Seniors : Achievements, activities

HUNTINGTON BEACH

Barbara Makes ‘Golden Waves’

In enjoying his golden years, retiree Chuck Barbara is making waves.

Barbara, 75, is the host of a Huntington Beach cable TV show titled “Golden Wave” that confronts issues of special interest to senior citizens. Not one to shy away from controversy, Barbara chose senior sexuality for this month’s topic.

“Some seniors think sexuality is something we shouldn’t discuss,” said Barbara, who also serves on the city’s Council on Aging. “But I felt it was an interesting subject, so I went for it. It turned out to be a good program.”

Barbara tackles such varied issues as health insurance and health care, scams directed at senior citizens and how to be assertive with doctors. He also highlights programs through which seniors can get involved in the city, such as helping troubled youth and working with students.

“The program is an innovative way to get information to the community on senior issues, programs and services that are available,” said Nora Webb, director of Michael E. Rodgers Seniors’ Center.

His 30-minute program, shown on HBTV-3, is taped once a month and aired five nights a week. In a city with more than 20,000 senior residents, it has found a following and is now in its fourth year with Barbara as host.

Barbara, who worked in marketing for 40 years, has secured corporate sponsors for the TV show.

“I get a kick out of doing the program,” he said. “It’s a satisfaction to me knowing I’m getting the word out.

“I feel I have a lot to offer, and, as long as I can offer that assistance, I’m going to do it.”

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HUNTINGTON BEACH

Ex-Truck Driver’s Gift to Aid Rides Program

Clay Scofield was a truck driver by trade for nearly 40 years. Now 87, he can no longer drive, not even to get himself to the doctor’s office or the grocery store.

For the past couple of years, Scofield has been getting around by using transportation assistance offered by the Huntington Beach Seniors’ Outreach Center. The program started 17 years ago to give rides to senior citizens who can no longer drive.

“The program has helped me an awful lot. I don’t have a car or a driver’s license, and I’m almost blind,” Scofield said.

To show his appreciation, Scofield recently donated $2,000 to the program, which operates with two vans, two sedans and 15 volunteer drivers. The money went for a new computer to automate the dispatching of the senior transportation services.

Betsy Crimi, Seniors’ Outreach Center human services coordinator, said the computer will be a big help in scheduling appointments more efficiently and organizing reports and statistics.

“We’ll be able to meet the needs of the community better,” Crimi said.

--COMPILED BY DEBRA CANO