SCV Senior Center The Mighty Oak 1

February 2016

What’s Inside? Classes at The Center ......... ..................................... 3

Health & Wellness Schedule... ..................................6

Trips & Tours.................. ...........................................7

February Menu............... ........................................11

Are you looking for the magic potion of youth? Then look to your own body.

The list of benefits you receive from ex-ercise is long! If you want to keep your body physically, mentally, and even emo-tionally fit at any age, the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center has that fitness pro-gram you’ve been looking for.

The SCV Senior Center offers all sorts of exercise programs to help you stay healthy, vital, and young at heart what-ever your age. From a health standpoint, exercise can help you lose weight, ease stress, boost the immune system, strength-en cardio vascular and circulatory sys-tems, increase bone density and flexibil-ity, reduce disease, increase balance and

stability, improve stamina and endurance, quality of sleep, and mental acuity. The list of benefits goes on and on.

As a certified fitness specialist, my team and I pro-vide a variety of morning fit-ness programs t h r o u g h o u t the week. For example, we have a low-impact aero-bics class, that includes strength train-ing, balance, and stretch, Sit N-B Fit (chair exercise), and

a fine motor skills class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Two of the joys of teaching is to first watch part ic ipants increase their fitness level in many ways. Secondly, the social aspect,

seeing people meeting new friends and the camaraderie that we all share.

The real key or “potion” is to be ac-tive, and stay in the swing of life. So, join us for a fun adventure in health and fit-ness! Check out the SCV Senior Center website at www.scv-seniorcenter.org or contact Robin Clough, Volunteer and Recreation Coordinator at 661-259-9444 or rclough@scv-seniorcenter.org for more details.

Linda Bennett is a fitness instructor for the SCV Senior Center and has been teaching at the SCV Senior Center for over 30 years. She stays current on cutting-edge medical and fitness information and incorporates it into her classes. Linda Bennett has many fitness and health certi-fications and accreditations, ensuring safe and effective exercises to improve health.

The Magic Potion-find it at the SCV Senior Center by Linda Bennett

February 20162 The Mighty Oak

Get your cos-tume ready and pre-pare for celebrat-ing a night of Fun & Games, because the SCV Senior Cen-ter’s annual Celeb-rity Waiter Dinner is taking everyone on

February 27, 2016, 5 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Valencia

With a team of local celebrities acting as our wait staff for the evening, the SCV Senior Center Celebrity Waiter Dinner is a fun evening that helps raise funds to support SCV Senior Center programs and services. With this Fun & Games theme, there are many op-portunities for creative costumes and table decorations. In addition to din-ner, the evening will feature dancing to a live band and a DJ, a live auction,

and prizes for the best-decorated table and the waiter who raises the most do-nations.

In addition to a dedicated team of volunteers, the SCV Senior Center Ce-lebrity Waiter Dinner could not hap-pen without the help of our valued sponsors. As in years past, the SCV Se-nior Center event is receiving tremen-dous support from the Santa Clarita business community. Sponsorships keep rolling in, but a few sponsor-ships and tickets are still available. For more information and to view photos of years past, visit www.scvcelebrity-waiter.com .

Read the Mighty Oak to find out about all the great celebrations, class-es, and activates for the month of Feb-ruary! Join us for some fun, exercise, and a great meal. Hope to see you here!

The Mighty Oak is publishedmonthly by the SCV Senior Center

22900 Market Street, Santa Clarita, CA 91321Tel: 661-259-9444

FAX: 661-255-5195

For Advertising Information Contact:

Linda Alexander-LieblangAssociate Executive Director

llieblang@scv-seniorcenter.org661-259-9444

www.scv-seniorcenter.orgProduction: Prime Publications, Inc

Tel: 661-294-4444 • FAX: 661-294-4442email: linda@santaclaritamagazine.com

Contributing Writers:Jane M. McNamara

Linda Alexander-LieblangNola Aronson

Rachelle DardeauRita Roth

Robin Clough

Thoughts fromExecutive Director Rachelle Dardeauby Rachelle Dardeau, MS, MSW

SCV Senior Center The Mighty Oak 3

Arts & Crafts Classes• Art Workshop – Tues., Wed. & Thurs., 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., Room A2• Needlework – Mon., 9 a.m. – noon, Room A2• Watercolor Virtual Art Lessons – Beginner level: Fri. 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Intermediate level: Thurs. 9:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m., Room A6Dance & Music• Ladies Glee – Thurs., 12 p.m. – 2 p.m., Flying Tiger Senior Apartments• Line Dance – by Ramona Thomas, Mon., 2 p.m.–3 p.m., Dining Room• Line Dance – by Helen Walker, Tues., 9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m., Dining Room• Line Dance – by Marie Del Georgio, Wed., 6 p.m.–7:30 p.m.• Mens Glee – Fri., Call Senior Center for more information.• Orchestron – Mon., Del Prado Clubhouse, call Senior Center for information• Silvertones Singers – Mon., 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., Santa Clarita Community Center• Tap Dancing – by Laura Russell, Thurs., 9:30 – 10:20 in the Dining RoomFitness Programs• Advanced T’ai Chi Ch’uan – by Allen Wells on Tues., Thurs., 8:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Dining Room• Beginning T’ai Chi Ch’uan – by Allen Wells on Tues., Thurs., 8 a.m. to 8:40 a.m., Dining Room• EZ T’ai Chi Ch’uan – by Sarah Lowman on Tues., 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Dining Room• Fine Motor Skills – Wed., 10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Dining Room• Fitness – Mon., Wed., and Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Dining Room• Flex & Flow Yoga – by Diane Hedrick, Mon, Wed, 4:15 to 5 p.m., Dining Room• Restorative & Gentle Yoga – Thurs., 8:20* a.m. – 9:20 a.m., Rooms A1 & A2*Time changes only during Tax Season.• Sit & Be Fit Chair Exercise – Mon., Wed., Fri., 9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., Dining Room• Zumba Gold – Mon., Wed., Fri. 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., Dining Room

Ongoing Classes at The SCV Senior CenterThe SCV Senior Center offers over 100 educational, recreational, and supportive programs on a regular basis. Most activities are for adults 18 and over. For more complete information and fees, please call the Center at 661-259-9444, or visit our website at www.scv-seniorcenter.org

Lifelong Learning • Archaeology & History Discussion – Tues. , 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. , Room A1 free• Beginning French – Wed., 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.• Billiards Lessons for Ladies – Tues., Beginners 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Intermediates 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Senior Center Billiards Room with Instructor Russ Evans• Computer Class – PC and Mac starting in January 2016, call SCV Senior Centerfor more information.• Intermediate French – Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.• Creative Writing – Mon., 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Room A6• Sharpen Your Computer Skills – Word and Excel computer classes for beginners, seniors going back to work or anyone interested in learning new skills.• ZoomText Computer Tutoring for the Visually Impaired – Call for an appointment.Personal Development• AARP Drivers Safety – Monthly, Rooms A1 & A2, call for dates• Conscious Aging by Dr. Teri Crane on Wed. 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., A6• Current Events Discussion Group – Mon ., 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Conference Rm. Supportive Services, free• Mindful Meditation For Health & Happiness – Mondays, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Room A6Recreation & Leisure • Beginning Duplicate Bridge Lesson – Mon., 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Room A6• Duplicate Bridge – Mon., 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Room A2• Duplicate Bridge Evenings – Tues., 6:45 p.m. to 10 p.m., Dining Room• Canasta – Mon., 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Room A1• Chess Club – Mon. – Fri., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Room A5• Pinochle – Mon., Wed., Fri., 1 p.m.to 4:30 p.m., Room A4• Food & Knick-Knack Bingo – Fri. , 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Room A2• Ping Pong – Tues, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.• Wii Games – Tues. & Thurs., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Room A6

February 20164 The Mighty Oak

January was Be Kind to Food Servers MonthIt’s important that we honor the hard work of our food servers at the SCV Senior Cen-

ter. Thank you for all your hard work packing and serving meals to hundreds of seniors each day! Join the SCV Senior Center Volunteer Team and realize your passion for helping others! A critical need exists for food service volunteers to pack hot meals for the home-bound or serve delicious meals and assist with kitchen clean up. You can even become an “On-Call” Volunteer to ensure seniors receive a nutritious meal during volunteer short-ages. Your time can make a difference in the life of a senior. Call Robin Clough, Volunteer Coordinator at 661-259-9444 for more information and to schedule an orientation.

