Whistlestop NOVEMBER 2011
E press
Whistlestop.org
The Leading Information Resource for Marin's Active Aging Movement
2010/11 Annual Report Edition
Whistlestop bus driver Lucelle, with client David Rose.
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ith Marin County’s population aging at a rapidly increasing rate, we all share in the responsibility of helping our older parents and neighbors and friends live active, engaged lives for as long as possible. Whistlestop clients have greatly benefited from the generosity you have extended to Whistlestop with your donations. Our services are extensive and vital to the health of aging adults in Marin: Whistlestop Buses: Transportation is a major part of what we do – public transit
Grandma DeeDee's 99th Birthday page 3
funding doesn’t allow us to cover our annual costs and it doesn’t allow us to transport everyone in need. Would your grandmother be better off with door-to-door service and a driver who will make sure she gets home safely? With your support, we can expand our transportation services and our personal ride service to more poeople who need help. Jackson Café: We serve 11,000 weekday lunches a year and this number climbing since we have only charged older adults $4 a meal, we operate
Thanksgiving at Whistlestop page 9
the Jackson Café at a deficit. Your donation will help cover this deficit and allow us to expand our food services to include weekends and to offer fee-based home delivery. Education: We offer six to eight classes per day, five days a week, at our San Rafael Active Aging Center. Your support will allow us to expand and offer classes in other locations to reach those in need throughout Marin County. Help Desk: Clients receive professional assistance and/or referral in income tax preparation, counseling and health-related matters, immigration and other legal issues. Social Interaction: A primary goal of Whistlestop is to end isolation and loneliness for older adults. Our center is a social hub, where people gather to play cards and other games, attend dances, fashion shows and parties. Themes reflect the multicultural richness of our community. We can’t do all of this without our wonderful volunteers and donors. continued on page 7
Free Tickets to Symphony; Enter Contest page 15
Whistlestop
Table of
CONTENTS 3 4 6 8/9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Readers Write In JoAnn Buchanan From Rocky's Pantry Rocky Packard Whistlestop Partnerships At Whistlestop Whistlestop Activities Calendar The Bird's Side of Marin Richard Pavek Photo Contest Winners Financial Nuggets Jeff Stoffer, CFA, CFP New Space Museum Brain Teasers Gary Gruber, PhD LIKE Us on Facebook
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 • Eleanor Delaney • Claudia Fromm Jane Lott • Debbie Mills • Bill Saul Bob Sonnenberg • Jeff Stoffer Whistlestop Express is a publication of the Marin Senior Coordinating Council, Inc. A 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization The Mission of Whistlestop: To promote the independence and well-being of Marin County’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 Office 415-459-6700 • resource@whistlestop.org Whistlestop Express Editorial, Art Direction & Sales John & Val Bowman Editors 916-751-9189 • john.bowman58@gmail.com 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, ext. 141. Or send an email, with your request, your name and address to INFO@whistlestop.org. Subscriptions mailed to your home are $10/year.
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Whistlestop Express NOVEMBER 2011
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PERSPECTIVE by JOe O'Hehir Volunteers: The Backbone of Our Active Aging Services
his month’s edition of the who host our front desk recepWhistlestop Express includes tion area. And, volunteers like the annual report to our donors. Rocio, Joyce, and Nathan, who The report describes how donor drive older adults who are in funds are used to help our cli- need of a ride in our new Volunents. In addition to the monetary teer Driver Program. contributions we receive, Whis- Whistlestop volunteers are tlestop is very fortunate to have treated like our paid staff. a hearty and generous core of They are recruited, screened, volunteers. Without the selected, trained, and contribution of time that placed into various jobs our volunteers provide More than throughout the organius, we would not be able 100 active zation, and have work to offer the variety and schedules. Volunteers breadth of Whistlestop’s volunteers adhere to Whistlestop’s Active Aging Services. provide shared values of team M o r e t h a n 1 0 0 more than work, service, integrity, a c t ive volu nt e er s respect, communicaprovide more than 1,000 tions, and account1,000 hours of their hours ability. Instead of a t i m e a n nu a l l y t o paycheck, volunteers W histlestop. Volun- annually. receive appreciation, teers like Jean, Scott, recognition, and a feeland Molly, who help ing of self-satisfaction serve meals to our Jackson that they have helped our cliCafé clients and guests. Volun- ents stay active and engaged. teers like Thomas, Kelly, and We seem to never have enough Shirley who teach one of Whis- volunteers to meet the growtlestop’s Active Aging classes. ing demand for Whistlestop’s Volunteers like Price, Gene and programs and services. If you Lois, who instruct and provide are interested in volunteering, client support in our computer please contact us. We would love lab. Volunteers like Orville, to have you join the Whistlestop Georgia, Susan, and Janice, family of volunteers. Give us a who staff our Information and call today and get started! You Referral Center Help Desk. Vol- will not regret it. F unteers like Frank and Lucille, Joe O’Hehir is CEO of Whistlestop.
