Category Archives: Senior Living

Medicare presentations through-out Ventura County

senior medicareThe County of Ventura Area Agency on Aging’s Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) will be giving a series of Medicare presentations in October.

A few of the topics and One Stop Shops are:

Tuesday, October 6,  at Ventura Avenue Adult Center, 550 North Ventura Ave., 12:15 pm to 1:15 pm.
Presentation Topic: “What are the 2016 Medicare Changes  & What the Changes Mean to You?”

Wednesday, October 7, at Oxnard Wilson Senior Center, 350 North C St. 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Presentation Topic: “What are the 2016 Medicare Changes & What the Changes Mean to You?”

Thursday, October 8,  at Moorpark Active Adult Center, 799 Moorpark Ave., 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm,
Presentation Topic: “What are the 2016 Medicare Changes & What the Changes Mean to You?”

Friday, October 16, 2015, Camarillo Health Care District 3639 E. Las Posas Rd. 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm,
Presentation Topic: “What are the 2016 Medicare Changes & What the Changes Mean to You?”

Friday, October 16,  Ventura HICAP, One Stop Shop, 646 County Square Dr. Ventura, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm,
Open Enrollment:  One on One counseling appointments, walk-ins and appointments available.

Monday, October 19, 2015, South Oxnard Senior Center, 200 East Bard Rd., Oxnard, Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm,
Open Enrollment:  One on One counseling appointments, walk-ins and appointments available.

For further information and locations contact May Lee Berry, HICAP Outreach Coordinator 477-7320  or  www.venturacounty.org/vcaaa

Demonstration exercise classes for seniors 55 years and older

As part of National Women’s Health & Fitness Day on September 30, the SCAN Health & Wellness Center in Ventura is offering free 45-minute demonstration exercise classes for seniors 55 years and older and their caregivers. Classes include Tai Chi for Rehab (9 a.m.)/Sun Style (10 a.m.), Senior Yoga (11 a.m.), Focus on Balance (12 p.m.), Strong Bones (1 p.m.), QiGong (2 p.m.) and Zumba Gold (3 p.m.). Women’s Health & Fitness Day, now in its 14th year, is a national program bringing attention to the importance of regular physical activity and health awareness for women. Organized by SCAN and the Health Information Resource Center, the program is free to seniors 55 and older and their caregivers. The SCAN Health &Wellness Center is located at 6633 Telephone Rd. Class spots are limited to those new to classes. Call 658-0365 for more information and to register.

Seniors collecting suitcases for foster children

Cypress Place Senior Living in Ventura is collecting suitcases for children in the Ventura County Foster Care Program. When a child enters foster care for the first time, it is usually in a time of crisis and confusion. Often the child’s possessions are hurriedly stuffed into a garbage bag or box.

The child then shows up at the doorstep of a foster home, frightened and scared, holding this trash bag or box. This scene is often repeated numerous times as the child is moved from one home to another.

“All of us here at Cypress Place Senior Living feel a child’s life is worth more than a trash bag or box,” said Mike Macke, one of the marketing directors at the senior community. “That is why we are collecting new and used suitcases to give to these children through a program we call Suitcases for Kids.”

From September 16th until October 16th the senior community will be accepting donations of a new or used suitcase to be given to one of the many foster children in Ventura County.

Once the suitcases have been collected, Cypress Place will invite the foster children to the senior community to present them with their very own suitcase. It is a small, yet wonderful way to help give a child a glimmer of hope and a sense of dignity according to Macke.

Suitcases may be dropped off to Cypress Place Senior Living at 1200/1220 Cypress Point Lane in Ventura. For more information please call 650-8000 or visit their web site at www.cypressplaceseniorliving.com.

A new Ventura business teaches how to capture personal histories

Thanks to the publication of a recent article in the Ventura Breeze, The Time Binders  – — is up and running. The Time Binders are Esther Cole and Carin Wofford,  The workshops cover collecting data, writing, binding, and videotaping your life.  Both co-directors are published writers of articles and books. Writing kits will be provided.

First Workshop: October 8:  A 4-week course beginning  Thursday, from  1:00-2:00 PM.  sponsored by  Ventura Parks & Recreation.

Location:  Ventura Adult and Senior Center on Ventura Ave.

Second Workshop: November 3,  Tuesdays 1:00-2:00 p.m.

For more information please call 236-7378. Early enrolment is encouraged because class size will be limited.

Seniors get discount to play golf in Santa Barbara

The Santa Barbara Golf Club has expanded its resident discount on green fees to include golfers in San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties. Seniors aged 65 and older, in these three counties, are eligible for great discounts on rates on both weekdays and weekends.

Located in the heart of Santa Barbara and just ten minutes from the waterfront, Santa Barbara Golf Club is the only 18-hole public golf course in city limits. Golfers can enjoy a peaceful retreat from the city and take in picturesque mountain and ocean landscapes without sacrificing convenience. Santa Barbara Golf Club is a championship-level course that is sure to provide golfers with a fun and challenging experience.

