A child who hears fairy tales is more prepared to face real life fears

and challenges than one who doesn't. That’s the theory of longtime Mill Valley storytell-er and actor Phil Sheridan. Sheridan, 74, said that outlook is one he developed by reading the work of Bruno Bettelheim, the psychologist and writer who authored the 1976 book, The Uses of En-chantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales. “He said that children who are read fairy tales grow up with a more realistic and ratio-nal look at the world,” Sheridan said. “I agree with this. I like to use stories as a template on what the world is really like. In most fairy tales, there is a good versus ev i l conflict, and usually good wins. If some-one is not exposed to stories and someone takes his lunchbox at

school, he takes it personally and thinks badly of himself. If he’s been exposed to fairy tales, he realizes that he is not alone – this happens to other people and they sur-vive.” Sheridan reads stories to children regularly at several Marin County libraries and schools. He also is popular at children’s birthday parties and other events. “I work mostly with pre-schoolers, and most of them have not yet been bruised by some of the world’s realities. I like to read them stories

where cleverness, wit and imagina-tion win the day,” Sheridan said. “I am particu-lar about the kind of stories I select. My main criterion is that the stories must have char-acters who are courageous, kind and compassionate.

I don’t like the really scary stories that do not have a positive ending.” When Phil was a child, his mother read to him all the time – mostly poetry. He be-lieves one of the greatest gifts a parent or grandparent can give a child is to read to them. Sheridan also reads to older adults — at the Red-woods as an example — “…stuff they grew up with, from the thirties and forties, like Edna St. Vincent Millay and Ogden Nash.” ✦

E PRESSThe Leading Information Resource for Marin's Active Aging MovementJUNE 2012 Whistlestop.org

Whistlestop

Whistlestop–New Board Memberpage 13

Happy Ending to Heron Storypage 11

New 'Pop-Up' Restaurant at Whistlestoppage 6

Phil Sheridan

Mill Valley Man UnderstandsThe Power of StorytellingB y J O H N B O W M A N

'I love to read them stories where cleverness, wit and imagination win the day.'

Whistlestop Express JUNE 20122

Table ofCONTENTS

Photo Contest

From Rocky's PantryRocky Packard

New 'Pop-Up' Restaurant

Faces of WhistlestopVicky Voicehowsky

Whistlestop Classes

Activities Calendar

The Bird's Side of MarinRichard Pavek

Memoir ExcerptPeter Klain

New Board Member

Mellen at Whistlestop

34

67

8/91011

12

1314

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 Mills Lori Peterson • Bill Saul • 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 • resource@whistlestop.orgWhistlestop Express Editorial, Art Direction & SalesJohn & Val Bowman Editors916-751-9189 • john.bowman58@gmail.comMissy 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 INFO@whistlestop.org.

Subscriptions mailed to your home are $10/year.

Exciting New Vision for the Whistlestop Site

continued on page 7

Whistlestop PERSPECTIVE by JOE O'HEHIR

LIKE US on Facebook

Previous articles in this column have kept you abreast of the challenges

we have been facing concerning the future location of our Active Aging Center at 930 Tamalpais Avenue in central San Rafael due to the planned construction and operation of the SMART downtown station platform. We have been working with offi cials from The County of Marin, City of San Rafael, SMART and the transit agen-cies to come up with a workable solution. Much effort has been expend-ed to fi nd a suitable new location within or near downtown San Rafael. Some of the alternative sites have looked promising. However, during this search process, we kept coming back to the fact that our current location is the best one for our clients and their families. It is centrally located, and there are several convenient transporta-tion options available to our clients for getting to our Center. We recently decided to change our direction from looking at relocation to one that would allow Whistlestop to remain at our current site. Fortunately, Forsher + Guth-rie, an architectural, plan-ning, and development fi rm located in San Rafael, offered to help. Matt Guthrie and Bob Forsher have generously donated their time, knowl-edge, skills and experience to help Whistlestop develop a new vision concept for our 930

