| Dear Families & Friends,
Friendship Center has felt especially home-y lately. Spending more time with the family members who bring their loved ones to the Center has only deepened our “family feel” in the most meaningful way. Even after just hitting my two-year mark as Executive Director, I’m still pinching myself that this is where I get to spend my days and pour my energy.
As many of you know, and have deeply felt, the past few months have brought a great deal of loss. We’ve said goodbye to beloved members whose presence lit up our days, whose stories made us laugh, and whose hugs quite literally melted our hearts. Working in this space, we face loss often. And while it never gets easier, I believe it has made our team stronger in one profound way: gratitude. Gratitude for the time we shared with someone’s favorite person; gratitude for the opportunity to show love, dignity, and celebration to such remarkable people, right up until their final days.
To our Friendship Center families: thank you for trusting us with these sacred moments.
To our extended Friendship Center community: thank you for being part of this truly sacred work, for believing in what we do, and for making it all possible. |
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With heartfelt thanks and excitement for what’s ahead,
Kathryn Westland,
MPH Executive Director |
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In this edition of the Friendly Finch…
- Key Dates
- Program Activities
- Dear Dolly
- July Moments
- Funder Spotlight
- Meet Our Staff
- Friendship Center in the News
- Caregiver Support
- Articles of Interest
- Remembering Our Friends
- Legacy & Leadership
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- July 31st – August 27th: Vote for Us for Best Senior Care in Santa Barbara (VOTE FOR US)
- August 20th: Coffee for Caregivers
- August 21st: Friendship Center Closes @ 3:00pm (third Thursday of every month)
- August 22nd – Carpinteria Healthy Aging Hub Open House Art Reception
- September 10th – Remembering our Friends with Dying in Grace (RSVP HERE)
SAVE THE DATE for our Halloween Disco Fundraiser on
Friday, October 24, 2025
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Connections Group
Guest Speaker Series Topics:
- Tuesday 8/5: Dana Newquist brings their 28 Pierce Arrow Cabriolet
- Thursday 8/7: Visit from Party Animals
- Tuesday 8/12: Presentation 1 by Santa Barbara Walking Tours
- Thursday 8/14: Presentation 2 by Santa Barbara Walking Tours
- Tuesday 8/19: Presentation 3 by Santa Barbara Walking Tours
- Thursday 8/21: Presentation 4 by Santa Barbara Walking Tours
- Tuesday 8/26: Jeff Garfinkle on Dinosaurs
- Thursday 8/28: TBD
Would you like to share a story or topic of interest with our group?
Contact Nerely at programmanager@friendshipcentersb.org
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| 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” . |
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You asked, they answered…Enjoy the answers to YOUR questions from OUR members!
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Jacqueline Duran, founder of Duran Capital Management is a proud funder and supporter of Friendship Center. She has served on Friendship Center’s board for three terms, ensuring compassionate care in her community.
Jacqueline Founded Duran Capital Management with a mission: to simplify the complexities of wealth management and empower clients to pursue their life’s passions. Drawing from her extensive experience, Jacqueline developed an investment philosophy grounded in fundamental analysis while keeping a keen eye on current events and future innovations. She believes that wealth management should not only focus on growing assets but also protecting those assets for future generations.
Beyond Jacqueline’s professional endeavors, she remains deeply rooted in the Montecito community, where her and her family have lived for over 13 years. Her love for the area is reflected in her active involvement with several local boards, including the Montecito Association and Friendship Center. By giving back and supporting local initiatives, the Duran family strives to create positive impacts on the lives of those around them.
We are thankful for Jacqueline and the impact she has on Friendship Center and our local community.
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Fun Facts About Nerely
Favorite Hobby: Baking
Favorite Sport: F1 Racing
Favorite Comfort Food: Chicken Noodle Soup
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Nerely is Friendship Center’s incredible Program Manager. Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Nerely graduated from Dos Pueblos High School and then Santa Barbara Community College thereafter.
When asked about her time at Friendship Center Nerely shared that she absoulutley loves working here. She states, “It doesn’t feel like a job, it feels like I’m hanging out with my friends everyday.” She explains that her favorite part of the job is the members, “because they’re so funny and all they all have different stories. It opens my eyes to how amazing life is.”
We are thankful for all Nerely contributes to Friendship Center. From scheduling activities, coordinating volunteers, and showing love to members, Nerely always makes sure our programs run smoothly.
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Friendship Center in the News
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| Aging and Brain Health Webinar: Discover how to support lifelong brain health in this engaging webinar. Participants will learn to distinguish normal cognitive changes from those linked to Alzheimer’s and vascular disease, explore practical frameworks for understanding dementia-related behaviors, and gain communication strategies that foster connection. Plus, walk away with actionable tips to help maintain cognitive function and reduce dementia risk—insights you can apply in both personal and professional settings. FREE WEBINAR, August 20, 10am-11am Click to Register |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| Caregiving and the Menopause Experience
We surveyed women (ages 45 to 60) who were receiving primary care at one of four Mayo Clinic sites. The participants reported on their menopause experience, including severity of menopause symptoms, care received for them, satisfaction with care, and overall perception about the quality of life during this important reproductive stage. In addition, participants provided detailed information regarding their caregiving status, including the relationship with those receiving care and the number of hours spent in the caregiving role per week. Read on to learn more. |
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| 8 Habits to Tame Caregiving Perfectionism
Starting a caregiving role is like starting a new job without much training. Caregivers are often “learning on the job,” which naturally makes perfection an unrealistic and impossible goal. Read on to learn more. |
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| 8 Science-Backed Tips for Tips for Better Metabolic Health
Try these smart eating strategies to help keep blood sugar stable, a key element to preventing weight gain and staying metabolically healthy as we age. Read on to learn more. |
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| Are you up to Date on your Preventative Care?
Making healthy choices can help you avoid many chronic diseases and can even lower your risk of severe illness from some infectious diseases, such as the flu and COVID-19. But healthy behaviors are only part of the picture. Getting routine preventive care can help you stay well and catch problems early. Read on to learn more. |
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Bob Emmons
07.18.1932 – 07.23.2025
Obituary
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| 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. |
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Friendship Center Leadership & Partnerships
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| 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 |
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Follow our social media pages, linked below, for regular posts about the day-to-day happenings at FC!
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