Prime Time

POSTED: Monday, May. 18, 2009

Friends on the move ... Leopold residents enjoy easy access to downtown attractions

Names: Roma Ponnech and Julia O'Keefe.

Ages: Ponnech, 90, and O'Keefe, 92.

Hometown: Bellingham.

Places to go: Ponnech and O'Keefe don't get around as quickly as they used to, but that doesn't stop them from crisscrossing Bellingham - from Fairhaven to Sunset Square to Bellis Fair.

Location, location: While some people their age struggle with mobility once they lose their cars, Ponnech and O'Keefe take advantage of their central location - the Leopold Retirement Center in the historic Leopold Hotel building - by walking to and from restaurants and shops downtown.

Downtown outings: "We go out for coffee, dinner, go to shops, O'Keefe says. "Saturday is pizza day."

Life without autos: The close friends say they've had few problems transitioning to the car-free life, having lived in major cities for most of their lives. Ponnech lived in the suburbs of Los Angeles after immigrating to the United States from Poland in 1938, just before the Nazi invasion of her home country. O'Keefe was born and raised in Brooklyn and Long Island, in New York.

"I never drove; I always say I saved a lot of lives that way," O'Keefe jokes.

Staying active: Aside from helping them to run errands, walking keeps Ponnech and O'Keefe in great shape. Both try to get out and move around first thing in the morning, before the streets fill with the day's hustle and bustle.

"We try to get out by 10 a.m.," O'Keefe says. "There's not that many people on the street."

On the go: Ponnech, who had to give up her driver's license 11 years ago because of her deteriorating eyesight, says she walks close to four miles a day by circling the inside of the Leopold or by walking around downtown, depending on the weather.

Close to the action: Ponnech says living so close to Bellingham's downtown amenities is a blessing.

"If you've lived in California, the distances here don't seem like distances," she says. "Everything is close by. Down there, you can drive miles and miles and not think about it."

Using the bus: Ponnech and O'Keefe have mastered using the local bus system to get where they need to go. They've recently made shopping trips to Bellis Fair Mall, Sunset Square and to Deals Only, on James Street. Ponnech says taking the bus was a useful way to discover Bellingham when she first arrived here seven years ago.

"I love it," she says. "I learned how to get around Bellingham by taking the bus. And being seniors, we get to ride for free."

Special shuttles: If O'Keefe and Ponnech need to get somewhere that isn't serviced by a regular bus route, they use Whatcom Transportation Authority's Specialized Transportation shuttles, which provide curb-to-curb service for the disabled and elderly for 75 cents a ride.

"It's great," O'Keefe says. "All you have to do is call ahead of time and they'll take you wherever you need to go."

Life before the Leopold: Before coming to the Leopold, O'Keefe and Ponnech lived with their respective children out in the county, where bus service was less frequent and walking wasn't an option. Both say they feel more at home in a more urban setting.

"I always lived in the city; never liked being out in the country," O'Keefe says.

When she lived with her son north of Bellingham, Ponnech says she often used the WTA shuttles to come downtown for shopping. It was on one of these trips that she discovered the Leopold.

"I used to come downtown and see the building and wonder what it looked like inside," she says.

Summer outings: They also enjoy taking the bus to Fairhaven and walking home through Boulevard Park.

"The sunset there is out-of-this-world," O'Keefe says. "I like to just sit and look at the water."

Sunday mornings: Ponnech says she has a routine on Sundays ... her son comes into town and they go out for breakfast downtown.

Favorite places to eat: Ponnech and O'Keefe's favorite destinations include D'anna's Cafe Italiano on State Street, Olive Garden Italian Restaurant on Meridian Street, Cicchitti's Pizza on Railroad Avenue, Five Columns on East Maple Street, The Bayside Café on Roeder Avenue, and Sol de Mexico on Lakeway Drive.

"I love Mexican food," Ponnech says. "When you're from Southern California, you have to learn to like Mexican food."

Caleb Heeringa is a Seattle freelancer writer.