Tamalpais site. We have pre-sented this idea to the County, City and the transit agencies, and it has been positively re-ceived. The new vision began with what could occur should Whis-tlestop pursue a solution that would work within the City of San Rafael’s General Plan and Zoning development param-eters. In other words, the City would allow Whistlestop’s privately owned property to be identifi ed as an opportunity site for development within the City’s Station Area Plan. Our vision is to create Marin County’s fi rst afford-able transit-oriented develop-ment community center for older adults and people with disabilities. The design con-cept incorporates a new fi ve-story structure that would allow Whistlestop to remain on the current site, providing our vital transportation and active aging services, includ-ing the Jackson Café. The structure would have ground level parking and a covered drop-off and pick-up area for the Whistlestop buses. The Jackson Café would be located on the ground fl oor with a Fourth Street façade and entrance. There would be two levels of offi ce space available for businesses, community services, and the transit agencies. The concept includes a plan to offer two fl oors of affordable hous-ing for older

whistlestop.org 3

Whistlestop, Pacifi c Sun Partners in Photo Contest

Whistlestop is teaming up with the Pacifi c Sun

to present a Marin County Photo Contest. This contest will be open to all residents of Marin County, and a special cat-egory is open to older adults – people 60 or older. The Whistlestop Express has had a photo contest for older adults for the past three years, and this is the PacSun’s sixth annual contest. Prizes will go to fi rst, second and third place winners in each of three categories: Marin People, Pets and Animals; Marin Images; and Manipu-lated Images. Co-Sponsors are Marin Filmworks, Seawood Photo, Café Arrivederci and Cheap Pete’s Frame Factory Outlet. Entries must be submitted in digital form; no print submissions will be accepted. All entries must be saved as RGB fi les, saved at a dimension of at least 1,600 pixels wide (if entry is horizontal) or 1,600 pixels tall (if vertical), saved at maximum quality. Each photo must not exceed 2MB in size and must be in JPEG format. Entries may be sub-mitted via email or on a CD. The entry deadline is July 3, by 5 pm. Winning entries will be displayed at Café Arrivederci from August 18 to September 13. The entry fee for older adults is $5 per submis-sion, limit of one per category. Entry forms may be downloaded at http://www.pacifi csun.com/photo_contest/entry_info/entryform.pdf. Send one entry form per submission, along with photo as an attachment to photocontest@pacifi csun.com. Please send only one photo per email. The PHOTO TITLE on the entry form must match the FILE NAME of the photo attachment. For more information, contact Linda Black at 485-6700, ext. 306. ✦

High Grades for Express

Readers of the Whistlestop Express gave the publication good grades in our annual Readership Survey. The survey was pub-

lished in the Express earlier this year. Gaining the highest grades were “Programs and Activities,” which tells continued on page 4

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us that readers enjoy knowing what is going on at Whistlestop. Eighty-six percent of respondents gave Programs and Activities a 5 (highest) or 4 mark. Readers were asked to score from a high of 5 to a low of 1 in 11 categories. The most popular regular column was Rich-ard Pavek’s Bird’s Side of Marin, with 85.7 % of respondents giving it a 5 or 4. Other leaders, with percentages of 5s and 4s: Useful Information, 85.3%; Looks and Lay-out, 82.9%; Interesting Stories, 80.6%; Rocky’s Recipes, 79.4%; Whistlestop Perspective, 69.7%; Puzzles, 67.7%; and GrandMom column, 65.7%. Several readers also wrote in comments. Here is a sampling:“Keep up the good work – I read it cover to cover.”“Would like more vegetarian recipes.”“Appreciated the information on shredding.” ✦

MarinHelpers Connects Homeowners with Help

Do you need help with projects around your

house? Do you need to have your yard cleaned up or some help with housecleaning? Do you have a painting project you’ve been putting off? Would you like to fi nd someone to help but don’t know where to start? MarinHelp-ers is a project of Canal Alliance that specializ-es in connecting home-owners with affordable, reliable help. It’s easy to use. Call 721-7777 or visit MarinHelpers.com to get started. We’ll col-lect information about your job request and then match you with a worker who has the skills to complete your project. We’re not an employment agency, but rather a matching service between homeowners and workers. There is no fee and wages are paid directly to the workers. ✦

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

continued from page 3

A festive dish for a summer potluck or picnic. Serves 8 2-1/2 lb Chicken Breasts, trimmed of all fat, skin & bone 1 Cup Lemon Juice 1 Cup Water 1-1/2 Lemons, thinly sliced 1/4 Cup Olive Oil, extra virgin 1/4 Cup Lemon juice 1/4 Bunch Parsley, stems removed 1/4 Bunch Chopped basil 1/2 Bunch Scallion, thinly sliced 1/4 Bunch Thyme, fi nely chopped 1/4 lb Matchstick carrots, bagged and fi nely diced 1/2 oz White sugar Salt & pepper, to taste

Marinate chicken in one cup each lemon juice and water for four hours. After chicken has marinated, line a perforated steamer pan with the lemon slices, then add the chicken slices in one layer; use as many pans as possible. Steam about 15 minutes or until there is no pink and it is 165 degrees inside. Allow to cool, then slice on the bias into thin strips. Place in a bowl with the parsley, thyme, basil, carrots, scallions, tossing well. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper and sugar well, adjusting the fl avors if needed. Pour over the chicken and mix well.