EASY Give Back Tuesday! Every Tuesday, Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax donates a percentage of its proceeds to a local cause or organization. On Tuesday, November 15th Whistlestop will be the beneficiary, starting at 4pm! Go enjoy a delicious meal, support a locally-owned restaurant and Whistlestop. 765 Center Blvd, Fairfax, 485-1005.
Readers
WRITE IN Send Grandma Dee Dee a Birthday Card and Make Her Day at Age 99
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ear Whistlestop Express Readers: My grandmother, Dolores Hoyt  (everyone calls her “Grandma Dee Dee�), turned 99 in September. She is also Rick Jackson’s greatgrandmother. I thought it would really brighten her day, even after the fact, if we could get 99 people to send her a birthday greeting. It doesn’t even have to be a purchased birthday card. Just write her a note. A bit about Grandma Dee Dee: She lives by herself, loves gardening in her yard. She’s a fabulous cook and prepares delicious, balanced, three-course meals made from scratch, every day, three times a day. Never eats fast food or microwave food, but she sure does love dessert.  Music: Grandma Dee Dee, age 99, sits on She loves the Black a Vespa, just for fun Eyed Peas, Rod Stewart and Justin Bieber. Some of her favorite shows that she never misses are Dancing With the Stars, American Idol and Two & A Half Men. Until the age of 86, she golfed every week, always walking the course without a cart. Obviously, at 99 years of age, many of Grandma Dee Dee’s friends, neighbors, her husband, and even her daughter, have already passed away. So that limits the birthday wishes and cards she is accustomed to receiving. Your help is greatly appreciated and will be thoroughly enjoyed each time she reads and rereads every card, over and over again. Please send all cards and notes to: Grandma Dee Dee or Dolores Hoyt c/o  Buchanan P.O. Box 12296 Orange, CA 92859 Thank you, JoAnn Buchanan F
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Want to Advertise in the Whistlestop FEBRUARY 2011
E PRESS
Whistlestop.org
The Leading Information Resource for Marin's Active Aging Movement
African-American History Month
Call: Linda Black 458-6700 x306
Dominican Professor Reflects on Her Experience as One of the Little Rock Nine by JOHN BOWMAN
W for rates and deadlines! 4
hen Melba PatUS Supreme Court decision in tillo Beals walks the Brown v Board of Education, halls of Dominican which called for the desegregaUniversity, a stirring chapter tion of all public schools in the in American history walks United States. The governor with her. used the Arkansas National Dr. Beals, chair of DominiGuard to block black children Whistlestop Express NOVEMBER can’s Communications Defrom entering2011 Central High partment, where she teaches School. President Eisenhower journalism, is a member of countered on Sept. 24, 1957, by the Little Rock Nine, the ordering the 101st Airborne Di-
Dr. Melba Pattillo Beals 1,000 screaming adults and
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Jackson CafĂŠ Bulgarian Rice Salad
his recipe is a nice alternative to pasta salad, slaw, or potato salad. It’s an easy and tasty contribution to a potluck. For an even lighter, aromatic flavor, I recommend substituting basmati or jasmine rice. Servings: 4 1 lb White Rice, cooked 1/3 lb Pine Nuts, toasted 1/3 lb Raisins 3/4 lb Feta Cheese, crumbled 3/8 cu Olive Oil Zest of one Orange Salt and Pepper, to taste Combine all ingredients well. Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 440 Calories; 22g Fat (44.2% calories from fat); 4g Protein; 59g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 0mg; Cholesterol; 6mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 2 Grain (Starch); 2 Fruit; 4 1/2 Fat. F
AARP and Experience Corps Join Forces
