Senior Times
EDC Area Agency on Aging
●
937 Spring Street
Placerville, California 95667
J u ly 2 0 1 5
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530-621-6150
The Story of the Fourth of July
The Declaration of Independence
We celebrate American Independence Day on the Fourth of July every year. We think of
July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of
the United States of America as an independent nation.
But July 4, 1776 wasn’t the day that the Continental Congress decided to declare
independence (they did that on July 2, 1776). It wasn’t the day we started the American
Revolution either (that had happened back in April 1775).
And it wasn’t the day Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of
Independence (that was in June 1776). Or the date on which the Declaration was
delivered to Great Britain (that didn’t happen until November 1776). Or the date it was
signed (that was August 2, 1776).
So what did happen on July 4, 1776?
The Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. They’d been working on it for
a couple of days after the draft was submitted on July 2nd and finally agreed on all of the edits and changes.
July 4, 1776, became the date that was included on the Declaration of Independence, and the fancy handwritten copy that was signed
in August (the copy now displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.) It’s also the date
that was printed on the Dunlap Broadsides, the original printed copies of the Declaration that were
circulated throughout the new nation. So when people thought of the Declaration of Independence,
July 4, 1776 was the date they remembered.
Inside T h i s I s s u e
Senior Legal News.....................Page 2
Page 3
Senior Shuttle Trips.......................
Senior Day Care News..............Page 4
Page 5
Nutrition Menu..............................
Page 6
Senior Trips & Activities...................
Community Activities.................Page 7
Page 8
Caregiver Support Groups.................
Savings Bond.......................... Page 9
Page 10
Farmers Market Coupons..............
Page 11
The Gifts of Reading..........................
In contrast, we celebrate Constitution Day on September 17th of each year, the anniversary of the
date the Constitution was signed, not the anniversary of the date it was approved. If we’d followed
this same approach for the Declaration of Independence we’d being celebrating Independence Day
on August 2nd of each year, the day the Declaration of Independence was signed!
How did the Fourth of July become a national holiday?
For the first 15 or 20 years after the Declaration was written, people didn’t celebrate it much on any
date. It was too new and too much else was happening in the young nation. By the 1790s, a time
of bitter partisan conflicts, the Declaration had become controversial. One
July cont. on page 11
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear any
burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the
survival and success of liberty.
~John F. Kennedy
2
Area Code (530)
Western Slope
Senior News
Information & Assistance
621-6369
Legal Assistance
621-6154
Long Term Care Ombudsman
642-4860
Senior Nutrition Program
621-6160
Senior Trips & Activities621-6255
Senior Day Care Center
621-6180
Senior Times 621-6255
Family Caregiver Support Program
621-6151
Senior Shuttle621-6369
In Home Supportive Services
642-4800
Senior Peer Counseling Program
621-6304
Multipurpose Senior Services Program 621-6278
Senior Health Education Program
621-6151
Adult Protective Services (APS) 642-4800
Department of Veterans Affairs
El Dorado Transit/Dial-a-Ride
621-5892
642-3696
South Lake Tahoe
Information and Assistance
621-6369
South Lake Tahoe Senior Center
South Lake Tahoe Senior Nutrition
542-6094
573-3130
Legal Assistance
621-6154
El Dorado County Health Dept.
Adult Protective Services (APS)
573-3155
642-4800
BlueGo Bus Transportation
541-7149
Cancer Support Group
544-6878
Better Breathers Support Group
542-9183
Department of Veterans Affairs 573-7955 ext-5892
Hospice/Adult Grief Support Group
Report Elder Abuse 24 Hours
542-3171
800-925-1812
Senior Legal News
To Trust or Not to Trust a Financial
Advisor
By Diana Steele, Senior Legal Services
When shopping for a financial advisor you need to do your homework. Don’t just trust
someone based on word of mouth, your barber’s best friend, or the nice guy at the
church.
Start by looking up titles and
certifications they may claim to have
by looking on FINRA’s professional
designations guide (finra.org) or Paladin
Registry’s website (paladinregistry.com)
Do a background check. You want to
know if they have had any violations
and ensure their state registration is up
to date. Often con artists pose as insurance agents. Check with the California securities
regulator or insurance commissioner. The BrokerCheck website (found on the finra.org
website) will inform you of any disciplinary actions.