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 65 Calo-ries; 7g Fat (86.8% calories from fat); trace Pro-tein; 2g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; Omg Cholesterol; 2mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain (Starch); 0 Vegetable; 0 Fruit; 1 1/2 Fat. ✦

whistlestop.org 5

Whistlestop Board Retreat

Enjoying themselves at the recent Whistlestop Board Retreat are Board members, from left: Bill Saul, Bob Sonnenberg, Eleanor Delaney, Terry Scussel, Lori Peterson, Jane Lott, Michael Hingson, Debbie Mills, Dennis Thompson, Karen Arnold, Michael Rice, and Liza Cozad. The guide dogs are Nino on the left and Africa. They are the constant companions of Sonnenberg and Hingson, respectively.

EASY GIVE BACK TUESDAY!

Every Tuesday, Iron Springs Pub & Brewery

in Fairfax donates a percentage of its pro-ceeds to a local cause or organization. On Tues-day, June 5th, Giants vs Padres. Whistlestop will be the benefi ciary, starting at 4pm! Go enjoy a delicious meal, support a locally-owned restaurant and Whistlestop. 765 Center Blvd, Fairfax, 485-1005.

Grocery Shopping Prepare Meals Light Housekeeping Drive to Appointment Run Errands

Alzheimer’s Care Med Reminders Bathing/Dressing Laundry And Much More!

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As everyday life becomes more challenging, a little help can go a long way.

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• Hospice Care• Companion Care• Housekeeping• Transportation• Run Errands• Post Surgery Care

• Memory Care• Med Reminders• Bathing/Dressing• Laundry• Cooking• And Much More!

Marin Access Call Center: 454-0902Get Qualifi ed to Ride: 456-9062, x106eligibility@whistlestop.orgCancel a Ride: 457-4630STAR Volunteer Driving: 454-0969

Transportation Numbers

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Whistlestop Express JUNE 20126

infl uence with my own creative twist.” Rachael won a prize in a Betty Crocker na-tional soul food con-test several years ago with her “Lip Smackin’ Smoth-ered Chicken.” “I am combin-ing my love for cooking and passion for poetry,” said Rachael, a spoken word poet. “We will hold poetry events where customers can buy tickets in advance that will include a prix fi xe dinner. This restaurant means so much more to me than just feeding people good food. It is my testimony of hope and inspiration that no matter your cir-cumstance, anything is possible when you have faith and believe in yourself. My mom passed away four years ago, and she was my best friend. Life has been really tough without her, but she always believed in my talent and potential. She would be so proud of me. I had a vision of one day owning my own restaurant but God has blessed me beyond my imagination. I am so grateful to Whistlestop for embracing my vision and allow-ing me to have this Pop-Up restaurant within the Jackson Café.” The menu will consist of Rachael’s Signature Fried Chicken à la carte on Fried Chicken Fri-days. A Soul Food Saturday lunch special from 11 to 2:30 pm will feature macaroni and cheese, green beans with smoked turkey and cornbread. Saturdays will feature a dinner menu. Rachael says, “Enjoy our Sassy Sweet potato turnovers and root beer fl oats for dessert. Prices for custom-ers under 60 from $10 and up.” ✦

A new “Pop-Up” restaurant, The Chicken Diva, is coming to Whistlestop on June 1. The “Pop-Up” trend is alive in Oakland;

last year several small businesses moved into unoccupied spaces. The Chicken Diva will oc-cupy Whistlestop’s Jackson Café space on Fridays and Saturdays. Jackson Café thrives during lunchtime Mondays through Friday and is closed on weekends. The Chicken Diva will be open Monday and Tuesday from 4 to 8pm for takeout only, Friday from 4 to 9pm for takeout only and Saturday will be dine in or takeout. The lunch and dinner special will be the same on Satur-day; the prices and portions will be different. Discounted prices will be available for children and folks 60 and older. The number to order take-out is 259-1253. Rachael Griffi n, owner of The Chicken Diva, grew up in Marin City and started cooking as a little girl. She says, “I have never been to the south, but my mom’s friend Helen, who was like a grandmother to me, was from Louisiana. It was her amazing cooking that sparked my love for Southern food, and I draw from this

