Whistlestop Express

E PRESSMarin's Older Adult Community Connection Since 1954

OCTOBER 2012 Whistlestop.org

Whistlestop

Fine Art with Your iPhonepage 5

October is Fall Prevention Monthpage 12

CFI Board Member Focuses on Youthpage 2

Films Can Enrich Lives of Marin’s Older Adults B y J O H N B O W M A N

continued on page 6

Mark Fishkin, Film Festival visionary

Older adults in Marin County are look-ing for something more in fi lms than what is usually offered in mass-market

movies at the multiplexes. That is the opinion of Mark Fishkin, founding executive director of the Mill Valley Film Festival. Whistlestop Express interviewed Fishkin as he was busy preparing for the 35th annual festival. Whistlestop Express: What does the Film Festival have to offer older adults?Fishkin: “We have a sophisticated, active older adult community,” Fishkin said. “They are looking for more in-depth fi lms and con-tent — for fi lms that enrich their lives. We have fi lmmakers present at many of the fi lms during the festival, engaging the audiences in conversation, making for a more complete, satisfying experience. Marin County is aging — fortunately for us, many of the character-istics of our festival fi lms feature universal stories that are emblematic of the seniors in the county. “We have a membership price as well as a senior price, which is competitive. This year we are also scheduling earlier shows on Co-lumbus Day and the second Friday of the festival,” Fishkin added.Whistlestop Express: What inspired you to start the MVFF?

Fishkin: “In 1977, I had just moved to Marin County. I was cognizant of the prolifi c artistic

community in residence, and was appalled that many fi lmmakers were not having their work screened in any meaningful context. The town of Mill Valley is beautiful and oozes charm; I was refl ecting on all of this, hav-ing just returned from the budding Telluride Film Festival. “The local fi lm community at the time was coming into its own. George Lucas was here, as well as Michael Ritchie, Larry Jordan, and many others. John Korty had an offi ce in Mill Valley. Carroll Ballard was using George Lucas’ estate to edit The Black Stallion. There were the small local fi lmmakers as well, like James Broughton, who we honored at the fi rst Mill Valley

Whistlestop Express OCTOBER 20122

Jennifer MacCready of Mill Valley, a Whistlestop donor, sees her involvement with

the Mill Valley Film Festival and its parent organization, the Cali-fornia Film Institute, as being part of a “unifi ed family.” She has volunteered in several positions for 20 years – from usher to ticket taker – and for the past six years has been on the CFI Board. “Working as an usher was as much fun as being on the Board,” she said. “It’s working with all of the other people involved that brings me so much happiness.” She has contributed to Whis-tlestop because she values the myriad services it provides the community. “I really believe in Whistlestop. I especially like Whistlestop Express because it documents the lives of older adults and shows how so many people are active and vibrant. I send the Birds page to friends of mine who are homebound because I know they will ap-preciate it and they love the photos. And while I have not been in need of their services up to now, I love seeing the buses going about and knowing they are available. Also, many of my friends now have iPhones and iPads after taking computer classes at Whistlestop.” Jennifer was never an actor, but was a model as a young woman and has a passion for fi lm, particularly foreign and independent fi lms. She marvels at what has happened with the Mill Valley Film Festival over the past 35 years. “It’s all due to Mark Fishkin – his vision, his

dream and his creativ-ity,” she said. “It’s remark-able what he has achieved here.” Her stron-gest interest currently is with the Cali-fornia Film Institute’s edu-cational program, where young people – many of them from the Canal area – tell their poignant stories in three-minute shorts. They are shown before major fi lm showings by CFI through-out the year. She noted that the festival audience is aging, and she believes it’s essential to in-volve younger people so that the volunteer and fi nancial support for the festival is sustained for generations to come. Jennifer presented the Board with the idea to show young people’s fi lm shorts at major fi lm showings throughout the year, but she credits John Morrison and John McCloud with com-ing up with the original idea for CFI Education. They also teach the young fi lmmakers how to make these fi lms. For the young people, the experience is often ca-thartic because theirs are stories of sorrow, separation and hope. Jennifer was on the committee that is overseeing the remodeling of a room next door to the the-ater that will be used for parties, receptions and other festival-related activities. The room was dedicated to Fishkin at an open-ing reception on Sept. 19. ✦

