‘On the Go’ shuttles offer options for older San Diegans
Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFSSD) is now providing individual and group transportation to older San Diegans under their new On the Go program. On the Go, a program of the Jewish Senior Services Council and delivered by Jewish Family Service, is more than simply a ride--it provides independence, community connection, mobility and dignity for Jewish and non-Jewish adults 60 and older who live in North County Inland, University City, La Jolla, Clairemont and the College, Del Cerro, San Carlos areas.
“On the Go is a gateway to essential life services for older adults--quality health care, nutritious food, physical activity, Jewish connection, and social activity,” said Jill Borg Spitzer, CEO of Jewish Family Service. “This is particularly important now because individuals age 60 years and older represent the fastest growing segment of San Diego County’s population, with the number of residents expected to more than double by 2030.”
Borg noted that the lack of easy, accessible, and affordable transportation available to older adults is a problem recognized at the national, state, and local levels. In a 2003 San Diego County survey, nearly 30 percent of older adults age 85 and older said that transportation was a problem.
Additionally, the American Transportation Association reported that compared to those who still drive, older non-drivers make 15 percent fewer trips to the doctor, 59 percent fewer trips and visits to restaurants, and 65 percent fewer trips for social, family and religious activities.
On the Go Shuttles provides group transportation to Jewish Family Service’s Older Adult Centers, the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, synagogues, religious events, shopping centers, grocery stores, and other cultural outings and events. Door to door shuttles are $3.00 each way with transportation to synagogues for Shabbat and holiday services being free.
On the Go Excursions offers group transportation to diverse activities from enjoying an evening at the theatre to cheering on the San Diego Padres. Fees range from $6.00 and up, depending on the destination and admittance fees. Favorite trips include Balboa Park, Back Country Winery Tours, Jewish Film Festival and Book Fair, Museums and Historic Sites, State and County Parks, Health Fairs, Theatres and Concerts, Casinos and much more.
Now part of the On the Go program, JFSSD’s award-winning Rides & Smiles® has expanded its existing service area in North County Inland to include the UC/La Jolla/Clairemont areas. Since 2004, Rides & Smiles has provided transportation for older adults to necessary medical appointments, personal appointments, pharmacies, banks, and other life necessities. It is the largest volunteer-based transportation service in San Diego County - providing more than 500 rides by more than 125 volunteer drivers each month. Rides are provided for a suggested donation ranging from $5.00 to $25.00 depending on the length of the ride and must be reserved at least one week in advance.
For more information, or to enroll in On the Go, please call 1-877-634-6537 or visit
www.jfssd.org
There is a $20 enrollment fee to utilize On the Go services.
Zip codes within the service areas include: 92064, 92127, 92128, 92129, 92131, 92115, 92119, 92120, 91941, 91942, 92117, 92037, 92122, 92121 and 92111.
Upcoming excursions:
MAY
Birch Aquarium
Sunday, May 31, 2009Bus leaves at 10:00am
Explore where the wonders of the ocean come alive! At the Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, encounter a dazzling variety of marine life from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest to the tropical seas of Mexico and the South Pacific. Also experience the outdoor tide-pool plaza overlooking the sparkling Pacific Ocean and an engaging museum featuring exhibits which highlight the latest research by Scripps explorers.
Each day, aquarists feed the fishes and invertebrates in the live animal displays. Watch as sharks cruise by eyeing their food, or as lobsters emerge from their rocky hiding places. When it’s feeding time, the habitat comes to life and animal behaviors are best observed. You can ask questions and learn more about the wonders of the ocean world. Plan to lunch at the Splash! Cafe where you will have a choice of gourmet sandwiches, salads, beverages and snacks.
Payment must be received by May 28, 2009. We will return at approximately 2:15pm. This excursion is $13.50
JUNE
“Mainly Mozart” at the Balboa Theatre
Sunday, June 7, 2009Bus leaves at 1:00pm
Enjoy William Preucil on the violin and David Deveau at the piano for an afternoon of heavenly music. Among the selections: Mozart’s “Violin Sonata No. 24 in F, K. 376,” Tchaikovsky’s “The White Swan” (from Swan Lake), Dvorak’s “Sonatina in G, Op. 100,” Debussy’s “Violin Sonata in G minor L. 140,” and Mendelssohn’s “ Violin Sonata in F, Op. 4.”
