Tuolumne County Commission: Date Change Centenarian Awards!; Aging for Dummies Workshops on tap; A Bit of Groveland History; Calendar 2011

Welcome to the Tuolumne County Commission on Aging blog: it’s our ongoing effort that we hope will bring information to help and inform seniors in our county.

The commissioners, with their extensive and varied experience and expertise, are all volunteers and without exception are primarily concerned with doing whatever they can to improve the lives of our county’s seniors in and around the Motherlode.

“In every life, you've got to be of use.” Dr. Larch, The Cider House Rules, by John Irving

“Jots & Thoughts”

By Roberta R Goodwin ...
DATE CHANGE Centenarian Awards Ceremony: Due to a conflict in dates with the Health Fair, the Tuolumne County Commission on Aging’s Centenarian Awards Ceremony has been changed to October 26th, Senior Center, 11AM-Noon

“Aging for Dummies” Free Workshops, September 29!

“Aging for Dummies” - a free day of workshops for seniors, family members and caregivers will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Tuolumne County Senior Center, 540 Greenley Road, Sonora. People are invited to attend one or more workshops, no need to spend the day.  Each workshop is approximately 75 minutes.

Workshops include:
Seniors at risk
Scams and other threats
Housing and Caregiving
Emergency Preparedness and in-home safety
Senior Peer Counseling
Long-Term Care insurance and reverse mortgages
Personal finances for seniors
HICAP: Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program
Tuolumne County medical services
Transportation options for seniors
Get Me Involved: leadership opportunities for seniors
Community advocacy programs
Community activities for active seniors

Sponsored by ...

Tuolumne County Behavioral Health
Black Oak Casino
Seniority Lifecare at Home

the California Wellness Foundation

Cutler-Segerstrom Insurance
Sierra Senior Providers

For more information, contact Carleton Penwell at 532-8583
or carpat@mlode.com.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

County Supervisor Evan Royce appeared before the Commission September 12, 2011. He was quite candid, fielding many questions and describing his rookie year as “eye-opening” and a “learning curve experience.” Mr. Royce said for all of us, this is an era of “difficult times, especially in dealing with the budget issues and economy.” Judy Finley and Luci Tyndall outlined their efforts to help what they termed the “Silent Seniors.”  Judy and Luci expressed their frustration in what seems to be ever so slow, if any, progress toward mutual goals.  Mr. Royce thanked all of the Commission for the information and what he described as efforts "of which he was unaware" and said he was very grateful to know this information now. The Commission thanked Mr. Royce for his time.  We all committed ourselves to a continuing effort of an open door policy on communication between the Commission and the Board. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Waste Management "yard service"

The Waste Management "yard service" option means Cal Sierra handlers retrieve and return the garbage carts so the resident doesn't have to.  The fee is currently in the neighborhood of $11.00. There is a proposed change impacting seniors in the new county contract.  UPDATE ON THIS SOON, STAY TUNED! The Commission is gratified to learn that their lobbying efforts in this regard might be fruitful.

Did YOU Know?

by editor Roberta Goodwin, email me at: aging2010@gmail.com

A BIT OF COUNTY HISTORY
MARY LAVERONI and Laveroni Park,
also known nowadays as “Mary’s Park”

What's the connection between Mary Laveroni and the Park named for her? Both Mary Laveroni and the Park have been honored many times over the years. Accordingly, one can find many references, but in particular the Groveland Community Services District (http://gcsd.org/parks_mary%27s.html) says, in part: “Mary was a founding Director of the Groveland Community Services District, serving for 26 years.” And goes on to say this ...

“Mary Laveroni Community Park (with an area of about 2.3 acres), fronts Highway 120 in Groveland. It was built in the 1980’s and originally named Wayside Park. In August 2003, as part of its 50-year anniversary celebration, it was renamed in honor of one of GCSD's first directors, Mary Laveroni. In 2004 the park facilities were expanded to include a large concert stage, three sets of bleachers, and a large grass playing field, in addition to the picnic areas, restrooms, children’s play equipment, snack bar and two amphitheaters. During emergencies, such as wildfires, this park is used as a staging and bivouac area for emergency response crews. The Park has developed into a beautiful facility, and is used for many events."

