Volunteer of the Month
Archives

January 2020
Lee Lombard

Photo of Lee Lombard

This month we’d like to give thanks to Lee Lombard. Lee is one of our Transportation Assistance Program (TAP) drivers. In fact he is one of our top TAP drivers, consistently in the top three for miles driven and hours. He came to the center nearly five years ago, just looking to donate some books, when he happened to see a TAP flyer on the board. He asked the Front Desk person what TAP was, and she took him straight to the TAP coordinator. That was all it took, and he=s been driving ever since. He now drives every weekday, and even on weekends, sometimes taking 2 rides a day. He drives all over the Inland Empire which doesn’t leave him much time to explore the fun things our center has to offer, but he hopes to get involved soon. Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, his father’s travels in the Air Force eventually brought him out to March AFB in Riverside, and he=s been here ever since. He did a stint in the Air Force, where he got trained in Military Pay, which helped him after he left, to get into Money Management, which he turned into a 30 year career as a banker and financial advisor. Now single, he has a daughter and two grandsons. Thanks Lee stepping up big time into this important program.

Featured Class

Sketching
Date: October 2, 2019
Time: 8:30 - 10:00 am
Length: 8 weeks
Cost: $8 members
      $8 non-members
Instructor: Robert Placencia
Location: Game Room
Description: Are you a doodler? Or maybe you're a bit sketchy. For our Sketching Class you're perfect. The class is taught by Robert Placencia. He took classes in college, and used to assist in his oil painting class. Although his media is more in oil paintings, sketching is a big part of that so it's a perfect fit. He has been teaching the class for nearly 3+ years now. Robert has been involved in art for over 40 years, having taken art classes in high school and college. He enjoys many mediums including sketching, charcoal, and oil painting. He has even received awards for some of his works. The class will begin with portraits, as it provides the basic foundation that can later be applied to still life and scenery. Students need to bring their own pencils (4H to 6B preferred), a sharpener, as well as a sketch pad. Do not bring writing paper. The size of the sketchpad will depend upon a students personal preference although Robert prefers the large size. The Sketching class will be on Wednesdays, in the Gameroom, and will run for 8 weeks. Cost is $8.

Featured Activity

Cribbage
Time: Mondays 10:00 a.m.
Cost: Free members
      Free non-members
Location: Dining Room
Description: Cribbage is one of the older games that we play here at the center. Introduced in the early 17th century, is a card game traditionally for two players, but can be, and is, commonly played with three, four or more. The game involves playing and grouping cards in combinations which gain points. To get started all you need is a standard 52-card deck, (cards are assigned a point value equal to rank. Aces are low and count 1; face cards count 10) and a Cribbage board. A regulation board has four rows of 30 holes, marked off in groups of five and organized in two rows of two (two for each player). The pegs that come with the board are typically different colors to identify individual players. Each player has two pegs. Before play begins, the four pegs are placed at the start end of the board. The movement of the pegs, up the outside row and down the inside row back to the start, shows the progress of each player's game. The complete trip of the pegs is equal to 61 points. The traditional game is two trips, or 121 points. Use the two pegs in alternating fashion (the first peg indicates the previous score; the second peg indicates the most recent score); in this way, scores can be checked for accuracy. If you'd like to try Cribbage before you buy a board you can use a pencil and paper. It's a fun game that, due to its longevity, must be entertaining! The Cribbage group meets on Wednesdays from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm in the dining room. If you'd like to brush up on the rules first, a complete set of rules can be located in the Program Office.
Lost Pet Scam Targeting Seniors
By:
According to a report given to us from the City of Highland, scam artists are now preying on seniors who have lost a pet. The scam artist’s goal is to con you out of your money. This scam most often happens when a scam artist sees the ad or flyer that you have posted for your lost pet and: Uses the description from your ad to convince you that he/she has your pet and then demands a reward to return your pet. Claims to be a truck driver who found your injured pet while driving in your area.

The scam artist then asks that you wire money or provide your credit card information to pay for the veterinarian bill before your pet can be returned. Offers to return your pet for a reward, when it was the scam artist who stole your pet! Seniors are being tricked by scam artists pretending to have their pets!

The following tips are recommended: License your pet properly; senior discounts may be available. Consider micro-chipping your pet; senior discounts may be available. Attach a tag with your telephone number to your pet’s collar. Keep your pet in the house, in your fenced yard, or on a leash at all times. If your pet becomes lost: Contact your local animal shelter and give them a description of your pet. Ask your neighbors to be on the lookout for your pet. Create a lost pet ad or flyer; use a different telephone number than the one on your pet’s tag. Avoid putting a full description of your pet in the ad or flyer. Ask callers for details about your pet that you did not include in the ad or flyer. Ask for the name, address, and telephone number of the veterinarian where the caller claims to have taken your pet. Verify the veterinarian exists and then contact the vet directly. Finally, NEVER send money or provide credit card information to someone you do not know!

If you think you may be a victim of a scam, contact San Bernardino County Adult Protective Services (APS) at 877-565-2020, or your local police department.