A team of Marin County mayors, led by San Ra-fael’s Mayor Gary Phil-

lips, will fan out across Marin in March to participate in a special Meals on Wheels event called “Mayors for Meals.” The event was started na-tionally in 2006 by the Meals on Wheels Association of America. MOWAA explains, “We introduced a new compo-nent of the March For Meals campaign called Mayors for Meals. During a designated week in March (March 18-22, in Marin), mayors across the country deliver meals with their local Senior Nutrition Program to seniors in their community. Mayors For Meals garners media attention both locally and nationally and helps raise public awareness about senior hunger. Whistlestop invited Mayor Phillips to participate and asked him to coordinate and invite other mayors in Marin County — 10 in all. “At the beginning of the year, I sent out an invitation to all of the mayors and we got great response,” Phillips said.

“Everyone is going to partici-pate. We have a monthly meet-ing and dinner of mayors and council members throughout the county and in February, we discussed the event. “I think this is going to be great. It’s an opportunity for all the mayors to ride along, meet the people who receive meals and to visit with them personally. It is our pleasure to do this on this special day. Whistlestop does this on an ongoing basis and they do a wonderful job of it. Now we

get to see first-hand how this works.” The mayor added, “Whistle-stop is a really important part of our community, providing this and many other services. I am so glad they are here.” Last year 1,600 mayors across the country participated in this event. This is the first for Marin County. The mayors will divide up routes and ride along with Whistlestop Meals on Wheels volunteers on Mon-day, Wednesday or Friday of the week of March 18. F

E PRESSMarin's Older Adult Community Connection Since 1954

MARCH 2013 Whistlestop.org

Whistlestop

Spring Cleaning Events6

StorkDepends on “Klick-Klack”11

Editors Offer Perspective2

Marin County to Participate in ‘Mayors For Meals’

Krista Pelletier, Whistlestop Meals on Wheels coordinator, on her route.

Editors offerPerspective2

[middle]

OLLI ClassOn Music ComingTo Whistlestop6

[right]

Stork DependsOn ‘Klick-Klack’11

Whistlestop express MARCH 20132

Five years ago we knew about Whistlestop be-cause of the more than

50 buses that we would see moving throughout Marin County picking up and deliv-ering older adults to doctor’s appointments, the grocery store and other destinations. We also had a vague idea of classes and other activities going on at the Active Aging Center. Since becoming co-editors of the Whistlestop Express (then the Silver Express) in July 2008, we have come to know the myriad services provided at Whistlestop and have become friends with many on the staff, the compassionate and hard working team that makes it all possible. We are delighted to be co-ed-itors of the Express. We worked together at two newspapers – one in Illinois and one in Cali-fornia – in years past (John as editor and Valerie as Lifestyles Editor). We really enjoyed work-ing together – something many of our friends said they couldn’t imagine doing. But when John was appointed Editor-in-Chief at the Champaign-Urbana, IL News-Gazette, we learned that a nepotism rule would keep Valerie from working there. We accepted that but we missed teaming up together. So, here we are, back work-ing together again. Yes, there are moments when our strong opinions collide. But only for moments. Mostly, we thrive on working side-by-side and stay-ing actively engaged. The Whistlestop staff makes it even more fun. Teaming

up with Joe O’Hehir, Yvonne Rob-erts, Vicky Voicehowsky, Sandra Jimenez, Debbie Bene-

detti, Rocky Packard and Linda Woodbury is pure joy. We also love working with Missy Reyn-olds, the Pacific Sun’s Art Direc-tor and the person who designs the Express each month and makes everything fit, as well as Linda Black, the PacSun Ad-vertising Director. We recruited popular columnists Richard Pavek and Audrey Fixmer. The Express has connected us with countless interest-ing people in Marin County who we have interviewed for stories. And visiting Whistle-stop is always a treat. We are warmly greeted by staff and clients as we walk through the social room, buy gifts from the arts and crafts corner and browse over Whistlestop’s “Bookies and Cookies” offer-ings. We enjoy seeing the Mah Jongg group playing in one corner of the room and Virgin-ia Dziomba leading the “Con-versation Group for 90-year-olds and Older” in another. We’ve also enjoyed a relaxing chair massage and an enter-taining evening with Andrew Mellen, author of Unstuff Your Life. The Jackson Café is a favorite spot for us to have lunch and interview someone for a story or to just visit with friends. Especially on days when Rocky serves his famous bread pudding! F