SCV Senior Center The Mighty Oak 5

Valentine’s Day is coming and love is in the air! It’s that time of the year where you show your significant oth-er how much they mean to you by giving flowers and

chocolates, or planning a romantic din-ner. While these are all nice gestures, make sure to also focus on the day’s true meaning: reconnecting with your loved one. If you or your partner has untreat-ed hearing loss, the two of you may not be able to communicate like you once did. If hearing loss has weakened your emotional connection, finding time to strengthen your communication skills is especially crucial.

Hearing loss can occur so gradu-ally that people don’t realize they have a problem. If you notice that people al-ways have to repeat themselves to you or your partner, it won’t hurt to get a hearing screening. Many people don’t

realize the effects that hearing loss can have on their relationships with loved ones.

Ask any happy couple about the secrets to a successful relationship, and chances are that “communication” will be on the list. That’s because commu-nication allows both partners to share thoughts and emotions to each other – a very important aspect of a healthy rela-tionship. Take away this ability to talk, hear, and respond and the relationship can be strained.

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to show your significant other that you care. Give the gift that will last well be-yond February, and have their hearing tested by an Audiologist!

At Nola Aronson’s Advanced Audi-ology, we offer comprehensive hearing evaluations and will work to find a solu-tion to meet your unique needs. Call us today at 661-253-3277 to schedule an appointment at our practice located at 23833 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 103, in Valencia.

Give the Gift of hearing this Valentine’s Day!

Nola Aronson

AARP Tax Assistance at the SCV Senior Center

Tax season is never taxing for those who utilize the ser-vices of AARP tax volunteers at the SCV Senior Center. Jim Ozasky is the SCV Senior Center lo-cal coordinator for AARP’s Tax Aid Foun-dation program. It is targeted to those with low-income and seniors, but pro-vides full service as well. His extraordi-nary team of volunteer tax counselors are trained each year on state and federal tax regulations, and are certified by the IRS to provide tax preparation services.

Services are free and will be offered at the SCV Senior Center February 1 through April 18 on Mondays and Thurs-days from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

To schedule an appointment to have your taxes prepared, contact the SCV Se-nior Center receptionist at 661-259-9444.

February 20166 The Mighty Oak

February 2015Free Lectures: Held on Wednesdays from 1-2 p.m. in activity rooms A-1 and A-2

(unless otherwise noted)

Health Education & WellnessSchedule at the SCV Senior Center

Wed., Feb. 3, 1pm: Hearing Education and Screening, Nola Aronson, M.A. CCC-A, Audiologist, SCV Advanced Audiol-ogyFri., Feb. 5, 1pm: Healthy Cooking Class, Lisa Johansen, MS, RD, ENHANCE ProgramWed., Feb. 10, 1pm: Heart Healthy Habits, Natalie Dales-sio-Gruneberg, MS, RDN, CSG, Henry Mayo Newhall Hos-pitalWed., Feb. 17, 1pm: New Drugs: Where Do They Come From, Martin A. Wasserman, Ph.D., Pharmaceutical and Bio-technology ConsultantWed., Feb. 24, 1 pm: Happiness and Aging, Rolando To-ledo, MPH, Wellness Specialist, Facey Medical FoundationSat., Feb. 27, 10am-12pm: No Cost Pet Vaccination Clinic, Dr. Evelyn Vega, Veterinarian, Happy Pets Veterinary Center

Support Groups

Emotional Support Group: Tuesdays 10:00 am – 11:00amGrief Support: Tuesdays 11:00am – 12:00pmCaregiver Support Group: Fridays 9:30am – 10:30amCaregiver Workshop: Fridays 10:30 – 11:30amVisually Impaired Support Group: February 8th & 22nd from 12:30 – 1:30pm, Bouquet Canyon Senior Apartments

Health Screenings

Blood Pressure Checks: Wednesday 10:30am – 12:00pm, in the Reception OfficeHearing Screenings: Wednesday 1:00pm – 2:00pm, A1, Screenings will take place after the Health and Wellness Lec-tureDiabetes Screening: Thursday, February 4th 10:30am – 11:30am, Reception OfficeBrain Wellness/Memory Screenings: Thursday, February 4 from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm

Mardi Gras HistoryMardi Gras 2016 Falls on Tuesday, February 9

The origins of Mardi Gras can be traced to medieval Europe, passing through Rome and Ven-ice in the 17th and 18th centuries to the French House of the Bourbons. From here, the traditional revelry of “Boeuf Gras,” or fatted calf, followed France to her colonies.

