September 2022
Registration is OPEN for the 2022 Pumpkin Run
IN-PERSON & Virtual

We are so excited to be back in-person for this year's Annual Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Run by Senior Coastsiders! We encourage you to spread the word far and wide! And if racing isn't quite your speed, we will need an army of volunteers to help make the run a success!

We hope you'll join us!
National Senior Center Month
September is National Senior Center month so as we celebrate senior centers across the country, we also want to think about what a Senior Center is to you? Senior Centers can evoke a myriad of images for different people. Some may think of an active space with challenging exercise classes full of healthy older adults while others may think of seniors using walkers or wheelchairs to get around. You might think of a group of older women quietly quilting together - or that same group of women laughing raucously about a silly joke while quilting together. You might imagine lunches, card games, painting, book clubs, dancing, movie screenings, or lectures. And you might also envision a space where older adults of any age can come and feel welcome, seek help or advice from an experienced staff, share a laugh, or get a much needed smile. We think a dynamic senior center is one that provides all of these things and is constantly striving to offer even more.

That is our goal at Senior Coastsiders as we celebrate National Senior Center month, and as we look to the future. We hope you will challenge yourself to try something new this month at the center, whether it be a new class or sitting with someone new at lunch! We also ask that you help us continue to grow and look to the future. In the section from our Executive Director, Sandi Winter, please read up on how you can help us envision Senior Coastsiders by the year 2030.
New and Upcoming!
Senior Coastsiders provides accommodations for people with disabilities. Please check with the office at least 24 hours in advance if you will need extra support. For further information on classes or upcoming events, call 650-726-9056. To see regularly scheduled weekly classes, be sure to scroll down.
Closures & Class Cancellations

  • Senior Coastsiders will be closed on Monday, September 5th in observance of Labor Day.
  • Kerri Dorn's Functional Movement Class will be canceled on Friday, 9/16
books_on_shelves_two-tone.jpg
Mystery Book Club This group meets the first Wednesday of each month (September 7th this month) at 12:00PM. The group will be discussing The Searcher, by Tana French. 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.
seamless_pattern_books.jpg
Half Moon Bay Library at Senior Coastsiders Library staff will be in the Senior Coastsiders Dining Room the third Wednesday of each month during our birthday celebration. Swing by the table to check out and return books and see what's new at the library!
Telling Your Story: A Guided Journey
Have you always wanted to tell your story – but didn’t know where to start? Then this workshop is for you! This engaging class will guide you through a series of fun and thought provoking questions to help you share meaningful memories and experiences from your life so
far – not only for yourself but for friends and family. Included in the workshop are helpful handouts as well as time to share with others in the group moments that have touched your life. Group will meet for two 45 minute sessions - Friday, September 9 and Friday, September 16 at 10:00AM. Class is free. Facilitator: Sarah Hurd. Sarah is a Half Moon Bay resident and long-time advocate for telling personal stories to transform lives. For over 20 years as a community leader and communications professional, she has been helping people of all ages tell their story in meaningful and impactful ways. As a 10-year board member of the Women’s History Museum of California and founding member of the multicultural initiative San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame, Sarah has created programs that empower people from all backgrounds to tell their stories in ways that change hearts and minds. You can read some of her more current work on Cisco’s Corporate Social Responsibility. HERE. Please register with the Senior Coastsiders office.
Parkinson's Support Group Wednesday, September 7th from 2:30-3:30PM. The group is made up of those with Parkinson's and their family members and caregivers and provides a wonderful opportunity to share experiences and resources.
Singing Class
Join Senior Coastsiders Community Liaison, Kiki Wolfeld, on Thursday mornings at 11:00AM in the Sunroom for a group singing class. Come spread joy and cheer through song! And, did you know that singing provides health benefits? It can...
  • Relieve stress
  • Stimulate the immune response
  • Increases your pain threshold
  • Reduce snoring
  • Improve lung function
  • Help develop a sense of belonging and connection
  • Enhance memory
New Class Ideas We are looking at adding a calligraphy class but would like to gauge interest. Would a calligraphy class be of interest to you? Please let us know! Email Hope Atmore if you would like to participate!
Let's all go to the movies! We'll provide the popcorn and the film, you just need to be entertained. Each month, we roll down the big screen in the dining room for a feature film (some old, some new). This month, join us to watch Cocoon on Tuesday, September 20th at 3:00PM.

