Salad Bar
The salad bar at the Senior Center will now be held on Tuesday, the regular day, and expanded to also serve on Thursday each week. The 11:30 lunch on Thursday will be for the salad bar only and cost will be $2 for those 60 and older. Younger people will pay $4 and everyone is invited. If you wish to participate please called the Center, 524-4533, and make a reservation so there will be plenty of food. This activity is sponsored by the Senior Center and is not part of the regular nutrition program served the rest of the week with a hot meal. If you have questions, call the Center, 524-4533.

Welcome Beverly Fox
Beverly Fox has been welcomed to run the office at the Center as a temporary employee. She will be in charge of overseeing the activities at the Center with the usual group of volunteers and Board members. Please stop by and say HELLO to Beverly during regular Center hours.

Coffee & Treats
The coffee pot and box of “treats”, courtesy of Starbuck’s, opens the Center each morning at 8 a.m. If you want to drink coffee with friends, stop by and join the group of regulars there.

Farewell
The Board at the Senior Center gave their best wishes to Bill Bartels when he retired last week. Bill was a major factor in keeping the Board on track and heading in the right direction and his assistance was greatly appreciated.

Nature Walk
The regular Monday nature walk will go Sycamore Canyon on March 22. Participants will leave from the Center parking lot at 7:30. Call the Center (524-4533) and get on the list so transportation can be planned for everyone. It should be an outstanding day to hike, view wildflowers and enjoy the fresh air.

Transportation
The Ventura County Transportation Commission has discontinued the free bus service for seniors to the Center for the noon meal each day due to cuts in the State funding. If we are able to solve the problems, we will get a notice into the paper. Our seniors who are most in need of the noon meal will be the most affected by not being able to get to the Center for the food. The City and the Senior Center Board is working on solving the problem.

Senior Night Movie at Towne Theatre
The Fillmore Theatre has a SENIOR NIGHT each Wednesday evening for their current movie. The cost is $6 for seniors with popcorn and soda at $1 each. All seniors should avail themselves of this bargain---it is local, it is a short drive, and it is a bargain. Don’t forget to take some of the grandkids along to see one of their frequent PG films. We need to support the City and the Theatre if we want to keep it open.

Photo Class
The Senior Center may soon be starting a new PHOTO CLASS with instruction by Bob Crum. He will be teaching how to use your electronic camera and picture composition.
Call the Senior Center and put your name on the list.

Salad Bar
The new SALAD BAR on Thursday will start March 4th so the nutrition program will now have a salad bar on both Tuesday and Thursday.

Income Tax
Remember the INCOME TAX help continues at the Senior Center every Tuesday from 9-11. No appointment is needed. If you want help, it is available each week until April 13th.

Field Trip Ideas
If you have an idea for a senior FIELD TRIP, call the Center and get it on the list of “things to do” planned by the Center. The goal of the Board is to provide activities of interest for improving both mind and body. No senior should be home alone when the Center provides one good meal a day, time to have fun and a chance to visit with other people.

Ventura – On Saturday, February 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the new Veterans Home of California in Ventura will be teaming with driving experts, Occupational Therapists and trained technicians to hold a “CarFit” event -- a unique education program designed to help drivers 55 and over understand how to improve driving safety by ensuring their cars are properly adjusted just for them. A special team will lead drivers through a free 12-point CarFit checklist to ensure they understand how to use vehicle features properly.

CarFit is not a mechanical inspection of the car or a test of the driver’s ability. Instead, during each 20-minute CarFit session, trained technicians recommend personal vehicle adjustments and adaptations and offer resources that could enhance senior driving safety. Occupational Therapists will also be on hand to provide information on adaptive devices, such as pedal extenders and seat cushions. “The program’s purpose is to ensure drivers are correctly using vehicle devices, such as mirrors and seat belts, and are properly placed within their car, all with an eye toward safety,” said Marisue Eastlake, Director of the Oxnard RSVP. In Ventura County, RSVP is the driving force behind bringing the program to the west county. RSVP is a volunteer program that helps people age 55 and older find meaningful opportunities to serve within their community. Its services are free to both the senior adult and the non-profit community, where RSVP works with over 70 different agencies to place volunteers.

