Page 56 - Sonoma County Gazette Oct. 2019

October is here—I think... September’s Song is that fleeting melody we remember, like a lover’s kiss
Oct 10 ~ Free LGBT+ Training for All Caregivers ~ Train to care for LGBT+ older adults and adults with disabilities. 12:30-4:30p, Windsor Senior Center, 9231 Foxwood Dr., Windsor, 707-565-5700
Oct 15 ~ Senior Saunters ~ Explore plant and animal life, swap stories, 2-mile stroll. 10-11:30a, Coastal Prairie Trail, 2255 Hwy 1, Bodega Bay, parks. sonomacounty.ca.gov
Oct 26 & 27 ~ Autumn Leaves Senior Citizens Annual Boutique ~ Crafts, 9a-3p, St. Sebastian’s Hall, 7983 Covert Lane, Sebastopol
Oct 29 ~ Free Advance Care Planning Workshop ~ Be Prepared for a Medical Emergency. 2p-4p, Redwood Credit Union, 3033 Cleveland Ave, Santa Rosa, mycaremyplansonoma.org
Senior Ballroom/Line-Dancing with Band ~ Senior Ballroom/Line- dancing. $9 non-member, 1-4p, Finley Auditorium, 2060 West College Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-543-3737
Thru - Oct 14 ~ AARP Tax-Aide Fall Tax Clinic ~ Free; AARP Tax-Aide, 2095 Franklin Ave, Santa Rosa, 707-327-2401, aarpca2.org/sonoma-napa
Rides to Medical and Social Services Appointments ~ 311 North Main Street, Cloverdale, 707-894-4826 Elizabeth, cloverdaleseniorcenter.com
Thru Nov 14 ~ Managing Concerns About Falls ~ Free 8-session program is for seniors who want practical ways to reduce falls. 707-565-5936, Dana, sonomacounty.ca.gov/, mob@schsd.org
Thru Aug 29 ~ Healdsburg Aug 6 - Sept 24 ~ Windsor Sept 4 - Oct 23 ~ Sonoma Sept 23 - Nov 11 ~ Petaluma Sept 26 - Nov 14 ~ Santa Rosa
Thru - Oct 2 ~ Free Veterans Pension Seminar ~ Seminar on pension benefits for low-income. Free, Veterans Service Office, 3725 Westwind Blvd., 1st Floor, Santa Rosa, 707-565-5960, scvets.org
on an old Autumn evening when you felt the first chilly breeze; and I think October is here! The Harvest is nearing an end, and a hint of hot, spiced coffee drifts from the person you just passed on the sidewalk. We are guardedly thankful that we are almost past the threat of wildfire. And, I am hoping that something significant and positive will erase the ugly, divisive political taint that threatens Autumn’s beauty and its promise of Winter’s cool head.
Oh, well, we all know a cock-eyed optimist or two... It’s my destiny (it seems) to float between those two dangers: Anger and Cock-eyed Optimism! All it takes, sometimes, is a conversation with my son who devours biographies of past presidents. He points out that: “... our country has had
these challenges before, Mom – and worse! The Jackson situation, for instance!” So, temporarily, I slip back to optimism. I like it there, but false highs are tricky— regardless of the context.
Autumn—and I do not miss the heavy smoke in the air, or
the glow of flames on a ridge threatening to descend and destroy. Of course, there’s the ever-present “go-bag” in my CRV, and a few essentials stacked just inside the door, ready to jump and run.
Autumn brings wonderful memories! Anyone from New England, and those beautiful areas in the Northeast, can remember how Autumn became a breathtaking tapestry of color across the landscape! Our Sugar Maples then, in their fall colors could take your breath away! The seasonal change used to be quite clear—it didn’t rage and dribble and stumble across the days, obliterating distinctions... We’d wake up one morning and the crisp in the air told us Summer’s over, Autumn’s prelude is here, time to get the winter coats and ear muffs ready! And it was the same when the air changed one morning in the Spring, and you knew winter was over.
Russian River Senior Resource Center 15010 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville, 707-823-1640, westcountyservices.org
Thru Oct 23 ~ A Matter of Balance ~ Managing Concerns About Falls. Free 8-session program. Vintage House Sonoma, 264 First St E., Sonoma, 707-565-5936, Dana, sonomacounty.ca.gov/, mob@schsd.org
Ongoing ~ Free Rides for Seniors ~ by WCCS. Pick up RR Senior Center, RR Health Center & Monte Rio & Forestville. Call 707-823-1640 x140
Once in a while there would be a lovely blend of late Summer and early Autumn that we called Indian Summer, as if Summer didn’t want to let go, and Autumn would give a little delay bonus! Our California seasonal changes were a little subtler—but you could still tell when Nature’s Roadies had kicked in and were changing the scene!
