As Featured fridays in the Sedona red rock news

Friday, August 28, 2026

By Jan Marc Quisumbing

Programs Administrator

One knock, one meal, one smile. This is the cornerstone of why the Sedona Community Center has existed for over 40 years. Our mission is simple and straightforward, to contribute to the health and well-being of the Seniors in the Greater Sedona area, and the Village of Oak Creek. They are our community, and our family. And when we lose a member of the family, their absence is felt long after they are gone.

British psychiatrist Dr. Colin Murray Parkes wrote, “Grief is the price we pay for love.” And there’s a profound sadness in that statement, we can love someone whether unrequited, from afar, or formed after many years and moments together. There can be a platonic love, of caring for someone that is felt more so when they pass. Like comets, certain people come into our lives because fate led them to you. A loved one passes away, and time takes its toll, and the ones left behind find themselves needing not only sustenance to survive but simple human contact. One knock, one meal, one smile. For four and a half years, that’s what we provided for them. Human connection, of them knowing that there’s someone on the other side of the door or the telephone line that’s here for them and cares for them.

And it’s not only what we at Sedona Community Center provide but also their friends, and next-door neighbors who look out for them. It’s hard for us to let neighbors know their friend is gone, harder still to let our volunteer home delivered meals drivers know of a client’s passing. It’s not an email sent, it’s a one-on-one phone call if we can, or face to face. To hold a friend’s hand and grieve with them. But we can find solace in the fact that at least while they were a part of our family, we hope they knew how much they meant to us. This is why we do what we do, Monday to Friday.

I didn’t know them personally, only in a passing reference from a phone call taken, or message passed along but it’s rough. Because it shows how precious life can be. The author and columnist Mitch Albom wrote, “Death ends a life. Not a relationship.” Albom wrote Tuesdays with Morrie, about visits he made to a former college professor suffering from a terminal illness. The main point of the novel being that true meaning in life comes from love, human connection, and compassion rather than money, status, or material success. One knock, one meal, one smile.

For those dealing with loss, please know you are not alone. Unless otherwise noted, Thursdays from 10AM to 11:30AM our Life After Loss Group meets at the Sedona Community Center in the Tudor Room. The grief support group is facilitated by Hospice Compassus. All are welcome who have experienced a loss in our community. Loss is a journey that you do not have to take alone.  Please join us and experience community, a likeness of experience and healing with others who have lost a loved one. This is an open, non-secular support group, free of charge.

Yes, time does heal all wounds. And grief can be a good thing if only for that fact that it shows that you cared for something other than yourself. Tell your friends you love them, a lot, go ahead, make it awkward. Check in on your neighbors, and just try and be good people. That’s all we can really ask for.

The Sedona Community Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and its mission is to contribute to the health and well-being of the Seniors in the Greater Sedona area, and the Village of Oak Creek. The Sedona Community Center is located at 2615 Melody Lane, in the heart of the West Sedona. Visit sccsedona.org or call 928-282-2834 for more information. 

Friday, August 21, 2026

By Jan Marc Quisumbing

Programs Administrator

It must be football season if I’m writing about the AFC East’s Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Allen, who has been under center for the Bills for the past 8 seasons, is widely regarded as the most consistent quarterback in the NFL. Delivering elite year-over-year production, Allen has finished as a top fantasy football and statistical performer across multiple consecutive seasons, matching high weekly floors with unmatched offensive output.

As a suffering New York Jets fan, it does pain me to have to acknowledge a divisional rival to my hapless JETS. Remember, we’re all undefeated during preseason. I still bare the marks of embarrassment when having lost a bet to coworker who was a Bills fan, I had to take a photo with him wearing a Buffalo Bills jersey on the same day that the late John McCain made a visit to the bullpen. “I don’t quite like that jersey son” the senator quipped. “Sir, a bet is a bet”, and that elicited a chuckle from the Maverick statesman.

Every Friday, readers expect to see our column in the Sedona Red Rock News. It’s about being consistent, not letting people down. It’s been a privilege being able to write for this newspaper over the last 4 and half years. Same book, new chapter I like to say. I don’t ever want to miss a print deadline. I enjoy informing and engaging the readers every week and appreciate the positive feedback. “I write very well under panic”, I often say when I encounter a local resident, and reader of this periodical. I thank you for always looking out for this column and hope that those who do read it and have not yet joined us for Congregate Lunch, perhaps today is the day they decide to give us a call and make a reservation. Give us a call at (928) 282-2834. (I’m at extension 4 by the way).

Every week, Monday to Friday, the goal of the Sedona Community Center is to be able to provide a daily warm or cold meal – whether it be a salad or delicious wrap - to our home delivered meals clients. Yes, you can call it Meals On Wheels if it’s easier to remember. That’s called branding. Over 55 volunteer drivers are scheduled throughout the course of each month to deliver over 100 meals, duties shared every Monday through Friday between 7 of them. That’s 35 volunteers a week alone! It is the most rewarding two and half hours of someone’s day, being a volunteer driver, “instant gratification” some call it.

If you are a homebound senior or a senior recovering from surgery, don’t let not having a meal stop you from receiving the assistance you need. Just give us a call. Kristen, our Meals On Wheels coordinator can be reached at extension 3. One knock, one meal, one smile. That’s our motto and we firmly believe in it. For some clients, their daily driver may be the only person they see that day. Our drivers are a dedicated group of men and women, and we appreciate them and will celebrate all of them as well as our wonderful volunteer servers who are there for our guests at Congregate Lunch next month.

Our Congregate Lunch program provides a consistent, delicious, and especially in this economy, we feel, a very affordable dining experience. The same delicious home delivered meal that our clients receive is the same meal that our Congregate diners enjoy every Monday to Friday from noon to 1PM. Again, it’s about consistency. We encourage our guests to bring a friend or come in and meet new friends! 

We’re not just about food at Sedona Community Center. We have various classes to keep you active; from gentle yoga on Wednesday morning to Wiggles and Giggles on Tuesday and Friday. There are even more fun activities like Mahjong on Wednesday afternoons and 4thFriday movie matinees. Just visit sccsedona.org to see what’s going on! It’s about consistently being there for your community, never letting services lapse, always being there to help where we can. 

The Sedona Community Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and its mission is to contribute to the health and well-being of the Seniors in the Greater Sedona area, and the Village of Oak Creek. The Sedona Community Center is located at 2615 Melody Lane, in the heart of the West Sedona. Visit sccsedona.org or call 928-282-2834 for more information. 

Friday, August 14, 2026

By Jan Marc Quisumbing

Programs Administrator

Filipinos love food because eating is a core expression of love, community, and deep-rooted hospitality. Food acts as a primary love language, a way to connect with family, and a sign of care. It’s very common when encountering a group of Filipinos that the subject of food to likely come up and karaoke. If the phrase ‘Kain tayo’ (Kah-EEN TAH-yo) is spoken, which means ‘let’s eat’, it’s rude to refuse. So, sit down, grab a plate and enjoy a meal amongst new friends.

During my 3rd year of college, when I was an art student at the Mason Gross School of the Arts, at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, I lived in a house at 238 Somerset Street with 10 other roommates. One thing for certain, living off campus, was that you always had someone to hang out with, and we were a pretty diverse house of guys. One roommate was Korean, one was Taiwanese, one was South Asian Indian, 5 of us were Filipino, and our two non-Asian roommates, Gregg and Brian, who were the first ones we would send out to speak to local police whenever we had a party that got a little bit too loud for the neighbors, helped make up what many friends referred to as the United Nations. 

We all bonded over food. I taught Brian how to make rice in a rice cooker – the thing is, you have to rinse the rice three times till the water is clear and you have to measure the water to the first line in your middle finger no matter what – and he taught me how to make mac and cheese. Our biggest house event was our annual Friendsgiving party, where we each would make a dish from our home country. One year it devolved into a full-on Animal House-style food fight. As I hurled a handful of mashed potatoes clear across the kitchen at one roommate I thought to myself, “I love college.” But I digress.

Simon made kimchi, a traditional Korean side dish made from salted and fermented vegetables, most often napa cabbage or radish, seasoned with garlic, ginger, and chili powder, Ajit would bring naan bread, a soft, leavened flatbread from South and Central Asia that features a pillowy texture, charred bubbles, and a teardrop shape. It is traditionally baked at very high heat in a clay oven called a tandoor. Gregg didn’t make pierogis but instead made his mom’s broccoli, ritz cracker, and cheese casserole, Jason, if he could, would have made garlic braised lamb shanks with sweet peppers over pommes puree, but instead we got pot stickers, a pan-fried dumpling featuring savory meat and vegetable fillings wrapped in a thin dough. Brian made baby back ribs which our roommate Tony would always claim. Dave, who wasn’t a roommate but was the drummer in Tony’s band, brought the drinks with a not-quite of age driver’s license.

