docAugust 2015 - Council On Aging
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August 2015 - Council On Aging
August 2015 SONOMA SENIORS TODAY Art Ibleto Toward a Low Water Garden After 40 years, the “Pasta King” is still earning his title Tips for drought-proofing your landscape by Cheri Lieurance Marketing Coordinator by Bonnie Allen A rt Ibleto has led a life filled with plenty of challenges, from a childhood spent under the totalitarian regime of Benito Mussolini in his native Italy, to severe injuries suffered while working at a factory in Petaluma. But when life handed him lemons—well, he made pasta. And boy, has he made pasta. Over the past 45 years, he’s built an empire in Sonoma County based on this hearty staple that encompasses a catering business, a restaurant, packaged products, and booths at both the Sonoma County Fair and Wednesday Night Market in downtown Santa Rosa. Along the way, he also established a vineyard called Bella Sonoma, just for good measure. Ibleto grew up in Italy, where pasta is the staff of life. He was raised in Sesta Godano, a small town just a few minutes from Italy’s picturesque Cinque Terre region, along the rugged Italian Riviera coastline. But life in Italy at that time was tainted by the rule of Mussolini and later the trauma of World War II. Ibleto so detested Mussolini’s regime and the war going on around him, he became a “freedom fighter” dedicated to thwarting Mussolini’s troops and Nazi forces. “I swore that, if I came through alive, I would leave,” he remembers. Several years after the end of the war, a family friend invited him to come in California. His first job in Sonoma County was picking zucchini. “It was a killer job, bending over all day.” But with his characteristic optimism, he worked hard. Next, he was offered a job at a fish processing plant in Petaluma that produced animal feed. He suffered a near-fatal accident, when a cooking pot exploded and “burned me from my belly button on up,” says Ibleto. “But I didn’t complain because it could have been worse.” In 1958, Ibleto and his wife joined the Petaluma lodge of Sons of Italy. He went on to hold several offices for the lodge, including two C alifornia’s historic drought has us all wondering how to maintain a lush garden in an era of water restrictions. Is it even possible? Must we spend every summer with a brown lawn? The answer is, with the right plantings and watering regimen, you can maintain an attractive garden year round. terms as president. In the 1970s, Ibleto proposed to a group of seven local lodges called the “United Lodge” that they run an Italian food booth at the county fair to raise funds for other organizations. After a few years, the lodges decided not to continue operating the highly successful, but labor-intensive “Spaghetti Palace.” Ibleto took over, creating what has become a 40-year tradition at the fair. Ibleto’s fame as a purveyor of authentic, affordable Italian cuisine continued to grow, spawning a booming catering business. “People started to call and say ‘Art, I am getting married,’ or ‘we’re having a funeral, will you cook for us?’” says Ibleto. Ibleto became known particularly for his nonprofit work; many times he has simply donated his services and food to causes ranging from a funeral honoring a sheriff ’s deputy to a benefit for victims of the recent earthquake in Nepal. “I feel good when I do something for the community,” says Ibleto. Ibleto’s simple approach to cooking has never varied. “I start by using the best pasta possible,” says Ibleto. “Then you have the sauce. We make fresh, home-made sauce every day. You gotta remember the flavor of food; it doesn’t happen by chance.” For many years, the traditional pasta with marinara (red) sauce reigned as everyone’s favorite, but somewhere along the line, pasta with pesto (green) sauce became equally in To drought-proof existing plants, take the advice of Dave Kaplow of the North Coast Native Nursery, which he runs with his wife, Roanne. Kaplow restores California landscapes to their natural habitat using drought-tolerant California native plants. A mature California dryland habitat needs no irrigation at all after the first couple of years. Kaplow starts out watering new plantings once a week, then in the next year or two, every two to three weeks. After that, the plants are established and need no more watering. Whether or not you have native plants, you can drought-proof existing plants if you start watering them differently. “You have to water less often, but deeply,” says Kaplow. Too many of us go out and water every few days, and plants respond with shallow roots. Experiment with gradually cutting down on how often you water, See Art ibleto, page 8 See Drought, page 6 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 341 Santa Rosa, CA 95401 Gumplant, a California native with summer-long showy yellow flowers Water more deeply INSIDE Benefits of Fiber............................................page 2 Volunteer Jim Boitano............................... page 4 Employee Sue Tasselmyer.......................page 5 Legal Q & A......................................................page 5 Stretch Your Budget...................................page 6 A Time to Talk................................................page 7 COA Legal Services Change ..................page 9 Senior Center Highlights.........................page 10 Crossword & Sudoku................................. page 11 Save the Date............................................... page 12 SONOMA SENIORS TODAY August 2015 | PAGE 2 The Fabulous Health Benefits of Fiber Sonoma Seniors Today published monthly by By Chris Bekins, RD Council on Aging Dietician F iber is that portion of plant material that is totally or mostly indigestible. This material adds bulk or roughage to the contents of our intestine and is vitally important to our total health. You can find soluble fiber in fruits and vegetables, beans, barley and oat bran, often in the skins, stems, seeds, kernels and stalks. 30 Kawana Springs Road Santa Rosa, CA 95404 707-525-0143 • 800-675-0143 Fax 707-525-0454 www.councilonaging.com President and CEO Marrianne McBride Board of directors Corrine Lorenzen, Chair Deborah Roberts, Vice Chair Jeff Beeson, Bonnie Burrell, Jayne Cohill, James DeVore, Joseph Huang, Chuck McPherson, Mary Meuchel, Jeanne Miskel, Leticia Padilla, John Pearson, John Reyes, Debby Roumbanis and David Vicini Why do we need fiber? Fiber is an essential element in our diet because it: • Ensures proper digestion to help prevent or ease constipation, diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome. • Helps to keep cholesterol and blood sugar in healthy ranges. • Helps to lower high blood pressure and inflammation and improves your energy levels, mood and immunity to disease. Editor: Bonnie Allen, (707) 763-2544 [email protected] Contributors: Bonnie Allen, Chris Bekins, Cheri Lieurance, Michele Leonard, John Lesjack and Paul Miller How much fiber do we need? The recommended daily intake is 30–38 grams for men and 20–25 for women. Here are examples of the fiber content of different types of food: • Raspberries: eight grams per cup • Brussels sprouts: four grams per cup • Green peas: eight grams per cup • Cooked beans: eight grams per one-half cup • Corn: six grams in one ear • Brown rice: six grams per cup • One apple: four grams • Strawberries: four grams per cup • Almonds: four grams per one-quarter cup Peace of mind for you and your family... Professional and courteous emergency assistance at the press of a button 24/7. Daniella, Customer Service for 10 years • Local & personal