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ARP has joined forces with Experience Corps, one of the nation’s most highly regarded service programs, which engages adults aged 55+ as volunteer tutors and mentors to address kindergarten to 3rd grade literacy in underserved schools. Experience Corps Marin has operated in Marin since 2007 and currently has a seasoned troupe of 70 trained tutors working in five San Rafael elementary schools. The program was nominated last year for the Eisner Award. One of its volunteers, Terra Linda resident Rosemarie Ellington, 80, won a “Heroes for Children� award from the Marin Advocates for Children (MAC) program. Eighty-four percent of its volunteers nationwide reported that participation has changed their lives for the better – including increased motivation, knowledge, confidence and skills. For more information, go to www.aarp.org/experiencecorps. Contact: Susan Kraemer, Experience Corps Marin, 415-464-1767. F
Sausalito Clinical Ethicist Writes Book on Healthcare for Older Adults
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atrina A. Bramstedt, phD, a sausalito clinical ethicist, has written a book titled Finding Your Way: A Medical Ethics Handbook for Patients and Families. she wrote the book with colleague, Al Jonsen. The book, published by Hilton publishing, Inc., is a 140-page paperback aimed at laypersons faced with medical challenges, either as patients, caregivers or relatives of patients. It addresses common issues that arise during aging, such as writing a healthcare living will, thinking about code status (do I want Cpr?), and dilemmas such as pacemakers, surgery, dementia, and other issues. Dr. Bramstedt, 45, says, “I wrote the book a few years ago when I was on vacation during a Winter Holiday extended break. A thought popped into my head from nowhere about an ethics handbook geared specifically for patients and their families. I ran and grabbed a pen and paper and immediately started writing. I wrote non-stop for a week and the book was nearly complete. When I returned to work, I showed the draft to my colleague, Al Jonsen, who had already written several ethics books for clinical professionals. He was impressed and offered to insert an additional chapter. “I like to tell people, ‘You have a First Aid Manual at home, right?’ Well, Finding Your Way is no different. Every household needs a copy.’” F
did You know? Whistlestop serves more than 11,000 low-cost meals a year to Marin County residents at our onsite Jackson Café, 930 Tamalpais Ave., San Rafael. Not only is the food good, but the café has become a popular place to socialize during noontime.
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Whistlestop Express NOVEMBER 2011
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Whistlestop Proud of Partnerships with Other County Organizations
N
onprofits are finding the need to team up to maximize efficiency and effectiveness, resulting in collaborations that benefit the greater good. Whistlestop acknowledges this reality and teams up with other organizations in many ways. Whistlestop and Homeward Bound of Marin (HBOM) joined forces to reinvigorate Whistlestop’s Jackson CafĂŠ. This partnership provides on-the-job training for the graduates of the HBOM Fresh HBOM Fresh Starts Culinary Academy starts Culinary Academy and provides fresh, delicious, affordable meals for older adults. Full meals are only $4 for those 60 and better! Whistlestop offers affordable kitchen prep space for Ceres, a nonprofit that teaches high school students how to prepare organic meals for patients undergoing chemotherapy. Whistlestop also offers office space for Marin Village and LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired of Marin. The new Marin Access, sponsored by Marin Transit and operated by Whistlestop, is a single point of contact for transportation information and service referrals for older adults, persons with disabilities, and low-income residents. The programs offered are: Trip planning, referral service and assistance, paratransit service, Volunteer Driver program and ride Funding program (includes ride credit bank, donated car, and scholarship programs.) Whistlestop partnered up with the PaciďŹ c Sun weekly newspaper to continue printing and distributing the eagerly anticipated monthly newsletter Whistlestop Express. This enjoyable read and excellent resource for Marin’s older adults covers many of the activities offered at Whistlestop to support active aging. To learn publication: Directory more about Whistlestop services, visit our x 5â€?h size: at3.875â€?w website www.whistlestop.org or call us at 415-456-9062. F
