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Village Santa Cruz County
Aging Better Together
The Village News
March 2024 |  
A note of reassurance in these times of chaos
by Karen Delaney, Executive Director
Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County
Here at the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, we are approaching 60 years of serving our community, creating a growing movement to connect people for good through acts of service across every issue and in every part of our county. We are proud to receive a number of federal grants to support our work, directly to our agency and through many valuable partnerships with local and state agencies.
This year, that includes home safety and fall prevention for elders; Mental Health services for Transition Age Youth so their disability doesn’t hold them back from success in school, work and life; an award-winning partnership with the Sheriff’s Corrections Department to increase success of women leaving the jail and not coming back; supporting people with a mental health diagnosis find and retain work; adult education ESL tutoring; and AmeriCorps Seniors — connecting 300 seniors to meaningful service.
We continue to receive conflicting and troubling demands and instructions about Federal Fund requirements, and we have great clarity about our Mission and Values that transcend politics or money. We want our community – volunteers, service recipients, donors, staff and partners – to understand what they can expect from us, always.
To steal a line from a song I sing with my grandkids frequently and joyfully: We know where we are, We know who we are! Read in its entirety at We aren't confused. We know who we are! | Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County
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Scam Prevention
with the Santa Cruz County DA's office
Friday, March 28
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
@ Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County
Hosted by
Volunteer Center's Empowered Aging Program and Village Santa Cruz County.
Senior Resources Fair
hosted by Santa Cruz Housing Authority
Friday, February 28, 2025
3:00 to 5:00 PM
at the London Nelson Center (Room 3)
FREE
Village Santa Cruz County will have a table. Stop by and say hi. This is a good place to talk with someone in person about our organization.
Celebration of Life for Sandy Cohen
Sunday, March 16, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
@The Dream Inn
Sandy's family is hosting her celebration of life at the Dream Inn. For more information download the invitation Sandy Cohen's Celebration of Life. RSVP to her daughter, Gena (geconn@gmail.com) or son Aaron (fujiaaronh@gmail.com).
Save the Date!
Village Santa Cruz County
is 8 and we want to celebrate!
Friday, May 2nd, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Music, Cupcakes and a chance to connect with Village members from different Circle areas!
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Village Santa Cruz County's
Aptos Circle Group Shares
Handy Home Devices
Patti P. Demonstrates her easy-on-the-wrists jar opener.
UCSC students join Village members bowling
Our Co-generational Coffeehouse chats have been quite successful and a joy for Village members who have participated. We've met a range of people - students from the Student Doctor Alliance, someone studying for their bar exam, young woman recently arrived in Santa Cruz from Sweden as a visiting professor, a young man involved in starting a non-profit called Liminal Space Collective, to name a few.
"I liked that our conversation ranged from what do you do for fun....to what would be your life advice? We and the students were both looking to feel less isolated in our own age group boxes." - Aviva
If you are a Village member and would like to participate in ongoing Cogenerate Coffeehouse Chats contact info@villagesantacruz.org
Co-Generational Clay-building
On Sunday, March 9, a few Village Santa Cruz County members and folks we met at the Coffeehouse Chats will come together to socialize while hand-building clay planter signs for our gardens and potted plants. Village member Soji https://www.sojisceramics.com/ will lead us in this project at her home studio.
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According to Christopher Moehlenkamp, a paramedic from Fort Wayne, Ind. Putting your medical ID on your iphone or Android can be very helpful if you need medical assistance. If you have a medical emergency, having this medical ID on your phone will allow emergency medical workers to obtain your information without using a passcode.
You can set up your medical ID on your iPhone using the Health app. Go to Apple Support for more info.
Android phones usually don’t have built-in health apps that allow you to create a Medical ID. But people with Android phones can still create Medical IDs that anyone can see from the lock screen without unlocking the phone. There are free apps you can download that can create a Medical ID. Click here for instructions.
 What ER doctors want you to know (from NYTimes Well section)
- Adaira Landry, an E.R. physician at Harvard Medical School-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said knife injuries in the kitchen were among the most frequent injuries she saw. Avocados and bagels are major culprits. The best way to cut something is to use a secure, nonskid surface such as a wooden cutting board, and to cut away from your body, said Matt Shannon, the director of community emergency medicine at University of Florida Health. “Never cut toward your hand,” he said.
- Don’t pet strange dogs. Dr. Pratt is a dog lover, but after seeing many canine attack victims in the E.R., he doesn’t pet unfamiliar dogs. “You don’t know what kind of trauma that animal has been put through and what kind of triggers it has,” he said.
