Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 8, 2011

16

THE GOOD LIFE

Mountain Views-News Saturday, October 8, 2011 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

YOUR HEALTH MATTERS

Today’s Subject: 

PRAYER AND HEALING

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

OCTOBER ACTIVITIES

Even though the Hart Park House Senior 
Center is under renovation, things are still 
“happening” at the center’s temporary home 
in the Community Recreation Center (611 E. 
Sierra Madre Blvd.)so please join us: 

Monday: City Hall Closed October 11th 

• 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: 

• No FREE blood pressure checks by Methodist 
Hospital this month; join us October 
11th at 11 am 

• 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 

• 5:15 pm to 6:45 pm: Yoga; $6.00 - 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 

• 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. 

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

INGREDIENTS

1 (4 1/2- to 5-lb. ) whole chicken

2 celery ribs, cut into 3 pieces each

2 carrots, cut into 3 pieces each

2 1/2 to 3 tsp. salt

2 tablespoons butter

1 medium onion, chopped

1 medium-size green bell pepper, chopped

1 garlic clove, pressed

1 (10 3/4-oz.) can cream of mushroom soup

1 (10 3/4-oz.) can cream of chicken soup

2 (10-oz.) cans diced tomatoes and green chiles, drained

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon Mexican-style chili powder*

3 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese

12 (6-inch) fajita-size corn tortillas, cut into 1/2-inch strips

PREPARATION

1. If applicable, remove giblets from chicken, and reserve 
for another use. Rinse chicken.

2. Place chicken, celery, carrots, and salt in a large Dutch 
oven with water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high 
heat; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 50 minutes to 1 
hour or until chicken is done. Remove from heat. Remove 
chicken from broth; cool 30 minutes. Remove and reserve 
3/4 cup cooking liquid. Strain any remaining cooking 
liquid, and reserve for another use.

3. Preheat oven to 350°. Melt butter in a large skillet over 
medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 6 to 7 minutes 
or until tender. Add bell pepper and garlic, and sauté 3 to 
4 minutes. Stir in reserved 3/4 cup cooking liquid, cream 
of mushroom soup, and next 5 ingredients. Cook, stirring 
occasionally, 8 minutes.

4. Skin and bone chicken; shred meat into bite-size 
pieces. Layer half of chicken in a lightly greased 13- x 
9-inch baking dish. Top with half of soup mixture and 1 
cup Cheddar cheese. Cover with half of corn tortilla strips. 
Repeat layers once. Top with remaining 1 cup cheese.

5. Bake at 350° for 55 minutes to 1 hour or until bubbly. 
Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

*1 tsp. chili powder and 1/8 tsp. ground red pepper may 
be substituted for Mexican-style chili powder.


For the last seven years, I have been involved 
in the prayer and healing gathering at Malibu 
United Methodist Church. Started many 
years ago by Dr. John Thie, D.C. and his wife, 
Carrie, this group has continued meeting since 
his passing in 2005. The gathering is open to all, 
and attracts individuals from many faiths and 
backgrounds.

The reason I devoted this week’s column 
to this subject is that, in many cases, such 
a gathering is just what the doctor ordered. 
Pioneer practitioners such as Larry Dossey, 
M.D., and Norm Shealey, M.D., have utilized and 
researched the effects of various types of prayer 
for years. In our class, it is clear that the process 
of coming together with good intention creates a 
field of grace benefiting those present and those 
who are held in our mental intention. Our group 
in Malibu often serves as a refuge for people who 
need to come in from the cold and be heard, 
acknowledged, and appreciated. Just this simple 
act can provide enough support for a person to 
move on in his life.

Gathering

My daughter, the anthropology/folklore 
student, will tell you that the act of gathering for 
comfort, protection and survival is hardwired 
and that the rituals associated with all religions 
evolved from this. In other words, the spirit of 
our ancestors and of life itself is remembered and 
celebrated through coming together. When I 
reflect on the faces of our group, it becomes clear 
that something profound is afoot. In our core 
group, there are five people that have had cancer. 
One of them is an 83-year-old woman who was 
diagnosed last year, underwent treatment, came 
out the other side, and just finished participating 
in a triathlon. Did our group have anything to 
do with the recovery of these people? I’ll have to 
ask them.

