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NOVEMBER 2025 FENCEPOST
APTOS, CAPITOLA & RIO DEL MAR SIR BRANCH 104 – Website https://sirinc2.org/branch104/
“Just for the fun of it”
LUNCH DATE: 3rd TUESDAY, NOV. 18TH, AT 11:30 AM
SEASCAPE GOLF COURSE
BIG SIR MESSAGE: RICH BRANSON
I hope everyone’s body clock is adjusting to the time change as we head into the holidays. Doug Deaver has successfully booked our Christmas program with the vocal group from Cabrillo Collage which we all enjoyed last year. Please invite your spouse and friends. You will be responsible for ordering and paying for their lunch choice and it is all worth it for sharing this great holiday experience.
December is also our annual fund raiser for SIR Branch #104.
Jim Williams will be providing more information on The Dave Selner Fund, named after our late great BIG SIR.
Your SIR caller will be reaching out to each member this coming week to confirm you will be attending lunch or not, and what your meal choice is on Tuesday Nov 18th. If you have a change of plans after you have indicated you will attend, please let your caller know immediately. Seascape may have time to cancel your order and not charge SIR Branch 104.
Doors Open at 11:30am. Meeting begins at 12 noon.
LUNCHEON PROGRAM – Marcella Gomez, Associate Professor at UC Santa Cruz in Applied Mathematics Department
As we know, AI is making significant changes in the diagnosing and treatment of diseases. Marcella Gomez, an associate professor at UC Santa Cruz, is involved in one research area exploring the use of bioelectronic devices with enhanced deep learning to facilitate real-time sensing and actuation for automated decisions in accelerating wound closure. The technology is also being studied for the development of implantable devices for hypothyroidism. Marcella will present on the current status of her research, including other possible uses for this technology.
Marcella M. Gomez is an associate professor at UC Santa Cruz in the department of Applied Mathematics and Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Baskin Engineering. She received her PhD from Caltech in 2015 and a B.S. from UC Berkeley in 2009; both degrees in Mechanical Engineering. Her research interests are in the broad field of bio-control leveraging methods in machine learning and control theory. Applications range from controlling single-cell response to driving complex systems such as wound healing.
LUNCH ARRANGEMENTS – Entrees are $34 (Option #1) and Salads will be $29 (Option 2 & 3)
Option 1: Chicken Castroville: Breast of Chicken in a cream sauce with artichoke hearts. Served with rice for $34 which includes 1 door prize ticket. Additional tickets can be purchased for 1$ each.
Option 2: Grilled Salmon Salad: Mixed greens, tomatoes, red onions, and cucumbers with grilled salmon and topped with raspberry vinaigrette for $29 which includes 1 door prize ticket and option to purchase additional tickets for $1 each
Option 3: Southwest Veggie Salad: Mixed Greens, Corn, Black Beans, Tomatoes, Red Onions. Topped with Avocado, Tortilla Strips and Ranch Dressing. for $29 which includes 1 door prize ticket and option to purchase additional tickets for $1 each
Hot Coffee, Tea hot or cold, and cold water is also included.
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAY BOYS:
SIR Harvey Bell, SIR Mike Epperson, SIR Warren Grande, SIR Charles Landram, SIR Mike Morgan, SIR Frank Penko, SIR Gary Perkins, SIR Rick Powers, SIR Jim Stott, SIR Fred Tapella, SIR Duane Thompson, SIR Carey Williams
Remember, you must be present at the drawing to win the free lunch.
BRANCH 104 MEMBERSHIP: SIR Rick Hornbeck.
Branch 104 continues to have over 100 members.
WE CARE – If you know of any member who is experiencing any difficulty with health or personal issues and you feel it can be shared with all the members, please let your caller know when they call about the next meeting or let the BIG SIR Rich Branson know while attending the monthly meeting.
Here is a poem that long time member Gary Schilling created and wanted to share with the group
SIRS……by Gary Schilling
We are the walking wounded
Old gents at the end of the trail
We fought the good fight
With all of our might
And with SIR friends we just couldn’t fail
BRANCH 104 ACTIVITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
COFFEE AND CONVERSATION – SIR Joel Dedrick
The group meets every Wednesday at 10:00AM. The Coffee and Conversation group has moved their get-togethers to Sevy’s formerly Severino’s.
We don’t have a formal agenda, at least so far; we discuss politics, religion, current events, public policy, technology, and pretty much anything else that’s on our minds. The conversations are spirited but always respectful – and I guarantee you’ll learn something new every week.
