Page 52 - Sonoma County Gazette November 2018

Be Careful What You Wish For!
Nov 1 & Dec 6 ~ Aqus ~ Singles Seniors Social FREE; 5-630p, 5:00p - 6:30p, Aqus Cafe Foundry Wharf, 189 H Street, Petaluma, 707-778-6060, info@aquscafe.com
Nov 21 & Dec 19 ~ Legal Consultations for Seniors and Family Members - Half- hour consultations with elder law attorney, Janice Sternfeld, on the third Wednesday of each month. Consultations can cover advance health care directives, planning for incapacity, conservatorships, estate planning, wills and trusts, probate, special needs trusts, and public benefits (including Medi-Cal and veterans’ benefits). Free, call for appointment, 10-11:30a, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, 1360 N. Dutton Ave., Suite C, Santa Rosa, 707-303-1530, jfcs.org
Nov 16 & Dec 21 ~ Speaking of Death: Where friends meet, drink tea, and share matters of life & death. Tea & snacks. Potluck style. 3rd Fridays of the month. All Welcome $5, FREE for Wisdom Counts members, 3:30-5p, Sebastopol Senior Center, 167 North Hight St., Sebastopol, 707-829-2440, sebastopolseniorcenter.org
Nov 2, Nov 9, Nov 16 ~ November Senior Ballroom Dancing. Sign in at Senior Wing front desk. $9.00 Admission, 1p-4p, Finley Auditorium Community Center, 2060 West College Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-543-3737, Billie Erkel, Heresbillie@aol.com
Unfortunately even the bad guys very often get what they wish for. Even though one way or another I have been a writer all my adult life, I have only occasionally identified myself as a journalist. The two are at least fraternal twins, and circumstances alter cases.
Older ones in the writing (or sports) field might remember Red Smith (Walter Wellesley Smith), best known as a sportswriter for several major newspapers from 1927 thru his last book (Strawberries In The Snow) in 1974. He died in 1982. He wrote with a sarcastic humor and was a true maverick in his field. His bio remarks that “...his work profoundly influenced a generation of writers.” I am surely one of them! In the early 1950’s I would read his columns, for his writing style and his humor. He once said: “There’s nothing to writing. You just sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.” That was Red Smith.
Nov 14 & Dec 11 ~ Culinary Conversations with Michele Anna Jordan cookbook author, speaker, radio show host ... cooking tools, recipes, etc. Sips and nibbles with local wine. 10a-6p, Cultivate Home, 186 N. Main St., Ste 120, Sebastopol, 707-824-1400, Kathy Anderson, cultivatehome.com, shop@cultivatehome.com
When journalists are in the news for one reason or another, I always think of Red Smith. When something horrible again happens to a journalist, I try to imagine what Red’s column would have to say about it. I can promise you, the earth would shake...
Nov 14 ~ California’s Second Harvest-Beyond Balsamic Dec 11 ~ Butter Is a Health Food
This White House makes me crazy—especially when it gets what it wishes for. I, for one (and I am not alone), draw a direct line from this president’s ravings to the horror and death of journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. If you preach loudly and maniacally, long enough, to radical fanatics who in the 21st century are still chopping off heads, what would you expect? If you make a passionate enough case that the press, its journalists, writers, reporters and anchors are the enemy of the people—well, why not chop off their heads? (...said one simple-minded fanatic to another...) OMG... What’s going on?
The recourse we have in our constitutional republic is to do
All the many, many other things we can and must do are simply adjuncts of our power to vote. If we are to preserve what we view is at risk, and if we truly believe in our democratic process, it starts with the example of our leadership—and control through the vote. You old, patriotic babes and farts know what I mean—remember that old-fashioned spirit? So many in the younger generations don’t quite “get us” a lot of the time, and that’s partly our fault. We smoothed the way, won those two big ones way back then... Maybe we made it too smooth.
Prevent Falls at Free Training - Protect yourself from falls, improve balance and strength at the A Matter of Balance 8-class series. Free - Donations accepted.