New ‘Pop-Up’ Restaurant Opening at Whistlestop on June 1

PACIFIC SUN & WHISTLESTOP’S 6TH ANNUAL

PHOTO CONTEST Sponsored by Seawood Photo and Marin Filmworks

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: July3

Rachael Griffi n, owner

www.TheRedwoods.org New Views of The Redwoods

Medication Reminders / Personal Care Assistance Errands / Shopping / Meal Preparation Regularly Supervised Visits and Re-evaluations

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whistlestop.org 7

Faces of WhistlestopB y V I C K Y V O I C E H O W K S Y

Photographer Stephanie Mohan took photos of a number of Whistlestop par-ticipants, and from time to time we will

publish short profi les on them in a series called Faces of Whistlestop.

Lastenia Reales—“Whistlestop is my second home. I spend half of my time awake here.” Lastenia has been coming to Whis-tlestop for more than 10 years. In those years, she has learned to speak Eng-

lish, has become a peer counselor for the ACASA program in Marin County and a U.S. citizen through the citizenship classes she took at Whis-tlestop. Lastenia also loves the diversity she fi nds at Whistlestop. “I like that people of different cultures can express themselves freely here.”

Shirley Young—Shirley is an avid fan of the Whistlestop’s fi tness program. She reli-giously attends her Whistle-sizers class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “I am able to walk better, feel better — I just look forward to coming

here.” After exercising, Shirley heads to the Jack-son Café for a delicious lunch. “The socialization is the biggest reason why I come here. I love to be around nice people, the staff and all the volun-teers. They have been very kind to me.” ✦

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Visiting Angels® Can Help Share the Care

continued from page 2

adults and people with disabilities. Whistlestop’s continued presence at the cur-rent central transit location is a vital connection between the signifi cant local and special needs transit service and the regional and County-wide access needs of older adults and people with disabilities. We are very excited about this new vision concept because it will allow us to continue with our mission at the best location for our clients and their families. We will keep you updated on Whistlestop’s progress to make this new vision a reality. ✦

2012

1003 Third Street, San Rafael

Blue Door Seminar Schedule

Presented by

Reserve a Seat Today on Our Website at www.jrhastingslaw.com/event.phpor Telephone 415-459-6635

Not to be missed FREE seminars!

Long Term Care – Planned and UnplannedSpeaker: Dennis Ford, EA

2012 (last half) Personal Tax PlanningSpeaker: J. Ryan Hastings, LLM, CPA

October 25 Noon-6pm

4th Annual Marin Symposium for Estate Planning AdvisorsProducer: J.R. Hastings Law Location: Four Points Sheraton

Whistlestop Express JUNE 20128

Keep Learning at WHISTLESTOPADVANCED ENGLISH CONVERSATIONMondays, 2 to 3:30pm | June 4 to July 30 Fee: Free | Register: Vicky Voicehowsky, 457-0586This class is for non-native English speakers who desire to improve their language skills. The class will focus on advanced listening and conversation skills, English slang and humor, as well as common idioms.

LET’S KNIT!Thursdays • 10am to NoonInformation: Vicky Voicehowsky, 457-0586Fee: FreeThis bilingual group knits for fun using donated yarn. All fi nished items are available for sale at Whistlestop’s gift shop in the Lounge; proceeds benefi t our Arts program. Yarn donations are welcome and needed!

COMPUTER/PICTURE CLASSBeginning: 2nd Friday •2 to 4pmAdvanced: 3rd Friday •2 to 4pmFee: $15 | Instructor: Gene DyerRegistration required: 459-6700Call for more information and class descriptions.

DROP-IN COMPUTER LABMondays/Wednesdays • 10 to 2pmNeed help using a computer? We have volunteer computer tutors available to work with you one-on-one, if needed.

HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR OLDER ADULTSLooking for housing options for yourself, an aging parent, relative, or friend? Struggling to make ends meet? It’s easy to feel confused and overwhelmed by all the different choices. Come to get some clarity on housing choices in Marin. Leslie Klor, Housing Advocate will be presenting a housing options workshop on June 8 at 10:30 to 11:30am at Whistlestop. Beginning July 11, Leslie

will be available for individual housing consultations on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month from 2 to 4pm. Don’t delay! Start planning today! For more information, call Leslie at 456-9062, x132.

NEW CLASSZUMBAMondays • 11am to Noon • Begins June 11Fee: $8 each timeInstructor: 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.

NEW WORKSHOP BEGINS AT WHISTLESTOP MEMORY BOOK WORKSHOPMondays/Wednesdays • June 4-27 • 2 to 4pmPre-registration required: 456-9062Class participants will create a photo book that tells a personal story. Emphasis is on family history or personal biography. Participants will be led through a storyboarding exercise that creates a memory book fi lled with text and photos along with artifacts from vital records. We will help scan in old family photos and use genealogy websites to research family history. Class culminates with use of a commercial photo book publisher (i.e. Shutterfl y) to order a bound book to share with family and friends.

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 interest 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 or Debbie Benedetti, Whistlestop, 456-9062.

EXPLORE THE OUTDOORSWednesday, June 13: Hike Agate Beach | Fee: $5This is an easy, fl at hike along the beach west of Bolinas, starting from Agate Beach County Park, at the end of Elm Road. It will be near the quarter moon, so the tide

Commission on Aging-Healthy Aging Symposium

Thursday, June 14 • 10:00-12:30 pmWhere: San Rafael Community Center

Topic: What is Marin VillagePresenter: Representative from Marin Village

whistlestop.org 9

RESTORE & IMPROVE YOUR BALANCE TRAINING CLASSTuesdays & Thursdays in June • 2:30 to 3:30 pmDonation: $10 per class/drop-ins welcomeThomas Attardi, BS, MA, NMT, has been working in the health and healing rehabilitation fi eld since 1992. In the Balance Class, you will learn how balance works, why your balance may be deteriorating, and how you can safely implement very simple exercises to train your balance. We will learn the best exercises for stronger legs to prevent falls and safeguard our risks of injury. We will also cover what to do if we fall. Bring a water bottle and 1lb. or 2 lb. weights to class.

USING POLES FOR WALKING, BALANCE & MOBILITYWednesday, June 20 • 1:30 to 4pmFee: $28, payable at registration.(100% Satisfaction Guaranteed or your money back.)Instructor: Jayah Faye Paley, personal trainer, mobility coach. Registration required: 456-9062 Jayah Faye Paley, Educator and creator of award-winning training on how to use poles, has designed a special class for Whistlestop. Easy-to-learn skills designed to help you preserve your joints, improve posture, balance, gait and confi dence, improve endurance and upper body strength, reduce stress on knees, hips and spine, Top quality poles provided for practice. Join us to learn techniques that help you navigate everyday obstacles and more fully enjoy life! Discover which type of poles fi t you best and can help you achieve your goals. www.PolesForMobility.com.

FRIDAY FLICKSWhistlestop offers free movies every Friday at 2pm in the Lounge.June MoviesJune 1: The ArtistJune 8: We Bought a ZooJune 15: The Iron Lady June 22: War HorseJune 29: Water for Elephants(Movies are subject to change)

should be low at mid-day when we’ll be hiking, allowing walking on the more fi rm wet sand of the beach.

Friday, June 15: Angel Island with Tram Tour Fees: Facility Member $20, Program Member $25, Com-munity Member $35Angel Island is a wonderful natural resource, rich with California history and perfect for a “day away” from urban life. Take a tour on the Island Tram for a more leisurely day, stroll the paved Perimeter Road around the Island, taking in the views of Tiburon, San Francisco, the East Bay and the San Rafael Bridge.

Wednesday, June 27: Hike, Limantour Beach, North to the Estero | Fee: $5This is another fl at hike, mostly on the fi rm, wet sand at the low tide of another quarter moon, starting from the end of Limantour Road on the Point Reyes peninsula. It’s about three miles north to the mouth of Drakes Estero, where we’ll eat our picnic lunches on the beach before returning the way we came.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIESContact: Debbie at 456-9062 or programs@whistlestop.org• Jackson Café • Center Services• Board/Card Game Leaders• Chiropractor • Watercolors Instructor• Italian Social Group Leader• Portuguese Social Group Leader• Bi-lingual Computer Teacher• F undraising & Marketing Support

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

FALL PREVENTION: WHAT TO DO IF YOU FALLTuesday, June 26 • 3:30 to 4:30pmInstructor: Thomas Attardi, MA, NMT. A workshop to help older adults learn ways to prevent falls. The workshop, for those who have fallen or who fear falling, is designed to help participants identify why they fall and learn techniques to prevent falls, including strength and balance exercises and home safety.

