Page 56 - Sonoma County Gazette July 2017

Deep Under: the gears that do the dirty work!
thru - Aug 15 ~ SRJC - Free Older Adults Program - No minimum age requirement, however, courses are geared towards older adults. Join anytime. Creative Arts - Autobiographical Writing - Discussion Group - Health & Fitness - Music. Free, 707-527-4533, older-adults.santarosa. edu/srjc-older-adults-program-courses- offered
Jun 30 ~ Tech Classes - Internet Basics - Petaluma Library Fundamentals of using the Internet. Limit 10 participants. Register online at the library. Free, registration required , 11:30a - 1:00p, Petaluma Regional Library, 100 Fairgrounds Dr, sonomacounty.libcal. com/event/3171486
Jul 3 ~ Mystery Book Club at the Windsor Senior Center - Next meeting August 7- The Arsonist, by Sue Miller. Free/2;30p - 3;30p, Windsor Senior Center, 9231 Foxwood Dr, Windsor, 707-838-1020,sonomacounty.libcal.com/ event/3381089
Jul 5 ~ Good Ol’ Fashion Ice Cream Social - $3 Wisdom Counts Members/$4 Associate Members, 1:00p - 2:00p, Sebastopol Senior Center, 167 N. High St., Sebastopol, 707-829-2440, sebastopolseniorcenter.org/home, info@ sebastopolseniorcenter.org
conservatorships, estate planning, wills and trusts, probate, special needs trusts, and public bene ts (including Medi-Cal and veterans’ bene ts). Free, 10 - 11:30a, 707-303-1530, Janice Sternfel
Jul 20 ~ Old Fashioned Picnic in the Park for Seniors - SR Bring your cards, musical instruments, dancing shoes. Pre-sale only – no tickets sold at park., 11 - 3p, Finley Community Park - Gazebo in the Park, 2060 W. College Avenue, SR, 707-545-8608, ci.santa-rosa.ca.us
Jul 28 ~ Senior Saunters - Sonoma County Regional Park - Join us as we stroll along the West County Regional Trail. Free, West County Regional Trail, Multiple locations, varies by date, parks. sonomacounty.ca.gov
Ongoing
Every Mon. Yoga Classes Donation of $3 9 -10a, Cloverdale Senior Community Center, 311 North Main Street, Cloverdale, 707-894-4826, cloverdaleseniorcenter.com/activities/
Monday & Weds (Jul 24 – Aug 16) ~ A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns about Falls - 1 - 3 p. Richard Leib Senior Apartments, Community Room, 210 Douglas St, Petaluma, 707-565-5936, djacoby@schsd.org
Tues & Thurs (Jun 27 – Jul 25) ~ A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns about Falls Adult & Aging Offices, 3725 Westwind Blvd, SR, 707-565-5936, Dana Jacoby, djacoby@schsd.org
Tues & Thurs (Jul 25 – Aug 17) ~ A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns about Falls - Sebastopol Senior Center, 167 High St, Sebastopol, 707-565-5936, Dana Jacoby, djacoby@schsd.org
Every Wed and Fri ~ Senior Dining Room Lunch -Food, Fun and Friendship 60+. $4, Reservations Required, Russian River Community Center, 15010 Armstrong Woods Rd, Guerneville, 707- 869-0618, Debra Rianda, russianriver. com/events/senior-dining-room-food- fun-friendship/
Every Thurs - Ping Pong - 7-9pm. Grangers $5; non Grangers $7. 10 - 1p / $3 for Seniors Sebastopol Grange Hall, 6000 Sebastopol Ave. Hwy 12, Sebastopol, sebastopolgrange.org/
Every Thurs ~ Meditation, Mindfulness and Stress Management - 9 - 9:45a , Petaluma Senior Center, 711 Novak Drive, Petaluma, 707-778-4399, Marjorie Sands, mailto:sandsmarjorie@gmail. com
Every Fri ~ Senior Ballroom Dancing at the Finley Community Center
July 7 ~ Steve Luther, DJ July 14 ~ Tom Shader Trio July 21 ~ Manny Gutierrez July 28 ~ Carl Green
$8 admission, 1- 4p , Finley Community Center, 2060 West College Ave, SR, 707- 543-3737
Old big-rig truck drivers would know what I mean. It’s the set of secondary gears on those big old diesels that either got you up a tough hill (very slow but very sure), or kept you from running right over the four wheelers on a downhill – that, and the “jake-brake!” Not for sissies – but that was long before the luxury rigs out there today.