service • FDA approved • Waterproof help buttons • No long term contracts • Automatic fall detection and wireless available • New GoSafe mobile button with GPS Mention this ad for Free Installation ($50 value) Proofreading Assistance: Steve Della Maggiora How can I be sure to get enough fiber in my diet? Here are some ways you can get more fiber in your diet: • Choose rolled oats instead of instant oatmeal. • Include almonds in your cereal. • Sprinkle ground flax seeds onto cereal, yogurt, salads and soups. • Eat whole grains every day. • Try to eat beans or lentils every day. • Add fruits and vegetables to each meal and snack. • Have a salad at least once a day. • Eat berries often, fresh or frozen. • Try to eat vegetables and fruits from each color category every day: red, orange/yellow, blue/purple, white and green. Source of information: www.mayoclinic.com, Candy Cumming, MS, RD Distribution Manager: Jeramon Shade Advertising: 525-0143, ext. 112 Subscriptions: Use form on page 3. Sonoma Seniors Today is a publication of Council on Aging, 30 Kawana Springs Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, (707) 525-0143 [email protected] www.councilonaging.com Sonoma Seniors Today strives to share a variety of viewpoints on subjects of interest to a broad range of its readership. Opinions and viewpoints expressed by contributors and those interviewed for articles do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Council on Aging. Readers are invited to share their ideas, opinions and viewpoints by writing to this publication. Suggestions for improving this publication are given careful consideration, and letters to the editor are welcomed. Photographs may also be submitted. Editor’s note: Publication of all material is at the discretion of the editor; originals become the property of SST and cannot be returned. Mail all submissions to Sonoma Seniors Today c/o Council on Aging, 30 Kawana Springs Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, or email to [email protected]. All rights reserved. © 2015 Council on Aging SST Subscriptions Make GREAT Gifts (especially for yourself) A portion of each Sonoma Seniors Today subscription will go toward providing senior services. And your gift keeps giving through the year. Mail this form with check for $24 (1 year, 12 issues) or $12 (6 months, 6 issues), payable to Council on Aging, to: SST Subscriptions, c/o Council on Aging, 30 Kawana Springs Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95404. Name________________________________________Telephone__________________ Mailing Address__________________________________________________________ City__________________________ Ask About our PHILIP’S MEDICATION Dispensing Service COMPETITIVE PRICING For more information on the leading personal medical response service since 1974 call: (707) 778-7883 (800) 949-2434 www.lifelinenorthbay.com State/Zip_________ Date ___________________ For additional subscriptions, please use a separate sheet of paper. Mission Statement To enhance the quality of life for our aging community by providing services that promote well-being and maintain independence. SONOMA SENIORS TODAY August 2015 | PAGE 3 Council on Aging Donors Many thanks and appreciation to our generous donors who gave gifts of support to our 16 programs and services during the month of June, 2015. Annual Appeal Terry E. Adams Robert D. Adamson Louise Ahles-Kedziora Vance A. Alkire Dee Almanzo Alpha Fire Suppression Systems, Inc. Robert Amend John and Lisa Anderson William and Robyn Anderson Francis S. & Carol A. Aspinall William Babula Emil and Suzanne Bacilla Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Baechler Dennis Barrett Thomas Basile Bernice Baxter Ellen Beck Norma A. Beck Lester and Evelyn Bennett Randy Benson Veronica M. Berg Laura and Allan Bernstein Thomas Bertoli Irene D. Bisagno Barbara Blair Perry L. Blair Paul and Kathleen Blank Fred J. Blatt, Jr Timothy and Kathleen Boden Virginia and Edwin Booth Thomas and Beth Bourret Stephen and Jeanne Boyett F. Milton Brandt Greg and Cheryl Braswell Morris and Sandra Bridges George Britton Sarah R. Brooks Angela Brunton Geraldine Burgess Ritchie and Marcia Burkart Hilary Burton Alvin Cadd Margaret and Robert Call Michael and Mary Chamberlain Carl Clark Michael Clementi Ruth C. Coddington Commoncents Josephine Credo John and Ellen Crocker Lawrence and Elaine Darling John Davenport Marjorie and Rudolph Davis Bruce DeCrona Evelyn Del Carlo Glenn Dennler Kathleen Diller Jim A. Dolinsek William F. Donahue R. B. and Doris J. Donegan Jean Downing Jeanne and Richard Duben William J. Dwyer Ann Eckelhoff Deena and Carl Edwards Margery and Ross Egge John Elder Melinda I. Evans Tim and Karen Exley Mike and Gail Fairchild Helen Fernandez Herman H. Flum Sylvia and Lew Forrest Marjorie C. Foster Farida K. Fox Wendell Freeman Arlene and Jerry Fritsch Betty L. Furr Theo Garman Shirley and Waheed K. Ghauri Marilyn T Goodwin Lorri E. Goveia Kenneth and Trudy Grabenauer Thelma Groom Grace J. Gully Margaretha Hamerschlag Sally Hanhy Gary C. Hansford Allan Hardman J. Michael and Cynthia Harmon Susan Hartz Robert G. Hauge Stephen and Paula Hawkes Shirley Helburn Harold Hill Marie Howarth Donald and Yvonne Humphrey Scott and Stacy Iversen Richard and Barbara Iverson Jetronics Company Phillip A. Johnson Don and Louise Johnston J. Martin Jones Elizabeth M. Jordan Maureen Karbousky Jim Kaumeyer Mary Keith Martie Koskoff Beverly Kruse Debra La Prath Robert I. Lawrence, Jr. Mary E. Lawton Mark Leonard Bob and M. Margaret Lorey Sheldon Losin Elsie M. Lovejoy Norman Mahan Diana M. Mambretti Joanne Marion Patrick Marshment TTEE Bettina Martin Michael and Jean Martin Joni and John Mattos Vicki McCartney Carmen McReynolds Rick Meechan, Esq. Joseph and Gloria Menchini Nona Merrill Hilda E. and Henry M. Metz Julia and Kathleen Metz Elec and Myra Miller Anthony Mitchell Cynthia Mohr and Frank Novak Hilary Moore G. Harry Morse Charles and Glee Murphy Jeanne and Thomas Nelson Karen and Thomas Nelson Randy Nguyen Lois Nimmo William Nisbet Wendy Fowler Nunes and Frederic Nunes Billie Ogles Rio Olesky Edward & Katherine Oliva Diane O’Neal Lynn Ostling Dolores and Michael Otten Oxford Construction Inc Jeannette Pacchetti Dennis and Patricia Paulson William E. Payne and Laura A. Berke Bruce Perotti Joann and Mike Pierre Tom and Arlene Place Patricia Pomerleau George and Cheryll Powers Trudy Powers Mary Priest Thomas Pugliese Mary S. Raker Susan Randall Ann Reed Nora G. Reed and Lawrence R. Andersen Frank A. and Edyth P. Regan Jennifer Richardson and Michael Brumbaugh Franklin Ritz Tom Rivard Martin Robbins Donald and Gloria Roberts Richard and Beatrice Root Mike & Diana Rose Verna Ruvalcaba Patricia Sampson Tim and Marilyn Sanderson Sharon and Sheldon Saruk Joyce Saydah Angela Scheihing and Bill Weidman Peter A. and Catherine A. Schneider James and Lu Schultz Robert B Scott Betty Seacord Margaret P. Senneff Gail H. Shaw Shooting Star Propagation Anneke H. Shurtleff William and Diane Silveira Joan R. Silver Marilyn Simeone Edgar F. Smith Edith B. Smith Leo and Ella Rose Smith Stephen L. Smith Choi Ling Spellacy Robert Spencer Philip K. and Pamela K. Staley Granville I. and Mary Lou Stark Steven E. Berlin, Inc Robert and Mary Stevens Joan F. Stimson Marilyn Stockfleth Frederick and Anne Styles Catherine Sunseri Ilene Tanner Michele A. Taylor Susan Thompson Walter and Virginia Thompson Joyce A. Tracy Don & Carol Turner Royce and Carolee Van Bebber Gloria Van Cleave Tamas and Eleonora Varadi Pamela and Charles Vetrano Mark A. Walters Sylvia Wasson Barbara J. Weding Nelson and Jane Weller Anne White Linda