Table ofCONTENTS

Meals on Wheels Susan SharpeRocky's Pantry Rocky PackardEmployees of the YearSpring CleaningWhistlestop Classes, EventsActivities Calendar The Bird's Side of Marin Richard PavekMulticultural News Vicky Voicehowsky & Sandra JimenezGrandkids PhotosLecture Series

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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 HingsonDevelopment & Marketing Director, Yvonne RobertsKaren Arnold • Liza Cozad • Eleanor Delaney Venessa Dixon • Jane Lott • Debbie Mills Lori Peterson • Bill Saul • Lenice Smith • 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 • resource@whistlestop.orgWhistlestop Express Editorial, Art Direction & SalesJohn & Val Bowman Editors916-751-9189 • john.bowman58@gmail.comMissy Reynolds Art Directormreynolds@pacificsun.comAdvertisingLinda Black • 415-485-6700, Ext. 306Whistlestop 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.

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Whistlestop PerspectiveB y J O H N A N d V A l B O W M A N

JANET JOHNSTON

whistlestop.org 3

Whistlestop Meals on Wheels: Vital Service for an Extraordinary IndividualB y S u S A N S H A R P E

T he sheer breadth of experiences that have shaped the

life of Lawrence Walters is extraordinary. He is an adventurer, artist, writer, boat builder, real estate de-veloper, restaurateur and scuba diver who founded Cost Plus Imports. For 28 years, he lived in Microne-sia on the islands of Palau, Saipan and Guam where he produced five underwa-ter films. A native Califor-nian, Lawrence, 84, is a thrice-divorced father of two and grandfather of one and is still happily liv-ing on his own in San Rafael. Until recently, Lawrence enjoyed cooking for himself. “I’ve always loved fruit and salads, and I’d make simple stews that I’d freeze and eat through the week,” he said. “Then I started losing my appetite and I’d forget to eat.” When Law-rence started passing out at home due to lack of nutrition, his cardiologist referred him to Whistle-stop Meals on Wheels. “The nutritionist does a great job,” he said. “I was a vegetarian for many years, but now I enjoy all the fresh foods they deliver. The beef, chicken and turkey are delicious and the vegetables are always fresh.” Lawrence is still able to do some driving dur-ing daylight hours, but he recognizes that he is growing weaker as he ages. “Without Meals on Wheels, I would need so much more help,” he said. “People in our community need to know that this program fills a void for people who are trying to maintain their independence, but just can’t do it all by themselves. It solves a nutritional problem while enabling people to live on their own.” Each week, Whistlestop delivers fresh, nutri-tious meals to more than 310 of our house-bound neighbors. To make a gift to Meals on Wheels, please visit whistlestop.org or send a check to Whistlestop at 930 Tamalpais Ave., San Rafael, CA 94901. F

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Whistlestop express MARCH 20134

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

Tartar SauceGreat With Fish

A classic sauce with some tasty additions of fresh herbs and capers. Served with grilled, baked or fried fish . . . this stuff

works!

1/4 Cup diced dill pickle 1/4 Cup Sweet pickle relish 2 Cups Mayonnaise 1/4 Cup Capers, drained & finely chopped 2 Tbs. dill, finely chopped 1/4 Each Red onion, finely minced 1 Bunch Thyme, finely chopped 2 Tbs. lemon juice 2 Tsp. lemon zest 1 Tsp. Black pepper, coarsely ground

Combine all ingredients and keep refrigerated. F

Autodesk is proudly supporting healthy eating

at Whistlestop’s Jackson Café(a partnership with Homeward Bound)

All are welcome for a fresh, affordable, delicious lunch!

Monday - Friday • 11:00am-1:30pm930 Tamalpais Avenue, San Rafael

Is Your Pet the Cutest?

Your old dog Nell, the sweetest Yellow Lab in Marin County, ate the ice cream cone spilled by your granddaughter and you

caught the moment. You would like to share the photograph with everyone. Now you can. The Whistlestop Express is looking for cute photos of favorite pets. If you have a picture of your Fox Terrier wearing a Santa hat, or your black cat Maui curled up on a pillow on your bed, send it to us and we will publish it. Simply send the photo, along with your name, hometown and your pet’s name to john.bowman58@gmail.com or drop the photo and information off at Whistlestop, 930 Tamalpais Ave., San Rafael, CA 94901.

