Sign Up Now For Our Thanksgiving Luncheon!

On Tuesday, November 20, 2012, we will be having our special Thanksgiving Luncheon.  The menu will include Roast Turkey, Bread Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce, Green Peas & Onions, Spinach Salad, and (of course) Pumpkin Pie.  Alternate entrees are also available.  Please make your reservations as soon as possible, and no later than Monday at noon.

Special Days in September

We have a number of special luncheons this September!  This Monday (Sept. 17) is Root Beer Float Day, and this Wednesday (Sept. 19) is our September Birthday Party.  On Monday, September 25th, we will have bingo right after lunch.  Then on Tuesday, September 25th, we will be having a presentation about the different transportation programs available to our luncheon guests.  Finally, on Wednesday, September 26th, we will be hosting a presentation from Sheila Messina on the topic of being "Safe and Independent."  Make your reservations for these events as soon as you can!

Special Events at Camden!

Hi everybody!  I want to announce some August special events.  On Friday, August 24th, we will have a tap dance performance by The Dancing Divas right after lunch.  Then on Friday, August 31st, we will be having an ice cream social.  Make your reservations as soon as possible, and don't forget that there are three different ways to make a reservation:  you can fill out a reservation form here at the Kirk Cafe during lunchtime; you can call our reservation hotline (408) 371-2888 and leave a message, or you can send me an email with the reservation information at ajones.seniornutrition@yahoo.com. 

Help Us Plan Upcoming Menus!

On Thursday, August 9th, join us to discuss our future menus!  Staff from Bateman Senior Meals and Santa Clara County will be there, and we want to hear what our guests think about the Senior Nutrition Program and our menu selections.  All guests of the Camden, Southside, and Cypress Senior Nutrition Programs are welcome.  If you would like to attend, the meeting will be held here at the Camden Community Center in Room A at 10a.m. on Thursday, August 9, 2012.

August Menu Now Available

Hi everyone!  Our August menu is now posted.  Just click on the August tab above to access it.  Also, if you have any questions or comments about our menu items, please call (408) 371-2888 to give us your thoughts.  The Fall menu is currently under consideration, and we want your input!

Peninsula Banjo Band Performance

On Friday, June 29th, the Peninsula Banjo Band will be performing at our noon luncheon.  Many of you have already signed up for this special event.  If you haven't reserved a spot yet, there is still time!  If you want to see this great band, just call (408) 371-2888 and leave a message with your name and phone number, and indicate that your reservation is for the 29th.  Thanks!

Guest Speaker from Pathways

Next Tuesday, June 19th, we will be pleased to welcome a guest speaker from Pathways, an organization that specializes in Home Health and Hospice care.  Janeen Pratt will give a lunchtime presentation on fall prevention.  Call (408) 371-2888 to reserve your lunch and an opportunity to learn about this important topic!  For more information about Pathways, visit their website:  http://pathwayshealth.org/index.html .

Memorial Day Closure

Just a reminder, the Kirk Cafe will be closed on Monday, May 28th in observance of Memorial Day.

Free Taxi and Bus Service to the Kirk Cafe!

During May and June 2012, the City of San Jose will be offering complementary taxi service to registered Senior Nutrition Program participants seeking assistance traveling to and from our luncheons.  Participants must live within a three mile radius of our center, and may book up to 3 roundtrips each week.  Space is limited, so come by the Camden Community Center and fill out a Taxi Participant Form ASAP!

Also during May and June 2012, the City of San Jose will be offering complementary VTA monthly passes to participants seeking assistance traveling to and from the Nutrition program.  You are eligible for these passes if you:

* Are a registered Senior Nutrition Program participant;
* Have an RTC Senior Card (available through VTA for seniors 65 and over);
*Complete a short Bus Participant Form.

Have questions about either of these programs?  Call (408) 559-6209 or (408) 371-2888.  We look forward to helping you sign up for these new transportation opportunities!

Bingo in May

If you love bingo, make a reservation for one of our bingo luncheons this May.  Our first bingo day will be Friday, May 4th.  The second bingo day will be Tuesday, May 22nd.

Alternate Entrees Are Back!

Starting in May, Kirk Cafe guests will once again have the opportunity to pre-order an alternate entree instead of the main dish offered on the menu.  There will be vegetarian and non-vegetarian entree salads, as well as vegetarian and non-vegetarian sandwiches to choose from.  The specific offerings will change each week.  If you choose an alternate entree, you will not receive the vegetable or bean sides or breads on that day's menu.  However, you WILL receive any desserts, fruit, juice, and milk.  Thank you to Bateman Senior Meals for offering these new choices!

Birthdays and Bingo in April

On Thursday, April 19th, we will be celebrating everyone with an April birthday.  Everyone (whether or not you are an April baby) is welcome, so make your reservation today! 

