OUR LAGUNA: Seniors learn to keep their footing

Seniors need to learn to balance more than their budgets.

Three local physical therapists will present a program on “Gaining and Maintaining Balance” at 12:30 p.m. Monday in the Great Room at the Susi Q Senior Center on Third Street.

Carol Fracalosy, Kern Haug and Alisa Sanchez from Laguna Beach Physical Therapy in the Aliso Creek Shopping Center will be demonstrating and discussing ways for seniors to keep their balance at the a bi-monthly social meeting, organized by Skipper Lynn.

“Balance is a key to not falling and breaking bones,” said Lynn, a past president of Laguna Beach Seniors and chairwoman of the socials.

“The purpose of this program is to keep our seniors safe at home and away from home. Just recently a 101-year-old woman broke her hip, and she will never be able to go home again. She will have to be transferred to assisted-living.”

Among the topics to be discussed:

 Physical factors that contribute to balance.

 How people can improve their balance.

 Steps to increase muscle flexibility and strength.

 How to exercise to increase balance.

 How to improve safety in the home and in the community.

The presentation comes at a time when the future of the programs at South Coast Medical Center is cloudy. The only departments with “sacred cow” status are emergency and surgery and its ancillary. All 580 employees have received pink slips, apparently required by law in the sale of a nonprofit hospital, and that includes physical and speech therapists, said hospital spokeswoman Alicia Gonzalez.

The public is invited to attend the Susi Q program and subsequent social meetings the second Monday of alternate months.

Reservations are not needed. Admission is free.

Magic acts, day trips

Other free programs coming up this month at the center include a lesson on how to become a grandparent Houdini for seniors who want to learn magic tricks to entertain their grandchildren, set for 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday; and Mahjongg for Beginners from 9:30 a.m. to noon Fridays.

A $20 fee will be charged for a basic word processing class from 1 to 2:30 p.m, Thursday, Friday and June 12. A bridge refresher course will cost participants $75 for six, two-hour sessions from June 15 to July 20.

The Intrepid Travelers’ day trippers pay for lunch and bus fare to learn how to get around Orange County by bus.

“They go to interesting destinations that are not too far away and are inexpensive,” said Vic Opincar, one of the cadre of volunteers who staff the front desk at the Susi Q, where a sign-up sheet is located.

“We also have an interest list for a proposed Computer Club. Eleven have signed up. Ideas for programs are discussed at the volunteer meeting on the second Wednesday of the month.”

The Travel Club and the Book Club came out of suggestions made at volunteer meetings, Opincar said. Programs are coordinated by Mariann Tracy.

Suggestions can also be dropped into Suggestion Box in front of the center.

Opincar’s favorite: Under the category of what’s not working, someone wrote, “Me.”

For more information about center programs, call (949) 497-2441 or better yet, drop by the “Q.” All the information about programs is available at the front desk.

Soroptimists honor Ann Quilter with donation

The Laguna Chapter of Soroptimists International has donated $2,000 to the Susi Q Senior Center in honor of Ann Quilter, the group’s 2009 Woman of Distinction.

Quilter is the co-chairwoman of the center’s capital campaign, wife of retired U.S. Marine Corps pilot Charles Quilter II, one of Elizabeth Quilter’s four sons who donated $750,000 for the center, which was given her pen name, and sister-in-law of Chris Quilter, president of the Laguna Beach Seniors Inc.

A celebration in honor of Quilter and the 2009 Woman of Opportunity, Danielle Shields, was at an al fresco tea party at the home of Nancy Lindsay, a past president of the Soroptimists.

Shields was honored as a female head of a household who has returned to college to further her education.

“Unfortunately, Danielle could not attend because she was working,” Lindsay said.

Among the 33 who did attend: Emily Quilter, Charlie and Ann’s daughter; Betsy Jenkins, Board of Education member; past Q Presidents Lynn, Pauline Walpin and Louise Buckley.

Also, Soroptimist President Diane Hruby and past President Margaret Wardern and members Debbie Neev, Laguna Beach County Water District Commissioner Donna Schuller, whose husband, the younger Robert Schuller — no longer connected to the Crystal Cathedral founded by his father — recently announced he was going to begin his own television show.

Terri Johnson introduced Quilter.

Gloves and hats were optional.

“There were no gloves, but a few wore hats,” Lindsay said.

The Soroptimists have been a presence in Laguna for 61 years. The mission of the international service organization is to help women and children.

“Soroptimists actually means “best for women,” Lindsay said.

However, the $8,500 in scholarships presented annually to graduating Laguna Beach High School students, can go to males or females.

The $2,000 Alberta Patterson Scholarship is awarded to students who intend to be teachers. The Violet Richardson Award, named for the founder of California Soroptimists, is presented for community service. The group also presents a $5,000 scholarship for special achievements. Awards will be announced at the Honors Convocation tonight in the Artists Theatre at the high school.

Funds are raised by rent on buildings the group owns: the Broadway Calvary Chapel Thrift Shop next to the Bus Depot and the parking lot next to Zinc Café.

Laguna designers on the clock in competition

The clock will be ticking when Laguna interior designers Gary Finley and Rob Esterly scramble to create chic fashions only using products and materials found in Laguna Design Center showrooms at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Teams of designers, showroom personnel and design students will be given 90 minutes to complete fashions, without using a sewing machine, for the third annual Designer Runway competition, presented by the Orange County Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers at the center, 23811 Aliso Creek Road.

Working Wardrobes, which provides clothing and accessories for men and women in need of business attire to re-enter the workforce, will be the featured charity.

For more information visit, www.asidocc.org or call (949) 643-1549.

Revering Paul

Dr. Robert and Ruth Ann Burns of Emerald Bay and Lagunans Howard and Judith Jelinek, Nancy Kirkland and Richard and Sande Schwarzstein were among the guests at a Hutchins Consort Americana-themed concert that celebrated Paul Revere’s historic ride.

The event was a fundraiser for the not-for-profit consort, a musical group headquartered in Southern California that performs music from the Middle Ages to modern composers on eight instruments created by Carleen Hutchins.

The eight-scaled, acoustically balanced instruments range from a tiny treble violin tuned one octave higher than a standard violin to a gigantic large bass, tuned one octave lower than the cello.

About $20,000 was raised at the event, which included a silent auction, dinner and the concert by the consort. The program concluded with a Kazoo-along with audience participation to “This Land is Your Land.”

The Burnses served on the event committee. Howard Jelinek and Dick Schwarzenstein are on the board — Jelinek is president, both of them also active in the Philharmonic Society of Orange County — Schwarzenstein was on the board for 28 years.

Donations are accepted. For more information, visit www.hutchinsconsort.org.

OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, 92652; call (949) 380-4321 or e-mail coastlinepilot@latimes.com