Green fees for seniors who are residents of Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties are $29 on weekdays and $38 on weekends—a 43% and 37% discount, respectively. Power golf cart rentals are available for $15.

Harold’s birthday at the Vagabond Coffee Shop

senior HaroldIn our last issue we had this photo but it was so small you couldn’t really see these handsome guys.

Dick Zizic, Harold Kennedy, Dick Baldewin, Tony Jankowski and somebody in a Breeze cap celebrating Harold’s birthday at the Vagabond Coffee Shop. All friends from playing tennis (rather well thank you) at the Pierpont Racquet Club.

Lexington Assisted Living hosts special luncheon for first responders

On September 10 The Lexington Assisted Living hosted a special luncheon for first responders to salute those who serve our community. The event was open to the public and included a wonderful lunch. Attending were Sheriff Deputy J Olmos  and Sheriff Deputy G Heiberger  Ventura City Firefighters   Josh Betha,  David Mendoza  and Chris Deitz senior lexington sheriffs
Lexington is at 5440 Ralston, 644-6710.

Photos by John Ferritto

Workshop to educate baby boomers on social security

senior social securityAre we baby boomers?

An educational workshop titled  “Savvy Social Security Planning: What Baby Boomers Need to Know to Maximize Retirement Income” has been scheduled for Tuesday, September 22 at the Ventura Adult Education Center located at 5200 Valentine Rd., at 6:00 p.m.

Social Security is far more complicated than most people realize. The decisions baby boomers make now can have a tremendous impact on the total amount of benefits they stand to receive over their lifetime.

Questions boomers are asking include:

  • Will social security be there for me?
  • How much can I expect to receive?
  • When should I apply for Social Security?
  • How can I maximize my benefits?
  • Will Social Security be enough to live on in retirement?

To help baby boomers better understand the Social Security system, this workshop will cover:

  • 5 factors to consider when deciding to apply for benefits
  • When it makes sense to delay benefits- and when it does not

Why you should always check your earnings for accuracy

  • How to estimate your benefits
  • How to coordinate benefits with your spouse
  • How to minimize taxes on Social Security benefits
  • How to coordinate Social Security with your other sources of retirement income

Seating is limited and reservations are required.  Individuals may reserve space by calling  644-3495.

Unable to attend the seminar in person?  No problem.  You can view a short video from the comfort of your own home regarding the above at www.RISpresents.com.

 

Ventura resident swinging sax at 90

Still swinging after all these years.

Article and photo by Richard LIeberman

Art Spaulding a long time Ventura resident just turned 90, and is swinging with his sax playing gigs once a month with two local Swing bands “Swing Shift”, and the Unforgettables . Art an accomplished Geologist holds two degrees in Geology, and has had a distinguished career in oil and gas management, in both public and private sectors.

A long career in oil and gas management serving stints at the City of Los Angeles as Oil Administrator, and two years with Shell Oil. He went on to become an oil industry consultant for Western Oil and Gas, and has testified before congress as an oil and gas industry expert.

Spaulding learned how to play an alto saxophone when he was 14 years old, but after serving in WWII he didn’t blow another note until his retirement in the mid 1980’s. Rather than sitting home Spaulding decided to get going with his musical career, “There has to be something better than sitting home and drinking gin” said Spaulding. The Alto Sax was the “something better” for him, and the regular gigs with “Swing Shift” and the “Unforgettables” are one of the joys of his life.

senior spaulding insetThe bands have had regular performances at county fairs, Santa Paula Airport functions, old folks home and others. Spaulding loves the swing music of the 1930s and 1940s. He has even taken a 1 unit course in big band music and history. The bands routinely draw a crowd of 40 to 50 avid listeners. Spaulding also has a vast collection of 78 rpm, 33 rpm, and an extensive CD collection spanning the swing era sounds. “I love listening to Duke Ellington” added Spaulding. “Our audience is mostly old folks” said Spaulding, but there is a cadre of young people listening and enjoying the sound” he added

“The music has a very promising future” said Spaulding “It is a true art form” he added.

“Some of the arrangements are created by our band members” said Spaulding. “The music doesn’t die it will go on for a long, long time, I think it will carry on” he said. Art also would like to see the band leaders more active in getting work.

Spaulding served in the armed forces in WWII, and was with the 5th infantry division under command of General George Patton. He was with the relief forces reinforcing Bastogne during the battle of the Bulge. During one of the coldest winters in Europe for more than a decade, he spent 117 days in combat.

Having turned 90 this year Spaulding is still swinging with his sax, bringing joy, and nostalgia to his audiences, and keeping a worthy art form alive. The big band sound is likely to be around for a long, long time.