Here's a brief Laveroni family history from http://www.grovelandmuseum.org/Laveroni.html:

“George Laveroni married Mary Webb in 1943 and they soon moved into 18609 Main Street, Groveland. Bert Holms had built this home in 1934. George and Mary did extensive remodeling and enlarging of the home in about 1952... In 1938 George and Mary acquired a building and long-established bar in Groveland and renamed the building "The Iron Door." The name was derived from the massive iron doors that hung at the front entrance. George refurbished the building and the "Iron Door" got its first restroom and fireplace. George also owned a sawmill business and hardware store. Mary was a founding Director of the Groveland Community Services District, serving for 26 years.”

Year of the Family Caregiver: 2011 has been designated as Year of the Family Caregiver by the U.S. Administration on Aging in honor of the 10th anniversary of the federal National Family Caregiver Support Program.

“Minor Home Repair”: Area 12 Agency on Aging offers a program for eligible county seniors “designed to assist seniors over 60 who have home repair problems they cannot resolve which threaten health & safety.”

To be eligible, you must: be 60 years of age or older; reside in Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mariposa Counties; live in your own home.

Typical repairs include... (among others)
hard to turn faucets; leaky toilets; door knob repair; install grab bars; repair doors and windows; ramp repair

Call Area 12 Today for more information on how you can arrange for needed home repairs 209-532-6272... or go to: http://www.area12.org/support.aspx.  Also, you can view their website at: http://www.area12.org/ or email them at: info@area12.org

Centenarian Society Event in October: The Commission on Aging is still seeking information on local centenarians, those who have reached or surpassed the age of 100 years.  A special recognition and honoring event is planned for Wednesday, October 26^th, 11AM-12PM, at the Senior Center on Greenley Rd., in Sonora.  The Commission is asking eligible individuals’ family members, friends, churches, residential care and skilled nursing facilities to submit names.
In addition, anyone who has reached the ages of 96, 97, 98, and 99 yrs will be honored as well, in recognition of their status in Tuolumne County’s Centenarian University of Life. Those who are aged 96 years are freshman, 97 years are sophomores, 98 years are juniors, and 99 years are seniors.  Upon reaching the age of 100 years, those individuals will be inducted into the Centenarian Society of Tuolumne County.  Their name will be placed on the Centenarian Society wall plaque at the Senior Center on Greenley Rd.  Each name submitted will receive a personal invitation, including their families, and a certificate of recognition of their status in our communities.  The Senior Center will provide lunch free to the honorees, and $3.50 to all others, to be served by community leaders and Commission on Aging members.
For additional information, contact Cathie Peacock at 586-4802 or JoAnn Rascon at 588-9004. You may also download a nomination form here (right-hand side of the page "centenarian application" link)": http://portal.co.tuolumne.ca.us/psp/ps/TUP_COMM_ON_AGING/ENTP/h/?tab=DEFAULT

REMINDER - Tuolumne County Commission on Aging encourages and welcomes not only visitors to our meetings but we have vacancies at the moment, and so we always welcome any interested parties to apply.  Attendance at our meetings is a prerequisite. Please come to our meetings and see what we’re about!

All COA meetings are open to the public. Please come and give us your ideas, concerns, and information regarding senior issues!

In future, we will be blogging with even more information on matters of interest to county seniors so stay tuned!  And please feel free to let us know YOUR ideas for events or forums that you want to see! We actively solicit your comments. As always, you may contact the Tuolumne County Commission on Aging by email aging2010@gmail.com.

Commission on Aging Events Calendar 2011

*     NEW: The Commission on Aging appears on a regular basis before the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors in order to update them on Commission activities.

*      Commission on Aging general meetings 1:30PM, 2^nd Monday each month, at Area 12 Agency on Aging, Standard Rd., Conf. Room C
Note- due to Columbus Day, October's meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 11.