The Filipino delegation of the household (JV, Ed, Ollie, and Tony who brought the ice) would contribute to our meager feast, pork BBQ skewers that spent the day marinating in garlic powder, soy sauce and the not so secret ingredient cola, pancit – it’s the Pinoy version of lo Mein, fresh lumpia, the Pinoy version of egg rolls, and oddly enough, I usually made the turkey. Thanksgiving isn’t normally celebrated in the Philippines, but when you immigrate to America when you’re 4 years old, one adapts to any holiday where food is a big component.

That idea of gathering and eating and sharing a meal is at the heart of our Congregate Lunch program, served Monday through Friday from noon to 1PM. In July, we served over 649 meals during Congregate, beating June’s record of 581 meals. That’s both amazing and impressive and serves as a wonderful example of how food truly does bring everyone together. Remember, when you see lasagna, meatloaf, chicken fried steak, or BBQ pulled pork on the menu, you definitely need to make reservations before 9:30AM.

The monthly Congregate Lunch menu adheres to the Older Americans Act (OAA) Nutrition Program. The program was created in 1972 and provides nutritious, safe meals to seniors (60+) to support health and independence through congregate and home-delivered services. Meals must follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, offer 33.3% of Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) per meal, and adhere to local food safety laws. And let’s not kid ourselves, as you can see by the photos we post on the neighborhood social media boards, they’re quite delicious. 

Thank you to Chef Paul and staff for an amazing lunch every day for Congregate and for our Home Delivered Meals clients (Meals on Wheels). It is a wonderful thing to see a group of strangers gather to share a meal and leave as friends. Sharing a meal is both an intimate and communal experience. It’s a chance to connect and laugh and share. If you’ve been thinking about coming, please, come, sit, and share your story with new friends. Kain tayo!

The Sedona Community Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and its mission is to contribute to the health and well-being of the Seniors in the Greater Sedona area, and the Village of Oak Creek. The Sedona Community Center is located at 2615 Melody Lane, in the heart of the West Sedona. Visit sccsedona.org or call 928-282-2834 for more information. 

Friday, August 7, 2026

By Jan Marc Quisumbing

Programs Administrator

The passing of the July 4th holiday, for the past 12 years for me as a parent, marks the countdown to the end of summer. Yes, our southwest oven hot summer, at least here in the Grand Canyon state runs from June well into the month of September. And if it really wants to stick it to us, into mid-October. Where did 12 years ago? Did I ever imagine that I’d be living in Arizona much less a few miles away from where Daniel LaRusso and his mom were pushing their broken station wagon in Uptown in 1984’s classic 80’s coming of age and film The Karate Kid? I definitely did not have that on my bingo card.

It is now August 7, and my son Fernando begins his Senior year of high school at Sedona Red Rock High School. I have oft said, probably because I read it somewhere or saw it on an embroidered pillow at a home goods store, that “time is a thief”. It’s weird for me to think that 17 years later,our boy is all grown up. It seems like it was only yesterday that I gazed down upon a swaddled-up baby in the hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack,NJ on the day we were discharged home and asked the nurses “You’re…you’re all coming back with us, right?” They in fact did not come home with us, but I think Gioia and I did a pretty okay job raising him in the interim.

The passage of time is a fast-moving, valuable, and unstoppable force that brings both change and regret. "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it”. Were these words spoken by the ancient Greek philosopher, Talkaloticus Verbosa on the steps of the ancient Agora, opining about the circle of life and our inevitable demise? No, they were spoken by Matthew Broderick as teen rapscallion Ferris Bueller in the 1986 comedy film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. 

But what Ferris said hits true. Time, as we perceive it, moves fast as we grow older, as routine takes over new and creates fewer memories. Once time is gone, spent, it cannot be earned back. “I just wish I had more time but I had to work, raise a family, start a career…” How many of us have said these exact words? How do we measure time? The late composer Jonathan Larson wrote the passage of time succinctly when he wrote “Seasons of Love”, from the 1996 Broadway musical Rent, “525,600 minutes”, - how do you measure, measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.”

Right now, it is a scary time for those who have food insecurities. At the Sedona Community Center it’s not uncommon for us to field calls from seniors concerned about where their next meal will come from or what to do when a loved one is now unable to take care of themselves because of advanced age. Factors like the economy, rising fuel costs, increases in necessities can be a burden on those on a fixed income. The choice of whether to buy groceries or lifesaving medicine should not be an option to be debated over at the dinner table. At Sedona Community Center, we are prepared to step in and no matter what help get them the food, and support they need. We are here, we are your community.

The last few months in town were a tense time for many non-profit organizations, but cooler heads prevailed and for now, we breathe a sigh of relief and thanks. People often ask us how we are doing financially. We are fortunate that we do receive funding from the City of Sedona, and we at Sedona Community Center are eternally grateful to all our private donors because without that funding we would struggle just like the many in the community we serve. If this is you, please know that your acts of generosity do not go unnoticed and will be acknowledged. 

Time brings change, both good and bad, and we can only hope that all the good we put out in the community will come back to us tenfold. Soon the halls of the Sedona Community Center will be decked out in festive fall decorations, soon after we’ll celebrate the holidays, maybe even with a warm cup of cocoa when weather cools. If you haven’t joined us for Congregate lunch yet, you really should. Ask anyone who lunches here often and they will tell you how fabulous and fresh it is. Lunch is served in house Monday through Friday, from noon to 1pm. Reservations required please. To the 2027 senior class of Sedona Red Rock High School, enjoy this year, take its ups and downs with your head held high. This parent is proud of all of you and what you’ll do.

The Sedona Community Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and its mission is to contribute to the health and well-being of the Seniors in the Greater Sedona area, and the Village of Oak Creek. The Sedona Community Center is located at 2615 Melody Lane, in the heart of the West Sedona. Visit sccsedona.org or call 928-282-2834 for more information. 

Friday, July 31, 2026

By Jan Marc Quisumbing

Programs Administrator

Yeah, but’s a dry heat. We had a nice run of weather a few weeks back. There was even rain. You all remember rain, right? It’s a form of precipitation where water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into heavy enough droplets to fall to Earth. Fun fact: Monsoon season in Arizona typically runs from June 15 through September 30. We’re barely 6 weeks into the season and this monsoon season is hardly anything to write home about. Granted the Pocket Fire is almost but fully contained. So, we can thank the brave Hot Shots who put their lives on the line to keep us safe and some of that “precipitation” when it wanted to participate.

Years ago, when our family moved to Sedona, I worked at one of the local jeep tour companies. They’re known for driving bright colored vehicles that fall in the purple and magenta hues on a color wheel, bridging the gap between violet and red and I learned a lot while riding along with the tour drivers. “Verta rain” or as it’s scientifically called Vigra is a meteorological phenomenon where rain or snow falls from a cloud but completely evaporates or sublimates before it ever reaches the ground. So, the next time the clouds turn ominous, and you look towards Thunder Mountain, and you see what looks like rain, but nothing is on the ground, now you know.

One would think that the shift in temperature would give us some respite from the heat but alas, you would be wrong. We live in a beautiful part of the country, surrounded by amazing red rocks and views, so having to live on the surface of the sun for 3 months out of the year is a fair tradeoff. However, you can’t deny that living here during the dog days of summer is for the birds.

July 3 to August 11 each year are called the “Dog Days” as they are typically the hottest and most unbearable days of the summer season. Some think the phrase is a reference to the hot, sultry days that are “not fit for a dog”. Others may say it’s the time of year that the extreme heat drives dogs mad. We need only to look up to the stars to know their true meaning.

The phrase “Dog Days” is a reference to Sirius, the Dog Star. Sirius is a part of the constellation Canis Major, the Greater Dog. The sun occupies the same region of the sky as Sirius, the brightest star visible from any part of part, during the Dog Days period.

During the summer, Sirius rises and sets with the sun, specifically on July 23rd, it is in conjunction with the sun and because the star is so bright, the ancient Romans believed it actually gave off the heat and added to the Sun’s warmth, therefore giving the explanation of the long stretch of hot weather. The term “Dog Days of Summer” came to mean the 20 days before and 20 days after the alignment of Sirius with the Sun, July 3 to August 11.

At Sedona Community Center, we’re not only about feeding your body but also your mind with knowledge and helpful ways to stay cool during these “Dog Days of Summer”. Some helpful hints to stave off this heat can be as simple as:

· Freeze a pillowcase: put your pillowcase in the freezer for a few minutes before bedtime for a cool and refreshing night’s sleep.

· Make a DIY misting station: attach a misting nozzle to your garden hose and create a backyard oasis for instant relief.

· Dunk your feet in cold water: It may sting at first, so perhaps spray them with cold water first, prep them, then the rest of your body should start to feel cooler.

· Wrap a cold towel around your neck: just like your feet, the back of the neck is a very sensitive part of the body. Take a damp towel and put it in the freezer for a few minutes, when the towel is nice and cool, wrap it around your neck and enjoy the coolness.

· Use a fan: sometimes just getting the airflow moving in the house is enough to make it feel cooler. If the house is already hot, try facing the fan out the window so cooler air will enter the house, cross-breeze effect. Or try putting a bowl of ice behind the fan to blow cool moist air.