Reference: Consumer Reports Money Advisors June 2015
County Mental Health Commission
Seeks Two New Members
The El Dorado County Mental Health Commission is currently seeking two new
members to fill vacancies on the West Slope of the County. The 16-member commission
is advisory to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors and the County Mental Health
Director. Commission members review and evaluate community mental health needs,
services, facilities and special problems. The Commission meets at least once per
month and may also be called together for special meetings. Members of the Mental
Health Commission are appointed by the Board of Supervisors and serve for a threeyear term. The Commission includes ten members from the West Slope of the County,
five members from South Lake Tahoe and one member of the Board of Supervisors.
To be eligible to serve on the Commission, community members must be at least 18
years old, residents of El Dorado County and have received mental health services or
have a family member who has received mental health services, and/or be familiar with
mental health services.
For questions about the Mental Health Commission please contact Jim Abram,
Commission Chairman, at (530) 644-5505. Individuals interested in applying for a
position on the Commission may download an application: http://www.edcgov.us/
MentalHealth/MH_Commission_Meetings/Mental_Health_Commission.aspx
Senior News
3
Senior Shuttle Events for July
Join the Senior Shuttle car pool! The Senior Shuttle is a volunteer driven van available to assist
seniors with grocery shopping and small day trips. We are currently offering weekly shopping
trips to various locations in Placerville. In addition, we are offering a shopping excursion to East
Bidwell in Folsom and WinCo Foods.  The service has a suggested donation of $2.00 for round trip
local service from your home, and $5.00 donation for trips outside of El Dorado County. Seating is
limited, so call and make your reservation today at (530) 621-6369 (option #4)! The Senior Shuttle is
not wheelchair accessible. Please call for questions and reservations.
Placerville Area
Monday, July 6 & 27—Raley’s, Placerville Dr.
Tuesday, July 7– Grocery Outlet & Dollar Tree
Tuesday, July 14 – Savemart, Kmart & Safeway, Missouri Flat
*Summer movie at Regal Theater. Movies start at 10am. $1
Tuesday, July 28 —Walmart
Georgetown Area
Wednesday, July 1 — Grocery Outlet, Dollar Tree & Savemart,
Cameron Park Area
Monday, July 13 —Fork Lift (Former Food 4 Less), Safeway, &
Bel Air
Pollock Pines Area
Thursday, July 2 & 30 —Safeway,
Pony Express Trail
El Dorado Hills Area
Wednesday, July 22 — Nugget, Safeway and Raley’s
*Summer movie at EDH Regal Theater. Movie starts at 10am. $1
Special Events – Mark Your Calendar!
Monday, July 20 - WinCo Foods
Tuesday, July 21 – Folsom Area Shopping
Wednesday, July 29— Summer movie at Placerville Regal
Theater. Movie starts at 10am. $1
Come enjoy POPCORN and a MOVIE!
The Placerville Senior Center is now showing movies in the new Resource Room every
Friday. Movies start after lunch at 1:15 p.m. Popcorn is provided, complimentary. For
questions or to request a movie to be shown, please call Lauren at 621-6333.
July 3
Rosewater
Iranian-Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari is detained by Iranian forces who brutally
interrogate him under suspicion that he is a spy.
July 10
Cake
Claire becomes fascinated by the suicide of a woman in her chronic pain support group
while grappling with her own, very raw personal tragedy.
July 17
McFarland, USA
July 24
The Rewrite
A cross country coach in a small California town transforms a team of athletes into
championship contenders.
Seinor Shuttle goes to the
Movies!
Please enjoy a ride to a summer movie
of your choice. Admission to the Regal
Theatre in Placerville is only $1, movies
start at 10 a.m. Please call 530-621-6369,
option #4 to make your Senior Shuttle
reservation.
An Oscar winning writer in a slump leaves Hollywood to teach screenwriting at a college
on the East Coast, where he falls for a single mom taking classes there.
Tues. July 14: Night at the Musem:
Secret of the Tomb
July 31 My Old Lady
Wed. July 22: Dolphin Tale 2
An American inherits an apartment in Paris that comes with an unexpected resident.
Wed. July 29: Alexander and the
Terrible, no good, very bad day
Senior News
4
SENIOR DAY CARE SERVICES NEWS
Senior Day Care Offers “Demential 101” Workshop
El Dorado County Senior Day Care Services is offering “Dementia 101”, a workshop for family and friends who care for people with
Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. The workshop will be held Saturday, July 11, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Pilot
Hill Grange #1, 1701 Hwy 193, in Cool. The workshop includes two sessions from presenters with extensive knowledge in Alzheimer’s
disease and dementia.
