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Seen Around Town
Wine Down
By Lynda Millner, Montecito Journal
Friendship Center invited friends and supporters to a TGIF “Wine Down” wine tasting by the sea. Their courtyard (across the street from All Saints by-the-Sea Episcopal Church) is always such an enticing place to be and this night featured live soft Latin jazz by Montecito Jazz Trio and hearty hors d-oeurves by Lorraine Lim Catering. Not to mention the eight wineries: Jaffurs Wine Cellars, Curtis Winery, Rusack Vineyards, Daniel Gehrs Wines, Consilience-Tre Anelli, Lafond Winery, Buttonwood Farm Winery and Whitcraft Winery pouring tastes of their elixir. As Executive Director Heidi Holly said, “They are paying it forward.”
She also pointed out some of the benefits of drinking wine according to Wine magazine. “Thirty-four percent lower mortality rate than beer or spirit drinkers. Lowers risks of heart disease. Less abdominal fat (really?) And wine can preserve memory.” Since I’ve been a wine drinker for years, I’d hate to think what my memory would be like without! We all took home our glass as a memento of this first-ever Wine Down.
Board President Penny Mathison announced, “This is the first, but not the last Wine Down. Forty Four seniors were cared for here today and the staff has transitioned the place for the tasting in record time.”
One of the VIPs attending was Rona Barrett who champions the causes of seniors with her Foundation. She bid generously during the live auction led by Hannah-Beth Jackson and on the silent auction as well. Proceeds go to the expansion efforts to launch a new site in Goleta.
Vicki Garner told us, “Both my parents have Alzheimer’s and they attend Friendship Center twice a week. They love to come here and it’s such a relief to me.” She told how they can’t use the Friendship Center bus because her mother gets anxious on the freeway. Vickie has to drive them herself using all the back roads, which can take an hour or more. She is looking forward to the new Friendship Center expansion in Goleta in the next year. One third of the members come from there, so it will be nice for them not to have such a long bus ride too.
Friendship Center provides day services to those with cognitive impairments. Besides transportation there are meals, activities, social contact, and excursions. If you’d like to help with either time or money call Justine Sutton or Eryn Eckert (805) 969-0859 MJ