9whistlestop.org 9

Whistlestop Express JUNE 201210

Whistlestop ACTIVITIES This Month at Whistlestop TIME CLASS INFO COST 9:00–2:00 PM Chair Massage Open $4/8min. 9:30–10:30 PM Lamas Qi Gong Open $3/class 10:00–11:00 AM AM Monday (Discussion) 457-0586 Free 10:00–NOON Computer Lab Open Free 11:00–12:30 PM German Social Group Open Free 11:00–NOON Zumba Open $8 2:00–3:30 PM Adv. English Conversation (June 4-July 30, 2012) 457-0586 Free 4:00–5:30 PM Citizenship Class 454-0998 $25

9:15–10:15 AM Whistlesizers (Exercise) Open $2 10:45–11:45 AM Cardio Exercise Class Open Free 11:00–2:00 PM Manicurist Appt. Needed Free 1:00–3:00 PM Learn Spanish Open Free 2:00–3:30 PM English Conversation 454-0998 Free 2:30–3:30 PM Balance Class Open $10

9:15–10:15 AM Whistlesizers (Exercise) Open $2 10:00–NOON Knit!!! 457-0586 Free 11:00–NOON Latin Rhythm 454-0998 $2 2:00–3:30 PM English Conversation 454-0998 Free 2:30–3:30 PM Balance Class Open $10 3:00–4:00 PM Basic English for 457-0586 Free Spanish Speakers

9:00–10:15 AM Tai Chi Qigong Sugg. Donation $10 9:00–2:00 PM Chair Massage Open $4/8min.10:00–11:30 AM Seniors' Circle (Support) Open Free 10:00–2:00 PM Computer Lab Open Free 10:30–11:45 AM Corazón Latino Open Free 10:30–NOON Mah Jongg Open Free 3:00–4:00 PM Basic English for 457-0586 Free Spanish Speakers

1:30–3:30 PM ACASA (Support/Training) Peer Counseling Free 1:30–3:30 PM Practice Spanish (Club) Open Free 2:00–4:00 PM Friday Flicks Open Free 2:00–4:00 PM Arts & Crafts w/Vicky June 8 & 22 $3 3:00–4:00 PM Yoga with Kelly 456-9062 $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.

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 11:30am-2:00pmLocated 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

PHOT

OS ©

RIC

HARD

PAV

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Lonely Bachelor No More

Last August I wrote about the lonely bachelor Great Blue Heron standing tall

on a nest at Stowe Lake perform-ing a ‘Stretch Display’ – hoping to attract a mate. Day after day he performed without ever attract-ing one. I began photographing the small colony again about a month ago. There he was, all by him-self, preening and displaying without a single response. I was disappointed in that and also that the colony had shrunk. Only three nests this year, one had two chicks — a poor showing. A few years ago there were six nests and many more chicks. I’ve been busy upgrading computers this week, and hadn’t returned until today. The

fi rst thing I noticed was nest-building activity — new nests, the small colony was expanding. And I noticed that my old friend from last year was not doing his stretch displays. Too bad, I thought. I guessed he was just getting too old, when suddenly the head of a young female rose from a spot at his feet! My goodness. After all this time and effort, the Lonely Bachelor had scored! I couldn’t have been happier; all his effort had paid off. Wish I could get so lucky. Guess I need to get out there and stretch my head back and bristle my feathers a few times. Who knows? If it works for Great Blue Herons, it might work for humans. Every weekend I email an interesting bird photo to Express readers. Free. If you’d like something nice to look at amidst the junk in your Inbox, email me at SHENmaker@MSN.com. ✦

‘Til next time, Richard

Whistlestop Express JUNE 201212

line of a race, and I join in. It is a noise at once triumphant, but also of tears. At last, all we had hoped for these long months away in a foreign land, these months of dreams … then it came to me – the Bridge meant home. We docked not long after that, and there was my wife waiting for me. We’d barely had time for a honeymoon before I had been called back to duty, but now, looking back at the Golden Gate Bridge, I knew this time I was truly home.

