Legislative Hotlines, Current Issues for Blind Persons
CALIFORNIA CONNECTION:
800-221-6359, after 5 PM and weekends
WASHINGTON CONNECTION:
800-424-8666, 3-9 PM and weekends
DISCLAIMER: This publication contains announcements from the Silicon Valley Council of the Blind and is also a forum for opinions relating to blindness issues. Signed articles reflect the views, and research, of their authors.
STATUS: SVCB is a 501(c)3 non-profit, tax-exempt organization under the California Council of the Blind.
Monthly in-person meetings are held at the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center (Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired San Jose). Meetings run from 9:30 AM to 1 PM, the third Saturday of the month and are open to all.
November is a month filled with opportunities for gratitude, civic action, and the transition into what we refer to as the "winter" months here in Northern California.
Regarding our civic responsibilities, we heard from Pete Stahl of the League of Women Voters at our October meeting. Pete is a long-time supporter of our chapter, and he provided thorough and easy-to-understand summaries of the issues presented to voters for the November 4 election. By now, you should have received your official ballot.
Are you registered to vote in Santa Clara County, but unsure where to go to cast your ballot? Look no further than the County of Santa Clara Voter Registrar's Voting Center Locator service! Simply enter your address, and our service will provide you with a list of voting centers in your area, along with information on their hours of operation and accessibility features.
Our October In Touch newsletter also listed the slate of nominees for the 2026 SVCB Board positions. As always, individuals may run from the floor during our November meeting for any of the open positions.
November is also a time to focus on gratitude, with Thanksgiving taking place on Thursday, November 27. This holiday reminds us to express appreciation for the gift of family, friends, and all the blessings in our lives. You may remember that at the beginning of 2025, I encouraged everyone to practice gratitude daily, or as often as you think of it.
A simple exercise is to begin each morning with a mindful "thank you." When you rise from bed and plant your feet on the floor, silently say "thank you" with each step. You can add any small wish or expression of gratitude that comes to mind.
At our October meeting, we held a gratitude ceremony to honor our volunteers. Those who help each month by setting up the meeting, serving drinks and treats, ordering and delivering lunches, and running the microphones during our program and business meeting. SVCB is a service organization powered by volunteers who support our mission and assist blind and low-vision individuals in our chapter and beyond. Each of you makes a difference, and for that, we are deeply grateful!
After our October meeting, John Glass treated us with one of his Old-Time Radio shows, assisted by Rob Turner. John announced that this show was the 11th in a series offered at meetings and SVCB parties. Thank you, John!
Don't forget! On Sunday, November 2, at 2:00 a.m., we set our clocks back one hour as daylight saving time ends, and we return to standard time. By the time you read this newsletter, we hope you've managed to reset all the clocks in your home!
Rob and I look forward to seeing you all at our November meeting.
November birthdays: Rob Turner, Naomi Grubb, Steven Lenhoff, Perla Cose, Sam Chen, David Hoffman, and Lupe Medrano.
Please make the lives of your bookkeeper and treasurer easier, and do not wait until the last minute to sign up for the holiday party and pay your dues.
Payments and signups can be done as follows:
- By paying at our November SVCB general membership meeting at Vista Center San Jose on Saturday, November 15. Payment can be made in cash or check. If paying by check, please add a memo/note to indicate what the payment is for. Cash or check can be given to David Hoffman or Victor Clifford.
- By using PayPal at
SVCB@SVCB.cc.
(Please add a memo/note in the comment field to indicate what the payment is for.)
- By mailing a check to our P.O. Box at the address listed near the top of this newsletter.
(As before, please indicate what the check is for.)
2026 membership dues are required to be paid by the end of this year. Annual dues for regular members are $20, and $10 for ACB lifetime members. If you joined the chapter this year, you are already paid up through 2026 and do not owe anything.
If you are unsure about whether you paid or how to pay, please either call and leave me a message at
408-638-9743,
send me an email at
treasurer@svcb.cc,
or contact me directly through our membership list.
The holiday party will be held on Saturday, December 13, from 11 AM to 2:30 PM. Please book your paratransit rides accordingly, as we only have the hall until 3 PM and have to clean up.
