whistlestop express

As our CEO, Joe O’Hehir, reported in his August column in Whistlestop

Express, a rare and wonder-ful fundraising opportunity is within our grasp. Here’s the situation: The Marin County Foundation (MCF) is offering Whistlestop a $180,000 challenge grant if we can raise $50,000 by Sep-tember 30. We now need friends of Whistlestop to rally to help us raise the $50,000 to make sure we receive this generous challenge grant opportunity. Since O’Hehir made the an-nouncement last month, dona-tions totaling over $30,000 have come in. So, the goal is very reachable. Whistlestop Express wants to provide stories of some of the many ways your donations are used – all of it to help older adults in Marin County, con-necting them to each other and offering social and pre-ventive health services they need to remain active, vibrant members of our community. We are presenting snapshots

of seven various services Whistlestop provides here and throughout this issue.

• • • • • Spanish sounds like singing to Joe Cillo, a volunteer who facilitates Whistlestop’s Spanish Class Tuesdays, from 1 to 3 pm. “We like to say, make it sing,” Cillo says. “Carve the air with it.” Spanish class has been an integral part of Whistlestop for about 25 years. It started out as a grassroots experiment and has had several teachers over the years. Cillo, who has taught at the college graduate level, says he does not consider him-self the teacher of this class, but rather is a facilitator. A teacher, Carol Costa, comes in to lead the class on occasion. Cillo, 72, of Kentfield, has been a rocket scientist and a company CEO. He does not consider himself retired. “Retired or retirement in Spanish is ‘jubilado.’ That’s

‘jubilant,’”Cillo says, laughing. The Spanish class is quite diverse – a doctor, teachers, musicians are among the par-ticipants and they have lived all over the globe – Mexico, Italy, Germany, the Phillippines. There are about 40 people at-tending the class and the aver-age size is between 20 and 25. Many of the participants are drawn to the class for some of the same reasons that Cillo decided many years ago to take a Spanish class at College of Marin. They realize that California is such a bilingual culture and they want to be able to speak the state’s second language. Besides, they like the

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

Whistlestop

Myths AboutHummingbirdspage 11

MulticulturalColumn Debutspage 12

From Iranto TeachingFarsi in Marinpage 2

You Can Help Whistlestop Meet GenerousChallenge Grant of $180,000 from MCF B y J o H n B o W M a n

continued on page 5

Joe Cillo teaching his Spanish class.

Whistlestop Express SEPTEMBER 20122

Mehrbanoo Esmaili is a strong advo-

cate and promoter of Whistlestop. “I want everyone to know that this is a second home to many peo-ple,” she said. “It is important for people in the community to support this work with their donations.” Mrs. Esmaili came to San Rafael from Iran after the fall of the Shah. She acquired U.S. citizenship and for the past 15 years has volunteered at Whistlestop to help Persian older adults get acclimated in this com-munity. She has assisted more than 100 people to gain U.S. citizenship. “Whis-tlestop also has multicul-tural programs for Russian, Vietnamese

and Hispanic people who come here, as well as Persian,” she said. “Many people spend their day here, 10 to 4, and eat at the Jackson Café. They don’t know anyone when they first come, and this is the place where they meet people like them.” She laughed and said,

“Whistlestop is well known in Iran because people come here and then tell their fami-lies about it. For me, this is my home. I love everyone who works and volunteers here.” She

also teaches children Farsi on Saturdays because, “They are born here, know English, but they want to know the language of their par-ents, to stay connected with their culture.” F

Table ofConTEnTS

Whistlestop Wheels

From Rocky's PantryRocky Packard

Golf Tourney Sponsors

Whistlestop Classes

Activities Calendar

The Bird's Side of Marin Richard PavekMulticultural News Vicky Voicehowsky & Sandra JimenezWhistlestop Board Column Debbie MillsTwo Big Fundraisers

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Marin Senior Coordinating Council, Inc.930 Tamalpais Avenue San Rafael, CA 94901Chief Executive Officer, Joe O’HehirBoard of DirectorsPresident, Dennis ThompsonVice President, Terry ScusselTreasurer, Michael RiceSecretary, Michael HingsonKaren Arnold • Liza Cozad • Eleanor Delaney Venessa 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-profit 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 Office415-459-6700 • [email protected] Express Editorial, Art Direction & SalesJohn & Val Bowman Editors916-751-9189 • [email protected] Reynolds Art [email protected] 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.

