DAVIS — Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (D-Davis), chair of the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care, announced that the 4th District Century Circle has honored over 100 centenarians during her six years in the California Assembly.
Sept. 24 marked an important milestone as Yamada joined Solano County in honoring 30 centenarians at its eighth annual Centenarian Commemoration in Fairfield, reaching a total of 118 centenarians honored through her own Century Circle program.
“I have enjoyed meeting centenarians throughout my district and will take note of their advice to ‘live well and enjoy the ride,’” Yamada said. “How we regard our elders is a measure of our values as a society. With 10,000 people a day turning 65 in our country, I intend to continue my efforts to ensure that seniors and their caregivers are not forgotten in our public policy debates and are treated with dignity and respect.”
Yamada established her Century Circle program in 2010, based on the Keiro no Hi or Respect for the Aged Day national holiday celebrating centenarians in Japan since 1966. Yamada created the program to encourage others to celebrate California’s oldest residents, whom she believes should be respected and protected every day. The Century Circle recognizes centenarians year-round in her district.
This program honors those who have reached the esteemed age of 100 years and beyond, and shines a spotlight on the needs of this growing population, their families and those who care for them.
Celebrations for centenarians continued in the 4th Assembly District as the Napa County Board of Supervisors honored 100-year-olds on Oct. 14 at the Napa County Library.
Yamada represents the 4th Assembly District, which includes all or parts of Colusa, Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo Counties. Her third and last term ends Dec. 1.