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Village Santa Cruz County
Aging Better Together
The Village News
September 2024 | |
End of Life Planning & Celebrations
Talk by Shary Farr
Friday, September 12
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Open to the Public
Location: Live Oak Community Room A in the Simpkins Swim Center complex
979 17th Avenue in Live Oak.
Founder of Partners for Transitions, Shary Farr has over 40 years’ experience helping people plan for their final years and their ends. She sees end-of-life planning as a way to infuse our present life with more purpose, and to make the inevitable easier on ourselves and those around us.
“The ultimate goal in planning for death is to create more love and awareness in our own lives, which happens when you plan for our own death.” - Shary Farr
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Co-generational Coffeehouse Chats
3rd Tuesday of each month
Ryan talks about his life with Village members
At the next table, Marina listens as Village members explain our program. |
The August movie group at the Capitola Cinelux Theater.
Field Trip:
Oldie Movies @ Stanford Theater
Sunday, September 7
Palo Alto, CA
2:00 PM Lunch @ The Creamery
3:30 PM "Bringing Up Baby" (1938)
5:35 PM "His Girl Friday" (1940)
Standford Theater location, 221 University Ave. in Palo Alto. Stay for one or both movies.
Contact info@villagesantacruz.org if you’re interested in attending. | | | |
Gifts for
long-term-care residents
September is the perfect time to weed through all our winter scarves, gloves, mufflers and shawls. Those in long-term care (skilled nursing and assisted living facilities) appreciate a little warmth to their days as the days cool. Please, only washed items in good condition.
Village Santa Cruz will be collecting these items through September 30th. Please consider joining our endeavor to bring warmth and a feeling of not being forgotten. Items will be collected at our events, by the event leader. They can arrange with Dody for a pickup.
Contact info@villagesantacruz.org for more information. Thank you in advance.
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This project is a partnership between
Village Santa Cruz and
I-You Venture
I-You Venture, a program of Family Service Agency of the Central Coast, supports seniors in local assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. Contact Nancy Cleveland, Program Director of I-You Venture, to find out other ways to get involved. (831) 459-8917 cleveland.n@fsa-cc.org |
Village Santa Cruz
Men's Lunch
September 12
It might not come as a surprise, but the Village Santa Cruz County member demographic is skewed heavily towards female. Thinly spread through-out the area Circle groups, our men have often encountered and commented on being "the only male" at an activity. In September, they will offset this situation with their own men's luncheon.
“With losing the Harbor Bridge, restaurants in that area have been hit rather hard, so we’ve decided to eat at an Eastside restaurant nearby.”
Volunteer Center
Matter of Balance Workshop
There are two Matter of Balance class series coming up this fall. This popular class fills quickly.
September 23 - October 16, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM @ Community Health Trust of Pájaro Valley. Download the Flyer
October 14 - November 13, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM @ Simpkin's Center. Download the Flyer
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September Book Group Read: Karla's Choice, by Nick Harkaway (2024). Karla's Choice is the first George Smiley continuation novel published after John le Carré's 2020 death. The novel is set in the time period between The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
Set in 1963, Karla’s Choice finds George Smiley drawn out of retirement, when a Russian agent has defected in the most unusual of circumstances, and the man he was sent to kill in London is nowhere to be found.
Smiley reluctantly agrees to one last simple task. Smiley soon finds himself entangled in a perilous mystery that will define the battles to come and set him on a collision course with the greatest enemy he will ever make.
Other Recommendations by Village members:
Culpability by Bruce Holsinger. "Culpability" is a gripping family drama that explores moral responsibility in the age of artificial intelligence, centered around a tragic accident involving an autonomous vehicle.
Daikon by Samual Hawley. This novel is set in Japan during the final days of World War II, with the premise: three atomic bombs were actually delivered to the Pacific—not two—and one of them falls into the hands of the Japanese.
Physicist Keizo Kan's Japanese American wife has been imprisoned by the brutal Thought Police. The Imperial Army sends him to examine an unusual device recovered from a downed American plane—a bomb containing uranium. If he can unlock its mysteries, his wife will be released.
The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri. The book is centered around the lives of two brothers, Subhash and Udayan, born in Calcutta during the tumultuous aftermath of World War II. Despite their close bond, they lead very different lives; Subhash is cautious and academic, while Udayan is impulsive and drawn into radical political movements.
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Recommendations from
the TV/Movie Discussion Group
Movie: "I'm Still Here." A 2024 Brazilian film that was up for several Academy Awards. Now streaming on Netflix. It stars Fernanda Torres and Fernanda Montenegro as Eunice Paiva, a mother and activist coping with the forced disappearance of her husband. It won the award for Best Foreign Film.