Soon enough we’ll be talking about turkeys and decorated fir trees, and this weather will be but a long distant memory we can talk over a delicious lunch every Monday to Friday from noon to 1PM. See what I did there? Have a great weekend, hug your loved ones and tell your cat I said psps psps.

The Sedona Community Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and its mission is to contribute to the health and well-being of the Seniors in the Greater Sedona area, and the Village of Oak Creek. The Sedona Community Center is located at 2615 Melody Lane, in the heart of the West Sedona. Visit sccsedona.org or call 928-282-2834 for more information. 

Friday, July 24, 2026

By Jan Marc Quisumbing

Programs Administrator

It’s hot. I get it. For 3 months out of the year, we can joke that we live on the surface of the sun. A small price to pay to be able to wear shorts and a hoodie comfortably in January. Yes, I’m that guy by the way. Monsoon season? What’s that? Never heard of it. It’s a child’s fairytale told to little ones to whisk them off to sleep on a warm summer’s eve. As the old saying goes, “it’s a dry heat” and I’m honestly over it. As I type this column, I have a fan blowing on me despite the Sedona Community Center’s central air blowing across my ankles from a vent in the floor of my office, it still feels hot. 

I go to bed, it’s hot. I wake up, even with having a ceiling fan in my room, still feel hot. Maybe it’s all in my head. Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s Maybeline? Or maybe, it’s just too darn hot outside that I can’t think straight? July, in our little town in the Verde Valley, which sits about 4,500 feet above sea level should experience milder weather than say the “Valley of the Sun” also known as Phoenix but to be honest, you wouldn’t think so if you walked outside. It’s the searing heat that just slaps you in the face when you step outside. Like looking too close at a bleached blonde, frosty-haired chef talking about several hole in the wall eateries off the beaten path, sometimes, it’s just a bit much. Your only respite is hoping for the best when the sun goes down and hopefully cooling things off.

Yes, it’s a first world problem, this heat. My Monday to Friday is spent for the most part comfortably indoors, the oft minor inconvenience of sprinting out to my car like that lizard that dashes across the water on a nature documentary to get in and turn on the air conditioning as soon as possible. My only hope being that I didn’t forget to put out the sunshade in the car before going into work that morning. If I did forget then I get to enjoy my own personal easy bake oven and must grip my scorching hot steering wheel like David Carradine in a training montage from the television show Kung Fu.

It’s during these times that drinking water becomes my religion. Between the Mayo Clinic, the Ministry of Mustard, and the Ketchup Consortium, it varies on how much water the average man or woman should consume. Here are some, hopefully, helpful tips to increase hydration and avoid dehydration during the dog days of summer I found online:

· Don’t Wait. Don’t wait to feel thirsty to drink a glass of water. That is not always the best way to gauge how much water our body needs. Older bodies are often in need of water before feeling thirsty.

· Begin early and hydrate frequently. Start your morning off with a refreshing glass of water and take breaks during the day to enjoy a glass. If you find it hard to down a full glass in one sitting, try drinking small amounts throughout the day.

· Add flavor. To make water more flavorful, squeeze in some fresh lemon, lime, or orange. Floating a few slices of cucumber in your glass will also give water some flavor.

· Eat foods high in water content. Many fruits and vegetables are great sources of water. Watermelon is true to its name and packed with water.

· Watch out for symptoms. If you feel tired or dizzy, do not assume right away that it means you are tired. These are also signs of dehydration. Do the pinch test. Pinch a little bit of skin on the back of your and, hold it for a couple seconds and release. If the skin goes holds shape made by the pinch, you are probably dehydrated. Drink some water to help with these symptoms.

· Watch caffeine intake. Be cautious of how much of your fluid intake comes from caffeinated liquids such as coffee, tea, and many soft drinks. While the water in these drinks does help with hydration, caffeine can offset the benefits because it increases your body’s loss of water.

· Consider the weather and climate where you live. Remember, high temperatures and humidity increase fluid loss through perspiration, so it is important to drink more water to compensate.

Yes, it’s a dry heat but it doesn’t have to keep us from doing the things we enjoy in this town like dining on a delicious lunch of baked ham with scallop potatoes and carrots this coming Monday, July 27 or cheering on our favorite sports teams. New York Jets football preseason, is that you? Stay hydrated, eat your veggies, and don’t forget to please thank the brave men and women who are working in this oppressive heat keeping us safe.

The Sedona Community Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and its mission is to contribute to the health and well-being of the Seniors in the Greater Sedona area, and the Village of Oak Creek. The Sedona Community Center is located at 2615 Melody Lane, in the heart of the West Sedona. Visit sccsedona.org or call 928-282-2834 for more information. 

Friday, July 17, 2026

By Jan Marc Quisumbing

Programs Administrator

Recently a group of friends and I ventured out to the Village of Oak Creek to attend trivia night. It was held in the clubhouse restaurant of the local public golf course. Now, when it comes to trivia night, it is not my first rodeo. The key to winning at trivia night is much like the plot to those superhero movies where an eye-patched Samuel L. Jackson assembles a team of superpowered beings to avenge the earth from any harm that comes to it. 

Most trivia nights have categories ranging from pop culture, music, sports, and general knowledge. So as much as you love your friends, choose wisely when it comes to forming your trivia night team. My sister-in-law Pam texted me last week – she and my big brother Dennis are hosting our son Fernando for the summer in Raleigh – that they took the apple of our eye to his first trivia night and was proud to say that “Hank’s Heroes”, named after my nephwoof (he’s a beagle I think), came in 3rd place, winning them a $15 gift card to use at a later visit for tacos. Dennis, however, did not do well in the hip-hop music category, a fact that I will lovingly rub in his face when I see him again.

My trivia team, “You Oughtah Know” – thank you Alanis Morrissette - alas did not place at all in our first outing. We did great in the movie actress category but don’t ask us to give you a tour of major cities in Europe. You’ll be as lost as the Griswald family circling Big Ben.

Here’s a little bit of trivia for you about Sedona Community Center:

Did you know that we serve on average about 100 meals daily for our Home Delivered Meals clients (also known as Meals on Wheels)? Did you know that if you are a senior age 60 or better that is primarily homebound, recovering from recent surgery, or are the primary caregiver of a senior partner, you are able to qualify as a Home Delivered Meals client? (Some conditions apply.)

Did you know that our Congregate Lunch, served Monday through Friday from noon to 1PM, is by far one of the best meals you’ll have in town? It’s prepared by the Center’s talented Chef Paul and priced NOT to break the bank. It’s only $7 for ages 60 and better, $10 for everyone else. Yes, if you didn’t know, you don’t have to be a senior to eat here! Did you know that we no longer have a swimming pool? Many years ago, when the center served as the clubhouse for the neighborhood, Harmony Hills, where we are in, it did but instead it’s now part of our beautiful outdoor patio.

Did you know that we have 3 great spaces that you can rent for your next event or meeting? The Tudor Room is a carpeted room great for conferences, smaller meetings, and workshops. It can be set up conference style, classroom style or whatever meets your needs. Tudor Room technology includes a large screen smart television for presentations with Zoom capabilities. All you need is a laptop with an HDMI or USB port to run a presentation. Our staff handles the set up and the takedown of the room.

 
The Flynn Room at Sedona Community Center is the center’s biggest room, boasting plenty of light, and hard wood floors. Our daily and delicious congregate lunch is served here. A great room to have a reception or event in with table seating up to 42 guests with theater style seating up to 60. Catering is available and is always buffet style. The Flynn Room is even wired with a smart television for easy presentation to your guests. Or a playlist for your gathering. Yes, you can even Zoom.

If you haven’t yet seen it, our beautiful outdoor patio and covered rotunda is a relaxing place to host any event while enjoying the gorgeous weather of Sedona. You can even host a barbeque to kick off a celebration. I am most definitely having my son’s high school graduation party there in May!

Did you know that at Sedona Community Center, we don’t just keep you fed, we keep you engaged! Whether it’s our weekly programs like tai chi, gentle yoga, wiggles and giggles, watercolor classes, or the life after loss group and mahjong group that meet here, we also have guest speakers like our Lunch and Learn series on the 3rdThursday of the month, or our 4th Friday Movie Matinee after lunch. 

For our greatest generation, it’s where community happens, sometimes with one knock, one meal, one smile, and sometimes just sharing a good laugh over lunch with new friends.

Did you know that the Sedona Community Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization? The Center’s mission is to contribute to the health and well-being of the Seniors in the Greater Sedona area, and the Village of Oak Creek. The Sedona Community Center is located at 2615 Melody Lane, in the heart of the West Sedona. Visit sccsedona.org or call 928-282-2834 for more information. 

Friday, July 10, 2026

By Jan Marc Quisumbing

Programs Administrator

Next week, Wednesday the 15th to be exact, will mark 3 months that I’ve been the Programs Administrator for the Sedona Community Center. It’s been a pleasure to work directly with Marjorie, our Executive Director, and Kristen, our Marketing & Operations also in charge of the Home Delivered Meals program, in learning the day-to-day goings and doings at the Center. I’ve been the recipient of so many amazing lunches created by Chef Paul and I am in awe of the dedication and hard work of our assistant chef, Fabian, and Jack, Sandra, and Tom, our amazing kitchen prep team as they prepare over a hundred meals a day for our home delivered meals clients then quickly turning it around switching gears to feed our guests for Congregate Lunch. Yes, essentially, they cook 2 meals a day!

