Primetimers
2025 Annual Report- “Wesley Seniors”
Warren Hayashi, 2025
Warren Hayashi, 2025
The Wesley Seniors, better known as the “Wesley Primetimers”, who are active church members in their Retirement Days. They enjoy having Coffee & home made “goodies” and talk”stories”an expression from Hawaii. We meet twice a month at church for Coffee and share our experiences share experiences of others.
Our meetings include current information and practices that will benefit our Seniors. As an example, during the pandemic, we manage to stay in touch using “zoom”. That was an experience no one ever thought we would be doing before the pandemic. Their regular use gave us another method of communication.
Therefore, this expanded the communication options for everyone, who owns a cell phones, i-pad or computer. Using the “Umbrella Ministry” program schedule, we have added a continuous Q/ A and updates of the use of these communication tool..
Ernie Murata, who planned and travel a trip to Tanzania, an avid Photographer took many, many photographs of the wild animals of that region and recorded their migration and habits. He learned many things about the animal kingdom of Tanzania. His detail presentation was outstanding. he was so gracious enough to share his entire collection of his trip with us.
This past year, another member of the Wesley Primetimers, Judy Kanemoto, another member shared her travels on an African Safari. She too had unique stories about the wild animals and shared photo collections and many of her souvenirs.
The most meaningful “blessing” we received this year was a “grant” from the California-Nevada United Methodist Church Funds, from the “Beulah Foundation”. The grant was for $5,000.00 for our Seniors to use to enhance our activities during the year. We had to use this money during this calendar year to enhance there activities. We decided, best use would be to help with transportation Collective, we decided to take two different trips. First trip to Monterey and visit the Monterey Aquarium, then visit “Cannery Row,” the Street named in one of John Steinbeck’s novel. So, we spent the morning visiting the Aquarium and then had lunch on Cannery Row.
Following lunch, we boarded our bus and drove through Pacific Grove, hoping we might get a glimpse of the “Monarch Butterflies”, bur no avail. We continued towards Pebble Beach, well known for its’ “Golf Courses”and the beauty of the area. We then arrived at the Gate to enter the “17 Mile”, known for its beauty. The bus was able maneuver along the narrow 17 Mile Drive and thus, we were able see the beauty of the area close-up.
Our final stop before our trip home was at the “Visitor’s Center “ at Pebble Beach. We made a short stop and visited the area shops, stretched and walk around before the long trip home.
Our second bus trip was more closer to home, but yet, but traveling by bus was more relaxing. We first drove to the “Water Temple” located near Woodside, near the eastern slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountain Range.
This is where a man made water system was created to bring water from Yosemite National Park to the Bay Area to supplement needed water for City and County of San Francisco, later for San Mateo, Alameda and Santa Clara County. Once the reservoir was completed, now known as the Hetch Hetchy.
The uniqueness of this project is when the water is release it travels to the Bay Area, it moves only by “gravity”. This water comes down from the Sierra Nevada Mountains, across the San Joaquin Valley, across to the Bay Area with no pumping stations along the way. This water is the purest water, untreated and stored in “Crystal Springs” lake. This lake is visible from Highway 280 near there City of Hillsborough.
Our next visited was the “Filoli”Gardens” Filoli, also known as the Bourn-Roth Estate, and the country home set in 16 acres with a formal gardens surrounded by 654 acre estate, located in Woodside, California. The Country Home was built between 1915 and 1917. The home was occupied by the Bourn’s occupied their home from 1917 to 1936. Filoli11 is an acronym formed by combing the first two letters from the key words of William Bourn’s credo Fight for a cause; Love your fellow man; Live a Good life,”
The Bourn’s owned four separate homes; The first Site “Muchross House”is in Ireland. A second home is Grass Valley, and a home in San Francisco on Webster Street and Filoli”.
Following a two hour visit at Filoli, the group boarded the bus and drove to Sam’s Chowder House located on Highway 1, I Princeton, just north of the Half Moon Bay.
As all seniors, we don’t miss too many meals and we acknowledge the Oktoberfest Holidays with a traditional Bavarian lunch at Harry’s Hof brau Restaurant in Redwood City. The German lunch of Sausage, traditional potato salad, sauerkraut and crusty roll. Great feast! Can’t wait til next October.
