July 2021

WELCOME BACK!

We can't wait to welcome you back to the center on July 7th! Our dining room will be open and we will be offering most of your favorite classes as well as some new ones you are sure to love! Be sure to read below to find out all the details for upcoming events!
What to expect when you come to the center

In keeping with current California Public Health Department guidelines
  • we require that all unvaccinated people entering our Center wear a mask
  • we strongly encourage all vaccinated people entering our Center to continue wearing masks if not actively eating, drinking, or exercising
  • staff and volunteers will be wearing masks when interacting with the public
We will revisit our masking policy each month and ask that you continue to be appropriately cautious for the health and safety of everyone.

If you aren't feeling well, do NOT come to the center. We can make alternative lunch arrangements for you if needed, and many classes can be accessed via Zoom.

A huge thank you to the 50+ volunteers who gave up their Saturday for our Annual Home Repair Day on June 5th. They weeded, did minor and major repairs, changed lightbulbs, and made about 15 homes safer for the seniors living in them. We can't do what we do without the help of our many volunteers - THANK YOU!
New and Upcoming!
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 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.
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Virtual Mystery Book Club This group meets the first Wednesday of each month (July 7th this month) at 1:00pm. The group will be discussing Vanishing in the Haight, by Max Tomlinson. For the Zoom link, please contact hatmore@seniorcoastsiders.org. Future books can be picked up at the Senior Coastsiders office at 925 Main Street. Starting in August, the group will meet at the center!
Charity Auction
“Half Moon Bay,” 24” x 18”, oil on canvas Artist: Steve Rossi
This piece was a commissioned painting for the cover of the 2021-2022 City of Half Moon Bay Annual Budget, featuring the work of 26 artists from the Coastal Arts League. To further engage the community with this project, this original painting is being auctioned, with 100% of the proceeds to be divided equally between:
  • Senior Coastsiders
  • ALAS (Ayudando Latinos A Sonar)
  • Coastal Arts League
The Auction ends on Saturday, July 17, 2021 at 5:00pm. Bids may be placed in person at the Coastal Arts League Gallery, 300 Main Street, Half Moon Bay, or by sending an email: Dial911ross@yahoo.com.
Bids will be accepted in $25 increments. 
Evergreen Coastsiders July 14th Presentation Representatives from the City of Half Moon Bay will be on site to discuss the new building electrification plans. Additional information below in the Evergreen Coastsiders section
Flute Concert Join us on Friday, July 23rd for a lovely afternoon of flute arrangements with Gail Edwards starting at 2:00pm in the dining room.
Hazard Mitigation Survey #2 How can San Mateo County help reduce the risks of hazards in our community? How can the County help families and neighbors get organized and prepared before a disaster? Complete the survey HERE.
Virtual Brain Camp The University of Delaware will be conducting a 6 week free, brain camp for seniors! This program will feature topics such as history, music, and travel. The weekly topics will be used to create stimulating cognitive activities and exercises. The sessions will teach you about memory loss, offer workshops that build strength and abilities, provide fun peer support and skill building, and stimulate your minds with mentally challenging activities!                  
This program is part of the University of Delaware’s Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition. Classes will be on Wednesdays at 9:30 for 6 weeks beginning July 7th- August 11th. To register, email sbs@udel.edu or eosmith@udel.edu ​and provide your name, email address and phone number with area code.                                 
Resumption of lunches, classes, and meetings starting July 7th

We are excited to bring back many of your favorite classes and groups as well as introduce some new offerings like Functional Movement and Walk and Stretch classes. At the discretion of the instructor, classes may be offered 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.
  • Zoom links and online waivers for all virtual classes will be on our website starting Tuesday, July 6th.
  • If you are coming for in-person classes, please plan to arrive a bit early to complete new waivers.
  • Keep an eye on our website for a new up to date class calendar for changes or cancellations and for full class descriptions.
  • Some hybrid classes may experience technical difficulties in the first weeks - bear with us!
  • Our dining room will open at noon Mondays-Fridays and lunch will be served at 12:15pm.
  • Birthday lunch will now be the third Wednesday of each month.

