January Senior Center News by Carol Kaneko,Jean Yamashita
Photos by Jean Yamashita
SENIOR CENTER EVENTS
Due to the coronavirus pandemic and for the safety of our Seniors, the Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL Senior Center has suspended Thursday gatherings, activities, special events, and trips until further notice. If you need help while sheltering-at-home (e.g., picking up groceries), please contact Carol Kaneko or Jean Yamashita (408-813-6539).
It’s a brand new year with, hopefully, good times ahead! We are truly grateful to all our Senior friends who continue to care and help each other while we cautiously wade through this pandemic. Thank you all and stay safe!
LET’S BEAT COVID-19!
COVID-19 vaccines are available (yeah!), but information as to who, when, where a person can get the COVID-19 vaccine varies at the moment. As information solidifies, we will try to share with you. Please contact your primary care physician for recommendations or if you have questions and/or concerns.
Below is some COVID-19 vaccination information taken from the “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” (CDC) website:
Question: Can a COVID-19 vaccine make me sick with COVID-19?
Answer: No. None of the COVID-19 vaccines contain the live virus that causes COVID-19 so a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.
Some notes on COVID-19 benefits from the CDC:
COVID-19 vaccination will help keep you from getting COVID-19
COVID-19 vaccination is a safer way to help build protection
COVID-19 can have serious, life-threatening complications, and there is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you. And if you get sick, you could spread the disease to friends, family, and others around you.
COVID-19 vaccination will be an important tool to help stop the pandemic
Question: Do I need to wear a mask and avoid close contact with others if I have gotten 2 doses of the vaccine?
Answer: Yes. Not enough information is currently available to say if or when CDC will stop recommending that people wear masks and avoid close contact with others to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.
As a footnote: Some Seniors have received the first COVID-19 vaccination and have had no issues except for some arm soreness where shot was administered.
Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!Happy New Year!
In celebration of 2021, the W-SC JACL Senior Center provided NijiyaMarket lunch boxes to all the Seniors on January 21st.
Alice and Ken Tanimoto generously donated yummy green bean pastries from Baker’s Village for everyone!
Thank you, Ken and Alice!
Nobue Fujii wanted to wish everyone ‘good luck’ in the new year and patiently folded many colorful origami cranes for all the Seniors. Domo arigato, Mrs. Fujii!
Our exuberant delivery crew arrived at Kizuka Hall, assisted in bagging their goodies, and cheerfully drove away to their awaiting Seniors. Many thanks to our wonderful delivery team who are always willing to help when needed: Susan AmRhein, Sharon Bobo, Reba Condon, Paul Kaneko, Gail Wurtenberg, and Jean Yamashita.
Pictured – top row (L-R): Bill and Gail Wurtenberg, Susan AmRhein Bottom row (L-R): Carol and Paul Kaneko, Reba Condon, Sharon Bobo
We hope everyone enjoyed the January treat! Cheers to happy times in 2021!
HAPPY JANUARY BIRTHDAYS!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Donations gratefully received in January from: Bette Garcia, Karen Sugidono, Terry Hirahara, and Eiko Stewart.
Special donations gratefully received from: Bette Garcia for the Senior Center program; The Takayo and Kenichi Nakase Family Foundation for Senior Center programs; Bruce Fujii for Fujii family in memory of Kimiyo Fujii; Kim Shiraishi in memory of Hisako Uemura; Jackie Yamashita for New Year’s donation; Toshi Yamashita in memory of Kimiyo Fujii and Ken Hane; Patt and Mark Takeuchi in memory of Kimiyo Fujii; and also from Patt and Mark Takeuchi “To help with delivery of care to our seniors who are sheltering in place. You helpers and volunteers rock!”
The W-SC JACL Senior Center is most appreciative of the many kind and generous special donations that we have received in the past few months. Your generosity will enable us to continue our monthly outreach to our sheltered-in-place seniors. Arigatō!
