Free August Events at Pasadena Senior Center

Classics, film noir, cult films, documentaries, shorts, foreign films, and animated films are discussed before each screening. – Courtesy photo

There is something for everyone in August at the Pasadena Senior Center, located at 85 E. Holly St, and you do not have to be a member to attend. However, some events require advance reservations as noted.

Legal advice will be provided about conservatorship, wills and trusts, estate planning and/or durable power of attorney on Thursday, Aug. 2 at 10 a.m. Appointments are required and can be made by calling (626) 795-4331.

It has long been suspected that the relative abundance of specific nutrients can affect cognitive processes and emotions. Learn about vital mechanisms that are responsible for the action of diet on brain health and mental function in a presentation by Regal Medical on Thursday, Aug. 2 at 10 a.m.

Low-income individuals 60-years-old and older will receive two boxes of food on Friday, Aug. 3 from 9 – 10:30 a.m. Proof of income and a California ID are required. Bags are heavy, so bring a personal shopping cart.

Everyone enjoys watching movies and the pleasures they bring. The Senior Center will be showing four different movies at 1 p.m. on the first four Fridays of August. On Aug. 3 watch “I, Tonya.” starring Margot Robbie and Allison Janney, in which Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding finds herself in the middle of one of the most sensational scandals in sports history. On Aug. 10 watch “I Can Only Imagine” starring J. Michael Finley and Madeline Carroll. The film tells the inspiring true story behind MercyMe’s beloved, chart-topping song that has brought hope and the power of forgiveness to so many. On Aug. 17 watch “The Pursuit of Happyness,” starring Will Smith and Thandie Newton, in which a talented, often unemployed single father struggles to make ends meet while raising his young son after they are evicted from their San Francisco apartment with nowhere to go. On Aug. 24 watch “Downsizing,” starring Matt Damon and Kristin Wiig, which depicts how scientists discover how to shrink humans down to five inches tall as a solution to overpopulation.

What used to require a monthly fee is now free. Classics, film noir, cult films, documentaries, shorts, foreign films, animated films and more are selected democratically by club members. Each screening is researched and its hidden history presented prior to each viewing on Tuesdays, Aug. 7 and 21, at 3 p.m. Lively discussions and a question-and-answer session follow each screening. Popcorn is provided. Email mmeovary@aol.com for more information.

Summer concerts sponsored by the Pasadena Senior Center have moved from Memorial Park to the air-conditioned comfort of the center’s Scott Pavilion on Mondays at 6 p.m. through Sept. 3. On Aug. 6 Janet Klein and Her Parlor Boys will perform jazz, ragtime, blues and novelty songs popular from 1900 to 1930. On Aug. 13 Pam Kay and the Tap Chicks will entertain with energetic dance routines, Vaudeville-style comedy and clever costumes. On Aug. 20 Lisa Haley and the Zydekats will play lively Cajun Zydeco music with plenty of Louisiana spice. On Aug. 27 Leah Zeger will perform spirited Gypsy jazz and beloved standards. On Sept. 3 The Great American Swing Band will feature the sounds of Big Band, rhythm and blues, jazz and Dixieland.

Trained counselors will provide unbiased information about Medicare, Med-gap, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Cal Medi-Connect on Wednesdays, Aug. 8 and 15, at 10 a.m. Appointments are required by calling (626) 795-4331.

Learn the differences between brand-name drugs and their generic equivalents, whether it is worth paying the difference between the two and how our bodies react to each on Thursday, Aug. 9 at 10 a.m. in a presentation by Shirif Mitry of Mitry Pharmacy.

Learn about the popular Activator Methods Technique that uses a Medicare-approved instrument to apply gentle, low-force chiropractic adjustments; acupuncture, a safe, all-natural, drug-free and virtually painless healing technique that dates back more than 2,500 years; and holistic nutrition. This presentation by Dr. Ted Marriott, David Liu, and Harvey Slater will be on Thursday, Aug. 16 at 10 a.m.

An LA Opera community educator will give a multimedia presentation titled “The Creation of an Opera” that will provide an in-depth look at all aspects of opera beyond music and singing, including set and costume design, illustrated with examples from some of the world’s most beloved operas, on Monday, Aug. 20, at 1 p.m.

Life is a cycle with a beginning and an end. Most people prepare for months and sometimes years to bring a beginning to life, but the same time and care is not given to the natural cycle of the other end of the spectrum. Learn how to plan ahead so you and your loved ones can maneuver through emotional and financial hurdles when the time comes in a presentation by Forest Lawn on Thursday, Aug. 23, at 10 a.m.

The most memorable moments and places in our lives are often set to music. Guest performing artists from MUSE/IQUE will explore the ultimate musical trip as the orchestra celebrates our unique American sound, from Duke Ellington’s New York state of mind and Jackie Wilson’s Detroit sound to the sparkling southern splash of James Brown and Frank Sinatra’s Vegas on Friday, Aug. 24, at 3:30 p.m. The first 16 people who sign up at the Welcome Desk and attend this event will receive complimentary tickets for the Aug. 25 MUSE/IQUE concert at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens.

Since 1972, Guide Dogs of the Desert has made a difference in the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired. Learn about the more than 1,400 client/dog teams across the nation that are enjoying richer, fuller, and more productive lives on Thursday, Aug. 30, at 10 a.m.

For more information, visit pasadenaseniorcenter.org or call (626) 795-4331.

Founded in 1960, the Pasadena Senior Center is an independent, nonprofit organization that offers recreational, educational, wellness and social services to people ages 50 and older in a welcoming environment. Services are also provided for frail, low-income and homebound seniors.

More from Community