Page 56 - Sonoma County Gazette 11-19

A Chance To Do Good
Nov 18 - Dec 9 ~ Free Bingocize for Older Adults ~ Bingo combined with simple exercises for falls prevention. Free, 1-2p, Burbank Heights and Orchards, 7777 Bodega Hwy, Sebastopol, 707-565-7321, Autumn Buss, abuss@schsd.org
Thru - Dec 19 ~ A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls ~ for seniors who want to learn ways to reduce falls. 707-565-5936, sonomacounty.ca.gov, mob@schsd.org
Nov 11 ~ 855 Wood Sorrel Dr, Petaluma Nov 14 ~ 1111 College Ave, Santa Rosa Dec 4 ~ 4676 Mayette Ave, Santa Rosa Dec 19 ~ 657 Acacia Lane, Santa Rosa
Thru - Dec 31 ~ Mindful Balance Class ~ Gentle yoga class geared toward older adults. $5-10, 11:30a-12:30p, Russian River Senior Center, 15010 Armstrong Woods Rd, Guerneville, Anna Grace
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
Rides to Medical and Social Services Appointments ~ 311 North Main Street, Cloverdale, 707-894-4826 Elizabeth, cloverdaleseniorcenter.com
How often such chances are squandered! Almost all of us have had such opportunities—some we seize, some we don’t. Some simply blind us with their awesome scope and are lost or frozen in a sea of confusion, or ego, or ignorance...
As organized societies we have managed to designate certain time frames as suitable (almost mandatory!) for “doing good!” Be it birthdays, weddings, organized charities, thanksgiving or those many Winter holidays, etc. – they are times identified for celebrating, gifting and being kind. It’s just easier to join in, be forgiving, become more generous and seize chances to do good things, within generally accepted and formalized frameworks
That amazing holiday season is upon us! We are already thinking positive, doing considerate deeds, decorating festively, and celebrating!
There are opportunities galore for expressing love, indulging personal faiths, renewing hope and even making amends! It’s a damn shame that the prelude to our traditional festive and loving season is laced with ever more outrageous, dangerous and destructive behavior by our supposed national leadership...
Senior Social Clubs at four convenient sites
Santa Rosa Senior Social Club ~ M, W, and F, 9:30a-2 at 2150 Giffen, Santa Rosa.
707-525-0143, or atlanderson@councilonaging.com
Sonoma Senior Social Club ~ Tu, Th, 9:30a-2 at Vintage House, 264 First St. E., Sonoma, 707-525-0143, or atlanderson@councilonaging.com
Healdsburg Senior Social Club ~ M, Tu, 9:30a-2p at St. Paul’s Church, 209 Matheson St., Healdsburg. 707-433-6161.
Sebastopol Senior Social Club ~ W, F, 9:30-2p at Sebastopol Senior Center, 167 No. High St, Sebastopol. 707-525-0143, or atlanderson@councilonaging.com
Squandered opportunities to “do good” probably should become lessons learned—you know—the shoulda-woulda-coulda syndrome—and then trying not to miss the next opportunity! However, in the halls of power, reckless forces are at work. Armed with political rationales and personal gravitas, certain individuals, surrounded by sycophants, seem determined to serve singular negative ends, without regard to a tenuous future.
Russian River Senior Resource Center
15010 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville, 707-823-1640, westcountyservices.org
Ongoing ~ Senior Dining Room Lunch ~ Food, Fun and Friendship. Wed & Fri. Anyone 60 and over Donation of $4.00 Res Req’d, 12-2p
Ongoing ~ Free Rides for Seniors ~ by WCCS. Pick up RR Senior Center, RR Health Center & Monte Rio & Forestville. Call 707-823-1640 x140
Destiny, the poet said, is written in the wind.
Hanging garlands on melting glaciers, or sprinkling fairy dust on scorched forests, or spray painting peace signs on deteriorating factory walls, or turning up the volume on Christmas carols won’t stop the inevitable nor return integrity to our White House; because, it’s written there, too.
I used to love the holidays in that exciting way that’s fun and
colorful and creative; and, in many ways I still do! But there’s a part of me that nags the other part of me about that message in the wind. I could be gone before timely solutions can be found or the ominous tide be turned! And,
it bothers me to be celebrating when my children may inherit a shamefully tainted legacy: our country in chaos.
Holiday Dinner table! It’s an event I contrive each year for bringing us all together; for honoring and remembering that family is what’s important. As usual, I will enjoy putting it all together on that wonderful big “family table” at Coppola’s Rustic! The glasses will shine and clink with Saluté! The decór will delight and the food will be wonderful! The spirit of fun and love will warm us all... Why spoil it with too-sober comments of my Country under political siege and my Constitution being insulted and placed at risk? (Why, indeed.) Of course, I won’t...
But it would be dishonest to not respect the cynic in me. It would also be dishonest to deny what I love about the excitement (and frivolity) of holidays, today and in memories: the fun, the traditions, the fuss, the food
and famiglia! Yet... I worry and wonder about a flawed individual with an extraordinary opportunity to “do good,” positioned with worldwide reach, allowed to viciously squander it—with impunity.
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
56 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 11/19
After the fact, the “means” that get one of us, or some thing, to a desired end, only matters in future considerations. Criminals know that! Once an end is achieved, the means expended cannot be undone—regardless of how virtuous or nefarious the methods might have been. Anyone with power knows that! Unfortunately, if not recognized in the first place, our lost opportunities (to choose to do good) often aren’t even missed or regretted.
Sebastopol Area Senior Center 167 N. High St.Sebastopol, 707-829-2440, sebastopolseniorcenter.org
Oct 31 ~ Bus Buddy Ride ~ Ride the Bus with Your Neighbors. Free, 10a
Nov 2 - Nov 16 ~ Yoga for Caregivers ~ Yoga tools to self-care and navigate the
Nov 2 ~ Saturday Cafe ~ Discussion & resource fair. Free, 12-2:30p
Nov 7 ~ TED Talk ~ Body language affects how others see us. Free-$5, 2-3p
Thru - Nov 1 ~ Exercise Classes ~ Variety of exercise classes on a weekly basis. $5-$10
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
challenges of being a caregiver. $12+
Yesterday, I found some charming elements for my Family
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