As a reminder, holiday party tickets are $15 for members and $20 for non-members. The event will include snacks and drinks to start, including eggnog, sodas, and water. Lunch will be a variety of pizzas from Mountain Mike's, and homemade coleslaw. Pizzas will include a gluten-free option. If you would like gluten-free pizza, please let David or Victor know when signing up. Dessert will be pies from Marie Calendars, and will include some sugar-free options. There will be holiday-themed entertainment, with an acapella group performing from 1 PM to 2:30 PM.
(The "not necessarily for only the vision impaired edition")
Welcome to The World According to Me Revival. Someone in our group mentioned that there used to be a recurring WAM article in this newsletter. From my understanding, this was an opportunity for someone to share with others, a glimpse into their weird thoughts. Brushing out the cobwebs, here is my version. Warning: Proceed at your own risk.
A friend who I sometimes play online poker with (not for money) often offers to send an emergency vehicle to my house, even though they live in North Carolina. "An ambulance?" I ask. "No," they reply, "A Wambulance. Because I whine so much when I lose. Why do I have trouble with losing?
This leads me to my first "Why do they do that."
Why, oh why do older brothers torture us growing up, and not teach us that losing is OK. They let us win all the time; then when we meet the real world, we do not understand what is happening. Or perhaps worse: They NEVER let us win at ANYTHING, and even gloat that they got the bigger ice cream cone. It gets worse. My oldest brother offered to teach me how to swim, as he was a certified instructor ... more like a certified torturer. He was so tough on me, the other instructors would implore him to take it easy on me; he only told me what they said years after I quit swimming out of fear. He is a judge now, and STILL thinks he is the boss of me. Proof: I had to get this approved with his court clerk.
Other random annoyances:
Why do they put back pain medicine on the bottom shelf at the pharmacy? It is true, go check it out.
While you are at it, tell me why they STILL sell hot dogs in packs of four or five, ten or sixteen, but hot dog buns in packs of eight or 12.
Why is it that, when you call a business and the recording comes on, it always says, "Please listen to all options, as our menus have recently changed." They NEVER have changed. URGH.
And why, in online forms or surveys when they ask your age, do they put the younger age range first, requiring us more experienced folks to have to scroll all the way down.
And do we REALLY still need directions on packages of Q-Tips, or that we should keep our ice cream in the freezer?
The manufacturer of dog toys in the shape of running shoes, needs to reimburse me for my Nike Air Jordans.
If cucumbers are healthy snacks, why aren't they pickles?
And do not get me started on healthy dairy products, like ice cream made from cow's milk. Cows are vegetarian and very healthy animals, at least that is what my friend Old Macdonald says.
Think about it. I bet you are singing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" right now.
And finally, think about the end of The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy goes down the line of her friends, telling each one how much she will miss them. At last, she comes to the Tinman, and proceeds to tell him that she will miss him most of all. Think about how the others might feel hearing that.
-Adjustment to Sight Loss Support Group--Margie Donavon
Every Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. Nelly Emerson and I host a sight loss support group on Zoom. This group is a closed group and we evaluate potentially new participants to make sure they are a great fit for the group.
We now have a few openings to add new people to the group. We primarily discuss anything related to living with sight loss, provide resources and help people get signed up with the Department of Rehabilitation.
For more information or if you are interested in the group, please contact Nelly Emerson at 951-237-2960, or myself at 916-293-9505.
Please feel free to share this far and wide.
-Social Security Administration Announces the 2026 Cost-of-Living-Adjustment
75 million Americans will receive a 2.8 percent increase in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2026.
Cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) notices will be sent to retirement, survivor, and disability beneficiaries, SSI recipients, and representative payees.
Starting in late November, you may be able to securely view and save your Social Security COLA notice within your personal "my" Social Security account. Log in to or create an account and edit your Communication and Notification Preferences to receive secure online notices, up to three weeks earlier than by mail.
A personal "my" Social Security account comes with a wide range of benefits that make managing your information easier and more secure. Many important notifications such as the COLA notice and the 1099 and 1042S benefit statements are available online. You don't have to wait for them to arrive by mail or worry about them getting lost. With your account, you can also request a replacement Social Security card, check the status of a claim, update your address, and set up or change your direct deposit information. And that's just the beginning. New features are added regularly to enhance your experience. Log in to or create your account today and take the next step toward going digital with Social Security. Access:
www.ssa.gov/myaccount
-The Braille Bar
The Braillist is an organization in England that promotes the use of braille. It features The Braille Bar, a monthly meeting of braille users on Zoom. To register, go to:
https://is.gd/2vqBqW
-Coming Soon: The 2025 Audio Description Awards Gala
The fifth annual Awards Gala airs Thursday, November 13, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern. Join hosts Alie B. Gorrie and Ashley J. Hicks to meet special guests and award recipients to celebrate the best of audio description. We'll also announce the winners of the AD People's Choice Awards! Here's how to access the show:
The Awards Gala will be available in English and Spanish, with open captions and audio description, and ASL. Don't miss it!
