Updates, Virtual Classes & Activities |
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Call Senior Coastsiders at 650-726-9056 for further information on classes or upcoming events. To see regularly scheduled weekly classes, be sure to scroll down to the last section of this email. |
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AARP Tax Services AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is the nation's largest, free, in-person tax preparation service.
Volunteers are trained and IRS certified each year and have provided free tax preparation at Senior Coastsiders for many years. Not surprisingly, the pandemic has required changes in the way tax returns are processed. We have worked with the Tax-Aide team to finalize a strategy that focuses on safety while continuing to provide a free service that so many of our friends have enjoyed in the past. Appointments available now through tax season - contact Kim at Senior Coastsiders to schedule.
Please note that certain complex tax situations, such as taxpayers who own rental property or operate complex business, are not within the training of our Tax-Aide volunteers and cannot be completed.
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San Mateo County Aging and Adult Services (AAS) - Public Hearing Community members are invited
to attend a public hearing where comments can be provided about the 2021-2022 Area Plan for Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities. The Commission on Aging will include the public hearing as part of its regular monthly agenda which is scheduled for:
Monday, March 8, 2021
9:00-11:00 A.M.
Meeting to be held remotely.
For additional information regarding the public hearing or for copies of the
material that will be distributed at the hearing, please contact: Christina
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Peninsula Family Services introduces Got Wheels! Got Wheels provides affordable alternative transportation for Daly City, Colma, Brisbane, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, Hillsborough, Half Moon Bay, Montara, Moss Beach, and El Granada residents at least 70 years of age. Interested individuals may apply for no-cost membership. Members are provided up to six one-way rides a month for $5 each one-way ride. PFS subsidizes remainder of the fare. For more information, contact Cherie, Got Wheels! Program Coordinator: (650) 403-4300 Extension 4329 or cqmoreno@peninsulafamilyservice.org
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Free Transportation SamTrans
will provide free bus rides on existing service to coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination sites for people living or working within San Mateo County. Redi-Wheels and Redi-Coast paratransit services will also offer eligible participants free rides to and from vaccination sites. . Riders need to indicate while booking their reservation (650-560-0360) that the trip is for the purpose of a COVID-19 vaccination. Please note, this service will NOT work for drive through vaccination clinics.
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Employment Opportunity Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is now hiring Visitor Service Aides who greet park visitors at entrance kiosks along the San Mateo Coast!
About the Position: This seasonal position is a visitor service/kiosk staff role for a non-profit organization that works in concert with California State Parks to maintain and enhance the State Parks in the Santa Cruz District, including the San Mateo Coast. Friends is looking for individuals who would enjoy working with State Parks Staff in the operations of the campgrounds and day-use areas at our beautiful state beaches. For more information visit: https://thatsmypark.org/jobs/
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Virtual Mystery Book Club This group meets the first Wednesday of each month (Wednesday, March 3rd this month) at 1:00pm. The group will be discussing A Murder Is Announced, by Agatha Christie. For the Zoom link, please contact hatmore@seniorcoastsiders.org. Future books can be picked up at the Senior Coastsiders office at 925 Main Street.
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Speaking of books, if you live on the Senior Campus, you can have your Half Moon Bay Library books delivered to the Senior Coastsiders office for pick up. To get your name on the list for this service, please call 1-833-YES-SMCL or email halfmoonbay@smcl.org.
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Mission Hospice We miss hosting events with Mission Hospice and Home Care but while we can't be together in person, we don't want you to miss their many offerings. Check out their event calendar for virtual author events, Death Cafes, and support groups at https://www.missionhospice.org/events/
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Senior Coastsiders Cookbook Senior Coastsiders will be producing a cookbook to be available in time for the holidays - so start thinking about your favorite recipes! Do you have an old family recipe with a story, or a favorite recipe that you are known for? We will collect recipes from our extended Senior Coastsiders family - donors, participants, volunteers, and staff. More details to come about how to submit.
