April 12“Second Tuesday”in person atMargaret Todd Senior Center!

At our event on April 12, we’ll be joining with GMOM& the Social Committee in remembering Morris Simpson who died recently, just 3 months short of his 100th birthday. If we have time, we’ll be remembering others in our community who have passed on.  See flyer below prepared by Debbie Alcouloumre of the Social Committee.

UPCOMING EVENTS( April 12 Second Tuesday at Mgt. Todd April 14New Horizons at Osher Marin JCCWelcoming Our New ED, Adrian Shanker,Expressing Our Gratitude to Dana Van Gorder April 19Games Day at Sam’s Place* April 21Senior Breakfast at Sam’s Place* April 21 Talent Show Encore! April 26Women’s Coffee at Sam’s Place* *Social Committee event, registration requiredby emailing them at socialcommittee@comcast.net;find a link to their April calendar and flyers below ** See flyer below *** New grassroots multigenerational group,see flyer & more info below

To join the Spahr Senior Groupon ZoomMondays, 7 to 8 pm, &Thursdays, 12:30 to 2 pm,click the purple button below the Butterfly Heart or here: 

Join Group

New participants are warmly welcomed!If you’re zoom-challenged, let me know and I’ll work with you!

Topical Thursdays12:30 to 2 pm March 31 We Talk About Our Lives April 21A Compilation of Past Talent ShowsWe’ve heard from a number of you that you missed the chance to see the Talent Shows that our talented community created last year under the guidance of impresario Jerry Schmitz. So we’re offering a chance to see those performances again on a Thursday the 21st, 12:30 to 2 pm on zoom!

Living Room Mondays7 to 8 pm We share with each other about how we’re doing and have unstructured conversations focused on listening from our hearts and deepening community.

Please Join Us for New Horizons Our Upcoming Event to Welcome Adrian Shanker and Celebrate Dana Van Gorder! Join us for New Horizons on Thursday, April 14th from 6pm-7:30. We will be welcoming Adrian, our new ED, and saying bon voyage to Dana in just a few weeks!  The celebration will take place at the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. Tickets are required, and cost $65 for one and $115 for two. You can purchase them online here. If the cost of tickets is challenging, please let me know: this event is about creating community and I have comp tickets easily available: bblackburn@thespahrcenter.org.  Please note that the JCC requires proof of at least two Covid-19 vaccinations to enter so we will require participants to show their proof of vaccination. In accordance with county guidance, masks are recommended, but not required.

Coronavirus Updates The Spahr Center has coronavirus rapid home test kits and they are available for free in the office – 150 Nellen Avenue, Suite 100, Corte Madera 94925; 415/457-2487. The office is open 10 am – 3 pm weekdays. Only vaccinated people may come to the office and masks must be worn inside the building. Any staff person can direct you to the kits. This is a great resource we are pleased to offer, please don’t hesitate to get these kits!  You can also order free at-home covid tests from the USPS by filling in the form here.  In order to keep track of new infections, the County asks that we report self-test results here.  To see Marin County’s latest pandemic information, click here.  The mask recommendations of the Mask Nerd– an aerosol scientist who studies mask effectiveness – are featured in this article and highly informative video.  May we all be safe and well!

Community Notices

Social Security Opens to Survivors of Same-Sex Couples Who Could Not MarryThe Social Security Administration now allows lesbians and gay men to receive survivor’s benefits if we can show that we were in a committed relationship and would have married had that been possible. More information here.

The Spahr Center’s Food Pantry is open to seniors who need support in meeting their nutrition needs. We want to help! Items such as fresh meats, eggs and dairy, prepared meals, pasta, sauces, and canned goods are delivered weekly to people who sign up. Contact The Spahr Center for more information: info@thespahrcenter.org or 415/457-2487

Space for your Community Notice here. Email Bill with information at bblackburn@thespahrcenter.org.

The Social Committee has been consistently offering fun events to offset the boredom of the pandemic. Everyone born in any month will be celebrated in that month’s email – including yourbirthday if you’ll let them know when it rolls around!  Games Day is on April 19 at 2 pm for meal & 3 pm for games, Senior Breakfast Club on April 21 at 9:30, and Women’s Coffee on 10 am April 26. All will be held at Sam’s Place in Novato. They request that participants please be vaccinated and healthy.  Please register ahead of time as participation is limited to 20 people. To see their April calendar & flyers, click here.  To sign up for their emails or register for events, click here.

Vivalon Resources for Seniors  Whistlestop, now renamed Vivalon, offers many resources for us seniors, now listed in this easy-to-print one-page guide. Access to rides, food, classes, activities, resources, referrals, and more. Membership not required for most classes and services during the pandemic. Some in-person events are being planned. To get Vivalon’s listings, click here. They also provide access to resources including rides for older adults. Please note: there is a 3-week registration process for the ride program so register now if you think you may need rides in the future. Click here for their website.

Building Community in the Midst of Sheltering-in-PlaceSee old friends and make new ones! Join us!The Spahr Center’s LGBT Senior Discussion Groupscontinue everyMonday, 7 to 8 pm& Thursday, 12:30 to 2 pm on zoom

To Join Group by Video using Computer, Smart Phone or TabletJust click this button at the start time, 6:55 pm Mondays / 12:25 pm Thursdays:Join GroupAlways the same link! Try it, it’s easy!

To Join Group by Phone CallIf you don’t have internet connections or prefer joining by phone,call the following number at the start time,6:55 pm Mondays / 12:25 pm Thursdays:1-669-900-6833The Meeting id is 820 7368 6606#(no participant id required)The password, if requested, is 135296# If you want to be called into the group by phone, notify Bill Blackburn at 415/450-5339

California Department of Aging ResourcesThe CDA has a website that is packed with information and resources relevant to the lives of seniors in our state. From Covid-19 updates to more general care for age-related health issues, access to legal assistance to getting home-delivered meals to help with housing, you may well find answers to your questions by clicking: here.

Adult and Aging Service’s Information and Assistance Line, providing information and referrals to the full range of services available to older adults, adults with disabilities and their family caregivers, has a new phone number and email address: 415/473-INFO (4636) 8:30 am to 4:30 pm weekdays473INFO@marincounty.org