-September's Volunteer of the Month Is ...
The Community Support Committee would like to congratulate Cindy Labon, who was voted Volunteer of the Month for September. Thank you, Cindy, for all you do for our ACB Community!
A new version of the official U.S. online passport renewal application has launched! The passport renewal team worked hard to build an accessibility-friendly, mobile device-compatible application that works well with assistive technology, and the American Council of the Blind has been a critical partner in achieving this goal. The team worked with the ACB to complete two rounds of testing, where we reviewed the application together to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement. While we're continuing to make necessary optimizations, our priority is to offer an experience that can be easily navigated using assistive technology. Need to renew your passport? Visit the official online passport renewal website to try out the new application for yourself! Access:
https://is.gd/6WFoAi
-Benetech Needs You for a Braille Experience Survey
Purpose of the Study
Your feedback will help us better understand the needs of braille readers so that we can improve Bookshare for people who read braille and provide braille to others. Your answers will only be used by the Bookshare team to improve braille services.
Role of the Participants and Anticipated Length of the Study
Online survey lasting roughly 10-15 minutes. Non-visually accessible Microsoft form, or email plain text alternative upon request.
If you have questions, contact:
Diane Steinberg
Phone: (650) 352-0198
surveys@bookshare.org
-Touch of Genius Prize Now Taking Applications
The Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation is taking applications for the 2026 year! Applications are due January 9, 2026.
The Touch of Genius Prize was developed to inspire entrepreneurs, educators, or inventors to continue the promotion of braille and tactile literacy for blind and deafblind people worldwide. This prize can be granted for innovative and accessible computer software applications, tactile hardware, or curriculum that promotes braille and/or tactile literacy. NBP encourages all applicants to think outside the box for what can be used to help improve the lives of blind people. Even if you have applied in previous years, we encourage you to apply again! The winner of this prize will receive up to $10,000, which will help them to continue to innovate in the fields of technology and education for the blind community. The Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation is provided by the support of Susan Olivo and the Lavelle Fund for the Blind.
(Copy Editor's note: Some of my buddies on our Wednesday afternoon social chat asked me to put information about the Sensaball in our next newsletter, so here it is—I always keep my word! I think everyone will find it quite interesting. If you do your own Google search of Sensaball, you will find links to audio-described videos and YouTube information that will tell you even more.)
Sensaball is an original and revolutionary new cane tip device. It provides smooth, frictionless, multi-directional travel, allowing the user to keep the cane tip on the ground surface at all times. This is especially helpful and much safer going downstairs, using escalators, and traversing unpaved tracks. It runs easily over almost any surface. It gives users enhanced tactile feedback and higher levels of safety. Sensaball is a safer and smarter alternative white cane tip.
Visually impaired people who have been personally testing Sensaball informally, are indicating that it is multidirectional, smoothly running over virtually any surface, indoors or outdoors with almost no catching or jamming, and provides a much more comfortable user experience than conventional cane tips. Here are a few Endorsements.
"I was privileged to spend 30 minutes using the Sensaball... I got so much valued tactile information, and yet it runs along the ground so smoothly. The Sensaball on a staircase glides so perfectly. It manages grass without a problem. I use constant contact, and it can handle an extra tap or two should I need that extra bit of echo location. The Sensaball is the way forward."
Brent Franklin
Former Director Seeing Eye Dogs Australia (SEDA);
Former President of Vic Swish;
Former Victorian Blind Cricket Association (VBCA)
... "I have used a long white cane for many decades, definitely falling into the category of a veteran user.
Today is different. I have a brand new cane and, more importantly, a cane tip that is being developed. It is called Sensaball, a multidirectional ball that moves confidently over surfaces. Today, I will assess it.
... Sensaball is moving over the footpath cracks and undulating concrete. I am quite amazed. It continues to rotate without hesitation. I thought it may struggle in the wet, soil, and grass conditions. ... The further I walk, the greater my confidence with the Sensaball. I realize it is not going to jam, and I am not going to receive the whack in the stomach that most, if not all seasoned cane users have experienced.
