Friendship Center — The Friendly Finch: September Newsletter

Dear Friends,

As this newsletter reaches you, I’ll be away on a little vacation- surely missing my friends and coworkers here at Friendship Center! But I also know how important it is to take time to recharge and fill my cup so that I can be able to best support my team and our beloved organization.

In a way, family caregivers are essentially running a full-time business themselves, however they are (most often) without employees, a clearly defined handbook of operations, or nights and weekends off. That’s why finding moments to rest and recharge is not just nice, it’s necessary for those supporting a loved one experiencing dementia. Rest doesn’t always have to mean a trip away or something extravagant; it might look like turning your “laundry day” into a movie day, or strolling through one of Santa Barbara’s beautiful gardens. (And if you really need clean clothes that day, there are even pickup laundry services in town I just discovered…highly recommend when you need that one extra bit of help sometimes!)

Whether it’s reading a book at the beach, enjoying coffee with a friend, or simply taking a nap, I encourage you to grab those moments of rest. Laundry and errands can wait, your well-being cannot.

Meanwhile, here at Friendship Center, we’re doing the opposite of resting: we’re moving, grooving, and making every day one with purpose. And speaking of grooving…our Halloween Disco is right around the corner! This year’s Fall Fundraiser (formerly Wine Down) will be held on Friday, October 24th at The Community Arts Workshop (aka The CAW with the big beautiful gates right there on the corner of Garden and Ortega). It’s your chance to throw on a costume, lace up your boogie shoes, and support a cause worth gettin’ down for.

 

I look forward to returning to my friends at FC so we can swap travel stories and share a good ol’ laugh, like we always do. In the meantime, grab your tickets to the Halloween Disco and have a great rest of your week.

With gratitude,

Kathryn Westland,

MPH Executive Director

In this edition of the Friendly Finch…

  • Key Dates
  • Program Activities
  • Dear Dolly
  • August Smiles
  • Funder Spotlight
  • Meet Our Staff
  • Friendship Center in the News
  • Caregiver Support
  • Articles & Videos of Interest
  • Remembering Our Friends
  • Legacy & Leadership

KEY DATES

  • September 10th – Remembering our Friends with Dying in Grace (RSVP HERE)
  • September 11th – Shop at Peregrine Galleries during the Montecito Art Walk for a percentage of sales to go to Friendship Center
  • September 17th: Coffee for Caregivers
  • September 18th: Friendship Center Closes @ 3:00pm (third Thursday of every month)
  • September 21st-27th: National Adult Day Services Week
  • September 25th: A Day at the Center (RSVP HERE)
  • September 27th-28th: Stop by Friendship Center’s table at the Goleta Lemon Festival

Get your tickets for the Halloween Disco Fundraiser on

Friday, October 24, 2025

Program Activities

Montecito Day Program Activity Calendar

Connections Group

Guest Speaker Series Topics:

  • Tuesday 9/2: Jeff Garfinkle on Dinosaurs
  • Thursday 9/4: Mary’s Travel Diaries
  • Tuesday 9/9: Nerely’s Travel Diaries
  • Thursday 9/11: Maria’s Travel Diaries
  • Tuesday 9/16: Audubon Society
  • Thursday 9/18: TBD
  • Tuesday 9/23: TBD
  • Thursday 9/25: TBD
  • Tuesday 9/30: TBD

Would you like to share a story or topic of interest with our group?

Contact Nerely at programmanager@friendshipcentersb.org

Remember Dear Abby?

Let us now introduce…… Dear Dolly: Friendship Center’s own advice column, answering your questions with the wit and wisdom from the over 10,000 collective years lived by our members (“Dolly” is all of our members!).

Each month, we invite you to submit anonymous life questions or situational quandaries to be answered with the sagacious, sweet, and sometimes silly guidance of our dearest “Dolly” .

August Smiles

Funder Spotlight

Gina Bell, M.A., is a longtime educator and mental health advocate in the Santa Barbara community. She spent over 20 years teaching psychology at the college and university level, while also leading workshops and support groups that focus on wellness, caregiving, and mental health.

Gina’s connection to Friendship Center has been especially meaningful. Gina share, “I have had the privilege of offering workshops for caregivers of loved ones living with dementia, creating a space where they can learn practical tools, share experiences, and feel supported. I believe deeply in Friendship Center’s mission and the compassion they extend to families, and I’m grateful to contribute to this important work.”

We are thankful for Gina and the support she provides to Friendship Center and our local community.