Table ofCONTENTS

Grandkids Photo

From Rocky's PantryRocky Packard

iPhonography

Whistlestop Classes

Activities Calendar

The Bird's Side of MarinRichard PavekMulticultural NewsVicky Voicehowsky & Sandra Jimenez

Fall Prevention Month

Board ColumnTerry ScusselGrand MomAudrey Mettel FixmerWord Search Puzzle

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Marin Senior Coordinating Council, Inc.930 Tamalpais Avenue San Rafael, CA 94901Chief Executive Offi cer, Joe O’HehirBoard of DirectorsPresident, Dennis ThompsonVice President, Terry ScusselTreasurer, Michael RiceSecretary, Michael HingsonKaren Arnold • Liza Cozad • Eleanor DelaneyVenessa Dixon • Jane Lott • Debbie MillsLori Peterson • Bill Saul • Lenice Smith • Bob SonnenbergWhistlestop Express is a publication of the MarinSenior Coordinating Council, Inc. A 501 (c) 3not-for-profi t organization.The Mission of Whistlestop:Whistlestop believes that we share a responsibility to ensure that all Marin residents have an opportunity to age with dignity, grace and independence.Whistlestop Contact InformationMain Number 415-456-9062Whistlestop Fax 415-456-2858www.whistlestop.orgInformation & Referral Offi ce415-459-6700 • [email protected] Express Editorial, Art Direction & SalesJohn & Val Bowman Editors916-751-9189 • [email protected] Reynolds Art Directormreynolds@pacifi csun.comAdvertisingLinda Black • 415-485-6700, Ext. 306

Whistlestop Express is printed on recycled paper

To be added to, or taken off, the email list for Whistlestop Express, please call 415-456-9062. Or send an email, with your request, your name and address to [email protected].

Subscriptions mailed to your home are $10/year.

Film Festival VolunteersBecome a ‘Unifi ed Family’

Whistlestop PERSPECTIVE by JOHN BOWMAN

LIKE US on Facebook

Jennifer MacCready with Glenn Close and Robin Williams.

whistlestop.org 3

Do You Have a Photo of Your Grandkids to Share?

San Rafael’s Ethel Seiderman’s grandsons, Ethan, 12, left, and Noah, 9, make friends

with a Koala at Skenes Creek, near Apollo Bay in the State of Victoria, Australia.

Whistlestop Express invites you to send in a photo of your grandchildren for consideration. We would like to receive photos of Marin County residents’ grandkids doing something unusual. If it is in an interesting or exotic place, all the better. Please send us your digital photograph as a jpeg to: John Bowman, co-editor, at [email protected]. We will consider your photo for publication. Please be sure to tell us where and when the photo was taken. ✦

See the koala? This is the fi rst of our Marin grandkids photos.

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From Rocky's PANTRYb y R O C K Y P A C K A R D

Thai Cucumber Salad

Arts, Crafts Abound at Whistlestop

This is a refreshing autumn side dish that goes well with a fi sh

entrée or a simple lunch with bread or crackers and iced tea.

Women in Vicky Voicehowsky’s arts and crafts class proudly display their handiwork. From left are Michelle Gantos, Irma Wessels, Francis Lara and Mercedes Cari.

Marian Yamate’s house — playful and bright with a touch of glitter!

