Quality of Life for Sedona Residents

N e w s l e t t e r - S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

www.sccsedona.org

IN THIS ISSUE

• Community News• Class Schedule• Pet Project

In June of 2015, John Tamiazzo told Carolyn Billsabout a grant application that had come across hisdesk from the Banfield Foundation. They wereawarding grants for the national Meals on Wheelsorganization for the pets of people who were onthe program. Carolyn liked the idea! She wrote thegrant and set about visiting Meals on Wheels recip-ients who had dogs and cats (no one had birds orguinea pigs or fish). People were enthusiastic – aprogram was born.

Since June of 2015, 1,444 pounds of quality dry dogand cat food and 690 assorted cans of dog and catfood has been delivered to happy pets. Somethings Carolyn has discovered in her travels: Catsare pickier than dogs and they really like fishy catfood, especially with gravy. Cats are also shyer than

dogs – when trying to take pictures of people’spets, cats liked to hide under the bed. Both dogsand cats know when the “food lady” has arrived.People love, love, love their pets. One commentthat was funny was “My tuxedo cats have turnedinto snotty little gourmands.” Wait. Maybe youshould say they’ve become a better class of cat!

The program, because of the grant money and peo-ple’s generous donations, has expanded to includeservices beyond pet food. One dog needed veteri-narian care for a chronic ear infection and will mostlikely need watching in the future. Two surgerieshave been performed and one dog almost neededboarding but didn’t.

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Sedona Community Center Pet Project

Vince and Marie Leonard and Blarney

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John Gator Bertini and Rusty

Elan Jagger and Arthur

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As is always the case, other needs arise and can beaddressed – it takes a village. When a dog withallergies needed to be bathed twice a month, twogroomers stepped up to help. A request has goneout looking for dog walkers to help a woman whohas a difficult time getting around but who adoresher dog. One man is a veteran and would like tohave his dog certified as a service animal. A localdog trainer has offered to help him with theprocess.

Dogs and cats alleviate loneliness, provide comfort,make people laugh, encourage exercise, and createa feeling of safety and protection. Anyone see thatvideo of the cat that attacked the neighbor’s dogwhen he came onto the property? And the lovegoes both ways; a woman on the program lost herold dog to cancer and adopted a sweet small scareddog from the shelter who needed time to adjust.Now he’s a playful, fun loving companion.

Hopefully, this program will continue into the dis-tant future. Banfield has opted out of the nationalMeals on Wheels program but donations have kept

us going. Now that we’ve seen first hand the bondbetween these animals and their people, it’ll be apriority.

Carolyn Bills, Pet Project Coordinator

If you would like to donate to this veryimportant and worthy project please callthe Community Center and speak toJohn Tamiazzo. You can also send a checkto the Community Center at 2615 MelodyLane, Sedona, 86336. Make a notationon the check that youwant your donation togo to the pet project!Any many thanks to JohnTamiazzo for supportingthis project from thebeginning. Michael John Hamil and Zena

Geraldine Bass and Buddy Boy

Thank You!

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We have an amazing group of volunteers whomake the Sedona Community Center rock day inand day out! Without them we would not be able toprovide the services we offer to our community.Volunteers give of their time, energy and hugehearts to help others. Some volunteers serve lunchMonday through Friday at the Center for our com-munity lunch program. Other volunteers givehomebound seniors a daily call to check up onthem through our TeleCare program. Volunteershelp us with our big mailings, like this springnewsletter. There are volunteers who help pack thebags for our breakfast program. Others set up thefood pantry and pack bags for our weekend foodprogram. Caring volunteers deliver food for ourthree Meals on Wheels programs: lunch Mondaythru Friday, the breakfast program on Fridays, andthe weekend food program that is delivered once amonth. And, other volunteers plant, water and

weed to keep our premises looking warm and invit-ing.

We keep a log of how many miles our volunteersdrive each year to deliver meals and it is anastounding 18,000 miles! Considering that Sedonaand the Village of Oak Creek are just a short dis-tance away from one another and that most of thedeliveries are in Sedona, 18,000 miles indicatesthat we are an organization on the move!