Whistlestop is Important CenterFor Multicultural activities

Whistlestop PERSPECTIVE by JoHn BoWMan

LIKE Us on Facebook

Mrs. Esmaili

Mrs. Esmaili's Persian group gathers at Whistlestop.

whistlestop.org 3

Thanks to Donor

Response to Paula Ross’s request for labels to sew into chemo caps she has knitted has been heartwarming. Paula, 91, of Fairfax,

knits hats for people undergoing chemotherapy. Through Whistlestop Express, she asked for labels to sew into the hats reading, “Love, Paula.” Some generous person had them made and mailed Pau-la 100 embroidered labels. Whistlestop and Paula extend a heartfelt “Thank you!” for this response. She has already used 25 of the labels. F

Whistlestop Wheels More Than a Ride; Drivers Praised for Care

“I had a nice driver on the way to Kaiser. I had a caregiver with me, yet the driver still walked with me all the way up the

stairs to the door.” This is typical of the compliments Whistlestop receives on a regular basis about Whistlestop Wheels drivers. In the past year, 85% of all com-ments received were very positive. Another rider said, “I had a fabulous driver to the Recreation Center yesterday. I have a hard time letting people help me because I want to be independent. I let him carry my bag.” And, “I am very thankful for the service. My driver walked part of the way up the hill and then watched me walk to my door. I have severe sciatica and need the help.” Whistlestop rolled its first buses out in 1969 to provide service to Marin County residents with special transportation needs. Today, Whistlestop Wheels operates in partnership with Marin Ac-cess, providing more than 500 trips a day with its fleet of 60 buses. F

Thanks from Girl Scouts Dear Whistlestop:

Thank you so much for letting us use your parking lot and rooms in Whistlestop. None of this would have been possible

without you! Because of you, we were able to make 10,362 meals for the hungry in Marin.

Thanks again, Kathleen Deana

2012

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Meals on Wheels Can Be Life-Saving b y S u S a n S H a R P E

Anna Haight had been living near her dad, Charles, in Seattle when she relocated to Marin County for a job in 1997. At that

time, her dad – who had lived in the Seattle area since the age of 5 – was 77 and happily indepen-dent, driving around town and volunteering in food service at senior residences. Over the next few years, however, Charles was told by his doc-tor to stop driving due to poor eyesight, and his memory began to decline. Concerned for her father’s safety, Anna moved him in with her in late 2005. “My dad took care of me when I was younger, and I rearranged my life so I could take care of him as he ages,” she said. “We have both been enriched by the experi-ence.” At first, Anna’s dad spent lots of time at

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sound of it – its pleasantness. Cillo got an “A” in Introduction to Spanish at College of Marin but still could not speak the language. He took an advanced class and got another “A.” “I still couldn’t speak Spanish. I said, ‘I can keep piling up A’s in Spanish till the cows come home, but I don’t need that. I want to speak the language.'” About 15 years ago, he joined the Spanish group at Whistlestop and soon became

more conversant. Eventu-ally he became the class’s facilitator. “I think we have some-thing unique here,” Cillo says. “We have seen real progress. Everyone has a

chance to lead the class. We always have a strong underpinning of grammar, but the discussions can be quite varied. And we have a wide range of knowledge – from beginners to fluent speakers. So we try to settle somewhere in the middle.” Several people in the group also meet for lunch before class each Tuesday – they have a table reserved in the Jackson Café. Spanish class is just one of the many classes where Marin older adults come together to improve their knowledge and to make new friends. F