·
Session 1 - Dementia: What is it? Presented by Esther Lara, Clinical Social Worker and Research Administrator for
the UC Davis Alzheimer’s Disease Center, this session addresses differences between normal forgetfulness and serious memory
loss, signs, symptoms and causes of dementia, disease diagnosis, useful medications and therapies, and effects of dementia on brain
function and behavior.
·
Session 2 – Dementia: Understanding and Managing Behaviors. Presented by Wanda Demarest, Program
Supervisor for Senior Day Care Services in Placerville, this session gives participants communication skills and techniques to cope with
the unique behaviors associated with dementia.
At the end of the sessions, Ms. Lara and Ms. Demarest will be joined by Denise Davis, Program Director for the Alzheimer’s Association
of Northern California/Northern Nevada and Dorene Fanning, LCSW and Family Consultant for the Del Oro Caregiver Resource
Center, to address participant questions.
Workshop seating is limited; registration is required. There is no cost to attend the workshop. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. and includes
continental breakfast. The workshop begins at 9:00 a.m. For reservations, please call Senior Day Care at (530) 621-6180. Free respite
care for qualified caregivers attending the workshop may be available by calling the Family Caregiver Support Program at least two
weeks in advance of the event at (530) 621-6192.
Senior Day Care Services is a program of the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency. Program staff would like to thank
the UC Davis Alzheimer’s Disease Center, the Alzheimer’s Association (Northern California & Northern Nevada Chapter), Del Oro
Caregiver Resource Center, Divide Chamber of Commerce, Sol Nisbet of First Cal, Pattti Babish, ReMax Realtor, The Pilot Hill Grange
#1, Lesa Dalthorp and the Marshall Foundation for Community Health for their support for this event. For more information about Senior
Day Care services, call (530) 621-6180 or email [email protected] or visit www.edcgov.us/humanservices.
Caregiver Support Groups in El Dorado County
Caregiving can be difficult and challenging. Family Caregiver Support Groups offer a chance to share information and get connected to
other people who are also providing care to a family member or loved one. The free support groups are provided in El Dorado County
as follows:
The 1st Friday of
every month from
1:30pm to 3:00pm at
the Placerville Senior
Center, 937 Spring
Street
The 2nd Tuesday of
every month from 2:30
pm to 4:00 pm at the
Greenwood Community
Center, 4401 HWY 193
in Greenwood
The 2nd Thursday of
every month from 5:30
pm to 7:00 pm at the
South Lake Tahoe
Senior Center, 3050
Hwy 50 in SLT.
The 3rd Tuesday of
every month from
5:30pm to 7:00 pm at
the El Dorado Hills
Senior Center, 990
Lassen Lane.
The 4th Thursday of
every month from 10:30
am to Noon at the El
Dorado Hills Senior
Center, 990 Lassen
Lane.
Free respite care is available to qualified caregivers. Pre-Authorization is required for respite services. To learn more about caregiver
services, please contact the Family Caregiver Support Program at (800) 510-2020 or (530) 621-6192.
Senior Nutrition
Regularity, Oh what a
relief it is!
when it comes to our digestive
tract. Some of us are blessed
For some, regularity is anything with the ability to “go” every day,
while others may find it difficult
but and for others you can set
your watch by it. For those of us to achieve this task more than
once or twice per week. Some
that are not so “punctual” here
go in the morning, others cannot
are some nutritional tips that
guess when the time will come.
may help.
So why the differences?
As with so many topics we
have discussed, it is all about
timing and balance. By now
you are probably sick of these
words, but it rings true in most
situations in our lives, especially
Genetics, gender, and diet are
the typical culprits. While there
is nothing we can do about
genetics or gender we can
influence our diet, but how?
Allow me to explain….
Our digestive tract, or bowels,
can move at variable speeds.
5
There are two types of fiber,
soluble and insoluble. Soluble
fiber can absorb water. Imagine
what happens when we go from
This can also be referred to
uncooked rice to cooked rice it
as “transit time” (the time it
gets larger but also softer, right?
takes our food to enter and
That is kind of what soluble
exit the body). When we are
fiber does inside our bowels.
constipated our transit time is
Insoluble fiber, on the other
too slow, when we have diarrhea hand, does not absorb water
it is too fast. We are going for
but it does contain “roughage”
the Goldilock’s syndrome (ahh,
(indigestible pieces that create
just right). Fiber and fluid can
bulk). This is important when
help us get there.
you think of how the bowels
detect
Relief cont. on page 8
6
Western Slope Activities
Senior Hikers...