Wilkerson James and Sharon York Barbara Yorton John Youngblood Jeffrey Zamacona Alice and Don Zanini Dave and Sue Zedrick Carol J. Zootis Vince and Valerie Zukowski Frank J. Zwolinski Annual Appeal: Meals on Wheels Colonial Park Inc. Joann Ferrera Dyana Foldvary Henry and Karen Lumibao Beverly Jeanne E. Mager Dale and Marjorie Richardson Richard and Emilee Smith Paul and Lynn Wycoff Healdsburg Shared Ministries General Benevity AEF Donald Daniels Carol T. Glover Human Race/Volunteer Center Darlene Pacheco Merton F. Preston Naomi Raby General: Meals on Wheels Walter DCosta Aage and Mickey Hoffman Human Race/Volunteer Center Connie Lightell Katheryn Mann Nephrology Associates Medical Office Paul Scrimgeour General - Social and Financial Services Lupe Hernandez Holiday Appeal Barbara Gegan Lucy Kortum Steven and Nanette Nelson Samantha D. O’Neill Sustaining Members Wayne and Carolyn Adkins Kathy Atkinson Patricia Ballard Chester and Jeanne Beall Martha Beck Doni Bird Richard and Carolyn Bischof Denelle Bloom Dominic P. Bosque John T. Brayton Patricia Brittle Bonnie Lu Cahill Thomas and Kathleen Cahill Mark & Janet Calhoon Lee Camfield Tammera and Paul Campbell Carrie and Art Carney Lewis Castleberry Lygia and James Charlton Jerry and Marcy Clausen Barbara Coen Maureen Coffey Glenn Coxe Cheryl C. Cummins Debra Cutting Noelle Dangremond Pat and Leland Davis Donald and Renee Deorsey Ronald and Kristin Dick Susan B. Dixon Donald Farries Richard E. Fennell Leigh Galten Mark and Judith Giampaoli Tom Graham George M. and Lynda L. Harrington Carol Hintze Mary Louise Hocking Linda Illsley John Markarian Construction Richard and April Kahnberg Wendy Lebleu Lionel and Gerry Lennox Steven and Patricia Levenberg Patricia London Janet M. MacDonald Paul McBride Stani and Raymond Moore William and Carolyn Morrissey Kathleen Mouat Kathleen and Tom Neuwirth Robert L. and Susan S. Owen Gary Penders Joan Peterson Mike and Mary Pierre, Jr. Karen Powell Roger Karraker and Nancy Rappolt Kathleen Renz Steven and Elizabeth Richards Charles and Tracie Rinehart Kathleen Roche Mrs. Mary Ann Rovai William and Patricia Ruehmann George D. Salomon Carol Sanders Annette Santarini Susan Savonis Celeste Scholl Gerald Shikada James Shotwell Richard A. Solar Arvid Sorum Stems Floral Design Wallace Stewart Tributes In Memory of Kathryn Bongiovanni Gianmario Bongiovanni In Memory of Mauren Lehan Laura Shenoy Denice Stokes Barbara Swary & Stewart Lauterbach Jack and Marilyn Swire Louis and Brenda Switzer J. and Richard Thayer Ruth Marie Trout Carl and Kathryn Vast Rhea Voge Jan Volk Marty Wait Mark and Sandra Walheim Carla Wedemeyer Alexander Williams Tara S. Zamacona Paul Zarn Ann and Richard Zimmer Sustaining Members: Meals on Wheels Chady Wonson and Bruce Albert Paula Alden Edward Bashaw Alex S. Bendahan Daisy Bogart Dan and Dorothy Canet Carin and Thomas Cutler Tom and Sandra Glover Rosemarie Gresset Richard and Lisa Higgenbottom Jeanne Huffman Bill Inman Roberta and Charlie Jurecek James Kopriva Yvonne Martin Theron and Maria Prentiss June Whitesides Any errors or omissions in these listings are inadvertent. If your name was omitted, please accept our apologies and let us know by calling 525-0143, ext. 112. Carol Brohmer RN Life...Less Complicated Let us Simplify Your Life 707.843.5192 www.RAHSonomaCounty.net Has living alone become too challenging? Overwhelmed caring for an older loved one? Joy Lovinger (707) 292-9998 [email protected] Let an expert help you find a place your senior-in-need can call home – all at no cost to you or your loved one. SONOMA SENIORS TODAY Volunteer of the Month August 2015 | PAGE 4 Someday all seniors will age successfully…with your help! For many, aging brings the pleasure of retirement, leisure pursuits, and time with grandchildren. But sometimes—despite a lifetime of working, saving, and planning—an unexpected illness, dementia or other calamity creates a very different future. Samuel is a World War II veteran and successful carpenter who developed dementia. An ex-spouse who had assisted Samuel with managing his finances, could no longer help him out. Council on Aging took up his case, and discovered resources available to him, including forgotten union pension and veteran pension benefits. Debra is an accomplished seamstress and teacher who lives with chronic illness. Debra struggled to pay for medications needed for her chronic health condition that made it impossible for her to work. A COA case manager helped her with Medi-Cal enrollment forms, introduced her to utility discount programs, and arranged for daily nutritious meals through Meals on Wheels. Each year, Council on Aging helps over 5,000 Sonoma County seniors work through their struggles and misfortune so that they can regain their health, maintain their independence, and look toward a brighter future. We depend on donors like you to help ensure that every senior who needs our help, receives that assistance. Please help us work toward the dream of every senior in the community having the opportunity to age successfully. Jim Boitano Sharing his caring personality Yes ... I want to support Council on Aging and help make a difference in the lives of seniors in my community! One time gift: $50 M For information about volunteering for Council on Aging, contact Michele Leonard, Director of Volunteer Services, 525-0143, ext. page 147 or 4 [email protected]. ◆ April 2015 $250 $500 $1000 Other I want to help on an ongoing basis by becoming a Sustaining Member. Please charge my credit card Monthly or Quarterly for $___________ By Michele Leonard Director of Volunteer Services ost of his working career, James Boitano spent at his Uncle Fred Oberti’s Homestead Ravioli Company in San Francisco. James assisted with producing, canning and delivering products in the Bay Area for over 40 years. He enjoyed interacting with the public and from the moment you meet this man, he exudes a warm and caring personality. It’s clear he’s not the type of person to sit at home feeling isolated. When it was time for James to retire, he still had energy and wanted an activity to focus his attention on. In 2011, when he walked through the doors at Council on Aging, he found his niche as a dining site helper. Because of his hundreds of volunteer hours and generous program contributions, James was nominated in 2014 by his site manager for special recognition. James has proven to be as consistent as the sun and the moon. Although he lives in Rohnert Park, his flexibility has allowed him time at Silvercrest Senior Living Residence, Bennett Valley Senior Center and Healdsburg Senior Center. Currently he’s back at his favorite location, Bennett Valley Senior Center, where he works Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Although James has a few family members in San Rafael, he lives alone so he relishes the company he meets. He says he gets a kick getting to know people at the dining sites. “I don’t get into their personal business, but I like socializing and giving a little advice if I can. I see some of them on the street and it makes me grateful knowing that they need me. You listen to their stories and you realize how rough they’ve had it. I’m thankful for what I have.” James’ hobbies include photography. This summer he’ll be showing at the Sonoma County Fair. Look for a couple of his pictures, including “Gray Squirrel” and “Blue Jay.” $100 Please send me Monthly or Quarterly pledge reminders for $ Mail your tax deductible donation to: Council on Aging 30 Kawana Springs Rd., Santa Rosa, CA 95404 Name Mailing Address _______________________ City Please charge my Zip MC Visa AMEX Card # Expiration