Two local families develop three new senior projects

What's new in senior housing?

Other ways to live

Housing I&A

Mary Beth Wolford comes to lead HSRC

New senior softball leagues forming

United Family Courts best serve families and children

Can you spring for library taxes?

The politics of aging

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Mary Beth Wolford is a bridge builder-helping to form strong connections between groups to achieve common goals. She now offers her considerable abilities to the leadership of the Humboldt Senior Resource Center (HSRC) staff April 1 when she becomes its executive director and publisher of Senior News.

"This is a wonderful place to build bridges," she said. "One of the most interesting things about HSRC is that many agencies work together here. We need to build on that and create more alliances in the community.

"One attractive feature of this position is that I will be able to represent HSRC with other groups in the community-marketing services, increasing support and building those bridges important to me."

The former superintendent of schools in Simi Valley from 1993 to 1996 and deputy superintendent before that, Wolford brings an eagerness for lifelong learning and the love of a historical Eureka to her new role at HSRC.

"I was finishing my work in the Simi Valley and began visiting a friend here," Wolford said. On one trip, she spotted a Queen Anne Victorian built in 1904 and fell in love-even though she didn't get to see the house on that trip. The next visit she did, and it was still for sale. "I am interested in history and architecture and have always wanted to own a bit of history. I couldn't do that in Southern California," she said.

"I like the ability to live right in the community and be involved in it," she added. She spent her first year in town renovating her home, which has already been on a historic tour and will again be on the spring tour of homes. She joined the board of the Eureka Heritage Society and became a member of the Humboldt Arts Council. She was drafted to help the College of the Redwoods Foundation with its Elegant Flea fundraiser in August. She has also been busy this year as an executive search consultant to the California School Boards Association and an adjunct professor for Troy State University, Alabama, teaching in the master's degree program at a military base in Japan.

"I especially look forward to working in one of the schools that was important to the history of the area. HSRC is in the old Washington School," Wolford said. "I collect school memorabilia which I'll bring into my office. I feel like I've found a home. I want to find some photos from the Historical Society of activities in this school to put on my walls."

As superintendent of schools, Wolford worked with families, caregivers and seniors who were important to the operation of the school district, she said in her letter of introduction to the HSRC board. She enlisted local seniors to provide programs for students and the theme "Building Bridges" was incorporated into the school district.

One of her daughters lives and works in Eureka; another daughter, son-in-law, and their four children live in Fairfield; and her son and his wife live in Laguna Niguel.

Wolford's doctorate is in Educational Administration and Leadership from the University of San Francisco, and she did advanced graduate studies in Higher Education, Administration and Policy Analysis at the University of California at Berkeley. Her master's degree is in Administrative Organization from St. Mary's College in Moraga, Cal.; and her bachelor's degree is in Fine Arts and History from U.C. Berkeley.

Wolford carries California educational credentials -Administrative Services, Learning Handicapped Specialist, Severely Handicapped Specialist and General Elementary. Her professional associations include the Association of California School Administrators, Phi Delta Kappa, the U.C. Educational Alumni Society, and the Association of American University Women.

Her community activities before moving to Eureka included active membership in Rotary International, chairing the United Way campaign in Simi Valley, board president of the Simi Valley branch of the American Cancer Society, and board member of the American Red Cross and the Simi Valley Cultural Association.

One-time article Copyright 1998 by Humboldt Senior Resource Center.