TV:
"Under the Vines." Streaming from PBS Passport. Socialite Daisy Munroe heads to New Zealand for a vacation at her deceased stepfather’s winery, which she intends to sell. She's unaware the vineyard has a co-owner: grumpy lawyer Louis Oakley, who also travels to New Zealand to escape his troubles. Despite neither having done a hard day’s work and both despising the other, they must make the vineyard successful so they can sell and part ways.
"Sherwood." Streaming on BritBox and HBO MAX. Sherwood is a British crime drama series created and written by James Graham. It stars David Morrissey and is inspired by real-life murders. Inspired by real-life events, exploring post-Brexit Britain. It has many stars familiar to viewers of Masterpiece Theater.
"Mo." Streaming on Netflix. The series stars Mo Amer as the titular character. The series is loosely based on Amer's own life as a Palestinian refugee descendant living in Houston, Texas. Mo Najjar, the main character, straddles the line between two cultures, three languages and a ton of foolishness as a Palestinian refugee constantly living one step away from asylum on the path to U.S. citizenship. Funny and poignant.
"Untamed." Streaming on Netflix. This is a blunt force thriller, set in Yosemite National Park in California, starring Eric Bano as a macho special agent who prefers silence to talking and horses to motorized vehicles. Note from Tracy: I watched this and I really liked it.
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Cohousing Conversations
Panelists Jamie, Pam, and Marika share their cohousing experiences and expertise.
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Bocce BBQ
Patti P. (blue shirt, in back) hosts our 2nd annual Bocce Group BBQ and demonstrates her chef skills with her (now famous) shish kabobs. | | | |
Village Movement California
Statewide Conference
September 11- 12
Program Overview:
Thursday, September 11, 12:30-4PM – Afternoon program with an evening cocktail reception
- Opening Remarks: Sarah Steenhausen, Deputy Director of Policy, Research, and Engagement, California Department of Aging
- Supporting Aging in Place: How Policy and Funding Shape Villages and Community Support for Older Californians
- Where Healthcare Intersects with Community: Developing Relationships between Villages and Local Healthcare Organizations
Friday, September 12, 9AM-4PM
- KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: The Social Care Imperative – From Isolation to Connection in Age-Friendly Communities. Dr. Carla Perissinotto, MD from UCSF School of Medicine a leading geriatrician and researcher on social isolation, will explore the critical role of social care in addressing the complex needs of California’s most vulnerable older adults.
- Villages in Action: Delivering Social Care to High-Need Members
- Village Voices World Café: Connecting Care, Community, and Police
State of Villages: Stronger Together – Connecting Care and Community
Four Village Santa Cruz County members will attend and bring back a report! |
Volunteers needed for Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Join the Alzheimer’s Association in making a difference! Volunteers are needed for The Walk to End Alzheimer’s happening Sept. 27. Shifts are three hours long, ranging from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Seascape Resort and Park, 1 Seascape Resort Drive. Help support the fight against Alzheimer’s by assisting with event setup, registration, cheering stations and more. Learn More |
Webinar on End-of-Life Dementia Care Through Storytelling, Monday, September 22, 2025, 10:00-11:00 p.m. Pacific Time, FREE. Join ACL's National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center (NADRC) for the webinar, "Caring Through Culture: End-of-Life Dementia Care Through Storytelling. Find out more and register HERE
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Become a Member of Village Santa Cruz County
|  | Coming UP in September
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, September 2, Rummikub Social Club, 12:00 - 1:30ish, (sometimes later but it's OK to leave whenever you need to) @ Leila'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). Contact Leila leiladunnsford@gmail.com for location directions, if you'd like to join us.
Wednesday, September 3, 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, September 4, 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, September 4, Solo Agers, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM, @ Aptos Library, 7695 Soquel Dr. Aptos.. We meet once a month to talk about how we deal with various issues and to offer aid and support.
Thursday, September 4, 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. Curious about Village? Open to all. Non-members are welcome to join us.
Friday, September 5, Executive Board Meeting, 10:30 - 11:30 AM.
Sunday, September 7, Palo Alto Field Trip: Lunch & Stanford Theater Oldies Movies, 2:00 - 7:10 PM. Movies: "Bringing Up Baby" (1938) at 3:50 and "His Girl Friday" (1940) at 5:35. Stay for one or both movies. Join us for a 2:00 PM lunch at The Creamery, 566 Emerson St., Palo Alto, before the movies if you’d like. Stanford Theater location, 221 University Ave. in Palo Alto. Contact info@villagesantacruz.org if you’re interested in carpooling~~~~~~
Monday, September 8, Westside Circle: Life Stories, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Topic: What are our thoughts and fears around possible cognitive decline in ourselves as we age? Have we planned for this possibility? What, if anything, would we like our Village friends to do if they notice we are showing signs of cognitive decline that could affect the safety of ourselves or others?