Date Telephone Signature Email Thank you! We couldn’t do the good work we do without the support of people like you. Like to see Sonoma Seniors Today in full color? Visit www.councilonaging.com and click on “News & Events,” then “Sonoma Seniors Today.” * Active Adults 55 and Better Luxury Apartments for 1 Bdrm. from $999 2-Bdrm. from $1,275* TOLL &2%% Studio, 1 & 2-Bedroom Homes with Views of the Sonoma Hills Elevators & Controlled-Access Clubhouse with Library, Theater and Computer Center 24-Hr. Fitness Center Lifestyle & Wellness Program Year-Round Heated Pool & Spa On-Site Salon & Day Spa Washer/Dryer (Some Plans) Smoke-Free Pet Friendly On-site Storage Available Enjoy Life! /AK6IEW#IRCLEs2OHNERT0ARK#! WWW/AK6IEW!PTSCOM • Do you want to preserve your low property tax rate? • Or find the right house to age in place? • Or explore a multi-generation approach? I am a certified Seniors Real Estate Specialist. If you haven’t bought or sold property in the last few years, you might be surprised how much has changed. Let me take the mystery and anxiety out of the process. Ask me what my SRES designation can do for you. EXPERIENCE • INTEGRITY • RESULTS Coldwell Banker – Santa Rosa East (formerly Frank Howard Allen) 460 Mission Boulevard Santa Rosa, California 95409 707.484.4045, [email protected] Deborah Byrne Lic. #01343542 Sonoma Seniors Today SONOMA SENIORS TODAY August 2015 | PAGE 5 Legal Q & A by Paul Miller Director of Legal Services I have a very small estate—a simple home and some bank accounts—and one child. Should I transfer ownership of my home to him while I am alive and put him on my bank accounts as an inexpensive way to do estate planning? —Rick, Sonoma any parents, in an effort to transfer their assets to their children in a costeffective manner, consider gifting their assets to their children during their life times. Although a viable strategy at first blush, this approach is fraught with risks: In the event that your child is sued and is found liable, his creditors could come after his assets—which now includes your home and your bank account. Additionally, if you and your child become estranged (and as unlikely as that may seem at this point, it does happen), your son could evict you from what was formerly your own home! Your child could also decide to sell your home, and you would have no recourse to stop him. Furthermore, if your son died, the property you formerly owned would pass to his beneficiaries (such as his wife), which may not necessarily be in line with your wishes. Finally, there can be negative capital gains M Disclaimer: The information provided in this column is general in nature, and cannot be deemed legal advice, nor does it give rise to an attorney-client relationship. The contents of this column are not intended as attorney advertising or as a solicitation for legal services. Our Legal Services Department prepares trusts, wills, advance health care directives, and powers of attorney. For Are you a family member or caregiver? Do you need a break? Get some of your precious time back while your loved one enjoys an engaging atmosphere with activities for people with memory loss. Lively group exercise Delicious lunch Brain games Visits from children Art and music Lively discussions Respite for caregivers Donations to cover the cost of club activities are appreciated but no one will be denied access to activities if they are unable to contribute. Senior Social Clubs are located in Sebastopol, Sonoma, Healdsburg and Santa Rosa. Call Laurel at 707-525-0143 X103 or email [email protected] tax consequences to transferring your home to your child during your lifetime (rather than to him at death), the result of which can be a huge capital gains tax bill when he decides to sell your property after you are gone. If you transfer your home to your child at your death, capital gains taxes on the sale of the home can be dramatically reduced or even eliminated. An alternative to transferring your property to your son during your lifetime is to create a trust that provides for the management of your property during your lifetime, and the orderly distribution of your property after your death. Your trust can be amended during your lifetime to reflect your changing wishes, and it can provide for alternative distribution arrangements in the event that your son predeceases you. Also, if you name your son as your attorney in fact under your durable power of attorney, he can step into your shoes in a fiduciary role with respect to your financial decisions and property management, while not assuming ownership of your property. Therefore, you can accomplish the same goal as having your son on your bank account, without the other associated dangers. Paul Miller, Esq. received his law degree (cum laude) from Empire College School of Law in 2002, and he will be completing his Masters in Tax Law (LL.M.) at Golden Gate University in 2015. more information about services, go to www.councilonaging. com/services/legal-services or call Paul Miller directly at 525-0143, ext. 143. We invite you to submit a question for Paul’s column (with your first name and city) by sending it to pmiller@ councilonaging.com. Employee of the Month Sue Tasselmyer J uly’s employee of the month, Sue Tasselmyer, started with Council on Aging in March of 2011. She has been instru mental in coordinating the expenses that flow in and out of Council on Aging. She takes great pride in what she does and holds herself to very high standards on her accountability. For Derby Day she assisted in finding new ways to streamline the event registration and check-out process. Her research, problem solving, and monitoring of these aspects of the event have taken Derby Day to new levels in terms of the attendee experience. Her work is top notch and she has welcomed taking on additional duties as Controller. Recently, she has also taken over many responsibilities of the Chief Financial Officer position until a new CFO is identified. Congratulations to Sue for being named Employee of the Month! To leave a bequest is to make a permanent statement of your values. It is by this act of charity that the world will remember what you cared about and what you stood for. If providing for seniors matters to you, consider a gift to COUNCIL ON AGING in your estate plans. SONOMA SENIORS TODAY How to Stretch Your Budget Advice from two financial case managers by Bonnie Allen COA Social and Financial Services staff members Connie Aust and Heidi Darling H ave your finances kept you awake nights wondering how to make ends meet? Perhaps you’re concerned about the future, when you may need more services. Here is some advice on managing your budget from two Council on Aging financial case managers. Keep track The most important thing you can do, says Connie Aust, Fiduciary Director of Social & Financial Services, is to keep track of your finances. That means balancing your checkbook every month. Doing so will ensure that you look closely at your bank statement. Are there overdraft charges? If there are, this might be an indication that you need help managing your finances. Collect your bills in a specific location, and set aside time at least twice a month to pay your bills; or pay them as they arrive. Always enter check payments and debit card transactions in your check register. If you’re comfortable online, check your bank balance frequently through your bank’s online services. Otherwise, check your statement carefully to verify that there are no charges for expenditures you don’t remember making. If there are, call your bank to find out what they are to make sure you’re not a