< Annual Report continued from page 1 Legacy Society Members Estate of Peter & Edith Altmann Karen & Peter Arnold E.L. Barbieri Estate of Norma Boucher Wendy Buchen Estate of Kathleen R. Burgy Estate of Hugh Thursten Clarke Ruth Conroy Anne L. Damiens Estate of Donald L. Duffy Michael & Karen Hingson Alfred Holck H. C. & Beverley Jackson Marilyn Jackson
Estate of Francesca Livermore Estate of Josephine Lopes Jane Lott Estate of Eli Mac Leod Estate of Kenyon Rayner Michael Rice Bill and Kitty Saul Estate of Carl Schmidt Terry & Denise Scussel Jeff Stoffer Dennis Thompson Estate of George & Lucile Traeger Estate of Enid L. Wasserman
Judy Countermine Michael Dion Gene Dyer Mehrbanoo Esmaili Ed Essick Shirley Etemadfar Ruth Fleshman Michelle Gantos Brett Giuliano Samatha Giuliano Carol Golden Michael Gordon Marc Greenbreg Matthew Greer Price Hall Jean Harrison Rob Harrison Hilda Hensley
Barbara Hodes Karl Hoppe Lynn Huelsmann Molly Hynes Angela Jacobs Pascal Jean-Pierre Beth Jennings Meghan Jennings George John Anne Johnson Steven Johnson Ron Kawata Tami Kelly Marsha King Michael Kress Dr. Amy Lee Yee Lee Lois Lerman
Barbara Levin Janice Lovi Kelly Lynch David Malake Rabel K. Mangahas Preston Scott Marcum Norman Masonson Terry McKinney Rebecca Miles Pamala Nelson Christine Nishinaga Celeste Parcell John Parkman Carin Powers Amido Rapkin Paulina Rojas Paula Ross
Rob Ruby Fred Ruhland Letitia Sanders Gail Schroeder Denise Scussel Heidi Segedin Marcy Shaps Inez Skog Jane Summers Orville Teising Jane Unger Susan Van Buskirk Marcia Van Meter Viji Vierke Susan Wilkins Emily Wong Susan Woodrum
Florence Falvey Michael Franceschi John Galagher Georgette Gras Barbara Hayden Hattie Mary Klimesh Hogan
Diane Holland Norma M Hunt Beverley Jackson Margaret B MacArthur Wilma L. Malone Mary Moore
Jerry Randall Maggie Rosen Marion Fromm Ryan Lillian Saperstein Max and Sara Schwartz
Paul Segallis Bernice St. Augustine Anita Strom
Laura Agnew Calvin Ahlgren Ghassan Alahmadien Kendi Aliff John Anderson Georgia Anker Lucille Bailey Kirk Beales Barbara Begley Denise Bertucelli Brenda Canada Claudia Carroll Frank Cassou Tim Chambers Joseph Cillo Herman Clasen Craig (Skip) Corsini Justin Cory
"In Memory" Of
"In Honor" Of Kirk Beales Ruth Geary Marti Jessen
Volunteers
Julie and Bret Mosley Dee Swennie
Linda Ball William J. Castelli Marie Clark James Cobb James Cook Agnes Deegan Harriette G. Dvorin
SOURCES OF FUNDS 1% 4% 5%
CLIENTS SERVED
Rides – 14
SOURCES OF FUNDS
Cafe – 11,
Earned Revenue
Language
Community Support
SOURCES OF FUNDS 90%
Other
1%
Exercise – Rides – 145,000
Counselin Earned Revenue Community Support
90%
Grants
Multicultu
CLIENTS SERVED CLIENTS SERVED
Cafe – 11,000
Art & Ente Language Instruction – 5,800
Computer
Multicultural – 5,700 Grants Exercise – 2,400 Other Counseling – 2,300 Art & Entertainment – 3,400 Computer – 1,100
whistlestop.org 7
keep Learning at WHISTLESTOP COMPuTER/PICTuRE CLASS Beginning: 2nd Friday • 2 to 4pm Advanced: 3rd Friday • 2 to 4pm Computer Room | Fee: $15 Instructor: Gene Dyer | Registration required: 459-6700 Call for more information and class descriptions. COMPuTER LAB dROP-IN CLASS Mondays • 10 to Noon & Wednesdays • 10 to 2pm Need help using a computer? We have volunteer computer tutors available to work with you one-on-one, if needed. MAH JONGG Wednesday • 10:30 to Noon Facilitator: Shirley Etemadfar | Donations appreciated Registration required: 456-9062 American Mah Jongg is a game that originally came from China. If you've played gin rummy, you have a head start in learning how to play this game. However, instead of cards, you play with tiles that are stamped with symbols and characters. You mix up the tiles, stack them into "walls" and get 13 to start a hand. After much passing, picking, and discarding, the first person to assemble combinations of these tiles into specific patterns wins the game. We play with a card that shows all the possible hands you can make. We'll have cards and Mah Jongg sets available for you to use as you learn. It's a sociable, competitive, exciting and addictive game that's truly lots of fun! Beginners and experienced players are welcome. GENTLE CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES Thursdays • 10 to 11:30am Fee: $5 | Chiropractor: Dr. Laura Agnew First-come, first-served basis | 456-9062 Do you suffer from back or neck pain, tension headaches or aching muscles & joints? For relief from aches and