If you haven’t come in yet for lunch, you’re missing out on one of the best deals in town that won’t break your wallet. Come by and sign the reservation book or make sure to give me a call before 9:30AM the morning of lunch. Our weekly menu is even posted with this column so you can plan your week. Bring a friend or come in and make new friends!

Every day, I enjoy seeing the camaraderie and sense of goodwill in the smiles and faces of our volunteers, whether those that drive or those that serve lunch. It brings me a sense of joy to be part of a dedicated group of individuals who come together to take care of an oft underserved and overlooked demographic. We should care for our seniors, as much as they, when they could, care for us. And yes, you can always visit our website for more information on how to help whether via donations or learning about the many classes we have here.

“I chose the home delivered meals program – Meals on Wheels – because it seemed to offer the most impactful way to assist members of our community. A big plus for me, as a home delivered meals driver, is the personal relationships that I make with the clients on my route. I look forward to seeing them every week.” – Steve M., driver for over 5 years

Life here in Sedona offers so many moments that can bring joy to one’s day. It can be as simple as sitting at home reading a book, enjoying a quiet moment of solitude. Or going out at night to listen to my favorite singer - my wife Gioia - perform in the many bands that she’s in, sharing her voice to the community. It brings me Joy-Ah. Over the past 3 months though, I find joy in the simple act of getting to know the many familiar faces who I see at 2615 Melody Lane during Congregate lunch from noon to 1PM. 

I look forward to hearing how they’ve been, to talking about movies, sports, and the old standard, the weather. “Hot enough for you? Come in and enjoy the air conditioning I’ll say.” If it’s been a few days since I’ve last seen one of our many regulars, I worry. And breathe a quiet sigh of relief when their presence graces our doors. I see the need and purpose as to why Sedona Community Center exists, and I hope that others understand and see it too, especially in the coming weeks.

Life is full of all kinds of obligations and appointments, commitments, to-do lists, must-get-done-today lists that will keep your head spinning. Or as I like to say, “I’ve got too many tabs open.” But we all have the start to a new day every morning and we get to look ahead at the day and see what we can do to find joy in how it unfolds. It’s not a bad thing to stop and smell the roses so to speak.

We are here for only a finite amount of time and the impact we make can be felt long after. Cherish these moments – the good and sadly the bad – for they shape how we are and will be seen by others. Be a good person, check in on your neighbors, and tell your friends and loved ones you care about them. Often. Make it weird. It’s not a bad thing. Have a great weekend, let’s hope for the monsoons to finally arrive, and be good to those who need our help, even if they don’t know it.

The Sedona Community Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and its mission is to contribute to the health and well-being of the Seniors in the Greater Sedona area, and the Village of Oak Creek. The Sedona Community Center is located at 2615 Melody Lane, in the heart of the West Sedona. Visit sccsedona.org or call 928-282-2834 for more information. 

Friday, July 3, 2026

By Jan Marc Quisumbing

Programs Administrator

In the early 2000s, before Mark Zuckerburg would reshape how we as people would be able to interact with one another on a global scale, a small but burgeoning industry was taking shape. Online dating. Gone were the days of popping in a VHS tape – the long-lost cousin to the DVD, twice removed from the Blu Ray - to see what potential suitors had decided to lay bare on a tough polyester film base coated with magnetic particles. Or drop 20 characters in a romantic haiku in the local periodical.

In its infancy, online dating was a lawless land but every now and then, it would get things right. Perhaps you know of friends who met online, and didn’t meet the old-fashioned way, that of being set up on a blind date or going home to their small Midwest town after making a career in the big city as a banker only to fall in love with the handsome candle maker who also takes care of his ailing neighbor and her twelve cats. But I digress or as the kids say – they don’t by the way – swipe right.

Online dating profiles were that 30 second elevator pitch you see in the movies. It was a snapshot of who you are, and what you’re hoping for in a potential partner/mate/co-signer on a timeshare in Palm Springs: “Curly cutie seeks cuddly catch” – this one worked by the way, just ask my wife, “Juliet looking for her Romeo”, “Star Wars fan seeking someone he can say ‘I know’ to”, and the list goes on and on. At Sedona Community Center, we’ve decided to enter the dating pool. “Local 501c(3) seeks dedicated volunteer to deliver meals in the VOC”. Also, we love long walks on the beach and are really getting into making our own sourdough.

Sunday, June 21st wasn’t just the day we celebrated the Lord of the Backyard Grill, The Keeper of the Sacred Lawnmower, and the Giver of Sage Advice and Corny Jokes, it also marked the first day of Summer in North America. As Sedona enters the summer season, Sedona Community Center’s very dedicated volunteer home delivered meals drivers want to take their much-deserved vacations. And who can blame them. For one, it’s a dry heat out here. An area prone as we have all experienced in the last few weeks, unpredictable and at times violent weather. 

In what feels like an annual or seasonal plea, campaign, request, or inquiry, the Sedona Community Center is always in search of dedicated volunteer drivers, and servers (during Congregate Lunch, held from noon to 1PM, Monday through Friday). This need is especially important for the home delivered meals clients we serve in the Village of Oak Creek. As the population ages in the VOC, the need is greater and continues to grow. Sedona Community Center has two important routes in the Village, with the task of delivering the meals shared by 9 dedicated volunteer drivers, and 4 substitute drivers, Monday through Friday, 2 drivers every day if possible. A dedicated Friday VOC driver is definitely a need we’re trying to fill as well.

When you sign up to be a driver, we ask you to make a 1-day commitment or be a sub driver and pick your own schedule. Being a home delivered meals driver is a time commitment from 10:30 (11am in the VOC) until 1pm or when the assigned route is done. You begin and end at the Sedona Community Center and head out to wherever your route takes you, except in the Village of Oak Creek, you start and end at the Red Rock Café. Drivers are fully trained in what they need to do and how to do it. You get to meet some amazing seniors that live in our area and make new friends. You have all the support you need from our dedicated staff, especially Kristen, our home delivered meals coordinator. 

Please note that a fingerprint/background check is required and can be a six-week process of waiting. In the meantime, you can ride along with our vetted drivers to learn the route. We have insulated hot bags with hot bricks in the bottom to keep the meals hot during delivery. There is also a cooler with salads, desserts, and milk with added ice to keep everything cool and at the right temperature for delivery. Don’t worry about loading the cooler into your car, it’s not that heavy, and we are here to help. Another perk to volunteering is you may request lunch on the day you drive home, you just need to advise Kristen the day before.

So, if you like pina coladas, and getting caught in the roundabouts, give us a call.

The Sedona Community Center is located at 2615 Melody Lane in West Sedona. Our main mission is Meals on Wheels; however, we also offer some classes and a daily lunch Monday through Friday in our Flynn Room, our suggested contribution for lunch is $7 for those 60 and over and $10 for all others. Reservations are required by calling 928-282-2834. Visit our website, sccsedona.org to look at our menu, or stop by and pick up a menu and events calendar.

Friday, June 26, 2026

By Jan Marc Quisumbing

Programs Administrator

*Presented unedited

I’m fond of the oft quoted African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Whether it’s sewn on a plush throw pillow found at your local home department store or stenciled on the wall of a child’s elementary school classroom, this quote always resonates with me whenever I am faced with the daunting task of “making something happen”. 

A recent column I wrote about announced the beginning of Sedona Community Center’s 4th Friday Movie Matinee, which by the way is today at 1:30PM in our Tudor Room, and how fortunate we were that Pinnacle Bank, and it’s branch president Mark Tufte reached out to us about partnering to help sponsor movies once a month through October 2026. Sedona Community Center is still looking for a local business or individual who would like to assist in sponsoring the matinee movie munchies for the rest of the year. Please feel free to contact me!

Community partnerships are a wonderful thing, and at Sedona Community Center, we can go far if we go together. Whether it’s partnering with our great program instructors to provide rewarding programs like Tai Chi on Mondays and Thursdays from 8:30-9:30AM, or our fun Wiggle and Giggle class on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9-10AM, which by the way will resume in August, our Gentle Yoga class Wednesdays from 10AM to 11:15AM or the ever popular Wednesday afternoon watercolor class for budding artists at 1:30PM, together, we form friendships, memories, and community here daily. 

We also have a mahjong group that meets Wednesdays at 1PM and a grief support group that meets Thursdays at 10:30AM. Yes, you are correct, some classes do have a nominal cost but that helps in paying the talented community instructors who teach these classes and in funding the vital services we provide at Sedona Community Center. Every lunch contribution, donation, grant, event space rental, and especially city funding we receive go along way in that endeavor.

Lest we not forget one of our most important partnerships, that of the dedicated volunteers who assist in our Home Delivered Meals program – Meals on Wheels - as drivers or as servers in the Flynn Dining Room during the Monday to Friday Congregate Lunch. “I retired so I don’t need to fill my wallet, now I just fill my heart.” – Traci G., Congregate Lunch volunteer server for 2 months.

