friends

Smiling Eyes, Elbow Bumps Galore at Senior Power Event

April 15, 2021 by Deborah Finestone

We’re back in person!

Senior Power’s outdoor event was a big hit, attracting neighbors in the Sunset to enjoy each other’s company once again, plus enjoy the talents of some of our participants.

Old friends who had not seen each other in a year or more bumped elbows and everyone’s eyes conveyed the smiles that masks couldn’t conceal

“It was a homecoming for many Senior Power participants and a tentative step forward into an enveloping community spirit for others,” said Margaret Graf, Senior Power’s fearless leader. “We’re back. We’re stronger than before. We’re together again.”

“Personally, my heart leaped through my ribcage!” she continued. “All thoughts of the past year’s isolation got pushed aside.”

We got to enjoy the beautiful watercolors by James Mao and marvel at succulents that demonstrate the all-too-important resilience we all have inside. Mary Gayle Thomas also shared her affable, personal stories and poems. See more pictures below!

Come to the next community event!

Thursday, May 13

9:00 to 1:00

Sunset Wellness Mercantile

37th Ave between Ortega & Pacheco

Drop-in any time during the above hours and say “hello.”

We’ll be sharing new exhibits and performances by seniors showing their art, music and stories.

You’ll also find Community Living Campaign’s monthly activity calendar for classes and programs you can enjoy by video or phone. And we’ll have more resources on safety and health for seniors, their families and caregivers.

We’re looking for seniors with talents, hobbies and interests to share!

For more info, to participate, to show off your COVID past-time, your passion, your flair and aptitude — be it musical, artistic or craft — email M. Graf at opoygan1@yahoo.com.

Let’s Make Stuff with d’Arci: Landscapes-HO! (Virtual)

February 23, 2021 by Cira Davis

Landscape art portrays the great outdoors; scenes of rolling hills or meadows, fields, mountains, lakes, the seaside, and beyond. Landscapes are one of the principal genres of subject in Western art, and these scenes of the natural world can be real or invented, and humans, (if introduced at all) typically serve as minor elements in the work. Go grab some art supplies, a photograph or magazine or just look out ‘yer window and let’s have some fun together!

Full Class Outline Here. Share your class project or get the complete outline after the class at: drivebypie@gmail.com.

HOW TO JOIN THE EVENT:

To join by phone, dial 888-475-4499 (toll-free) or 669-900-6833 (local). Enter Meeting ID: 865 6747 4200, then press # twice.
To join with video, click this link: https://zoom.us/j/86567474200 to register and join. Wait in the “waiting room” until the activity is ready to start.

To create a friendly environment and minimize interruptions, we will close the activity to new participants 15 minutes after the start time. The above link will work on your tablet or your computer. You’ll be prompted to download a Zoom app the first time you use Zoom. If you’re using a PC or Mac, you can join from your web browser without using the Zoom software.

Cooking with Chef Lorraine: Appetizers 2.0 (Virtual)

December 14, 2020 by Maia Veres

Chef Lorraine brings more stellar appetizer recipes to share and offers tips for giving yourself time to attend your own event.

Menu:
– Cheese balls
– Stuffed Brie (cold or hot)
– Mini quiches

Next Chef Lorraine event: Cooking with Chef Lorraine: Holiday Dishes, 12/21 @ 2:30pm

To join by phone, dial 888-475-4499 (toll free) or 669-900-6833 (local).
Enter Meeting ID: 865 6747 4200, then press # twice.

To join with video, click this link: https://zoom.us/j/86567474200 to register and join. Wait in the “waiting room” until the activity is ready to start.

To create a friendly environment and minimize interruptions, we will close the activity to new participants 15 minutes after the start time.

The above link will work on your tablet or your computer. You’ll be prompted to download a Zoom app the first time you use Zoom. If you’re using a PC or Mac, you can join from your web browser without using the Zoom software.

Holiday Traditions, Latino Style (Virtual)

December 10, 2020 by Maia Veres

Take a cultural excursion with Olivia and Nicky and welcome Latino flavor and traditions to your holiday celebration, such as the story of the Virgen de Guadalupe and her influence on generations of Mexicanos and Latinos. We’ll explore traditional food and drink, LA Posada and La Pastorela, La Piñata, and authentic arts and crafts to make or buy for the holiday.

To create a friendly environment and minimize interruptions, we will close the activity to new participants 15 minutes after the start time.