COMMISSION ON AGING Thursday, November 10 • 9:30-12:35 pm Where: Tiburon Town Hall, 1505 Tiburon Blvd, Tiburon Presenters: Roger Kovacks, Bolinas White Caps; Chloe Cook, West Marin Senior Services; Cynthia Hammond, Afternoon at the Beach Topic: Medicare Updates/Health Care Reform Next Meeting: December 8 • 10 am at The Redwoods, Mill Valley 8
Whistlestop Express NOVEMBER 2011
pains of everyday stress and strains, visit Whistlestop to see chiropractic professionals who provide safe, gentle and chiropractic care. GLAddY GOLd BOOk CLuB WITH AuTHOR RITA LAkIN 2nd Thursday • 11 to Noon. Starting November 10 Donations appreciated | Registration required: 456-9062 The first book of the series is Getting Old is Murder 75-year-old Gladdy Gold and her gang of eccentric Fort Lauderdale retirees are hunting down a killer. Amid the endless rounds of poolside kibitzing, early-bird specials, bittersweet memories, and interminable grocery-shopping trips, Gladdy and her gals are about to discover how their friends’ murders are being committed. And when it comes to catching this culprit, time really is running out. ART PROJECT 1st Friday • 11 to 12:30pm 456-9062 Learn how to create different types of art projects with artist Celeste Parcell. December 2: Holiday Crafts FLu SHOT CLINIC AT WHISTLESTOP Tuesday, November 8 10:30 to 12:30pm Facilitators: Sutter Care at Home Fee: Free with Medicare & $20 without Drop-in only A Simple Vaccination Can Significantly Reduce Your Risk of Being Infected with the flu virus. Must present Medicare Part B card with I.D. at clinic. BLOOD PRESSURE & MEDICATION CHECK CLINIC Tuesday, November 8 • 11 to Noon Facilitators: student nurses from Dominican University Drop-in | Donations appreciated Bring all of your medications and supplements to find out how & when to take them, how to store them, side effects, or interactions with other drugs. Don’t miss this opportunity to prevent health problems by keeping your blood pressure and meds in check! NEEd MEdICARE ASSISTANCE? November 10 & 14 Facilitator: Suzanne Schneider, licensed insurance agent To make an appointment: 459-6700 Have you reviewed your Prescription Drug plan under Medicare Part D lately? Or, are you losing coverage under the Anthem Freedom Blue Plan? Receive assistance navigating through your 2012 Medicare plan options. There will be no sales, only advice to answer your questions
and provide information specifically about your situation. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to review your Medicare options. WHISTLESTOP ANd CEdARS OF MARIN Invite you to attend the Fall 2011 Art Show hosted at Whistlestop! Friday, November 11 • 11:30 to 12:30pm Featuring original artwork by individuals with disabilities who attend Cedars of Marin Victory Center. Works include: paintings, jewelry, cards, and "Out of Sight" knitting. THANkSGIVING dAY LuNCHEON Thursday, November 24 Noon to 1:30pm Cost: $10 for 60+, $15 under 60 Reservations required: 456-9062 Please join us for our Annual Thanksgiving Day Luncheon and enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings! Sponsored by Mission San Rafael Rotary Club. BOOk SIGNING: REMEMBRANCE WRITING 101, The Easy Way to Write and Share the Stories of Your Life, a Guidebook Thursday, December 1 • 2:30pm Free | Reserve your seat: 456-9062 Speaker: Claudia Carroll, author and instructor Remembrance Writing 101, The Easy Way to Write and Share the Stories of Your Life is a guidebook to help you access memories, and encourage you to write the stories you choose to remember. We'll also do some "quickwrites!" Books will be available for purchase. kNOW THE 10 SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER'S: EARLY dETECTION MATTERS Friday, December 2 • 10 to Noon Presenters: Alzheimer's Association Registration required: 456-9062 or 472-4340 Memory loss that disrupts daily life is not a typical part of aging. It may be a symptom of Alzheimer's, a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. This program will provide information about 10 warning signs of Alzheimer's and the importance of early detection.