For those who wish to donate during this time when the Senior Center is closed, please make out your checks to ‘W-SC JACL Senior Center’ and send them to Carol Kaneko at 1835 Silvana Ln, Santa Cruz, CA 95062. Thank you for your generous support of our Senior Center.
From the W-SC JACL: Thanks to all who have sent in their local JACL dues for 2021.
Special Note: Because the Senior Center has had to (sadly) close its doors due to the coronavirus, birthday donations and senior center anniversary donations are optional until the Senior Center can reopen again. Voluntary donations are much appreciated.
New W-SC JACL Senior Center members: Mas and Marcia Hashimoto
With a more contagious coronavirus variant surfacing in the country, we hope everyone can remain diligent in protecting themselves and staying safe at home as much as possible. To avoid the coronavirus as well as the flu, it’s even more critical to practice the following healthy habits: Remember to always wear a mask in public; distance yourself from other people (at least 6 feet); wash your hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; get plenty of sleep; eat well; and try to stay active (both body and mind). Stay hydrated – drink plenty of water. Try to do your balance exercises three times a day!
December Senior Center News by Carol and Paul Kaneko,Jean Yamashita
Photos byJee Kajihara, Jean Yamashita
SENIOR CENTER EVENTS
Due to the coronavirus pandemic and for the safety of our Seniors, the Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL Senior Center has suspended Thursday gatherings, activities, special events, and trips until further notice. If you need help while sheltering-at-home (e.g., picking up groceries), please contact Carol Kaneko or Jean Yamashita (408-813-6539).
It’s been a very trying year, yet we still have so much to be thankful for this holiday season. We are truly grateful to all our Senior friends who have cared and helped each other during this unprecedented pandemic – even a simple phone call can mean so much to a fellow Senior staying at home.
Thank you!
HOLIDAY SURPRISE FROM IMURA RESTAURANT
On December 14th, Imura Restaurant surprised the W-SC JACL Seniors living in/around Watsonville with a delicious meal of soup, sushi, noodles, and muffin with the following message:
“Imura Restaurant would like to wish Happy Holidays and warm thoughts to W-SC JACL Seniors.”
Each meal was packaged in a bag beautifully decorated by the Kajihara and Song children making the gifts extra special.
Pictured: Mia Song
3-year-old Mia Song proudly displays the bags she decorated for the Seniors. She is so cute!
Imura Restaurant worked so hard to prepare numerous meal bags for the Seniors – an amazing effort!
Pictured: Jee Kajihara and her mom, Mrs. Song
Many thanks to Imura Restaurant for their continual thoughtfulness and generosity to the W-SC JACL Seniors!
With Christmas fast approaching, Santa and his elves were busy preparing Christmas gift bags for the W-SC JACL Seniors.
On December 1st, Goro Yamashita/Yamashita Market kindly delivered to Kizuka Hall the 5 pound rice bags purchased by the Senior Center for the Senior Christmas gift bags.
Pictured: Goro Yamashita
Thank you, Goro/Yamashita Market!
Toshi Yamashita generously donated a splendid assortment of 2021-2022 pocket calendars.
Pictured: Toshi Yamashita
Thank you, Toshi!
Nobue Fujii spent days folding colorful origami Christmas ornaments for all the Seniors.
Pictured: Nobue Fujii
She also generously donated a variety of chocolates. Domo arigato, Mrs. Fujii!
Jean Yamashita provided a few snacks in little penguin bags.
Thank you, Jean!
Pictured: Jean Yamashita
Reba Condon purchased boxes of superb mandarin oranges then spent hours washing and beautifully arranging the fruit in the red mesh bags.
Pictured: Reba Condon
Thank you, Reba!
By December 17th, the snowman gift bags were stuffed with holiday goodies and ready for distribution. Our delivery elves met at Kizuka Hall, quickly loaded up their ‘sleighs’, and merrily dashed away with their precious cargo.
Many thanks to our jolly delivery team: Susan AmRhein, Sharon Bobo, Reba Condon, Paul Kaneko, Gail Wurtenberg, and Jean Yamashita.