Tuesday, July 14th-- Grover
Hot Springs Bill V. 530-7488044.
Tuesday, July 28th--Lake
Winnemucca. Must call to
confirm attendance. Pattie 626818-9030
Senior Hikers Website:
www.logue.net/hikers
For hikes wear hiking shoes,
bring lunch, water and usual
necessities. Hikes are five
miles max, unless noted.
Meet at the Placerville Senior
Center at 7:30 a.m. For more
information call Chris 672-8380.
Things to Do!
NEW! Pilates, Body Ballet/
Belly Dance. These two dance
classes will explore the art
of controlled movement and
improve coordination and
balance. Pilates-Tuesdays at
10:00 a.m. Body Ballet/Belly
Dance-Friday’s at 10:00 a.m.
Placerville Senior Center.
Clogging. This is a great new
dance class to introduce you
to clogging. Your instructor will
teach you the begining steps.
Placerville Senior Center on
Thursdays at 11:15 a.m.
Senior Trips
All trips, unless otherwise
noted, include tickets,
AllWest Transportation &
driver gratuities.
Rivercats Game-July 22nd.
Spend the day watching the
Rivercats play the El Paso
Chihauhas. Reserved seating the
game and enjoy the all-you-caneat BBQ lunch.$75 pp.
Funny, warm, romantic and
touching. Lunch before the show
is at the always popular and
delicious Willow Steakhouse.
$105 pp.
M.S. Dixie-August 18th. Spend
the day in Lake Tahoe. Board the
award winning M.S. Dixie and
Winchester Mystery House-July enjoy a cruise on the lake. Enjoy
20th. Enjoy a guided tour through a lunch buffet aboard the ship.
Afterwards, free time at Casino’s
the 110 of the 160 baffling
or shopping. $130 pp.
rooms of this mansion. A visit to
the home is not complete until
Napa Valley Wine Trainyou have strolled the beautiful
September 21st. Spend the
gardens. Box lunch included.
day in Napa Valley. Board the
$125 pp.
beautiful Napa Valley Wine Train
and travel from historic Napa to
The Music Man-August
the quaint town of St. Helena.
12th. Take your seat at the
Gourmet lunch and glass of wine
Fallon House Theatre for the
is provided. $180 pp.
performance of the Music Man.
Community Activities
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
Check Out These Other Activities Being
Offered In Your Community
Roman Romanni’s Remarkable Retrospective” or “Heels
Over Head” Written by Lauren-- This show runs Friday and
EL DORADO HILLS SENIOR CENTER
Saturday evenings June 26-August 9. Doors open 7:30 p.m. and
the show starts at 8:00 p.m. Sunday Matinees doors open at 1:30
p.m. and the show starts at 2:00 p.m. For reservations call the
Olde Coloma Theatre (530)626-5282. Find us on Facebook and
visit http://Oldecolomatheatre.org/ This is an original melodrama
written and directed by Lauren Williams.
Join the El Dorado Hills Senior Center for these March Programs. For more
information, please call 916-358-3575 or www.edhcsd.org -Some fees apply.
NEW! Wine 101…..A Course All About Wine-Gives you a basic understanding
of wine production from the field to the tasting room. $10 supply fee. Tuesdays,
July 21 – August 11, 7-8pm
Classes and Programs-Chess Club, Stamp Club, Conversational English, Get
to Know YOUR Digital Camera, Let’s Make a Terrarium, Mid-Afternoon English
Tea, Let’s Make Pot Stickers!, Paint & a Splash Too. Guest Speaker Topics:
Snoring, CPAP, Sleep Apnea; Hospice 101; Be Aware of Your Finances; Day
Good-bye to Slouching Shoulders and Improve Your Posture; Computer &
Network Security; Life Review & Rebuild, Practical Spirituality.
Programs require preregistration, call the El Dorado Hills Senior Center for
information regarding and reservations for these programs, 916-358-3575.
Placerville Music Festival--Sunday July 12, 2015 11:30 a.m.
- 10:00p.m. The Placerville Music Festival is a family friendly,
community oriented event that features local musicians/artists,
craft vendors, yoga instruction, face painting, food trucks and a
beer garden. http://www.placervillemusicfestival.com/
Third Saturday Art Walk--Saturday July 18, 2015. Historic
7
Main Street Activities: Art galleries and merchants stay open late
to host changing art shows and late night shopping and dining.