As we enter the “summer slow” the need for volunteers both for home delivered meals and for helping serve at lunch is great. If you’ve always wondered about volunteering whether as a driver, server, or greeter, feel free to call, email, or send a carrier pigeon to us to learn more. I’m not going to lie but if a carrier pigeon shows up on Monday with a note from someone who wants to volunteer, I’d take them in a heartbeat.

Our newest partnership is with Natural Grocers, and its Nutritional Head Coach, Nicolette Severa. She’s here on the 4th Thursday of the month as part of our new Lunch and Learn program. If you missed the chance to talk with her about hydration yesterday, she’ll have a new topic to discuss when she returns on Thursday, July 23rd. We’d love you to come for Congregate Lunch – which by the way will be a mouth-watering pulled pork sandwich on a whole wheat bun, crisp and warm oven fries, coleslaw, and a delectable slice of watermelon to cool off that summer heat - and chat with her in between courses but you are always welcome as well to stop by and ask her questions. 

As we head into the Fall, even though it feels a long way off, my goal is to have many more community partnerships join us in informing and entertaining. Whether it’s information about senior living and healthcare, musical interludes, even our partnership with Teresa Lamparter and the Interact Club at Sedona Red Rock High School, the ability to provide enriching programs for our seniors and community fills my cup. My door is always open if you have an idea or program that you’d like to see here at Sedona Community Center. 

The Sedona Community Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and member of the Arizona Tax Credit Program. Its mission is to contribute to the health and well-being of the Seniors in the Greater Sedona area, and the Village of Oak Creek. The Sedona Community Center is located at 2615 Melody Lane, in the heart of the West Sedona. Visit sccsedona.org or call 928-282-2834 for more information. 

Friday, June 19, 2026

By Jan Marc Quisumbing

Programs Administrator

*Presented unedited

Pull up a chair friend, and let’s talk about the classic idiom “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.” As I get older, these little nuggets of home spun wisdom, told off the back porch on a cool summer evening, taken with a cold glass of Grandma’s sweet tea really resonate with me. That phrase is used to describe a needlessly self-destructive reaction to a problem, usually driven by anger or a desire for revenge. The metaphor warns that you shouldn't do something to harm someone else if the consequences end up hurting you more than anyone else in the process. Let that sink in for a moment.

I find myself as of late, seeing my local social media newsfeed filled with all types of arguments over local issues. It’s filled with the for and the against, about who is to blame for the spending of this, that, and the other, and why you should be swayed in your thinking. I’m guilty of it, I’ve “got skin in the game” so to speak. And I suppose to a lesser degree, quoting another famous idiom, “you can take it with a grain of salt”. 

At 2615 Melody Lane, we try not to focus on the minutiae of such things and focus on the bigger picture which is providing nutritious and delicious home delivered meals to our clients, the mostly homebound seniors, your neighbors, or even yourself, in the greater Sedona area including the Village of Oak Creek. Not only is it a nutritious meal, but a friendly smile and wellness check that the families of our clients greatly appreciate. We exist so we can provide the senior community a space to socialize, Monday through Friday with not only fun engaging programs like tai chi, yoga, Mahjong, and our popular watercolor class but with our daily Congregate lunch from noon to 1PM, where Seniors or anyone in the community for that matter, can come to break breadsticks, socialize, and get a little knowledge on the 3rd Thursday of the month – June 25 - when Natural Grocers is here doing its Lunch and Learn series. Don’t forget our movie matinee at 1:30PM on Friday, the 26th.

Sedona Community Center is one of about 130 active nonprofits in Sedona and we may be biased, but we feel we offer one of the most crucial programs in Sedona. Yes, we have big shoes to walk in, not just fill. We are appreciative of every one of you who has donated to us in the past or has volunteered their time either as a Home Delivered Meals driver (Meals on Wheels) or as a server in the dining room during Congregate Lunch. As the African proverb says “if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” In less than a month our community will go to the polls to exercise it’s right to vote for elected officials whom they feel will serve the city justly, as well as vote on an important issue that has ramifications across the board for many non-profits. 

We worry that if certain rulings at home are not passed, its impact will be greatly felt across the board at Sedona Community Center and how we are able to effectively serve our Senior community. On average, we deliver 100 meals daily to our home delivered clients. What happens if the funding is no longer available to help feed them? A pandemic closed our doors for over a year, but the Center did its best to still be able to provide that service to an oft underserved and overlooked demographic. If the funding is no longer available, what happens if our doors close for good? 

We receive some funding from local and state government, but only a third. We receive the other two-thirds of funding from generous donors like you- clients, tax credits and room rentals. If certain rulings on the homefront are not passed, we really will rely on these tax dollars, when redirected, to help our Senior community. These people could be your neighbor, friend, or even relative. With those tax dollars donated, it stays right here and helps to feed our seniors on the Meals on Wheels program. Please visit sccsedona.org to learn more about how donations help Sedona Community Center.  

The Sedona Community Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and member of the Arizona Tax Credit Program. Its mission is to contribute to the health and well-being of the Seniors in the Greater Sedona area, and the Village of Oak Creek. The Sedona Community Center is located at 2615 Melody Lane, in the heart of the West Sedona. Visit sccsedona.org or call 928-282-2834 for more information. 

Friday, June 12, 2026

By Jan Marc Quisumbing

Programs Administrator

*Presented unedited

Roundhay Garden Scene is considered by the Guiness Book of World Records as the oldest surviving film, it was released in 1888. Paris, in 1895, the Lumiere brothers held the first paid public film screening, ushering in the birth of modern cinema. The Story of the Kelly Gang, an Australian production, released in 1906, was the first multi-reel feature film, with a run time of one hour. Entrepreneur and Rotarian Manuel Quisumbing, Jr.  of Cagayan De Oro, Philippines, in 1984, opened Manila Video in Jersey City, NJ. Manila Video was a video store that rented out American and Tagalog language movies. Tagalog is the main spoken dialect in the Philippines. 

For over 12 years, Manila Video (1984-1996), was one of many mom-and-pop video store businesses that burst into the home video market scene with the advent and evolution of home entertainment viewing. The ability to watch theatrical run films in the comfort of one’s home, in the early 1980s, was seen as a status symbol, proof of the American Dream. At the ripe old age of 8, I started my career as the youngest self-proclaimed assistant video store manager in the industry. It was from these humble beginnings that my love of movies began. Be kind, rewind just like the tattoo on my left calf says.

Movies offer a snapshot of a time and really, who doesn’t love a good movie? Going to the movies should be an experience, the whole ritual of getting your popcorn and refillable soda, selecting your seat and if only for a little while, escaping reality for a quick, succinct 140 minutes, not counting previews, in a dark room.  

In 2026, on June 26th to be exact, the 4th Friday of the month if we’re being specific, Sedona Community Center is bringing the joy of movies to 2615 Melody Lane for its Seniors, and anyone in the community. Our complimentary 4thFriday Movie Matinee will begin at 1:30PM, right after Congregate Lunch, in the Tudor Room.

Part of my role at Sedona Community Center is helping to bring in new programs that we think our Seniors will enjoy. When we announced that we would be showing movies, the response was outstanding. The consensus was that comedies and dramas were what they’d like to see. Once that was dialed in, we gave our Congregate Lunch guests 3 choices of movies to vote on. What movie will we be showing? After two weeks of voting, the first movie we’ll be showing is the classic 1955 coming of age melodrama that explores the differences and conflicts between the Interbellum and Silent generations. 

It’s a complex and fascinating story about how one generation rebels against an older generation and with cause. In 1990 the film was added to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry, being deemed “culturally and historically” significant. The movie was written and directed by Nicholas Ray, based off the title of Dr. Robert Linder’s 1944 clinical book. It stars the late James Dean, actor Natalie Wood, and a young Dennis Hopper in one of his first roles.

As I wrote in an earlier column, the beacons were lit as we reached out for a local sponsor to partner with to bring 4th Friday Movie Matinees to the Sedona Community Center. Pinnacle Bank answered the call! Mark Tufte, Pinnacle Bank’s Market President said “Pinnacle Bank is excited to partner with the Sedona Community Center as a sponsor. Supporting our local seniors is a priority, and we are honored to invest in an organization that cares for our seniors.”We’re grateful for their support and look forward to be able to show movies at the Center through the month of October. If you’re a member of the community or a local business who wants to give back, we have many needs and wishes and are always looking for partners.

After you’ve dined on a delicious meatball sub with warm oven fries, that’s June 26th Congregate Lunch by the way, stick around and watch an American cinematic classic. Bring a friend or three, we’ll save a seat for you! 

The Sedona Community Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and its mission is to contribute to the health and well-being of the Seniors in the Greater Sedona area, and the Village of Oak Creek. The Sedona Community Center is located at 2615 Melody Lane, in the heart of the West Sedona. Visit sccsedona.org or call 928-282-2834 for more information. 