Cocoon is a science fiction/drama that tells the story of a group of trespassing seniors who swim in a pool containing alien cocoons. They find themselves energized with youthful vigor. The film stars Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, Hume Cronyn, Brian Dennehy, Jack Gilford, Steve Guttenberg, Maureen Stapleton, and Jessica Tandy. Released in 1985, running time 117 minutes.

If you have movie suggestions, please stop by the office and let us know!
Did you know that in addition to congregate dining and home delivered meals, Senior Coastsiders provides ongoing information and assistance including referrals and care management? Information on a variety of services is available to respond to the diverse needs and interests of older adults and adults with disabilities, enhance their dignity, support their independence and encourage their involvement in the community. A care manager is available on staff to consult, advise and assist older adults and adults with disabilities with the issues they may face. And, if you need transportation to the center, it can be arranged with a suggested donation of $1.00 each way. Check with the Senior Coastsiders office for more information.
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? Pilates and Functional Movement instructor, Kerri Dorn, will be sticking around on the second 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 on Friday, September 9th!
Effective Communication Strategies Presented by the Alzheimer's Association will teach caregivers to decode verbal and behavioral communication by someone with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Participants will leave with strategies for meaningful connection with people in early, middle and late stage dementia. Presentation will be held at Senior Coastsiders on September 22 at 1:00PM. Event is free but registration is required. Please register HERE or stop by the office to reserve.
Coastal Arts League Friday Art Classes have resumed! Class topics/mediums change each week.

  • September 2 - Rebecca Ellis - Drawing
  • September 9 - Laura McHugh
  • September 16 - Rebecca Ellis - Drawing
  • September 23 - TBD
  • September 30 - Laura McHugh
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!
  • Peter Master on piano the first Tuesday of each month
  • Carol Siegal on the first Wednesday of each month
  • Coastside Celtic Collaboration the second Wednesday of each month
  • Vocalist Tina and guitarist Harry the third Wednesday of each month
  • Mike McCall on Spanish guitar the fourth Tuesday of each month
  • Blue City Jazz on the fourth Thursday of each month
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!
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.
Grocery trips on the bus are BACK! Friday bus service to the grocery store for campus residents has resumed. 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 the office at 650-726-9056. Suggested donation of $2.00 round-trip.
TECH CORNER
Computer Tutoring We have volunteer tech tutors four days a week. Come in and troubleshoot or learn how to better use your computer or smart phone!
  • Mondays with Wanda from 12-2
  • Tuesdays with Carolyn from 11-1
  • Thursdays with James from 2-4
Appointments required. Please schedule with the Senior Coastsiders office.
Flu Shot Clinic by CVS Staff from our local CVS will be on site to provide flu shots on Thursday, September 29th from 12-4:00PM. Register online HERE. Please bring your ID and Medical Insurance information with you on the day of the clinic.
QiGong (live) to Resume The Summer of Qigong Review will wrap up September 6th and in person/live QiGong with Judy Pruzinsky will resume on September 13th. Class meets at Senior Coastsiders on Tuesdays from 1:00-2:00PM. For more information about QiGong or the instructor, visit Judy's website HERE.
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 Wednesday, September 28th to celebrate India with a delicious chicken curry and some fun entertainment. Passports not required!
Live Virtual Tours
Where in the world would you like to go? In August, ten excited francophiles and the Program Manager walked along the streets of Paris on a live virtual tour. Our tour guide, Elyse, was in Paris and used his camera to show us around Le Marais while chatting with us and answering questions. It was our first time trying a Zoom tour and we are excited to try some more destinations. So where do you want to go next? Please email Hope with your suggestions! We hope to take a quarterly "trip"!
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. The Senior's Dinner Club meets the second Thursday of each month (September 8th 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 is limited to the first 10 people who sign up and pay each month. This is a great chance to meet new or old friends at one of our fine downtown establishments. Be sure to take advantage of this amazing deal!
My Senior Center- Game on!
During the month of August, we challenged participants to consistently check in using the My Senior Center kiosk for a chance to win two free classes or a $10 gift card to Safeway. Well done to all of you! Did you know we are averaging around 180 individuals checking in for activities or lunch every week! If you haven't been using the kiosk, be sure to get your card and ask a staff member how to use the kiosk.

