Mountain Views News          Saturday, June 4, 2011

16

THE 

THE GOOD LIFE

 Mountain Views-News Saturday, June 4, 2011 

YOUR HEALTH MATTERS

Today’s Subject: 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

Activities: 

Recipe of the Week:

OF BUGS AND MEN

Unless listed differently, all activities are at the 
Hart Memorial Park (Senior Center) 222 W. Sierra 
Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre

SKIRT STEAK AND 

BOK CHOY STIR-FRY

Lunch Program: Monday- Friday at the Intervale 
Café -12:00 Noon-Call (626) 355-0256 to make 
your daily reservation. Suggested donation $2.00 
for seniors (60+) and $3.75 for visitors.

MENU BELOW

Monday: 

• 12 noon: Intervale Lunch Café: Come enjoy a 
hot meal with others. Donation for seniors (60+) 
of $2.00; visitors $3.75. Please call 355-0256 to 
make your daily reservation. 

• 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm: Strength training with 
Lisa Brandley. FREE class of stretching with light 
hand weights while you sit. 

Tuesday: 

• 2nd Tuesday of each month FREE blood 
pressure checks by Methodist Hospital; 11 am 
to 12 noon 

• 12 noon: Intervale Lunch Café; daily 
reservations needed 355-0256 

• 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm: BINGO; cards are only 25 
cents each so stop by & play 

• 5:30 pm to 7 pm: Yoga; $7.00 - 50 & over. Please 
call 355-5278 for more information 

Wednesday: 

• 11 –11:45 am: Balance Class with Teryl. FREE 
class designed to improve balance & refresh the 
joints 

• 12 noon: Intervale Lunch Café; daily 
reservations needed 355-0256 

• Free Income Tax assistance - 1 pm to 2 pm. For 
an appointment, please call 355-7394 

• 2nd Wednesday of the month: FREE Legal 
Consultations: 10-11:30 am. Appointments call 
355-7394 

• Wii Wednesday - 1:00 pm or call the senior 
desk at 355-7394 to arrange another time & day 
to learn how to play. No previous experience or 
skills required and it is great exercise. 

Thursday: 

• 12 noon: Intervale Lunch Café; daily 
reservations needed 355-0256 

• 1:00 to 3:30 pm: Game Day. Join us for Poker 
with Bridge on the 2nd & 4th Thursdays; so 
please call for more information. 

• 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm: Yoga; $7.00 - 50 & over. 
Please call 355-52 

Friday: City Hall Closed on April 8th & 22nd

12 noon: Intervale Lunch Café; daily reservations 
needed 355-0256 

Saturday: 

11:30 am: Senior Club brown bag lunch and 
BINGO at 12:30 pm. The Senior Club always 
welcomes new members ($5 membership dues 
per year) so please stop by to learn more.

When Dr. Hans Selye developed the original 
theories describing stress responses in the human 
body, he coined the term “general adaptation 
syndrome.” He observed three distinct 
changes taking place when long-term stress is 
experienced: the adrenal glands get larger as 
demand for adrenaline and cortisol increases; 
the digestive tract begins to ulcerate; finally, the 
immune system dries up. The longer and more 
severe the stress is, the more likely the body will 
default to this “fight/flight” behavior, ultimately 
burning the furniture to heat the house.

The Bugs Have Gotten into the Act

In the March 2011 issue of “Brain, Behavior 
and Immunity,” there is a study describing 
changes in the kind of bacteria found in the 
intestine when high levels of stress are present. 
Under normal circumstances (is there such a 
thing these days?) the bacteria in the gut contribute 
to healthy immune development, but 
these are diminished in the presence of stress-
related hormones such as cortisol. A simple 
way of putting it is “the gang’s taking over the 
neighborhood.”

Could We All Get Along?

While many bacteria are essential to the health of the body, some are not. If we keep in mind that 
the number of bacteria outnumber the cells in the body by ten to one, and are highly organized to 
the point that they manufacture chemicals acting like neurotransmitters, we need to cultivate an effective 
good neighbor policy! It could be argued that much of who we are is a result of the kinds of 
bugs living in us. Hmmm.