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City Council Listening Session Each year as part of its budgeting process, the City Council hosts listening sessions to hear directly from the people who live and work in Half Moon Bay and gain a broad range of community input on what people feel are the critical priorities the City should be focusing on. We will be hosting this year's Listening Sessions via Zoom, and you’re invited to join in and participate. Live Spanish interpretation will be available. The 2021 Listening Sessions will be held on the following dates:
Listening Session 1
Wednesday, March 3
6:00pm-8:00pm
Listening Session 2
Saturday March 6
10:00am-12:00pm
If you cannot attend one of the sessions, we encourage you to provide your feedback on their website.
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Virtual Bingo Join neighbors from the Pacifica Senior Center for some friendly virtual bingo on Wednesdays from 3:00-4:00pm. Meeting ID is 996 6389 9575 and Passcode is 31ZrFs. You can get your electronic bingo card here .The bingo host will call the numbers. Only ONE playing card can be played per game. If the number is on your card, click the number on your digital card and it will mark it for you. Once you have a Bingo, unmute yourself and shout "Bingo" and follow up with your winning numbers. Sweet prizes will be given away to lucky winners!!
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Computer Tutoring and Computer Donation and Loaner Program Limited computer tutoring has resumed and is available by appointment. Additionally, through the dedication of two high school students, we are ready to put laptops into the hands of those who need them! We also have loaner laptops provided by the Half Moon Bay Library. Please call our office for more details.
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Headspace As you enter this new year, resolve to be kinder to your body and mind. Headspace is currently available for free through a partnership between #SanMateoCounty Behavioral Health & Recovery Services & @Headspace It provides free resources (meditations, sleep sounds, movement exercises & more) to help residents cope w/ stresses brought on by #COVID19 pandemic. This is a huge value - give it a try! Sign up here: https://www.headspace.com/smchealth
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Senior Coastsiders and CoastPride are partnering to host intergenerational gatherings (virtual during the pandemic, and hopefully soon in-person). These gatherings will afford you the opportunity to share your lived experience about LGBTQ history and learn from LGBTQ youth what their experience is today. We will host these virtual gatherings and guide the conversations with focus questions, which we will design with you and the youth. Some of the topics we would like to explore include: (1) fears about getting older; (2) coming out; (3) living with pandemics: AIDS and COVID-19; and (4) interest in future LGBTQ themed information or events. We hope to build bridges across generations, foster connection, and promote an inclusive and welcoming community here on the coast. If you are interested in participating, please contact Hope at hatmore@seniorcoastsiders.org.
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Home Repair Program Due to COVID, we are trying to address many needed home repair projects as they come up instead of waiting for our big day in June. If you are in need of repairs at your home and would like to apply, please contact hatmore@seniorcoastsiders.org or download the application here Or, if you are interested in volunteering to do some repairs, please reach out!
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2021 Environmental Series |
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Building on the momentum of the climate change programming that was completed in 2020 through partnerships with the Office of Sustainability of San Mateo County and the City of Half Moon Bay, Senior Coastsiders is excited to offer a monthly program dedicated to climate change and environmental engagement. Look for the Evergreen Coastsiders logo and a new program each month.
To register for the March event, click here or click the flyer below for a pdf that will take you to the February or March event registrations. For the April event, click here.
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Other green opportunities from our friends! |
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Backyard composting workshop This workshop, instructed by local gardening and composting experts Najiha Al Asmar and Jesús Jimenez, will cover the basics of backyard hot pile composting* via lecture and live demonstrations. By attending this workshop, San Mateo County residents qualify for a complimentary composting bin and discounted supplies. Register below:
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Master in Local Sustainability Course
Been wanting to learn about climate change, energy, waste, water, & food systems in SMC but don't know where to start? Start here with SM County's free Master in Local Sustainability Course! This is a great opportunity to meet others in your community with common interests, learn more about the social context of local environmental challenges, and connect with amazing local organizations where you can do volunteer work related to the topics we cover in class. Register before March 8th! Spots are filling up fast!
