Senior Center’s new 2012 Calendar features “classic cars, classic people”: Now on sale to support ongoing activities

“Classic cars and classic people,” the title of the Sebastopol
Area Senior Center’s 2012 calendar, depicts just that, January
through December.
The third annual calendar is the brainchild of Senior Center
Transportation Coordinator Dean Brittingham, formerly a
professional photographer and to this day a classic car
enthusiast.
“I wanted to celebrate community, seniors and volunteerism. Classic
cars I love, but the people who own them are also classic
themselves,” Brittingham said.
Hence, she created the calendar, which not only showcases some
beautiful cars, but also tells 12 different stories.
Take for example, Della Miller, a “true West County legend,” who is
featured on the cover of the calendar with a Morgan.
Miller, who was a nurse at Palm Drive Hospital from 1948 to 1960
and a school nurse after that, is also pictured with Bonnie Braren
– a woman whose life she saved 60 years earlier – on the July page
of the calendar.
Miller has lived in Sebastopol since 1936. She and her husband Bill
“owned and operated Miller Dairy for 42 years, processing milk for
home delivery as well as supplying milk to Analy, El Molino and
surrounding schools,” according to the calendar that includes brief
bios about the person featured on each page.
The month of June features Peggy Sue with her husband Rich Williams
and a 1971 Nova. Peggy Sue’s All-American Cruise is the largest
annual classic car gathering in Sonoma County, according to
Brittingham, the author and photographer of the calendar.
The Nova that is pictured is for sale. Apparently the couple
restored the car and dedicated it to the memory of Sgt. Ryan James
Connolly, of Santa Rosa, who died in Afghanistan. Connolly was
planning on rebuilding the car, but was killed three days before
returning home, according to the calendar. Proceeds from the sale
of the car will be put in a trust fund for Connolly’s
daughter.
Asked how she goes about selecting people and cars for the calendar
Brittingham said: “I have a terrible habit of following classic
cars. I give myself a five-mile limit and I will follow them right
into their driveways and get out and explain to them that I do the
calendar. That is often how I find people for the calendar.”
She said she also finds people at local car shows and sometimes
they find her and ask if they can be pictured.
“We honor the spirit and service that our seniors provided to their
communities in this year’s calendar,” Senior Center Executive
Director Terry Kelley states on the introductory page of the
calendar. “Their generation made possible what we have today. Dues
were paid, our infrastructure was built, classes taught, wounds
mended, wars fought, and dreams realized. To all of those who
helped this community and country grow we say ‘Thank You,'” he
said.
“We are thrilled with it. It is beautiful,” Kelley said of the
finished product. “Every year it gets better. And we are really
honored these folks allowed us to put them in our calendar.”
The calendars cost $15 and are available at the Sebastopol Area
Senior Center and its resale store, the Legacy, Copperfield’s Books
in Sebastopol, Fircrest Market in Sebastopol, Curves of Sebastopol
and Forestville Pharmacy, among other locations.
Proceeds from the calendar support the Senior Center.