Rides for Life with ACC Rides Driver Loren Peters

Loren Peters is an Associate Pastor at Southside Community Church. He is also a driver for ACC Rides.

Meet the people that he serves and has come to know and love. They rely on Loren to get to doctor appointments, dialysis treatments, grocery stores, and cafe sites operated by Meals on Wheels by ACC.

Loren is personable and compassionate. He is also careful. Getting his riders on and off the shuttle safely using the lift requires skill. Many of his passengers use walkers, some are in wheelchairs.

Loren says, “ACC riders are always happy when I pulled up, and they are so grateful.”

ACC Rides Transportation Services provides more than 4,000 one-way trips each month for seniors in ten zip codes in Sacramento and parts of the Delta region.

For additional information, please contact the ACC Rides Team at (916) 393-9026 ext. 333, or at rides@accsv.org.

SOTU

Donna Yee Attends State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-6), Co-Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Aging and Families, announced that her guest to the State of the Union will be Dr. Donna Yee, former CEO of ACC Senior Services and policy director of the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging. Dr. Yee has spent her career advocating for Sacramento’s seniors.

“Dr. Yee has consistently fought for our region’s seniors and has a longtime track record of service, advocacy, and care within our community. Her story is truly inspiring, and I am pleased to have her join me as my guest to this year’s State of the Union address,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “America’s seniors have spent a lifetime contributing to our society and economy. Despite vowing to strengthen and protect Medicare and Social Security, the Trump Administration has continuously attacked these essential programs by cutting spending, shifting costs onto beneficiaries, and limiting choices for seniors and their families. It is now more important than ever that we lift up the voices of those in our communities who are advocating for real improvements and solutions. I am proud that in Sacramento we have those like Dr. Yee who have the knowledge, experience, and personal stories that we can amplify as an example to the rest of the country.”

“It is my honor to join Congresswoman Matsui at the State of the Union tonight,” said Dr. Yee. “Her voice and leadership in Congress clearly reflect her tireless dedication to our country’s seniors and their families. I am happy to share this time together to discuss solutions moving forward.”

Each year, Members of Congress can invite one guest of their choosing to attend the State of the Union address with them. These guests are often used to highlight important community members, contributions, and issues of importance to the member and their work in Congress.

The House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Aging and Families (formerly known as the Seniors Task Force), focuses on the needs of our nation’s older Americans, their families and future generations looking ahead to retirement. Their work reflects an inclusive focus on the needs of caregivers and will also focus on how aging impacts an entire household.

Senior Dining Gathering

ACC Bingo Volunteer Reunion Brings Back Flood of Memories

Eighty five former volunteers of ACC Bingo met at ACC Greenhaven Terrace for a reunion. The attendees traded stories, shared memorabilia, and played five games of bingo to rekindle the memory of days gone by. Pictures of the young Glenn Watanabe and George Kashiwagi were set out on a table with other great photos of that era.

Donna Toyama

ACC Bingo ran for 22 years. It funded the construction of ACC’s nursing home. It created a grass roots culture that attracted hundreds of people from all generations who were passionate about helping the nascent ACC. The operation started in 1983 at Mayhew Bingo Center while ACC still operated out of the Tambara House on 6th and V Streets.

Frances Lee was on the ACC Board at the time. She recalls, “I knew nothing about running a bingo session. Our landlord brought a bingo consultant from Los Angeles who came to get us started. He sold us supplies, gave us training and tips and attended our monthly manager meetings. It took 20-22 volunteers to fill all the positions at each session. Most of the volunteers had no bingo experience.”

Kim Fujiwara passes out bingo cards.

But it all worked out. ACC Bingo raised enough money to build a nursing home. It also gave rise to a legion of supporters who would later become ACC Board members, committee chairs, donors, and volunteer right up to today. These can-do volunteers powered ACC through decades of growth and prosperity.

Winston Ashizawa, Chewy Ito, and Donna Yee

ACC went on to purchased the Park City building for ACC operations and Meals on Wheels by ACC, Greenhaven Terrace for independent living and assisted living, and Merryhill School which houses today’s ACC Administration and ACC Programs. Maple Tree Village for assisted living and memory care will open in early 2020.

The can-do bingo volunteers powered ACC through decades of growth and prosperity

Bingo was a golden era in ACC history. Thank you Frances Lee, Gloria Imagire, and Kim Fujiwara for organizing the reunion and taking us on this fabulous walk down memory lane!

From Frances Lee’s Opening Remarks

Frances Lee

“You may have been a floor manager, caller, worked in the money room, box office cashier, worked at the sales table selling paper or supplies, pull tab bar manager, pull tab monitor, pull tab sorter or floor monitor. We needed all of you to run each session. Some of you worked once a week, twice a week, every other week or as your schedule permitted. Thanks to Mickey Yamadera who called many volunteers every day. I’m sure you remember getting a call from Mickey. She is here today.”