victim of identity theft. If you are, it must be reported within 60 days. Check for overpriced services Let’s look at some budget areas where you might be paying more than you need to pay. Perhaps you’ve been offered premium cable services for a limited time. When the time ends, you automatically begin paying more for the services you may not need. If you’re not using those services, ask to be switched to basic cable. If the cost is still more than you want to pay, ask if there’s a less expensive plan—sometimes cable companies don’t advertise their most economical plans. Check to see if you have other recurring premium services that you may not need: monthly Netflix or Internet service provider charges, for instance. Save on Insurance Are you paying separate insurance companies for car and homeowners insurance? Bundling the two with one company can often save you money. Your bank or credit union may See Budget, page 11 August 2015 | PAGE 6 Drought, continued from page 1 but water for a longer period of time. That way the water will go deeper into the soil and encourage the roots to go down to where the soil is naturally moist. The ideal way to do this is with drip irriga tion, but if you don’t have drip irrigation, you can improvise by putting your hose end next to a plant and turning it on to just drip or trickle out. Then leave it dripping for up to an hour. Don’t forget to remind yourself to turn it off. You can buy an inexpensive timer at a hardware or garden store that will shut the water off after a given amount of time. Check the depth of water penetration by digging with a trowel. Adjust the watering time accordingly. Repeat weekly, or sooner if you see the plants drooping. Remember that it may take your plants a while to get used to this new way of watering. You can mimic a California native habitat either by planting California natives, or by choosing plants that come from dry-summer locations, like South Africa, Australia and the Mediterranean. The next time you plant some thing, consider a Grevillea (Australian) or native wild rose, for instance. Replace your lawn A green lawn is practically a hallmark of suburban living. But this style of landscaping comes from England and the East Coast, where it rains in the summer. A California lawn that sucks up mammoth amounts of water in summer makes no sense in a drought. In Petaluma, for example, green lawns are vanishing. They are being replaced by droughtresistant but attractive ground cover. That’s because of Mulch Madness, a project offered by the city of Petaluma that provides free materials for sheet-mulching your lawn. If you can bear to part with some or all of your lawn, sheet mulching is an easy way to do it. You lay down cardboard over the existing lawn and then pile compost or mulch on top of the cardboard. No digging is required. In Petaluma, the city provides the cardboard, mulch and directions, and you provide the plants. You just dig a hole through the cardboard and put the plants in, or plant ground cover directly in the compost. Some city programs offer discounts or credits for replacing lawn sprinkler systems with drip irrigation to water your new landscape. Some good lawn replacements, says Petaluma landscaper Louise Leff, include bunch grasses—many of which are California natives. Other good choices are yarrow, catmint and lavender. You can see examples of these at the Petaluma City Hall grounds, which Leff redesigned to replace its huge lawns a few years ago. Local organizations created a workday in which the community turned out in droves to help with planting and sheet mulching. Another way to get the most out of your irriga tion is to water in the cool of the early morning or evening, so the water stays in the ground longer before it starts evaporating in the midday heat. In fact, here in Petaluma, it’s against city law to water ornamentals between 8 am and 7 pm. Place your plants strategically If you want to keep some favorite moisture loving plants, try to group them together, so that you can water them on a more aggressive schedule than the rest of your garden. Petaluma City Hall’s new drought-proof landscape Focusing your gardening efforts on shady areas is another way to make your water go further. Shady soil retains water longer than sunny soil. Laying down mulch in your garden is another way to help preserve soil moisture and inhibit weeds. If you like to container garden, try planting in bigger pots, says Leff. You can put several plants in a large pot instead of in separate small pots. The large pots will hold moisture longer. Grouping plants together rather than spacing them widely also helps. “The plants create their own environment and shade each other.” Capture water Let’s talk about where the water comes from. More and more people are investing in rain barrels, now available in most major hardware stores. But you don’t need a rain barrel to add efficiency to your watering. Leff and her husband collect five to seven gallons a day just capturing water from their showers and sinks. Her home garden does quite well on this recycled water. Here in Petaluma, the water department gives out gallon-sized buckets that people can place in their sinks to capture running water while it is heating up. Drought gardening can go beyond actual plants. Leff ’s home garden features a recirculat ing water fountain and interesting art objects, both of which enhance the landscape and require no additional water—and the fountain attracts birds. Santa Rosa and other Sonoma County communities offer rebates for replacing your lawn with drought-proof landscaping. Call your local water department for details. Visit them online for lists of water management strategies. For a wealth of further information, a watering guide, photos of water wise gardens and a list of drought-resistant plants, visit www. sonoma.watersavingplants.com. SONOMA SENIORS TODAY August 2015 | PAGE 7 A Time to Talk Have you and your important other had “the talk” yet? by John J. Lesjack “C arol Lee?” On our drive to Pacific Grove, the landscape morphs into sand dunes prior to our turn off. Carol Lee finishes a crossword puzzle. She lifts her head. “What if…I go first?” I say, expecting her to say she’ll miss me. “Don’t say that!” “Why not?” “Because I will be going first,” she says. Stupefied, I rub the itch under my nosebandage and glance at the setting sun. Had her stroke caused her to fall on her face again? Staying at the Gosby House situates us in central Pacific Grove. From my car, I remove the lap robe that my mother sent me 15 years ago, the type her family used during carriage rides in Quebec farm country. “How do you feel about walking by street light?” “Confident,” Carol Lee says. “I’ll just look ahead to where my feet are going.” I zip up my jacket. She wraps a scarf around her neck. “A tippet?” I ask. “Nothing so Emily Dickinsonian,” she says. “Just a long scarf.” We walk carefully—no reason to hurry— down, down, down 19th Street, past one old house where the roof is barely visible under street lamps. We find our way onto gritty steps to Lover’s Point Beach where waves slap the shore. I spread the robe on the sand. Portrait of John and Carol Lee by Edythe Briggs Sitting side by side, facing the wind like two people driving an ancient horse-drawn carriage, we hear whispers of antique bells from primeval grazing fields of Ste. Monique. I say, “Because I could not stop for death…” English major Carol Lee finishes with, “...he kindly stopped for me.” We talk about Santa Rosa friends whose allergies are affected by an endless supply of pollen, people who come to Pacific Grove just