Page 2 March 19, 2020 EL SEGUNDO HERALD
Community Briefs
Announcing the City of
El Segundo’s Elderfest and Older
American of The Year Nomination
May is Older Americans Month, a perfect
opportunity to show our appreciation for the
older adults in our community. The theme for
Older Americans Month 2020 is: “Make Your
Mark.” This theme was selected to encourage
and celebrate countless contributions that older
adults make to our communities. Their time,
experience, and talents benefit family, peers,
and neighbors every day. It highlights the
difference everyone can make - in the lives
of older adults, in support of caregivers, and
to strengthen communities.
Every year, the City of El Segundo
Recreation and Parks Department solicits
nominations for the El Segundo Older
American of the Year. A selection committee
determines the winner and he/she will be
honored at an annual Elderfest Celebration
given by Recreation and Parks on May 9,
2020. The winner will also be honored at a
luncheon hosted by the County Department
of Aging in Downtown Los Angeles.
All older Americans in the community are
invited to attend the event to help celebrate
the El Segundo Older American of the Year,
participate in vendor exhibits, and receive
The Sports World Will Return
El Segundo Little League has been
put on hiatus due to the pandemic of the
COVID-19 virus. They follow the lead
of all the professional sports leagues
including the NBA, NHL, MLB and MLS
who have all suspended play. These are
serious times and for the immediate future
there is no sporting events to attend other
than those at the high school level but even
that could change.
This is not the time to panic but just being
cautious and courteous should be the norm.
Suspending play to stop large gatherings at
sporting events is a great way to not come
into close contact with others. During this
pause there’s hope that those who have been
infected can quail the virus. It’s also a great
way to reconnect with our families and have
‘family time’ each day.
Be mindful this virus will be conquered
and controlled. So the panic buying at
Costco and other stores makes all of us
uneasy. Remember the 2009 flu pandemic
or swine flu was an influenza pandemic
that lasted from early 2009 to late 2010.
It was many times more severe than our
current virus contagion and we weren’t
over buying goods at such an alarming rate
we’re seeing now. Here’s an idea that could
work much like it did during the gas
crunch of the 1970s. Using the odd/even
day method shoppers would be allowed
in stores based on the last number of their
driver’s license.
Show some restraint and stop overloading
your shopping carts with toilet paper. Scale
back on stockpiling other items so we can all
get through these challenging times together
and return to our sporting events.
– Gregg McMullin
Thank You El Segundo
Fire Department
I want to thank the El Segundo Fire
Department for making my day. The Fire
Department held a Coronavirus Presentation
for the residents of Park Vista, an independent
senior living apartment complex in town.
After the presentation, I mentioned that I
had left my cane at Ralphs Market. I asked
if anyone could retrieve it for me since it
was advised that all seniors over 65 years
of age should remain indoors.
A little while later, a hook and ladder
fire engine showed up to Park West
with three canes that were left at Ralphs.
What a surprise. This goes to show that our
Fire Department is made up of wonderful
people who care about the residents of
El Segundo.
El Segundo Fire Department, thank you
so much for all that you do.
– Shelley Tucker
COVID-19 It’s Time
to Band Together
Now is the time for every member of our
community, to paraphrase JFK — and ask
not just what government will do for us
regarding this most current crisis, but what
will we do for ourselves, our neighbors and
our employees?
America isn’t an authoritarian regime like
China or that will jail us for not practicing
a state edict. Government response is only
part of what we need. The practice of more
“self-government” will help get us through
this latest mess. We will get through it with
a little humor and an awful lot of kindness.
The City and Rotary Club are combining
efforts to provide door-to-door food and
grocery delivery to the homebound elderly.
Such not-so-random acts of kindness will
be required to get us through this calamity.
Make no mistake; the coronavirus crisis is
being tough on everyone. Local businesses
are being hit the hardest while we practice
“social distancing” from our usual destinations
and layoffs already are occurring. We
will all need to rise to the occasion to get
us beyond these trying times.