No RSVP required – just swing by if you can!
BOCCE—SIR Brent Paine Email: brentp1955@gmail.com PH: (408) 355-4623
We will be playing pick-up games. So, just come, have a good time and everyone will play!
Bocce play is scheduled from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon on the 1st Tuesday of the month at the Felt Street County Park. Following Bocce, optional Dutch Treat lunch with the guys at a local restaurant.
GOLF – SIR Jim Stott Email : JimPams@sbcglobal.net PH: (831) 212-3393
The eighteen-hole (multi-branch) SIR golf group plays on Monday mornings at various courses and is coordinated by SIR Jim Stott.
GOLF – SIR Doug Deaver Email: ddeaver@yahoo.com PH: (831) 234-1210 :
The nine hole golf group (Deaver’s Duffers) will be playing Mondays and Thursdays at Seascape Golf starting at 1:45pm. If you’re interested in joining the group, please contact Doug Deaver at ddeaver@yahoo.com
BOOK CLUB — SIR Rick Hornbeck Email: rhornbeck@sbcglobal.net PH (831) 226-4350)
The Book Club will be meeting on Thursday, December 4th at 4:30pm at Sevy’s Bar + Kitchen (formerly Severino’s). We typically meet on the fourth Thursday of the month, but that happens to coincide with Thanksgiving in November, so we will have one last Book Club this year in early December.
As we have done for the past several meetings, we are continuing the “reader’s choice” option. If there is a book that you have read that you think other folks may be interested in, please let us all know about it at the meeting.
If you are interested in learning more about the Book Club, please contact SIR Rick Hornbeck. He will be glad to add you to the Book Club email distribution list to get more up-to-date information
INVESTMENT CLUB
This month we will be meeting on November 11th at 10:00 am. On the call we share ideas and usually drill down on a couple of stocks. We share our mistakes and occasional wins. We can’t promise big gains, but we usually have some laughs.
Until we find a new lead for this group, please contact Doug Deaver at ddeaver@yahoo.com
or (831) 234-1210 for further information.
CARDS AND BOARD GAMES
Come to the Aptos Grange to join other SIRs in card, poker, cribbage, and any other games of your choice. This is a recent activity that we are pulling together that will meet from 1:00 – 4:00 on the second Wednesday of every month at the Aptos Grange on 2555 Mar Vista Dr.
Please come by to join us with the poker club and other SIRs to have some fun competitive games and good conversation. So, bring your deck of cards, dominoes, cribbage boards or whatever game you would like to start a group to play every second Wednesday. Also please feel free to bring drinks (non-alcoholic) and food for yourself. Please contact Rich Hamlin at hamlin.rich.w@gmail.com PH (276-732-134) for further information.
OTHER UPCOMING SIRS EVENTS TO MARK IN YOUR CALENDARS
Schedule for 2025 SIR Monthly Luncheons. Not too early to mark your calendars!
- Tuesday December 16, 2025
Behind the Scenes Group Tour of Santa Cruz Boardwalk – Wednesday November 5 from 10:00 to 11:30
Here is some info on where to meet to begin your tour at 10am.
Look for SIR Mario Beltramo and SIR Joe Rudnicki who will be our group leaders for the day, so look for them and stay with them please.
- Please gather at the Main Entrance plaza at 10am. The plaza is to the left of Neptunes Kingdom and directly across from the main parking lot if you are facing the Boardwalk from Beach Street.
- Participants can park in the main parking lot across Beach Street and we will validate parking, so bring your ticket with you.
- People should wear comfy shoes since we will be doing a lot of walking. There are also some stairs to navigate so please let me know if there are mobility needs and I can make necessary accommodation.
- People can bring water along if they like and we will stop to use restrooms along the route.
- People can take photos and video when we are in public spaces, but we ask that there be nn photography when we are in the back of house areas.
- We will be wrapping up at 11:30am
At this time we can only accommodate one tour but we can revisit offering it again next year
Branch 104 Website https://sirinc2.org/branch104/ Webmaster: SIR John Ryan (650) 743-3040 or John.E.Ryan@comcast.net. Our Website has been recently been updated in order to provide easy access to all the SIR activities within our Branch and SIRs State news and activities.
Branch 104 Fencepost Newsletter Editor: SIR Bob Basel (707)-373-2484 or rbasel@sbcglobal.net