Nov 20 ~ Windsor, Bell Manor Apartments, 8780 Bell Road, Windsor, 707-565-5936, Dana Jacoby, sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services/Adult-and-Aging/A-Matter- of-Balance-Managing-Concerns-About-Falls/, djacoby@schsd.org
what outraged, democratic process citizens can do: VOTE.
Don’t give up on them! Even when they don’t want to listen and they give you “the look,” tell them the stories! Buy them a flag (with a pole and bracket). The holidays are coming; buy them a copy of the Constitution. Take them to a military cemetery—I have yet to see someone who is not moved. Our millennials are smart; they just need more information—the long versions, not the quickie-Google-20-words-explains-anything versions...
I keep hoping that “stop!” will kick in, but it seems that every day this administration out-does itself with unbelievable behaviors, actions and positioning. And, that’s just the parts we know about! What amazes me (and probably will until I am pushing up Daisies) is that this man is revered by anyone.
As long as we tolerate (a White House that encourages violence, tears children from parents, characterizes civil disobedience and protest as mobs, lies to the ignorant for control and holds democracy hostage), we are complicit.
If we don’t VOTE, and act or participate in some way, we, quite simply, are getting what we wish for; like it or not.
Senior Dining Sites Council on Aging 30 Kawana Springs Road, Santa Rosa, 707-525-0143
Cloverdale ~ Cloverdale Senior Community Center, 311 North Main St., Mon.-Fri., 12p, 707-894-4826, cloverdaleseniorcenter.com
Bethlehem Tower ~ 801 Tupper, SR, 707-525-0143, M.,W., 12p
First United Methodist Church ~ 2150 Giffen Ave., SR., 707-525-0143, Mon.-Fri., 12p Healdsburg Senior Center ~ 133 Matheson St., 707-525-0143 M.,T.,W., 12p
Rohnert Park Senior Center ~ 6800 Hunter Dr., Ste. A, 707-525-0143 Mon. - Fri., 12p Sebastopol Senior Center ~ 167 High St., 707-525-0143, M.,W., F., 12p
Silvercrest Senior Housing ~ 1050 3rd St., SR, Margaret DeMaria, 707-525-0143, 11a
Dec 20 ~ Sonoma County YMCA, 1111 College Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-565-5936, Dana Jacoby, sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services/Adult-and-Aging/A-Matter-of- Balance-Managing-Concerns-About-Falls/, djacoby@schsd.org
Sebastopol Area Senior Center 167 N. High St.Sebastopol, 707-829-2440, sebastopolseniorcenter.org
Dec 6 ~ My Care My Plan - Advance health care directives workshop. FREE, 1-3p $5, FREE for Wisdom Counts members unless otherwise stated, Sebastopol Senior Center, 167 N High Street, Sebastopol, sebastopolseniorcenter.org
Dec 5 ~ Haircuts for Seniors at Sebastopol Senior Center - Have your hair trimmed by a professional stylist, Danny. Appointments are required. 1st Wednesday of the month. call 707-829-2440. Members: $10; Non-Members, $15 No one turned away for lack of funds!
Nov 5 ~ Senior Fire Preparedness Event: Guest speakers Bill Braga, Sebastopol Fire Chief and Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, as well as local organizations and companies providing information about emergency preparedness, free to you. Due to limited space, we welcome two members per household. Registration is required. Register. Free, 4p - 7p,
Nov 14 ~ Your Medicare: Changes and Choices for 2019- Discussing the changes to Medicare 2018. Learn which Part D premiums and formularies are changing. Free, 3p - 4:30p, Sebastopol Senior Center, 167 N. High Street, Sebastopol
Blood Pressure and Glucose Screening - 3rd Thursdays, 12-1 p.m. *when volunteers available. 12-1pm. Fee: $3 Wisdom Counts Member; $4 Associate Members
Rides To Appointments - If you are 60 and over, live in the West County and need help getting to appointments, call five business days in advance. Call Dean Brittingham, 707-829-2440 or email dean@sebastopolseniorcenter.org.
Zoë Tummillo has been writing about senior wisdom for the Gazette for many years. If you want to read more of her insights, visit SonomaCountyGazette.com for all her archived articles.
52 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 11/18