Some Considerations

We know that, under stress, those with conditions such as Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome 
and ulcerative colitis can feel worse. The new research may further explain why this is so. 
In order to offset the proliferation of harmful bacteria in the colon, a simple program of probiotics, 
plant-based digestive enzymes, and dietary changes can go a long way in shaping our body’s response 
to stress. Your local health-minded practitioner, pharmacy and health food store can further enlighten 
you on this subject. Have a healthy week! Dr. John


INGREDIENTS: 

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 tablespoon peanut butter

1 tablespoon honey

2 garlic cloves, minced

Coarse salt and ground pepper

1 pound skirt steak, thinly sliced crosswise

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

1 large head bok choy, cut 1 inch thick crosswise

4 medium carrots, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced on bias

Cooked rice, for serving

1/4 cup peanuts, chopped

DIRECTIONS:

Dr. John Talevich, D.C. has practiced in Sierra Madre 
for thirty years. His clinic, LifeWorks! Chiropractic, 
offers patient-specific approaches to the alleviation of 
pain and individually tailored wellness programs. 

In a small bowl, mix soy sauce, vinegar, peanut butter, honey, 
and garlic; season with pepper.

In a bowl, toss steak with cornstarch; season with salt and 
pepper. In a large nonstick skillet with a lid, heat oil over medium-
high. Add 1/2 of steak; cook, tossing, until browned, 1 
to 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate; repeat with remaining steak.

To skillet, add soy mixture, bok choy, and carrots. Cover and 
cook, tossing occasionally until tender, about 5 minutes. Return 
steak to skillet; cook until heated through, about 5 minutes. 
Serve over rice; sprinkle with peanuts.

June Birthdays

Pat Fujiwara, Nellie Haynes, Mary 
Carney, Theresa Daley, Ann Disbrow, 
Ann Durgerian, Joan Ellison, Ruth 
Kirkby, Irene Kudirka, Marilyn McKernan, Anne 
Montgomery, Trini Ornelas, Martha Spriggs, and 
Patricia Starkey.


Meals-On-Wheels

John M. Talevich, D.C. 

CHIROPRACTIC: Simple, Elegant, Effective

31 S. Baldwin Avenue Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

626-355-4710


Meals are delivered to home-bound 
seniors by volunteer drivers through 
the YWCA Intervale Lunch Program 
M-F (with frozen meals for the weekend.) 

Meals are delivered to the home-bound seniors 
by drivers through the YWCA Interval Lunch 
Program M-F (with frozen meals for the 
weekend.) 

 

 Call the YWCA at (626) 214-9460 for more 
information. 

ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR LOWER-INCOME SENIORS

Dear Savvy Senior,

What kinds of programs are available to help 
low-income seniors with their Medicare costs 
and other expenses? My 81-year-old mother has 
gone through her savings and is having a tough 
time getting by on her Social Security benefits. 
What can you tell us?

Worried Son

 

Dear Worried,

There are actually a variety of under-utilized 
programs that can help lower-income seniors 
with their Medicare costs, grocery bills, utility expenses 
and more. Here’s what you should know.

 

Medicare Savings Programs

For millions of seniors who are having a tough 
time paying their out-of-pocket healthcare costs, 
help is available through Medicare Savings Programs 
(MSPs). These are Medicaid-administered 
programs that pay Medicare Part B premiums 
and depending on your mom’s finances may even 
pick up the tab on her Medicare copayments and 
deductibles. To qualify, her income must be under 
$1,246 per month (or $1,675 for a married 
couple), and her assets must be below $6,680 
($10,020 per couple) not including her house, 
vehicle, burial fund, furniture or other household 
items. To find out if she qualifies, or to apply, contact 
her local Medicaid office – call 800-633-4227 
for contact information.

 

Extra Drug Help

If your mom is eligible for a MSP, she’s also 
eligible for “Extra Help” in paying her Medicare 
prescription drug plan costs. If, however, she’s not 
eligible she can still get Extra Help if her annual 
income is below $16,335 ($22,065 for a married 
couple living together), and her cash assets are 
under $12,640 ($25,260 for married couples) excluding 
her home and vehicle. For more information, 
call Social Security at 800-772-1213 or see 
www.ssa.gov/prescriptionhelp.

