THANK YOU so much to our amazingly generous community for the support you gave Senior Coastsiders during Coastside Gives on May 6th. We raised almost $100,000 from over 280 donors.
Thank you to the Mavericks Community Foundation for organizing this annual event. Thanks also to Jim Henderson of KHMB for promoting all the nonprofits who participated during a day long radio marathon. And particular thanks to our creative team – Gail Evenari, Nancy Margulies and Justin Gabaldon – for the wonderful animated campaign they developed to illustrate all the little things the staff and volunteers at Senior Coastsiders do that make a big difference in the lives of our community.
|
|
Updates, Virtual Classes & Activities |
|
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. |
|
Senior Coastsiders will reopen on July 7th!
We are working with instructors to ensure class safety and will have new check-in procedures for lunch and classes. Some classes may stay on Zoom or be offered in a hybrid model. Our hope is to accommodate more people in more ways than ever before! Stay tuned for updated class schedules in the coming weeks. As we reopen we will continue to follow the prevailing CDC and San Mateo County Health Department guidelines.
|
|
Voting has started! Vote for Senior Coastsiders to be one of the six nonprofits that benefit from New Leaf's Enviro-token program! Ballots are available at our local New Leaf. Voting is from June 1-20! Thanks for your support!
|
Senior Coastsiders Cookbook Senior Coastsiders will be producing a cookbook to be available in time for the holidays. Do you have an old family recipe with a story, or a favorite recipe that you are known for? We are collecting recipes from our extended Senior Coastsiders family - donors, participants, volunteers, and staff. There are multiple ways to submit. To learn more, click HERE. |
COVID testing at Senior Coastsiders - SUSPENDED. Due to low attendance, we are suspending the 1st and 3rd Thursday COVID testing at 925 Main Street. Weekly testing is still available every Monday from 3:00-6:00pm at the Ted Adcock Center at 535 Kelly Street. For more information on the city's testing, go to their website HERE. |
Virtual Mystery Book Club This group meets the first Wednesday of each month (June 2nd this month) at 1:00pm. The group will be discussing The Wrong Side of Goodbye, by Michael Connelly.
For the Zoom link, please contact hatmore@seniorcoastsiders.org. Future books can be picked up at the Senior Coastsiders office at 925 Main Street.
|
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.
|
One more thing about books! Senior Coastsiders and San Mateo County Libraries are excited to unveil free eBook Stops, making thousands of eBooks available in just a few easy steps with a wireless device. Readers can simply visit an eBook Stop, connect to its free Wi-Fi and the webpage, and then begin browsing popular titles available in English and Spanish. You don’t need a library card, mobile app, data plan or your own Wi-Fi connection to read these eBooks. There are no holds or wait times, so you can begin reading immediately or save the book in your browser to read from home.
The eBook Stop is located in the downstairs lobby at 925 Main Street.
|
|
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! To register, contact Crystal Lin at clin@ddtp.org or call 510-207-8609.
|
Computer Tutoring and Computer Donation and Loaner Program Limited computer tutoring has resumed and is available by appointment on Wednesdays and Thursdays. 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.
|
Indoor Cinema Experience Have you always wished there was a movie theater in town? Well, the Coastal Rep is now offering a great COVID safe, cinema experience! During the month of June, they will be showing The Prestige, The Pink Panther, 1917, and Fried Green Tomatoes. Check out their website here for more information and ticket purchasing
|
Save the Dates:
Monday, July 5th, we will be closed in observance of Independence Day.
Wednesday, July 7th, our official re-opening day for classes and lunch.
Friday, July 23rd, flute concert with Gail Edwards at 2:00pm in the dining room.
|
|
Scam Alert!
Californians are experiencing a new medicare scam involving aggressive marketing techniques. It's believed a company or private party is posing as an insurance broker specializing in Medicare Advantage Plans. They use deceptive marketing material to convince you to change your coverage. Changing plans suddenly can cause service disruption because prior coverage can only be restored as of the 1st of the following month.There is an open enrollment period every year that allows you to research and safely change plans. For 2022 coverage the dates are October 15-December 7, 2021. HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program) provides free, confidential one-on-one counseling, education, and assistance to help individuals and their families on Medicare. For more information please call Tracey at 650-726-9056 or HICAP at 650-627-9350.
|
|
Supporting Senior Coastsiders |
|
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!
|
|
A Note from the Executive Director
|
|
Evidence Informed Decision Making
By Sandi Winter
I am sure many of you know the parable of the five blind men and the elephant.
A group of blind men heard that a strange animal, called an elephant, had been brought to town, but none of them were aware of its shape or form. So, they sought it out, and when they found it each of them touched it. The first person, whose hand landed on the trunk, said, "This being is like a thick snake". For another one whose hand reached its ear, it seemed like a kind of fan. As for another person, whose hand was upon its leg, the elephant seemed like a pillar or a tree-trunk. The blind man who placed his hand upon its side said the elephant, "is a wall". Another who felt its tail, described it as a rope. The last felt its tusk, stating the elephant is that which is hard, smooth and like a spear.[1]
This is a very ancient story that appears in Buddhist, Hindu and Jain texts dating back to at least 500 BCE and illustrates the limits of perception and the importance of complete context.