On March 2, 1699, French-Canadian ex-plorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville arrived at a plot of ground 60 miles directly south of New Orleans, and named it

“Pointe du Mardi Gras” when his men realized it was the eve of the festive holiday. Bienville also established “Fort Louis de la Louisiane” (which is now Mobile) in 1702. In 1703, the tiny settlement of Fort Louis de la Mobile celebrated America’s very first Mardi Gras.

In 1704, Mobile established a secret society (Masque de la Mo-bile), similar to those that form our current Mardi Gras krewes. It lasted until 1709. In 1710, the “Boeuf Gras Society” was formed and pa-raded from 1711 through 1861. The procession was held with a huge bull’s head pushed alone on wheels by 16 men. Later, Rex would parade with an actual bull, draped in white and signaling the coming Lenten meat fast. This occurred on Fat Tuesday.

New Orleans was established in 1718 by Bienville. By the 1730s, Mardi Gras was celebrated openly in New Orleans, but not with the parades we know today. In the early 1740s, Louisiana’s governor, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, established elegant society balls, which be-came the model for the New Orleans Mardi Gras balls of today.

The earliest reference to Mardi Gras “Carnival” appears in a 1781 report to the Spanish colonial governing body. That year, the Persever-ance Benevolent & Mutual Aid Association was the first of hundreds of clubs and carnival organizations formed in New Orleans.

By the late 1830s, New Orleans held street processions of mask-ers with carriages and horseback riders to celebrate Mardi Gras. Daz-zling gaslight torches, or “flambeaux,” lit the way for the krewe’s mem-bers and lent each event an exciting air of romance and festivity. In 1856, six young Mobile natives formed the Mistick Krewe of Comus, invoking John Milton’s hero Comus to represent their organization. Comus brought magic and mystery to New Orleans with dazzling floats (known as tableaux cars) and masked balls. Krewe members remained anonymous.

In 1870, Mardi Gras’ second Krewe, the Twelfth Night Revel-ers, was formed. This is also the first recorded account of Mardi Gras “throws.”

Newspapers began to announce Mardi Gras events in advance, and they even printed “Carnival Edition” lithographs of parades’ fan-tastic float designs (after they rolled, of course - themes and floats were always carefully guarded before the procession). At first, these reproductions were small, and details could not be clearly seen. But beginning in 1886 with Proteus’ parade “Visions of Other Worlds,” these chromolithographs could be produced in full, saturated color, doing justice to the float and costume designs of Carlotta Bonnecase, Charles Briton and B.A. Wikstrom. Each of these designers’ work was brought to life by talented Parisian paper-mache’ artist Georges Sou-lie’, who for 40 years was responsible for creating all of Carnival’s floats and processional outfits.

Continued on page 8

SCV Senior Center The Mighty Oak 7

SCVSC Trips & Tours Presents Fun and Adventurous Outings for All AgesTRIPS&TOURS

Harrah’s Rincon Casino & ResortThursday, March, 24, 2016Price: $28 – No Refunds!Departs 8:30 am Returns Approxi-

mately 6:30 pmFeel the thrill of playing over 1,700

pulse-pounding, Vegas-style slots and more than 59 exciting table games! Good luck to everyone!

Circus Circus Hotel & Casino, Reno, NV &Day Trip-Lake Tahoe

Sunday, April 3 thru…Thursday, April 7, 2016$230.00 double / $275.00 singleDeparts Sunday, April 3rd at 7:30 am

& Returns Thursday, April 7th at approx. 5:30 pm

Little TokyoComing Soon!

National Wear Red Dayby the Go Red For Women editors

Support Go Red For Women by partic-ipating in National Wear Red Day® on Fri-day, February 5, 2016.

Why Go Red? Heart disease and stroke cause one in three deaths among women each year, killing approximately one woman every 80 seconds. For-tunately, we can change that because 80 percent of cardiac and stroke events may be prevented with education and action. That’s why this year we are ask-ing that you wear red on National Wear Red Day®. By doing so you help to increase women’s awareness about cardiovascular health.