Friday, June 5, 2026

By Jan Marc Quisumbing

Programs Administrator

“Yeah, but it’s a dry heat.” Since moving to Sedona from the Garden State over twelve years ago, I will, around this time of the year, say that phrase a lot. It’s a tradeoff for 9 months of amazing weather to have to live on the surface of the sun for 3 months out of the year. Yes, I am that guy wearing shorts in February if I can help it. Yes, I make no apologies for that.

The first day of summer, via the old farmer’s almanac will be Sunday, June 21. And like the cliff swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano, so do many of Sedona’s part-time residents return to cooler climates if they can help it. Or Flagstaff. June in the Verde Valley is marked with daytime highs in the mid-90s with evening lows in the mid-50s/60s. But like they say, it’s a dry heat.

When summer visits the Verde Valley, there’s a slowdown in activity it seems. Visitors and some locals crawling northbound on 89A past Airport Road will beg to differ but overall, the town is quiet. Perhaps…too quiet? But at 2615 Melody Lane, in the heart of West Sedona, that’s hardly the case. 

The day starts early, about 6AM, as Chef Paul and Fabian, the Sedona Community Center’s Assistant Chef, are joined by Jack, Sandra, and Tom, the Center’s kitchen prep team, as they prepare the day’s meal both for clients of Sedona Community Center’s Home Delivered Meals Programs (also known as Meals On Wheels) and for those who will be joining us in-house for the Monday to Friday, Congregate Lunch served promptly at noon.

By around 10:30AM, volunteer drivers arrive at the Center, lining their cars outside of the Flynn room, as they each go to their respective carts inside, waiting to receive the day’s cooler and hot bags of meals from the kitchen to deliver between the hours of 11AM and 1PM to Greater Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek. Did you know that the Center has a volunteer driver whose important role is to pick up the meals – each cooler is kept cold with ice, and the hot bags have hot oven bricks to keep food to temp during its travel – and deliver it to the Village of Oak Creek? There they meet the volunteer drivers at the Red Rock Café in the Village and hand off the food to be delivered.

Over 55 volunteer drivers are scheduled throughout the course of each month to deliver over 100 meals, duties shared every Monday through Friday between 7 of them, that’s 35 volunteers a week alone! It’s the most rewarding two and half hours of someone’s day, being a volunteer home delivered meals driver.

“Meals on Wheels brought me to the Sedona Community Center. My father was delivering meals to as he said, “The Old Folks” at age 84. When he passed away, I promised I would pick up a route in his honor. I’ve been delivering ever since.” – Bob C., Home Delivered Meals driver for 16 years.

“It seemed like a great way to contribute to my immediate neighborhood. I wasn't sure I'd continue at first, but the relationships I’ve formed with wonderful, resourceful, resilient seniors keep me coming back. I look forward to checking in with them.” – Cyd J., Home Delivered Meals Driver for 2 1/2 years.

There are six routes shared between West Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek that receive a home delivered meal. And each volunteer driver plays an important role in guaranteeing that our clients are fed and checked in on. One knock, one smile, one meal. 

“I wanted to volunteer for a cause that felt meaningful. My husband's parents volunteered for Meals on Wheels, and I always admired their dedication. When my husband and I began looking for ways to give back to the community, this program was one of the first things that came to mind.” – Debra H., Home Delivered Meals Driver for almost a year.

It truly does take a village; whether in the kitchen or on the road, or in the dining room helping to serve lunch. If you’ve ever wondered about what it takes to do either, we’d love for you to come by. Let’s have lunch and talk about it.

The Sedona Community Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and its mission is to contribute to the health and well-being of the Seniors in the Greater Sedona area, and the Village of Oak Creek. The Sedona Community Center is located at 2615 Melody Lane, in the heart of the West Sedona. Visit sccsedona.org or call 928-282-2834 for more information. 

Friday, May 29, 2026

By Jan Marc Quisumbing

Programs Administrator

Friends, on Tuesday, May 19th, over 35 guests joined us for the Sedona Community Center’s weekly Congregate Lunch. Congregate Lunch is served Monday to Friday here from noon to 1PM. I would like to think it was because Chef Paul’s meatloaf – that was the day’s featured entrée – was so delicious that if you missed it the last time it was served you sure as heck made sure you didn’t miss it this go-round. And I wouldn’t be wrong. 

The lunch fare at Sedona Community Center isn’t creamed corn and liver and onions. My apologies to the liver and onion purists who read this weekly column. It’s quite good. Don’t believe me? Every day I post a pic of what I had for lunch at Sedona Community Center on the local neighborhood message boards as proof! I might just have a future career as a food photographer, but I digest, I mean digress.

Since I began working at Sedona Community Center a month ago this was the first time I’d ever seen the Flynn Room – named in honor of longtime Sedonan Margaret Flynn, who recognized a simple but powerful need: ensuring that Sedona’s seniors had access to healthy, home-cooked meals – packed with smiling faces and old friends making new friends.

I helped to assist our scheduled volunteer Bob L. in serving the day’s meal. It’s good to cross train. To see how all the moving pieces in an operation fit and see the result. Helping to serve during Congregate Lunch feels very rewarding, and I encourage anyone who has been on the fence about volunteering whether as a Home Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels) driver or a dining room server to call Sedona Community Center. 

Being a driver will take a few weeks of vetting that’s basically because of the fingerprint clearance but being a server in the dining room doesn’t take as long. With each volunteer position though, the potential volunteer will do a ride-along with a current driver or shadow a current server in the dining hall during Congregate Lunch. In pop culture terms, it’s the rookie fresh-faced cop, just graduated from the police academy partnered with the seasoned police veteran on patrol. Like the Lethal Weapon franchise, only with delicious chicken cacciatore.

But back to the reason why I’m writing this column! Amidst the hustle and bustle of serving lunch, salads go out first always, bussing the table in between, and arguing the merits of the infield fly rule with a diehard Boston fan I came to the realization that humans are, by nature, social creatures.

As the Dalai Lama once said, “We human beings are social beings. We come into the world as the result of others’ actions. We survive here in dependence on others.” It’s no secret that we all feel better after a social engagement, meeting friends, seeing family. Some say it is as effective as physical activity, slows memory loss and possibly supports brain health. Joining a friend at lunch, whether at a restaurant or dining at the best deal in town that won’t break the bank is good for you. 

In a world of digital distractions, just being able to break bread with a friend or someone new and catch up on life is essential for in-person connections. Take time to check up on friends and family you haven’t spoken to for a while because you never know what someone is going through and maybe they just need to hear a familiar voice and see a friendly face to know they’re important to someone. We’ll save a seat for you.

The Sedona Community Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and its mission is to contribute to the health and well-being of the Seniors in the Greater Sedona area, and the Village of Oak Creek. The Sedona Community Center is located at 2615 Melody Lane, in the heart of the West Sedona. Visit sccsedona.org or call 928-282-2834 for more information. 

Friday, May 22, 2026

By Jan Marc Quisumbing

Programs Administrator

Did you know that if you eat a popular brand of small, mint flavored, chewy, oblate spheroid-shaped candies that have a catchy jingle, and drink a bottle of a sweetened, carbonated soft drink with a dark cinnamon-like color, your stomach will burst? If no one told you, the sewers of the Big Apple are filled not only with mutant, adolescent turtles trained in the art of shinobi-no-jutsu, but also of giant pet reptiles of the family Alligatoridae, in the order Crocodilia. Heaven forbid you and your paramour steal away to a deserted country road lest you come face-to-face with a hook-handed escapee from the local penitentiary.

Primitive man, for centuries, has gathered by the fire at night telling tall tales, that over the course of memory have become legends and myths. Stories that explain why the moon rises, or why the wind howls and these urban myths were popularized by folklorists in the mid-20thcentury. “This once that happened to a friend of a cousin of a friend of mine”, or so the tale goes.

Monday to Friday, from noon to 1PM, the best meal in town, that won’t break the bank is served at 2615 Melody Lane, at the Sedona Community Center. And it’s not a myth, the congregate lunch really is only $7 for those aged 60 and above, and $10 for everyone else. But yes, with all things that are too good to be true, watercooler talk spins tales of why Congregate Lunch is the way it is. Dear loyal readers of Sedona Red Rock News, and this column, I’m here to dispel those myths.

Myth: Congregate meals only focus on providing a meal.

FACT: There are actually several priorities – which include access to nutritious meals and socialization – within the congregate nutrition program. The opportunity for older adults to gain access to evidence-based health and wellness education in addition to vital community services are integral pieces of this very program. It encourages attendance but also participation. Opportunities for stimulating conversation, ways to challenge one’s mind and ideas to be physically active are all encouraged. Visit our calendar of events online to see what else is offered besides a delicious daily lunch!

Myth: Only one type of meal can be offered at a specific time, and older adults must be served the complete meal.

FACT: While there’s been a focus on serving lunch time, any meal – breakfast, lunch or dinner – can be served to congregate meal participants. Sites can set not only the meal type, but also the time of day and length of the meal allowing more flexibility for attendees. At Sedona Community Center, we felt that lunch was the meal that we needed to focus on in serving our Seniors and those in the community. Although meals must meet set nutrition requirements, participants can select a la carte what items he/she would like to eat. Just because it’s served doesn’t mean it must end up on a participant’s plate. 