 * Commission on Aging Executive Board meetings 1:00PM, 1^st Monday each month, at the Senior Center

*      Commission on Aging Public Relations committee meetings, 12:00PM, 1^st Wednesday each month, at Interfaith 

* Commission on Aging Education Committee meetings, 9:00AM, 3^rd Tuesday each month, Starbucks, Sonora Crossroads Shopping Center,
in the Prudential 2nd Floor Conference Room 
* September 29 – "Aging For Dummies" Workshops: Tuolumne County Senior Center, 9AM-4PM

*      October 10^th General Meeting & Former COA Commissioners Reunion Event

* October (day TBD) - Centenarian Awards Ceremony 11AM Senior Center Sonora

*** 2011 Speaker Schedule ***

·          October – no speaker due to ex-COA members "Reunion" Event

·         November – speaker pending

·         December – no speaker 2011 year-end wrap-up
 

To go to the Little House website, go here: http://thelittlehouse.org
To go to Friends and Neighbors website go here: http://seniorfan.com/ 
To go to the San Francisco Institute on Aging website, go here: http://www.ioaging.org/

Blog Editor: Roberta Goodwin

What thoughts have YOU?  Email them to me at: aging2010@gmail.com.  Roberta

Tuolumne County Commission on Aging: More Memory Musings; Calendar 2011

Welcome to the Tuolumne County Commission on Aging blog: it’s our ongoing effort that we hope will bring information to help and inform seniors in our county.

The commissioners, with their extensive and varied experience and expertise, are all volunteers and without exception are primarily concerned with doing whatever they can to improve the lives of our county’s seniors in and around the Motherlode.

"Practice Random Kindnesses and Senseless Acts of Beauty"

More Memory Musings

Items in the news regarding dementia...

• I misplaced the link, but being a big to-do notes kind of person, an item caught my eye recently about “to do notes affecting the brain by relieving it of the responsibility of remembering” thus creating the effect of losing more memory.  Whoa.  Is that true?  Anyone else read or heard this?
• From “9 Strange But True Health Tips”, the writer says “Google is making us forgetful, because we're less likely to try to remember information that we know is readily accessible.”  http://health.yahoo.net/experts/menshealth/9-strange-but-true-health-tips
• Check out Joan Aragone from July 30: “Alzheimer's Café to open in Menlo Park” in which she relates that “The point is for dementia patients and their families to meet in a relaxed setting.” http://www.mercurynews.com/joan-aragone/ci_18588499
• In addition, Marge Depew Warner gives us this interesting info to be seen here: http://newbrightlife.com/2011/5-ways-you-can-influence-your-aging-each-day

“Jots & Thoughts”

**Speaker: Susan Thompson, a member of the California Senior Legislature (CSL), spoke before the commission at our General Meeting August 8^th.  She gave an overview of the Legislature, what it does, and how the process works for proposals that the legislators write (author). She has authored one potentially impactful proposal having to do with patients’ rights.  It seems many patients don't realize that they don't have to leave the hospital when their usual 3 days is up. Medicare DOES indeed pay for extra time if the patient doesn’t “feel ready” to go home.  A patient has appeal rights, and if they appeal, during that appeal period Medicare will cover the time.  Susan is proposing that each patient room has additional signage in the room that displays a reminder. She has found that some hospital staff members aren't aware of this patient appeal right either. To read about the goings on at CSL, go here: www.4csl.org
Susan responded to many questions and had some other new information to share as well.  She - and we - have agreed to keep the pipeline open between us in future.

**Charlie: I went to my mailbox the other day and encountered a neighbor, Doug Lee, walking his dog.  The dog is a Shih Tzu named Charlie.  Charlie is 13 years old and the cutest thing.  It turns out Charlie is a trained “therapy dog” in his spare time.  He is taken out by Cheryl Lee, Doug’s wife, to the Senior Center and retirement homes to effect his cute fuzzy doggie magic upon seniors. Petting him, it was not hard to see why Charlie is good at his job!
**Summertime in the foothills (heat warning):  “Over 65 and not worried about heat? You should be”  –  This warning is making the rounds... Seattle Times, Yahoo Health, Forbes... http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/ap/us_med_heat_wave_seniors

**Meeting guests: John Gray and Liz Bass visited the executive Board meeting on August 1.  It was a most interesting discussion about ways in which to keep lines open between us and the Tuolumne County BOS.  They wanted us to start appearing more regularly before them in open session to share our activities, thoughts, input and issues.  We have set up a plan to do that starting next week on August 16.