Our finale each year is our Primetimers Christmas Pot-Luck, games and music, schedule for Friday, December 12, 2025.
Happy New Year.
Our meetings include current information and practices that will benefit our Seniors. As an example, during the pandemic, we manage to stay in touch using “zoom”. That was an experience no one ever thought we would be doing before the pandemic. Their regular use gave us another method of communication.
Therefore, this expanded the communication options for everyone, who owns a cell phones, i-pad or computer. Using the “Umbrella Ministry” program schedule, we have added a continuous Q/ A and updates of the use of these communication tool..
Ernie Murata, who planned and travel a trip to Tanzania, an avid Photographer took many, many photographs of the wild animals of that region and recorded their migration and habits. He learned many things about the animal kingdom of Tanzania. His detail presentation was outstanding. he was so gracious enough to share his entire collection of his trip with us.
This past year, another member of the Wesley Primetimers, Judy Kanemoto, another member shared her travels on an African Safari. She too had unique stories about the wild animals and shared photo collections and many of her souvenirs.
The most meaningful “blessing” we received this year was a “grant” from the California-Nevada United Methodist Church Funds, from the “Beulah Foundation”. The grant was for $5,000.00 for our Seniors to use to enhance our activities during the year. We had to use this money during this calendar year to enhance there activities. We decided, best use would be to help with transportation Collective, we decided to take two different trips. First trip to Monterey and visit the Monterey Aquarium, then visit “Cannery Row,” the Street named in one of John Steinbeck’s novel. So, we spent the morning visiting the Aquarium and then had lunch on Cannery Row.
Following lunch, we boarded our bus and drove through Pacific Grove, hoping we might get a glimpse of the “Monarch Butterflies”, bur no avail. We continued towards Pebble Beach, well known for its’ “Golf Courses”and the beauty of the area. We then arrived at the Gate to enter the “17 Mile”, known for its beauty. The bus was able maneuver along the narrow 17 Mile Drive and thus, we were able see the beauty of the area close-up.
Our final stop before our trip home was at the “Visitor’s Center “ at Pebble Beach. We made a short stop and visited the area shops, stretched and walk around before the long trip home.
Our second bus trip was more closer to home, but yet, but traveling by bus was more relaxing. We first drove to the “Water Temple” located near Woodside, near the eastern slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountain Range.
This is where a man made water system was created to bring water from Yosemite National Park to the Bay Area to supplement needed water for City and County of San Francisco, later for San Mateo, Alameda and Santa Clara County. Once the reservoir was completed, now known as the Hetch Hetchy.
The uniqueness of this project is when the water is release it travels to the Bay Area, it moves only by “gravity”. This water comes down from the Sierra Nevada Mountains, across the San Joaquin Valley, across to the Bay Area with no pumping stations along the way. This water is the purest water, untreated and stored in “Crystal Springs” lake. This lake is visible from Highway 280 near there City of Hillsborough.
Our next visited was the “Filoli”Gardens” Filoli, also known as the Bourn-Roth Estate, and the country home set in 16 acres with a formal gardens surrounded by 654 acre estate, located in Woodside, California. The Country Home was built between 1915 and 1917. The home was occupied by the Bourn’s occupied their home from 1917 to 1936. Filoli11 is an acronym formed by combing the first two letters from the key words of William Bourn’s credo Fight for a cause; Love your fellow man; Live a Good life,”
The Bourn’s owned four separate homes; The first Site “Muchross House”is in Ireland. A second home is Grass Valley, and a home in San Francisco on Webster Street and Filoli”.
Following a two hour visit at Filoli, the group boarded the bus and drove to Sam’s Chowder House located on Highway 1, I Princeton, just north of the Half Moon Bay.
As all seniors, we don’t miss too many meals and we acknowledge the Oktoberfest Holidays with a traditional Bavarian lunch at Harry’s Hof brau Restaurant in Redwood City. The German lunch of Sausage, traditional potato salad, sauerkraut and crusty roll. Great feast! Can’t wait til next October.
Our finale each year is our Primetimers Christmas Pot-Luck, games and music, schedule for Friday, December 12, 2025.
Happy New Year.
Posted in Charge Conference 2025