to breathe pollen-free air. I talk about how my vision of reciting poetry with Carol Lee on this beach helped me endure three rounds of Moh’s surgery. “Every time the nurse put the blanket over my face and only my left eye remained uncovered, I braced myself,” I say. “When I saw the needle aimed at my nose, I closed my eye and focused on the line: ‘The carriage held but Q: How can you invest in the well-being A: of Sonoma County seniors? Set up a charitable trust or estate plan that will help us feed and care for seniors now and into the future. For information on how you can help Sonoma County seniors, call Marrianne McBride, President & CEO, 707.525.0143, Ext. 111. The Council on Aging is proud to announce that the Endowment Fund is managed by Exchange Bank. The Exchange Bank continuously serves Sonoma County community charitable endeavors. For more information, call 707.524.3151. just ourselves…’” “…and immortality,” Carol Lee says, and then asks, “Did you bring me down here just to tell me you were cancer-free?” “There’s that and your plans,” I say. “We can’t help with the grandchildren anymore—not after what we’ve been through—but we can help one another, if we just know their final plans.” “We used the same lawyer to write up our wills and trusts,” she says. “Your children get your stuff, my children get mine.” “The horses’s heads,” I say and pull the robe together while Carol Lee says, “are pointed toward eternity.” “My final plans,” I say, “call for my cremation and spreading my ashes on a sunny hillside. I’ve already written my obituary.” “That’s you,” she says. “I’m not ready to face eternity.” I talk about how one of us will be home alone someday knowing that person will never hear from the other person again. I talk gently about the possibility of meeting someone else if, like Carol Lee says, she goes first. I elicit no response. But when I say, “I might join a group and maybe travel to Europe,” Carol Lee yells, “I begged you to go to France and all you did was take me to that stupid Woody Allen movie, ‘Midnight in Paris’!” I mention how it’s OK for her to be happy with someone else but not to laugh as much as we laughed when dancing on the New Orleans riverboat or during hula lessons on Maui. “We never took lessons,” she says. “Just checking,” I say. “It’s getting late.” Carol Lee turns her blue eyes into mine. She says, “I can’t tell you my final plans, but I can tell you this—I love you,” and she kisses me. I wrap my arms around her. “Wow!” I say. “A public display of affection, in a community founded by Methodists!” And that ends our talk about our final plans while sitting on a robe as old as our relationship, a robe which rests on sand as old as time under stars her parents saw in Oregon and mine saw in Canada—stars our grandchildren and great grandchildren will see wherever they live. I collect the robe and take Carol Lee’s hand. We look ahead to where our feet are going and we walk up, up, up 19th, not falling once. Standing on our balcony, we clink our cups. “I love you,” I say and give her a warm kiss. “Behave yourself,” she says. “People around here still believe in the immaculate conception.” And then we’re quiet for what seems like centuries until I look toward Polaris and say, “I’ll miss this place.” “The Gosby House?” she asks. “Earth,” I say. John J. Lesjack, 78, is a member of the Redwood Writers Club. “You must have been warned against letting the golden hours slip by; but some of them are golden only because we let them slip by.” —James M. Barrie, Scottish dramatist and novelist SONOMA SENIORS TODAY August 2015 | PAGE 8 Art Ibleto, continued from page 1 Seniors, We Value Your Opinion! Make your voice heard Send us your ideas, suggestions and concerns about what seniors need most to improve their health and quality of life The Sonoma County Area Agency on Aging is asking for community opinions on how to meet the needs of seniors. Your input is vital as we develop our 2016-2020 Area Plan. demand. Ibleto’s pesto sauce was awarded a gold medal at the 1999 Sonoma County Harvest Fair. He’s also received a gold medal for his herbed oil and vinaigrette salad dressing at the 2001 Sonoma County Harvest Fair and a double gold medal in 2005 for pinot noir made under his Bella Sonoma label. Today, the business is very much a family affair, with his daughter running the office and his son the meat department. His two grandsons, ages 19 and 16, help with catering. At 89, Ibleto still works every day in his business, whether he’s cooking, making deliveries, or hosting his booth at the Wednesday Night Market. He continues to earn his well-deserved title “The Pasta King.” Says Ibleto: “We have a lot of sad stories in our lives and bad times, but when you come to food—if it’s good food—you enjoy it and it makes it you happy. It changes people’s lives. And they start loving you because you are providing it.” “After a good dinner, one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations.” —Oscar Wilde On paper or online, complete the Senior Needs Assessment Survey 1) Fill out and mail the copy in this newsletter to the Area Agency on Aging address on the survey 2) Online in English and Spanish at www.socoaaa.org Mail or complete your survey online by September 18, 2015 Thank you for your help! Sonoma County Area Agency on Aging, Adult and Aging Division (707) 565-5900 More than 15 Years of Experience Utilizing the Latest Technology to get Your Home Marketed & Sold! Johanna Sandev CALBRE# 01255368 (707) 321-1459 1401 Fourth Street • Santa Rosa • CA [email protected] Great negotiation skills & track record. Always exhibiting a high level of integrity in all transactions whether you are buying or selling. page 8 ◆ April 2015 http://JohannaSandev.BradleyRealEstate.com Sonoma Seniors Today SONOMA SENIORS TODAY August 2015 | PAGE 9 COA Legal Services Offerings Have Changed A www.WineCountryGames.com 1211 athletes and 242 volunteers helped make the 2015 Sonoma Wine Country Games EPIC! Photo by Darryl Kirby s of July 1, Council on Aging is no longer providing legal services funded through the Older Americans Act, including those related to tenant-landlord disputes, consumer fraud, debt and other civil issues. Those services will be offered by Legal Aid of Sonoma County. Council on Aging’s Legal Services Depart ment will continue to provide cost-effective comprehensive estate planning services to Sonoma County residents, age 50 and above, with estates that include real estate or other signifi cant assets. Fees generated by COA’s estate planning services help support its other programs for vulnerable seniors, such as Meals on Wheels. Seniors who are very low income can still qualify for free and reduced-fee estate planning services at Council on Aging, with verification of income. COA will refer seniors who require only basic wills, durable powers of attorney and advance healthcare directives to Empire College’s free Elder Law Clinic, held every Thursday, from 4:15 to 5:45 pm at the Silvercrest Senior Living Residence on Third Street in Santa Rosa. Council on Aging will also continue to refer clients seeking legal assistance outside of our areas of legal expertise to a select panel of dedicated local attorneys that are part of our Lawyer Referral Service. Do you spend time at your computer? Or keep it on during the day? Here’s a way to bring a cheerful bit of nature into your home. For the price of a short commercial that you can skip after a few seconds, you get 11 hours of tranquil birdsong. You can stop or restart it any time you want. Here’s the link: tinyurl.com/pghoguy. (While you’re online, check out