2 English cucumbers, trimmed & washed 1/2 Red onion, peeled, halved, thinly sliced Carrot, thinly sliced 2 Tbls. Mint, leaves only, thinly sliced 2 Tbls. Cilantro, leaves coarsely chopped, stems fi nely chopped 2 Tbls. Fish sauce 3 Tbls. Lime juice 2 Tbls. Brown sugar ½ Tbls. Red pepper fl akes 1 Jalapeno pepper, seeded & fi nely chopped

Slice the cucumbers lengthwise, then with a spoon, remove seeds. Slice cucumber on the bias. Combine with the remaining ingredients, mixing well. Optional: garnish with chopped peanuts. ✦

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Creating Fine Art with Your iPhoneB y V A L B O W M A N

Gail Pierce’s pho-tography practice began 16 years

ago around her 60th birthday. Since then, she has studied with a variety of profession-als to help her fi nd her own style. She became comfortable with the various digital computer programs, which allowed her to capture images with her camera, and to recreate and print with an Epson 3800 ink jet printer to produce fi ne art. With the introduction of iPhones, photography has taken a new direction called iPhonography, which has now become her passion. This year,

Gail won a prize in the Whis-tlestop Express/Pacifi c Sun photo contest, the only winner to use iPhonog-raphy. Gail teaches classes on how to create images with the iPhone to produce Fine Art. She lives in San Anselmo and works two days a week in Sausalito, as a dental hygien-

ist at Dr. Davey’s offi ce on Caledonia St. She’s been in the practice 46 years. She also rents a studio in Sausalito and sends out emails about her photography classes, which she lim-its to eight to 10 people. You can reach her at [email protected]. Classes are $75 for 3 hours. If you are inter-ested in taking an iPhonography class at Whis-tlestop, call 456-9062. ✦

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Film Festival in 1978. We have always had a deep relation-ship with our local fi lmmak-ers. It was such an exciting time. There was a huge void to be fi lled, and so I, and a group of dedicated volunteers, leaped over the chasm to create what is the Mill Valley Film Festival.Whistlestop Express: What is the greatest challenge to keeping the festival going?

Fishkin: “There has been a proliferation of fi lm festivals in the past decade. Where there were once just a few, now there are hundreds of festivals and this can make it more diffi cult for programming. We are sandwiched between two giants, Sundance and Toronto, but what we offer is uniquely different. The important thing is to make yourself distinctive, and to identify the traits that make you stand out from the others. We have always distinguished ourselves as a fi lmmakers’ festival, making visiting fi lmmakers feel at home and support-ing their work, as well as supporting our loyal constituency. “We are so fortunate to live in a community that supports what we do on a year-round basis. The largest capital campaign for the arts in Marin County history was mounted to restore the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center, our year-round cinematheque in downtown San Rafael, to the showcase that it is today. We show diverse programming year round, not just during the 11 days of the festi-val. This sets us apart from other festivals.” ✦

The Mill Valley Film Festival runs from October 4 to 14, and you can fi nd more information at mvff.com

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Word Search ANSWERS

ADVANCED ENGLISH CONVERSATION Wednesdays • 1-2pm Fee: Free | Registration: Vicky Voicehowsky, 457-0586This class is for non-native English speakers who desire to improve their language skills. The class will focus on advanced levels of listening and conversation skills, English slang and humor, as well as common idioms.

NEW! BEADING CLASS Third Wednesday of every month, starting October 17 •1:30-2:45pmFee: $5 per class (includes materials) due prior to class | Maximum space available: 10-12 people Registration required: 457-0586Maria Barsesat, local bead artist, will show you how to make beautiful, simple and easy jewelry items for yourself or as gifts.

FRIDAY FLICKS (Movies are subject to change.)Fridays • 1:30pm Fee: $5 | Location: in the Lounge. Oct. 5: Bernie (2011, comedy)Oct. 12: The Three Stooges (2012, comedy)Oct. 19: Casa de mi Padre (2012, comedy in Spanish and English)Oct. 26: Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (2012, horror for Halloween)

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Blue Door Seminar Schedule

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NOVEMBER 14 2pm - 4:30pmADVOCATING YOUR HEALTHCARE: LEGAL & PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVES FOR YOU & YOUR AGENT

OCTOBER 17 2pm - 4:30pmCARING FOR YOU & HELPING YOU FIND YOUR RETIREMENT HOMEOCTOBER 25 Noon - 6pm4TH ANNUAL MARIN SYMPOSIUM FOR ESTATE PLANNING ADVISORSProducer: J.R. Hastings Law Location: Four Points Sheraton

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Keep Learning at WHISTLESTOP

DROP-IN COMPUTER LAB Mondays • 10am-Noon & Wednesdays • 10am-NoonNeed help using a computer? We have volunteer computer tutors available to work with you one-on-one, if needed.