continued from page 1

Whistlestop’s Active Aging Center, which allowed her to have a full workday. “The van picked him up and he took classes and ate lunch there,” she said. “He’s very social, so it was great for him.” Before long, however, Charles was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and Anna enrolled him at an adult day center. Anna started using Meals on Wheels for her dad in 2011 when the previous operator was delivering a week’s supply of frozen meals on a single day. Since July 2012, the new Whis-tlestop Meals on Wheels has been delivering fresh meals to Anna’s house three times a week. “They bring fresh salads and sandwich-es, which my dad loves, and the nutritional quality is excellent,” she said. Anna knows how important this service is to so many. “Meals on Wheels can be life saving for people who are isolated,” she said. “There is so much need out there, and it is important for our com-munity to support the program.” F

‘Spanish is like singing. Carve the air with it.’

continued from page 4

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Whistlestop was honored by the following sponsors of the Jerry Randall Memorial Golf TournamentAbey Arnold Associates, Landscape ArchitectsAndronico'sApplied Computer SolutionsArco SmogprosBalletto VineyardsBank of MarinBenvenuto for Color SalonBeta Breakers Quality Assurance LabsBob and Mary BassoBob GriffinBob Santini Windshield RepairBoerio, Clark & Associates CPAs, LLPBrad LaPointClif BarCPI – Cal-Pox, Inc.Easy AutomotiveEmbassy Suites Hotel -San RafaelFitzpatrick's Heating, Inc.Four Points Sheraton- San RafaelFrank Howard Allen RealtorsFregosi & Company PaintsGaspare's RistoranteGolden State OrthopaedicsGriffin CoinsH&H PrintingHomeward Bound of MarinHomewell Senior CenterIMI FabricationJerry Thompson & SonsJoe O'HehirJordan Shield InsuranceJourney Ford - NovatoKaren ArnoldKathy RandallKenwoodKorbel Champagne CellarsKunst Bros., Inc.Lagunitas Brewing Company

Loyd BonfanteMargie HealyMarin Community ClinicsMassMutual - San Francisco Bay Area Agency, Inc.Maya Palenque RestaurantMelting PotMike NeustadtMiracle Auto Painting & Body RepairMontecito Market PlaceNino, the Magic Guide DogNor Cal Mortgage of MarinOnspot Welding and Design, Inc.Pleasures of the HeartReMax RealtyRob Roehrick DesignRPM Mortgage BrokersSafewaySan Rafael Pacifics Baseball ClubSeadrift Realty, Inc.Seghesio Family VineyardsSilver Oak CellarsSix Flags Marine WorldSol FoodStoneTree Golf ClubTerry Scussel PhotographyThe Village at Corte MaderaTim's TreadsTomatinaValley of the Moon WineryVeronica Martinez BrierleyVilla MarinW. Bradley Electric, Inc.Washington Vegetable CompanyWest Bay BuildersWhistlestop Board of DirectorsWhole Foods - Mill ValleyYvette Martinez Dal Porto

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Senior Center Without Walls: Creating ConnectionsB y V a L E R I E B o W M a n

T he Senior Center Without Walls program is a phone-based community made up of participants, staff, facilitators, presenters,

and other volunteers who care about each other and who value feeling connected. Barbara Morrill of San Rafael learned about the services of Whistlestop when she couldn’t get behind the wheel of a car due to a medical condition. She relied on rides from Whistlestop Wheels and received some needed support from a peer counselor. That person recommended that she try the Senior Center Without Walls while she had trouble getting out. She fell in love with the offerings and the caring staff. “If you come up with a need, they are going to find a way to meet it,” she said. “There are lectures you can listen to and ways to partici-pate. I like to call in at 9 in the morning for sharing daily gratitudes. You realize ‘I’m not the only one out there.’ And you’re never too old to learn something.” Barbara loves the arm-chair travel calls and Brain Sparks. A primary goal of SCWW is the inclusion of isolated individuals as valued members of a community. Participants relate the exciting sense of having something to look forward to and someone with whom they can share. Barbara no longer has to stay close to home, but she says, “I cannot give it up. It’s a God-send.” To join this free phone-based outreach program, call 877-797-7299. Visit www.senior-centerwithoutwalls.org for a catalog of offer-ings. SCWW is sponsored by Episcopal Senior Communities. F

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Keep Learning at WHISTLESToP

DRoP-In CoMPuTER LaB Mondays • 10 - Noon & Wednesdays • 10 - NoonNeed help using a computer? We have volunteer com-puter tutors available to work with you one-on-one, if needed.

