-billed, yellow-footed Snowy Egret

Cattle Egret, with pale orange face and crown

Night Heron

The Rookery in Santa Rosa

n mid-April I visited the Ninth Street Rookery in Santa Rosa where I was within a few feet of upwards of 50 nesting Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Cattle Egrets, and Night Herons. All species were in mating colors, with the Snowy Egrets’ bright red lores and the Great Egrets’ paler green lores being the most colorful. Everybody was busy building nests, branch after branch being lifted from the ground below the trees or from far away, as the morning wore on. By the time you read this, young ones will be hopping from branch to branch, demanding food from their tired parents and furiously flapping their wings, strengthening their muscles. Mom

and Dad will be chattering with each other and the neighbors in their strange gargling speech. Load up the kids; it’s time to drive up and visit. Anytime in June or early July should provide a spectacular sight. Take 101 to Santa Rosa, turn left on Highway 12 towards Sebastopol, go one mile to Stony Point Road and turn right. Go north to West Ninth Street and turn right, go three blocks to an island in the street. The birds nest in the two large trees on the island plus two others nearby. There is a good viewing from the public lawn on the south side. Since you will be under or close to the trees, I strongly advise that you wear a hat. F ‘Til next month, Richard whistlestop.org 11

Multicultural News

by Vicky Voicehowsky and Sandra Jimenez

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12 Whistlestop Express june 2013

Goooooooooollllllllllllll!

merica’s favorite pastime is baseball. The rest of the world, however, is very fond of soccer. Our Multicultural participants and soccer fanatics have often expressed their strong opinions about their favorite world and national teams and players. Even our Multicultural department is divided in its opinion; Vicky strongly roots for the ever renowned Argentinian players Messi and Maradona, while Sandra says Costa Rica has the greatest team. We interviewed three gentlemen about what this sport has meant in their lives. Wenceslao Bojorquez, Whistlestop participant, loved playing soccer in his home country, El Salvador. His passion and talent for this sport kept him playing for 15 years with his team. He later became the coach for five years. “Every day after work, in the afternoon, that was the only thing that kept us entertained and busy. We used to play with local teams and neighboring countries’ teams, such as Guatemala. It was great!” Sahak Muradyan, a native from Armenia, also played soccer for 15 years and later became a coach to a young children’s team for six years. Although Sahak didn’t play for the premier league, he played for the second division. “I was very good. I will always love this sport,” says Muradyan. He also talks warmly about going to see live games in Armenia. “Most people don’t drink or fight during the games; it is very fun and a peaceful time for all.” Although Iurii Grinchenko only played soccer in his childhood, he says it’s his favorite sport to watch and follow. His favorite teams are Manchester United and Zenit St. Petersburg, and he is very fond of Brazil’s famous player Pele. “Soccer is very popular in Russia; people drink beer and a little vodka and scream at the television to support their teams. It is so interesting and fun to watch!” F

In-Home Senior Care

Pacific Sun & Whistlestop’s 7th Annual

PHOTO CONTEST 2013

Sponsored by: Mike’s Camera, Marin Filmworks & Cheap Pete’s

CALL FOR ENTRIES! Older Adults, 60 & over Entry Deadline: July 1 @ 4pm Digital entry form and payment submission information available online at pacificsun.com/ photo_contest. For more info, call 485-6700, ext 306. If not submitting online, mail or deliver payments, entry forms and CD of photos to: Pacific Sun: 835 Fourth Street, Ste. D, San Rafael, CA 94901 Categories: Marin People, Pets & Animals; Marin Images; Manipulated Images/Photo Illustrations Prizes: $75, $50 and $25 cash from Pacific Sun for first, second and third place. Gift certificates for $50, $25 and $15 from Marin Filmworks for first, second and third place. Winning photographers will be honored with their photos at a reception at the Whistlestop on August 15th from 6-7:30pm. F

Th e Righ t Care for Every Client we Ser ve! Comfort Keepers® provides in-home care services that help seniors live safe, happy and independent lives in the comfort of their own homes. Personal Care • Live-In Care Companionship Care • Light Housekeeping

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Mrs. Esmaili Honored The Marin Commission on Aging awarded an Excellence in Community Service honor to Mrs. Mehrbanoo Esmaili, recognizing her 16 years of service at Whistlestop. Pictured with Amy Dietz from the County’s Health and Human Services.

Helping You Maintain Your Independence

Meals on Wheels Provides a Helping Hand

n March 4, Phil Cihiwsky began a sevenmonth trek from San Diego, CA to York Harbor, ME to tell the story of more than 8 million seniors who are hungry and homebound. In an effort to raise awareness and funds to support Meals on Wheels, Phil is walking for those who can’t. The latest leg of Phil’s 3,000-mile journey brought him to Fountain Hill, AZ, where high winds, elevation peaks of 8,000 feet and shin splints prevented him from trekking for several days. Even a small donation of $7 helps to feed Marin’s older adults in need. Donate in the enclosed envelope or at www.whistlestop.org F

As everyday life becomes more challenging, a little help can go a long way.     