Author, Peter Klain, 94, recently died. He had been a favorite in Claudia Carroll’s Remem-brance Writing class at Whistlestop. He and his wife adopted four special needs children. He played the role of Uncle Tom while he was at UCLA. Other actors in the play were the future father of Sean Penn, and Tom Bradley, future mayor of L.A. ✦

Music For a BridgeB y P E T E R K L A I N

(Excerpt from a longer story about the Golden Gate Bridge)

From afar, there is a delicate tracery about her. Now, in 2012, as she approaches her 75th birthday, she is a sturdy structure,

perhaps stronger than she was when she was built, for she has had several upgrades over the years. At the time she was built, with an opening in 1937, she was an engineering marvel, the longest single span suspension bridge ever built. She was to have a conventional paint job and was given a base coat of bright orange. It was then that a fl ash of genius occurred among those in charge – the base coat, especially when refl ecting the setting sun, seemed to make the bridge glow as if golden. And so today, she remains a golden bridge, spanning the entrance to San Francisco Bay. Go forward to 1953, when the troop ship General Meigs, with 4,000 men aboard, returns from duty in Korea. In my stateroom, which I share with one of the of-fi cers, we have fi nished our mar-athon cribbage game. The ship’s engines are muted, as we have stopped momentarily. We know what has happened as we have been briefed previously; the wa-ters of San Francisco Bay can be treacherous to the unfamiliar boat or ship, and we have stopped to pick up a pilot. But this means our voyage is almost over. I am restless, impatient, so I go up on deck, which is thronged with men anxious to be done with the three-week-long cruise. Slowly, the ship gains headway and moves toward the Bay. In the distance, the fi rst burst of dawn is outlined against the graceful arch of the bridge. Gradu-ally, as the ship starts to pass un-der the bridge, a great shout erupts from the bow and sweeps on back as we proceed. I cannot help myself – it was much like crossing the fi nish

Cinco de Mayo super moon by Terry Scussel.

whistlestop.org 13

W histlestop’s newest Board member,

businesswoman Venessa Dixon of Mill Valley, has a deep understand-ing of what it means to overcome adversity. The successful opera-tions manager of Golden Years Medical in San Rafael immigrated with her family to the United States from South Afri-ca. They remember the apartheid years when the population was divided into four racial groups – White, Black, Indian and Colored (racially mixed). Those groups were forbidden to associate with each other. Her family – parents Ronnie and Viggie Naiker and three children – were part of the Indian community. Under apartheid, Indians lived in segregated areas and attended sepa-rate schools. Whites were considered superior to the other groups and Venessa’s father hated segregation. He couldn’t stand the fact, that despite being very successful, he would never be in line for his boss’s position because that was reserved for whites only. He joined the United Demo-cratic Front (UDF), a non-racial, anti-apart-heid coalition. Venessa later learned that their home was under surveillance by the South African police. The family fi nally made their way to the US. In an interview with Northbay Biz, Venessa recalls an experience shortly after they settled in San Francisco, where Venessa was enrolled in a very ethnically diverse middle school. She was told in South Africa that there were three levels of intelligence based on race, and that whites would always be the highest. So when she earned the highest score on her fi rst test at her new school, she was shocked. She said she couldn’t believe she had gotten a higher score than the white children. “I thought, ‘No one is ever going to tell me I can’t do some-thing or put limitations on me again.’”

Her entire family has that indomitable spir-it. When her father suffered a stroke several years ago, they all pulled together to manage his rehab and they were grateful that, because of the family business, they were able to pro-vide him with every type of medical equip-ment he needed. Ronnie founded Golden Years Medical in 1987 after coming to this country with virtually no money and little promise for success. When Venessa joined the company after graduation from UC Berkeley, she developed her own billing manual through many hours of hard work. That gave the fi rm a competitive edge. Instead of complaining about the com-plexity of medical equipment insurance reim-bursement, she created her own system. No one tells Venessa Dixon there’s only one way to do something. “We are excited to have Venessa and her positive can-do spirit joining the Whistlestop Board of Directors,” said Dennis Thompson, Board President. ✦

Do Not Tell This Woman She Can’t Do Something

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Whistlestop Express JUNE 201214