Refreshments, demonstrations and entertainment. The art walks
starts after 5:00 p.m. and runs until about 9:00 pm
CAMERON PARK 50+
Cowboys & Cornbread-- Sunday July 19, 2015 11:00 a.m.
July 8– UC Master Gardeners ‘Raising Worms’ 9am-12pm
July 8 & 22 – Mah jong 1pm
July-11-12- Cameron Park Community Campout. Spend the night at Cameron
Park Lake. A great family event where we do all the work for you. Swimming,
bbq, crafts, and campfire. Call for more information. 677-2231.
July 14 – Bingo 1pm
July 28 – Game Day sponsored by C.P. Newcomers 10am
July 28 – Short Story & Discussion 1pm ‘America for Me’ Henry Van Dyke
- 4:00 p.m. Cowboys and Cornbread featuring the Hangtown
Harmonica Championship.This regional event celebrates
country western living and old-fashioned fun at the El Dorado
County Fairgrounds in Placerville. Live music, Cowboy Poetry,
Kiddie Corral, Chili Cook Off, Salsa & Cornbread Competitions,
Chuckwagon BBQ and a whole lot more! It is a full day of
fun you won’t want to miss. 800-457-6279 or http://www.
cowboysandcornbread.com
Monday
South Lake
South
Lake
Tahoe
Tahoe
Senior
Center
Tuesday
Join the Cameron Park 50+ group on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. 2
p.m. at the CP CSD. For information call 677-2231 or visit www.cameronpark.
org
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
9 a.m. Pool Exercise
9 a.m. Pool Exercise
9 a.m. Pool Excercise
9 a.m. Pool Exercise
9 a.m. Pool Exercise
12 p.m. Lunch
10 a.m. Silk Painting
10 a.m. Line Dance
9:30 Men’s Bridge
10:45 a.m. Fitness Class
1 p.m. Party Bridge
10:45 a.m. Fitness Class
10 a.m. Quilters Group
12 p.m. Lunch
12 p.m. Lunch
12 p.m. Lunch
12 p.m. Lunch
1 p.m. Bridge
12:30 p.m. Mah Jong
12:30 p.m. Movie
1 p.m. Painting
9 a.m. Pottery Class
1 p.m. Dominoes Group
1 p.m. Card Games
1:15 p.m. Social Bingo
1 p.m. Party Bridge
1:30 p.m. Pottery Class
Caregiver Support Group-2nd Thursday of each month from 5:30 7 pm, SLT Senior Center. Contact Penny (530) 541-2304.
American Association of Retired Persons – (530) 542-6094. Third
Friday, 5:30 pm, SLT Senior Center.
Widowed Persons Association of California, South Lake Tahoe
Chapter – (530) 542-4912. Meets the last Sunday of the month,1 p.m.
Call for location and other meeting times.
Bingo meets the first Saturday at 5:30 p.m. SLT Senior Center.
8
Senior News
Drop by Drop
California is in a drought emergency, experiencing the lowest total rainfall in
the state’s 163-year history. Mandatory water restrictions are in place. Even so,
it remains important that you have enough water on hand for your household in
the event of a natural disaster or other emergency.
Whether you get water from a municipal water system or your home has a
private well, your water supply depends on having power to operate the system.
During a power outage which is certainly possible during an extreme heat event
when the demand for cooling is high, you want to make sure you have drinkable
water.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO BE READY?
•
Have a three day supply of drinking water for your family. You will need
one gallon of water per person per day.
•
Include an extra gallon for a medium size pet. Plan for more or less if your pet is very large or very small.
•
You may need to drink more water depending on hot weather, medical needs, if you have small children or if you are an older
adult. If you are on a water restricted diet, check with your medical provider.
•
Remember, some of the water in your emergency water supply will be used for cooking and washing.
•
Commercially bottled water should be replaced once a year. Store your water in a cool, dark place to keep it tasting fresher
longer.
•
If you have freezer space, consider freezing part of your water supply. This has the added advantage of keeping food in the
freezer cold longer during a power outage.
Discover more about emergency preparedness at the El Dorado County Public Health Preparedness and Response website: www.
edcgov.us/PublicHealthPreparedness/
Relief cont. from page 5
the need to “move” something through. If the food mass is too small it does not create a large enough bulk to press against the bowels
and activate the nerves that then tell the brain to move it on through. Small stool equals slow transit time, or constipation. Large soft
stool equals quicker transit time and therefore regularity. So, how do we ensure we are getting enough fiber?