Kitchen Wisdom: Easy Herbal Holiday Gifts from your Garden & Kitchen (Virtual)

December 10, 2020 by Maia Veres

Join Marina to learn about very easy gifts to share with loved ones for the holiday season that involve simple ingredients from your garden and kitchen shelves.

To create a friendly environment and minimize interruptions, we will close the activity to new participants 15 minutes after the start time.

Day of the Dead Celebration (Virtual)

November 2, 2020 by Maia Veres

On this day Olivia and Nicky will fill you in on their experience of Dia de los Muertos as Mexican-Americans. This now “trendy” event has become a regular part of our Fall celebrations and we want to enlighten you of its significance, history, and the traditions that make it such a rich cultural celebration. We want you to fully enjoy this festive holiday celebrated throughout Latin America.

To join by phone, dial 888-475-4499 (toll free) or 669-900-6833 (local).
Enter Meeting ID: 865 6747 4200, then press # twice.

To join with video, click this link: https://zoom.us/j/86567474200 to register and join. Wait in the “waiting room” until the activity is ready to start.

To create a friendly environment and minimize interruptions, we will close the activity to new participants 15 minutes after the start time.

Let’s Make Stuff with d’Arci Bruno: Everyone’s a Critic! (Virtual)

September 8, 2020 by Maia Veres

Join local artist d’Arci Bruno to learn how to look at art critically.

Art Criticism is a critical analysis of an artwork by taking a detailed look at its pros, cons and merits. What happens when you look at an artwork? What do you see? How did the artist do it? Why did the artist create it and what does it mean? Art criticism is responding to, interpreting meaning, and making critical judgments about specific works of art. Learning to analyze artwork in this way also helps you to be a better artist! In this class we will learn to be objective and how give positive and constructive feedback.

For this class you will need: A piece of your own artwork, or an artwork that you admire to practice analyzation and critique. Pen and paper to take notes with. Feel free to work on a project and just listen in…Doodle while you think and think about WHAT and WHY and HOW you are making that doodle!!

To join by phone, dial 888-475-4499 (toll free) or 669-900-6833 (local).
Enter Meeting ID: 865 6747 4200, then press # twice.

To join with video, click this link: https://zoom.us/j/86567474200 to register and join. Wait in the “waiting room” until the activity is ready to start.

To create a friendly environment and minimize interruptions, we will close the activity to new participants 15 minutes after the start time.

Making Pen Pals

May 30, 2020 by Judy Goddess

For the past three years, Spring has ushered in the pen pal project at the San Francisco Friends School. It’s the time when 5^th graders write letters to seniors attending CLCs community connectors programs. The students share tales of their travels, hobbies, favorite books (some surprisingly sophisticated) and families (pesky younger siblings are common). Then, like all good letter writers they ask questions.

Barbara Fugate from the Cayuga Community Connectors eagerly anticipates the childrens’ letters. She’s so eager, she usually answers letters from three or four students. “I write them back immediately. You never know when you might influence someone, and it’s good to hear what the kids are thinking. Anything that gets kids to read makes me happy.”

Later, we visit the school to tell their stories. Then, sometime in May, we return to see the short skits the students developed from our stories. “I told them about the ghost that lived in a house I rented. That made a good skit – sound effects and all,” Barbara said.

This year, of course, the coronavirus disrupted those plans. The visiting part of the program never happened. Nonetheless, many of us still made new friends. A young woman turned me on to “The Giver” by Lois Lowery; another shared that she had been reading “Anne Frank: the Diary of a Young Girl” and I remembered how I felt when I finished that book.

Jono Gay, who turns 11 in June, and I talked for this story. Jono is an experienced pen pal, having participated in a pen pal program at his other school and occasionally writing his grandfather in Orange County. Jono decided to challenge himself by using an online translation program to write his letter in Chinese and English. Barbara hasn’t received his letter yet, but she’s excited to reply.

This year, knowing that seniors would be home for a very long time and wanting to cheer them up, Caren Andrews, the art teacher for the younger students asked the students in grades kindergarten – 4^th to send a drawing to a senior. They had been “studying maps at school before SIP…that is why so many maps arrived with your mailing,” she explained.

For us, said Guybe Slangen, the SFFS Director of Community Engagement, it’s all about “care, connection, and community. They are opportunities for connections where we can show care to learn more about and share with others.”

Those values also hold true for their senior pals.