This story comes to mind for two reasons. Firstly, during the past few months we’ve been gathering information from our community about all sorts of things - for ourselves and on behalf of other organizations. We’ve received feedback from almost 100 people about the meals, programs, services, and activities they would like to see us provide in the future. We’ve administered an annual survey on behalf of the Area Agency on Aging about our home delivered meal program. We’ve been working with a Stanford Master’s student who is doing a study about resilience among older adults – particularly as it relates to this past year during COVID. And we’ve partnered with the Office of Sustainability in San Mateo County to gather information about community awareness of local hazard mitigation – in other words, what can be done before an emergency to limit the negative impacts on life and property of natural or human made disasters. All this information will be used to improve the services provided to our community.
Secondly, the recent updates to mask wearing mandates by the CDC are informed by a growing body of evidence that indicates that COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing the disease, especially severe illness, and death, and that they reduce the risk of people spreading COVID-19.[2] While there is still much to learn in this regard this news will impact how we engage with one another in general and at our Senior Coastsiders facility. We will continue to be guided by the CDC guidelines and by the recommendations of our local health department as we plan our re-opening for July. We are so looking forward to resuming operations.
Very best wishes,
Sandi
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_men_and_an_elephant
[2] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html
|
|
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:
by Casey McClung
|
|
We’ve all heard the saying, “You’re never too old to learn something new,” and Paul Siromoni is living proof! In 1972, Paul became a founding member of ISABS (Indian Society for Applied Behavioural Science), a value-based institution dedicated to the dignity and autonomy of human beings as individuals in groups, organizations and society at large. Paul also worked as the General Secretary of the YMCA and soon after retiring from that post, joined St. Mark’s Cathedral as the Head of the Industrial Team Service.
Paul had an impressive career, but what makes him an Unstoppable Senior is that he started working on earning a PhD soon after retirement and, after three years of study, he earned his doctorate at the age of 90 in 2017. The topic of his research was “God’s call to the church to join in transforming the world into a kingdom of love,”
Paul is quoted as saying, “Unfortunately we are conditioned by our culture and our culture is dominated by the economy.” Paul and his wife, Joyce, are humanitarians who have worked most of their lives to bring more love and peace into the world. They believe that half the population is suffering from some form of mental illness simply because the world can be so inhuman. There’s never been a better time to spread more love and joy to each other, even to a stranger, even to yourself.
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
|
|
Outdoor Zumba Gold Join instructor Laurie Becker on Friday 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.
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.
|
|
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.
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.
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
Qigong with Judy Pruzinsky - Tuesday afternoons 1:00-2:00pm and Thursday evenings 7:30-8:30pm. Please contact Judy for more information.
|
|
Other Resources & Activities |
|
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/.
|
|
Community News You Can Use! |
|
We take great pride in our community partnerships and view them as one more way to help provide resources to the older adult community. |
|
To mask or not to mask...that is the question. And here is the answer per the California state guidelines! |
|
Refrigerator Recycling Program Through Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE)
Got an old refrigerator or freezer hogging energy in your home?
PCE will pick it up for free and mail you a $35 check for participating.
By properly recycling your fridge or freezer, you’ll save money on your energy bill and help prevent potent greenhouse gases from escaping into the atmosphere and contaminants from getting into the landfill.
Program Qualifications
- Applicant must be a San Mateo County resident
- Refrigerator/freezer must be in working/cooling condition, empty, clean and plugged in at the time of pickup
- Refrigerator/freezer must be regular household size (10-30 cubic feet)
- Refrigerator/freezer must be at least 10 years old
- Applicant must own the unit(s) being recycled
- Two units maximum per household per calendar year
- A $35 rebate check per unit will be mailed four to six weeks after collection
- This pilot program is available on a first-come, first-served basis until funding is depleted
For questions, call 888-646-2196
|
|
Time of Use Plans
As part of a statewide effort to create a cleaner energy future, many California residential electric customers will soon begin moving to the Time-of-Use (Peak Pricing 4 - 9 p.m. Every Day) (E-TOU-C) rate plan. For more information and some helpful tips, click here.
This rate plan shift started in October 2020 and will continue through early 2022. San Mateo County is slated to transition in September 2021.
Some customers will not automatically move to the Time-of-Use rate plan, including:
- Customers already on a Time-of-Use rate
- Customers enrolled in Medical Baseline
- Customers enrolled or eligible for CARE/FERA AND living in hot climate zones
- Customers with <12 months of energy usage
Be sure to review your rate plan options to choose the best rate plan for your household at pge.com/ratechoices.
|
|
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. |
|
Please forward to anyone you think might benefit from this information! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