COMPUTER/PICTURE CLASSBeginning: 1st Friday • 2-4pmAdv. 2nd Friday • 2-4pmFee: $15 | Instructor: Gene DyerRegistration required: 459-6700Call for more information and class descriptions.

BEGINNING COMPUTERS FOR ADULTS LEVEL IIThursdays, Oct. 25 - Dec. 6 • 10am-NoonInstructor: Ed EssickFee: $50/6 weeks; Bring a friend, they pay $25Pre-registration required: 459-6700 This is a hands-on course for those with basic computer skills who want to gain more experience in using a Windows-based computer. This class builds upon the skills learned in Beginning Computers for Adults Level.

FREE BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC & MEDICATION CHECKSTuesday, Oct. 9 & 23 11:30am-1pmFacilitators: Student Nurses from Dominican University Drop-inBring all of your medications and supplements to fi nd out how and when to take them, how to store them, side eff ects and interactions with other drugs. Don’t miss this opportunity to prevent health problems by keeping your blood pressure and meds in check!

GOING PLACESMarin YMCA and Whistlestop would like to invite you to join Adventures in Culture. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area, there are many points of inter-est to visit. The Y plans older adult trips to different locations such as museums, attractions, gardens, and much more. To register for a trip or hike, please contact Lisa O’Brien,MARIN YMCA, 492-9622.

RING MOUNTAIN, EAST OF CORTE MADERAWednesday, Oct. 10 • Departs 9:30am, returns 3pmFee: $5. This 600-foot high peak is home to the Tiburon Mariposa Lily, unique to this site. Hopefully, some will be in bloom for us. We start near the top, so there is a climb of 100 feet, then we roam the highlands, taking in the great views and petroglyphs, before descending by the Lily area, one-way, down. Bring a lunch.

RUSH CREEKWednesday, Oct. 31 | Fee: $5A nice, fl at walk by some wetlands in Novato that usual-ly contain a variety of water birds (bring binoculars). We will go about 1-1/2 miles, then do a 1-mile loop around a pond, eating our picnic lunches at an overlook, then return the way we came.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIESContact Debbie at 456-9062 or [email protected]• Board/Card Game Leaders • Chiropractor• French Social Group Leader• Russian Social Group Leader• Bi-lingual Computer Teacher• Jackson Café Volunteers needed to serve food

in the Jackson Cafe at least one day a week from 11am to 2:15pm.

• Center Service volunteer needed to answer phones and do various offi ce duties. Computer experience a plus, but not required. Volunteer is needed from 11am to 1pm, with some fl exibility.

• Whistlestop would like to start a sewing group We need a volunteer to coordinate the group, participants, sewing machines and supplies. Volunteer Drivers for Meals on Wheels Program Contact Raphael Krantz at 454-0969

• Tax Preparer volunteers needed to help older adults and low- income families with their Federal and State Income Tax returns. To assist requires use of a Computer-based Tax Wise Software

Marin County Commission on Aging

Thursday, October 11 • 10:00-12:30 pmWhere:Dance Palace–Church Auditorium, West Marin

Topic: Nutrition Services in West MarinSpeakers: Panel of West Marin Senior Services,

Revolution Foods and Marin Food Bank

For a complete list of classes, visit whistlestop.org

VCp• • • • •

whistlestop.org 9

why some plans are more or less expensive; should you have deductibles or not; does the plan you are interested in cover your medications? What happens if you didn’t sign up when you were fi rst eligible to enroll? No sales pitches. This is clear information from a non-profi t organization. Seniors Resource Forum will be present with six professional, expert volunteers available for free, private, 20-minute consultations after the presentation in the following areas: Estate Planning/Medi-Cal and VA Benefi ts Planning • Family Legal Issues • Seniors Mental Health • Home Care Options • Aff ordable Housing. Light refreshments will be served.