Just can’t avoid the analogy. My second husband (a rough cob of a truck driver who hauled fuel tankers) used to say that when he felt like handing the what for to some smart-mouth out there on the road, he’d call on his (symbolic) “deep under” gears, slam on his mental “jake-brake,” and get-a-grip; simple transference that got him through those frustrating tough spots and got the dirty work done!
Lately, I have thought of that memory. It’s sure not a political climate for sissies... Climate change seems to be upon us – actually, virtually and politically! And, I find it intriguing how those concepts of climate are redefining nearly everything. It’s as exciting as it is un-settling...
No sooner did I have some lovely new succulents tucked here and there
in my yard, under warm sun and a gentle breeze one day recently– when the wind came up gale force, followed by hail – for Pete’s sake – and I had to run for cover! WHAT? Then, that reminded me of an over-zealous young priest long ago who believed in the wrath of a god that vowed to bring mayhem down on the world if its tenants didn’t behave!
(Uh...we’re misbehaving.)
Well, neither my “deep under” gears nor my internal “jake-brake” are
working well lately. I’m mad as hell about everything from hail on my young
seedlings in late June, to an embarrassing executive in our White House who not
only thinks his social media “twittering” is a sophisticated way to communicate Jul 6 ~ Legal Aid for Seniors - with the world, but who embodies deception – and thinks we don’t get it!
Aren’t we all somewhat prisoners of our habits, our expectations and our own personal histories? (Maybe that’s his problem, too?) It’s hard to accept that one reckless individual with implied power could so rapidly and so arrogantly endanger all our country stands for, is and strives to be!
Preregistration required, please call 707- 545-8608 Free / 12:30p - 1:30p, Bennett Valley Senior Center, 704 Bennett Valley Rd, SR, 707-545-8608, srcity.org/559/ Active-Adults
Jul 6 ~ Single Seniors Social at Aqus Cafe 5-7p, 8:00a - 5:00p, Aqus Cafe, 189 H. St, Petaluma, 707-778-6060, aqus.com/ event/thirsty-thursdays-single-senior- social/all/, info@aquscafe.com
Jul 7 ~ Free Membership Drive Breakfast for Seniors - City of SRFree breakfast at both Senior Centers - the City of SR. Person Senior Wing, and Bennet Valley Center, 707-543-3737, srcity.org/559/ Active-Adults
July 10, 11, 17 & 31 ~ Jewelry Christmas Tree classes at Cloverdale Senior Center from 10a - 11:00a. Everything is included Erma at 707-669-0141 or Jan at 894- 4166. $10 Sign up required, Cloverdale Senior Community Center, 311 North Main Street, Cloverdale, 707-894-4826, cloverdaleseniorcenter.com/
July 14 ~ Early Stage Memory Loss Support Group at Vintage House Sonoma 2 - 4p, Vintage House Sonoma, 264 First Street East, Sonoma, 707-996- 0311, vintagehouse.org/programs-and- services/services-and-support/
The dirty work we’ll have to do is piling up at a fantastic rate! I’m starting to wonder if I’ll be around for the time it will take for the cleanup!
Thanks to our forefathers, the Checks and Balances built into our Constitution are – ultimately – stronger than any one climber or group of followers. Having that separation of power between Executive, Congressional and Judicial is not unlike those old complex gear structures. We just have to remember it’s there, and, when it’s time, downshift and do the deed.
For many, it is a whole new experience – this worrying about country, the presidency and so many precious factors now feared at risk. So many of us for so many years have just taken it all for granted! (It’s the USA – not to worry!)
Just yesterday as I was parking my car at the grocery, a wizened old geezer noticed the sticker on my window: Freedom Isn’t Free. (It’s our flag with the DAV slogan under the symbol.) He looked at me, pointed and asked: Does anyone actually realize anymore that there’s a price to pay? He reminded me of that husband I mentioned above, who was a WWII Veteran (two Purple Hearts), and equally cynical.
It is difficult to try to imagine how those who put their lives on the line
for our country feel, when you haven’t done it yourself. But it’s very easy
to understand how those men and women must feel when they look at our process in turmoil, listen to ugly rhetoric, watch opportunistic grabs for unjust power and sense what they fought for is at high risk.
Is it time (yet!) to find the power inside each of us to dig down and find our deep under gears, apply the strength where we can and use our jake-brakes on what’s spinning out of control?
Jul 15 ~ - Village Network of Petaluma
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Jul 19 ~ Legal Consultations for Seniors and Family Members 1/2 hr. consultations with elder law attorney, Janice Sternfeld, cover advance health care directives, planning for incapacity,
info meetings for older adults and family members. Free, 11:00 a - 12:00p, 402 Petaluma Blvd, 707-776-6055, villagenetworkofpetaluma.org, info@ VillageNetworkofPetaluma.org.