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Employees of the Year P h o t o s b y T E R R Y S C u S S E l

Mike Browning, driver, standing next to a Whistlestop Bus he drives, was honored as one of the three Whistlestop Employees of the Year for 2012 at a reception.

Chris Strodder, Active Aging Services, waves as he poses with Joe O’Hehir after Chris was named one of the Employees of the Year for 2012.

Joe O’Hehir, Whistlestop CEO, poses with Jon Matsuno (right), of Transportation Services, one of 2012’s Employees of the Year.

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Whistlestop express MARCH 20136

Annual Spring Cleaning EventsAt Whistlestop March 14 & 23

Whistlestop is hosting two spring-cleaning events this month.

First will be “Taming the Paper Dragon: What You Need, What You Can Safely Toss, and What to Do When You Have Too Much” on Thursday, March 14. The cost is $10. Refreshments at 5:30pm followed by the program from 6 to 7:30pm. The second is a confidential document-shredding event on Saturday, March 23 from 9am to 2pm in Whistlestop’s parking lot at 930 Tamalpais Avenue in San Rafael.Taming The Paper Dragon Workshop John Jackson, former editor of the Novato Ad-vance, will be the featured speaker at the “Tam-ing the Paper Dragon” event. He will share what it was like taking care of his parents before and after they died – the conservatorship, getting power of attorney for healthcare and the paper-work challenges. A panel of experts will speak: Terri Abelar of Aging Solutions will suggest what paperwork is vital; CPA Dave Clark of Boerio, Clark & As-sociates will share what papers you can safely shred;and Jane Lott of Silver Rain Estate Tran-sition Services offers advice for “paperwork run wild.” This event is a benefit for Whistlestop’s Legacy Society and will get you ready for Whis-tlestop’s Shred Day on March 23. Consumer identity theft and fraud are becom-ing an epidemic in our communities. The Fed-eral Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that as many as 10 million Americans have their iden-tities stolen each year. The FTC recommends shredding financial documents and paperwork containing any personal information.Shred Day The Access Information Management’s Mobile Shred truck will be parked next to Whistlestop’s building. The Access and Whistlestop team will help move your cartons. A contribution of $5 per carton would be greatly appreciated to further Whistlestop’s mission to “ensure everyone can age with dignity, grace and independence.” Access will recycle all shredded material. F

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Blue Door Seminar Schedule

Reserve a Seat Today on Our Website www.jrhastingslaw.com/event.php

or Telephone 415-459-6635

fRee seminars - Not to be missed!

MaRch 13 • 2pm-4pm Selecting the Right caregiver Lenice C. Smith, of Hired Hands Homecare, with David Knepler of Drake Terrace and Terri Abelar from Aging Solu-tions, give an inspiring and well-needed presentation on selecting the Right Caregiver.

MaRch 27 • 2pm-4pm how to Preserve Your Legacy in a Life Story Our presenter, Veronica Balseiro, helps you preserve your family history in written prose. Come Listen. Come Learn!

MARIN Valentine’s Ball

Chris, Gloria, and Mike Brown enjoy the elegant Marin Valentine’s Ball that their father and husband, former Marin County Supervisor Hal Brown, founded 17 years ago. Whistlestop is one of the fortunate beneficiaries of their generosity and willingness to make a difference in our community.

PHOT

O By

yVON

NE R

OBER

TS

Phone Reassurance Program

Episcopal Senior Communities and Whis-tlestop are launching a new free pro-gram to enhance the well being of our

older adult community. The goal is to provide twice weekly personal phone calls to people who live alone and may be older, housebound, disabled or at-risk in order to check on their well being. If anything seems wrong, the vol-unteers will have a protocol to follow. To participate in this potentially life-saving program, you can register yourself, a friend or relative by calling Leslie Klor, 456-9062 ext.132 at Whistle-stop for a confidential Client Reg-istration Form. F

AlmaVia of San Rafael, an Elder Care Alliance community is cosponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas West Midwest Community & the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. RCFE Lic # 216801868.

Stability Matters.

415.233.6095almaviaofsanrafael.org

Consistent Leadership. Exceptional Care. Our community is part of Elder Care Alliance, a non-profit

organization that can trace its roots back to 1872. This

long-standing tradition of care, along with innovative

leadership and devoted staff, means older adults and

their loved ones can enjoy the peace of mind they so

richly deserve.