LITTLE ART TREASuRES Cost: $3-4 per item Looking for gifts for the holidays or little gifts for friends and family? Whistlestop's Arts & Crafts program is selling sparkly earrings, modern, stretchy beaded bracelets, and other cute knick-knacks. Please come check out our talents and support our program. If you would like more information or would like to join the Arts & Crafts classes, call Vicky at 457-0586. COMING SOON IN dECEMBER! HOLIdAY LuNCHEON december 7, 2011 IN-kINd dONATIONS NEEdEd: Mah Jongg sets, decks of cards, books and yarn If you have items to donate: 456-9062
VOLuNTEER OPPORTuNITIES Contact: Debbie at 456-9062 or programs@whistlestop.org
• Jackson Café assistance • Front Desk/Center Host(ess) • Board or Card Game Leader
If You’re Lonely or Depressed, There’s Someone Who Will Listen Confidential & Free 24/7 Telephone Counseling Grief Counseling (415) 499-1195 Suicide Prevention & Crisis Hotline (415) 499-1100
Transportation Numbers Scheduling Rides: 454-0964 Cancelling Rides: 457-4630 Eligibility: 456-9062 x160 or eligibility@whistlestop.org Volunteer driver Program: 454-0969 whistlestop.org 9
Whistlestop ACTIVITIES This Month at Whistlestop
wednesdays
tuesdays
mondays
TIME
CLASS
MISC.
COST
10:00–11:00 AM 11:00–12:30 PM 11:15–NOON 2:00–4:00 PM 4:00–5:30 PM
AM Monday (Discussion) German Social Group Movement & Music ESL Citizenship Class
457-0586 Open Open 457-8811 454-0998
Free Free Free Free Free
9:15–10:15 AM 10:00–2:00 PM 10:45–11:45 AM 11:00–2:00 PM 1:00–3:00 PM 2:00–3:00 PM 2:00–3:30 PM 2:00–4:00 PM 2:30–3:30 PM
Whistlesizers (Exercise) Asian Social Group Cardio Exercise Class Manicurist Learn Spanish ESL Vietnamese English Conversation Remembrance Writing Balance Class
Open 454-1552 Open Appt. Needed Open 454-1552 454-0998 Open Open
$2 Free Free Free Free Free Free $5 $10
9:00–10:15 AM 9:00–2:00 PM 10:00–11:30 AM 10:30–NOON 10:00–2:00 PM 10:45–11:45 AM 2:00–4:00 PM 3:00–4:00 PM
Tai Chi Qigong Chair Massage Seniors' Circle (Support) Mah Jongg Computer Lab Corazón Latino ESL Basic English for Spanish Speakers
Sugg. Donation Open Open Open Open Open 457-8811 457-0586
9:15–10:15 AM 9:30–11:00 AM 10:00–NOON PM 10:00–2:00 PM 10:30–NOON 2:00-3:30 PM 2:00–4:00 PM 3:00–4:00 PM
Whistlesizers (Exercise) Chiropractic Services Knit!!! Asian Social Group Watercolors with Hilda English Conversation Remembrance Writing Basic English for Spanish Speakers
Open Open 457-0586 454-1552 Open 454-0998 Open 457-0586
$2 $5 Free Free Free Free $5 Free
9:00–2:00 PM 11:00–1:00 PM 1:30–3:30 PM 1:30–3:30 PM 2:00–4:00 PM 2:00–4:00 PM 3:00–4:00 PM
Chair Massage WS Knitters ACASA (Support/Training) Practice Spanish (Club) Friday Movie Arts & Crafts w/Vicky Yoga with Kelly
Open 1st Fri. Arts & Crafts Peer Counseling Open Nov. 11 Nov. 4 & 18 456-9062
$4/8min. Free Free Free $2 $2-$3 $3
fridays
thursdays
Jackson Café
Monday-Friday 11:30am-2:00pm $10 Located in Whistlestop $4/8min. Active Aging Center Free Free Free Free Free Free
Lunch Menu 60+ Prices/ Under 60 Prices
Main Entrée $4.50/$7.25 Sandwiches $4.25/$6.25 Soup du Jour $1.75/$2.25 Hamburger w/Fries $4.25/$5.25 Salads $2.50/$4.00 Other Items Tuna Salad Side Fresh Fruit Beverages Desserts
$1.25 $1.50 $1.00 $1.50
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 NOVEMBER 2011
The Bird's Side b y R I C H A R D PAV E K Photos © richard pavek
OF MARIN
Chirping Hummers
A
bout a year ago, I began hearing occasional short, high-pitched chirps, like the chirp of a smoke detector with a weak battery. I replaced the batteries in my detectors to no avail. When I mentioned the puzzling chirps to a friend who is far more knowledgeable about the waterfront than I am, he said the chirps were the mating calls of hummingbirds. Mystery solved. I had a gnarly old Bottlebrush Tree outside my door that was home to a couple of hummingbirds. It was just a tiny Lothario singing out a song of love to his sweetheart. Well, not quite. Recently, I read that the hummingbird’s syrinx (the avian equivalent of a larynx) is too weak to produce an audible sound. According to Dr.