CoMPuTER/PICTuRE CLaSSBeginning: First Friday • 2 - 4pmAdvanced: Second Friday • 2 - 4pmFee: $15 | Instructor: Gene DyerRegistration required: 459-6700Call for more information and class descriptions.

BEGInnInG CoMPuTERS FoR aDuLTS LEVEL IThursday, Sept. 6 - Oct. 11 • 10am - NoonInstructor: Ed Essick | 6-week course for $60Pre-registration required: 459-6700 This hands-on course will provide you with the basic skills to use your Windows-based P.C. Designed for first-time computer users, this class teaches you how to: start your computer and turn it off, use the mouse and keyboard to perform basic computer tasks, use Windows components to create and print a document, identify the basic parts of a computer and their use and search the Internet to find information. Bring your laptop to class. Windows-based com-puter needed.

FREE BLooD PRESSuRE CLInIC & MedicATiON checkSTuesdays, Sept. 11 & 25 • 11:30am - 1pmFacilitators: Student nurses from Dominican University | Drop-inBring all your medications and supplements to find out how & when to take them, how to store them, side ef-fects, or interactions with other drugs.

GoInG PLaCES To register: Contact Lisa O'Brien at 492-9622a DaY In PETaLuMa /Friday, Sept. 7Fee: Comm. Member $20 | Depart 10:30am; return 4pm

CHEESE TouR – PoInT REYES / Friday, Sept. 21 Fee: Comm. Member $20 | Depart 10:30am; return 4pm

VoLunTEER oPPoRTunITIESContact: Debbie at 456-9062 or [email protected] need board/card game leaders; a Chiropractor; Ital-ian Social Group leader; Portuguese Social Group leader; and bilingual computer teacher.

JaCKSon CaFé VoLunTEERS nEEDED Volunteers are needed to work at least one day a week from 11am to 1:45pm. The Jackson Café offers a com-fortable setting where older adults and their family and friends can eat well and stay socially active.

WHISTLESToP CEnTER SERVICE A volunteer needed to answer phones and do vari-ous office duties. Computer experience a plus, but not required. Volunteer is needed from 11am to 1pm, with some flexibility.

WHISTLESToP WouLD LIKE To STaRT a SEWInG GRouPWe need a volunteer to coordinate the club, partici-pants, sewing machines, fabric and thread.

VoLunTEER DRIVERS FoR MEaLS on WHEELS PRoGRaM. Contact Raphael Krantz at 454-0969.

In-KInD DonaTIonS nEEDEDMah Jongg sets, books, yarn, movies on DVD exercise

mats and portable ping pong table. If you have items to donate, please call Debbie at 456-9062.

REMEMBRanCE WRITInG 101 IS BaCKMEMoIR WRITInG MaDE EaSYFall/Winter: Sept. 6 • 2 to 3pm (intro class)every Thursday beginning Sept. 13–dec. 20 • 2 - 4pmFee: $5 | Facilitator: Author Claudia CarrollTo register: 456-9062 or [email protected] us to write and share the stories of your life. The workshops are drop-in and on-going. Come meet new and supportive writing friends. Write your collection of life stories in a few short weeks. Publishing ideas too. Inspiring, writing-filled, two-hour sessions. Bring three-ring binder, pen, pencil or laptop.