Tuesday, September 9, Pickleball, 10:00 - 11:00 AM, @ Derby Park, 508 Woodland Way, Santa Cruz, All levels, including beginners are welcome. Contact Robin ramcduff@gmail.com for more information.
Tuesday, September 9, Mid County Circle Chat, 1:30 - 2:30 PM, @ Starbucks in the Nob Hill Shopping Center, 809 Bay Ave. Capitola. Curious about Village? Open to all. Non-members are welcome to join us.
Wednesday, September 10, SLV Circle Chat, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM, @ Coffee 9, 9505 Hwy 9, Felton. 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 location change!
Thursday, September 11, 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.
Friday, September 12, Shary Farr: "End of Life Plans and Celebrations" 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, at the Live Oak Community Rm 1 in the Simpkins Swim Center, 979 17th Ave. Founder of Partners for Transitions, Shary Farr sees end-of-life planning as a way to infuse our present life with more purpose, and to make the inevitable easier on ourselves and those around us.’ Open to the Public. Contact info@villagesantacruz.org to register.
Friday, September 12, Village Santa Cruz Men's Luncheon, 1:00 - 2:30 PM, at Tramonti Italian Restaurant, 528 Seabright Ave. Santa Cruz. 1st Village Santa Cruz Men's Luncheon at Tramonti Italian Restaurant in Seabright.
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Tuesday, September 16, Pickleball, 10:00 - 11:00 AM, @ Derby Park, 508 Woodland Way, Santa Cruz, All levels, including beginners are welcome. Contact Robin ramcduff@gmail.com for more information.
Tuesday, September 16, Co-Generational Coffee House Chat, 1:00 - 2:00 PM, @ The Abbey Coffeehouse, 530 Mission, Santa Cruz. The third Tuesday of each month, a group of Village members meet and invite whoever happens to be at the coffeehouse to join us just to talk. We've had some very interesting conversations and connections. Contact Mary Howe villagescmhowe@gmail.com if you’d like to join us.
Wednesday, September 17, Aptos Circle Luncheon, 1:00 – 2:30 PM, @ TBD. Open to Aptos Circle Members only.
Thursday, September 18, 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, September 18, 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.
Thursday, September 18, TV/Movie Discussion Group, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Join on Zoom. Look at the recommendations above for suggestions on what to watch.
Friday, September 19, Book Group Read: Book: “Karla's Choice” by Nick Harkaway, 1:00 - 2:00 PM, @ Simpkins Center, 979 17th Ave. Santa Cruz. Set in the world of John le Carré's most iconic spy, George Smiley. It is spring 1963 and George Smiley has left the "Circus". He has eyes only for a more peaceful life. With his marriage more secure than ever, there is a rumor that George Smiley might almost be happy. But Control has other plans. A Russian agent has defected in the most unusual of circumstances, and the man he was sent to kill in London is nowhere to be found. Smiley reluctantly agrees to one last simple task: interview Szusanna, a Hungarian émigré and employee of the missing man, and sniff out a lead.
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Monday, September 22, Memoir Writing, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM. Each month we meet to read a short piece and listen to other members read their stories. Open to new members. Contact Mary Howe villagescmhowe@gmail.com for more information.
Tuesday, September 23, Pickleball, 10:00 - 11:00 AM, @ Derby Park, 508 Woodland Way, Santa Cruz, All levels, including beginners are welcome. Contact Robin ramcduff@gmail.com for more information.
Tuesday, September 23, Rummikub Social Club, 12:00 - 1:30ish, (sometimes later but it's OK to leave whenever you need to) @ Leila'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). Contact Leila leiladunnsford@gmail.com for location directions, if you'd like to join us.
Tuesday, September 23, Mid-County Luncheon, 12:30 - 1:30 PM, @ TBD
Wednesday, September 24, SLV Circle Chat, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM, @ the Treehouse, 13266 Hwy 9, Boulder Creek. 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 location change!
Thursday, September 25, 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.
Friday, September 26, Westcliff Walks, 10:30 - 11:30 AM, This is a one-hour walk along Westcliff Dr. (1/2 hour out and 1/2 hour back). Meet in the parking lot of Shrine Coffee. 544 Westcliff Ave.
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Tuesday, September 30, Pickleball, 10:00 - 11:00 AM, @ Derby Park, 508 Woodland Way, Santa Cruz, All levels, including beginners are welcome. Contact Robin ramcduff@gmail.com for more information.
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52nd Annual Grey Bears Harvest Festival
Saturday, September 20, 11:00 AM - 3:30 PM
2710 Chanticleer Ave.
This event is the celebration of over 5 decades of supporting our Santa Cruz County community. Enjoy a wonderful meal, live music, activities, and more! Event Parking is available in the former Drive In Parking Lot. For more information go to the Event Page.