Christopher Clark, a biomechanics expert at Yale, the “aeroelastic flutter” of the male’s tail feathers produces the chirps as he spreads them and dives in an aerobatic display of affection. In a wind tunnel, he showed how each bird produces slightly different tones because of slight differences in feather structure. The female decides by the “Hey, Babe, choose me!” chirp if that Lothario is going to be her mate or if some other bird is. Imagine that; the hummingbird is able to hum and chirp at the same time. Bet you can’t do that. I can hum and walk at the same time, but that’s about it. Every weekend I email an interesting bird photo to Express readers. If you’d like something nice to look at in your Inbox, email me at SHENmaker@MSN.com. F Till next month, Richard whistlestop.org 11
Reception to Honor Winners in 3rd Annual Photo Contest
W
histlestop, with co-sponsor Marin Filmworks, will honor winners in its rd 3 Annual Photo Contest for Older Adults at 5:30 pm Tuesday, November 1 at Whistlestop. Contest judges Terry Scussel and Marilyn Bagshaw will offer their comments about
the quality of the winning entries, which will be on display. Refreshments will be served. The event is open to all. The Best in Show and first place winners were shown in the October issue of the Whistlestop Express. Second and third place winners are displayed here.
Marin Category
Travel Category w 2nd Place: “Tango Dancers in Buenos Aires, Argentina,” by Catherine Dobbins d’Alessio, Ross.
w 2 Place: “Bolinas Lagoon Morning,” by Philip Buchanan, Bolinas. nd
w 3rd Place: “Mexican Weaver,” by Janice Hughes, San Rafael.
w 3rd Place: “Firefighters at 2008 Hamilton Warehouse Fire,” by Rick Budde, Novato.
Nature Category w 2nd Place: “Albatross Takeoff,” by Jon W. d’Alessio, Ross.
w 3rd Place: “Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel,” by Michael V. Hancock, Tiburon.
12
Whistlestop Express NOVEMBER 2011
Pictorial Category w 2nd Place: “Fun in the Sun,” by Michael Hancock, Tiburon.
w 3rd Place: “The Red Barn, Palouse Wheatfields, Washington State,” by Ann Rivo, San Rafael.
Financial NuGGETS by JEFF STOFFER, CFA, CFP®
HEALTH CARE CONNECTION
danger in Seeing What We Want to See
T
his month, I’m thinking about “affinity fraud”– an investment scam in which a trusted and accepted member of a social or religious group preys upon the group’s members. A glaring recent example of this is the Bernie Madoff scandal. Older adults have been vulnerable to this type of fraud as well. As I pondered why it is so easy for crooks like this to be successful, I remembered a story about one of my own early investments. One day when I was about eight years old, I stopped into the local hobby shop. searching through the old coins for sale, I found a pristine 1916 Mercury dime – a prize for my collection. My coin book valued this specimen at $120 or more, and here it was for $3.50! Were the proprietors unaware of what they had? I tucked it into the back of the stack and raced home to get all of my money. I purchased the coin, marveling at my good fortune – what a steal! When I got home and checked the book to confirm the coin’s value, I was crestfallen to discover that I had mistaken a 1916 plain for the coveted 1916 D. It turned out that my coin was worth about what I paid for it — $3.50. I learned that day the importance of understanding the details when it comes to money. But there was an even more important lesson: we can be easily blinded by what we want to see. Low interest rates are hurting those who need the dividends and interest from savings to make ends meet. If you are feeling challenged financially, you may be even more vulnerable to an investment idea coming from someone whom you want to believe has the answer for you. This is where our emotions come into play. Just as I wanted to believe that dime would be worth $120, many want to believe they can recover income lost due to declining interest rates on their savings. Two points in closing: first, be wary of investments promising high levels of return. To get those higher dividends, we have to take additional risk. Do not forget this. It is a financial fact of life. second, look very carefully at anyone pitching solutions that seem to “solve” your income probcontinued on page 14
415 4572256 www.HealthCareConnectionLLC.com
whistlestop.org 13
Thank You!
for sponsoring our third annual Photography Contest and doing something good for older adults!