Senior Dining Sites Council on Aging 30 Kawana Springs Road, Santa Rosa, 707-525-0143. 60 and over Donation of $4.00 Reservation must be made 24 hours in advance
Cloverdale Mon-Fri ~ 12p, Cloverdale Multipurpose Center, 311 N. Main St. 707-525-0383 Healdsburg Mon-Fri ~ 11a, Healdsburg Senior Center, 133 Matheson St., 707-525-0383 Sebastopol Mon-Fri ~ 11a, Sebastopol Senior Center, 167 High St., 707-525-0383
Santa Rosa Mon-Fri ~ 11a, Silvercrest Senior Housing, 1050 Third St., 707-525-4487 Healdsburg Mon, Tue, Wed ~ 11a, St. Paul’s Church, 209 Matheson St. 707-433-6161 Rohnert Park Mon-Fri ~ 11a, RP Senior Center, 6800 Hunter Drive, Ste. A, 707-525-0383 Santa Rosa Mon-Fri ~ 12p, Bethlehem Tower, 801 Tupper, 707-525-0383
Santa Rosa Mon, Tue ~ 12p, United Methodist Church, 2150 Giffen Ave 707-525-0143 x103 Sebastopol Mon, Wed, Fri ~ 12p, Sebastopol Senior Center, 167 High St, 707-829-2440, ext. 6 Sonoma Tue, Thu ~ 12p, Jerry Casson Senior Center, 264 First St. E. 707-996-1414
Nostalgia is that funny, warm feeling that can wash over you when something in the now reminds you of something sweet in the past! Sometimes that emotion can immerse you in a longing for how it was then, but just isn’t any more; not even close. Of course, yesterdays don’t come back! There’s an uneasy foreboding in the air that seems to warn that some beautiful transitions are not just gone for a season, but are gone forever. It’s as if Nostalgia itself is being redefined into wishful thinking...then, a creeping sense of foreboding. What’s going on? How did we get so careless? Do we hear our children crying? Can we change it all in time?
I was thinking about those symbols that used to characterize weather in the fairytales, when we were children—Wind was that billowy, white image with cheeks puffed out, lips pursed and blowing a wild gale! Sunshine was that bright orange disc, a circumference of golden spikes radiating light and a big smile! There was one for Lightning and raging Thunder, one for Rain and the formidable Snow Queen with icicles in her hair!
Sebastopol Area Senior Center 167 N. High St.Sebastopol, 707-829-2440, sebastopolseniorcenter.org
Oct 24 ~ Mental Health Panel Discussion and Workshop ~ Focusing on senior mental health, any age can join, especially those who have aging family members. Members: Free, Non-Members $5, 5-6:30p
Thru - Nov 1 ~ Exercise Classes ~ A variety of exercise classes on a weekly basis. $5-$10, Sebastopol Senior Center, 167 N. High St, Sebastopol, 707-829-2440, sebastopolseniorcenter.org
Thru - Oct 11 ~ Donna Declutter ~ Lighten your load, save time & money. Members, $10; Non-Members $12. 10:45a-12p
Ongoing ~ Blood Pressure and Glucose Screening - 3rd Thursdays, 12-1 p.m. Suggested Fee: $3 Wisdom Counts Member; $4 Assoc. Members
Community Reiki Sessions ~ Reg req’d, Reiki is a healing technique channeling energy. Sessions are led by Kristen Picard, Reiki Master Teacher. 10:45-12p
Blood Pressure and Glucose Screening - 3rd Thursdays, 12-1 p.m. *when volunteers are available. Suggested Fee: $3 Wisdom Counts Member; $4 Assoc.Members
Rides To Appointments ~ Need a ride? Dean Brittingham, 707-829-2440 or emaildean@sebastopolseniorcenter.org
How strange to see those sweet images morph into a swirling confusion, crashing into each other—direction, seasons, sequence and integrity lost and floundering! October’s here! (At least, I think it is.)
Zoë Tummillo is a Business & Marketing Consultant/Trainer/Commercial Writer, dba COMMUNICATION CONCEPTS, in private practice since 1974. In addition to Commercial work, she writesSenior Momentum: A Series of Situations; “Pieces of My Path. essay memoirs of growing up first-generation Italian American; andSenior Momentum: Front And Center!. Email Zoë at writingservice@earthlink.net
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