Commission on aging-Healthy aging Symposium

Thursday,September 13 • 10:00-12:30 pmWhere:Margaret Todd (Hill Cmmty. Room), Novato

Topic: Family Caregiving, LGBT Caregiving Considerations

For a complete list of classes, visit whistlestop.org

whistlestop.org 9

MaH JonGGWednesdays • 10:30am - NoonInstructor: Shirley EtemadfarBeginners and experienced players are welcome.American Mah Jongg is a game that originally came from China. If you’ve played gin rummy, you have a head start in learning how to play this game.

FLu SHoTS FRoM SuTTER CaRE aT HoME Sept. 18 & 26 • 10am - NoonIf you are enrolled in Medicare Part B, there is no cost for your vaccination. Bring your Medi-care Part B card and a second form of identification to allow Sutter Care at Home to bill Medicare for you. If you are not enrolled in Medicare Part B, the cost is $25. Pneumonia vaccinations are available for $60. The flu program helps to support Sutter’s Hospice and Home Care patients in need.

Whistlestop is happy to introduce a new service: SEnIoR CEnTER WITHouT WaLLSMore information: 877-797-7299Senior Center Without Walls is a telephone-based outreach program for adults 60 and older with a lineup of workshops and activities offered seven days a week, such as brain games, bingo, book clubs, armchair travelers and daily 30-minute gratitude calls. All of the activities take place on the phone; participants call in from their own homes.

MaRIaCHI ConCERTThursday, Sept. 13 • 4:30-6pmFee: $5 | For more information: 456-9062. Join us at the Jackson Café to celebrate the Inde-

pendence of Central America and Mexico with Mariachi Nuestra Leyenda. Register and buy your ticket prior to the event at the Front Office.

ReSTORe & iMpROve YOuR BaLanCE TRaInInG CLaSSTuesdays & Thursdays • 2:30 - 3:30pmSuggested donation: $10 per class/drop-ins welcomeThomas Attardi, BS, MA, NMT, has been working in the health and healing rehabilitation field since 1992, primarily with those that are physically challenged with sustained disabilities, impairments or limitations in their overall physical well-being. Bring a water bottle and 1lb. or 2lb. weights to class.

MOveMeNT & MuSic FOR oLDER aDuLTS: a unIVERSaL LanGuaGESeven Mondays: Sept. 10 - Oct. 22 • 11:10 am - NoonFee: Free | Facilitator: Diane HainRegistration required: College of Marin 485-9305 or Whistlestop 456-9062This exercise class is created for older adults who have not been exercising regularly, or have arthritis-related problems. It moves at a moderate, comfortable, yet pro-gressively challenging pace to meet individual needs. Chair exercises to tone both upper and lower body muscles will comprise a major portion of the class.

HouSInG aSSISTanCE FoR oLDER aDuLTSindividual housing consultations on the 2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month • 2-4pmappointments: 456-9062, ext.132Looking for housing options for yourself, an aging par-ent, relative, or friend? Come get some clarity on hous-ing choices in Marin.

ZuMBa GoLD Thursdays • 11am - Noon & Fridays • 11am - NoonBegins Thursday, Sept. 13Fee: $6 per Class | Instructor: Angela Jakab-Miller

Zumba is a great way to stay fit and ac-tive. 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.

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

Transportation Numbers


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 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 2:30–3:30 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 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 Sept. 7 & 21 $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/$6.25Soup du Jour $1.75/$2.25Hamburger w/Fries $4.25/$5.25Salads $2.50/$4.00OTheR 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

Phot

os ©

ric

hard

Pav

ek

Hummers

True or false: 1. A hum-mingbird is a tiny shim-mering bird that lives

on flower nectar and/or sugar water. 2. A hummingbird is too small

to travel very far, as other birds often do. Neither statement is true. Yes. Hummers need copious amounts of flower nectar or sugar water to produce the huge amounts of energy needed to beat their wings so fast and for so long. But, just like all birds (and animals), they need protein to build muscle and bone and they can’t get protein from flower juice or sugar water. As to being local, very few are. Some hummers migrate all the way from the farms and woods

of Maryland to the forests of Columbia by way of Mexico and back, every year – to nest and to raise babies. Most of the Hummers we have around here are Anna’s Hummingbirds and they stay here year round. I was fortunate to spot this Allen’s Humming-bird hanging in the open sky outside of Petalu-ma, its tiny beak open, snatching at small insects on a humid day when the insects were swarming. It was pretty far away from me, but you can just make out some of the swarming insects. 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] F