“Thank you for coming to the reunion today. Many of our bingo volunteers have passed away or are living in care facilities. Some you are still volunteering at ACC and I commend you for your dedication and support. Always remember that through the many volunteer hours you gave to ACC Bingo, ACC has been able to complete so many more projects for the community. Bingo was just the beginning.”

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Japanese Flower Arranging at ACC

Imagine being able to create a beautiful flower arrangement. At ACC you can learn the art of ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) with Chieko Hirai-Brim. Chieko says that ikebana is not just the art the Japanese flower arranging; it is also a great stress reducer. “You can really relax while you are doing it. You can put your emotions, how you feel, into your arrangement.”

Chieko, who was born in Japan, started doing Ikebana in high school. At first, she was not interested at all and only learned ikebana because it was a requirement. “But after a couple of classes, I loved it!” she says, continuing, “I got an ikebana instructor license in Japan. In 1996 I came to the US. It was my biggest dream to teach ikebana in the US.”

Chieko has to continue learning new skills and so found an instructor. Her instructor said she should contact ACC about teaching. That was back in 2015 and Chieko’s class at ACC has been steadily growing. She also teaches at the Buddhist Church of Sacramento

There are many different schools of Ikebana, each with different styles. Chieko teaches Ikenobo, the oldest school of Ikebana. In her class, she teaches shoka (based on natural styles) and freestyle.

Volunteer and ACC Board member Jean Shiomoto has been Chieko’s student since the spring of this year. Jean says, “It’s fun and relaxing, and I’m learning a lot. Before I took this class, I didn’t know anything, and now I know the forms and elements of an arrangement.”

When I spoke to her, Jean had her latest creation in front of her, a beautiful array of lavender chrysanthemums, ferns, and leaves. So, if you are thinking of getting in touch with your creative side in 2020, consider the art of ikebana. 

Piano

Chris Tomine Donates Baby Grand Piano to ACC Care Center

On November 6, piano movers delivered a Kimball baby grand piano to the lobby of ACC Care Center. Donated by Chris Tomine, the vintage model had been in his family for decades and is in excellent condition.

The piano has a beautiful wood finish. It is a welcome addition to the Care Center’s activities program and a great way to greet visitors when they enter the building.

Residents and guests can sit down anytime and make music. “The piano will be so happy to have someone play it again!” said Chris.

MTV Opening

ACC is Making Sacramento an Age-Friendly City

By Councilmember Rick Jennings, City of Sacramento

On September 14th, I was proud to award 14 “keys to the city” to Sacramento-area citizens over 100 years old at at ACC Care Center’s “Celebrating Our Centenarians” event.

In truth, only four of those incredible individuals were ACC residents but nevertheless, ACC went through the trouble of putting on the event, inviting all centenarians regardless of affiliation and even going to their homes to interview them all individually so that their personal stories could be told. As an organization, ACC has always been committed to making the Sacramento region a place where all senior citizens can be proud to call home.

City Councilmember Rick Jennings

ACC is clearly succeeding in that regard. By providing services to people in the latter years of their life, ACC aims to bring out senior citizens from all-too-common isolation and to make Sacramento, and specifically the Pocket area, a more aging-friendly community.

In addition to their well-known independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing facility, I encourage you to visit the new Maple Tree Village Center where ACC is breaking new ground in memory care.

ACC Ride provides transportation for people in ten ZIP codes. Bridge to Healthy Families provides a range of social services including home visits. Meals on Wheels by ACC hooks those same people up with vital food services. ACC’s quality of service and attention to detail has made them well-known and well-regarded among medical professionals and social workers.

The event planning committee has decided to host another “Celebrating Our Centenarians” next year. I have no doubt that more centenarians will find their way to this amazing event as ACC continues its nearly 50-year history of selflessly serving our community.

Okamoto 1

A Celebration for the Ages

On September 14, ACC Care Center hosted “Celebrating Our Centenarians” at Sacramento Asian Sports Foundation in Elk Grove.  More than 500 people showed up to honor those in our community who are 100 years and older. The Centenarian honorees included:

  • Toshio Fukuda
  • Chang Hou
  • Emiko Nakano
  • Lam Chan Luc
  • Mae Chan
  • Frances Jaksich
  • Aaron Okamoto
  • Haruye Okamoto
  • Lorraine Nagae
  • Nai Chin Koo
  • Audrey Ah Tye
  • Tomako Mori
  • Mabelle Jan
  • Fannie Wong
  • Annie Wong
  • Ai Tanaka
  • Sally Taketa

Guests were treated to great food and regaled with amazing stories of the past century. Fourteen members of the Care Center staff performed a special song and dance number. Henry Adkisson from the office of Councilmember Rick Jennings presented Keys to the City and Certificates of Recognition to the Centenarians.