The CarFit event will take place at the Veterans Home of California in Ventura at 10900 Telephone Road, Ventura, CA 93004 (at Wells Road). The check-up is free, but appointments, made by calling 805-659-7501, are required. Each appointment takes approximately 20 minutes. “We are delighted to be offering this free service to our community at the new Veterans Home of California,” added Administrator Brenda Manke. “This is the beginning of just one of the great services the Home will be offering to the community and its seniors.” About 60 senior drivers attended the 2009 CarFit events.

The American Society on Aging created CarFit in collaboration with American Association for Retired Persons (AARP), the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Occupational Therapy Association. The national program is the first to offer adults 55 and over the opportunity to check how well their personal vehicles fit them. To learn more about CarFit, please log on to their website at www.car-fit.org. Or please call 805-385-8019.

The BOOK CLUB at the Senior Center will be reading “THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATOO” by Steed Larsson for their March meeting. It has been on the Best Seller list for the past year. Everyone is invited to participate at the next meeting on Wednesday, March 10th. If you have questions, call Sarah Hansen. 524-0132

For good old-fashioned BINGO, come to the Center Tuesday morning at 10 a.m.. Cards cost only 25 cents with the winner of each game “taking the pot.” Lunch with an outstanding salad bar starts at 11:30. If you eat fast, there will be time for another 30-45 min. of Bingo before the Center closes at 1 p.m.

The men’s team Wii BOWLING practices on Thursday at 10 a.m. with the women’s team on Friday. For lots of fun and exercise, come and join the group.

To start your day with a peaceful mind and relaxed body, join the MEDITATION group at 9 a.m. on Tuesday and stay for YOGA at 10. More advanced yoga meets on Thursday.

Everyone who eats LUNCH at the Senior Center may call the dial-a-ride bus for transportation from home to the Center and back each day with no cost. Call 524-2319 The cost of lunch is only $2.25 for those who can afford to pay. If funds are unavailable, the lunch will be served at no cost for this federally subsidized program.

The monthly birthday celebration will be revived at the Senior Center on Friday, February 26 and will continue on the last Friday of each month. Following lunch, a birthday cake and coffee will be served at 12:30 in the main room with light entertainment. Harold Mayberry will play piano arrangements this month.
Everyone is invited to attend and enjoy the celebration. If you have a birthday during the month, you will receive special recognition. Others will have to wait until “their month” but refreshments will be served to all. If you have ideas for entertainment, please give them to the person at the Welcome Desk or call the Center, 524-4533.

Ventura, CA. - Country recording star Phil Vassar, who has charted 19 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs – including four No. 1 hits – will return to the Ventura Fairgrounds to headline the 20th annual Gold Dust Gala benefit on Saturday, April 17.

Proceeds from the Gold Dust Gala are used for breast cancer detection and treatment, cervical cancer screening and vaccine, and needed diagnostic equipment benefitting women in our community who lack access to life-saving exams. These services are provided by Community Memorial Health System, and administered through the Healthy Women’s Program.

Through past funds raised at the Gold Dust Gala the program was expanded in 2009, with the hiring of an Outreach Education Manager devoted to promoting this critical program by reaching out to women and encouraging them to utilize this vital service. In addition, five public breast cancer screening days (Mammo Day) were held that assisted 85 women. The “Mammo Day” events target specific communities, and start out with breast cancer education at one of our Centers for Family Health, followed by complimentary transportation to and from the Breast Center for mammography exams – all covered under the Healthy Women’s Program.

Tickets and sponsorship packages can be purchased online at www.golddustgala.org, or by calling the Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation office at 805-667-2881.

The Gold Dust Gala, sponsored by the Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation, begins at 6 p.m. with a silent auction, raffles and a barbecue dinner, with Phil Vassar taking the stage at 8:30 p.m.

Ventura, CA. - The active surveillance method of managing early-stage prostate cancer will be the focus of a free seminar the Community Memorial Health System is holding on Tuesday, Feb. 23.