The Sensaball spins, but thank goodness does not announce its presence to the world around me. This is a nice quality, and I enjoy this feature.
I complete my shopping and return home. My first experience with the Sensaball, and I am impressed."
Nick Gleeson
Adventurer—author—Speaker
"Over many years I have used a great variety of white canes. After using the Sensaball cane tip, I am pleased to say at last, we have one that smoothly moves along with the cane user. I tried it on many varied outdoor surfaces such as grass, soft and hard soil, concrete, and bitumen. On all of these outside surfaces, the cane kept moving with me without it being caught up, stuck on, or trapped in. This gave me a smooth, unfettered journey.
I then tried it on indoor surfaces such as high and low pile carpet, wood, and tiles. On all of these surfaces, I experienced the same high level of smooth, unimpeded progress. This cane just keeps rolling in any of the directions in which you are moving. ..."
Martin Stewart
Blind Australian of the year 2018 (Blind Alliance Australia)
Advocacy Officer (Blind Citizens Australia)
"I am in my late 70s, and have been vision impaired for life. I usually use a traditional roller ball cane tip. For the past week, I have given the Sensaball a hard workout. I walk multiple kilometers a day, from my local suburban streets to public transport, city streets, and markets. I have found that the Sensaball rolls smoothly in every direction. I can't fault it. I observed that the Sensaball rolls along the slope of the land, giving great feedback about the contour of the land ahead of me. It was very adaptable and easily interchangeable from one cane to the next. I have arthritis, and it was very easy to use. The Sensaball is a true freedom ball."
Therese
White cane user for 30 years
"Sensaball is one of the best steps forward in white cane technology. It really does work. I have arthritis in the thumb and there's no jarring—it just rolls along. I sweep and it works wonderfully. The old rotating balls were OK, but they have nothing on the Sensaball. I didn't realize how good it is until I went back to using my other tip recently. Sensaball has the ability to cover all types of terrains, and it does transmit information a lot better than other tips because it is rolling over each surface and not bouncing. As it rolls, the information seems to come up through your hand. It is sensitive on steps, which improves safety. I would recommend Sensaball to anyone ..."
David Blyth
President World Blind Union 1992-1996,
WBU Australian delegate 1984-2000,
Founder and President World Blind Golf 2000-2012,
Founder and President BCA Blind Citizens Australia 1975-1983,
Member Lions International 50 years.
Sensaball inventor Peter Rickards has been a valuable contributor to the disability sector for much of his life. He was a coordinator of sport and recreation for Vision Australia for 26 years, founder of Australians for Disability and Diversity Employment (ADDE), and the first Australian Representative in a Winter Paralympic team (Norway 1980). He is a keen entrepreneur and passionate environmental activist.
Rohan has genuinely versatile talents. He has an industrial design and engineering background. This, together with his skills as a handyman, craftsman, and artist, have given him the ideal expertise to design and oversee manufacturing of the Sensaball prototypes.
Brrring! Brrring! Brrring! (Your Caller ID says 715-154-9519, an unknown number.).
Brrring! Brrring! Brrring! (Person on the other end of the line): OH, PLEASE PICK UP!
Brrring! Brrring! Brrring! (Phone person, with a soto voce sigh of relief): Oh great, you picked up!
Good afternoon. I am your anonymous local phone service representative, calling with some exciting news. (No no, please don't hang up: this is NOT a crank call!) … Okay, as I was saying, you will be pleased to know that your name has been entered into the 2026 Local Phone Service Goodies Sweepstakes (LPSGS). (Don't even TRY to pronounce this, it is NOT a proper acronym!) We have been informed that you are renowned for providing sweet or savory snacks at early morning meetings, to people who probably haven't had breakfast yet. How do we know this? Well, you've heard of AI, right? So, you already know that it does more than you'd think. Anyway, to activate your sweepstakes status and be considered for a potential prize, you only need to contact our LPSGS coordinator, Bev Clifford, by calling
1-888-652-5333 to leave her a message, by dropping her an email at
goodies@svcb.cc, or by looking her up in your local phone service membership directory, to contact her by phone or email directly. Yes, you DO have one somewhere; just look for it!
