Newsletter

AARP July Meeting … Paul Levine

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Since the Campbell Community Center is not permitting large gatherings in July, we are planning to hold an online meeting using Zoom on Tuesday, July 21, at 10:00 AM.  Email and telephone Instructions will be provided prior to the meeting.

The entertainer for our meeting is magician Phil Ackerly.  Phil has created over 5,000 shows all over the country, including Off-Broadway and at Hollywood’s Magic Castle.

In 2019, he won Best Stage Magician in two separate competitions by the Oakland Magic Circle and the International Brotherhood of Magicians.  And every year he produces a fundraiser show for the South Bay Blue Star Moms, raising money to send care packages to the troops during the holiday season.

Phil Ackerly always presents a fun show, each one different and more amazing than the previous. We can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeves for us on July 21st.

Reasons to Smile … Angie Jaggars

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Birds in a Birdbath:  It is to be expected, but there’s something very gentle about birds bathing. And in public! Oh, the scandal.

Blimps:  An unlikely mode of transportation, but the sight of one overhead will immediately cause even the most jaded to look up in awe at the weird giant balloon hopefully signifying major entertainment ahead.

Legislative News … Daniel Nnorth and Claudia Schott

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Thirty-seven percent of the nation’s fatalities from Covid-19 occurred among residents and staff in long-term care facilities.  In 15 states, long-term care accounted for more than half of all Covid-19 deaths.  This has become a terrifying time for the 1.3 million Americans living in these facilities and their families.  Congress and the Administration must take urgent action to protect the health and safety of residents, staff and the surrounding community.  This is a matter of life and death.

This is why we need to contact our Federal Representatives:  Senators Feinstein and Harris, as well as Representatives Rho Khanna, Anna Eshoo, and Zoe Lofgren, to ask them support and vote in favor of the ACCESS ACT (HR 6487/S 3517).  This bill will allow the staff of nursing homes to have access to telehealth services and obtain technologies to allow virtual visits during the public health emergency relating to an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), and for other purposes.

Also, the Nursing Home Covid-19 Protection & Prevention Act (HR 6972/S 3768), by our CA Representative Anna Eshoo, is important in that it provides better access for families and ensures better care for patients in nursing homes.  Please thank Rep. Eshoo for her leadership and offer your support.  Please also call your Member of Congress (if it is not Rep. Eshoo) to urge their support, along with Senators Feinstein and Harris.

There are now 12 Covid-19 symptoms to watch out for (the list grows):  fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, (new) loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.

President Trump will continue to support Covid-19 testing sites.  Many states have decided to “pause” their reopening plans in light of the spikes in coronavirus cases.  And Texas has become the new epicenter for Covid-19.  So, stay healthy; wear your mask!

Let’s Laugh at Covid-19 … Sheila Bailey and Lynda Martinez

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… Sheila Bailey

For the first time in history:  We can save the human race by laying in front of the TV and doing nothing.  Let’s not screw this up!

I washed my hands so many times, I found the answers to my 8th grade Social Studies test.

This quarantine has me realizing why my dog gets so excited about something moving outside and going for walks or car rides.  I think I just barked at a squirrel.

… Lynda Martinez

Appropriate analogy: “The curve is flattening so we can start lifting restrictions now” = “The parachute has slowed our rate of descent, so we can take it off now”.

For the second part of this quarantine do we have to stay with the same family or will they relocate us?  Asking for myself.

Putting a drink in each room of my house today and calling it a pub crawl.

Enjoy your day.  You don’t have anything else to do.

More Covid-19 Laughs … Lynda Martinez

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I stepped on my scale this morning.  It said: “Please practice social distancing.  Only one person at a time on scale.”

Not to brag, but I haven’t been late to anything in over 12 weeks.

It may take a village to raise a child, but I swear it’s going to take a vineyard to home school one.

The spread of Covid-19 is based on two things: 1. How dense the population is, and 2. How dense the population is.