MANICURES WITH CHRISTY HAYESTuesdays • Noon-3pmCall 456-9062 to make an appointment. Christy owned and operated two salons in Marin County for 20 years. Now she’s volunteering at Whistlestop once a week to provide this delightful service to us free of charge!

Weight Lifting for Older AdultsTaking Care of Yourself is the Right Thing to DoFriday, Oct. 26 • 1:30-2:30pmPre-registration: 456-9062Walter Shine has the expertise you need to succeed with over 20 years experience. He excels in strength training, with emphasis on developing the core, body sculpting and weight management. He assists in the recovery of all health challenges.

(provided by IRS). Volunteers will complete a training course in January and become IRS certifi ed to prepare taxes. Tax season is February to April, 2013.

IN-KIND DONATIONS NEEDEDMah Jongg sets, books, yarn, sewing supplies, movies on DVD and exercise mats. If you have items to donate, please call Debbie at 456-9062.

ZUMBA GOLD Thursdays & Fridays • 11am-NoonFee: $6/class | Instructor: Angela Jakab-MillerZumba is a great way to stay fi t and active. Fun, motivating combination of Latin-inspired music and dance steps guaranteed to get you moving. Zumba movements are easy-to-follow and for all activity levels. Bring water and a small towel.

WEAVING YOUR HERITAGETuesdays, Oct. 9, 16 & 23 • 10:30-1:30pmPre-registration required: 456-9062(Maximum 10 people per class) Join us for an exciting new program off ered at the Ce-dars Textile Art Center. Bring your lunch to enjoy in the garden. Create beautiful textiles. Transportation will be available from Whistlestop to The Cedars Textile Art Center. Materials included.

SENIORS RESOURCE FORUM PRESENTS: UPDATE ON YOUR MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLANFriday, Oct. 12 • 2-4pmFee: Free | Suzanne Schneider, CEBS, CLTCTo register: 456-9062/Questions: 459-0413Should you change your Medicare plan during 2013?Schneider Insurance Services has over 25 years as an insurance broker, providing valuable assistance in helping seniors understand their Medicare options. Our team will be there with expert Suzanne Schneider giving you the inside scoop on Part D. Learn how to fi gure out if you should change your plan;

Marin Access Call Center: 454-0902Get Qualifi ed to Ride: 456-9062, [email protected] a Ride: 457-4630STAR Volunteer Driving: 454-0969

Transportation Numbers

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Whistlestop Weekly ACTIVITIES This Month at Whistlestop TIME CLASS INFO COST

9–2 PM Relax Chair Massage Open $4/8min. 9:30–10:30 AM Exercise Lamas Qi Gong Open $3/class 10–11 AM Language AM Monday 457-0586 Free 10–NOON Learn Computer Lab Open Free 11–12:30 PM Language German Social Group Open Free 11–NOON Exercise Movement & Music-9/1 456-9062 Free 2–4 PM Language English as a 456-9062 Free Second Language 4–5:30 PM Language Citizenship Class 454-0998 $25

9:15–10:15 AM Exercise Whistlesizers Open $2 10:45–11:45 AM Exercise Cardio Exercise Class Open Free Noon–3 PM Relax Manicurist Appt. Needed Free 1–3 PM Language Learn Spanish Open Free 2–3:30 PM Language English Conversation 454-0998 Free 2:30–3:30 PM Exercise Balance Class Sugg. Donation $10

9:15–10:15 AM Exercise Whistlesizers Open $2 10–NOON Relax Knit!!! 457-0586 Free 11–NOON Exercise Zumba Open $2 2–3:30 PM Language English Conversation 454-0998 $6 2–4 PM Learn Rembrance Writing Open $5 2:30–3:30 PM Exercise Balance Class Sugg. Donation $10 3–4 PM Language Basic English for 457-0586 Free Spanish Speakers