- Don’t ignore sudden symptoms. If you experience something like severe chest pain or paralysis of a body part, come to the E.R. immediately, she said. “I understand that there’s going to be medical costs and the time in the emergency room, but those shouldn’t preclude you from saving your own life,” Dr. Landry added. And if you have heart attack or stroke symptoms, do not drive yourself to the hospital; it can lead to accidents and injuries. The paramedics have defibrillators and can alert the hospital to prep a cardiac team, saving you valuable time.
NYTimes subscribers can read the full article in the February 20, 2025 Well section NYTimes Well
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Recommendations from the TV/Movie Discussion Group
TV shows recommended:
"Alone Australia." on Netflix. 10 people in Tasmania survive in the wild in a contest.
"Bad Sisters ." 2 seasons on Apple. Great show, with a good ending.
Movies Recommended:
Oscar Nominated Live Action Shorts at the theater, 5 powerful films.
"The Brutalist." at the theater. Several Oscar nominations.
"Conclave." on Amazon Prime. A political thriller set in the Vatican. Several Oscar nominations.
"Funny Girl." on PBS Passport. A 1968 Classical musical drama starring Barbra Streisand.
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Many (more) Middle-Income Seniors Will Not Be Able to Pay for Long-Term Care and Housing by 2033. By 2033, more than 11 million middle-income seniors aged 75 and older may not be able to pay for assisted living and are also unlikely to qualify for Medicaid to pay for their long-term care needs.
In an update of their groundbreaking “Forgotten Middle” study, researchers from NORC at the University of Chicago find that the middle-income cohort of seniors will grow by 7.5 million (89 percent) from 2018 to 2033. The study also found that seniors are becoming more racially and ethnically diverse, with people of color making up 22 percent of this middle-income population in 2033. Read the article.
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Become a Member of Village Santa Cruz County
|  | Coming UP in March
Members will receive Zoom information in weekly eBlasts.
If you are not yet a Village member but would like to join one of our events, to meet some Village members, please contact info@villagesantacruz.org
Tuesday, March 4, Rummikub, 12:00 - 1:30 PM, @ Player's mobile home park clubhouse in Capitola. Rummikub is a fun board game for everyone. Easy to learn. We spice up the game with a little wagering on the side, so bring your spare change (pennies, nickels and dimes).
Wednesday, March 5, Aptos Circle Chat, 1:00 – 2:30 PM, @ Aptos Methodist Church, 221 Thunderbird Drive, Aptos. Relax with a cup of coffee or tea and catch up on what's happening with your Circle friends. Curious about Village? Open to all. Non-members are welcome to join us.
Thursday, March 6, Bocce, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, @ Felt Street Park, 1904 Felt Street, Santa Cruz. Come play Bocce with us! All members welcome. Bocce Ball is simple to learn, it's a lot of fun, and good exercise (not to mention the great company). Come try it out. Cancelled in the event of rain or wet court.
Thursday, March 6, Solo Agers, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, @ the Branciforte Public Library, 230 Gault Str. Followed by a No-Host Lunch. We meet once a month to talk about how we deal with various issues and to offer aid and support. We will have a no-host lunch afterward.
Thursday, March 6, Westside Circle Chat, 1:00 - 2:00 PM, @ The Abbey Coffeehouse 350 Mission St. Relax with a cup of coffee or tea and catch up on what's happening with your Circle friends. Non-members are welcome to join us.
Friday, March 7, Executive Board Meeting, 12:00 - 12:30 PM, Join on Zoom. The Executive Board meets to plan the agenda for the Advisory Committee meeting on March 13. This planning meeting is closed but you are welcome to send in any topic suggestions for the agenda and are invited to attend the March 13 meeting.
Sunday, March 9, Co-generational Social and Clay Project, 1:00 - 2:30 PM. Village members and our Co-Generational Coffeehouse Chat friends will be building plant marker signs in this one and half hour social gathering. This is a clay project with guided art from Soji's Ceramics. This is a backyard event and will be cancelled if it’s raining that day. Limited space: up to six Village members and up to six Co-generational Coffeehouse attendees. Your clay pieces will be ready to pick up one week later. Suggested donation of $20. Contact Soji to register.
Monday, March 10, Westside Circle: Life Stories, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, @ a Westside Circle member's home. Topic: TBD
Tuesday, March 11, Mid County Circle Chat, 1:30 - 2:30 PM, @ Starbuck's 21260 E. Cliff Dr. Curious about Village? Open to all. Non-members are welcome to join us.
Wednesday, March 12, Bowling at the Boardwalk Bowl, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM, @ The Boardwalk Bowl. Join us for a fun time bowling. Feel a bit rusty? Never tried it? No problem. Some of us plan to use the bumpers to keep our ball from straying in the alley! Contact info@villagesantacruz.org if you plan to join us and we'll pass it on to the group. Note that bowling is now starting at 11:00 AM, on the second Wednesday of the month.