councilonaging.com to read this newspaper at the site, so you can see the drought resistant landscapes from the cover story in full color.) Estate Planning Service Providing revocable, simple trusts to Sonoma County residents who own a home and wish to avoid probate of their estate. For more photos and medal results, go to www.WineCountryGames.com A healthy lifestyle program from Fees: $1200 for a single trust $1800 for a couple trust $215 / hour for amending current trust For more information, please call Paul Miller at Council on Aging, 707-525-0143, ext. 143 Sonoma Seniors Today April 2015 ◆ page 9 SONOMA SENIORS TODAY August 2015 | PAGE 10 Senior Center Highlights Bennett Valley Senior Center 704 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa, 543-4624 • Mon, Aug 10, 9:30–11:15 am: Learn to Ride the Bus. Classroom instructions on the City Bus system, then the class takes a ride on the bus! You will learn City Bus routes, the transfer system and fares. See the city as a passenger instead of a driver! Free. #72222 • Sat, Aug 22, 8 am–1 pm: Annual Flea Market. Regain some closet space & money too! $20 will buy you space in our Flea Market to benefit the Senior Center. You will get a 6 foot table and two chairs. Register in advance # 72012 Healdsburg Senior Center 133 Matheson, Healdsburg, 431- 3324 http://tinyurl.com/HealdsburgSeniorCenter • Mon, Aug 17, 9 am–1 pm: Free Brain Fair Preview Event—“Thriving Elderhood.” Four brain experts discuss how to happily transition to elderhood with attitude, fun, and games! For parents, teachers, adults changing jobs, boomers, seniors and children. Presented by Partners in Education 360 and Memory Back Guarantee as a preview to the Third Annual Successful Brain Fair, Oct 10. For info, visit www.SuccessfulBrainFair.com, or call 526-9196. Vintage House 264 First St East, Sonoma, 996-0311 www.vintagehouse.org • Friday July 24, 1–4 pm, Blanket Brigade. Call Margaret Bell at 933-1693, for more information on joining in to make these “NO-SEW” blankets for non-profits. • Thursdays, 10 am–1 pm: Chess. Chess players needed! Free. • 2nd Thursdays, by appointment: HICAP (medical insurance help). Call for info. Free. • 3rd Fridays (July 17), 10:30 am–Noon: LGBT Group. Free. • Mondays, 11:30–2:20 pm: Monday Art Studio. For those who like to work on their own projects with a group of like-minded artists. $3 members; $5 non-members. Windsor Senior Center Fax: 707-497-3010 9231 Foxwood Drive, Windsor, 838-1250 • Mon, Aug 17, 1–2 pm: How Medications Affect Your Health. Topics include medication side effects and ways to minimize them; how combining medications and herbal supplements can increase side effects and cause them to be more severe; high incidence of polypharmacy among seniors and problems that arise from this practice; how diet can impact effectiveness of medications; and when it is time to discuss changing your medication with your doctor. Presented by Deborah Hunter, board certified internal medicine physician with 14 years of clinical practice. Free. Call to sign up by 8/13. • Wednesdays, 1–4 pm: Mahjong. Drop in and enjoy a game of Mahjong. All levels of experience welcome. Call the front desk for more information. Donation. • Thursdays through October, 10:30 am– Noon: Men’s Bocce Ball. Join this fun-loving group of guys for some vigorous bocce ball playing (weather permitting). Please wear comfortable clothing; tennis shoes or suitable outdoor shoes are recommended. Donation. SONOMA SENIORS TODAY Budget, continued from page 6 be able to offer insurance at an even lower rate. Another way to save on insurance is to increase your deductible—the amount you pay out of pocket when you have an insurance claim. Most people rarely have claims, so they save money with a cheaper, higher deductible plan. Track charitable giving Know how much you’re giving to charity. It’s easy to respond to a fundraising phone call or letter with a small donation, only to find that those “small donations” add up to hundreds of dollars. Set a budget for your charitable giving, and stick to it. Set up a monthly budget Council on Aging offers a budget sheet that makes this easy to do. Add up your nonnegotiable expenses—housing, food, phone, utilities, property taxes, insurance and transportation costs. Subtract them from your monthly income. What’s left over is what you have to divide between entertainment such as dining out, vacations, hobbies, newspapers and magazines; personal care, such as clothing and hair care; home repairs and cleaning; charitable giving; and saving for a rainy day. Remember that the key to successful budgeting, says Heidi Darling, Licensed Fiduciary, is unflinching honesty about your spending habits. Dining out, for instance, can gobble up hundreds of dollars a year. Even going out for coffee adds up. Socializing is important; perhaps having coffee klatches and potluck dinners rotating between several homes could satisfy that need in place of meeting in a public place. When you shop, don’t forget to ask if there’s a senior discount. Many restaurants, grocery stores and other businesses offer them, even if only on certain days. You can save a huge amount of money by giving up your car, with its insurance, fuel and maintenance costs. Paratransit services and senior transportation discounts can make this important decision less traumatic. Know your entitlement options. Both the phone company and PG&E offer income-based discounts. Call them to find out if you qualify. Are you a veteran or widow of a veteran? Find out if you qualify for veterans’ benefits. If your income is below $1,200/month, you may qualify for Medi-Cal—but only if you have $2,000 or less if single, or $3,000 or less if married. If you’ve been holding on to $5,000 or $10,000 for emergencies or for your children, consider spending that money on a funeral package or a needed home repair. Eligibility for Medi-Cal will save you a great deal of money should you need a nursing home or in-home care services or have medical needs. Is there a chance that you will be unable to pay your rent in the future? Get on a list for lowincome housing now, even if you might not need it for 10 years, or ever. The waiting list is long. If following this advice still doesn’t get you in the black, and you feel like you’re in over your head, Council on Aging offers financial counseling. An initial consultation is free (though donations are encouraged), and if COA help can save you substantial amounts of money, it might be worth enlisting their paid services to August 2015 | PAGE 11 August Crossword Puzzle Across 1 5 9 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 23 24 25 29 30 32 33 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 49 50 53 55 57 60 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 1 Torte __ ganoush, Middle Eastern treat Blue-pencil Elliptical Evils Plant shoot John’s surgery procedure* Low-cal Alaska native Odometer reading Father Hubbub Thief’s hideout A Nissan car owns Meditate Throw Intense light beam Elephants have them __ league school Murky Bends Rostrum Energy unit Around Secret messages Yang’s partner Profanity Toupee Obliquely (var.) British afternoon meal Food regulatory initials Org. Out of control She’s a Darling* Time Cry of pain Concur Filled with wonder Gaiety Having metatarsals Roman emperor Org. 2 3 5 6 9 15 16 17 18 19 20 23 24 33 21 34 35 44 45 47 58 59 49 54 60 55 61 62 68 A Lighthearted, Practical Approach with Real Results! with Valerie Serrano, MFA, with 25+ years writing and 7 years teaching in New York City, currently also teaching writing at the Santa Rosa Finley Community Center. Fiction, Poetry, Memoir, Personal Essay Professional instruction & feedback Small class or private individual session Writer-friendly rates Take advantage of my experience! We all have a story to tell. Express yourself. the Let’s Write! studio is located at: 1400 Guerneville Rd, #2 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 (707) 529-7149 [email protected] www.letswrite.net keep your budget balanced. COA can help you find hidden sources of income and ways to cut your expenses that you may not have thought of. 52 56 67 writing classes 51 50 66 creative 28 46 65 Punctuation mark Evade Painter Freda Otherwise Bottom parts of ships Not from here Sandwich, for short Not on land Brilliancy Stamping tool Promissory note Dynamite Asian martens Jewish calendar month __ in: enjoys Book by Homer Video 27 43 64 Down 26 40 63 www.CrosswordWeaver.com 12 37 48 53 11 32 39 42 57 31 36 41 10 22 25 30 38 Let’s Write! 