Gina Bell

Meet Our Staff

Maria Porter

Fun Facts About Maria

Favorite Hobby: Public Speaking

Favorite Artist: Monet

Favorite Place to Visit: The Big Island of Hawaii

Maria is our beloved Program Coordinator, who works diligently at both our Montecito and Carpinteria locations. Maria spent the majority of her life in Seattle, until moving to Carpinteria eleven years ago.

Although Maria has been working in memory care and skilled nursing for twenty-seven years, she earned her degree in drama at The University of Washington. She still keeps up her artistic hobbies being apart of Toast Masters (a public speaking club), taking improv classes, painting, and composing her own music on the piano.

When asked about her time at Friendship Center Maria shared that she loves spending time with our members. She states, “It’s so enjoyable to be around the members because they live in the moment and are open to trying new things.” Maria is happy to work in such a joyful place where so much love is shared. She truly believes that working in memory care has been her life’s calling.

We are beyond thankful for Maria and all of the talent and skills she shares in her work at Friendship Center.

Friendship Center in the News

Edhat

Friendship Center Brings Old Spanish Days Fiesta Festivities to Members with Dementia

Santa Barbara Independent

Friendship Center Brings Old Spanish Days Fiesta Festivities to Members with Dementia

Caregiver Support

Check out Friendship Center’s virtual Dementia Resource Hub

Strategies for Improving Quality of Life for Individuals Living with Dementia: Enhancing the quality of life for individuals living with dementia begins with a person-centered approach to care. This webinar will explore strategies for tailoring care to meet the unique needs of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, focusing on preserving dignity and enhancing quality of life. Participants will gain insights into effectively managing dementia-related behaviors, engaging individuals meaningfully, and creating an environment that supports well-being. Join us to learn how person-centered care can positively impact the quality of life for those living with dementia. FREE WEBINAR, September 10, 10am-11am Click to Register
Pressure Points for Dementia Caregiving: Behavior, Driving, Firearms: Caring for someone with dementia brings unique challenges, especially when disruptive behaviors, driving safety, or firearms in the home are involved. This webinar will explore how to identify behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), offer practical guidance for caregivers navigating driving concerns, and examine the legal implications of firearm possession under cognitive disability, with summaries of relevant laws from multiple states. FREE WEBINAR, September 17, 10am-11am Click to Register

Articles & Videos of Interest

5 reasons you wake up earlier as you age – and how to get better sleep

Remember when you were a teenager and could sleep until noon? Now that you are older, it may feel like a daily struggle just to sleep later than a rooster. Waking up early and experiencing disrupted sleep is a normal part of aging. But you should not resign yourself to lousy sleep at night and naps during the day. Read on to learn more.

The transitions of aging: How parents and adult children can adjust

Aging can bring changes to people’s bodies, minds and relationships — changes that many are often not prepared for. Read on to learn more.

Parent Caregivers of Adult Children with Dementia

Remembering Our Friends

Joanne Cooper Holderman

07.01.1935 – 05.27.2025

Obituary

Richard Paul Godkin

Former Friendship Center Supporter & Friend

09.28.1939 – 06.26.2025

Obituary

Ralph Minc

09.09.1945 – 07.04.2025

Obituary

Sean Roger McGrath

07.18.1940 – 07.13.2025

Obituary

Brian Patrick Forster

Former Friendship Center Supporter & Friend

01.24.1967 – 08.11.2025

Obituary

Leave Your Legacy

Including Friendship Center in your will or estate plan is a powerful way to honor the memory of a loved one and ensure our work continues for generations.

We were honored to host members of our Legacy Society for a beautiful spring luncheon on May 28th.

To learn more, contact our

Legacy Liaison, Heidi Holly, at legacy@friendshipcentersb.org.

Friendship Center Leadership & Partnerships

Officers

President

CYNDER SINCLAIR

Vice President

JOE WHEATLEY

Secretary

ZANDRA CHOLMONDELEY

Treasurer

JEFFREY KRUTZSCH

Member-at-large

JACQUELINE DURAN

Directors

VIVIAN ARMANIOUS

NATHAN BERO

MARTI CORREA DE GARCIA

PAT FORGEY

GRETCHEN HEWLETT

GERRIE SHAPIRO

STEPHEN SHARPE

MONICA VIDGER-TRENT

Executive Director

KATHRYN WESTLAND, MPH

Friendship Center | 805-969-0859 | Annual Report| friendshipcentersb.org

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