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Community News You Can Use! |
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COVID TESTING In partnership with the City and County, Senior Coastsiders will continue to provide COVID-19 testing. This testing is available to all ages. Registration is easy and the test is quick and efficient with results usually coming in 48-72 hours. Widespread testing is extremely important for curbing the spread of Covid and ensuring early treatment if infected. To learn more about the importance of testing, go to the NIH website at https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/why-covid-19-testing-key-getting-back-normal and to register for a test, call 650-726-9056 or go to https://curative.com/sites/10044. Walk-ins are also welcome.
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Know when it is your turn to get vaccinated! Each health care provider is rolling out vaccinations differently so be sure to check in often. The San Mateo County Health website has up-to-date information as well as a notification system for different providers. Find more information here
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Supporting Senior Coastsiders |
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We are very grateful to the growing number of donors who have signed up to support us as monthly contributors. This regular financial commitment is so appreciated because it supports our work for the long haul. Every dollar counts!
The benefit to our donors is that contributing every month allows them to spread the financial impact of their giving across the entire year.
It’s easy to become a monthly donor – simply go to the Donate tab on our website, click on the Donate Now option and select Recurring Donation when asked the Type of Donation.
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Do you shop on Amazon? Did you know that every time you buy something through Amazon, you could be supporting Senior Coastsiders? Visit smile.amazon.com and sign in with your Amazon.com credentials. Search and choose Senior Coastsiders as your charitable organization and start shopping! Add a bookmark for smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile!
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A Note from the Executive Director
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Thank you to all those supporters who voted for Senior Coastsiders during the Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce Awards Ceremony. We were nominated by the community in three categories:
- Frontline Phenom - Recognizing businesses and organizations that have provided support to the workers who are at the frontlines of the Coronavirus crisis and/or CZU fire
- Pivot Pioneer - Recognizing businesses and organizations that have pivoted or re-engineered their products or services to face or overcome challenges during the Coronavirus crisis
- Service Superhero - Recognizing businesses and organizations that aided individuals during the Coronavirus Crisis and/or CZU fire
Many deserving organizations were recognized, and we were thrilled to be honored with the Frontline Phenom award!!
This award bears testament to our amazing volunteers who have continued to serve our older adults as food preparers, meal deliverers, grocery shoppers, computer tutors, office workers, COVID testers, Board members and friendly visitors doing physically distanced or telephone check-ins. We depend on our volunteers so much and literally could not meet the needs of our community without them. Thank you!
The award is also a tribute to our wonderful (small but mighty) staff who have worked tirelessly, creatively and nimbly to adapt our services, programs and support to create an environment for Coastside seniors that meets their needs, enriches their lives and respects their creativity, dignity and value – including during this COVID-19 pandemic.
I am so grateful to lead this amazing team of staff and volunteers.
Sandi
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Unstoppable Seniors (US)
by Casey McClung
In a society where aging is oftentimes equated with ill health and vulnerability, it is important to remember that societal preconceptions cannot define us, and each one of us can write our own story of aging. The world is full of people who had some of their finest moments only after they became seniors. We’ll be highlighting some of these Unstoppable Seniors in the months to come because their story is also a part of our story.
Here is a story of US:
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Dr. Betty Holston Smith used to be a couch potato. Tipping the scales at over 200lbs, she tried every fad diet you could think of and even tried diet pills. But at age 29, she decided to try a new approach, based on an interview she heard with a doctor who said, “...outside of losing weight, there are two things you can do to get healthier: Do weight-bearing exercise at least three days a week, with the goal of doing 30 minutes without stopping and of keeping your heartbeat 20 beats higher than your resting rate. And eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, seeds, and nuts, with only occasional animal protein.” At that moment, Betty decided to change how she lived her life one small step at a time through daily movement and eating a plant-based diet.
Now 80 years of age, Betty is a runner and fitness coach, meditates, does tai chi and shows people of all ages that you don’t have to accept society’s notion of what aging looks like. At 59 she discovered Chi Running, a method that helps prevent injury and she became faster and even more efficient.
In 2019 at the age of 78, she ran 132.57 miles in six days at the Icarus Florida Ultrafest in November. In July, she finished as the 35th female and oldest competitor at the Endless Summer 6-Hour Run. In May, she completed the Dawn 2 Dusk 2 Dawn Ultra as the 20th female across the finish line.