Sweepstakes rules:
1. You must be certain of the time and location of the meeting to which you will bring your goodies. (You are probably already aware of this, but one never knows, people can sometimes forget).
2. You must specify a month in which you plan to provide said goodies, your choice, but if you wait too long another sweepstakes entrant may have already spoken for the month you wanted.
3. You must provide at least 3 dozen of the goodies you wish to bring.
4. Your goodies must be either homemade or purchased from a supermarket that sells outstanding stuff
(sub-standard goodies will disqualify you from winning a prize).
5. Asking me what the prize is will also disqualify you: our prizes are kept under wraps until time of award. And furthermore, your prize cannot be awarded until you have figured out the secret code embedded in the phone number you heard on your Caller ID. (This is the only clue you will be given to puzzle out the code and earn your prize... No, wait! I am told that there just MIGHT be a clue or two in future.)
Contributed by Suzanne Smith from "Cooking with Golden Butterflies"
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 large can chili beans
1 can tomato soup
1 can tomato sauce
1 can whole-kernel corn with juice
1 small bag Fritos
2 cups grated Cheddar cheese
sliced black olives (optional)
chili powder (optional)
Directions
Brown ground beef and onions with salt and pepper to taste.
Add beans, soup, sauce, and corn. Stir in Fritos, and add optional olives and chili powder if desired. Pour into a large casserole.
Top with shredded cheese, and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until casserole is very hot and cheese is melted.
Yeilds 8 large servings.
Note: This recipe can be made ahead of time and frozen to eat later, and can be reheated in the microwave.
-Ultimate Strawberry Pound Cake
Contributed by Deborah Armstrong
(From Debee): I invented this recipe for my strawberry-loving husband, Bob, who put up with a lot of crummy cakes before this one was perfected. So, I dedicate this recipe to him.)
Ingredients
2 15-ounce boxes strawberry cake mix
frozen strawberries
2 cubes (1 cup) unsalted butter
1/2 cup milk
4 small eggs or 3 large
1 teaspoon strawberry flavoring (optional)
Directions
Melt the butter. Dump the cake mix into a large bowl.
Pour the melted butter over the cake mix. Combine thoroughly. Small lumps will form. Break them up as much as you can.
In a blender, combine strawberries and milk. You will want a mixture that is 1-3/4 cup, and the strawberries should be a mushy liquid. The exact amount of strawberries cannot be determined, so blend and measure, and if you have leftovers, make yourself a smoothie.
Combine the eggs with the strawberry mixture. Add the strawberry flavoring if you have it.
Pour the liquid over the cake mix and melted butter mixture.
Stir with a wooden spoon, and later an electric mixer. Combine thoroughly. The mixture will feel gritty and watery, but that's OK.
Pour into a greased and floured 14-by-9-by-2-inch pan. It should fill the pan halfway. It will seem more watery than many cakes, but will firm up nicely after baking.
Bake for an hour at 400 degrees, and check for doneness with a toothpick as usual.
When cool, frost with store-bought strawberry frosting, or make the frosting by combining more frozen strawberries blended with confectioners sugar and butter. You can liquify the strawberries, or leave little chunks if your frosting is homemade.
Notes: Fresh strawberries never worked as well when I tried various ways to make a strawberry cake. Melting the butter gives it a firm, brownie-like texture. The cake box calls for oil, but it's just not as good as melted butter. Do not substitute salted butter, because the cake mix contains salt already.
Different brands of frozen strawberries make different amounts of liquid when blended, so you'll have to use around ten at a time and measure as you go. I use a small "bullet" blender for this job. The 1/2 cup milk is required, or the strawberries will not liquify.
-Biscochos
Contributed by Mary Castellano
(This was our Cookies of the month recipe for October of this year, but first appeared in our May 2017 SVCB In Touch newsletter)
Ingredients
5 pound bag of flour
6 cups sugar
4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) ground cinnamon
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
3 pound can Crisco
4 eggs
4 tablespoons vanilla
3 tablespoons (1 bottle) anise extract
1/2 to 3/4 cup (up to 6 ounces) pineapple juice
Cinnamon-sugar
Directions
In a very large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.
Next, put Crisco in a microwave-safe dish, and soften by microwaving for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. To test, stir with a spoon to see if it is softened and fluffy. Cool a little.
Once the shortening is cool enough to handle, add to dry ingredients, and blend together with a large spoon, your hands, or a pastry blender, until Crisco is mixed in and the mixture is crumbly.