How to Unstuff Your LifeB y V A L E R I E B O W M A N

A man who has been called the most organized man in America stopped byWhistlestop for a gathering that

attracted 90 people who wanted to learn how to lighten their load of clutter and historic accumulation. Andrew Mellen has been on the Nate Berkus Show and in O magazine. He told the audience that the fi rst thing to do when getting organized is to thinkabout your core values; what is it you really want in your life? And he suggested it isn’t the “stuff.” He shared his top three tools for get-ting organized: make sure there is one home for everything; put like things together; and take one item out for every item you bring into your home for equilibrium. Andrew signs his book, Unstuff Your Life, with “More Love, Less Stuff.” ✦

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Buying Fresh Dairy Products

When you are shopping for dairy products, take a few extra minutes to check your expi-ration dates.

Often, if you look back a few rows you will fi nd products that have a later expiration date. Be especially careful with items like sour cream and cottage cheese. They do not sell as quickly as milk, and when they are left out in the coolers they tend to warm up. If you pick cartons that are buried in the back or toward the bottom they will have been kept cooler and will also keep longer once you get them home. ✦

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SPECIALISTS IN GERIATRIC IN-HOME THERAPY AND WELLNESS

Jennifer Holland, PTLicensed Physical Therapist

CA Lic #10957

Did You Know?Whistlestop serves more than 17,000 low-cost meals a year to Marin County residents at our onsite Jackson Café, 930 Tamalpais Ave., San Rafael. Not only is the food good, but the café has become a popular place to socialize during noontime.

fé,an Rafael. Not only ise café has become a l d

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whistlestop.org 15

Brain TEASERSB y G A R Y G R U B E R , P h D

The Red Hat Ladies paid Whistlestop a visit recently. Joe O’Hehir, Whistlestop CEO said, “Whistlestop enjoyed having the Red Hat Ladies visit and lunch with us. What a fun bunch!”

We were so pleased to honor our outstanding volunteers at the annual Appreciation Reception. Debbie Benedetti, Volunteer and Activities Manager, said “Our wonderful volunteer community gave over 14,000 hours of their time to Whistlestop participants over the past year. We couldn’t reach so many without their help.”

Red Hat Ladies Pay a Visit

WhistlestopVolunteers Honored

Marin History MuseumNow Has its Own ‘App’

The Marin History Museum (MHM), based in San Rafael, joins a select group of prominent institutions with

the launch of the Marin History Museum Smartphone Application. The museum, 1125 B Street, is one of fewer than a dozen muse-ums nationally that have developed applica-tions as part of their public offerings. George Thelen, a volunteer and project leader, said the MHM is becoming a more user-friendly community experience. Director Michelle Kaufman is proud of the museum’s commitment to community-building and says, “This application is another example of how MHM is actively working to extend our outreach, engage our audience and encourage a more interactive and par-ticipatory experience with Marin history, for all who love Marin.” The MHM App gives us-ers access to the largest and most extensive col-lection of Marin County related historic content. The non-profi t museum is the steward of the larg-est collection of artifacts, photographs and ephemera related to Marin County and is solely supported by community donations and individual donors. The museum received a generous donation from Marin County resi-dent, Michael J. Sullivan for Catherine Coffey to fund this application. Marin History Museum is doing a lot with a little and the App puts MHM on the map, too. Kaufman adds, “We are thrilled to be the only county history museum with such an advanced mobile application. This is an excit-ing era in our own organization’s history and we are so grateful to have this opportunity to share this resource with Marin.” The App will be updated monthly and is available for free for a limited time on iPhone, iPad and Android platforms online on the APP Store. ✦

Question: If there are 24 people at a party and each person shakes another persons hand, how many handshakes are there?Answer:

Question: Which verb does not belong with the other words in the set?BRING BUY CATCH DRAW FIGHT SEEK TEACH THINKAnswer:

276. There are 24 combinations taken 2 at a time. This is written as 24C2 = 24X23/(2 X 1) = 276.

DRAW is the only verb on the list with a past tense that does not rhyme with OUGHT.

You can contact Dr. Gruber through his website www.drgarygruber.com for information on courses or any questions. He will try to personally answer all questions.

Whistlestop Express JUNE 201216

Marin Senior Coordinating Council

930 Tamalpais AvenueSan Rafael, CA 94901-3325

Whistlestop.org

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