Senior Coastsiders is one of the top 200 finalists in the nationwide State Farm Neighborhood Assist® grant program. 100 causes will be chosen to win a $25,000 grant. We need you to rally behind our cause of creating an inclusive and age friendly Coastside community by casting your votes! Click HERE and vote for Senior Coastsiders. Voting is open from 12:00:00 A.M. ET on April 27 until May 6 at 11:59:59 P.M. ET and you can vote up to 10 times per day, every day for Senior Coastsiders. You can also cast all 10 votes at one time and easily sign up for a text reminder. Please share this with your colleagues, friends and family to vote and help spread the word. Thanks in advance for your support!

Coastside Gives is this Thursday, May 5th! Please consider supporting Senior Coastsiders by making a donation HERE. And, if you donate during our 'Power Hour' between 4:00-5:00pm on Thursday, you'll increase our chances to win additional cash prizes! Or if you prefer to come by in person, stop by Senior Coastsiders for our Open House from 3pm-5pm. Drop off your donation, say hello and enjoy free coffee, cookies, and a glass of champagne to celebrate our 45th anniversary.

Coffee Time! If you're looking for a hot cup of coffee and a chance to socialize, stop by the Senior Coastsiders Dining Room, Monday-Friday starting at 10:00AM. In the lobby you will find the Daily Journal every day and the Half Moon Bay Review on Wednesdays. Come visit us!

Mystery Book Club This group meets the first Wednesday of each month (May 4th this month) at 12:00PM. The group will be discussing Blanche on the Lam, by Barbara Neely. The group meets in person with Zoom option. To connect via Zoom, click HERE (passcode BOOKS) or contact vaughnharrison@yahoo.com. Future books can be picked up at the Senior Coastsiders office at 925 Main Street.

Official Ballot Drop Box Senior Coastsiders will again serve as a ballot drop box site for the upcoming election. The secured ballot drop box will be available starting on May 5th and will be located in the lobby, directly in front of our office check in window.

Class change of time / day / location. Please note that Zumba Gold has moved to Tuesdays at 11:20AM in the Sunroom. Beginning line dancing has moved to Fridays at 9:30AM in the Dining Room.

Meet in the Senior Coastsiders dining room for a multimedia event at 4:00PM on Friday, May 6th, featuring activist art by Nancy Margulies, followed by a documentary about Nancy’s life and work. Local filmmaker, Ray Day, created the film and he and Nancy will be on hand for Q&A’s. To preview the film trailer, click HERE.

Join Cheryl HankIn, Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT), in a meditative art form using the Zentangle(R)* Method of drawing. Relax, focus, expand your imagination, trust your creativity, and increase your awareness. Under Cheryl’s gentle guidance, find joy in discovering/rekindling the artist within! No art experience is necessary!

All supplies will be available to you at no cost, though donations are appreciated. Class will meet on Thursdays in person and via Zoom from 10:00-11:30AM starting May 12th. For Zoom, click HERE and use passcode ZENTANGLE.

*The Zentangle® Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. It was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. "Zentangle" is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. Learn more at zentangle.com.

Grocery trips on the bus are BACK! We will resume Friday bus service to the grocery store for campus residents. Drop off available at both Safeway shopping center and New Leaf shopping center. Bus will pick up behind the center at 12:45PM and return to campus at 2:00PM. If you would like to take advantage of this service, please call Emma at 650-726-9056. First grocery trip will take place on Friday, May 13th. Suggested donation of $2.00 round-trip.

International Days in the Dining Room International cuisine AND special programming? What could be better!? One day each month will feature an international dish accompanied by trivia, games, music, or activities around the featured country. Join us Thursday (5/5) to celebrate Mexico on Cinco de Mayo with Manny's delicious chicken enchiladas! Passports not required!

Lunch with your instructor Pre and post class time can be a bit hectic with busy schedules. Wouldn't it be nice to sit and chat over a meal with your class instructor?Starting this month, our Pilates and Functional Movement instructor, Kerri Dorn, will be sticking around on the first Friday of each month to have lunch in the dining room and chat with students - without the stress of starting class late or missing an appointment! Come join Kerri for lunch and a chance to chat!

Western Mah Jong New Western Mah Jong group will meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month starting May 10th. The group will meet from 2:00-3:45PM Experienced and beginning players are welcome. You will need a 2022 Mah Jong card (copies will be available for purchase for $10). Please bring a mahj set if you have one. This free group is courtesy of the Coastside Women's Club and the Senior Coastsiders. Contact Wendy Rudisill at wendywrudisill@gmail.com for additional information.

Coastal Arts League Friday Art Classes have resumed! Class topics/mediums change each week.

We are looking for volunteers to help with this year's Annual Home Repair Day. If you are interested, please complete the volunteer enrollment form HERE.

Sneakers for Good/Sneakers for Funds Do you have some gently used sneakers or athletic shoes that still have some life left in them? Consider bringing them to Senior Coastsiders where we will have a collection box through collaboration with Sneakers for Good. Sneakers collected in the program are shipped to micro-enterprises in 27 different developing countries. There they are cleaned, fixed and used as inventory to support these small businesses. Micro-enterprises allow families to pave a path out of poverty through a hand up not a hand out model. Learn more about acceptable shoes HERE. This is for gently used, clean athletic shoes ONLY.

