 |
President's Message
December is a time to reflect on the past year, set intentions for the new year and celebrate the holidays! This is true in my personal life as well as in my role as president of the Village. As I reflect on some of our 2025 accomplishments in the Village, I am impressed and grateful.
The 25 new members who have joined since January have become active participants. Our supporting partners have brought in $8,500 and have been a valuable resource to our members. We are thankful for Cassandra’s continuous efforts in obtaining our supporting partners and for her grant committee who have brought in $19,010 in grant funding. Our Membership, Care and Wellness, Social Committees and Sub Committees have worked diligently keeping us active and connected.
Our technology committee has worked to keep the Website functioning as well as providing hybrid meetings and now YouTube videos. UCSD students have assisted members with technology challenges and, most recently, members haven been attending cell phone classes.
Our connections with both the National Village to Village Network and the California Village Movement network have been a valuable resource as we work towards our goal of supporting the health and well-being of our members.
The generosity of our members is impressive and appreciated. Not only have members contributed to the current Village donor drive, but they have also supported community events, contributed to the Jewish Family Services Backpack Drive and, most recently, to Elder Help’s “Holiday Angels” Program. THANK YOU!
At our Board Retreat we discussed our Strategic Plan. What is our Vision? We are committed to providing (1) Social activities to reduce isolation, (2) Educational opportunities related to aging well, (3) Connection to Aging Resources and Providers and (4) Practical supports through volunteer assistance. Hiring our new Administrative Coordinator, Leslie Fogg, is wonderful news. Cassandra, with Leslie’s help, can now have more time to focus on our Member Services Implementation Plan. As we continue to work on the Strategic Plan, I will bring what we are doing to the general membership. Different perspectives are important!!
Let’s move ahead together to reach our goals!!! Happy Holidays!
Ginny VanBenthuysen
TVSD Board President
|  | | New TVSD Staff Member
You may have already heard that we have a new team member joining our Village family! Leslie Fogg will begin as the new TVSD Administrative Coordinator on Monday, December 1st. Here’s a little more about Leslie:
Leslie has proudly called Tierrasanta home for 23 years. She and her husband are raising two boys—one currently in college and the other graduating from Canyon Hills High School this year. Professionally, Leslie brings experience as a Social Work Manager in the field of developmental disabilities. She is also deeply involved in the Canyon Hills community, having served as the Football Booster President for four years and actively supporting the Boys Basketball Booster, Lacrosse Booster, and the Class of 2026 Parent Booster.
If you don’t have the chance to meet Leslie at the VMC next week, you’ll be able to connect with her at the Holiday Party on December 8th. Please help Leslie out as she meets so many new members at once by wearing your name badges!
|  | |
Holiday Giving Update
Way to go Tierrasanta Village!
TVSD members donated Target and Walmart gift cards for San Diego seniors in need for an incredible total of $1,075! We also personally signed 58 holiday greeting cards to accompany the $25 gift cards.
Our Village Outreach Coordinator, Sheila Weiner, has delivered the donations to the ElderHelp office. Their Director of Outreach and Community Engagement, Carrie McLellan, said that of all the different organizations donating to their Holiday Angels program, TVSD had contributed the most gift cards. The generosity of our Village members will make a difference for so many seniors in our community this season!
| Thank You Village Partners!
As we reflect on the past year and look ahead to the exciting initiatives TVSD has planned, we are grateful for our wonderful Supporting Partners and all they do to provide vital assistance to our members. Each partner is an expert in their respective fields and are dedicated to helping older adults age well and remain in the Tierrasanta community they love. Don't forget that our partners offer member discounts. Check them out here! | January Member Meeting
The next Member Meeting is Monday, January 5th at 3pm at the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The presenter at the meeting will be a representative from Elder Law & Advocacy (ELA). Elder Law & Advocacy is a non-profit organization that provides free or low-cost legal services and health insurance counseling to seniors. They offer assistance with issues like elder abuse, landlord/tenant problems, public benefits, Medicare, and estate planning, and can prepare documents such as simple wills, advance healthcare directives, and power of attorney. The presentation at the January meeting will focus on Medicare.