 

Food Assistance

In addition to the Medicare programs, your 
mom may also be able to get some help with her 
grocery bills. Food assistance programs like SNAP 
(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) are 
available to seniors, age 60 and older, with cash 
assets under $3,000, and a “net income” below 
$903 per month ($1,215 for a family of two). Net 
income is figured by taking your mom’s gross 
income minus allowable deductions like medical 
expenses, rent or mortgage payments, utility 
costs, insurance, taxes and more. The average 
monthly SNAP benefit is currently around $101 
per person. To find out if your mom qualifies, use 
the SNAP pre-screening tool at www.snap-step1.
usda.gov or contact her local SNAP office – call 
800-221-5689 for contact information.

 

Utility Assistance

There are also resources available that can help 
low-income seniors reduce their utility bills. The 
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, 
as well as local utility companies and charitable 
organization help millions of Americans each 
year with their home heating and cooling costs. 
To search for help go to energynear.org, a web 
portal that provides information on all energy assistance 
programs in each state, along with qualification 
details, how to apply and who to contact. 
You can also call the National Energy Assistance 
Referral project at 866-674-6327.

 

Supplemental Income

Another program to check into is SSI or 
Supplemental Security Income. Administered 
by the Social Security Administration, SSI provides 
monthly payments to very low income seniors 
(age 65 and older), as well as to those who 
are blind and disabled. To learn more or find 
out if she’s eligible, visit www.ssa.gov/ssi or call 
800-772-1213. 

 Savvy Tip: To search for other assistance programs 
go to benefitscheckup.org, a comprehensive 
web service developed by the National Council 
on Aging, that contains a database of more 
than 2,000 federal, state and local programs that 
can help seniors in need. The site will help you 
locate programs that your mom may be eligible 
for and will show you how to apply. This service is 
only available online.

 

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. 
Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.
org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today 
show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.


EXCURSIONS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8TH — The Rose Story 
Farm. Join us as we take a deluxe coach bus to 
Carpentaria to see this beautiful 15 acre rose 
farm and see over 18,000 rose plants including 
150 varieties of roses. 

Cost per person is $46 - which includes 
transportation, driver’s tip, and a catered 
lunch in the garden. This is a walking tour 
so you are encouraged to wear comfortable 
walking shoes and to wear a shade hat. 

This excursion will leave & return from the 
Hart Park House Senior Center, 222 W. Sierra 
Madre Blvd. (Memorial Park) 9:30 am to 3:30 
pm

To register for the excursion, please visit the 
Senior Center or go online to: 

www.cityofsierramadre.com/
onlineregistration

To register for the excursion, please visit 
the Senior Center or go online to www.
cityofsierramadre.com/onlineregistration.

Save the Date: FRIDAY, JULY 8th —The 
Pageant of the Masters - Laguna Beach. 
Registration will open online and at the Senior 
Center starting May 1st


LUNCH & LEARN 

Join the Senior Community 
Commission

at the 

Sierra Madre Hart Park House / 

Senior Center for a FREE presentation. 
Lunch is available for a 

$2 donation 

Call (626) 355-0256 by 

12 noon the day before. 


Sponsor Bingo Prize

Pasadena Highlands, an independent 
and assisted living community, 
is proud to provide a special gift 
basket on the first Tuesday of each 
month. Accredited In-Home nursing 
care will provide a special prize 
on the 4th Tuesday of each month. 
Bingo takes place every Tuesday 
at 1:30 pm in the Hart Park House 
/ Senior Center in Memorial Park. 
The game begins at 1:30 pm but 
those wishing to play must arrive 
10 minutes before to secure your 
Bingo cards. Join us on the 1st & 
4th Tuesday of each month for your 
chance to win these special prizes. 

DIAL - A - RIDE TICKETS

Tickets can now be purchased at:

Sierra Madre City Hall

Hart Park House / 

Senior Center

Sierra Madre Library