Come visit our warm community!

1301059-ECA-AVSR-WhistleStop-0201-3.4479x4.5.indd 1 1/14/13 1:36 PM

Whistlestop express MARCH 20138

JEWElRY ClASS Once a Month March 21 • 1:30-2:45pmFee: $8 per class (includes materials)Registration and pre-payment required: 457-0586 | Maximum space: 12 peopleMaria Barsesat, local bead artist, will show you how to make beautiful, simple and easy jewelry items for yourself or as gifts.

FRENCH SOCIAl GROuPTuesdays • 1-2pm Information: Vicky Voicehowsky, 457-0586Whistlestop has a new French Social group on Tuesday afternoons and French speakers are invited to attend. Please help spread the word or come and join us!

RuSSIAN SOCIAl GROuPWhistlestop Multicultural is forming a Russian Social group. The day and time for the group is yet to be determined. If you are interested in participating or know someone who would, please contact Vicky Voicehowsky at 457-0586.

SuNdAY dANCES AT THE GOldENAIRES March 24 & April 28 • 2-5pmFee: $10, $7 Goldenaires MembersPlease join us every last Sunday of the month at the San Rafael Community Center for some wonderful dancing. Featuring a live band, The Manny Gutierrez Quartet, snacks and refreshments, great wood floor, plenty of parking, open to the public—singles and couples.

WANT TO BE A TuTOR? The multicultural department is looking for volunteer tutors to help our older adults learn English. This is a great opportunity to help others better integrate into our community. Hours are flexible. If interested, please contact Vicky Voicehowsky at 457-0586.

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

dIGITAl PHOTO ClASSBeginning: 1st Wednesday • 2-4pmAdvanced: 2nd Wednesday • 2-4pmFee: $15 | Instructor: Gene DyerRegistration required: 459-6700Call for more information and class descriptions.

VOluNTEER OPPORTuNITIESContact: Millie Makarewiez at 456-9062 x117 or volunteer@whistlestop.org• Board/Card Game Leaders• Chiropractor• Bi-lingual Computer Teacher• English Tutors• Driver for Meals on Wheels Program• Café Servers

JACKSON CAFé VOluNTEERS NEEdEd Volunteers needed to work in the Jackson Café at least one day a week from 10:30am to 1:45pm. Whistlestop’s Jackson Café serves delicious and affordable lunchtime meals, Monday through Friday to diners of all ages. The Jackson Café offers a comfortable setting where older adults and their family and friends can eat well and stay socially active.

MEMORY lOSS, dEMENTIA & AlzHEIMER’S dISEASE: THE BASICSThursday, March 7 • 1-3pmPresented by: Alzheimer’s AssociationRegistration is requested: Call 472-4340Fee: FreeThis program addresses many of the concerns and challenges confronting family members, friends and care partners. Topics will include: warning signs, differences between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, diagnosis and progression, steps for successful caregiving, and tools for accessing community resources.

Keep learning at WHISTlESTOP

Marin County Commission on AgingThursday, March 14 • 10am-12:30 pm

Where: Margaret Todd, Novato (Hill Cmmty. Room)Topic: Fall Prevention

Speaker: Fall Prevention Task Force: Kerry Hamby & Ted Peterson, Novato Fire Department;

Ruth Ramsey, Dominican University

For a complete list of classes, visit whistlestop.org

whistlestop.org 9

IN-KINd dONATIONS NEEdEdMah Jongg sets, Chess set, Dominos, books, yarn, ping-pong table and movies on DVDs. If you have items to donate, please call 456-9062.

NEW SERVICE, THE WHISTlESTOP HOME-dElIVEREd GROCERY PROGRAMFee: Free This program is available for homebound San Rafael older adults (60+) who need shopping assistance. Older adults pay only for the groceries. Participants can use the program on a weekly, monthly, or shorter basis, i.e. while recovering from an illness. The program is a partnership between Episcopal Senior Communities, Novato Independent Elders Program, and San Rafael Safeway. For eligibility, or if you would like to volunteer call Millie Makarewiez at 456-9062, x117.

FREE BlOOd PRESSuRE ClINIC & MEdICATION CHECKSTuesday, March 19 • 11:30am-1pmFacilitators: student nurses from Dominican University drop-inBring all of your medications and supplements to find out how & when to take them, how to store them, side effects, or interactions with other

drugs. Don’t miss this opportunity to

prevent health problems by keeping your blood pressure and

meds in check!