Please bring your name badges and non-perishable food items for the Seventh-day Adventist ongoing Food Drive. Thank you for registering. |  | | Donor Drive Update
Wow! Our Donor Drive has already raised $4,260. That's amazing! We are well on our way to our $15,000 goal. THANK YOU!
The Donor Drive continues through the end of the year. The following are ways to donate:
1. Send a check to the TVSD mailing address (10601 Tierrasanta Blvd. #G-405, San Diego, CA 92124).
2. Deliver a check to the clubhouse during our operating hours (M/W/F 9:30 am - 12:30 pm).
Using a check is ideal as TVSD receives 100% of the total of your check versus the 3% we pay when a credit card is used.
3. If you prefer a website donation using a credit card, please click here.
When deciding about a donation, please take time to reflect on the reasons you are committed to the Village and why it matters to you. You and your contributions of time, talent, and treasure are so important to TVSD! We are a vibrant and growing community. Please help us continue supporting our community’s seniors well into the future! | Grief Support Group To Meet Tuesday, December 2
The holidays are supposed to be a joyful time of year, but many find November and December difficult as they face trying to celebrate while remembering a loved one who has passed away.
That is why our Care Committee offers a time for those members who are grieving to come together to discuss and share our loss, whether it is a recent loss or a death from 20 years ago; whether it is from the death of a parent, sibling, spouse, dear friend, or a beloved pet. We still feel the pain and need that catharsis.
We have been blessed to have Village member Ken Licht, retired minister of the Tierrasanta Luthern Church, facilitate our grief support sessions. He asks just the right questions for reflection and to motivate the discussion. His warmth and peaceful demeanor are the result of his many years of comforting and counseling his parishioners in times of sorrow. These qualities make for a very comfortable session where we have felt free to talk about and share our grief.
Our next grief support session will be held Tuesday, December 2, at the clubhouse, starting at 1:00. Please contact Marilyn Bente if you would like to attend.
“Grief is praise,” writes Martin Prechtel in his book The Smell of Rain on Dust, “because it is the natural way love honors what it misses.”
Submitted by:
Marilyn Bente
|  | | Hilton Sundy |  | Julie Sundy | | |
| Medicare Annual Enrollment
The Medicare Enrollment period ends December 7th! If you have any questions, TVSD Supporting Partner, Amanda Huerta, is happy to help guide you.
| FINANCIAL FOCUS®
Smart financial moves to make before year-end
As the year winds down, it's the perfect time to make some smart moves before the calendar flips to 2026. Think of it as a financial tune-up that could help with saving money and setting you up for success in the months ahead. Here are some things to consider.
- Don't forget about required withdrawals. If you're 73 or older, you’ll need to take your required minimum distribution from traditional retirement accounts to avoid a 25% penalty on any amount you should have withdrawn but didn't. This rule also applies to some people who inherited retirement accounts, including certain Roth accounts.
- Use your flexible spending money. Got money sitting in a flexible spending account at work? Remember, these accounts follow a "use it or lose it" rule. Check with your HR department about your plan's specific deadlines for spending the money and submitting receipts. Whether it's that dental work you've been putting off or new prescription glasses you need, now's the time to use those funds before they disappear.
- Boost your retirement savings. Consider ramping up your pretax retirement contributions before year-end. Not only will this help your future self, but it might also reduce your current tax bill. If your workplace plan allows it, you can even set up automatic increases for next year so you won't have to remember to do it later.
- Share the wealth through gifting. In 2025, the current tax rules let you give family or friends up to $19,000 per person without affecting your lifetime gift tax exemption. Married couples can combine their allowances to give up to $38,000 per person. Plus, you can pay someone's tuition or medical bills directly without these payments counting against your gift limits at all.
- Navigate new tax changes. The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act has made several tax provisions permanent, including lower individual tax rates and higher standard deductions. However, it also introduces new changes that might affect your situation. It's worth sitting down with a financial advisor or tax professional to understand how these updates impact your specific circumstances.