Payment must be received by May 28, 2009. We will return at approximately 4:30pm. This excursion is $16.
Opening Day at the San Diego County Fair, Del Mar Fairgrounds
Friday, June 12, 2009Bus leaves at 10:45am
The County Fair is back! Enjoy many different culinary delights as you stroll around the fair. You’ll have the opportunity to do a lot of people-watching, visit the Flower and Garden Show exhibit, Designs in Wood, Gems and Minerals, Home and Hobby, Student Showcase, Art and Photography, Digital Arts and Photojournalism, even AgriFair and Livestock exhibits! There is always a wonderland of interesting items for sale, entertainingly demonstrated.
Payment must be received by June 9, 2009. We will return at approximately 4:00pm. This excursion is $13.
The Fantasticks, Lamb’s Players Theatre, Coronado
Sunday, June 14, 2009Bus leaves at 1:00pm
One of the simplest, most beautiful musicals ever written, The Fantasticks started out
a crowd-pleaser and ended up the longest-running musical of all time, with an astonishing 42-year New York run. A girl and boy who live in neighboring houses fall in love despite their parents’ feud, until they find that the feud was a trick to bring about their romance. Summer is the perfect season for this sweetly beautiful, broadly theatrical fable about falling in love, growing up, losing childlike innocence, and coming home again wiser. With a gorgeous score filled with beloved songs like “Soon It’s Gonna Rain,” “I Can See It,” and the international chart-topper “Try to Remember,” The Fantasticks is a delicious musical confection.
Payment must be received by June 1, 2009. We will return at approximately 5:00pm. This excursion is $30
Deluxe Coach Scenic Tour of San Diego
Friday, June 26, 2009Bus leaves at 11:30am
You’ll relax in a deluxe coach and learn all about San Diego from the comfort of your seat. Join Barbara & Shel Howard for a drive around San Diego, where we will see and learn about more than twenty points of interest all over town. Our first stop will be for lunch at Elijah’s Deli in La Jolla. Our tour will take us from La Jolla to Coronado, from Seaport Village to the Gaslamp Quarter, with many stops in between. Snacks will be provided.
Payment must be received by June 22, 2009. We will return at approximately 4:30pm. This excursion is $18 (meal is not included in price).
JULY
The Klezmeds Twilight in the Park Concert and picnic dinner
Thursday, July 2, 2009Bus leaves at 5:00pm
At the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park at twilight, when the stars are just about to appear, enjoy a concert by “The KlezMeds,” our own San Diego Klezmer band. Experience the wonderful, lively Eastern European dance music of the Ashkenazi Jews. Bring a picnic dinner; we’ll arrive early enough to eat before the concert starts.
Payment must be received by June 29, 2009. We will return at approximately 7:45pm. This excursion is $6.
42ND Street
Thursday, July 16, 2009Bus leaves at 7:15pm
At the newly remodeled Moonlight Outdoor Amphitheater in Vista, see the ultimate Broadway musical, 42nd Street, the classic 1930’s story of a young dancer who arrives in New York to audition for a Broadway show with 40 cents in her pocket and a big dream. She gets catapulted to stardom by amazing circumstances in the unforgettable tap-dancing extravaganza that is a testament to the “Lullaby of Broadway.” The show also includes “We’re in the Money,” “About a Quarter to Nine,” and “Shuffle Off to Buffalo;” a perfectly dazzling entertainment!
Payment must be received by July 2, 2009. We will return at approximately 10:15pm. This excursion is $33.
A Day at the Races!
Sunday, July 26, 2009Bus leaves at 12:30pm
Watch the ponies from the air-conditioned comfort of your reserved seat in the Clubhouse at the Del Mar Racetrack. You’ll be near the ticket booth and the food, so you can settle in for an exciting afternoon with no stress!
