SENIOR READY TO SERVE AS ADVOCATE.Byline: BETTIE RENCORET Senior columnist LANCASTER - Senior Thomas Lacey is looking forward to serving as assemblyman in the California Senior Legislature. The lobbying organization, established in 1980 by state lawmakers, represents California's more than three million elderly persons, Lacey said. ``It's approved by, but should not be confused with, the California state Legislature The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house California State Senate, with 40 members. , which politically governs its residents of all ages,'' he said. ``We work with them and give them our take on the issues older people feel strongly about.'' Lacey is the only candidate for the local assembly seat, so he is a sure winner in Tuesday's election. Lacey, a veteran and longtime senior advocate, is no stranger to the workings of the organization. This will be his second time serving in the assembly. In October 1998, he was elected to a two-year term and spent those years promoting issues of importance to seniors in the 5th Supervisorial District of north Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County. ``Our sessions are patterned after the state Legislature A state legislature may refer to a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. The following legislatures exist in the following political subdivisions: He said the senior group is proud to have legislators like state Sen. W.J. ``Pete'' Knight, R-Palmdale, and Assemblywoman Sharon Runner Sharon Runner (born May 17 1954, Los Angeles) is a Californian politician. She has been a member of the California State Assembly since 2002. Runner, a Republican from Antelope Valley represents the 36th district. , R- Lancaster. ``They are great to work with,'' he said. ``We always know they won't ignore anything we submit to them. They do what they can on each bill, whether it goes through for us or not.'' Top priorities, he said, include long-term health care, elder abuse Elder Abuse Definition Elder abuse is a general term used to describe harmful acts toward an elderly adult, such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, financial exploitation, and neglect, including self-neglect. prevention and intervention, nursing home code violations, prescription drug prescription drug Prescription medication Pharmacology An FDA-approved drug which must, by federal law or regulation, be dispensed only pursuant to a prescription–eg, finished dose form and active ingredients subject to the provisos of the Federal Food, Drug, costs, Medicare and Medi-Cal, the Home-Delivered Meals Act and the state long-term care long-term care (LTC), n the provision of medical, social, and personal care services on a recurring or continuing basis to persons with chronic physical or mental disorders. ombudsman program, in which he has trained. Lacey said one of the things that has not changed since his last term in office is the fact that Lancaster is still waiting for its state veterans home. He hopes the home, due to be built on the northwest corner of 30th Street West and Avenue I, will go up during his latest term in office. ``It's been on hold forever,'' he said. ``For 10 years, we've been following dangled carrots. Most of us seniors are veterans. We've waited long enough for our rightful home. We want it now. It's of prime importance to all of us.'' His swearing-in for the assembly will not take place until October, he said, but he will actually begin to represent seniors after Tuesday's election. He said he will be open to suggestions. ``I won't be able to discuss certain things, but I will be able to listen and take things under advisement Deliberation; consultation. A court takes a case under advisement after it has heard the arguments made by the counsel of opposing sides in the lawsuit but before it renders its decision. ADVISEMENT. for presentation to the other legislators,'' he said. ``I'm a politician, after all, and I intend to represent my district to the best of my ability.'' Lacey said he'll visit the different parts of the district to determine what each area's needs are and then he'll review them before the entire legislature. In addition, he said he will tour senior care facilities to monitor the kind of care the seniors are getting and make regular reports to appropriate governing bodies. ``I'll be there to hear complaints and work to get whatever they are remedied,'' he said. Any senior with concerns is welcome to call him, he said, at (661) 942-5783. He added: ``Just remember, I'm also a senior. I go to bed with the chickens, too. Don't call after 7 o'clock at night or before 8 o'clock in the morning. I need my beauty sleep and I'm a real grouch before I get my first cup of coffee.'' Menus for the week at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster and Palmdale have been announced. All meals include bread and margarine and coffee, tea or milk for a suggested donation of $2. Monday: Baked fish fillet fillet /fil·let/ (fil´et) 1. a loop, as of cord or tape, for making traction on the fetus. 2. in the nervous system, a long band of nerve fibers. fil·let n. 1. , rice pilaf, parsleyed carrots, creamy coleslaw cole·slaw also cole slaw n. A salad of finely shredded raw cabbage and sometimes shredded carrots, dressed with mayonnaise or a vinaigrette. , cranberry juice Noun 1. cranberry juice - the juice of cranberries (always diluted and sweetened) fruit crush, fruit juice - drink produced by squeezing or crushing fruit , applesauce. Tuesday: Pinto beans with ham, parsleyed carrots, marinated salad, grape juice, peaches. Wednesday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, Normandy vegetables, creamy coleslaw, gelatin gelatin or animal jelly, foodstuff obtained from connective tissue (found in hoofs, bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage) of vertebrate animals by the action of boiling water or dilute acid. with pears. Thursday: Lasagna, green beans, garden salad, pineapple juice, lemon pudding. Friday: Creole chicken or fish fillet, rice pilaf, spinach, tossed salad, citrus cup. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Thomas Lacey, right, shown with Anne Simon, is running unopposed for a seat in the California Senior Legislature. Bettie Rencoret/Special to the Daily News |
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