Marin Access Call Center: 454-0902Get Qualified to Ride: 456-9062, x106eligibility@whistlestop.orgSchedule a Ride: 454-0964Cancel a Ride: 457-4630STAR Volunteer driving: 454-0969Meals on Wheels: 457-4636

Important Numbers

OllI ClASS ON PROTEST MuSICCOMING TO WHISTlESTOP IN APRIlOsher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) will be offering a class at Whistlestop in socially conscious and protest music from the 1930s to the present. OLLI is a Dominican University program funded by an endowment from the Bernard Osher Foundation, university resources, dona-tions and tuition. In this class, we will trace the history of social move-ments in the United States from the 1930’s to the present time, using a combination of lecture, recorded presenta-tions, and live performance. Instructor Phil Rountree, MA, received his undergraduate degree from Yale University and his master’s degree from Episcopal Divinity School.  The six classes being offered at Whistlestop, 930 Tamalpais Ave, in downtown San Rafael, will be on Wednesdays, April 17-May 22, 3 to 4:45p.m. Basic mem-bership cost for OLLI is $30. The six-week course fee is $120. There is a first-time member discount of $60, mak-ing total cost for a first-time member for this course $90. Also, there are scholarships available for those with limited income. To be considered, write to Katherine Henderson, explaining your financial situation, by March 25. Send to OLLI, Dominican University, 50 Acacia Ave., San Rafael, CA 94901. For more information call 458-3763 and request a brochure to be mailed. 

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?

Call: linda Black 485-6700 x306for rates and deadlines

Whistlestop express MARCH 201310

Whistlestop Weekly ACTIVITIES This Month at Whistlestop TIME ClASS INFO COST

9–2PM Relax Chair Massage Open $4/8min.10–11AM Language AM Monday 457-0586 Free

10–NOON Learn Computer lab Open Free 10:30AM–1:00PM Language Persian Social Group 472-6020 Free 11–12:30PM Language German Social Group Open Free 11–NOON Exercise Movement & Music 1/28 456-9062 Free 1–2PM Language English Pronunciation 456-9062 Free

2–3:30PM Language English as a 456-9062 $15 Second language (ESl)

9:15–10:15 AM Exercise Whistlesizers Open $210:00–NOON Relax Mah Jongg Open Free

10:45–11:45AM Exercise Cardio Exercise Class Open FreeNoon–3PM Relax Manicurist Appt. Needed Free

1–2PM Language French Social Group 457-0586 Free1–3PM Language learn Spanish Open Free

2–3:30PM Language English Conversation 454-0998 $102:30–3:30PM Exercise Balance Class Sugg. Donation $10

9:15–10:15AM Exercise Whistlesizers Open $210–NOON Relax Knit!!! 457-0586 Free11–NOON Exercise zumba Open $62–3:30PM Language English Conversation 454-0998 $10

2–4PM Support Writing Workshop Open Free 2:30–3:30PM Exercise Balance Class Sugg. Donation $10

9–10:15AM Exercise Tai Chi Qigong Sugg. Donation $10 or less 10–11:30AM Support Seniors' Circle Open Free

10–12PM Learn Computer lab Open Free 10:30AM–1:00PM Language Persian Social Group 472-6020 Free

10:30–11:30AM Support Corazón latino Open Free2–3:30PM Language English as a 456-9062 $15

Second language (ESl)

11:30–12:30PM Support Brown Bag Pantry 456-9062 Free 1:30–3:30PM Support ACASA Peer Counseling Free1:30–3:30PM Language Practice Spanish Open Free

2–4PM Learn Arts & Crafts w/Vicky Mar. 8 & 22 $32–4PM Exercise Ping-Pong March 1, 15 & 29 Free

2:30–3:30PM Exercise Yoga Open $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(Prices Subject to Change)

Main Entrée $4.95/$6.95 (+$1 for Seafood Entrées)Sandwiches $4.25/$6.25Soup du Jour $1.75 cup/$2.95 bowlHamburger w/Fries $4.25/$6.25Garden/Caesar Salads$3.50-$4.50OTHER ITEMSTuna Salad Side $1.25Beverages $1.00Desserts/Fruit $2.00Cheese $0.50Avocado $1.00

