West Hollywood is celebrating seniors in May. For more than 20 years, West Hollywood has organized an annual series of events to engage its thriving population of older community members. The tradition is rooted in President John F. Kennedy’s national designation of “Senior Citizens Month” in 1963; in 1980 President Jimmy Carter renamed it “Older Americans Month.”
The month begins with the Spring Fiesta Senior Dance on Saturday. Participants will put on dancing shoes and celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Plummer Park’s Great Hall. The event is for seniors 55 and older. Refreshments will be provided. Admission is $5. For more information, contact the city’s Recreation Services Division at (323) 848‐6530 or recreation@weho.org.
On Sunday, World War II remembrance events commence with the Immortal Regiment March at 9:30 a.m. at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. The march will head east on Santa Monica Boulevard to Plummer Park in remembrance of those who fought against the Nazis. A shuttle will be provided for those veterans unable to walk. For more information, call (323) 848-6826.
Also on Sunday, the Victory in Europe Day ceremony at Plummer Park’s Fiesta Hall will begin at 11:30 a.m. It marks the defeat of Nazi forces and offers a remembrance of the estimated 50 million people who died during the war. Residents who are World War II veterans will be honored. For more information, call (323) 848-6501.
On Tuesday, from 2 to 3 p.m., community members are invited to join staff from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health at the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room to discuss mental health wellness for seniors, with a focus on depression and anxiety. Admission is free. The West Hollywood Library is located at 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. south of Santa Monica. For more information, call (310) 652-5340 or visit the West Hollywood Library website.
On May 16 from 9 a.m. to noon, the 17th annual Senior Health Fair will take place at the Plummer Park Community Center, lat 7377 Santa Monica Blvd. The fair will offer free health screenings including checks for blood glucose for diabetes, blood pressure, dental checks, mammograms and total cholesterol screenings. The Senior Health Fair is co-sponsored by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles and the Saban Community Clinic. A complimentary lunch will be provided. To reserve a lunch, call (323) 848-6820 in advance. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can call TTY (323) 848-6496.
On May 22 from 2 to 3:30 p.m., “Seniors in Action: Community, Connection, Conversation” will take place at the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room at 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. This event will offer opportunities for participants to learn something new, contribute their talents and experience and deepen their connection to the West Hollywood community. Attendance is free and open to the public; RSVPs are not necessary. Refreshments will be served.
On May 23 at 2 p.m., the Senior Advisory Board will hold a meeting and reception at the City Council Chambers at 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. at which an outstanding senior from the community will be honored. There also will be readings from contributors to “Senior Stories WeHo”, a book of poems and stories by local seniors. Attendance is free and open to the public; RSVPs are not necessary. Refreshments will be served. For people who cannot attend, the meeting will be televised on WeHoTV, which is available to Spectrum customers within the City of West Hollywood on channel 10. AT&T U-verse customers across Southern California can access WeHoTV on channel 99. The meeting will also be available for live streaming and on-demand replay on the city’s website at www.weho.org/wehotv and on WeHoTV’s YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/wehotv.
Just prior to the advisory board meeting on May 23, staff from LA Metro will be on hand for an Older Adult Transportation Pop Up noon. Metro will provide resources and information about using public transportation. The presentation will also be broadcast live on WeHo TV.
On May 30 at 7 p.m. at the City Council Chambers, Lillian Faderman, an American historian whose books about lesbian and LGBT history have earned critical praise and awards, will read and discuss her new book, “Harvey Milk: His Lives and Death.” Three of her books have been named to The New York Times “Notable Books of the Year” list. In addition, The Guardian named her book, “Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers,” one of the “Top 10 Books of Radical History.” Books will be available for purchase and signing. Attendance is free and open to the public; RSVPs are not necessary.
Senior Month programming is presented by the City of West Hollywood and its Senior Advisory Board, as well as the Senior Activity Programs of the West Hollywood Comprehensive Services Center, in conjunction with Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles (JFS).
More information about additional related programming in the month of May and about senior services in the City of West Hollywood can be found online. Information about the city’s Aging in Place Strategic Plan can also be found online.