And the winners are!

  • Jaye Reid
  • Tom Kirkpatrick
  • Meg Redden
  • Rosemary Trujillo

Congratulations to these participants!
My Senior Center - My Active Center Now that most of our Senior Coastsiders community has become accustomed to our new My Senior Center, we are rolling out the next awesome feature! My Active Center (MAC) allows participants to log in from their home computer, phone, or tablet to reserve their spot in a class or activity. Even more importantly, MAC enables Senior Coastsiders to use a new and more streamlined Zoom interface for those who do classes at home, and to more easily track attendance. Some classes have already made the transition and more are coming. Keep an eye out for information on how to set up your My Active Center account. And for our technology gurus, you can preview My Active Center by clicking HERE for a pdf of what is to come.
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!
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.
Save the Date!
Writing Life Stories with Sandy Miranda
  • Look back to get a new understanding of your life
  • Create a written history of family stories
  • Write about what’s really important
  • Make new friends who also share their stories
Students will join a like-minded and convivial group to write about their lives and family history. With the help of evocative handouts, participants will be inspired to recall important incidents and turning points in their lives and write them down in a page or two as if writing a letter to a friend. Reflective techniques will also be explored. Participants will clarify what has been most important so they can “pass down the pearls” of their wisdom to future generations. Sharing of stories is encouraged! Sandy Miranda has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Philosophy and over thirty years of adult-level multicultural teaching experience. Group will meet on Thursday afternoons from 1:30-3:00PM for six sessions starting on October 6th.
Other upcoming Community Events & Info
Coast Pride Meet Up Coast Pride is adding an older adult (55+) social group and they want your feedback! If you're interested in getting involved, becoming a facilitator, or have thoughts on how they can best serve the 55+ LGBTQ+ community on the Coast, please take a moment to fill out their survey. They want to hear your voice and understand how to best serve and support YOU!
Free events will be offered October 11– November 2, 2022, to further individual and community health and well-being, and creative excellence to serve the greater good in these unprecedented times. Contemplation By Design is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, campus-wide program cultivating resilience, well-being, wisdom, compassion, and sustainable, ethical, purposeful service. Registration for the 45 free sessions opens HERE on Sept 12. Full descriptions of each session are available by clicking on the session titles listed in the Summit Schedule posted on the Summit website. 
VA Resources, Benefits, & Medical Services Tuesday, September 27th from 10:00AM-2:00PM. Drop by the Half Moon Bay Library to ask
questions for veteran benefits, their spouses, dependents and parents of deceased veterans. For more information, click HERE.
NEW Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Line - 988 Similar to 911, this new, simplified tool will connect those in need with representatives specifically trained in the management of suicide risk and other mental health crises. One of the goals of the new number is to reduce the use of 911 for suicide and mental health crises, because calling 911 in such situations too often results in inadequate or inappropriate intervention by the police or unnecessary hospitalization or incarceration. This lifeline is critical for older adults and those living with a disability because such individuals are at greater risk for mental 
health crises and suicide. If you are struggling with a mental health emergency, call 988.
Acterra will be kicking off their Fall Lecture Series in an event featuring Nathaniel Stinnett of Environmental Voter Project. This remarkable organization is out to show that environmentalists' voices truly matter. Virtual event. To learn more or to register, click HERE.
Beacon - Tidings Connection
New to the Coast? A hearty welcome from another great organization you might want to check out - AAUW HMB, the American Association of University Women.  

This September we will be hosting a voter registration drive at the HMB Library on September 20, 11:00AM-3:00PM. Stop by to change your address or to chat with one of our members about our activities.

Click HERE To learn more about AAUW-HMB and read our monthly newsletter. 
Immigration Inclusion Summit 2022
We all search for places #WhereWeBelong. Whether it’s your local library or office or park, join us this Welcoming Week to celebrate the places, spaces, and people that create a sense of belonging for everyone.