8 14 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 15 20 22 26 27 7 13 “I get up, go and get a coffee, and go do the crossword. I’m loyal to one particular paper, the ‘Guardian,’ and that’s my idea of a perfect morning.” —Laura Marling » » » » 4 Solution on page 12 28 Chasm 29 Attention-getting word 30 ___ Madness, Petaluma lawn-replacement program* 31 Farm regulatory initials 33 Tripoli’s country 34 Opponents 35 Flower, in “Bambi” 36 Civil wrong 39 Decrees 40 Hound 42 COA Financial expert* 43 Giovanni’s greeting 46 Strange one 48 Helped 49 Not as false 50 Out of bounds balls 51 Mussolini and others 52 Pale 54 Comparison word 56 Roman garment 57 Porkpie or fedora 58 Conscious mind 59 Wrath 61 Debtor’s verb *Answers found in this issue Supply the missing numbers so that every row, column and 9-digit square contain only one of each number. No math skills are required, and no guesswork. For hints on doing Sudoku puzzles, visit www.websudoku.com, or send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Sonoma Seniors Today, 30 Kawana Springs Rd., Santa Rosa, CA 95404. (Solution on page 8.) SONOMA SENIORS TODAY Working for You Information & Assistance/ Case Navigator: Do you need help with senior resources? Call us any time for information, assistance and help managing resources. Call 525-0143. Sebastopol seniors only: call the Russian River Senior Center at 869-0618. Senior Financial Services: Our bonded and insured counselors assist individuals who are unable to handle bill paying, checkbook reconciliation, eligibility documentation for retirement programs, and other financial needs relative to their daily money management. This program is especially designed for the forgetful senior or someone with poor vision and often protects them from financial abuse and late fees associated with forgetting to pay their bills. For peace of mind, call Connie Aust, Director, at 525-0143, ext. 108. Senior Peer Support: This program is to help seniors struggling with serious mental illness to access services and programs that help thhem develop skills and social support, leading to a more constructive and satisfying life. After an assessment visit by COA case managers and a licensed marriage and family therapist, clients are matched with trained volunteers for 12 weekly support sessions to develop a care plan solution with the client’s approval, then follow-up with progress notes. Sponsored by the Department of Mental Health Services. Call Michele Leonard, Director of Volunteers, 525-0143, ext. 147, for information. August 2015 | PAGE 12 Save the Date (Events are free unless otherwise indicated) August 15: Parkinson’s Support Group. Suketu Khandhar, MD: “Update on Parkinson’s Medications“ at 1717 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa, 1–3:15 pm. People w/Parkinson’s, families & caregivers welcome. 538-5178 or 431-8767. August 21: The Mind Fit Series: Activities to Boost Brain Health. Join us for a fun and informative 6-part series led by one of our brain fitness experts from Home Care Assistance. Fridays, starting August 21. First session: Social Reminiscence, Current Events, Chair Stretches, Create a Healthy Snack. Second session (8/28): Family Feud, Pictionary, Advice Column. Third session (9/4): Trivia, Name That Tune, Logo Identification, Geographical Recall. Vintage House, 264 First Street East, Sonoma, 10–11:30 am. Sponsored by Vintage House and Home Care Assistance. 996-0311 for info. See September Sonoma Seniors Today for remaining sessions. Lawyer Referral Service: If you are 60 or older and need an attorney, you will be referred to a panel of elder law attorneys experienced in working with seniors. An initial half-hour consultation is $40. If you retain the attorney for further services, fees will be at the attorney’s usual rate. The service is certified by the California State Bar, Certification #0111. Call 525-1146. Senior Meals: Council on Aging Meals on Wheels Program personally delivers over 285,000 fresh meals to seniors each year. We also staff ten dining sites that provide nutritious meals as well as companionship. Therapeutic meals and nutritional counseling are available for seniors with special needs. Call 525-0383 for information on home delivery or dining site locations. The Noble Spoon: The Noble Spoon is the Council on Aging’s affordable gourmet option, available at select fine grocery stores, that offers restaurant-quality, fine dining entrées prepared fresh and ready for microwave or oven. See www.councilonaging. com/TheNobleSpoon for a sample menu and links to store locations. Senior Social Club: This service has helped hundreds of people to reconnect with others through our Adult Day Program activities, offering the opportunity to gather for meals, exercise, entertainment, companionship, and arts and crafts. The programs are held in Healdsburg, Sonoma, Sebastopol and Santa Rosa, and provide respite for family members. Call Laurel Anderson at 525-0143, ext. 103. Senior Legal Services: Available are simple trusts, wills and durable powers of attorney for health care and finance. Please call 525-0143, ext. 140, for an appointment. Senior Care Navigator: Our experienced staff provides advocacy-based long-term care management for seniors having difficulty navigating the local senior service delivery system. Our Senior Care Coordinator creates an individualized and thoughtful care plan to reflect and preserve the senior’s values and lifestyle choices, while maximizing opportunities for positive change and maintaining quality of life. We work in collaboration with home health care agencies and provide integrated services through other Council on Aging services. Our fees are very competitive with private care managers in our community. Call 525-0143. C A OV MO M I A D L I B Y A A N T I S H E A G TO K E A L HS L E O H S E K Y U N K A I I D RE E D A D A R C O N N I E B A B A E I L L S S C L I TE A L GE A B B A E N A L T S MU S E T US K S FO L D S D I R CA CO A T H W I G T T E A S T R I OT H OU R O AWE D G N E RO A D I T I ON E U T I M L O I V A I DE A B Y S S F D OU UC L E S S A S H E N First Tuesdays: Santa Rosa Stamp Club. Monthly meeting, 7 pm, Lodge at Paulin Creek, Building D, 2nd floor, 2375 Range Ave, Santa Rosa. 538-9294. Wednesdays: COAT Toastmasters. Council on Aging, 30 Kawana Springs Rd, 8–9 am. Would you like to become a competent communicator, network, hone your skills for a career change or simply have a good time with a marvelous group of individuals? Hang your jacket on the hook at COAT and JOIN US! Call 525-0143 for information. Like to add a free event to our calendar? Call 763-2544 or email your information to [email protected]
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