**"How Safe is Your Home?":  http://crimeprevention.crimereports.com/2010/03/31/how-safe-is-your-home/

**Personal: I had to put my doggie to sleep last week, resulting in much sadness in my house, but a few days later I saw this anonymous quote - and popular bumper sticker in Berkeley - which says: "Try to be the person your dog thinks you are." So... I hope I was, at least to him. And I had the thought that if one can do that, one has done a fine job in life, hey?

“The greatest gift you can give someone is time. Because when you give time, you are giving a portion of your life that you will never get back." ~ Unknown

 The Commission’s Centenarian Society Event.  The Commission on Aging is seeking information on local centenarians, those who have reached or surpassed the age of 100 years.  A special recognition and honoring event is planned for mid-October at the Senior Center on Greenley Rd., in Sonora.  The Commission is asking eligible individuals’ family members, friends, churches, residential care and skilled nursing facilities to submit names. For additional information, contact Cathie Peacock at 586-4802 or JoAnn Rascon at 588-9004.

Did YOU Know?

by editor Roberta Goodwin, email me at: aging2010@gmail.com

Year of the Family Caregiver: 2011 has been designated as Year of the Family Caregiver by the U.S. Administration on Aging in honor of the 10th anniversary of the federal National Family Caregiver Support Program.

Interfaith has a wood donation program: Their crews can come and cut it, load it and haul it off as long as the tree is on the ground and “easily accessible”.  They give it away in August to their low-income and no-income clients to heat their houses the following winter.  To donate your tree or wood, call Cathie Peacock or Barbara Woodward at Interfaith 532-0905.  And to sign up for the program to receive ½ cord free firewood, call Interfaith in August.

“Minor Home Repair”: Area 12 Agency on Aging offers a program for eligible county seniors “designed to assist seniors over 60 who have home repair problems they cannot resolve which threaten health & safety.”

To be eligible, you must: be 60 years of age or older; reside in Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mariposa Counties; live in your own home.

Typical repairs include... (among others)
hard to turn faucets; leaky toilets; door knob repair; install grab bars; repair doors and windows; ramp repair

Call Area 12 Today for more information on how you can arrange for needed home repairs 209-532-6272... or go to: http://www.area12.org/support.aspx.  Also, you can view their website at: http://www.area12.org/ or email them at: info@area12.org

Centenarian Society Event is coming up in October: The Commission on Aging is seeking information on local centenarians, those who have reached or surpassed the age of 100 years.  A special recognition and honoring event is planned for Wednesday, October 19^th, 11AM, at the Senior Center on Greenley Rd., in Sonora.  The Commission is asking eligible individuals’ family members, friends, churches, residential care and skilled nursing facilities to submit names.
In addition, anyone who has reached the ages of 96, 97, 98, and 99 yrs will be honored as well, in recognition of their status in Tuolumne County’s Centenarian University of Life. Those who are aged 96 years are freshman, 97 years are sophomores, 98 years are juniors, and 99 years are seniors.  Upon reaching the age of 100 years, those individuals will be inducted into the Centenarian Society of Tuolumne County.  Their name will be placed on the Centenarian Society wall plaque at the Senior Center on Greenley Rd.  Each name submitted will receive a personal invitation, including their families, and a certificate of recognition of their status in our communities.  The Senior Center will provide lunch free to the honorees, and $3.50 to all others, to be served by community leaders and Commission on Aging members.
For additional information, contact Cathie Peacock at 586-4802 or JoAnn Rascon at 588-9004. You may also download a nomination form here (right-hand side of the page "centenarian application" link)": http://portal.co.tuolumne.ca.us/psp/ps/TUP_COMM_ON_AGING/ENTP/h/?tab=DEFAULT

REMINDER - Tuolumne County Commission on Aging encourages and welcomes not only visitors to our meetings but we have vacancies at the moment, and so we always welcome any interested parties to apply.  Attendance at our meetings is a prerequisite. Please come to our meetings and see what we’re about!

Commission on Aging Events Calendar 2011

*     NOTE, NEW: The Commission on Aging is beginning a series of quarterly appearances before the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors in order to update them on Commission activities.  Our first such appearance is Tuesday August 16.