This coming National Wear Red Day, February 5, 2016, marks our 13-year anniversary. And looking back on all we’ve accomplished, we’ve really made tremendous strides. They include:• Nearly 90 percent of women have made at least one healthy behavior change.• More than one-third of women has lost weight.• More than 50 percent of women have increased their exercise.• Six out of 10 women have changed their diets.• More than 40 percent of women have checked their cholesterol levels.• One third of women has talked with their doctors about developing heart health plans.• Today, nearly 300 fewer women die from heart disease and stroke each day.• Death in women has decreased by more than 30 percent over the past 10 years.

And don’t forget to make your heart health a priority. Schedule your Well-Woman Visit, a prevention check-up to review a woman’s overall health so her doctor can measure blood pressure, check cholesterol and look for signs of heart disease, stroke and other illnesses. Then encourage others through your social channels to do the same using the hashtags, #GoRedWearRed and #WellWomenVisit.

For more information visit www.goredforwomen.org.

Gardens of the World, Lunch &Shopping at The Lakes!

Tuesday, April 19, 2016Price: $39 No refunds after 3/18/16!Departs 9 am & Returns approx. 5 pmLunch on your own! Spend a few hours amongst

the beautiful cascad-ing waterfall at the French Garden or find your inner harmony at the Japanese Garden. It’s a perfect way to celebrate the different

cultures of the world! Then, spend the rest of the day perusing the different shops or having lunch with friends at the beautiful The Lakes Shopping Center!

Trip includes four nights, five days hotel accommodations, transportation, a day trip to Lake Tahoe, and a lot of fun!

Cancellations up to March 3, 2016 (No refunds after 3/3/16)

February 20168 The Mighty Oak

Feeling deep gratitude for the home-de-livered meals her grandparents received, Dar-leen Lyons was determined to someday pay back by serving as a volunteer meal driver. After retiring as Controller for a manufactur-

Volunteer Spotlight – Darleen Lyonsby Robin Clough, Volunteer & Recreation Coordinator

ing company in Burbank, she felt it was time. However, she did not hesitate to change her focus upon discovering there was a more dire need for volunteers to pack those meals. Her heart is with the elderly homebound and she

comments, “So many can’t get out, so they depend on the SCV Senior Center. I really want to ensure they get at least this one meal of the day – it is extremely important. My grandparents were so happy to have a meal delivered and to see the driver.” Darleen is so com-mitted to the cause that she even became an On-Call Food Service Volunteer, helping at a moment’s notice when a volunteer shortage occurs.

Food Services Director, Joanna Vallelunga, says “Darleen is one of the most committed volunteers in the Packing Room. She is always up for the unforeseen staffing chal-lenges and will assist wherever she is needed. Darlene is extremely de-

pendable and truly enjoys her contribu-tion to our food ser-vices program. She is heavily relied upon and we are very for-tunate to have her as

a part of our team.”Packing lunches for 300 homebound se-

niors requires a lot of hard work, yet Darleen insists “it is so much fun! I go home tired, and it is such a ‘good’ tired.” One of the highlights is meeting other volunteers. Darleen says, “The volunteers here are great. There is such diversity of backgrounds, and I love learning about their lives.”

Darleen has a long history of support for the SCV Senior Center. Since the mid-1980’s she has chaired the Le Chene Wine Auction Fundraisers alongside Mayor JoAnne Darcy and Carmen Sarro, as well as the Celebrity Waiter fundraisers. Her philanthropy also extends to Zonta and the Boys & Girls Club where she and her husband, Bill, assist. Dar-leen was named 2015 Boys & Girls Club Vol-unteer of the Year for her extraordinary volun-teerism.

Darleen lauds the SCV Senior Center as “providing a place for seniors to come and interact and an opportunity to get out of their house.” She says she enjoys being with so many wonderful, friendly seniors and takes great satisfaction knowing that their smiles are a result of her hard work.

The SCV Senior Center thanks Darleen for going above and beyond to promote qual-ity of life for seniors.

1872 was the year that a group of businessmen invented a King of Carnival, Rex, to preside over the first daytime parade. To honor the visiting Russian Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff, the businessmen in-troduced Romanoff’s family colors of purple, green and gold as Car-nival’s official colors. Purple stands for justice; gold for power; and green for faith. This was also the Mardi Gras season that Carnival’s improbable anthem, “If Ever I Cease to Love,” was cemented, due in part to the Duke’s fondness for the tune.