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

Jackson café

whistlestop.org 11

We know very little about how birds com-municate. There are

hundreds of meager languages and dialects, some with mini-mal “word” combinations, others with many. Beyond vocaliza-tions such as predator warn-

ings, demands to be fed, and cries of lost chicks, we understand few. We have little inkling as to the content of the constant chatter of cheeps and chirps at their early morning gatherings. Are they sharing their dreams, commenting on the weather or on who is nesting with whom? What-ever, we are at a loss. But not all bird talk is vocal – produced by a voice box. Species lacking vocal apparatus resort

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

Klick! Klack! Klick! to dance displays, posturing, stomping, wing beating, and occasionally, beak clapping. The large, slow moving Jabiru Stork of Belize and the Mexican Yucatan is one such. The Jabiru “speaks” by klick-klacking its huge bill. This particular male communicated to his mate by standing atop her head, stepping about in vari-ous positions for several minutes. I don’t know if he was urging her to sit down on their egg or was merely trying for a better view of the terrain. He articulated few klacks but his mate uttered sev-eral. I have no idea whether her klick-klacks were endearing comments of love or if she was telling him to get his stupid feet off her head! He stood unperturbed and I remained uneducated.F

‘Til next month, Richard

Whistlestop express MARCH 201312

Spread the Word

One of the primary purposes of the Multicultural Department is to connect with new people every day through

our programs and services and create lasting relationships. We call this effort outreach. The Multicultural Department was established in 1993. Through the years, hundreds of people of various ethnic, social and cultural backgrounds have been assisted and entertained by our de-partment. Currently, our work focus is about

increasing socialization for the Multi-cultural older adult — we have five differ-ent cultural so-cial groups. We offer English

Language, Arts and Technol-ogy education,

and provide services to facilitate integration into our community. We provide help with translation, citizenship, housing and health issues. Our new outreach initiative is called ‘Spread the Word.’ Countless Hispanic, Persian, Russian, German, French and Portuguese participants have been referred to us. We want all of your neighbors, family and friends to know that there is a wonderful place that can help, educate, moti-vate, and entertain the multicultural older adult. Below is a brief list of our offerings. Please help us spread the word. Social Groups: Hispanic, Persian, Russian, German, French; English Language Classes and tutoring services; Citizenship assistance; Arts Program: crafts, knitting, jewelry; So-cial Services Assistance: translation, housing, health, employment, emotional support; Volun-teer opportunities; Special events and cultural celebrations. F If you have a question or want to participate in expanding our department, please call Vicky Voicehowsky or Sandra Jimenez at 456-9062.

Multicultural NEWSby VICKY VOICEHOWSKY and SANdRA JIMENEz

Want to Advertise?

Call: linda Black 485-6700 x306for rates and deadlines

Florencia Pierre and her daughter, Djenane Saint Juste, regular Whistlestop participants, perform a traditional Haitian dance for the Corazón Latino group.

Grocery Shopping Prepare Meals Light Housekeeping Drive to Appointment Run Errands

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

Helping You Maintain Your Independence

A sample of our services:

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

Call Today and Get $25 off! 415-451-0100

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

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

E prEssMarin's Older Adult Community Connection Since 1954

FEBRUARY 2013 Whistlestop.orgWhistlestop

HousingWorkshop9

New WhistlestopVolunteer Leader13

Send in Personalized

Valentines3

Whistlestop to Expand with Affordable Housing Units

Whistlestop is plan-

ning an expansion

project to anticipate

the downtown sMArT train

station. The plan will trans-

form the Whistlestop into a

five-floor building with 50

units of affordable housing for

older adults.

Whistlestop’s renaissance

project has received consid-

erable publicity, including a

cover story in the pacific sun

and an article in the Marin

IJ. Whistlestop CEO, Joe

O’Hehir, answers some ques-

tions about the transforma-

tion of the Whistlestop build-

ing to better serve Marin’s

older adults.

Will the housing units be

for sale or for rent? And

what age group?

The planned 50 one-bedroom

apartments will be offered

on a rental basis. At this

time there will be no units

made available for sale. As

an affordable senior housing

community, the planned age

of residents will be 60+. The

current average age of Whis-

tlestop’s clients is 70.

Can you define

“affordable”? Do folks

have to be from Marin

County to be eligible?

