Contact(s):
Ann Erdman
(626) 375-2742

FREE MARCH EVENTS AT PASADENA SENIOR CENTER

There is something for everyone in March at the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly St.

You do not have to be a member to attend. Some events require advance reservations as noted.

Tax Time – Wednesdays and Fridays through April 12 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Representatives from the AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program will assist low- to middle-income filers in preparing their federal income tax returns. There is no age limit. Appointments are required: 626-795-4331.

Friday Movie Matinees – Fridays, March 1, 8, 15 and 22, at 1 p.m. Everyone enjoys movies and the pleasures they bring. March 1: “First Man” (2018, PG-13) starring Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy. Astronaut Neil Armstrong’s legendary space mission leads him to become the first man to walk on the moon on July 20, 1969. The film is based on true events. March 8: “The Old Man & the Gun” (2018, PG-13) starring Robert Redford and Casey Affleck. A lifelong bank robber escapes from San Quentin at the age of 70 and goes back to robbing banks again with a detective in hot pursuit. The film is based on true events. March 15: “The Wife” (2018, R) starring Glenn Close and Jonathan Pryce. A man with an acclaimed and prolific body of work is about to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature when he must confront the fact that he and his wife, after 40 years of marriage, have shared compromises, secrets and betrayals. March 22: “Sinbad the Sailor” (1947, NR) starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Maureen O’Hara. An ocean of adventure awaits Sinbad as he sets out in search of the fabled lost treasure of Alexander the Great.

Mardi Gras Celebration – Tuesday, March 5, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. In celebration of Mardi Gras, come to the Pasadena Senior Center coffee bar for free coffee and treats, and enjoy New Orleans-style music spun by DJ Joe in the Lounge. Feel free to wear your brightest Carnival attire.

Screening Mimis Film Discussion Group – Tuesdays, March 5 and 19, at 1:30 p.m. Diehard film fans are invited to watch a movie the first and third Tuesday of every month, preceded by a presentation about the film’s hidden history and followed by lively discussion. Popcorn will be provided. March 5: “Across the Universe” (2007, PG-13) starring Evan Rachel Wood and Jim Sturgess. The music of The Beatles and the Vietnam War era form the backdrop for a romance between an upper-class American girl and a low-income Liverpudlian artist. March 19: “The Italian Job” (1969, G) starring Michael Caine and Noël Coward. A team of some of England’s most notorious criminals devises an intricate plan to hijack gold bullion from Italy.

Sages and Seekers – Tuesdays, March 5 to April 30, from 3 to 4:15 p.m. In tribal cultures, elders have a vital role as keepers of memories and wisdom, and younger members learn from them. Sages and Seekers is an intergenerational program that brings together teens and older adults to share experiences. On a one-on-one basis, sages describe highlights of their lives and what they have learned from their experiences, and seekers weave that knowledge into essays honoring the sages.

Elder Care, Medi-Cal and Veterans Benefits – Thursday, March 7, at 10 a.m. Learn about challenges associated with elder care, Medi-Cal and veterans benefits, how to qualify and how to develop a plan for using these services. Presented by Carlos Arcos, attorney at law.

Legal Consultations – Thursday, March 7, at 10 a.m. Legal advice will be provided about conservatorship, wills and trusts, estate planning and/or durable power of attorney. Appointments are required: (626) 795-4331.

Cultural Thursday: “Ramona” – Thursday, March 7, at 2 p.m. The 1928 silent film “Ramona” starring Dolores Del Rio and Warner Baxter was thought to be lost for 70 years until a print was discovered in 2010 at the Národní Filmový Archiv in Prague and restored by the Library of Congress. It tells the story of a mixed-race (native and Scots) girl in early California who is raised by a Mexican family and suffers racial discrimination. The screening is a companion to the Feb. 26 Master’s Series presentation “Saving Hollywood’s Lost Treasures” (www.bit.ly/1ys3Swh) at the Pasadena Senior Center. Participation in The Masters Series is not a requirement for attending the screening.

Diabetes Workshop – Mondays, March 11 to April 15, from 1 to 3 p.m. If you or someone you care about is diabetic or pre-diabetic, this series encourage you to make lifestyle changes while learning more about your diabetes and how it affects your health. Registration is required: 626-685-6732.

Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy – Wednesdays, March 13 and 20, at 10 a.m. Trained professionals will provide counseling and advocacy on issues related to Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, Medigap and Cal MediConnect. Appointments are required: 626-795-4331. Presented by HICAP.

Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention – Thursday, March 14, at 10 a.m. The opioid epidemic has become a very real issue across the nation, including in local communities. Learn more about it, how to keep track of your prescription drugs and where to dispose of them safely. Presented by Catalina Gonzalez of Day One.

Cultural Thursday: Great American Songwriters – Thursday, March 14, at 2 p.m. The six-part Great American Songwriters series continues with a focus on Cole Porter, composer of iconic American standards such as “Anything Goes,” “Begin the Beguine,” “Don’t Fence Me In,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” I Love Paris,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “Just One of Those Things,” “Night and Day,” “You’re the Top” and many more. Join pianist Bob Lipson and commentator/performer Saul H. Jacobs for this fun, interactive program.

Health Fair – Friday, March 15, from 9 to 11 a.m. Services include glucose, blood pressure, hearing, stroke and thyroid screenings as well as health and community resources. Call 626-685-6732 for more information.

LA Opera Talk: “The Clemency of Titus” – Monday, March 18, at 1 p.m. An LA Opera community educator will take participants through one of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s many operas, “The Clemency of Titus,” which he composed in 1791, the last year of his life. The universal concepts of loyalty, friendship, betrayal and forgiveness surround power players seeking glory in ancient Rome where the emperor Titus reigns.

Elder Abuse – Thursday, March 21, at 10 a.m. Elder abuse is a crime, and all seniors should know their rights. Protect yourself by learning what to do in the event you or someone you love is being abused. Presented by Elder Abuse Los Angeles County.

Know Your Numbers – Thursday, March 28, at 10 a.m. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or hypertension, learn the significance of key markers related to your health, and whether your numbers might be too high or too low. Presented by Regal Medical Group.

UNRESTRAINED/REFRAINS – Friday, March 29, at 3:30 p.m. Guest performing artists from MUSE/IQUE will explore how to improvise, create, experiment, express and find our own voice that is uniquely you. Participants who register in advance at the Pasadena Senior Center’s Welcome Desk and attend this event will be eligible for a limited number of tickets for the March 31 MUSE/IQUE concert at the former Pasadena Museum of California Art.

For more information visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org or call 626-795-4331.

Founded in 1960, the Pasadena Senior Center is an independent nonprofit agency that offers recreational, educational, wellness and social services to people ages 50 and older in a welcoming environment. Services are also provided for frail, low-income and homebound seniors.