9–10:15 AM Exercise Tai Chi Qigong Sugg. Donation $10 or less 9–2 PM Relax Chair Massage Open $4/8min. 10–11:30 AM Support Seniors' Circle Open Free 10–2 PM Learn Computer Lab Open Free 10:30–11:45 AM Support Corazón Latino Open Free 10:30–NOON Relax Mah Jongg Open Free 1–2 PM Language Adv. English Conver. 457-0586 Free 2–4 PM Language English as a 456-9062 Free Second Language 3–4 PM Language Basic English for 457-0586 Free Spanish Speakers

11–NOON Exercise Zumba-9/14 Open $6 1:30–3:30 PM Relax Friday Flicks 456-9062 Free 1:30–3:30 PM Support ACASA Peer Counseling Free 1:30–3:30 PM Language Practice Spanish Open Free 2–4 PM Learn Arts & Crafts w/Vicky Oct. 5 & 19 $3

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The Caboose, Computer Lab, Board Room and Jackson Café are all located at Whistlestop’s Active Aging Center – 930 Tamalpais Ave., San Rafael.For a complete list of all classes, visit whistlestop.org

LUNCH MENU60+ PRICES/ UNDER 60 PRICES

Main Entrée$4.50/$7.25 (+$1 for Seafood Entrées)

Sandwiches$4.25/$6.25

Soup du Jour$1.75/$2.25

Hamburger w/Fries$4.25/$5.25

Salads$2.50/$4.00

OTHER ITEMSTuna Salad Side $1.25Fresh Fruit $1.50Beverages $1.00Desserts $2.00

Monday-Friday 11:00am-1:30pmLocated in Whistlestop Active Aging Center

Jackson Café

whistlestop.org 11

The Bird's Side OF MARIN b y R I C H A R D P A V E K

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Food Fight or Food Delivery?When I emailed this photo to my weekly bird list, I titled it Fresh Caught and Delivered. One viewer countered with:

“Food Fight?” No, not in this case. When birds fi ght over food, they are aggressive and there is little question. Gulls are notorious for food fi ghts, screeching, trying to pull the prey (which may be a donut or leftover chicken wing) from each other’s beaks or pouncing at the same time on a starfi sh while hurling threatening insults at each other. Crows are notorious food-robbers, often waiting until another bird cap-tures its dinner and then trying to steal it from the other bird’s beak. Why do it yourself when you can steal it, seems to be their motto.

Provider birds are another lot altogether, and it is quite evident in their gentle behavior and in the feeding birds’ responses; whether nesting mothers or young chicks, the begging sound in their calls is unmistakable. In this photo you can see the gratitude in the demeanor of the bird being fed. The bird being fed is a juvenile Elegant Tern. As to the feeder, it is hard to tell for sure be-cause adult male and female Terns look alike, but most likely it is the father, since dads do most of the feeding in the Tern world – as in most of the bird world. Every weekend I email a special bird photo to Express readers. If you’d like something nice to look at amidst the junk in your Inbox, ask me at [email protected] ✦

‘Til next month, Richard


love the peace that it brings me.” Another popular class is the jewelry workshop. Maria Barsesat, local bead artist of Beads of Marin in Mill Valley, came to show our participants how to make some modern and chic jewelry on their own. Whatever your artistic interests, we hope that you come to Whistlestop and check out what’s crafting, knitting, or beading. You can fi nd many of these handmade items for sale in our Gift Shop case (just in time for the holidays). ✦ For more information on classes and dates, please call Vicky Voicehowsky at 457-0586.

Art is for the Soul

Every culture has its art. Art is infectious and is meant to be shared. At Whistlestop, this happens every day in some form.