Fiber is found in foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, especially those with the skin on (insoluble), whole grain products such as brown
rice, quinoa, oats, and whole wheat breads and pastas. Most individuals should aim for 25-30 g of total fiber per day. You can get there
by consuming a high fiber cereal daily, eating whole grain bread products, and consuming 7-9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day
(remember that is not as daunting as it sounds if you consume a fruit and vegetable at each meal). In order to be considered high fiber
a cereal should contain a minimum of 5 g of fiber per serving. In fact, eating a high fiber cereal each morning at around the same time of
day helps to train your bowels to “perform” on a regular schedule. A word of caution: if you are not used to consuming a diet high in fiber
please proceed slowly. Adding too much fiber all at once can cause undesirable effects, such as increased gas, bloating, and overall
upset. Work up to 25-30 grams by one high fiber item per week. Start with fruits and vegetables, then add whole grain bread the next
week, followed by pasta, then high fiber cereal.
And finally, ensure you are drinking enough fluid! Six to eight cups of water daily is recommended to achieve the desired effects we have
been talking about. Remember what I said about soluble fiber, how it absorbs water? If you increase your fiber but not your fluid you
may very well end up with the original problem we were trying to avoid in the first place, constipation! So drink up and eat those fruits,
veggies, and whole grains. Your body and bowels will thank you!
By Natalie Patterson, R.D.
Senior News
9
Get More Out of Your Savings Bonds
Avoid these four mistakes that can cost you money
by Jane Bryant Quinn, AARP Bulletin, May 2015
Are you sitting on a pile of U.S. savings
bonds? If not, should you be? For safetyfirst investors, savings bonds still hold an
edge over bank certificates of deposit.
Savers put more than $631 million into
these bonds last year. Those of you sitting
on a pile might find, to your surprise, that
some of them currently yield 4 or 5 percent.
Savings bonds come in two flavors — EE
bonds, at fixed interest rates, and I bonds,
at floating rates that change with inflation
every six months. You have to hold them
for at least one year. If you sell before five
years are up, you pay a penalty equal to
three months’ interest. Bonds generally
stop paying interest after 30 years.
Almost all savings bonds today are sold
electronically, through treasurydirect.
gov. You can invest up to $10,000 a year
for each type of bond (double that if your
spouse buys, too). An additional $5,000 is
available in the form of old-fashioned paper
I bonds, if you ask that your tax refund be
paid that way.
I bonds are the most popular. At this
writing, a new bond yields 1.48 percent —
and before you turn up your nose, consider
the competition. A five-year CD might pay 2
percent, but it offers no inflation protection.
You’re taxed on the interest every year
unless you buy through a tax-deferred
individual retirement account. You also
pay taxes at all levels — federal, state and
local. The income from savings bonds is
tax-deferred, and then taxed only by the
feds.
A quick word about EE Bonds. New bonds
are paying (if you can call it “paying”)
just 0.1 percent. If you hold them for 20
years, you’ll earn at least 3.5 percent,
thanks to a guaranteed catch-up
payment. Still, not appealing.
If you’ve owned savings bonds for years
and are ready to cash them in, be sure
to find out exactly what each bond is
worth. Without that information, you
might make one of four big mistakes,
says Jackie Brahney, marketing director
of savingsbonds.com, a service that
helps you manage your bond portfolio.
Mistake 1: You cash in the oldest bonds
first. They might be your highest earners.
Mistake 2: You look only at the bonds’
face amount when deciding how many
to redeem. That might bring you more
taxable income than you want. Bonds that
add up to $3,000 on their face might be
worth $6,000 or more, once the interest is
counted.
Mistake 3: You cash in so many bonds at
once that the cumulative, taxable interest
puts you into a higher bracket.
Mistake 4: You redeem a bond in the
day or week before a six-month interest
payment is due to be paid.
Free calculators at treasurydirect.gov and
savingsbonds.com will tell you what each
of your bonds is worth. For as little at
$5.95 a year, Brahney’s service will value
the bonds and brief you, monthly, on what
they currently earn and how much interest
they’ve accumulated. Knowing your bonds
can save on taxes and raise your earnings,
too.