Comment Box is Back! We are dusting off the old comment box and invite you to let us know how we are doing. Please look for the box and cards by the coffee area. Comments will be treated as anonymous unless author notes otherwise. We will do our best to respond to your constructive feedback on lunch, classes, programming - or anything - in a timely manner. Additionally, your lunch table may be randomly selected to give feedback about our nutrition program - we can't wait to hear your ideas!

Check if you have unclaimed property in California 24.9 million people have unclaimed property in California. The average claim is $277. California’s Unclaimed Property Law requires companies to report and submit their customers’ property to the State Controller’s Office when there has been no activity for a period of time. Common types of unclaimed property are bank accounts, stocks, bonds, uncashed checks, insurance benefits, wages, and safe deposit box contents. Go to https://ucpi.sco.ca.gov/en/Property/SearchIndex and enter your name and SEARCH Properties. If you need help, sign up for computer tutoring and we will assist you with next steps. For more information go to https://www.sco.ca.gov/upd_msg.html.

Computer Tutoring We have volunteer tech tutors three days a week. Come in and troubleshoot or learn how to better use your computer or smart phone!

Many Older Phones (Flip Phones) will stop working this year if you don’t upgrade. All major carriers are ending 3G service in 2022 which means flip phones/smartphones over 9 years old may stop working. This includes the ability to call 911. Call your carrier to verify if your phone will work once 3G is shut down. AT&T ended 3G support in February. Sprint 3G will end by March 31. T-Mobile 3G will end by July 1. Verizon 3G will end by December 31.

Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) You could save $30 a month toward Internet service through this government program that offers long-term financial assistance to qualified households. To see if you qualify, click HERE.To enroll in ACP through Xfinity, click HERE. If you don’t use Xfinity, call your internet provider and let them know you qualify for the ACP program. Please let us know if you need help with these steps and we can schedule time with our computer tutors.

Parkinson's Support Group May and June Meetings Living Your “Best Life” With Parkinson’s Disease will be presented by a Kaiser Permanente Movement Disorders Specialist on Wednesday, May 4th from 2:30-3:30PM. There will be time for Q&A. And on Wednesday, June 1st from 2:30-3:30PM, we will be joined by a Kaiser Permanente Registered Dietician who will talk about nutrition. All are welcome to join virtually or in person.

To join via Zoom, click HERE and use the passcode PARKINSONS. Presenter will be broadcast in real time via Zoom to the group in the Senior Coastsiders Dining Room.

Senior's Dinner Club at It's Italia Come in and enjoy the fun and community of a family style dinner served at the It's Italia's "Grandfather Table" that seats 10 guests (first to reserve, first served). The Senior's Dinner Club will meet the second Thursday of each month (May 12th this month) for a 5:00PM seating. Enjoy a three-course seasonal menu designed by Chef Maile del Fierro for a set price of $25 (Includes coffee, tea, and soft drinks. Alcoholic beverages and gratuity not included). Payment and reservation to be made with the Senior Coastsiders office. Space will be limited to the first 10 people who sign up each month. This is a great chance to meet new or old friends at one of our fine downtown establishments.

Art Exhibit by Vladimir Galatenko in the Senior Coastsiders Dining Room, Tuesday, May 10th from 9:00AM-3:00PM. Vladimir graduated from the Educational Institute in Odessa (Ukraine) and worked in the Children/Youth School of the Track and Field Olympic reserve. His students were champions and record-holders of Ukraine and the Soviet Union. After retiring, Vladimir became fascinated by wood carving, restoration of furniture, and repair of antique clocks. After moving to the US, he made several portraits using hardwood floor boards and acrylic paint, thus was born his collection based on the Shota Rustaveli’s poem, “The Knight in Tiger’s Skin." Come enjoy some of Vladimir's work while at the center.

LIve Music Who doesn't love a little live music!? We have live music in the dining room at least once a week during lunch! Come see who's playing!

Now that we’ve been using My Senior Center for a few months, it’s time to make things interesting! Check in for lunch using My Senior Center for a chance to win a weekly prize! Starting May 16th and running through Jun 11, 2022, every time you use My Senior Center to check in for lunch, your name is entered into a raffle for a chance to win $5 Safeway cards. For instance, if you check in M-F, you’ll be entered 5 times that week. Prizes will be picked weekly, and the raffle pot will start at zero names every Monday.

HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program) HICAP staff will be at Senior Coastsiders during lunch on May 18th to answer your questions. HICAP helps Medicare beneficiaries and their families. It is a state and federally funded program that offers health insurance counseling, information, and other assistance to individuals in the Medicare program. They inform seniors about supplemental insurance (also known as Medigap), long-term care insurance, and health care plans. If you are struggling with any health insurance issues, make sure that you find a health insurance counselor that can advise you on the best options for you and your family.

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!