The short answer to this

question is that the apart-

ment rents will be affordable

to older adult residents whose

income falls within 30% to

50% of the median family

income for Marin County.

A unit is affordable if rent

and utility costs do not ex-

ceed 30% of a family’s total

income. The monthly rent

including utilities for a one-

bedroom apartment is pro-

jected to range from $624 to

$1,040. That is the rent level

envisioned for the 50 one-

bedroom apartments on the

Whistlestop site.

Is the Jackson Café

going to be on the Fourth

Street side? If so, what

will the benefits be to the

community?

Our plan is to relocate the

Jackson Café to the north end

of our property that borders

Fourth street. This new loca-

tion would increase the ver-

satility of the café for several

new options. As many know,

Fourth street is the main continued on page 2

Concept drawing of new Whistlestop footprint.

whistlestop.org 13

delivering Meals with a Song

Orville Teising, 70, of Novato, developed a strong connection with Whistlestop about six years ago when he became a volunteer.

Last September, he went from volunteer to a paid driver in Whistlestop’s Meals on Wheels program. “I was a volunteer for five years, in the Jackson Café and in the Information Center. I am really enjoying this,” Orville said. “It’s a great thing that Whistlestop is doing. I’m just glad to be part of it.” Orville delivers meals in the Mill Valley area, 20 deliveries in the morning and 20 after lunch on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MOW driv-ers deliver more than 310 meals a day in Marin County. “People really appreciate it,” he said. “We deliver fresh and nutritious meals. Like today, it was meatloaf with real potatoes, fresh carrots and peas. They get two meals each on Monday and Wednesday and three on Friday. They can micro-wave them in a few minutes.” He said that the clients are mostly individuals and, “Many are in their ’80s and ’90s, some are ill, some even in hospice. It’s a wonderful service,” he said. The meals come from Revolution Foods. Orville was a longtime skier. “My new passion is singing in a barbershop quartet called Bay-side. We have even sung for some of the Meals on Wheels clients.” Orville is the bass. F

In-Home Senior Care

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Dignity • Respect • Personal Care • SafetyAll Services Managed by OwnerNancy Mack, RN, PHN, GCM

(415) 457-2256 • HealthCareConnectionLLC.com

A Senior Services Agencyoffering

Geriatric Care ManagementRN resource specialist and advocate

for seniors and their families

Home Care Aide ServicesFull-Service Agency: Agency is Employer; Insured, Bonded

STAR Helps You Get Free Rides

Raphael Krantz wants to help Marin older adults and people with disabilities get free car rides to doctor’s appointments, to pick

up groceries and to visit friends and family. Raphael is Whistlestop’s coordinator of the Safe Transport and Reimbursement Program (STAR). The program provides reimbursement for gasoline used by volunteer drivers who transport eligible passengers who do not have a car or are unable to drive. The money comes from Measure B, the Marin County vehicle registration tax. Raphael said the client contacts his office and requests participation in the program. After fill-ing out a form and completing a telephone needs assessment interview, the client finds a driver and makes arrangements for rides. The client then submits mileage reports to Raphael and his office sends a check to the client, who uses that money to reimburse the driver. To participate, call Rafael at 454-0969. F

Whistlestop express MARCH 201314

Grandkids PICS

Your One-Call / One-Click Transportation Resource:

(415) 454-0902 www.MarinAccess.org

Independence Through Mobility

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 lunchtime.

Lloyd Licher of Corte Madera shared this photo of his granddaugh-ter, Sophia Licher, 17, of Sedona, AZ, taken on a hike near Sedona, near the top of Snoopy Rock. Lloyd proudly reported that Sophia was one of nine Arizona state finalists in the 2012 Reading Poetry Out Loud competition, where she recited Longfellow’s “The Chil-dren’s Hour.” If you would like to share a photo of your grandchild in an interesting setting, please send it to us for consideration. Send the photo as a jpeg to john.bowman58@gmail.com. Or mail or drop off a hard copy to Whistlestop, 930 Tamalpais Ave., San Rafael 94901 and label it “Grandkids Photo.” Please state that we have the parents’ permission to publish the photo.

Rosemary Silvia of San Anselmo, shared this photo of her grandsons Jack and Ryan Lange, taken with exotic birds in Lahaina, Maui.

