Por Mickey Zeichick

Our next San Carlos Area Council (SCAC) meeting will be Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. at the San Carlos Branch Library at 7265 Jackson Drive. Our meetings are open to the public. Our guest speaker will be from the District Attorney’s office and will talk to us about elder abuse.

Elder abuse is the term given to the act of committing harmful acts toward elderly adults, such as physical abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. Financial exploitation and self-neglect due to abandonment are also forms of elderly abuse.

New theater

There is a new — to me, anyway — theater in Allied Gardens. It is called Opera NEO and is put on under the stars at Palisades Presbyterian Church & Amphitheater at 6301 Birchwood St.

My husband and I love music and when we attended the Aug. 5 production of “Cosi Fan Tutte” by W.A. Mozart, Opera NEO was ready for us. The production started at 8 p.m. and was preceded by a talk where we learned about the opera story, the composer and performers. Opera NEO provided the English translation on the big screens situated on both sides of the stage.

For those that do not think they like opera, this might change your mind. If you love music, this is a nice way to spend an evening and you will be amazed at the talent and range of singing that comes to us. Check their website operaneo.com. 

Where to dispose of American flags

When your flag is no longer worthy of being displayed, there are several places locally — the VFW, American Legion, Boy Scouts of America, San Diego Flag Disposal Services — where your American flag can be properly retired with the respect and gravity that it is entitled to. The retirement of an American flag is a time-honored tradition, and one that carries a great significance. Taking your flag to one of these flag disposal locations will ensure that the traditions and ceremony are utilized in the flag’s retirement.

A nickel saved …

A financial savings trick to share with your grandkids: If you (or they) saved 5 cents on the first day, and increased the amount each day by 5 cents, at the end of 365 days, your savings will have grown to $3,339.75! The most put aside is $18.25 on day 365.

San Carlos/Lake Murray Recreation Center 

The summer day camps were well attended and proved, once again, to be a valuable resource for our community’s children during the summer months.

Other on-going activities at the rec center are the volleyball leagues and flag football teams, soccer and little league games. The annual Halloween Carnival is scheduled for Oct. 27 — stand ready to be a little scared, a little surprised and share a lot of laughs and screams with your friends!

Grocery Outlet

Grocery Outlet is open and thriving in Allied Gardens. The owners of the Grocery Outlet store, Gay and Chris Holbrook, have recently moved to Allied Gardens to not only open the store but to be close to family who lives here.

I have had the privilege of getting to know the Holbrooks through the Grantville-Allied Gardens Kiwanis Club and know they have a love and commitment toward not only their family, but the community in which they have become an integral part.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and again at the grand opening, it was typical to see them helping their staff by doing whatever needed to be done. What was most noticeable (other than the amount of money saved) was the customer service attitude of every employee — they were always polite, helpful, had a smile and a happy attitude. It brought back feelings of shopping in the 1970s, where it seemed staff genuinely wanted to be helpful. A most welcome addition to the area!

Correspondence and dues

Contact me at [email protected] to be added to the Interested Persons list. Join Al lado.com for what is happening in our neighborhood during the day and week. SCAC dues are due. You can send your $7 annual payment to SCAC at: PO Box 19246, San Diego, CA 92159-0246.

—Mickey Zeichick is president of the San Carlos Area Council. Reach her at [email protected].