The following year, floats began to be constructed entirely in New Orleans instead of France, culminating with Comus’ magnifi-cent “The Missing Links to Darwin’s Origin of Species,” in which ex-otic paper-mache’ animal costumes served as the basis for Comus to mock both Darwin’s theory and local officials, including Governor Henry Warmoth. In 1875, Governor Warmoth signed the “Mardi Gras Act,” making Fat Tuesday a legal holiday in Louisiana, which it still is.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!” is a Cajun expression meaning “Let the good times roll!” It strongly conveys the “joie de vivre” (“joy of living”) attitude that pervades south Louisiana. It is mostly associ-ated with New Orleans.

Mardi Gras continued from page 6

SCV Senior Center The Mighty Oak 9

Seniors are living longer with chronic diseases, dementia, diabetes, and the ef-fects of stroke. Un-fortunately, many are unable to pay for their needed care on a long-term basis. If nursing home care is required, many seniors simply

do not know their options. They use all their savings to pay for that care – at a cost of over $8,000 per month. When they are out of money, Medi-Cal can pro-vide assistance. Medi-Cal can later seek “recovery” against the senior’s home for this nursing home financial assistance. A lifetime of savings and frugal living is lost, because the senior had an illness or con-dition that required nursing home care. Unfortunately, the senior or the family never considered that there were options and asset protection possibilities.

Alternatively, many seniors live in

Seniors Struggle To Pay For Their Careby Jane M. McNamara, Elder Law Attorney

Braille Van will be at the SCV Senior Center onThursday, February 11 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

assisted living facilities, board and care homes, or have private in-home caregiv-ers. Again, the senior’s savings is the pri-mary source of payment, and often the senior outlives their funds. Families are looking for tools, information, and ideas on how to afford care for elderly loved ones, without using all their life savings, and possibly losing the senior’s home. They need information on Medi-Cal, VA benefits, community resources, and other alternatives.

Many seniors wrongly believe that their insurance, such as Medicare, will cover their care needs. Not so. Medi-care, SCAN, Kaiser, Secure Horizons, Blue Shield, HealthNet, and all the other insurance companies do not pay for long-term care. They only cover short-term nursing home care for older and disabled patients, after a three-day hospitalization

(and not “observation status”). After this initial period expires, IF the senior quali-fies, Medi-Cal can assist with the nursing home costs. But qualification is difficult, and full of rules and pitfalls. VA Aid and Attendance benefits can provide limited assistance for other care expenses, such as in-home caregivers and assisted living facilities.

Making wise decisions is very impor-tant when faced with these challenges. Having all the information and under-standing the options is critical in making decisions. Our Law Firm guides families through the maze of long-term care is-sues, options, asset protection, and legal matters.

For more information, please contact the McNamara Law Firm, PC at 661-287-3260, or visit www.theMcNamaraLaw-FirmPC.com.

February 201610 The Mighty Oak

I Can’t Help it, it’s Yummyby Rita Roth

I have been spending a lot of time in my kitchen of late, mostly in the making of des-serts. We have had quite a bit of company, cousins visit-ing from Canada and miscel-laneous friends joining us for pleasant chitchats. One of my specialties has been English Trifle; actually the name of this particular dessert is “English

Trifle to Die For.” I hope that this is an exaggera-tion, although I must admit that you can forget about any issues of diet or cholesterol while par-taking of this artery clogging dish.

When entertaining my friends and relatives, I obviously could not choose to let them indulge alone. To do so would be rude and one would not be considered a good hostess. So it is obvious that I have eaten plenty of “English Trifle to Die For.” This put me in mind of a little poem that I wrote some time ago:

Senior Center Scholar SeriesCelebrating Black History Month

Black Women in American His-tory: Pioneers in Education, Women’s Rights, Business, and Philanthropy

Lecture & discussion with Profes-sor Lissa Brassfield

Wednesday, February 2410:00 - 11:00 a.m.Rooms A-1 & A-2

From the landing of Co-lumbus in the Americas un-til today black women have contributed to American his-tory and have been affected by it. They have led the drive for voting rights and civil rights, initiated anti-poverty programs, and even served as aviators during the World War II era and impersonated men to become buffalo soldiers. Celebrate the women of black history and their contributions and perspectives.