Our annual Summit this year will include speakers and sessions that highlight welcoming, belonging, and the immigrant experience in San Mateo County. We will be hearing from our Board of Supervisors' President, County Executive Officer, Chief Equity Officer, Stanford University's Gardner Center, and directly from immigrant residents in our communities. **Including Senior Coastsiders' own, Edinson Ledezma! We will also be screening our Welcoming Video (that includes many community members!), and featuring a musical performance from guitarist Hugo Wainzinger in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Spanish interpretation will be available. We hope you will join us! Click HERE to register.
Contemplative Practice for Resilience and Well-Being

Contemplative practice behaviors include activities such as meditation, prayer, breath awareness, gratitude, and compassion. There is substantial scientific evidence that contemplative practice behaviors provide physical and psychosocial health benefits. Contemplative practices have been shown to strengthen resilience, self-awareness, mindfulness, self-regulation and distress tolerance. 
Translating this science into impact, Senior Coastsiders is pleased to offer a new series that will be delivered by content experts and is designed to build contemplative practice behaviors and promote resilience. These free sessions will occur monthly until April 2023 with some taking place via Zoom and others in person at Senior Coatsiders. A resource booklet will be developed to assist interested individuals in finding out more information about contemplative practices.

Session 3 - Friday, September 30th from 3:30-5:00PM (in person)
Hatha Yoga- This session will be split into two parts - didactic and experiential. In the didactic part of the session, participants can expect to learn about the origins and purpose of yoga, modern adaptations of yoga, and how yoga has been shown to help in certain ailments. In the experiential, we will go through a 45 min hatha yoga session and have an open discussion about the session afterwards. Presenter, Priya Jain, MD, is a physician at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health. She grew up learning about yoga from monks from India who would travel the US to spread their knowledge. As a medical student, she began her own regular practice of yoga, and pursued her yoga teacher training in India just prior to residency. She tries to incorporate aspects of yoga in her daily life as well as with patients where applicable. Please register HERE or call or stop by the Senior Coastsiders office.


Other upcoming sessions - Save the dates:

  • QiGong (originally scheduled for August will be re-scheduled for later in the series
  • Session 4 Tai Chi - Tuesday, October 25, 4:00-5:00PM (In person)
  • Session 5 Breathwork 101 - Tuesday, November 22, 4:00-5:00PM (most likely in person but check back for details)
  • Session 6 TBD - Tuesday, January 24, 4:00-5:00PM (In person)
  • Session 7 Gratitude and Loving Kindness, February 28, 4:00-5:00PM (Zoom)
  • Session 8 Mindful Self Compassion, Tuesday, March 28, 1:00-2:00PM (In person)
  • Session 9 Restorative Yoga, Wednesday, April 19, 4:00-5:00PM (Zoom)
  • Session 10 TBD

In a study conducted among older adults right here on the Coast, individuals who reported high levels of resilience had long held behaviors of contemplative practices that helped them effectively adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, this study found a strong relationship between higher resilience and improved well-being. This study has just been published in an academic journal after having gone through a rigorous peer review process. If you would like to read the study, it can be accessed HERE.
September 18-24 is Fall Prevention Week. 
And we're not talking about the change in seasons - but we might be talking about a change in behavior. This is a week to think about how you can prevent unnecessary falls for yourself and your loved ones. Here are some quick tips to prevent falls - but we encourage you to read more HERE.
  • Stay physically active - find an exercise class (or 2 or 3 or 4) that are right for you! At Senior Coastsiders we have line dancing, Pilates, Functional Movement, and Rosen just to name a few!
  • Have your eyes and hearing tested
  • Find out about side effects of medicines you take
  • Get enough sleep (having trouble? try some contemplative practice offerings)
  • Limit alcohol
  • Use an assistive device (we loan them out at Senior Coastsiders)
  • Be careful on wet surfaces (it will rain eventually!)
  • Check your home for trip hazards like throw rugs, boxes, and bags on the floor
  • Install grab bars and hand rails (Senior Coastsiders' Home Repair program can help with that - give us a call).

Keep an eye out for future fall prevention workshops at Senior Coastsiders. We offer them as often as we can!
If you would like to support the classes, activities, and special programming happening at Senior Coastsiders, click below to make a donation and designate 'classes and activities.'
Senior Coastsiders Pet Buddy Program provides support services for seniors and their pets. Volunteers can help with temporary 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.
Are you living on a fixed income and struggling with the high cost of quality pet food? Senior Coastsiders' Pet Buddy program can help by providing low-income seniors free pet food (regular and prescription). Please call Tracey at 650-726-9056 for more information or to sign up.
Lunches, classes, and programs are in full swing!

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.