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Diversity Center Senior Luncheon
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In Our Community
Santa Cruz Public Libraries Survey. SCPL is asking the community to take part in a survey to help gather input on its services, programs and opportunities for its upcoming 3-Year Strategic Plan 2026-29. The questionnaire takes about 10 minutes and entails questions about your library and a few personal questions that will help prioritize the needs of all community members. Nearly all questions are optional and all responses will remain anonymous. Printed copies of the survey will be available at all library branches. Take the survey online at https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8418489/scpl-community-survey/
Friday, September 5 to Sunday, September 7, Greek Festival, Downtown Santa Cruz, 223 Church Str. Enjoy live music, dancing, and great Greek food. SCHEDULE: Friday 5:00 - 10:00 PM; Saturday, 12:00 - 10:00 PM; Sunday, 12:00 - 8:00 PM. For more information, call 831-429-6500.
Saturday September 6, 12:00 - 4:00 PM. Scotts Valley Multicultural Fair, at Skypark - 361 Kings Village Rd. in Scotts Valley. The Scotts Valley Multicultural Fair is a free celebration aimed at broadening our understanding and appreciation for multiculturalism and diversity. Enjoy live musical acts from all different backgrounds and influences. Dance troupes performing captivating routines; with audience participation encouraged! There will be food vendors to explore, a fashion show to show-case traditional clothing of different cultures, art displays representing different cultures and age groups, and booths displaying and offering activities representing different cultures.
Saturday, September 6, 12:00 - 4:30 PM. SC Beach Boardwalk: Fiesta en la Playa, 400 Beach Str. Santa Cruz. Come celebrate the vibrant traditions of the Latino community with mariachi, folklorico dancers, and a free beach concert. Enjoy Boardwalk rides and games plus fun food and beverage specials throughout the park. ¡Vamos a la playa! For more information, go to the website event page.
Wednesday, September 10 - Sunday, September 14, The Santa Cruz County Fair, at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave. Watsonville. The 2025 Fair will feature several new offerings, including a new bi-lingual circus, It’s Showtime Circus! The Fair will also host all the annual favorites-- the Junior Livestock Auction, Horse Show, Charras, magic shows and much more! There will also be live concerts, including a Taylor Swift tribute and Beatles tribute. For more information, go to the SC County Fair website.
Wednesday, September 17, 4:00 - 7:00 PM. Community Showcase & Artisan Market at the Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive. This free and fun-filled event hosted by the Aptos Chamber of Commerce, will feature a vibrant lineup of local businesses, artists, makers and community organizations. Come explore handcrafted goods, discover local services, enjoy delicious food and connect with neighbors. This is the perfect chance to support small businesses, find hidden gems and celebrate the Aptos community. For information or to get involved, visit AptosChamber.com or call 831-688-1467
Friday, October 3, 3:00 - 5:00 PM, Senior Resource Fair, Watsonville Civic Plaza Community Room. This free, community-wide event is a one-stop shop for older adults to connect with essential services, from housing and healthcare to legal aid and social activities. Village Santa Cruz County will have a table there, so stop by and say hi!
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Articles, Videos, and Listening
How to eat well on a budget. Food prices keep going up, yet we still want to eat nutritious and healthy food. Learn how to stretch you food budget and still eat well in this article from Next Avenue.
Do you take multiple prescriptions? You may want to ask you doctor about cutting back. Many of us take medications for multiple conditions, which may interact with each other. Learn how to address this issue with your doctor in this AARP article.
Do you suffer from tinnitus (ringing in the ears)? Learn more about this condition--what it is and what to do about it-in this AARP article.
11 Things You Shouldn't Use ChatGPT for, and Why You'll Regret It, by Nelson Aguilar, CNET, August 18, 2025. ChatGPT is powerful, but not every task is safe for AI. Read the Article.
Contributed from David: "I can't say I was asking myself this question the other day: What does science consider a path to a good life? Nonetheless the Washington Post offered answers and a few tips. Embrace play, try to be ‘game for things,' embrace the discomfort. At least, the article said, those are keys to psychological richness in one's life." Here is a link.
PBS, American Experience, The Battle for Bilingual Education. Most histories about the integration of Boston’s schools in the 1970s focus on the tension between the city’s Black and white residents—but there’s another narrative that goes beyond black and white. This is the little-known story of how Latino and Asian activists took on the education system and won. Digital Short
‘Japanese Walking’ Is a Fitness Trend Worth Trying, by Danielle Friedman, July 31, 2025, NYTimes. The workout is simple, and its health benefits are backed by nearly 20 years of research. Read the Article
| Village Santa Cruz County
1740 17th Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062
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