Pictured – top row (L-R): Sharon Bobo and Susan AmRhein, Paul Kaneko Bottom row (L-R): Gail Wurtenberg, Reba Condon
The W-SC JACL Senior Center was sadly unable to hold its annual Christmas party this year but hopes the Christmas gift bags brought a little holiday cheer to our Seniors. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
IN MEMORIAM
The W-SC JACL Senior Center extends its deepest sympathies to the Fujii Family in the passing of Kimiyo Fujii on December 11, 2020 at the age of 94.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Donations gratefully received in December from Gail Wurtenberg and Gini Matute-Bianchi.
Special donations gratefully received from: Shirley Nishimoto in memory of Kimiyo Fujii; Jean Yamashita in memory of Tomiko Yamashita; Yamashita Market in appreciation; Sharon Bobo in appreciation; Eileen Byers in memory of Philip Fujita and Ken Hane; Reba Condon “in appreciation for monthly drop-offs to keep our seniors connected”; Joyce, Karl, Miles, and Dean Tsuji in memory of their great-aunt, Chiyoko Yagi (“We are grateful for the enrichment that Kizuka Hall brought to her retirement years”); Jean Akiyama in memory of Kimiyo Fujii and Ken Hane; Chiyeko Shikuma in loving memory of Hiroshi Shikuma; Leigh Sakaguchi in appreciation; Amy Dobashi “for Senior Center”; Jean Yamashita in appreciation; Gini Matute-Bianchi for 49th Anniversary of Senior Center; and Gerald and Nancy Yamada in memory of Yoneko Mizokami and Paul Mizokami.
The W-SC JACL Senior Center is most appreciative for the kind donations received. For those who wish to donate during this time when the Senior Center is closed, please make out your checks to ‘W-SC JACL Senior Center’ and send them to Carol Kaneko at 1835 Silvana Ln, Santa Cruz, CA 95062. Thank you for your generous support of our Senior Center.
Special Note: Because the Senior Center has had to (sadly) close its doors due to the coronavirus, birthday donations and senior center anniversary donations are optional until the Senior Center can reopen again. Voluntary donations are much appreciated.
YEAR-END MESSAGES
Looking back at 2020 … with gratitude.
This past year has been a challenge to us all due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We closed the Senior Center in March, and we are still sheltered-in-place and staying safe at home. (Who knew that a roll of toilet paper should have been the grand prize instead of third place?)
Although we are not meeting at Kizuka Hall to socialize, celebrate special occasions, and play bingo with our friends, there has been outreach to our seniors thanks to the efforts of some of our seniors and community friends. We are grateful for their many contributions.
In March, May, and December, Jee Kajihara and family from Imura Restaurant in Watsonville provided our seniors in or near Watsonville with beautifully decorated goodie bags filled with delicious food. They also provided extra goodies for some of the later monthly treats from the Senior Center. We are so grateful for their generosity and care for our seniors. Thank you to Imura Restaurant and the Kajihara/Song families!
Starting in June, Jean Yamashita has been the force behind the other regular monthly treats from the Senior Center. Jean researched potential treats and arranged for their purchase and delivery by the delivery crew. Thanks to Susan AmRhein, Sharon Bobo, Reba Condon, June Honda, Paul Kaneko, Ken Tanimoto, Gail and Bill Wurtenberg, Jean Yamashita, and substitutes Shirley Inokuchi and Eiko Stewart for being a dedicated and dependable delivery crew. Thanks also to Cindy Mine for Valley Height deliveries (and also for addressing senior health concerns as they have arisen) and Marcia Hashimoto for managing Kizuka Hall pickups for our special anniversary bento. Our seniors are most appreciative of the outreach and care given to them by our volunteers. We are grateful for all the time and effort you all devote to the care of our seniors.
There are others who have donated items for our delivery crew or for our goodie bags. We are grateful to: Hisako Kodama, Hideko Nagamine, Jackie Yamashita, Nobue Fujii, Reba Condon, Toshi Yamashita, Emi Kaita, and Jean Yamashita.