Twice a month, the Multicultural Depart-ment holds a very popular Arts & Crafts class. From paper and fabric crafts to jewelry and decoupage techniques, an average of 15 older adults from more than 10 different cultures come together and share two hours of creativ-ity. They diligently focus on the project at hand while music from all around the world plays in the background. Our Knitting group is also known as “El Club de las Arañas” (the Spiders Club). Al-though they are scheduled to meet weekly, these knitters come every day and knit in the lounge area of Whistlestop. Not only do they exchange their knitting and crochet tech-niques, but also their experience, strengths and hopes with each other. Paula Necochea, one of the regular knitters and mother of 10 grown children, says: “I knit because I just

Multicultural NEWSby VICKY VOICEHOWSKY and SANDRA JIMENEZ

Marina Rodriguez, Vicky Voicehowsky, and Paula Necochea enjoy making art together.

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The risk of falling is always possible, so what can we do to minimize this common, but dangerous risk? We have all heard how

important it is to stay active. Great classes are available through Whistlestop, the YMCA, 24 HR Fitness, the JCC, and other Community Cen-ters. Additionally, magazines, online tips, videos, DVDs and TV can be great resources. Sit and Be Fit programs can be used to help you fi nd what works for you. Maintaining balance, strength and fl exibility is your best defense. Multiple medications — more than four — can be a source of increased risk. Talk to your doc-tor or favorite pharmacist about safely reducing what you take. Medications taken incorrectly can increase feelings of vertigo or lightheadedness.

If you have Orthostatic Hypotension, where moving from one position to another makes you light-headed, change each position slowly. Sit on the edge of the bed until you feel ready to get up. Give your body a chance to accommodate changes — pump your feet, march your legs a little, or squeeze your fi sts a few times to get your blood moving before you stand. Once up, do the same. In the bathroom use non-skid mats in the tub, switch to a tub bench and hand-held showerhead, install secure grab bars, and remove throw rugs as safety solutions. Plan for scheduled toilet breaks, even using a timer for reminders, could be helpful. Make sure you get plenty of liquids for the fi rst part of the day, and none after dinner to reduce urgen-cies in the middle of the night. Dina Griffi th will be at Whistlestop on Oc-tober 17, from 12:30-1:30pm to talk about fall prevention. Sign-up 456-9062. ✦

October is Fall Prevention MonthShouldn’t it be Every Month? (Or every day?)By DINA GRIFFITH, Marin General Hospital

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A fter many years as a corporate execu-tive, it was time for me to re-purpose with creativity and advocacy. Both my

lifelong passion for photography and my 25-year advocacy for my daughter’s rights and resources as a person with disabilities were natural evolutions. Currently, I make a living as a management consultant with a focus on non-profi t manage-ment, paratransit transportation, document management, and as a photographic artist. I also serve on several Marin County based non-profi t boards supporting older adults and people with disabilities, including Whistlestop, Marin Ventures and Public Authority In-Home Supportive Services of Marin County. I am also the Board sponsor and have judged the Whis-tlestop Photography Contest since its inception four years ago. I have been a photographer my entire life, which was started when my dad gave me a Leica camera that he had bought the year of my and my twin sister’s birth in 1948. While the Leica is now safely secure in a vault, I have moved through many fi lm cameras and many genera-tions of Canon digital cameras. I have studied the work of the masters from the mid-20th century and worked with many of today’s profes-sionals and advanced amateurs to hone my craft. Today, being a photographer is not only under-standing composition, lighting, the camera, and photographic technicalities, but also requires building skills in post processing with the vari-ous software applications available. A good day in my creative world is getting

up early to catch the good light or catching the twilight, and fi nding an image to shoot from a different perspective. The image above (Eiffel Beacon) was shot on a stormy night. A small umbrella protected the camera while we waited for the light to be just right. (Canon 5D Mk II, f/4.5, 40mm, 0.8 sec ISO 200, No Flash, Tripod). The black and white photo (Palouse Cloud View) was shot in The Palouse (Eastern Wash-ington State). I was completely taken by the visual of the clouds through the roof beams. The Palouse is so photogenic; it is absolutely never ending. We shot from dawn to dusk every day for a week. The photo shows well in color, however, the contrast of the black and white image shows the best. (Canon 5D Mk II, f/11, 80mm, 1/200 sec, ISO 400, No Flash, Tripod). To see more of my photography, visit www.scusselphotography.com. ✦

Scussel is vice president of the Whistlestop Board of Directors. His subjects include the San Francis-co Bay Area, Pacifi c coastal areas, Western deserts and mountains, urban street photography, night photography, European locales and much more.