My Senior Center - Do you have a card? We are making great progress rolling out our new check in system with our lunch participants, volunteers, and now class participants. This new, efficient technology will help us better organize things at the Center. Regular visitors and volunteers are provided a small key tag to swipe across a scanner located in the lobby. Participants will then press the touchscreen to select the activities they'll be participating in that day. If you haven't yet registered, please do so HERE or swing by the office to complete a hard copy to ensure we have your most updated information. If you've already filled out the registration, stop by the office to pick up your card and get a quick tutorial on the system. It's super easy - we promise!

Free Home Covid Tests Senior Coastsiders has a limited supply of home Covid tests available for older adults on a first come, first served basis. Please call or stop by for more information or to pick up a test.

Free KN95 Masks Available Senior Coastsiders has KN95 masks available for older adults. Please stop by our office. Limit 2 per person.

Senior Coastsiders Cookbook - Cookin' on the Coast This collection of recipes comes from volunteers, participants, and even our own chef! Cookbooks available for purchase now for $20.00 each. Order online HERE or come to the Senior Coastsiders office. Books are also being sold at Inkspell Books at 500 Purissima Street in town.

New Household Hazardous Waste Program The free HHW Home Pick-up Program allows the County to service the HHW disposal needs of adults who are homebound, disabled, and over the age of 65 and cannot drive. The County will pick up the household hazardous waste directly from the homes of San Mateo County residents who qualify and cannot transport their household hazardous waste to a County HHW collection event. Pick ups will occur on available Wednesdays from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Appointments must be made. For additional information and appointments, call 650-399-6919 or 650-372-6200.

We also encourage you to reflect on your own mental health this month. The past two years have taught us the importance of being aware of our feelings and emotions, and there are a number of great opportunities in May to delve a little deeper. The National Council on Aging will host its annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium on May 16th. Registration is free and includes a full day of sessions on how to best meet the mental health needs of older adults. Register HERE. In addition, the San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services will be offering virtual and in-person events during the entire month of May. Their listings can be found HERE.

Senior Coastsiders' Stanford P.E.A.C.E. Contemplative Practices Program. Stanford School of Medicine, in partnership with Senior Coastsiders, brings you a free, customized resilience-building program of evidence-based contemplative practices for health and well-being!

Beacon - Tidings Connection Here on the Coastside, we are lucky to have many great events and programs. In an effort to make our participants/readers aware of even more opportunities, we are connecting with the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and cross-pollinating! See below for details of their upcoming meeting:

Half Moon Bay Library, 620 Correas Avenue

SPEAKER: Dana Landress, AAUW American Fellowship Award Recipient

Dana Landress was awarded the American Fellowship for 2021-22.  As a Ph.D. candidate in history of medicine and public health at UC Berkeley, her project was titled Ill Fares the Land: Pellagra and Women’s Public-Health Work in the Jim Crow South. Dana is a historian of 20th century medicine and public health. Her research explores the diverse voices of female home-demonstration agents from across the American South who, without formal medical training, established community-health networks to eradicate pellagra, one of the South’s most devastating nutritional diseases in the 1920s. She is interested in the intersections between rural women’s health, agrarian economies, and medicine as it is learned and practiced outside of the clinic.

Senior Coastsiders pet buddy program provides support services for seniors and their pets. Volunteers can help with dog walking, in home cat care, medication assistance, transportation to the vet, and more! The program also provides pet food, cat litter, limited financial assistance towards veterinary care and adoption assistance.

We are offering many classes in one of three different formats: virtually over Zoom, in-person, or a hybrid model. We hope to have options for everyone and welcome your feedback.

See below for our current class listings and the May menu. For a full list of class descriptions and instructors, click HERE.

The services provided by Senior Coastsiders are age dependent and not income dependent. This means that if you are an older adult, we are here to serve you, no matter if you are on a low fixed income or fortunate enough to be financially independent. In thinking about the needs that people have, one of the most famous theories was developed by Abraham Maslow and published in 1943. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is usually shown as a pyramid in which the needs are divided into basic needs like food, water, warmth, rest, security and safety and growth needs that include a need to belong, to be loved, have a feeling of accomplishment, and achieve one’s full potential. Needs lower down in the hierarchy must be satisfied before individuals can attend to needs higher up.

Join Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition for a discussion about e-bikes on May 4 from 6 - 7 p.m. Not only are we talking all things e-bikes, but we're giving all webinar attendees the opportunity to win a $25 gift card! Register HERE.

Peninsula Clean Energy offers a home electrification program that includes no-cost electric appliances, energy efficiency upgrades, and home repairs. This program provides income-qualified homeowners with home repairs and energy efficiency upgrades at no cost. You can improve your home, making it more comfortable, healthier, and even save money on your utility bill.

To learn more and pre-apply, visit: https://www.peninsulacleanenergy.com/home-upgrade-program/.

PCE-HomeUpgrade@rhainc.com or call

Don’t throw away your mask just yet! Although the indoor mask mandate has been lifted, you may want to consider wearing a mask in certain situations. Upgrade your mask to a KF94/KN95 or N95 for the best protection. We still have KN95 masks available, as well as a few free at-home COVID tests.

Please forward to anyone you think might benefit from this information!