What makes Dr Smith an Unstoppable Senior, though, is that she continues to find ways to improve her quality of life and maintains a positive attitude regardless of the world around her. “People can do many things,” Smith told Runner’s World. “It’s not necessarily true that once you get older, that you need to cut back. I’m not cutting back.” As quoted in Bethesda Magazine in 2020, “I just want to have a good quality of life for whatever time I have left.”
Here’s to Unstoppable Seniors everywhere!
Do you know an Unstoppable Senior? Maybe someone local? Let us know! We would love to share their story! Email Casey at cmcclung@seniorcoastsiders.org
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Outdoor Zumba Gold Join instructor Laurie Becker on Tuesday mornings in the back parking lot for a 10:30-11:15 am Zumba Gold class. This is perfect for older adults who are looking for a modified Zumba class that recreates the original moves you love at a lower intensity. Space is limited, please call the Senior Coastsiders office at 650-726-9056 for more information. Cost is $5.00 per class. Class will continue as long as weather permits.
Online Smart Phone Classes - Having difficulty hearing or seeing on your smart phone? Attend a free online training and make your smart phone work better for you! Learn how to make your phone louder and easier to hear, how to send text messages, how to turn your phone into a magnifier, how to connect Bluetooth devices, how to operate basic functions of your phone and much more! These two-part online trainings are presented by California Telephone Access Program. iPhone and Android sessions are ongoing. To participate, you will need a computer, internet service, a valid email address AND your smart phone! Please contact the Senior Coastsiders office at 650-726-9056 to register - space is limited.
Pilates Classes with Karen continue online from 9:00-10:00am every Tuesday and are free of charge. Email Karen at kpilates@sonic.net to get signed up. This class is currently only open to those who have taken Karen's classes in the past.
Art Every Day! Mary Kay Jolley offers painting class online through an email format as well as once weekly live class (and previous classes are available on Youtube). To get on the class mailing list, email jolleyart@comcast.net
Functional Mobility with Kimm Ronberg continues on Wednesdays 9:00-10:00am via Zoom. Email Kimm at kimm@beyourstrong.com for the link to the class.
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Gentle Yoga LindaGrace is offering Gentle Yoga on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00am-12:15pm. Contact LindaGrace at lindagrace@wisewoman-yoga.com to sign up.
Jetta's Balance Class for Seniors - Jetta will take participants through a series of exercises focused on increasing balance and reducing falls. Join Jetta on Thursdays at 10:30 am by contacting hatmore@seniorcoastsiders.org
Rosen Classes continue on the regular schedule with Jetta and Kate. For Mondays at 9:30am, and Wednesdays at 10:30am, email hatmore@seniorcoastsiders.org to receive the invitation to the Zoom classes. For Kate's Friday class at 11:00, email Kate O'Shea at kate.oshea.pt@gmail.com. Class fee is based on a sliding scale and can be paid via Paypal or by check.
Qigong with Judy Pruzinsky - Tuesday afternoons 1:00-2:00pm and Thursday evenings 7:30-8:30pm. Please contact Judy for more information.
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Other Resources & Activities |
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RotaCare Coastside is open for phone visits. Patients can schedule phone visits by calling 650-388-2340. Please leave a message including your name, date of birth, and phone number, and the Clinic Manager will return your call to schedule a telephone encounter.
Friendship Line - California - Even in these challenging times, friendship is always a phone call away. Discover how the Friendship Line is growing to connect to more Californian seniors. Available 24 hours a day and ready to connect, call (888) 670-1360.
The California Peer-Run Warm Line is a free, non-judgmental, emotional, non-emergency support line that allows people with mental health challenges to talk to a peer who is trained to help. The phone number is (855) 845-7415. Chat is also available at https://www.mentalhealthsf.org/peer-run-warmline/.
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If you need assistance with shopping, would like to sign up for meals on wheels, need a mask, or need other assistance, we are just a phone call away! Please call our office at 650-726-9056. |
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Please forward to anyone you think might benefit from this information! |
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