Re-Purpose with CreativityB y T E R R Y S C U S S E L


Grand MOMby AUDREY METTEL FIXMER

Keep On Keeping On

“I can’t do what I used to do.” How many times have we said or heard those words? It’s such a common refrain

among people in their 60’s or older. Early on it may be spoken with a tinge of surprise, but of-ten (God forbid) with a whine. How do we avoid that stage? We do something else. Or we do the same thing in a different way. We adapt. But we keep on doing something. It was when my husband was in a nursing home for three years that I decided to do every-thing I could to avoid that life of rocking chairs and walkers. I will live alone (with help), keep active in my church and women’s clubs (even if I must share rides), and keep on challenging my brain with bridge games and computers. God willing, I will “die with my boots on” as they said in the old Wild West. You know that line from the Bible, “Pride

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goeth before the fall?” Those words take on a whole new meaning when we age. Knowing that our bones are brittle and a fall can cost us our independence, we learn to swallow that pride and use a cane when our balance might be a little off. Later on, we learn the wonder-ful security we can enjoy with a walker. And wheelchairs? Great invention! I will be board-ing one in a few hours at the airport. Relieved that I don’t have to struggle with my carry-on bag, walking miles (it seems) down the long concourse to my gate. The airlines will have another one waiting for me at my destination in New Jersey, and my son will be there to pick me up at baggage. At 84, I can still travel alone. What a great world we live in! I have a friend my age, who, like me, has shrunk several inches and now walks with a cane. She holds her head high and steps con-fi dently with an air of pride. One would think that cane was actually a royal scepter. She com-mands respect. It does seem that our attitude toward aging, a cheerful acceptance of not being able to “do what we did before,” is the clue to a happy old age. I will try to remember that when every bone is aching. ✦

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writer for both fi lms and plays. Cur-rently, she is presi-dent of the board of the theatre. She recently directed a play titled Our Good Country, and she says she would not know what to do with herself without the theater. She also is a counselor in the HOPE program for older adults and is on the committee that remod-eled a room next to the theatre that will be used for receptions, parties and other events. Her main passion today is focused on youth, however. She is very active in the California Film Institute’s education program. “Kids are taught by experts how to make fi lms about their lives.” She said, “It is very therapeutic. They come to the theater and are there all day several times a week learning from people like Edward James Olmos on how to make fi lms.” The short fi lms are then shown before the regular-length movies at the theatre. ✦

WORD SEARCH Answers on page 7

Filmgoers who enjoy foreign and independent movies at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center probably

would fi nd it hard to imagine that back in the 1990s, mushrooms were coming out of the walls of the abandoned building. But Ann Brebner of San Rafael remembers. “I thought they looked very poisonous.” Ann is credited with reviving the old theater, which started showing movies in 1918 and partially burned in 1936. The theatre re-opened in 1937, but after an earthquake, an inspection revealed that the building did not conform to state earth-quake-proof standards. It closed again. That’s when Ann, a life-long movie and live theater lover and patron, stepped up. She headed up a community group that started working on fundraising to restore the place to its art deco grandeur. She and the committee were successful, and the Rafael Theatre re-opened in April 1999. The three-screen theatre is now named after Christopher B. Smith, who Ann says was “a major, major donor.” Ann, who is 89 years old, has the energy of a person half her age. She has been involved with theater all of her life, as an actor in the early years and later as a casting director, director and

Ann Brebner

Ann Brebner is Heart of Restored Rafael Theatre,Now the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center


Marin Senior Coordinating Council

930 Tamalpais AvenueSan Rafael, CA 94901-3325

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