Wednesday, April 25th is our next bingo day.  Reserve ASAP for lunch and stay for bingo.  You might win a free lunch coupon!

Cooking for One (or Two)

For anyone who finds it challenging to cook for one (or two), I've found a great resource.  Click here, or go to http://www.agewell.org.nz/pdf/efficent_cooking_for_one.pdf for a
21-page guide called, "Efficient Cooking for One," prepared by Utah State University.  It contains basic principles, recipes, and nutrition information.  Check it out!

For some good microwave cooking-for-one recipes, try this website:  http://www.microwavecookingforone.com/Content.html.

Cesar Chavez Day Closure

Just a reminder, the Kirk Cafe will be closed in honor of Cesar Chavez Day on Friday, March 30th. 

Stretching Your Fruit & Veggie Budget

Want some ideas for how to stretch your fruit and vegetable budget?  Click here for a list of 30 suggestions compiled by the CDC.  Here are a few examples of the ideas on their list:

*  Homemade soup is a healthy and tasty way to use vegetables.  Make a big batch and freeze leftovers in small lunch-size containers.  Buy dried beans, peas, and lentils in their raw or uncooked form instead of the processed and packaged versions which cost more.

*  Buy in bulk with friends and share the cost.  This is an especially good idea for small families or anyone who lives alone.

*  Get creative with your leftover fruits and vegetables.  Make salsa from your tomatoes, onions, and peppers.  Make smoothies from your fruits.

Special Days in March

This March we have several special days planned, so mark your calendars and start reserving your seats!  On Wednesday, March 14th, a representative from California State Assembly Member Jim Beall's office will be our guest speaker.  Then, on Thursday, March 15th, we will be having our March Birthday Party (get ready for cake!).  On Friday, March 16th, we will be having our St. Patrick's Day Luncheon.  The last two weeks of March will each include a bingo day.  The first of these will be Thursday, March 22nd, and then we'll have another on Monday, March 26th.  Call (408) 371-2888 for reservations, or fill out a reservation form on your next visit to the Camden Community Center!

Thank You to the Dancing Divas!



On behalf of everyone at the Kirk Cafe, I want to thank the Dancing Divas for providing the entertainment at our February Birthday Luncheon last week.  Suzanne Regul, Shirley Daigle, Betty Rossman, Mary Ellen Mackay, Nancy Walb, Sue Shannon, Linda Aiken, Ele O'Bryon, and Barbara McDonald gave us a great tap dance performance.  Brava!

February Bring-A-Friend Campaign

I want to thank everyone who has brought friends and neighbors this month to the Kirk Cafe!  You've all done a great job getting the word out about our luncheons.  I also want to encourage everyone to keep spreading the word.  Whether you come primarily to enjoy our great food, the company of friends, or our volunteer opportunities, the Kirk Cafe is a great resource that every local senior should know about.

Council on Aging Health & Wellness Presentation

Before lunch on Friday, February 10th, the Silicon Valley Council on Aging will be doing a short presentation and distributing guidebooks about local health and wellness resources.  They will cover topics such as:

       *  Free and Affordable Resources for Home Help, Fitness Groups, Swimming Pools, Transportation, Caregiving Support, and more;

       * 5 Easy Tips to Prevent Falls;

       * Fun Ways to Stay Active at Home & in the Community;

       * Increase Your Energy, Lift Your Mood, & Improve Your Sleep;

       * Tips and Free Resources to Prevent or Manage Diabetes, Arthritis, & High Blood Pressure.

If you or someone you know could use this information, please call (408) 371-2888 to reserve your spot at lunch and the presentation!

Menu Changes

Starting on Tuesday, January 17th, our lunches will be catered by the Bateman Senior Meals Kitchen in Santa Clara, instead of by the Willow Glen Community Center.  The new Bateman menu looks great, but it is different from the menu originally printed in our January newsletter and on our reservation forms.  Take a look at our new menu by clicking here, or by clicking the "January 2012 Menu" button at the top of this page.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Just a reminder...next Monday (January 16th) the Camden Community Center and the Kirk Café will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  We will re-open on Tuesday, but because of the holiday closure I need everyone to call in Tuesday reservations before noon on Friday, January 13th.  Thanks!

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season, and I look forward to seeing you at the Kirk Cafe in the new year! Please note that our January menu is now available, and reservations can be made either by calling (408) 371-2888 or by emailing me at ajones.seniornutrition@yahoo.com.  If you have never attended the Kirk Cafe before, or if you haven't come in quite awhile, I encourage you to give us a try!  Consider making a reservation for Bingo Day (Wednesday, Jan 11th), or for this month's birthday luncheon (Thursday, Jan 19th), or just pick a day when we're serving a dish you love.  Happy New Year!