‘Til next month, Richard


Multicultural nEWSby VICKY VoICEHoWSKY and SanDRa JIMEnEZ

Whistlestop VoLunTEERS

Finding aKidney Donor

Meaningful Experiences

The multicultural program at Whistlestop provides activities and services for older adults who are non-native English speak-

ers. We make a difference in the lives of the people we serve and their families by connecting vari-

ous cultural groups in M a r i n C o u n t y a n d bringing them together. Weekly social gatherings, special events, an art program, and lan-guage classes provide our participants an op-portunity to be active community members. We also provide assis-tance with U.S. citizen-ship, housing opportuni-

Lolita Duarte enjoys art and creativity with her new friend, Karen Rodas.

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ties, health education, in-home support, subsidized programs, referrals, and community resources. Presently, groups from the Hispanic, Persian, and German communities meet at Whistlestop’s Active Aging Center. We want to start an Italian and a Portuguese social group. Our language classes bring together more than 20 nationali-ties. In collaboration with other agencies, we are bringing children and older adults together. So-cializing with children brings great happiness to our participants. Join us this month to celebrate the Independence Day of many Central Ameri-can countries with a group of young Mariachis. See details on page 9. For many people, Whistlestop is their second home. Many have made new friendships, stay-ing connected and caring for each other. The multicultural staff make every effort to end loneliness and isolation by providing meaning-ful experiences for our participants and their families. F

Vicky Voicehowsky and Sandra Jimenez are Whistlestop's Multicultural Outreach Coordinators. This is the first of a new column they will co-write each month. To reach them: [email protected] and [email protected].

Easy Way to Donate onlinePlease donate today at whistlestop.org to help keep Whistlestop doing all the good

you’ve just read about!

Whistlestop is proud of Marc Haberstroh, a former volunteer who worked his way up to a paratransit driver position with Whistlestop Wheels.

whistlestop.org 13

This month will mark the first anniversary of my husband’s sud-

den and unexpected death. There is much I could write about this loss—we had been married for 45 years. I have been asked, how-ever, to tell you about the Challenge Grant that Whis-tlestop recently received from the Marin Community

Foundation. Though the MCF has provided grant funding for 23 years to our agency, this year in order to receive the full $180,000, we must raise $50,000 in new donations by September 30. I, for one, believe we are ready for the challenge. While giving some thought to how I might appeal to you to help us raise $50,000, I also

thought about why I think Whistlestop is so important to our community. I’m now serving my 9th year as a volunteer on the Board of Directors, so I could list the over 50 programs and services we offer. But when

I drill down to the core, what draws me to Whistlestop the most is that all of our pro-grams provide an alternative to loneliness. Until recently, I didn’t give much thought to the fact that one day I might need some of these services myself. The importance, to me, has always been that these resources need to be available for the 13,000+ older adults in Marin who are living alone. Look around your neighborhood, look at your parents and grandparents, your family and friends—how many older adults in your circle may be iso-lated, whose lives could be improved by help-ing them stay active and engaged? By doing so, they are more likely to stay healthy and independent, build friendships and relation-

‘all of our programs provide an alternative to loneliness.’

Why I Think Whistlestop is Important

By DEBBIE MILLS

ships, fight depression and illness and ulti-mately live longer and happier. It is vitally important to me to have ac-tivities on my calendar to look forward to. I treasure the friends and family who reach out to me and include me in their plans. I love my book club, my movie friends, my lunch dates at Whistlestop and elsewhere. Exercise is more important than ever for my physical health, but the classes I take help me meet and connect with new people. Please join me in helping Whistlestop meet this challenge grant. There is no other agency in Marin that offers this combination of services to older adults and people living with challenging disabilities. We serve the greatest number of older adults in Marin, connecting them to each other and offering a variety of activities and social opportunities. We need your help and appreciate your will-ingness to help us financially support these vital services. F

Debbie Mills is a Whistlestop Board member.