CLASSES:
  • Zoom links and online waivers for all virtual classes are available on our website, with the exception of Pilates Fusion and Functional Movement. Those classes must be accessed through My Active Center (instruction are HERE). Watercolor Wednesday will transition to My Active Center as of September 21.
  • If you are coming for in-person classes, please plan to arrive a bit early to complete necessary waivers and learn how to use My Senior Center
  • In case of canceled classes, we will do our best to provide links for previously recorded classes below each class description.
LUNCH:
  • Our dining room is open Mondays-Fridays starting at 10:00AM for coffee and lunch registration begins at 11:45AM. Lunch is served at noon.
  • Birthday lunch is the third Wednesday of each month.
  • Live music during lunch is indicated by a musical note on menu.
  • Once a month, we celebrate a different country with a special meal, & trivia.
  • Vegetarian options are available for all meals, please ask your server for details.

See below for our current class listings and the September menu. For a full list of class descriptions and instructors, click HERE.
Please note that Zumba Gold is taking a break for the summer
Supporting Senior Coastsiders
​​Senior Coastsiders is delighted to be hosting the 44th Annual Pumpkin Run on Sunday October 16th. We are very grateful to our sponsors for supporting this event: New Leaf, Sports Basement, Goldworks, FogTown Toys, Haynes Beffel & Wolfeld LLP, and Cozzolino Christmas Trees. We hope to see you there – as a participant, a volunteer, or a cheerleader!
Just for Fun!

A Note from the Executive Director, Sandi Winter
The piece I wrote for last month’s newsletter piece was pretty science heavy. It was about how the beliefs we have about aging affect our psychological, behavioral, and biological health. This piece sparked a conversation I had with one of our participants, Kathryn Murdock, who recently took a road trip along the entire Route 66 to celebrate her ninetieth birthday! Kathryn shared her belief about the importance of having a hobby to keep people active and engaged. There is scientific evidence that having a hobby also benefits our psychological, behavioral, and biological health. This led me to thinking about one of my own hobbies - sewing. This pastime has recently become a lot more meaningful for me because now I can sew for my granddaughter. A few weekends ago I made her this hot pink bloomer set!

Volunteering is also a great hobby that has substantial health and well-being benefits. Senior Coastsiders has a broad range of volunteer opportunities that include preparing and serving lunches; delivering Meals on Wheels; teaching a class such as bridge, guitar, exercise, computers, etc.; helping with fundraising events including Pumpkin Run and Taste of the Coast; doing minor home repairs; assisting with special requests such as grocery shopping or reading; and providing support in our Pet Buddy Program. If you’re interested in volunteering, please fill out the interest form that can be found here.

September is National Senior Center month and I invite you to come by to check out the many classes and activities we have going on and that are highlighted in this newsletter.

Finally, over the next couple of months, the leadership of Senior Coastsiders will be drafting our vision statement and we’re projecting out to the year 2030. Why 2030? Well, according to the US Census, the year 2030 marks an important demographic turning point in U.S. history because by 2030, all baby boomers will be older than age 65. This will expand the size of the older population so that 1 in every 5 residents will be at retirement age. The aging of baby boomers means that within just a couple of decades, older people are projected to outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history.

As an important contributor to our organization we would like to hear what YOU think are the opportunities Senior Coastsiders should pursue for our future. What is YOUR vision for Senior Coastsiders in 2030?
 
You can provide this information in several ways:
  • complete this FORM
  • use the post-it notes that will be available in the dining room between 8/29/2022 and 9/9/2022 
  • contact Sandi Winter directly at 650-726-9056, or swinter@seniorcoastsiders.org or in person at 925 Main St

Take care,
Sandi
Community News You Can Use!
We take great pride in our community partnerships and view them as one more way to help provide resources for our community.
Say goodbye to gas with used EV rebates

Electric vehicles (EVs) provide lasting benefits to individuals and the community at large. In addition to offering significantly lower operation and maintenance costs to drivers, EVs emit significantly less emissions than gasoline powered cars. That’s why Peninsula Clean Energy is helping San Mateo County and Los Banos residents go electric with rebates of up to $6,000 when they purchase a used EV. Income qualified residents can save even more by combining additional offers from other state and local programs. For more information, to complete a pre-application or to find a participating dealership, visit: https://pencleanenergy.co/3FUtdoN.
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!