- Examine your investments. Take some time to review your investment portfolio. Ask yourself: Did your investments perform as expected this year? Do they still match your goals and comfort level with risk? You might need to rebalance things to get back on track.
- Build up your emergency fund. It’s ideal to have enough cash saved to cover three to six months of living expenses in an easily accessible account. This safety net can prevent you from having to raid your retirement savings when unexpected expenses pop up.
- Review your estate planning documents. This is especially important if you've had major life changes like marriage, divorce or a new baby. Don't forget to check the beneficiary designations on all your bank and brokerage accounts as well as life insurance policies – these often override what's written in your will.
Taking care of these financial housekeeping tasks now can help you start the new year on solid ground.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Robert Farwell, CFP®, RICP®, 858-514-8876, www.edwardjones.com/r-farwell
Edward Jones, Member SIPC
Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation. | Care Committee Corner
Fermented Foods - They’re Good For You!**
Sauerkraut. Kimchi. Kombucha. Yum, I love them! What’s that you say? You don’t? That’s o.k. You probably like yogurt. All of these are fermented foods, and they’re good for you.
Fermentation is a chemical breakdown of a substance by bacteria, and has been used for years to preserve food and extend its shelf life. Fermented foods contain probiotics - live micro-organisms which aid digestion. A healthy intestinal microbiome (the microbial community in your gut) plays a role in optimal functioning of our immune systems and wards off damaging inflammation inside the body. Inflammation may lead to conditions ranging from obesity and diabetes to neurodegenerative diseases.
Try adding fermented foods to your daily diet. In addition to sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, and yogurt, there are other fermented foods. Pickles of all types—the usual cucumbers, and also carrots, beets, onions, peppers—are fermented foods. To get the health benefits of probiotics from pickles, make sure you look for pickles that say they are “naturally fermented”. These contain the live cultures that provide probiotic benefits. Get creative with fermented foods! If you don’t like to eat plain sauerkraut or pickled vegetables, add them as a garnish to salads and sandwiches.
**This information was excerpted from the article, “Fermented Foods Can Add Depth to Your Diet”, Harvard Health Publishing, April 19, 2021. The article contains the following important statement:
“No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.”
Joan McGeachy
TVSD Care Committee
| | Tuesday Lunch Bunch
Returns January 2026 | | ROMEO
Returns January 2026
| | |
Solo Network (SNAP)
Wood Ranch Grill
December 6th, 11:30 a.m.
| |
December 2025 Village Events
Please note the Village Front Desk is closed December 24th, 25th and 26th.
Check out the full Event Calendar for all of the upcoming events, classes, and activities!
| | | Tierrasanta Library
The monthly Book Sale is Fri 12/5 and Sat 12/6 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. as well as Monday 12/8 12:00 p.m. - 6 p.m. | | Holiday Gift Guide
The Raise Right Holiday Gift Guide is now online and available here. Pages 6 and 7 could especially help with gift ideas for loved ones! Many village members have already become Raise Right users, helping TVSD to bring in $700+ in fundraising so far in 2025. The Raise Right platform allows users to purchase gift cards for popular stores and attractions while "giving back" a portion of sales to TVSD. If you have not yet signed up for Raise Right, please consider learning more. All the details are available here. You can also contact the Village Front Desk for more information. Thank you for your continued support of Tierrasanta Village! | | Thinking about joining Tierrasanta Village?
Attend the next Informational Happy Hour! This event is an excellent way to meet our members and learn about the Village Movement.
Every 3rd Wednesday 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Let us know you'll be there with a Call/Text to 858-569-9119 or email tierrasantavlg@gmail.com. | | | Tierrasanta Village
Clubhouse Address:
5275 Rimpark Lane
San Diego, CA 92124
858-569-9119
www.tierrasantavillage.org
Mailing Address:
10601 Tierrasanta Boulevard, G-405
San Diego, CA 92124 | |