Myth: No food is allowed home from the congregate meal site.

FACT: While states have specific requirements on take-out meals, leftover meals are allowed home with participants. Senior nutrition program staff should follow proper food storage and handling techniques and should educate clients about safe food handling practices to use when they are at home. If you’ve ever come in and joined us for the daily Congregate lunch, the portions are more than generous, so yes, sometimes, leftovers happen.

Myth: There is only one way to assess the meal’s nutrition requirements to meet congregate meal requirements

FACT: Congregate meals must follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and provide a minimum of one-third of the Dietary Reference intakes. Additionally, each State Unit on Aging can set additional nutrition standards to meet the needs of their older adult population. Both MyPlate and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension eating patterns can be used as a guide to adhere to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

So there you have it, our Congregate Lunch definitely will feed not only your appetite but your soul. Come and meet a new friend, or catch up with past acquaintances all while enjoying a tasty meal. We’d myth you if you didn’t.

The Sedona Community Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and its mission is to contribute to the health and well-being of the Seniors in the Greater Sedona area, and the Village of Oak Creek. The Sedona Community Center is located at 2615 Melody Lane, in the heart of the West Sedona. Visit sccsedona.org or call 928-282-2834 for more information. 

Friday, May 15, 2026

By Jan Marc Quisumbing

Programs Administrator

The late R& B singer Aaliyah’s (born Aaliyah Dana Haughton (1979-2001) debut studio album was titled “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number.” Released in 1994, it not only launched her career but introduced a “street but sweet” aesthetic, redefining teen stardom and established Aaliyah as an “old soul” artist with matured poise.

This coming February I will turn 48 years old. It just sounds weird to me, to say it out loud. I will be 48. What does that make me? Members of the commentariat would say that I am now considered ‘middle-aged’. Middle-aged being defined loosely as the ages of 45-64. Does this imply that my best years are behind me? I don’t think I’ve changed much but as they say “age ain’t nothing but a number.”

Every day at Sedona Community Center I meet many seniors that prove day in and day out that ‘age ain’t nothing but a number’. On Mondays and Fridays, they’re here at 8:30AM sharp for our tai chi class taught by our instructor Blaine Harris. Tai chi offers relaxation, focusing on balance, centering, and calmness. And in today’s hustle and bustle of life, I know I’m not alone in thinking we could all use a little bit of centering, and calmness. With its slow and flowing movements, no harsh straining is involved. The goal of tai chi is to improve physical strength, flexibility, and especially lower fall risks to seniors, really, for anyone.

“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.” If you’re of a certain generation, you’ve heard that phrase uttered in jest or in urgency. And as time goes on, how people react to someone falling can tell you a lot about how old they think you are. If you fall in your 20s, your friends point and laugh at you. If you fall in your mid-40s, boy scouts will magically appear to ask “Sir, are you ok?” 

We all know you don’t have to be elderly to have a fall, but it is more common in older adults than any other age group. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), more than 1 out of 4 Americans aged 65 or older fall each year. The cost of treating injuries caused by falls is projected to increase to over $100 billion by 2030. Most falls result in over 3 million injuries treated in emergency rooms annually, and over 800,000 hospitalizations. CDC also notes that people with mild hearing loss are nearly 3 times as likely to fall, the greater the hearing loss, the greater the chances of falls due to an imbalance in the ears.

Now that I’ve completely ruined your morning cup of coffee with this dour news, what can be done to prevent you or a loved one from falling and not getting up? Exercise is the most effective way to decrease falls in adults aged 65 and older who live independently and is especially effective in those 75 and older. Ask your healthcare provider to do a “falls risk assessment” with you and reduce your risk of breaking bones in fall. They will ask you if you’ve fallen, the details and whether your home environment contributed to the fall. They should also evaluate how well you walk and move around along with balance or other walking-related issues. Falling is not the inevitable result of aging. Through normal lifestyle adjustments, falls prevention programs and clinical community partnerships, the number of falls among seniors can be reduced substantially.

There are simple adjustments that one can do to help prevent falls like using a cane or walker or other assisted walking device. A trip to the hardware store to get rug tape to make sure area rugs don’t move thus preventing a potential trip hazard. Search your inner “Marie Kondo” and remove any clutter and improve the lighting in certain areas, get nightlights that are light sensitive and turn on when it’s dark. Install railings to assist in walking up and down the hallway, giving that extra sense of security.

It’s food for thought. And speaking of food, we won’t have Congregate Lunch today, May 15. We’re doing some much needed upgrades in our kitchen. Meals on Wheels is still a go, and we look forward to seeing everyone at Congregate on Monday! The Sedona Community Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and its mission is to contribute to the health and well-being of the Seniors in the Greater Sedona area, and the Village of Oak Creek. The Sedona Community Center is located at 2615 Melody Lane, in the heart of the West Sedona. Visit sccsedona.org or call 928-282-2834 for more information. 

Friday, May 8, 2026

By Jan Marc Quisumbing

Programs Administrator

Director Peter Jackson released the theatrical version of The Return of the King in 2003. It’s part of the now famous, Oscar-winning, blockbuster Lord of the Rings trilogy based on the books written by British author J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring (1954), The Two Towers (1954), and The Return of the King (1955). Over the past 23 years, one phrase has entered the zeitgeist of pop culture from Return of The King: "The beacons are lit! Gondor calls for aid!” spoken by Aragorn, played masterfully by Viggo Mortensen, one of the central protagonists of the series. “And Rohan will answer.” replies King Theodon, dramatically spoken by the late Bernard Hill. That phrase, a call to action, has become a rallying cry for help against insurmountable odds.

Monday to Friday, from this humble building at 2615 Melody Lane, 7 dedicated drivers arrive by 10:30am and leave just as quickly within 30 minutes to help deliver freshly prepared lunches to on average 95 seniors in Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek. These dedicated volunteers are part of a rotating group of about 55 drivers, whose selfless acts of service, are the familiar faces that bring joy and human connection to our clients. 

During the daily congregate lunch (Monday through Friday), our dining room volunteers help serve delicious meals to our guests but also help with the set up and takedown of the room. On average, depending on what the volunteer role is, whether driving for or serving meals, Sedona Community Center asks no more than a 2-to-3-hour commitment each day that they come in. But our volunteers are people too. They get sick, have doctor appointments, travel out of town to see family and friends, and have normal lives, just like everyone else. 

When this happens unfortunately, especially with our home delivered meals program, we may not be able to fulfill our goal of serving our seniors. It’s something we hate to do, not being able to take care of them, to be the familiar face they see. This is why, especially in these uncertain times, volunteering and giving selflessly to those who cannot help themselves through no fault of their own, truly matters.

Volunteerism is a great way to give back to your community for a variety of reasons, most notably that it’s great for your physical and mental well-being by reducing stress and giving one purpose in their day to day where there was none. Do you know a mature teenager who can’t get a job just yet but wants to build work experience? Bring them by, and we can see if maybe they can be a volunteer server during Congregate Lunch. Our seasoned volunteers are happy to show new volunteers the meal routes or the ins and outs of serving lunch. 

Volunteering provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment, particularly for older adults, by giving time to meaningful causes. It helps build new skills and refine existing ones, offering, for example, a way to try out new career fields or gain experience. Wanting to add to an existing or growing skillset? Volunteer! The support you can give is worth more than all the diamonds found in the dwarven mines of Dwarrowdelf in Middle-Earth! At Sedona Community Center, we light the beacons and call on you, dear readers to answer.

The Sedona Community Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and its mission is to contribute to the health and well-being of the Seniors in the Greater Sedona area, and the Village of Oak Creek. SCC is reaching out to individuals and local businesses for sponsorship opportunities to be able to start showing movies beginning in the month of June through the end of the year. The Sedona Community Center is located at 2615 Melody Lane, in the heart of the West Sedona. Visit sccsedona.org or call 928-282-2834 for more information. 

Friday, May 1, 2026

By Jan Marc Quisumbing

Programs Administrator

When Harry Met Sally, released on July 21st in the summer of 1989 is the quintessential romantic comedy. The film was directed by the late Rob Reiner, starring comedian Bily Crystal and actor Meg Ryan. Heavy on witty dialogue, When Harry Met Sally is a film that begs to answer the age-old question can men and women every truly just be platonic friends. But we can ALL agree, the movie is most well-known for the iconic line spoken by a lady seated at the booth near them, played by Estelle Reiner, the director’s mother, observing Sally at Manhattan’s famous Kat’z Deli “I’ll have what she’s having.” 

Every day, from noon to 1pm, Monday to Friday, guests of the Sedona Community Center enjoy one of the best kept secrets in town, the Center’s daily Congregate Lunch. Though it’s only been less than two weeks of my taking on the role as the Center’s Programs Administrator, I can tell you that one of the things I look forward to, on top of getting to know the many new and familiar faces who visit the Sedona Community Center, is the daily lunch. 