In addition to coordinating our monthly outreach/treats to our seniors, JeanYamashita also writes and posts our monthly Senior Center News. The Senior Center gives a big shout-out to Jean for her dedication and service to our seniors. THANK YOU, JEAN!!! (The Senior Center has sent Jean a well-deserved Costco gift card in appreciation for her many hours of dedicated service to our seniors.) We are so grateful for your commitment to our senior community.
We are grateful for the work of Kimiko Marr as she provided us with nine weeks of a virtual pilgrimage. It was nice to have the time to view all the presentations as we were sheltered-in-place at home.
On a sad note, we lost seven of our senior friends this past year with the passing of Chiyoko Yagi (99), Akira Kodama (98), Michiko Hamada (98), Jim Kawamoto (93), Hisako Uemura (92), Mitzi Katsuyama (100), and Kimiyo Fujii (94). We are grateful for all the years they enjoyed being with us at the Senior Center and we will miss each of them.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to call or check in on our seniors to see if there was anything they needed help with. We are grateful for your care and concern.
Last, but not least, we are grateful for all our seniors and friends who made donations to the Senior Center so we can continue to stay in contact with all our senior members. We are grateful for all the kind words of encouragement and support that were sent with your donations.
With the vaccine for the coronavirus being distributed, we are hopeful that we can resume our activities at the Senior Center sometime in 2021. We may soon be able to gather together again to shout BINGO! and see our friends and celebrate all that we are thankful for.
Stay safe, everyone, and Happy Holidays!
Warmest aloha from Paul and Carol
Who could have imagined a year like this one? Reluctantly, the Senior Center had to close in March – I had guessed maybe for one or two months – boy, was I wrong. With nothing to do, time passed slowly, at first. Eventually, I think we found other ways to fill the time: The house may now be a little neater (well, at least my dad’s house – not mine!), the garden has less weeds (and unfortunately new bugs – ug), and the homemade tsukemono is now somewhat edible (after many failed attempts). Several Seniors spent days canning (although mason jars were scarce) and sewing (e.g., making masks); some Seniors had increased grandchildren babysitting duties as parents worked-from-home; and a lot of people could be seen enjoying the outdoors more, especially dog-walkers (except when smoke filled the air from the devastating fires). Seniors were also very ambitious and painted the outside of the house (and survived – whew!) and re-strapped patio furniture (what a challenge!).
As the tumultuous year comes to a close, I have to reiterate “thank-yous” to the gracious volunteers who were always willing to help whenever needed: Susan AmRhein, Sharon Bobo, Reba Condon, June Honda, Paul Kaneko, Eiko Stewart, and Ken Tanimoto. I am truly grateful for their kind assistance without which the Senior Center activities could not be performed.
I would also like to express appreciation for Paul and Carol Kaneko who quietly handle all the “behind-the-scenes” administrative duties of the Senior Center such as addressing Senior Center issues and inquiries as they arise; managing finances; handling correspondence; dealing with membership; communicating with the W-SC JACL board; etc. Carol and Paul also review and contribute articles to the monthly Senior Center News. With their efforts, the Senior Center continues to operate smoothly.
Thank you to everyone for their thoughtfulness and support this year! I miss seeing your smiling faces! Hopefully, we may gather together again in 2021! In the meantime, please take care of yourselves and have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
– Jean Yamashita
With the coronavirus surging across the country, we hope everyone can remain diligent in protecting themselves and staying safe at home as much as possible – so difficult during the holidays. To avoid the coronavirus as well as the flu, it’s even more critical to practice the following healthy habits: Remember to always wear a mask in public; distance yourself from other people (at least 6 feet); wash your hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; get plenty of sleep; eat well; and try to stay active (both body and mind). Stay hydrated – drink plenty of water. Try to do your balance exercises three times a day!
Kizuka Hall Senior Center 