Nancy Mack, RN, PHN, GCM

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is also a veteran athlete, having participated in more than 50 triathlons over the last 40 years. In 2008, after running in The Marin Human Race, an annual event that raises funds for Marin nonprofits and schools, she chanced upon a booth for Experience Corps Marin. “I met program director Susan Krae-mer that day, and I decided to become a tutor,” said Penny, who has made her home in Mill Valley for more than 40 years.

• • • • •

AARP Experience Corps Marin invites adults 50 and older to become early literacy tutors in San Rafael elementary schools. Learn more at the Open House from 1-2pm on Thursday, Sept. 27 at the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership, 555 Northgate Drive, San Rafael. RSVP by Sept. 19 to [email protected], call 464-1767 or visit www.experiencecorps.org. F

Penny Noble tutors student at Experience Corps Marin.

Larry Wolff tutors student at Experience Corps Marin.

Marin Residents Find Big Rewards Helping Children Learn to Read

B y S u S a n S H a R P E

Engineers and triathletes, artists and writers, grandmothers and grandfathers – all have one thing in common. They

have discovered the rewards of being early literacy tutors with Experience Corps Marin. “I never imagined in a million years that I’d be doing this,” said Larry Wolff, a partially re-tired electrical engineer and 40-year resident of Mill Valley who tutors 5th graders. After interviewing with Experience Corps Marin in late 2008, Larry was matched with his first class at San Rafael’s Bahia Vista Elementary School for the 2009-2010 school year. “I watched the teacher and observed her techniques, and took my lead from her,” he explained. Larry helps students with both math and reading. “When a student is working through a math concept and struggling and I do or say something to help, and the student says, ‘Oh! Now I see!’– that alone is worth everything to me. It feels so great to motivate kids to learn and to see them get excited about what they are doing.” Penny Noble is another tutor at Bahia Vista who started in the 2009-2010 school year. After retiring in 2000 from a 30-year career as an auditor with the General Accounting Office and the State of California, Penny wanted to become involved in volunteer work. “My moth-er was a dedicated volunteer and I guess it’s in my blood,” she said. Penny, who turns 70 soon,

Continued on page 7

W hen Melba Pat-tillo Beals walks the halls of Dominican

University, a stirring chapter in American history walks with her. Dr. Beals, chair of Domini-can’s Communications De-partment, where she teaches journalism, is a member of the Little Rock Nine, the group of African-American students who integrated Little Rock, Arkansas, Central High School in 1957. In honor of African-American History Month, The Whistlestop Express had a conversation with Dr. Beals recently. Her name and those of the other eight students are for-ever linked to the names of Gov. Orval Faubus and Presi-dent Dwight D. Eisenhower. She and her classmates found themselves in the middle of one of the most dramatic show-downs in U.S. history, pitting the President against the governor. Faubus defied the

Dominican Professor Reflects on Her Experience as One of the Little Rock Nineb y J O H N B O W M A N

E PRESSThe Leading Information Resource for Marin's Active Aging MovementFEBRUARY 2011 Whistlestop.org

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US Supreme Court decision in Brown v Board of Education, which called for the desegrega-tion of all public schools in the United States. The governor used the Arkansas National Guard to block black children from entering Central High School. President Eisenhower countered on Sept. 24, 1957, by ordering the 101st Airborne Di-vision of the US Army to Little Rock and by federalizing the entire 10,000 member Arkan-sas National Guard, taking it out of the hands of the governor. Melba Pattillo was 16 years old at the time and recalls, “The struggle, the shock of the struggle stunned me. As a child you do not expect it to be such a struggle, to experience such violence. You don’t expect human beings to treat other hu-man beings that way. It takes a great deal of energy to survive such extraordinary danger.” The danger was immense. Melba and her friends were met by a menacing crowd of

