Senior Lifestyles

Courtesy of Enid Davis
The Wise Owl Players includes, front row, from left: Jane Stefani, Enid Davis and Sandra O’Neal. Back: Bob Johnson, Graceann Johnson, Katherine Chappelear, Ellin Klor, Michelle Diederich and Mary-Jo Lomax. Not pictured: Linda White.

Spending their Monday afternoons practicing alternate personas, participants in Los Altos resident Enid Davis’ Having Fun with Monologues class hone their acting skills in advance of auditions for the Wise Owl Players’ next performance.

The Wise Owl Players, sponsored by the Palo Alto-based nonprofit Avenidas, offers drama classes for adults ages 50 and up. The troupe previously produced “Animal Farm,” George Orwell’s novel adapted by Ian Wooldridge, and Davis’ “Deleted.,” a comedy about a support group for fictional characters deleted from their authors’ manuscripts. The group’s mission is to foster social connections, personal growth and self-esteem, as well as to demonstrate the richness seniors bring to the community.

Mary Larsen/Town Crier
Chuck Baker, 100, displays the refurbished flight jacket he wore during World War II.

Los Altos resident Charles “Chuck” Baker celebrated the big 100 Feb. 15. He received many certificates of congratulations – from the Rotary Club and the mayor of San Carlos, as well as from members of the U.S. Congress and President Donald Trump.

With parties in his honor at the San Carlos Rotary Club and Los Altos United Methodist Church, and another with close friends and relatives, it was “one celebration after another,” the centenarian said.

The House Sharing Program, a joint effort from Catholic Charities and Santa Clara County, is a free service that aims to help local residents remain in the area and/or be closer to their work or family.

The program defines “house sharing” as two or more unrelated people sharing a home. That can mean a homeowner and renter relationship, or two or more people renting a home together. Residents typically have their own bedroom (and sometimes bathroom) but share common areas.

Courtesy of Bob Simon
Bob Simon, left, accepts a challenge from Larry Chu.

Regulars at Chef Chu’s know all about the wall – photos of VIP diners over the years, posing for posterity. Challenged recently by young Larry Chu to wax poetic over the wall, I grabbed my Muse.

The Los Altos Senior Program is located at Hillview Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays.

Senior Expo scheduled Friday

The Los Altos/Los Altos Hills Senior Commission and the Rotary Club of Los Altos’ Partners for Elder Generations have scheduled a free senior expo, “Let’s Get Engaged,” 2-5 p.m. Friday at the Los Altos Youth Center, 1 N. San Antonio Road.

The program will feature a variety of local volunteer and service organizations with the theme of engaging seniors in the community.