Pilates and Body Ballet/Belly Dance Classes is Now Offered
at the Placerville Senior Center
The Placerville Senior Center is excited to announce two new dance classes taught by Marina Kalashnikova Messina. Marina’s
background includes folk, ballet, fitness, choreography and so much more. Having owned a professional dance academy in Russia, her
experience brought her to festivals and performances all over Europe. Pilates will be held on Tuesday’s from 10-11:30 a.m. where
students will learn the art of controlled movements that will improve flexibility, builds strength and develops control and endurance in
the whole human body. It puts emphasis on alignment, breathing, developing a strong powerhouse, and improving coordination and
balance. Body Ballet/Belly Dance will be held on Friday’s from 10-11:30 a.m. and will be a combo class that will bring in a fitness
program based on classical ballet adapted for people of any level of physical fitness and a modern and stylized type of middle-eastern
dance. Classes will be held at the Placerville Senior Center, 937 Spring Street. These classes are designed for older adults and no
experience is required. These classes are free of charge. For more information, call the Senior Activities Program at 530-621-6255.
10
Senior News
Senior Farmers’ Market Check Booklets
Available
The El Dorado County Area Agency on Aging has a limited supply of Senior Farmers’ Market
check booklets available for qualified El Dorado County Seniors. Each eligible senior will
receive one booklet that includes ten checks redeemable for $2 each to be used at Certified
Farmers’ Markets for the purchase of fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, cut
herbs and raw unprocessed honey. Distribution of the Farmers’ Market check booklets will
take place as follows:
July 22nd, 2015, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Cameron Park Farmers’ Market
July 25th, 2015, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Placerville Farmers’ Market
July 28th, 2015, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the South Lake Tahoe Farmers’ Market,
August 1st, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Garden Valley Farmers’ Market
Farmers’ Market check booklets will be distributed to seniors who are at least 60 years of age
and meet income guidelines (one person household with annual income less than $21,775
or two person household with income less than $29,471). Checks are good for all Certified
Farmers’ Markets.Seniors may designate an individual (proxy) to receive their booklet and
make purchases at the Farmers’ Market on their behalf. A proxy form must be completed by
the eligible senior in advance so the proxy can pick up the booklet.
For more information, or to request a proxy form, please call the El Dorado County Senior
Information & Assistance Program at (530) 621-6251 or (800) 510-2020.
Commission on
Aging
The El Dorado County Area
Agency on Aging has a
Commission on Aging (COA)
that serves as an Advisory
Board to the County Board of
Supervisors. The 14 members
of the COA are appointed and
represent all parts of the county.
Various committees work hard
to recommend services that help
seniors survive in this ever more
complicated world we live in.
www.2nd50yrs.org
For more information about
the COA or for a schedule of
upcoming meetings, please call
(530) 642-4833.
Department of Human Services
Meetings and Programs
Caregiver Gatherings
After a while, providing care to a relative or close friend with
a chronic health condition, such as dementia, can take its toll. 
Research indicates caregivers who take a problem solving
approach to their duties, look for the positive in difficult situations,
and have good social support will not only experience less stress,
but the person they care for will experience a slower rate of decline
than those who do not use this strategy. Join us and share with
others who face the same challenges as you, get answers, and
share your success (or not so successful) stories in a friendly and
confidential setting.   For more information, contact 621-6180.
“My Time” Caregiver Gathering
Friday, July 10th from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
location: Placerville Senior Center, 937 Spring Street
 
“After Five Club” Caregiver Gathering
Wednesday, July 8th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. location: Senior
Day Care Center, 935-A Spring Street, Placerville
Home Delivered Meals
Homebound adults 60 years or older who are medically or
phyiscally disabled may qualify for home delivery of senior
meals. Contact (530) 621-6160 for more information.
Senior Peer Counseling
Offers counseling services to adults 55 years or older enabling
them to make choices and changes for personal growth. For
more information, call (530) 621-6304.
Free Community Service
The You Are Not Alone (YANA) Program is a FREE telephone
calling service that provides daily phone calls to seniors. For
more information, call (530) 621-6255.
Resources and Sharing on the Divide
Caregiver Support Group meets the 2nd Tuesday afternoon of
each month. 2:30-4:00 p.m. Greenwood Community Center,
4401 HWY 193-next to CCC.
Senior Times
11
The Gifts of Reading
To find yourself in another world, captivated by another realm, engrossed within a story is truly one of the
greatest experiences of all- this is reading. Reading has always been a favorite pastime of mine, from when I
was a small child learning to read with the help of Dr. Seuss to being a teenager evaluating the works of Jane
Austen to becoming an adult immersing myself within my favorite crime novel.