In addition to honoring the Centenarians who attended, ACC Care Center gave Special Recognition Awards to Janet Sakata, Wayne Shimizu, and Medline for their unique and lasting contributions to ACC Care Center.

Sadie main

Sadie the Therapy Pony Visits ACC Care Center

It’s Monday afternoon in mid-November. The residents at ACC Care Center are waiting eagerly in the lobby for a celebrity to arrive. It’s pretty quiet except for the sound of resident Gloria playing “You Are My Sunshine” on her harmonica. It’s a very fitting song for what happens next.

Just as the song ends, the main entrance doors slide open. The four-legged guest has arrived. It’s Sadie, a 35”, buckskin, mini-horse. She casually scans the scene and begins her runway walk with almost human grace. Yes, an actual horse has entered the building!

The faces of the residents light up right away. A few residients start clapping. The commotion gets louder. “That’s a horse, a small horse!” someone exclaims.

Sadie belongs to Estella Hoskins, who is affiliated with Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program. After working as a counselor for 30 years, Estella is now a certified and registered handler. She and her partner Michelle Blanche take Sadie to hospitals, schools, and recovery centers for people with traumatic brain injuries.

“Sadie takes away peoples’ anxiety and stress. It’s amazing to see what her gentleness and quietness does for them,” says Estella. “We’ve had people just start sobbing because it brings back memories from their childhood.”

Estella and Michelle take Sadie to meet each ACC resident, allowing them to pet her, talk to her, and brush her hair. The handlers are just as calm and caring as Sadie.

Sadie tilts her ears forward when a resident starts talking to her. “When she does that, it means she’s paying attention,” says Estella.

Equine therapy is a form of therapy that makes use of horses to help promote emotional growth. Horses behave like human beings and can respond immediately, giving feedback, and mirroring  emotions. They can help people with ADD, anxiety, autism, dementia, delayed mental development, Down syndrome, and depression.

“Our residents are just overjoyed,” says ACC Activities Director Debbie Williams. “Sadie brings so much love and compassion.” For more information about Sadie and Pet Partners visit their websites teamsadie.com and PetPartners.org.

Vicki

Vicki Beaton, Storyteller and Community Organizer

Vicki Beaton has lived at ACC Greenhaven Terrace Independent Living for four years. News clippings and magazine articles about her are strewn throughout her apartment. She pushes them aside and reaches for a pile of books, “Here’s a book of short stories I wrote,” she says matter of factly. “I also wrote these romance novels.” There are four or five of them.

On the wall are photos of her with Jackie Chan, Gavin Newsom, and Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s granddaughter whom she accompanied to Vancouver in 2015. Another photo shows Dr. Henry Lee of OJ fame eating pasta at her house. Then there’s the table cloth that her neighbor, March Fong Eu, gave her and the prestigious 2019 Directors Award she received from the California State Railroad Museum, still wrapped in plastic. It’s hard to connect all the dots.

Vicki’s ID card from the U.S.-Taiwan Defense Command

Vicki Beaton was born Tsui Yi-Wen in Tianjin, China. She and her family fled to Taiwan when the Communists came to power. She went to work as a secretary for the U.S.-Taiwan Defense Command in the 1960s.

Vicki’s boss was a colonel and intelligence officer in the United States Air Force. It was a very tense time in U.S.-China relations.

“My first husband was Austin Shen,” says Vicki. “He was a very nice man but died when he was only 39. I was 34. He left me with three children.”

To make extra money, Vicki wrote short stories for China Daily News, Central News, and United Daily. She had a curious mind and a dynamic way of talking about everyday life. It certainly reflected in her personality.

This, among other things, caught the eye of her boss, the colonel. Long story short, Colonel Clifford Merrill Beaton fell in love with Vicki, he proposed, she said yes, and they tied the knot. After his deployment ended, Clifford, Vicki and the three children, two boys and one girl, moved to Omaha, Nebraska.

Vicki wrote hundreds of stories about America Life. She was like a Chinese Mark Twain.

Vicki was immediately cold and bored in Omaha. “Good beef, good corn, so what!” she exclaimed. As a freelancer, Vicki continued to write about her American experiences to the delight of her readers in Taiwan.

Clifford retired two years later. He asked Vicki where she wanted to move. She pleaded, “Some place warmer!” One of Clifford’s former deputies recently retired at Mather Air Force Base. Clifford arranged a trip to visit his old friend and check out Sacramento.