The Center’s head chef, Paul Johnston, and his staff, do an amazing job of prepping and cooking each meal during the week. The lunch served in-house is the same lunch that’s prepared every morning, like a well-oiled machine for participants in the Center’s Home Delivered Meals program. A stalwart team of over 35 volunteers a week and on-call drivers are in by 10:30AM and out the door no later than 11am to deliver delicious meals to approximately 100 Sedona and Village of Oak Creek seniors by 7 drivers a day, 5 days a week, rain or shine. But yes, it takes a village and we can always use more volunteers whether it is delivering meals or helping to serve lunch! Stop in, or give us a call and speak with Kristen Paduchowski, Meals Coordinator, to find out how you can make a difference!

Last Thursday, the 23rd, was a busy day for me, learning all the ins and outs of my position, and amidst a flurry of back-and-forth emails with other local organizations, being able to enjoy a delicious lunch of pepper steak, French fries, and mixed vegetables with fruit for dessert was a welcome respite to an otherwise eventful day. The daily lunches prepared and served at the Center adhere to the Older Americans Act (OAA) Nutrition Program. The program was created in 1972 and provides nutritious, safe meals to seniors (60+) to support health and independence through congregate and home-delivered services. Meals must follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, offer 33.3% of Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) per meal, and adhere to local food safety laws.

If I have done my job and whetted your appetite, visit sccsedona.org and click the SCC Meal Programs tab to view the current month’s menu. We would love it if you would join us for lunch and bring a friend too while you’re at it! If you are over aged 60 it is a $7 contribution and only a $10 cost for everyone else! If you are a local business or organization why not consider having us cater your next meeting! Eating together as a community is vital for improving mental, social, and physical health by fostering social bonds, reducing stress, and promoting better nutrition. Regularly sharing meals lowers rates of anxiety and depression, improves academic performance in children, and encourages healthier eating habits. It is simply good for the soul.

Thank you to all our regulars who come in for congregate lunch. I am enjoying getting to know many new, and once again familiar faces. To our guests who receive our daily meal delivery, we hope our dedicated volunteer drivers brighten your day as much as you brighten theirs. 

The Sedona Community Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and its mission is to contribute to the health and well-being of the Seniors in the Greater Sedona area, and the Village of Oak Creek. The Sedona Community Center is located at 2615 Melody Lane, in the heart of the West Sedona. Visit sccsedona.org or call 928-282-2834 for more information. 

Friday, April 24, 2026

By Jan Marc Quisumbing

Programs Administrator

Greetings Sedona Red Rock News readers, allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Jan Marc Quisumbing, and I am the new Programs Administrator for the Sedona Community Center. As the old saying goes, “Fancy meeting you here!” I’m glad to be joining an organization with a rich history of service to the senior community of this wonderful town I’ve called home for the last twelve years. The Sedona Community Center — officially known as the Adult Community Center of Sedona — has been a cornerstone of care and connection for more than 40 years.

“But Jan Marc, I’m not a senior. Why should this matter to me?” It matters quite a lot. Everyone should have and find their community. To find their “third space”. A "third space" is a social environment separate from the two primary environments of home ("first space") and work/school ("second space"). Coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in 1989, these are neutral, accessible, and welcoming places that foster community, comfort, and informal conversation. That is why Sedona Community Center exists, to be, for an oft underserved, and overlooked community, a place to gather, form deep connections, and friendship. And on Tuesdays and Fridays at 9AM, “Wiggle and Giggle”. 

If you didn’t know, the “Wiggle and Giggle” class at Sedona Community Center includes aerobic dance, balance, toning, stretching and laughter.  It’s a support group for attendees to congregate and share health tips.  Exercise chairs are available for those who wish to chair dance. Fun for all ages.  Come for a fun filled, laughing, healthy, social hour. Yes, there is a fee to attend the class but it’s very nominal, only $5. Funds raised from classes help pay for instructors and help fund the day-to-day operations at Sedona Community Center.

Looking for an event space to hold a meeting, or celebration? Let Sedona Community Center be your go-to venue for such things! I’m happy to give a tour of the Center’s available spaces. The Tudor Room is a carpeted room great for conferences, smaller meetings, and workshops. It can be set up conference style, classroom style or whatever meets your needs. Tudor Room technology includes a large screen smart television for presentations with Zoom capabilities. All you need is a laptop with an HDMI or USB port to run a presentation. Our staff handles the set up and the takedown of the room.

The Flynn Room at Sedona Community Center is the center’s biggest room, boasting plenty of light, and hard wood floors. Our daily and delicious congregate lunch is served here. A great room to have a reception or event in with table seating up to 42 guests with theater style seating up to 60. Catering is available and is always buffet style. The Flynn Room is even wired with a smart television with Zoom conferencing capabilities just like the Tudor room.

Rental income garnered from the Flynn and Tudor Rooms go directly back to help fund Sedona Community Center’s home delivered meals program, similar to “Meals On Wheels”. The Meals On Wheels Program, began in Great Britain during World War 2 to help those who lost their homes during the Blitz. It crossed the Atlantic and started in Philadelphia in 1952. In the mid-1980s Sedona resident Margaret Flynn recognized a simple but powerful need: ensuring that Sedona’s seniors had access to healthy, home-cooked meals.

With determination and heart, she launched a small meal preparation and delivery effort under the “Meals on Wheels” program. The Sedona Community Center is a member of Meals On Wheels Amercia by the way. What started with just 23 seniors receiving nutritious meals soon grew into a thriving community service that continues to this day serving on average up to 100 seniors daily with over 55 volunteers assisting in meal serving, greeting, and delivering meals 5 days a week. Want to make a difference in the community, we’d love to have you join us as a volunteer!

The Sedona Community Center is not only here for seniors but also anyone temporarily limited by illness, surgery, or physical challenges. It’s a place where good food and good company come together — and where a caring community continues to look after its own. There is no community without YOU and supporting the Sedona Community Center whether by being a volunteer, attending the various programs offered, utilizing our rooms for your events, or in-kind donations help foster a community that deserves its respect and recognition.

I’m excited for this new opportunity to help give back to my community, and I hope you are too. Same book, new chapter. Let’s see where we’ll go next.

The Sedona Community Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and its mission is to contribute to the health and well-being of the Seniors in the Greater Sedona area, and the Village of Oak Creek. The Sedona Community Center is located at 2615 Melody Lane, in the heart of the West Sedona. Visit sccsedona.org or call 928-282-2834 for more information. 

Friday, April17, 2026

By Kristen Paduchowski

April is a time in my life when I get antsy. I call it my flight month. For some reason, in April I tend to move, change jobs, or travel. Is it because it’s after the winter, or is it just because everything slowed down finally after the holidays? I don’t know, I’ve never been able to figure it out. Seven years ago, I packed up a U-Haul with what I had left of my belongings and made the trek with my best friend and her 13-year-old daughter across the country from New Hampshire to Arizona. That was the biggest move I had ever made. I have lived my life so far only in New Hampshire, it was terrifying, but I had all my family here, so that was comforting and the big reason why I moved.

Well, it’s April again and it’s time for me to make a move. Don’t worry, I’m not leaving my post here, just changing what I do. You see, after my dad passed, I felt a calling to help in a different way at the Center. After many long talks with people close to me, and many days thinking about how I could make a bigger difference, I chose to sit down with my boss and lay it all out. Through recollection of growing up and how my parents raised me to help people, my dad’s love of programs like Meals on Wheels, I had made the decision to oversee the Meals program here. It’s a perfect fit, really. As I mentioned, I moved here 7 years ago, and this July will be my 7th anniversary here. I know the volunteers, I know the clients, I love what I do, I can’t honestly imagine working anywhere else.

I’ve been in the role for almost 2 weeks and am happy to be busy with helping clients and volunteer drivers. The scheduling of 35 volunteers, the routing of 90+ clients, the steady craziness of anything that comes across my plate. I am going to continue with marketing as I truly enjoy that. I like being creative, I have worked on our Tax Credit campaign for 6 years, along with Al, and we seem to be making improvements every year. Also, ads for magazines, newspapers, etc. 

We will announce the replacement in the coming weeks, I think all of you will agree, the person we hired is a great fit! The new position will be called the Programs Administrator. They will be overseeing the volunteers, the events & rentals, the classes and instructors. Will also be taking care of the Congregate lunch program and social media as well as anything else they can think of! It will be nice to have new life and fresh eyes on how we can make the Center a better place for all who come. You may even see a column or 12 from them.

Yes, I am happy and settled in my new position. If you stop by, say hello, I’ll be up in the front office happy as a clam!

The Sedona Community Center is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization that relies a great deal on donations from people like you. In these challenging times, every dollar helps us to provide meals for the Meals on Wheels clients and congregate lunch. We deliver meals Monday through Friday in the Greater Sedona area. We also offer the congregate lunch Monday through Friday at Noon in the dining room. We do ask that you make a reservation for lunch by calling 928-282-2834 by 9:30 am on the day of, or anytime before. Visit our website sccsedona.org for more information on these programs, our monthly menu, and so much more.