*      Commission on Aging general meetings 1:30PM, 2^nd Monday each month, at Area 12 Agency on Aging, Standard Rd., Conf. Room C

 * Commission on Aging Executive Board meetings 1:00PM, 1^st Monday each month, at the Senior Center

*      Commission on Aging Public Relations committee meetings, 12:00PM, 1^st Wednesday each month, at Interfaith 

* Commission on Aging Education Committee meetings, 9:00AM,
3^rd Tuesday each month, Starbucks, Sonora Crossroads Shopping Center,
in the Prudential 2nd Floor Conference Room

* September 29 – As yet un-named COA “Education Day” at the Senior Center, with speakers

*      October 10^th General Meeting & Former COA Commissioners Reunion Event

* October (day TBD) - Centenarian Awards Ceremony 11AM Senior Center Sonora

*** 2011 Speaker Schedule ***

·         September – Evan Royce, County Board of Supervisors

·          October – no speaker due to ex-COA members "Reunion" Event

·         November – speaker pending

·         December – no speaker 2011 year-end wrap-up
 

All COA meetings are open to the public. Please come and give us your ideas, concerns, and information regarding senior issues!

In future, we will be blogging with even more information on matters of interest to county seniors so stay tuned!  And please feel free to let us know YOUR ideas for events or forums that you want to see! We actively solicit your comments. As always, you may contact the Tuolumne County Commission on Aging by email aging2010@gmail.com.

To go to the Little House website, go here: http://thelittlehouse.org
To go to Friends and Neighbors website go here: http://seniorfan.com/ 
To go to the San Francisco Institute on Aging website, go here: http://www.ioaging.org/

Blog Editor: Roberta Goodwin

What thoughts have YOU?  Email them to me at: aging2010@gmail.com.  Roberta

Tuolumne County Commission on Aging: Updated July 11 / Happy FOURTH OF JULY / Calendar 2011

Welcome to the Tuolumne County Commission on Aging blog: it’s our ongoing effort that we hope will bring information to help and inform seniors in our county.

The commissioners, with their extensive and varied experience and expertise, are all volunteers and without exception are primarily concerned with doing whatever they can to improve the lives of our county’s seniors in and around the Motherlode.

Happy FOURTH!  

 

“Jots & Thoughts”
“Jots & Thoughts” is a new feature designed to bring you information that might not come to your attention otherwise.
by editor Roberta Goodwin, email me at: aging2010@gmail.com

1.  From Roberta: A prose piece by an old tennis friend of mine, Susan Anawalt, entitled “Woman Feeding the Birds”.  I think it is most beautiful. You might enjoy it too. The picture (below) that she took herself - of the old woman in the piece - inspired it all...
   
   If I may suggest: Read it when you have a contemplative mood going.
   http://www.anawalt.com/anawalt/Feeding_the_Sparrows_%28Comments_by_S%29.html
   