Duke Bahn, M.D., director of the Prostate Institute of America at Community Memorial Hospital, will lead the discussion during the seminar to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the eighth-floor Nichols Auditorium at CMH, located at 147 Brent St. in Ventura.

There has been a remarkable surge in prostate cancer diagnosis beginning in the 1980s when the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test was introduced. Nonetheless, the death rate from the disease has not reduced significantly. It is now argued that physicians may be over-detecting and over-treating prostate cancer.

Dr. Bahn will discuss the concept of active surveillance – to delay prostate cancer treatment as long as possible while carefully monitoring the patient’s status, and to treat only when the disease progression is confirmed during close clinical evaluation. Dr. Bahn’s presentation will include case reviews and literature discussions on the topic.

Dr. Bahn is certified by the American Board of Radiology and has served as the clinical associate professor in radiation oncology at Wayne State University Medical College in Detroit. He is a member of the American College of Radiology, the Radiology Society of North America, the Michigan Radiology Society, the California Radiology Society, the American College of Cryomedicine, the American Roentgen Ray Society and the Society of Urologic Cryosurgeons.
Admission is free, but space is limited, so reservations are suggested. Call 805/652-5436, or go to www.cmhshealth.org/rsvp.

Senior Center Board
Anyone who wishes to have input to the Senior Center Board about future programs should contact the Center at once as plans are being made.

Senior Library
The library is open to any senior who enjoys reading. They may take any book to read or video and then return it when they have finished. There is no official “check out” as the honor system is used at the library.

Flu Vaccine
All flu vaccine is available so everyone should arrange for their shot and stay healthy. Although it seems like spring this week, the flu season is not over.

ARRP Tax Assistance
The AARP tax assistance will continue until early April. The people helping you fill out tax forms are at the Senior Center from 9-11 each Tuesday morning and no appointment is needed.

Tai Chi Class
For information about the new tai chi exercise class on Wednesday, call the Senior Center.

Hey Fillmore! In case you hadn’t noticed, there are exciting new happenings at the Fillmore Senior Center. Starting in February, you can take a meditation and/or yoga class in the evening! Come on over and decrease stress while increasing your health and well-being! These two classes are available to adults of all ages, no experience necessary.

Classes begin Thursday, February 4 at 5:30 p.m. Meditation, taught by Valerie Brinton is from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; then yoga, taught by Janine Rees, is from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. They will continue on Thursdays throughout the year. Also, the morning meditation class will now be offered on Thursday mornings from 8:00 to 9:00 prior to the Thursday morning yoga class.

Valerie has taught Taoist Meditation for over 20 years. This approach is simple and gentle. The benefits include reduced conflict and tension, with an increase in resilience, calm focus, self-esteem, and vitality.

Janine has taught Iyengar for fifteen years. This type of yoga emphasizes correct alignment and proper breathing coordinated with gentle stretching as well as strength and balance building. All levels of ability are welcome to attend these hour-long class. Each class is a $2.00 donation, only.

We welcome all you stressed, weary, stiff folks out there who work out of town and can’t get to the center for daytime classes. Now there are classes for you too! Plus, new classes are being added all the time so check your Gazette regularly for updated schedules. See you there.

Submitted by Janine Rees, 524-4856.

We apologize to the people who came with their electronic items for instruction last Saturday. It was a situation of “two wrongs do not make a right.” Two of the people involved just plain “forgot.” There may be another day scheduled, so watch the paper for the date.

The monthly birthday party is being reinstated to the last Friday of the month. The Senior Center will be serving cake and coffee in the main room after lunch. We hope to have light entertainment during that time, so plan to come and socialize even if it is not your birthday. All seniors are welcome.

The salad bar on Tuesday may soon also be offered on Thursday as a separate dining experience without the hot lunch if we “can get our ducks in a row.” If you are interested in attending, call the Senior Center 524-4533, for a reservation when the date is announced. The cost will be only $2.

Tins Available
The Center has a stack of accumulated 3 pound coffee cans and some fruit cake tins. If any youth group or classroom can use these for a handicraft project, call the Center. We need to move them out of storage.