People keep asking: “Is coronavirus REALLY all that serious?”  Listen y’all, the churches and casinos are closed.  When heaven and hell agree on the same thing it’s probably pretty serious.

Never in a million years could I have imagined I would go up to a bank teller wearing a mask and ask for money.

Sherlock Holmes And The Sky … Shelly Schwartz

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Submitted by ***Brittney Harrell***

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip.  As they lay down for the night, Holmes said:” Watson, look up into the sky and tell me what you see?”

Watson said, “I see millions and millions of stars.”

Holmes: “And what does that tell you?”

Watson: “Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Theologically, it tells me that God is great and that we are small and insignificant.

Meteorologically, it tells me that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.  What does it tell you?”

Holmes: “Somebody stole our tent.”

AARP Request Regarding Election Volunteers

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Hello AARP California Volunteers,

If you are employed with or volunteer on an Election Board/Election Board Advisory Committee at the state or county level in California, let me know if you are willing to speak with AARP staff in the campaigns department at our national office regarding voter access to the voting process for the 50+ population.

There will be a discussion taking place within the next week, and if you are interested, please let me know by Monday, July 6, 2020 @ 12pm Pacific.

Thank you in advance, and have a great weekend!

Antoine Cook | AARP California

Associate State Director, Community

200 S. Los Robles Ave., Ste. 400 | Pasadena, CA 91101-2422

acook@aarp.org| (626) 585-2608 | Cell (626) 429-0473

President … Ken Schieck

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National AARP is sharing current COVID-19 information every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. PDT.  The (corrected) phone # is 855-274-9507.

Please remember and pray for the families of Marlene Hruby and Libby Harbour (see tributes by Marilyn Clough on page 2).  Marlene was my mentor for two years, and I will never forget her assistance.  She was a huge participant in our chapter for the last ten to fifteen years.

Many thanks again to Thelma Bridges and her telephone committee; they have contacted all our members every week checking to see if they are safe and have all the items they need.

Paul and Sharon Levine will host a general Zoom meeting on Tuesday, June 16. (See posting).  We must use 21st century technology to keep our bonds strong. The Campbell Community Center will not open for meetings like ours until at least August; I will keep you posted about any changes.

It’s mosquito season, so be sure to have all your screens in place, and empty any standing water.

Some updated information from AARP member Liz Gibbons:

-Capacity for expanded testing is ramping up.  Congregate settings, such as nursing homes, will also see increased testing;

-About 1,000 to 1,200 tests are being conducted daily in Santa Clara County; ideal is 4,000/day.  For more information, check sccgov.org/cv19testing;

-Testing and contact tracing are two of our five key indicators that are needed to be ready for the next phase of our COVID-19 response;

-County Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE) and County COVID-19 Assistance Navigation (CAN) have teamed up to create resource lines for workers who are financially impacted by COVID-19.  OLSE hotline is 1-866-870-7725; CAN hotline is 1-408-809-2124.

For more timely information on County Shelter-In-Place orders, go to  https://www.sccgov.org/sites/covid19/Pages/public-health-orders.aspx

Marlene Hruby’s Passing … Marilyn Clough

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Sadly, we mark the passing of Marlene Hruby on May 14.  Details can be found through the Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary on the internet.  Marlene, and her husband Ron, were such valuable members of our chapter that it’s hard to know where to begin.  Along with raising two sons and two daughters, they were active in many professional, educational, and community organizations.  When younger, they hiked all over central California and supported local nature conservation activities.  Marlene worked for Westinghouse as an administrative assistant for many years.

After retiring, Marlene was not only the editor of our Dispatch, she also edited another organization’s newsletter for over a decade. She was president of our chapter for two years shortly after Ron’s death, and also served on our Tours and Nominating committees, among other chapter activities.

Marlene and Ron never missed a theatrical presentation in our area.  What a performance by both of them!  They will be missed by many in our community.