2. From Ira Uslander: "...a belated thanks to, and appreciation for, his Senior Expo efforts goes to former commissioner Jim Grinnell. His idea years ago for a fledgling “Senior Fair” has become the full-grown annual Senior Expo.  Where would it have gone in those early days and beyond, without his inspiration and guidance and “pounding the pavement” for people interested in booths and sponsorship.  Thanks Jim!"  Ed. Note: Jim still continues to help the Senior Expo committee.
3. From Roberta (Ira Uslander gave me the heads-up): Lenore Rutherford wrote a very nice article with a great picture in the UD the other day on the Commission's Senior Volunteer of the Year Awards ceremony in front of the Board of Supes.  It won't be posted online, so I wrote a synopsis: The Commission's Senior Volunteer of the Year Awards ceremony was held in front of the Board of Supes on June 22.  Audrey Sweat, longtime volunteer at the Sonora Senior Lounge, was named Tuolumne County Senior Volunteer of the Year.  She and other nominees for the honor were presented with certificates and plaques by board chairman John Gray. Sweat was honored for 26 years as a volunteer at the Sonora Senior Center at North Washington and Elkin streets, where she greets people.  Audrey has done a number of volunteer jobs. When presented with the award, she said “I'm kind of embarrassed, I don't like to be in the limelight too much. I didn't even realize it had been 26 years.” Congrats to Audrey!
4. From Laurel Utecht: The Sonora Emblem Club will hold its annual "Snoopy Indoor Flea Market" on Saturday July 9th, 7:30am to 3:00pm at the Sonora Elk Lodge, 100 Elk Drive, Sonora.  Proceeds will be used for local community service projects. Call Sally Dios at 586-4323 for information.
5. From Roberta: I'm thinking we ARE getting the word out. One morning last week, I got a call from “US Gov’t” (Caller ID) 559-998-6922. Turned out to be the “The Navy Legal Services Office” (NLSO) in Lemoore looking to help someone from Sonora, a vet, who came to - or called - their office for legal help.  So I gave “Nicole” the names and phone numbers for both Bill Dorffi (vets) and Bill Loring (legal).  I asked the young lady how she came across my number or our group and she wasn’t sure, but she said she had done some searching on Google.  Interesting and gratifying that we could possibly help. Bill Loring, a former Commissioner and retired attorney, called me back and he is following up.  BTW, Bill relays the info that the Catholic Charities Senior Legal Advocacy Program staff could use another volunteer legal advocate.  For more info or to volunteer, call 209-588-1597. The office is open for seniors to come in on 1) Tuesdays 10-12pm at the Catholic Charities office 14855 Mono Way, Sonora, 2) At the Sr. Center Weds. 10-12p and 3) Wednesdays back to the Mono Way office from 1pm-3 pm.  Again, call 209-588-1597.
6. From Roberta: Cathie’s recent Ruby Award "Women Helping Women" means a $5000.00 cash award for her favorite charity if she wins at the regional level.  (This detail comes from Soroptimist of Sonora's president, Sally Dios). We will root for her to win, and will update this blog if she does. Look for it.  Again, congrats to Cathie.  She took the opportunity at her awards ceremony to thank the community for its encouragement and support in the programs in which she is involved, as she feels that since she has experienced “gifts of others”, it therefore became her motto to pass along those “gifts”.  As I said, she was very humble and gracious. 
7. From Roberta: I stumbled across an article "How Safe is Your Home?" by George Feder on March 31, 2010 in something called “Neighborhood Crime MAP.com” I think it's very valuable information for the seniors in this county and I would like to share it. Please go to:  http://crimeprevention.crimereports.com/2010/03/31/how-safe-is-your-home/
   and let us know what you think.  And by the way, is this something you'd like to see more of?  Call 209-588-0505 or email us at aging2010@gmail.com.
8. From Carleton Penwell: "Past Commissioners! The Tuolumne County Commission on Aging (COA) wants to let any former COA commissioners know that we’d like to contact you to get your input on senior issues and concerns, then and now."  If you see this appeal, and want to participate, please contact Carleton Penwell at 209-532-8583 or by email at: carpat@mlode.com
9. From Roberta: Good info and interesting reading Joan Aragone (columnist for the San Mateo County Times) writes a column aimed at seniors entitled "The Time of Your Life" ...
   to view: http://www.mercurynews.com/joan-aragone
10. From Sandi Romena: “I have a contract with Catholic Charities for a pilot program.  This survey is different from most; it is concentrating on seniors and their community.  The link to the survey:  A public link is now functional.  Click --> http://ccstockton.org/main/happy-seniors/”

The COA encourages all seniors to enter their input.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you know?
by editor Roberta Goodwin, email me at: aging2010@gmail.com

That Google is a treasure trove of information.  If you go, as I did, to:
http://www.tchistory.org/tchistory/Wonders_17.htm
you'll be able to view the history of the “Old Sonora-Mono Road – Highway 108" - Enjoy!

Year of the Family Caregiver: 2011 has been designated as Year of the Family Caregiver by the U.S. Administration on Aging in honor of the 10th anniversary of the federal National Family Caregiver Support Program.

Area 12 Agency on Aging offers a “Minor Home Repair” Program for eligible county seniors “designed to assist seniors over 60 who have home repair problems they cannot resolve which threaten health & safety”. To be eligible, you must:

• be 60 years of age or older; Reside in Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mariposa Counties; Live in your own home...
  