Reading has been there in every stage of my life, gifting its benefits along the way. The benefits of reading are limitless. Whether it
be mental stimulation, stress reduction, vocabulary expansion, memory improvement, strengthening analytical skills, improved focus
and concentration, better writing skills, tranquility, or sheer entertainment the list goes on and on. Reading is so important for the mind
which is why the Placerville Senior Center is now offering a book club. It is important to keep your mind stimulated and active, what
better way to do that then by reading and partaking in the new book club? Come join the fun every third Friday at 12:30pm to 1:30pm!
July cont. from page 1
party, the Democratic-Republicans, admired Jefferson and the
Declaration. But the other party, the Federalists, thought the
Declaration was too French and too anti-British, which went
against their current policies.
July 4, 1776, listed at the top. The deaths of Thomas Jefferson
and John Adams on July 4, 1826, may even have helped to
promote the idea of July 4 as an important date to be celebrated.
1-800-510-2020
By 1817, John Adams complained in a letter that America seemed
uninterested in its past. But that would soon change. After the
War of 1812, the Federalist party began to come apart and the
new parties of the 1820s and 1830s all considered themselves
inheritors of Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans. Printed
copies of the Declaration began to circulate again, all with the date
Toll Free
One-Stop Shopping
for Senior Services
Statewide
Celebrations of the Fourth of July became more common as the
years went on and in 1870, almost a hundred years after the
Declaration was written, Congress first declared July 4 to be a
national holiday as part of a bill to officially recognize several
holidays, including Christmas. Further legislation about national
holidays, including July 4, was passed in 1939 and 1941.
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Permit No. 293
Address Service Requested
Community Meetings
Placerville Fellowship and Newcomers
Open to all newcomers and residents of El Dorado
County. Friendship and social activity for members.
For more information, call 295-1027.
Stroke Education and Support Group
Meets at 681 Main Street, room 208,
Placerville
4th Wednesday of each month,
Brown Bag Lunch – 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
For more
information, call 626-2642
Widowed Persons Association
“The Widowed Persons Assoc. of CA” (WPAC)
meets monthly for lunch. This is an opportunity
for widowed men & women to take part in planned
social activities. For more information, 391-4154.
Golfers!! Bowlers!! RVrs!! Fishers!!
SIR is a non-profit organization of men retired from
full time employment. We have a monthly luncheon
meeting and a guest speaker. No dues. For more
information, call 644-1405.
POETRY FOR ALL
My Short-Lived Modeling Career
Though humorous now, Bill Domenico recalls a particularly
embarrassing moment as a kid, modeling the latest fashions
for a local clothing store.
One evening in 1951, I participated in a show for Jacobs Junior Shop at the Hammonton
High School auditorium in southern New Jersey.
The butterflies began to fill my tummy as soon as I entered the building, and they became
absolutely unbearable when I was “on deck.”
The fashion director had instructed me on the proper strut and the importance of keeping
my eyes focused on the ribbon about six feet from the end of the runway. This functioned
as a crude stop sign to prevent us from tumbling
into certain work for the local rescue squad.
I nervously kept asking those who preceded me,
“Could you see anything with the bright lights
shining in your face? Could you see the ribbon well
enough?” Peeking from behind the giant curtain,
I thought the narrow walkway truly resembled a
gangplank.
Suddenly, I was next. The first 15 or 20 feet
were fine—I recall thinking about nothing but
the ribbon. As I reached the object of my intense
concentration and began my turnaround, my feet
all at once felt shackled, and I stumbled forward,
landing on all fours. My fedora flew off my head
and landed in the first row of the audience.
Poetic License, a poetry readaround, Saturday, July 18th from 3-4 p.m.
at the Placerville Senior Center. All ages
welcome. The event is free.
Bring your own poems to share; read from your
There must have been a collective gasp as I ran off the runway toward the refuge of the
favorite poets; or just come to listen.
Poetry in Motion, a poetry readaround, Monday, July 27th from 6-7 p.m. at the
Placerville Senior Center. All ages welcome.
The event is free.
Bring your own poems to share; read from your
favorite poets; or just come to listen.
We hope to see you there!
backstage area, crying unabashedly.
I am told that the scene that night was so heartbreaking to everyone in attendance
that my mom decided to purchase the entire wardrobe, which is probably still hanging
somewhere in the dark recesses of a closet as a pathetic reminder of the road not taken.
It is wonderful, though, how seemingly tragic events can become a source of great
humor. How time heals all wounds!
–Bill Domenico, Hammonton, NJ
Disclaimer: Any listed Community Events and Meetings and any other non-County events listed in the Senior Times are not represented or
provided by El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Agency. For information regarding
events, dates, locations, etc., please call the organization directly. Thank You.