In Closing

We have a saying at our office: “That which has 
been done to people by people can be undone by 
people with people.” For many, the act of going 
into a group is a minefield filled with painful 
memories. Dean Ornish, M.D., has pointed out 
in his research with heart disease, the absolute 
importance of creating a community healing 
space. With this in mind, we may see that prayer 
and healing can go hand in hand, often being an 
essential ingredient in our quest for wellness.

To your healthy week ~

Dr. John

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. 

EXCURSIONS

October Birthdays

Pat Birdsall, Sole Krieg, Angela Stella, 
Mary Jane Baker, Barbara Cline, Dixie 
Coutant, Cathleen Cremins, Kari Elder, 
Lillias Eubanks, Margit Johnson, Adelaide “Adie” 
Marshall, Alma Mays, Nara Menjivar, Eva Poet, 
Anne Tyler


SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22ND - 

Big Bear Oktoberfest . Join us for a 
deluxe coach ride to Big Bear to enjoy 
a traditional German lunch and 
lots of Oktoberfest music. Cost per 
person is $36 and includes transportation, 
lunch & tip. Tickets are limited 
so please register now. Bus leaves the 
Recreation Center at 9 am and returns 
approximately 6:30 pm. 

SAVE THE DATES

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN 

New date: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 
18TH - Historic Castillo Isabella Castle 
Tour & Lunch at the Mission Inn, 
Riverside. You will travel by deluxe 
coach to Riverside to tour the medieval-
Spanish style castle and then enjoy 
a buffet lunch at the Riverside Inn. 
Cost per person is $34 for both the 
tour & lunch. The bus will leave at 9 
am and return at 3 pm. 

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15TH - 
Candlelight Pavilion Christmas Show 
in Claremont. Cost is $59 per person 
for the lunch & the show. TICKETS 
ARE VERY LIMITED so register early. 
Departure time is 10:30 am and the 
bus will return around 4 pm. 

Registration can be done either by 
coming to the Community Recreation 
Office, 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. in 
person (M-TH 8:30 am to 6:30 pm) 
or online at www.cityofsierramadre.
com/onlineregistration 

John M. Talevich, D.C. 

CHIROPRACTIC: Simple, Elegant, Effective

31 S. Baldwin Avenue Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

626-355-4710

Meals-On-Wheels


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. 

HOW TO PICK THE BEST MEDICARE 

PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN FOR YOU

Dear Savvy Senior:

I recently received a letter from my Medicare “Part 
D” prescription drug plan provider notifying me 
that my premiums and co-pays will be increasing 
next year, and they are dropping coverage on one 
of the drugs that I take. How can I find a better 
drug plan? 

Frustrated Senior

 

Dear Frustrated: Because Medicare’s prescription 
drug plans can change their costs and benefits 
from year-to-year, comparing Part D plans every 
year during the open enrollment season (which is 
now Oct. 15 – Dec. 7) is always a smart idea. Here 
are some tips and resources to help you find the 
best drug coverage at the lowest price.

 

Do It Yourself

If you have a home computer and Internet access, 
comparing your current Medicare drug plan 
with the many other plans that are available, 
and enrolling in one, is something you can do 
yourself.

Just go to Medicare’s online Plan Finder Tool 
at www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan, and type in 
your zip code or your personal information, the 
drugs you take and their dosages, and select 
the pharmacies you use and you’ll get a cost 
comparison breakdown for each plan available 
in your area. This tool also provides a five-star 
rating system that evaluates each plan based 
on past customer service records, and suggests 
generics or older brand name drugs that can 
reduce your costs.

When comparing drug plans don’t judge a 
plan strictly by its monthly premium cost. 
Low-premium plans are often associated with 
higher prescription co-payments and may end 
up being more expensive. So take a look at the 
whole pricing package, including premiums, 
deductibles and co-pays. Also, be sure the plan 
you’re considering covers all of the drugs you take 
with no restrictions. Some plans may require you 
to get permission or try a number of cheaper 
drugs before they will cover certain prescriptions.

