JUlrich, Author at Campbell Area AARP Chapter

Summer Concerts

January 16, 2017 by JUlrich

VASONA VIBRATIONS – FREE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES – EVERY SAT & SUN 5-7PM JUNE THRU JULY

Vasona Lake County Park, 333 Blossom Hill Road, Los Gatos

June 11 – David Correa and Cascada (Latin guitar world fusion)

June 18 – Top Shelf Big Band (big band jazz)

June 25 – The Klezmakers (7 piece klezmer band, Easter European dances, traditional Israeli folk, and more

July 2 – 10th Avenue Band (Dixieland)

July 9 – Andre Thierry (Grammy nominated, alternative Creole sounds)

July 16 – Sherry Austin with Henhouse (gritty folk with a bit of twang)

July 23 – Scott T. Miller & The Acoustic Porkchop Band (roots music, jump blues, country)

July 30 – Little Jonny and Ake Kumar (foot-tappin’ upliftin’ Delta, country & Louisiana blues)

DOWNTOWN CAMPBELL SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT CIVIC CENTER) – EVERY THURSDAY 6:30-8:30

June 23 – The Jesse Charles Band (40’s+ Dance Band)

June 30 – Cocktail Monkeys (Rock • Pop • Disco • R&B)

July 7 – The Hitmen (60s, 70s, & 80s)

July 14 – The Megatones (Rock)

July 21 – The Houserockers (Rock and Soul)

July 28 – Daze on the Green (Rock)

August 4 – Sage (Rock and Country Dance Band)

August 11 – The Crocodiles (Rock)

LOS GATOS MUSIC IN THE PARK CONCERT SERIES – EVERY SUNDAY 5-7 PM THRU AUGUST

Civic Center, 110 E. Main Street between Pageant and Villa), Los Gatos

June 19 – Mustache Harbor (vintage soft rock)

June 26 – Entourage (today’s favorites and yesterday’s classics)

July 3 – Livewire (high energy dance covers)

July 10 – Hootennany (acoustic Pop/Rock Gems)

July 17 – Pop Rocks (ultimate current hits and classics)

July 24 – MIP All Stars (gourmet musical extravaganza with musicians from various bands)

July 31 – Extra Large (Upbeat Funk/Latin/Reggae)

August 7 – The Purple Ones (10 Piece Tribute to Prince)

August 21 – The Hitmen (Funk Soul, Disco)

August 28 – Pop Fiction (Bay Area party band favorites)

Sept 3 – The Los Gatos Park Dance with two bands (5:30-9:30pm Oak Meadow Park)

SANTA CLARA Concerts in the Park June – August

Central Park Pavilion, 909 Kiely Blvd, Santa Clara

June 24 – 7:30-9:30 p.m. The House Rockers (R&B, Rock, Blues and Soul)

July 8 – 6:30-8 p.m. Rebel Yell Band (Greatest Pop Hits)

July 22 – 6:30-8 p.m. Orquesta Latin Heat (Salsa Band)

August 5 – 7-9 p.m. The Hitmen (Funk, Soul, Disco)

(Concert is at Franklin Square – Homestead Rd. & Monroe St.)

August 19 – 6:30-8 p.m. The Usual Suspects (High Energy Rock)

THE MANY WAYS VOLUNTEERING IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEART

January 16, 2017 by JUlrich

(from the Harvard Health Letter)

If you do volunteer work, whether it’s at a school, soup kitchen, or senior center, perhaps you’ve experienced the emotional rewards of donating your time. What you might not realize, however, is that volunteering may offer some added advantages for your heart. “There’s a growing body of research showing that volunteering is associated with better physical and mental health outcomes,” says Eric S. Kim, a research fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. A study he co-authored, published in Social Science and Medicine earlier this year, found that volunteers were more likely to use preventive health care services. For instance, people who volunteered were 47% more likely to get cholesterol checks and 30% more likely to get flu shots than those who didn’t volunteer. (An annual flu shot appears to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke by about one-third over the following year.)

Measurable Gains: The participants were part of the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative study launched in 1992 that includes more than 7,100 adults over age 50. Earlier research from the same study found that people who volunteered on a regular basis (at least 200 hours a year) were less likely to develop high blood pressure over a four-year period than non-volunteers. Volunteers also had greater increases in psychological wellbeing and physical activity. Another large, ongoing study of volunteerism, Baltimore Experience Corps Study, has also documented physical, social, and cognitive improvements in volunteers. Begun in 1995 and now operating in multiple cities across the United States, Experience Corps pairs adults ages 50 or older with public school students who struggle with reading. Earlier studies have found that, compared with a control group, Experience Corps volunteers tend to walk more steps, be less depressed, find it easier to do everyday tasks, and have better thinking skills.

Why connection matters: The well-known advantages of greater social connectivity likely play a large role, says Kim. “For example, when you’re more connected to your community, it’s easier to get information on things like how to find the best deals on fresh vegetables, or where to get a free flu shot. People also provide one another emotional support.” Another intriguing potential benefit is that volunteering may give people a greater sense of purpose in life. There are three elements to a sense of purpose: a sense of meaning, a sense of direction, and a goal to strive for, Kim explains. In recent years, research on health and longevity has expanded to focus more on these types of positive emotions. “We know that stress, depression, and anger all have negative effects on the body, especially with regard to the risk of cardiovascular disease,” says Kim. The opposite emotions and mindsets — satisfaction and optimism — are closely linked to (but not necessarily synonymous with) a sense of purpose, he adds. Yet a sense of purpose is associated with better heart health above and beyond the effects of optimism and a positive outlook. In fact, a 2016 report in Psychosomatic Medicine that pooled findings from 10 different studies found that people with a high sense of purpose in life had a lower risk of having a cardiovascular event (such as a heart attack or stroke) and of dying from any cause, compared with people who had a lower sense of purpose.