I ATE IT ANYWAY

I made a dessert that was gooey.It made my diet go kerplooey,but I shrugged and just said “phooey,”and I ate it anyway.

Of will power I don’t have plenty.I don’t like it when my stomach feels empty,and it looked so doggone tempty,that I ate it anyway.

It was sugary and buttery.It made me go all flutteryand I enjoyed it utterly,so I ate it anyway.

I’ll do better later or sooner.I’ll live on tofu and tuna. I hate tofu and tuna,but I’ll eat it anyway.

From now on it’s all veggiesand fishies cooked up in casserole dishes,unless I spot something delicious,then I’ll eat it anyway.

No CostVaccinations for Cats & Dogs

Presented by: Dr. Evelyn VegaHappy Pets Veterinary Cen-ter

Saturday, February 27th 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Celebrate you pet’s well-ness with Dr. Evelyn Vega of Happy Pets Veterinary Cen-ter. Dr. Vega believes that a healthy pet is a happy pet. She is generously offering free vaccinations for pets be-longing to seniors. Vaccina-tions include: Rabies, Parvo and Distemper. Please have your pet on a leash or in a cage. Join us on February 27th to insure that your pet is both happy and healthy by keeping their vaccinations up to date.

SCV Senior Center The Mighty Oak 11

UkeAladies: Ukulele Performance in Celebration of World Ukulele Day

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

Note: Menu is subject to change without notice.

Menu for January 2016

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Cranberry Chicken(Chicken with cranberry

sauce)

Chili Egg Puff“A Senior Center

Favorite!”

Chicken Piccata(chicken with sauce of lemon, garlic &

capers)

Meatloaf & Gravy

Salade Nicoisewith Tuna

(salad of beets, tomatoes, green beans, cucumber

& black olives)

CENTER CLOSEDin Observance ofPresident’s Day.

Chili Egg Puff

Pescado Veracruz(fish fillets braised

with tomatoes, capers, olives & herbs)

Braised Pork Stew(pork with onion, yel-

low bell pepper, garlic, tomatoes, rosemary &

thyme)

Cuban Style Chicken(chicken served with

onions, peppers, garlic, tomato sauce,

oregano & cumin)

Pork & Beef Chili

BBQ PulledPork Sandwich

(fresh bakedciabatta roll)

Roast PorkLoin with Gravy

Chicken Supreme(chicken with mushroom

cream sauce)

Choice Day is for Congregate Sites only.HDM Recipients will receive Option A.

Rustic Pasta(pasta with chicken

and garden veg-etables)

Sweet & Sour Chicken

Choice DayA) Beef Liver &

Onions or

B) Beef Taco

Gosht Pulao(cubed beef and pork stew with indian spices)

Choice DayA) Pork Enchilada

Casserole or

B) Vegetarian Quiche

54321Lemon Caper

Chicken(chicken with lemon

wedges & capers)

Roasted Codalla Puttanesca

(cod fish with a savory diced tomato, capers

and olive sauce

Tuesday, February 212:00 - 12:20 p.m.SCV Senior Center Dining RoomEnjoy the strumming melodies of the UkeAladies!A ukulele, also sometimes called a uke, is a four stringed in-

strument that was first popularized in Hawaii in the late 19th cen-tury. The instrument was a version of the machete, a four stringed instrument native to the Madeira region of Portugal. It is thought that the ukulele was created by Portuguese immigrants to Hawaii. Join us for this delightful performance!

Be Our Valentine! Silvertone Concert The SCV Senior Center Silvertone Singers and Musicians,

under the direction of John Swinford, perform a spectrum of memorable love songs.

Thursday, February 112:45– 4:30 p.m.SCV Senior Center Dining

Room – Donations AcceptedThe Silver-

tone Singers perform your fa-vorite romantic melodies ~ per-

fect for listening, dancing, and reminiscing. You’ll hear smooth Latin sambas, up-tempo tunes by composers like Jimmy Dorsey, Ir-ving Berlin, Rodgers & Hart, and love ballads made popular by the likes of Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme.

Thank you to the

SCV Senior Center

Needlecrafters for

donating $894.00

to the new senior

center building!