See below for our current class listings and the July menu. For a full list of class descriptions and instructors, click here.
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!
THANK YOU to the organizations that have provided us with delicious food in recent months:

  • La Costanera – food for our June 15th BBQ
  • It’s Italia – a weekly meal for our seniors
  • Spice Me – vegetarian options for our seniors
  •  Hippo Harvest – produce donation that is coordinated by Peninsula Food Runners

Please support these organizations!
Just for Fun!

A Note from the Executive Director

We are so excited to see familiar faces and welcome new participants when we reopen our Center for lunch, classes, and activities on July 7th. We have been busy decluttering, sorting, cleaning and otherwise getting our space ready. 
 
Current data from San Mateo County Health indicate that over 80% of people aged 10 and older in San Mateo County have been vaccinated and positivity for the virus has decreased to 0.3% countywide. Notwithstanding this good news, the safety of everyone who enters our building is of paramount importance to us. In keeping with current California Public Health Department guidelines, we will be requiring that all unvaccinated people entering our Center wear a mask and strongly encouraging all those who are vaccinated to continue wearing masks if not actively eating, drinking, or exercising. The staff and volunteers will be wearing masks when interacting with the public. We will revisit our masking policy next month and ask that everyone coming to the Center continue to be appropriately cautious for the health and safety of everyone.
 
Why is it so important that we reopen for in-person interactions? I’ve listed some reasons below:
 
Benefits communal dining provides:
  • a sense of community and the opportunity to build positive and supportive relationships
  • increases in brain health and cognitive function
  • a sense of purpose which contributes to people feeling happier, more fulfilled, and healthier
  • and of course, the main benefit is that the food Manny, Edna, Edinson and the kitchen volunteers prepare is delicious healthy and nutritious!

Benefits group exercise provides:
  • a sense of community and the opportunity to build positive and supportive relationships
  • motivation and inspiration
  • the opportunity to have one’s form corrected by expert teachers
  • a means to hold oneself accountable

Benefits craft groups provide:
  • a sense of community and the opportunity to build positive and supportive relationships
  • space to work
  • community service through projects that are donated to others
  • the opportunity to improve skills and knowledge
  • motivation to get projects done
  • expert craft teachers
  • access to training materials

Did you spot the recurring theme among these benefits? A sense of community and the opportunity to build positive and supportive relationships! We can’t wait to reopen our Center and resume in-person interactions for the benefit of our community. 

Looking forward to seeing you – in-person!

Sandi

It’s Time to Be “Foodware Aware!

Did you know that one of the biggest contributors to plastic pollution is the foodware that holds your next to-go meal? To address the problem of plastic pollution and protect public health, the City of Half Moon Bay has adopted a new Disposable Foodware Ordinance that will launch on July 9th, 2021. 

The Ordinance requires restaurants and other food facilities to eliminate disposable plastic foodware and replace it with reusable or compostable alternatives made from natural fiber such as paper or bamboo that are free of harmful chemicals like PFAS. Cups, bowls, take-out containers, utensils, and straws are just some of the common disposable foodware items that are impacted.

If you need utensils, condiment packets, or other small items when ordering takeout, please remember to ask for them. Starting in July, restaurants and other food facilities can only give out these accessories upon request by the customer.

Make sure your favorite restaurants and other food facilities are in compliance with the Ordinance. Let the County of San Mateo’s Foodware Aware Team know if they need assistance.

You can check out the new Foodware Aware Campaign Website to learn more about the Ordinance and find useful resources to help food facilities and the general public be Foodware Aware.
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.
The CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program is still accepting applications. Both renters and landlords are encouraged to apply. Check eligibility and apply at HousingIsKey.com or call 833-430-2122. 
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 Coming Soon -
Begin new habits now
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!