“I still remember driving down Capitol Mall in early summer. It just rained and everything was green and beautiful. I told Clifford this is it, we’re staying!”

Clifford got a job a Bank of America, while Vicki worked for Sacramento Unified School District as a substitute secretary and later as a teaching assistant at Will C. Wood Jr. High.

Back at the District’s office on N Street, Vicki met Eleanor Yin Chiang, PhD. The two bonded. They were both born in China and were the only Chinese-speaking employees in the building. “We went for long walks, sang karaoke, and became best friends,” says Vicki.

With fellow docents at the California State Railroad Museum

They had a mutual interest helping Chinese people like themselves succeed in America. Together they founded Sacramento Chinese Service Center and Chinese New Year Culture Association. They were also early supporters of Sacramento Chinese Culture Foundation.

Vicki said Eleanor changed her life because she built up her confidence. “I learned how to talk to higher-ups and to carry myself even to the point where some people thought I was the PhD, not Eleanor!” Vicki says laughing.

One day, Vicki’s Taiwanese publishers asked her to write some articles for their U.S. newspaper The World Journal. It was a temporary assignment that turned into a 15-year run as their West Coast reporter.  Vicki was like a Chinese Mark Twain, chronicling life in the U.S. to the delight of Chinese readers everywhere. The State Capitol was part of her beat. She covered Arnold Schwarzenegger and visiting VIPs like John McCain and George Bush. She also interviewed Yo Yo Ma.

One of Vicki’s favorite articles is “Ai Wo, Ai Jia, Ai Wo Guo” (Love Me, Love My Family, Love My Country). She describes how her husband Clifford Beaton unconditionally loved everything about her despite their vast cultural differences. They were happily married for 38 years before his passing 11 years ago.

Volunteering at ACC’s Welcome Center

Vicki also wrote a glowing story about living in Sacramento “Wo Zhu Xia Jia Men Du.” Then one day she met a stranger, a Chinese man. He and his family took the train all the way from New York to Sacramento to settle down. She asked him how he heard about Sacramento. He said it was from an article written by Tsui Yi-Wen. “I told him, that’s me!” says Vicki. “I couldn’t believe it!”

In the 1980s, Eleanor introduced Vicki to her brother C.C. Yin who just had bought his first McDonald’s franchise. C.C. and Vicki would go on to collaborate on several community organizations and causes even to this day. In 2001, C.C. founded Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA). Vicki was a founding member.

In the same year, Vicki was the president of Sacramento Chinese Culture Foundation. She collaborated with Professor Peter Leung from UC Davis and Dr. Alex Yeh to publish the 270-page book, “150 Years of the Chinese Presence in California.” This was the seminal book that influenced her and others to continue studying and promoting the contributions of Chinese in America. Vicki had already been writing articles about Chinese in America for World Journal but not always about their contributions to American society. Now she was all in.

In 2007, Vicki wrote about the life and times of the Chinese railroad workers and their contributions to the Transcontinental Railroad. In 2017, she became a docent at the California State Railroad Museum and its only Chinese speaker.

Vicki inspired C.C. Yin and their friend Margaret Wong to establish the US-China Railroad Friendship Association (USCRFA) with Ms. Zhang Wei from UC Davis as its then and current president. On October 26, 2019, USCRFA organized “The Last Mile,” a celebration of the contributions of Chinese railroad workers on the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.

Long-time collaborators C.C. Yin and Vicki Beaton have a lively conversation at the California Chinese American Day on October 23, 2019, at the State Capitol.

Today Vicki shows no signs of slowing down. In addition to her civic activities, she volunteers at ACC’s Welcome Center. She also translated ACC’s 40-page Caregivers Resource Guide into Chinese.

Vicki is happy living at ACC Greenhaven Terrace. When asked how she decided to move there, she said, “I’ve written several stories about ACC and Donna Yee over the years. I guess you could say I did my research.”

Yesena and Cynthia

New Appointments at ACC Greenhaven Terrace

ACC is pleased to announce that Brittany Yamada is the new Life Enrichment Manager for ACC Greenhaven Terrace. She will be responsible for activities of daily living including recreational and social activities. Prior to this, Brittany was the Activities Coordinator for Assisted Living.

Also joining ACC Greenhaven Terrace is Cynthia Burmeister, LVN, Resident Care Manager for Assisted Living. She takes over for Allison Rogers who is headed to ACC Maple Tree Village in the same position.

Cynthia has a background in both clinical and supervisory roles in a variety of long term care settings.  Her previous experience includes home healthcare, 12 years at ACC Care Center, and most recently, assisted living.

To contact Brittany Yamada, email byamada@accsv.org. To contact Cynthia Burmeister, email cburmeister@accsv.org.