Make a hole in the middle of the mixture, and add eggs, vanilla, and anise extract. Then, while mixing together, begin sprinkling pineapple juice over ingredients, a little at a time. Continue to mix, sprinkling additional pineapple juice as needed, until the mixture becomes malleable and dough sticks together enough to roll out. (You may not need all of the pineapple juice.)
Roll dough out on a clean counter, cutting board, or other flat smooth surface until it is about 1/4 inch thick. (Do not sprinkle flat surface or rolling pin with flour before rolling out dough.) Cut diagonally into 1-inch strips, and then cut diagonally in 1-inch strips in the opposite direction, to create diamond-shaped cookies.
Use a metal spatula to move cookies from flat surface to ungreased cookie sheets as the dough will stick a little. Place cookies 1/4 to 1/2 inches apart; they don't spread much (like biscuits), but they do need a small amount of space between them, so they don't stick together. Bake cookies at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes, or until lightly browned on top.
When the cookies are done, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool a little. Put cinnamon-sugar and cookies in a large bowl, and gently toss with a spatula. (The warmer the cookies, the easier it is for the cinnamon-sugar to stick, but if the cookies are too warm, they will break easily.) Remove cookies from bowl, and allow them to cool completely on wire racks before storing.
Store cookies in a covered container. The longer they sit, the more flavorful they become. They keep up to a month at room temperature. If cookies are cut into 1-inch diagonal strips, you'll get approximately 350 cookies.
Note: To make cinnamon-sugar, Mary's niece suggests mixing together about 1/4 cup cinnamon with 1/2 cup sugar, or adjust ratio to taste.
When prompted for a participant code, press the Pound key.
Note that the above Zoom call-in information is used for SVCB's virtual link to monthly in-person membership meetings.
2. Shows Described by AudioVision Bay Area
For all productions (Golden Gate, Orpheum Theatres, Broadway San Francisco, and Broadway San Jose), tickets are generally on sale four weeks before the production opens. To charge tickets and reserve receivers, call:
888-746-1799
(SHN Theaters), or fax your order to:
415-581-2121
and ask for AudioVision tickets. If you have any questions, please email:
didisalvo@msn.com
or visit:
www.theaudiovision.org.
3. TheatreWorks, with descriptions by Gravity Access Services.
Pre-register for tickets that include a free "show talk" 30 minutes before the show at the TheatreWorks box office at:
650-436-1960
or email:
boxoffice@theatreworks.org.
Shows are at the Lucie Stern Theatre or the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. A webpage with a listing of audio-described shows is at:
www.theatreworks.org/venues/accessibility.
4. San Francisco LightHouse
To hear weekly events at the San Francisco LightHouse, call:
415-694-7325.
5. Let's Talk Low Vision
The monthly "Let's Talk Low Vision" conferences are held on the third Tuesday of the month at 8:30 PM Eastern. Archives are at the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI) Official website at:
www.cclvi.info/archive-lets-talk-low-vision/.
Zoom information is distributed through the ACB Community Schedule email list, or by emailing:
cclviwebmaster@gmail.com.
6. Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors
Departs every Sunday at noon from Pier 40 in San Francisco. Call:
415-281-0212
for information and reservations, or visit:
www.baads.org.
7. Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP)
BORP believes that everyone should have access to the unique challenges that outdoor recreation provides, and makes every effort to accommodate each person's needs, including providing transportation and volunteer support. For event listings, call Lori Gray at:
510-843-4398
or visit:
www.borp.org.
-Calendar
November
November 6, 7:30 to 9 PM: SVCB Board Meeting. Interested SVCB members are invited.
November 15, 9:30 AM to 1 PM: 38th Anniversary SVCB Monthly Membership Meeting at Vista San Jose. Elect officers for 2026 administration. Announce Budget Committee.
November 17, noon: December newsletter deadline.
December
December 2, 5:30 to 7 PM: Breast cancer support group meeting. For questions, call Lori Scharff at:
516-887-1336
or email:
lorischarff@gmail.com.
December 4, 7:30 to 9 PM: SVCB Board Meeting.
December 13, 11 AM to 2:30 PM: SVCB Holiday Party. See articles in this issue.
December 14, 2 PM: Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley, with descriptions by Gravity, MVCPA, see notes.
December 22, noon: January, 2026 newsletter deadline.