January 2026

Rain and The Last Village Connections Event

By Ed Mervine
Posted: 12/01/2025

Rain and depression seem to go together, but not in Southern California. Rain, especially the gentle but steady kind we had last Thursday, November 20, is generally welcomed as a sign of better times to come. It’s also true that Southern Californians, who rarely experience precipitation of any kind, will run for cover after only a few drops. And so it was last Thursday: folks elected to stay dry and not attend the last event in the Village Connections Fall 2025 series. 

However, in her presentation of this Village Connections entitled Navigating the Holidays, Mia Williams, Director of Eaton Bloom Project, has interesting insights into the various feelings that affect us during holidays. She believes that, ”Both positive and difficult emotions are common during the holidays; feeling several things at once is normal. Encouraging self-care, setting healthy boundaries, and identifying what is truly meaningful can help people navigate the holiday season with greater resilience.”  She encourages people to reflect on what people, places, activities, or topics tend to bring up stress or difficult feelings for you during the holidays. And remember, you don’t have to handle everything alone - talk with friends or family members you trust when you’re feeling overwhelmed.”

It’s interesting to note that the origins of the Village Connections program can be traced to a walking tour Jim Hendrick made of his new neighborhood in early 2024. His discoveries included a beautifully revitalized Washington Park and its newly built Arts and Craft style Community House. As with many city renewal projects, voters approved funding for construction but not for programming. Jim saw a marriage made in heaven - available space and Village programming. Katie Brandon, our Executive Director, saw it, too, and the Village Connections program soon followed.

Village Connections offers events organized by Village members that are presented in the Community House at Washington Park. Five events on topics ranging from poetry and fraud prevention to aging were well attended and well received by Villagers and non-member seniors, retirees and others. Perhaps affected by the rain, the sixth and final event held on the afternoon of November 20 was attended by one community member, one Villager, the Village member event organizer, three Village staff and me (as a member of the “press.”) The topic, “Identifying and Navigating Depression During the Holidays” led by Mia Williams from Foothill Family Services, none-the-less generated a pleasant hour with friends discussing holidays past.

There will be more great Village Connections events coming in Spring 2026. If you have an idea for an event you would like to organize at Washington Park on a topic that might  be of interest to Villagers and the Washington Park senior community, let Jim or Katie know.