The arrival of a worldwide virus can raise
the proverbial question of “why bad things
happen to good people?” We may ask, like
the Biblical victim of scourges not of his
own making, “What strength do I have, that
I should hope?” But hope, and wash your
hands we must. Lets band together putting
our families and community first. For this
too, shall one day pass.
– Jack Ashworth •
Letters
free lunch.
Nomination guidelines:
• Must be 60 years of age or older
• El Segundo Resident or someone who
makes a substantial impact in the El Segundo
community
• Volunteer accomplishments in one of the
following areas:
– Community Service in El Segundo
– Community Role Model or mentor
• Active in a community or civic club, commission,
or organization which provides
service to the community.
Nominations must include a brief statement
regarding the person being nominated
and a short application form. These forms
are available at all El Segundo Recreation
facilities and the library and may be
returned to the Joslyn Center: 339 Sheldon
Street, El Segundo 90245. All nominations
must be received at the Joslyn Center by
March 20, 2020. The selection committee
is composed of representatives from various
service groups within the city. For more
information please contact the Joslyn Center
at (310) 524-2705. •
Obituaries
Jane Ann McGivern Perkins
Jane Ann McGivern Perkins,
age 87, was born in Chicago,
Illinois to George & Henrietta
(Knox) McGivern on February
27, 1933 – March 6, 2020 at
home in El Segundo.
She graduated from Beloit
College in 1954, then moved
to West Covina, California to
teach junior high. Married a
wonderful man, Walter, on
August 19, 1955 and they
raised their three children
in El Segundo since 1957. Jane and Walter
were married until he passed in December
1993. She was always grateful to be
a homemaker and raise her children; volunteered
in the community and then later
found work where she made life-long
friendships. Yet, her greatest love was being
a grandma. Never a week went by that she
wasn’t present, hugging and playing with
all four.
Jane lived a fulfilling life as a sweet,
strong, confident, loving Mom, Grams,
wife, cousin, daughter, granddaughter, niece
and friend. Family gatherings with cousins
were traditions that could not be missed
– such joyous connections. We were
raised with family meals she filled with
warmth, wit and often card-playing hilarity.
Always thinking of others: making sure
you had a safe place to live; if you visited,
she wanted everyone to have some of the
delicious oranges from her plentiful tree;
she had a soft spot for every dog & kitten
in need that she came across and gave safe
haven to. Always welcoming and wanting
to cook/bake for you…those famous
chocolate chip/raisin cookies, best-ever
banana bread, the super-thin pancakes
and secret-recipe homemade syrup. Her
decades of involvement at the
El Segundo United Methodist
Church inspired her and
made a difference for so
many. She was a voracious
reader who frequented the
El Segundo Library and volunteered
to read. Any nearby symphony,
play or concert-in-the-park
would have her ear. Many
nights she would play her own
piano as a call for everyone to
come home for dinner. She nourished her
friendships to make sure they endured. She
delighted in her bosses, co-workers and her
Accounts Receivables work at Flegenheimer
International for nearly a decade where she
didn’t retire until she was 80. Travel truly
excited her and she made several trips home
to Chicago, annual family/friend camping
trips, a cross-country road trip, tours of Amish
country and Ireland with her dear cousin
Ann Marie, and a thrilling three-month trek
through more than 10 European countries,
culminating in the birth of her granddaughter
in Germany.
She is survived by her children Cynthia
Sandbakken, Stewart Perkins, Donna (Hartley)
Shellabarger and son-in-law Robert
Shellabarger. Grandchildren missing her
are Nicholas Sandbakken, Bonnie Broek,
Michael Hartley, Erin Sandbakken, grandsonin
law Steve Broek, as well as dear cousins,
extended family and friends.
A memorial service at her church will be
scheduled in a few months. Family will
keep everyone apprised as to when. In lieu
of flowers, please consider making a donation
in her honor to: El Segundo United Methodist
Church, 540 Main Street, El Segundo,
CA 90245. •
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