Wednesday, March 12, SLV Circle Chat, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM, @ Highlands Park Community and Senior Center, 8500 Highway 9, Ben Lomond. Relax with a cup of coffee or tea and catch up on what's happening with your Circle friends. Curious about Village? Open to all. Non-members are welcome to join us. Note time change! We are now meeting from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
Thursday, March 13, Bocce, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, @ Felt Street Park, 1904 Felt Street, Santa Cruz. Come play Bocce with us! All members welcome. Bocce Ball is simple to learn, it's a lot of fun, and good exercise (not to mention the great company). Come try it out. Cancelled in the event of rain or wet court.
Thursday, March 13, Advisory Board Monthly Meeting, 12:30 PM - 2:15 PM, Join on Zoom. All Village members are invited to attend our monthly planning meeting. Email info@villagesantacruz.org if you plan to attend, so that we can send you the agenda.
Friday, March 14, Westcliff Walks, 10:30 - 11:30 AM, We will walk along Westcliff Dr. Meet in the parking lot of Shrine Coffee. 544 Westcliff Ave.
Wednesday, March 19, Aptos Circle Luncheon, 1:00 – 2:30 PM, @ TBD.
Thursday, March 20, Bocce, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, @ Felt Str. Park, 1904 Felt Street, Santa Cruz. Come play Bocce with us! All members welcome. Cancelled in the event of rain or wet court.
Thursday, March 20, Movie/TV Discussion Group, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Join on Zoom. Look at the recommendations above for suggestions on what to watch.
Friday, March 21, Book Discussion Group, 1:00 - 2:00 PM, @ Simpkins Swim Center, 979 17th Ave. Santa Cruz, Meeting Room C. The Devil at His Elbow: Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty" by Valerie Bauerlein. "Power, privilege, and blood—this is the true story of Alex Murdaugh’s violent downfall, from a veteran Wall Street Journal reporter who has become an authority on the case. Murdaugh was a benevolent dictator—the president of the South Carolina trial lawyers’ association, a political boss, a part-time prosecutor, and a partner in his family’s law firm. He was always ready with a favor, a drink, and an invitation to Moselle, his family’s 1,700-acre hunting estate. The Murdaugh name ignited respect—and fear—for a hundred miles.
Monday, March 24, Memoir Writing, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM. Because of the very personal nature of our writings, which we share, this group is currently closed to new members. Want to start a 2nd writing group? Contact info@villagesantacruz.org and we'll help put out the word and connect you with other members who are interested. Note date change. Memoir Writing will return to the third Monday of the month in March.
Tuesday, March 25, Mid-County Luncheon, 12:30 - 1:30 PM, @ TBD.
Wednesday, March 26, SLV Circle Chat, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM, @ at Highlands Park Community and Senior Center, 8500 Highway 9, Ben Lomond. Relax with a cup of coffee or tea and catch up on what's happening with your Circle friends. Curious about Village? Open to all. Non-members are welcome to join us. Note time change! We are now meeting from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
Thursday, March 27, Bocce, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, @ Felt Str. Park, 1904 Felt Street, Santa Cruz. Come play Bocce with us! All members welcome. Cancelled in the event of rain or wet court.
Thursday, March 27, Movie at the Theater, Time: TBD, Movie and details TBD when the movie list for this date comes out.
Friday, March 28, Scam Prevention Presentation by the Santa Cruz County DA's office. 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, @ Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, 7807 Soquel Dr. Hosted by the Volunteer Center's Empowered Aging Program and Village Santa Cruz County.
| In Our Community
Saturday March 1, 2025, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Del Mar Caregivers, Caregiver University Conference: Navigating Crossroads at CSUMB. A day dedicated to learning, connection, and support. Whether you're looking for practical strategies, wellness activities, or a sense of community, this conference has something for you! Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/caregiver-university-conference-tickets-1119113431399?aff=email
Saturday, March 1, 11:00 AM - Noon. Guest speaker Dr. Julisa Lopez will share the local history of the Amah Mutsun Tribe and native stewardship at the Felton Branch Library Community Room, 6121 Gushee St.. She will discuss updates on current work, including that related to climate change and conservation. Lopez is a social psychologist and the chancellor’s postdoctoral fellow at UC Santa Cruz. She is a member of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band and Mexican American. Her research examines how representations of Native peoples in society negatively impact the psychological well-being of Natives and perpetuate bias among non-Natives. For information, visit santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/13867569
Saturday, March 8, 10:30 AM. The Friends of the Santa Cruz Libraries is hosting “From Manzanita to Milkweed: Plants to Support Monarchs and Other Pollinators” at the Felton Library patio, 6121 Gushee St. UC Master Gardener Janice Kuch will be the featured guest speaker. Participants will learn about the best native California flowering plants for your own home gardens that support monarchs and other pollinators. Admission is free, but registration is required through santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/13814097
Thursday, March 6 through Saturday, March 8. Watsonville Film Festival. The Watsonville Film Festival highlights Latinx filmmakers and stories that illuminate our shared humanity and inspire positive change. Learn more here.