Want To Serve on Grand Jury?Application deadline April 2

Anyone interested in serving on the Marin County Grand Jury needs to apply to Marin County Grand Jury,

3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 275, San Ra-fael, CA 94903 by April 2. For applications or more information, contact Patti Church Baseheart, Aide to the Grand Jury, at pbaseheart@co.marin.ca.us or call 473-6132. From the applications, the Superior Court will prepare a list of 25 to 30 potential Civil Grand Jurors. Preliminary interviews will be conducted later in April and final interviews on May 14. Finalists will be summoned to appear on June 4 and new grand jurors will begin service for the coming year on July 1. F

whistlestop.org 15

777 Valentine’s Cards deliveredto Homebound Residents

Whistlestop’s project to send personalized Valentine’s Day cards to homebound older adults in Marin

was a huge success. Thank you to over 103 people who sent Valentines:Matilde ArroyoLynne and Ben BenderCasc BurrellViole BurrellAmalia CamachoMercedes CariMaria CristaldoMariella CristaldoCarol CunninghamVetra DavisAzar DayaniAllegra DiCarpegnaFrances DiCarpegnaLolita DuarteMargie FerroggiaroGlennis FitzpatrickKirsten FloriHilve FoyDavid GabrielKimberly GamaSandy GoodIurii GrinchenkoNatasha GrinchenkoParvaneh HakimiMaya HollandSage HollandJulie KeenerAarushi KumarLiudmila LizbanovaFiona MahlGillian MahlJulianna MahlMillie MakarewiczAdriana MedinaRichard MontoyaSahak MuradyanMaeve MurphySusana NarvaezZoe NicholsVivian OlsenJosefina PerezAriana PillitteriSophia PillitteriAudrey PosterOlivia Rice Sara RiceYvonne Roberts

Marina RodriguezChloe SamlihanIsobel SamlihanAdriana SantosMarcy ShapsYeugeniya SidelnikovaLenice and Kai SmithLeslie StraussGraciela TalamantesBilly V.Stephanie ValenciaSunrise Rotary MarinJanet Van RijsbergenEda VargasFrida VelikovskayaVicky VoicehowskyElsa WahlstromIngrid WahlstromLinda WoodburyAliAliaBeeBennandBrownie Troop 31293BrunellaCallieCarmenChuck O.DeborahDennisDianneFrancoiseFrancoiseFrankGayleGretchenJ.S.KathleenKerinKiaKyleThe Holland FamilyMicrosoft Store EmployeesThe Persian GroupTinaVickiYvonne

lecture Series to Feature Food, zero Waste discussions

Four engaging lectures on food and waste are scheduled in the coming month in Marin County.

Environmental Forum of Marin’s renowned Seminar Series is now called

the Lecture Series. The Lecture Series is a dynamic look at some of today’s most

pressing environmental challenges. Lecture Series

2013: Changes, Challenges and Choices examines

Climate Change, Food, and Waste in compelling lectures and

seminars. Speakers will review the science underlying these topics and explore

what we can do as individuals to meet the challenges facing us. The series runs through March 30, 2013. Classes may be

taken individually or as a series. All of the following events will

be in the San Rafael City Council Chambers, 1400 Fifth Ave., except for the March 30 seminar, which will be at the Hospice by the Bay, 17 East Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Larkspur. F

The lineup:

• GMO’s: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Wednesday, Feb. 27, 7 – 9pm

• What We Eat: Why All the Fuss? Saturday, March 9, 9am – Noon

• Zero Waste: A Big Number to Achieve Wednesday, March 20, 7 – 9pm

• Waste: There’s a Better Choice Saturday, March 30, 9am – Noon

For more information: Sarah Kelley, Environmental Forum of Marin Board of Directors, Communications Director, sarahkelley415@gmail.com or 233-3135.

Whistlestop express MARCH 201316

Marin Senior Coordinating Council930 Tamalpais Avenue San Rafael, CA 94901-3325Whistlestop.org

E PRESSWhistlestop

• We are the only senior care company with a Home Care University to train and develop our caregiver employees. We also offer culinary training throughSur La Table to improve our caregivers’ skills along with our clients’ nutrition.

• We have been endorsed by Harvard geriatrician, Dr. Dennis McCullough, and University ofWashington Geriatrics Clinical Director, Dr. David Carr, among others.

• We have produced an award-winning senior wellness book series, including Happy to 102and Mind Over Gray Matter, and a renowned healthy longevity webinar series in partnershipwith the American Society on Aging.

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