A sample of our services: •Grocery HospiceShopping Care Care Care •• Memory Alzheimer’s • Companion Care Med Reminders Prepare Meals  Med Reminders • Housekeeping • Bathing/Dressing Housekeeping • Laundry Bathing/Dressing •Light Transportation to Appointment • Cooking Laundry •Drive Run Errands •Run PostErrands Surgery Care Much More! • And And Much More!

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whistlestop.org 13

Nona Knows Best

by mary ann maggiore

Heartful Celebrations

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Whistle Stop Ad 3.449” w x 4.5” h color 3-15-13

Expore Creative 707-938-9960

Autodesk

is proudly supporting healthy eating at Whistlestop’s Jackson Café (a partnership with Homeward Bound)

All are welcome for a fresh, affordable, delicious lunch!

Monday - Friday • 11:00am-1:30pm 930 Tamalpais Avenue, San Rafael 14 Whistlestop Express june 2013

elebrations create big memories, don’t they? In this season of graduations and holidays, there is so much to celebrate. Making these days special and also using them to bring everyone together is what we elders can teach so well. Let us give imaginatively. A young friend of mine from a line of Philadelphia builders had a bar mitzvah. To find a gift, I went into an antique shop and found a wooden carpenter’s mallet that had been used in the 18th century when Hayim Solomon, the treasurer of the American Revolution and a Jew, had been alive. My friend loved the gift and the message about “building his own future.” In our house, we say anything can be a present if it is given from the heart and with a heartful message. I dry herbs from my garden and give them in a jar with a ribbon that says, “Happy Day to a Great Mother!” or “You’re a Great Dad and here’s something to spice up your life!” Let us give what we can. On tight budgets in tight times, I always remember the guide that Buddhist teacher Sylvia Boorstein defines as proper giving: “You have it to give and you want to give it.” Don’t stretch yourself too far in your giving. And don’t be meager. Strive to be like Goldilocks – “just right.” Let us be gracious hosts and gracious guests. For special days, do host a family-oriented dinner if you can afford it. If you are asked to join others, be a wonderful addition to the meal and the conversation. No talk about your hip surgery or acid reflux. Keep favorite tales to five or six sentences so talk is lively. If there will be children at the gathering, divert a screamer with a little teddy bear you happen to have in your pocket. Let us bring back the joy of our history. Make Memorial Day memorable – maybe bring members of the family to a cemetery to honor someone who gave their life in a conflict. Or create a scrapbook of family members who were soldiers, ambulance drivers, nurses, chaplains. Peace activists in your past? Remember them, too! In our family, Independence Day is very special. On this day, we read the Declaration of Independence and, for good measure, the Bill of Rights. What better way to observe how lucky we are to be in this country and to pass that good feeling onto the young! F

Please SIGN UP!

CUTEST Pet

APPLICATION

The club membership is for people 60+ and is free. It entitles you to a discounted ticket to a Pacifics game at Albert Park in San Rafael. Simply complete this application in full. Your card will be waiting for you at the park. We will not sell or share your personal information.

This is Floyd, who was totally blind and nearly deaf for the last 10 years of his life. In this photo, Atom Ellis plays “When You Wish Upon a Star” to Floyd and he appears to be listening. What made Atom’s grandmother grab her camera was the way they both had their tongues out.

Bottom’s Play & Puck’s Ploy

little more than 400 years after William Shakespeare penned A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the beloved characters portrayed in his play are back in a hilarious new comedy written by Sam M. Parry and performed by Fairfax Theatre Company at the Fairfax Pavilion. Opening Midsummer’s Day! Eight performances only, Friday, June 21 through Saturday, July 6. Tickets at the door: General $15/ Discount $10. Doors open at 7pm Call 302-0659 for details. Sponsored by Fairfax P.A.R.C. Come relive the magic of the Fairy King Oberon and his beloved Titania, revel in the various mischievous schemes of Puck, and enjoy the inherent buffoonery of Nick Bottom and the irascible “Mechanicals” as they perform before the mighty Theseus, his Queen Hippolyta, and the Royal Court of Athens. This is a must-see sequel for lovers of Shakespeare, for lovers of theater, and for lovers of words and wit —not forgetting a treat for the whole family. F

Date of Birth: / Month Year Name____________________________________ Address__________________________________ City______________________________________ State_____________________ Zip_____________ Email _______________________ Do you want to receive the monthly Whistlestop Express emailed newsletter? ❍ YES ❍ NO Do we have permission to print your memory in the newsletter? ❍ YES ❍ NO Favorite Baseball Memory____________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ Mail or bring this application to Whistlestop 930 Tamalpais Ave, San Rafael, CA 94901 For Office Use Only: ❍ Application Completed whistlestop.org 15

Whistlestop

E press Marin Senior Coordinating Council 930 Tamalpais Avenue San Rafael, CA 94901-3325 Whistlestop.org

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HomeCareAssistance.com 919 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Ste.107 Kentfield, CA 94904 16 Whistlestop Express june 2013