  Typical repairs include... (among others)
  
• hard to turn faucets; leaky toilets; door knob repair; install grab bars; repair doors and windows; ramp repair
  
  Call Area 12 Today for more information on how you can arrange for needed home repairs 209-532-6272... or go to: http://www.area12.org/support.aspx. 
  Also, you can view their website at: http://www.area12.org/
  or email them at: info@area12.org
  

   Interfaith has a wood donation program.  Their crews can come and cut it, load it and haul it off as long as the tree is on the ground and “easily accessible”.  They give it away in August to their low-income and no-income clients to heat their houses the following winter.  To donate your tree or wood, call Cathie Peacock or Barbara Woodward at Interfaith 532-0905.  And to sign up for the program to receive ½ cord free firewood, call Interfaith in August.

  
  

  Centenarian Society Event is October 19. The Commission on Aging is seeking information on local centenarians, those who have reached or surpassed the age of 100 years.  A special recognition and honoring event is planned for Wednesday, October 19^th, 11AM, at the Senior Center on Greenley Rd., in Sonora.  The Commission is asking eligible individuals’ family members, friends, churches, residential care and skilled nursing facilities to submit names.

  In addition, anyone who has reached the ages of 96, 97, 98, and 99 yrs will be honored as well, in recognition of their status in Tuolumne County’s Centenarian University of Life. Those who are aged 96 years are freshman, 97 years are sophomores, 98 years are juniors, and 99 years are seniors.  Upon reaching the age of 100 years, those individuals will be inducted into the Centenarian Society of Tuolumne County.  Their name will be placed on the Centenarian Society wall plaque at the Senior Center on Greenly Rd.  Each name submitted will receive a personal invitation, including their families, and a certificate of recognition of their status in our communities.  The Senior Center will provide lunch free to the honorees, and $3.50 to all others, to be served by community leaders and Commission on Aging members.

  For additional information, contact Cathie Peacock at 586-4802 or JoAnn Rascon at 588-9004. You may also download a nomination form here: http://portal.co.tuolumne.ca.us/psp/ps/TUP_COMM_ON_AGING/ENTP/h/?tab=DEFAULT

Tuolumne County Commission on Aging... encourages and welcomes not only visitors to our meetings but we have vacancies at the moment, and so we always welcome any interested parties to apply.  Attendance at our meetings is a prerequisite. Please come to our meetings and see what we’re about! And remember to always....

"Practice Random Kindnesses and Senseless Acts of Beauty"

Commission on Aging Events Calendar 2011

*      Commission on Aging general meetings 1:30PM, 2^nd Monday each month, at Area 12 Agency on Aging, Standard Rd., Conf. Room C
 *  Commission on Aging Executive Board meetings 1:00PM, 1^st Monday each month, at the Senior Center

*     NOTE, NEW: The Commission on Aging will begin a series of quarterly appearances before the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors in order to update them on Commission activities.  Dates TBD and will be posted after the July meeting

*      Commission on Aging Public Relations committee meetings, 12:00PM, 1^st Wednesday each month, at Interfaith 
*   Commission on Aging Education committee meetings, 9:00AM, 3^rd Tuesday each month, Starbucks, Sonora Crossroads Shopping Center, Prudential 2nd Floor Conference Room
*      October – Former COA Commissioners Reunion Event

*  October 19 - Centenarian Awards Ceremony 11AM Senior Center Sonora

  

***2011 Speakers’ schedule***

(to inform the commissioners on senior related issues)

o        August - Kathy Toepel, Catholic Charities Diocese of Stockton

o        September – Evan Royce, County Board of Supervisors

o        October – no speaker due to ex-COA members "Reunion" Event

o        November – speaker pending

o   December – 2011 year-end wrap-up

 

All COA meetings are open to the public. Please come and give us your ideas, concerns, and information regarding senior issues!

In future, we will be blogging with more information on matters of interest to county seniors so stay tuned!  And please feel free to let us know YOUR ideas for events or forums that you want to see! We actively solicit your comments.  You may contact the Tuolumne County Commission on Aging by email aging2010@gmail.com.

To go to the Little House website, go here: http://thelittlehouse.org

To go to Friends and Neighbors website go here: http://seniorfan.com/ To go to the San Francisco Institute on Aging website, go here: http://www.ioaging.org/

Blog Editor: Roberta Goodwin

What thoughts have YOU?  Email them to me at: aging2010@gmail.com.  Roberta