On Saturday April 23rd we will celebrate our won-derful volunteers here at the Community Centerfrom 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Great music, delicious food,tantalizing refreshments and mouth-wateringdesserts will be served at this fun-filled event hon-oring the remarkable work of our dedicated andcaring volunteers.

By John Tamiazzo , PhD, Executive Director

Exercise, Health and Wellness

Silver Sneakers Fitness Programswith Karen Runyon

Silver Sneakers ClassicMonday & Wednesday 9-10am

Move to music through a variety of exercisesdesigned to increase muscular strength and rangeof movementClass Cost: $5.00 - Insurance Accepted

Silver Sneakers Chair Yogawith Karen RunyonMonday 10:15 – 11:15 am.

Offers seated and standing yoga poses withchair support to increase flexibility, balance andrange of movement.Class Cost: $5.00 - Insurance Accepted

Brain, Bone and BalanceWith Karen Runyon, Instructor

Wednesdays 10:15 – 11:15 am

Low key movements, resistance training and bal-ancing postures to promote stability, balance,agility.Class Cost: $5.00

Wiggle and GiggleMichelle Barrett, Instructor

Tuesday and Friday 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Join the Fun and WAG More! Class Includes: Aerobic dance, balance, toning, stretching andlaughter. Laughter is a big part of the class!Exercise chairs available for those who wish tochair dance.Class Cost: $5.00

Lunch at SCCEvery Monday - Friday at 12:00 PM, the SedonaCommunity Center cooks up a nutritious andscrumptious lunch! Chef Peggy prepares an appe-tizing three-course meal, cooked fresh daily in theCenter’s kitchen. New menus are planned month-ly and are available at the Center or on our web-site. For a $5.00 donation, with no tax and no tip,it’s the best lunch deal in town! All ages are wel-come. We ask diners to please call one day inadvance (928-282-2834) to reserve their place atthe table. For those who need a ride, with a two-day advance notice, Verde Valley Caregivers (928-204-1238) has partnered with the Center to pro-vide FREE transportation.

Exercise, Health and Wellness

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Some Classes: Prepaid tickets 4 classes for $25.00 – Drop in $7.00Excludes Silver Sneakers, Art Class and WaterColor Class

Cal l the Sedona CommunityCenter at 282 .2834 for more

informat ion

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Watercolor ClassesWith Cathryn Stedman

Wednesdays 1:30 – 4:30pm

This class is offered to beginning and intermedi-ate students. Bring your watercolors and paperand join us for art and community. All levels arewelcomeClasses $10.00 each

Language of the HeartOpen Sessions with Summer Bacon and Dr. Peebles3rd Saturday of every month,10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Please join us for a special morn-ing of nurturing, inspiration, wit and wisdom pro-vided by Summer Bacon and the beautiful spiritDr. James Martin Peebles. Some attendees willhave the opportunity to ask a question of Dr.Peebles.

Arrive at 9:00 a.m. and enjoy coffee and treatswhile mingling with people of like mind and likeheart. Make new friends! Class Cost: $10.00Seniors (65+) and Students $5.00

A Course in MiraclesWith Joan Harrington

Fridays 10:00 – 11:30 am

A unique, universal, self-study spiritual thoughtsystem that teaches that the way to Love andInner Peace is through Forgiveness. Donation.

Life After LossProvided by Hospice Compassus at the SedonaCommunity Center

1st & 3rd Thursdays monthly - 10:30 – 12:00 a.m.

Ongoing grief counseling and bereavement sup-port group in a quiet private setting. No charge.

EducationEducation

OUR MISSION

NON- PROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE

PAIDSEDONA, AZPERMIT NO 115

Mail to:P.O. Box 2894Sedona AZ 86339

Location:2615Melody LaneSedona AZ, 86336(928) 282 2834

www.sccsedona.org

• Our services are partially funded by AAA/NACOG/DES, ALTCS, and the City of Sedona. • Sedona Community Center is a 501C3 Non-Profit Organization.

Our mission is to enhance the quality oflife for people of the greater Sedona com-munity through our award winning foodprograms, outstanding exercise and edu-cational activities, compassionate sup-portive services, and by providing avenue for meetings, social, and culturalevents.

For the last quarter of 2015 we provided:

5,280 Meals on Wheels1,620 Congregate Meals 1,776 Breakfast Club Meals120 Food Pantry Meals