George Cunha’s Cheetah: Best in Show
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Whistlestop Express NOVEMBER 2011
New Space Museum Opens in Novato
T
he W Foundation (TWF) has opened a new space exploration museum in Novato. The museum’s emphasis is on the history of space exploration, and how discoveries in science and technology allowed the U.S. to be the leader in space travel. Admission to the museum is free. The Space Station is located in the Pacheco Plaza, which is on Ignacio Boulevard, off Highway 101 in Novato. This unique museum will give the public a rare opportunity to touch space-flown artifacts from TWF’s extensive collection of U.S., Russian and Soviet items. The decision to open this new education center is based on the success of a temporary exhibit put on in July by TWF and Walter Kieckhefer Company (WKC). The two-day exhibit attracted more than 600 visitors. “This is a win-win for TWF, WKC and our community, because a vacant retail space is filled and the public gains a new education venue in their neighborhood,” said Ken Winans, co-president of TWF. A ribbon cutting was held in October with astronauts Rick Searfoss, John Herrington, and Dick Gordon attending. During their six missions, they have collectively traveled in space 66 days, performed 23 hours of space walks and journeyed to the moon. For more information, contact The W Foundation at www.thewfoundation.org. F
< Financial Nuggets continued from page 13 lems. As with my prized dime, if a rate seems too good to be true, it probably is. Remain skeptical, do your homework, and verify the facts. Then find someone else – preferably a qualified professional – to help you verify again. We all have our own “Mercury dime” story. We just need to remember the lessons we have learned. F Jeff Stoffer is on the Whistlestop Board of Directors.
Win Free Tickets to Marin Symphony: Answer Questions in Brainteasers Contest
I
n an effort to get music lovers’ minds working even better, Gary Gruber, PhD, an avid music buff and reviewer, has created a music Brainteaser contest. The first five people who get the correct answers to the three questions below will receive two free tickets to any upcoming Marin Symphony concert of their choice. Dr. Gruber has written more than 40 books on test preparation and critical thinking, with more than 7 million copies sold. He has entertained newspaper and magazine readers for decades with his Brainteaser columns. His latest books are The World’s 200 Hardest Brainteasers, Gruber’s Complete SAT Guide 2012 and Gruber’s Complete GRE Guide 2012. Gruber has worked nationally with school districts and students to markedly improve test scores and increase thinking ability. His website is www.drgarygruber.com Write him directly with your answers to drgarygruber@yahoo.com. F
Brain teasers
Dr. Gruber’s Music Brainteasers:
1. Complete the analogy: MUSIC is to VIOLIN as: (A) notes is to composer (B) sound is to musical instrument (C) drawing is to crayon (D) furniture is to carpentry tools (E) symphony is to piano 2. Which of the following does not belong with the rest? Szeryng, Milstein, Gluzman, Gilels, Bell, Grumiaux 3. As you may know, Prokofiev wrote a very popular work called Peter and the Wolf. What other work of his has parts which are very reminiscent of some of the melodies in his Peter and the Wolf? (A) The 5th Symphony (B) The 2nd Piano Concerto (C) Alexander Nevsky (D) The Opera Love for Three Oranges (E) The First Violin Concerto
Whistlestop Planned Giving “Roadshow” Treasures From Your Attic Wednesday, November 9th from 5-6:30pm Whistlestop’s Jackson Café, 930 Tamalpais Ave., Downtown San Rafael Presentation by Jane Lott of Silver Rain, Estate Transition Services, Jack McLaughlin of My Broker Donates, and several antiques specialists You will learn • How to find resources to estimate the value of your personal property • How to make a large charitable donation that won’t cost you anything • How to distribute your estate property according to your wishes Our panel of local experts will use their
experience to share their opinions of approximate values of your antiques, collectibles, art, and vintage items, similar to the Antiques Roadshow. These are not certified appraisals and are not meant to substitute for specific advice regarding your personal property. You may bring one item small enough to be carried in by one person; Do not bring items you suspect to be a great value. The first 115 people to sign up will get a seat, YOU MUST RSVP to info@whistlestop.org or 415-456-9062 x117; provide your name and a brief description of the item you are bringing. Free parking in our lot and under highway 101 in the Park and Ride lots. F whistlestop.org 15
Whistlestop
E press Marin Senior Coordinating Council 930 Tamalpais Avenue San Rafael, CA 94901-3325 Whistlestop.org
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