Payment must be received by July 21, 2009. We will return at approximately 4:30pm. This excursion is $18.
Pageant of the Masters & Laguna Arts Festival
Tuesday, July 28, 2009Bus leaves at 2:30pm
“Where Art Comes to Life” . . . incredibly faithful art re-creations of classical and contemporary works with real people posing to look exactly like their counterparts in the original pieces. An outdoor amphitheater, professional orchestra, original score, live narration, intricate sets, sophisticated lighting, expert staff, and hundreds of dedicated volunteers have won recognition for the Pageant as the best presentation of its kind.
Enjoy your visit to Laguna Beach for the Festival of the Arts, Art A-Fair, the Sawdust Art Festival, and a beautiful, unforgettable evening at The Pageant of the Masters. We will travel by deluxe coach, with all amenities on board. In Laguna, you’ll find restaurants of all kinds from which to choose for dinner. Our coach will be available to transport you to the different parts of town where all the fun will take place, and have you back in time for the performance, which starts at 8:30.
Payment must be received by July 15, 2009. Home pickup shuttles will not be available for this excursion. We will return at approximately 12:30am. This excursion is $50. (Meals are not included in this price.)
AUGUST
Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra Concert
Sunday, August 2, 2009Bus leaves at 1:45pm
This is the annual TICO Pops Concert, with the delightful and familiar mix of light classics, music from film, television and Broadway, waltzes, marches, and as always, a few surprises. This excursion always sells out quickly; reserve early!
Payment must be received by July 29, 2009. We will return at approximately 5:45pm. This excursion is $16.
BODY WORLDS at the San Diego Natural History Museum
Friday, August 14, 2009Bus leaves at 9:15am
An unforgettable lesson in anatomy and health, this is a unique exhibit! BODY WORLDS exhibitions are the original, precedent-setting public anatomical exhibitions of real human bodies, by physician, anatomist, and inventor of Plastination, Dr. Gunther von Hagens. The exhibition offers visitors an in-depth view of the intricately designed human body, comparative anatomy showing wellness and disease, and the mysterious world of the brain. Included is a special feature on the brain inspired by the latest findings in neuroscience on brain development and function, brain disease and disorders, and brain performance and improvement. “The brain is an incredible marvel of engineering. I wanted people to recognize what is known about this amazing gem inside our heads, and be awed by its possibilities and capacities,” said von Hagens. Tickets include admission to concurrent exhibitions and the giant-screen theater.
Payment must be received by August 6, 2009. We will return at approximately 3:30pm. This excursion is $23.
Annie
Thursday, August 20, 2009Bus leaves at 6:30pm
Tomorrow. . . It’s only a day awayyy!! Charming, unforgettable music and lyrics, a beautiful stage production under the stars at Balboa Park’s Starlight Theater. . .It’s New York City during the Depression. Annie lives in an orphanage run by the ill-tempered, heavy-drinking Miss Hannigan. Like the rest of the children, Annie doesn’t like the orphanage and hates Miss Hannigan. When Annie is chosen to spend the Christmas holidays with the wealthy industrialist Oliver Warbucks, Miss Hannigan is infuriated that Annie will be spending the holidays in the lap of luxury. Warbucks is charmed by Annie’s spunk and good spirits and is eager to adopt her, but Annie is convinced that one day her real parents will come back to claim her.
Payment must be received by August 7, 2009. We will return at approximately 10:30pm. This excursion is $28.50.
Viejas Casino & Outlet Center
Friday, August 28, 2009Bus leaves at 9:45am
The restaurants at Viejas are a wonderful value and receive great reviews: China Camp, Daisy’s Cafe, The Mezz Deli, Harvest Buffet, and The Grove Steakhouse. In addition to the casino games and restaurants to choose from, shop in the Outlet Center and save up to 70% on over 60 of your favorite national brands!
Payment must be received by August 24, 2009. We will return at approximately 3:15pm. This excursion is $6.