Thursday, March 13, 5:30 - 7:00 PM, HERstory, at the Santa Cruz MAH, 705 Front Str. Santa Cruz. Join us in celebrating Women's History Month by paying tribute to the stories of remarkable women who have left an indelible mark on our community and beyond. Featuring hands-on activities and guest speakers. Come and celebrate women: past, present, and future. For more information about this free event, go to HERstory celebration at the MAH.
Saturday, March 15, Grey Bears Repair Cafe. Volunteers will include mechanical and electrical engineers, a knife sharpener, experts in clothing and textiles, and shoe repair services. Whether you need help fixing toys, lamps, clocks, vacuums, shoes, or more, they have skilled volunteers ready to assist.
Articles, Videos, and Listening
Are Older Adults Missing Out on Helpful Financial Guidance? Feb 10, 2025, National Council on Aging. Feb 10, 2025, ‘the Aspen Institute has found that almost half of older adults lack the necessary savings to handle emergencies.2 While the perception is that Medicare and Social Security provide a financial safety net for older Americans, the stark reality is that these programs are insufficient. This problem will only get worse as the country is seeing a demographic shift that will see the number of people age 65 and older rise from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million by 2050….Given the well-documented levels of financial insecurity among older adults, it was surprising to see relatively fewer connections to programs and tools to help older adults understand their financial situation and opportunities to better budget their resources.’ Read the Article
Don’t call people out – Call them In, TED Talk by Loretta J. Ross, August 2021. We live in a call-out culture, says activist and scholar Loretta J. Ross. You're probably familiar with it: the public shaming and blaming, on social media and in real life, of people who may have done wrong and are being held accountable. In this bold, actionable talk, Ross gives us a toolkit for starting productive conversations instead of fights -- what she calls a "call-in culture" and shares strategies that help challenge wrongdoing while still creating space for growth, forgiveness and maybe even an unexpected friend. "Fighting hate should be fun," Ross says. "It's being a hater that sucks." Watch the video at https://www.ted.com/talks/loretta_don't call people out_call them in
The Greenhouse Project: Elevate Eldercare podcast. ‘Every great eldercare community has a unique story, and there are many paths toward providing high-quality, person-directed services and supports for older adults. That’s why we launched “Elevate Eldercare”: to bring together thought leaders, activists, and advocates in the field of aging services and give them a space where thoughtful discourse and diverse perspectives flow freely.’ Listen Here.
How One Black Doctor Brought the Pap to the People. PBS American Experience, March 7, 2024. Helen Dickens was a crusader whose cancer van saved hundreds of lives. How One Black Doctor Brought the Pap to the People | American Experience | Official Site | PBS
Why Americans are moving in with strangers twice their age. Spare bedrooms are America’s next housing market, by Rachel Cohen, updated February 24, 2025, Vox News. When Noelle Marcus, who would go on to found Nesterly, was studying urban planning at MIT, one statistic caught her attention: 54 million spare bedrooms sat empty each night in American homes. “And that’s using a very conservative methodology, only counting occupied housing units,” said Marcus. “That’s a lot of real estate.” Read the Article
Definition and diagnostic criteria of clinical obesity, The Lancet, Diabetes and Endocrinology, January 14, 2025. Despite evidence that some people with excess adiposity (the state of containing fat or excess lipids in a site or organ) have ill health due to obesity, obesity is generally considered a harbinger of other diseases, not a disease in itself. The idea of obesity as a disease remains therefore highly controversial. In addition, current BMI-based measures of obesity can both underestimate and overestimate adiposity and provide inadequate information about health at the individual level. Read the Lancet article here.
Navigating Difficult Conversations: Expert Insights on Aging and Family Communication, Positive Aging Community, January 24, 2025, on You Tube. A discussion with two accomplished experts in the fields of aging and communication addressing aging issues with challenging parents and family members. Navigating Difficult Conversations: Expert Insights on Agiing and Family Communication
Grandparenting can be great for your health. Research has found that people who spend time with their grandkids tend to be in better mental health and feel less isolated, according to this article from Next Avenue. Read more here.
| Village Santa Cruz County
1740 17th Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062
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