1,000 screaming adults and children at the school, includ-ing men carrying ropes. One of the most famous photographs from that period shows an erect and determined Melba walking toward the school with a mob of white people behind her and one white girl screaming at her back, the girl’s face contorted into a hateful countenance. Someone later threw acid into Melba’s face. “My bodyguard (Danny) acted swiftly,” she recalls, “He rushed me to a water fountain and we washed my eyes with water. It was a quick and brave act on his part. They took me to

A f r i c a n - A m e r i c a n H i s t o r y M o n t h

Want to advertise in the

Call: Linda Black485-6700 x306

for rates and deadlines

whistlestop.org 15

Mary Tsolakis took first place in the Marin People, Pets and Animals category for older adults in the Whistlestop-Pacific Sun Photo Contest. She poses here with Terry Scussel, one of the contest judges and vice president of the Whistlestop Board of Directors.

annual Driftwood Fizz Sept. 21; Great Way to Support Whistlestop

Drift-wood’s Annual

Fizz & Tour gives you a chance to view a luxury Tibu-ron home. It’s also a great way to support Whistlestop, Marin’s Active Aging Center. Bring a friend to enjoy breathtaking views, a women’s fashion show and delicious hors d’oeuvres on Friday, Sept. 21 from 10am to noon. Bid on fantastic silent auction items while supporting Whistlestop! Tickets are only $35. For ticket and address information, please contact Patty at [email protected]. F

olympic Champion Bryan Brothers to appear at Concert for Giving

One of the bands at the Harbor Point Charitable Foundation’s “Concert for Giving” on Sept. 21 will feature Bob

and Mike Bryan, who won gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London as men’s tennis doubles champions. Their winning of the gold came four years after collecting the bronze at the 2008 Olympics. By winning this year, the twins stepped into rare company, achieving the Golden Slam: winning four grand slam tournaments plus the Olympics. The Concert for Giving is set for 7 to 10:30 pm at the Marin Center Veterans’ Memorial Audito-rium. Benefitting from the concert are four vital food programs in Marin County: Marin Food Bank, Meals of Marin, St. Vincent de Paul Din-ing Room, and Whistlestop’s Meals on Wheels. The featured bands are the popular Bryan Bros. Band and Pride and Joy. Tickets to the concert are available by calling the Marin Center Box Office, 415-473-6800. F

Photo Contest Winners Honored

ask Presidential Candidatesto State Positions on Disabilities

Organizers of the National Forum on Dis-ability Issues are urging voters to invite Pres. Obama and Gov. Romney to attend

a forum on Longterm Service and Support and Disability Issues, Sept. 28 and to state their positions. Where do the presidential candidates stand on long-term services and support and disabil-ity issues? Help the National Councel on Aging (NOCA) find out by inviting them to attend this forum in Ohio. NCOA is co-sponsoring this historic nonpartisan event to focus atten-tion on the needs of individuals with disabili-ties, including older adults. To invite candidate go to NCOA.org/public-policy-action or email: [email protected]. F

Sixty people attended a reception honoring winners of the Whistlestop-Pacific Sun Photo Contest August 14 in the Caboose

room at Whistlestop. Winning photographs in all seven categories were displayed. Linda Black, Advertising Direc-tor for the Pacific Sun, presented the winners with certificates. John Bowman, co-editor of the Whistlestop Express, was master of ceremonies. Joe O’Hehir, CEO of Whistlestop, welcomed the winners and their family members. He also thanked the photo contest sponsors: Seawood Photo, Marin Filmworks, Cheap Pete's and Ar-rivederci Restaurant. Gina Allen, publisher, and Jason Walsh, edi-tor, of the Pacific Sun, also spoke briefly, as did two of the contest judges, Terry Scussel and Mark Lindsay. This was the fourth annual photo contest spon-sored by Whistlestop. Winning photos are now on display at Arrivederci Restaurant. F


Marin Senior Coordinating Council

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Whistlestop.org

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