 

Need Help?

If you need some help with this or if you don’t 
have Internet access to compare drug plans, you 
can call Medicare at 800-633-4227 and they will 
do the comparing for you over the phone for free, 
and enroll you in a new plan when you’re ready.

Some other great resources that can help you 
are the Medicare Rights Center (medicarerights.
org), a nonprofit consumer service organization 
that maintains a hotline at 800-333-4114 to help 
answer your Medicare questions. And, your State 
Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), 
which provides free one-on-one Medicare 
counseling in person or over the phone. To find 
a local SHIP counselor visit shiptalk.org, or call 
800-677-1116.

If you want even more help, consider Allsup 
Inc. (866-521-7655, medicare.allsup.com). This 
is a national fee-based company that offers a 
Medicare Advisor Part D plan selection service 
that takes your information over the phone or 
online and does the comparing and analyzing for 
you, and then helps you choose and enroll in a 
plan that best meets your needs and budget. The 
fee for this service is $75.


LUNCH & LEARN 

Join the Senior

Community Commission

at the 

Sierra Madre Recreation 
Center

 for a FREE presentation. 
Lunch is available for a 

$2 donation 

Call (626) 355-0256 by 

12 noon the day before. 

DIAL - A - RIDE 

TICKETS

Tickets can now be purchased at:

Sierra Madre City Hall

Sierra Madre Recreation Center

Sierra Madre Library


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 at the Sierra Madre Recreation Center 
while the Hart Park House is under remodeling. 
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 

NO NEED TO HANG UP THE CAPE

Some of the strongest and most youthful 
superheroes to jump from the pages of comic 
books to the silver screen in recent years are 
old enough to be receiving full Social Security 
retirement benefits. Whether standing before 
the bat-computer or going online at the fortress 
of solitude, these guys were certainly wise 
enough to apply for retirement benefits at www.
socialsecurity.gov.

Superman may be America’s most popular 
superhero, and also the oldest to hit the screen 
in recent years. The man of steel was created in 
1932. The guy’s 79 years old and he has a new 
movie coming out in 2012. Superman does 
mostly volunteer work, but even if he earns wages 
as Clark Kent, his benefits won’t be offset since he 
reached his full retirement age.

Batman made his debut in 1939, and he’s about 
to star in another feature film, running around 
like a 30-year-old. Also in his 70s, Mr. Wayne is 
getting full retirement benefits — and Robin too. 
The same can’t be said for the Joker or Penguin; 
you can’t collect benefits while you’re in prison.

The Green Lantern and Captain America made 
their silver screen debuts this year. They were 
“born” in 1940 and 1941, and also are of retirement 
age. One would expect Captain America to look 
a little more like Uncle Sam these days, but as is 
true with many Social Security retirees today, 
staying active keeps him young.

For the “silver age” of comic book heroes, 
retirement isn’t quite here yet. Spider-Man slung 
his first web in 1962, the same year the incredible 
Hulk burst into being. Iron Man and the X-Men 
first appeared in 1963. They may not be ready to 
retire just yet, but it’s a good time for them to take 
a look at the online Retirement Estimator, where 
they can get an instant, personalized estimate of 
future retirement benefits. Come to think of it, 
if the Hulk or any of the X-Men ever get severely 
injured, they may qualify for disability benefits 
through Social Security. The place to go for more 
information is www.socialsecurity.gov.

Ask any of these superheroes about retirement 
plans, and you’re likely to get an earful. They 
won’t be sitting around — they’ll be staying active 
even as they collect retirement benefits. You don’t 
have to have a bat-computer or be a superhero to 
harness the power of the Retirement Estimator 
at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator, or to apply 
online for benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov. Up, 
up, and away into an active retirement!

YOUnot the insurance companyIt’s about“ As an independent insurance broker, I have a fiduciary responsibility 
to act in my client’s best interest, not the interests of the insurance 
industry or the medical community. My mission is to find the best 
available coverage for You at the most affordable price.”
John W. Barrett 
626-797-4618333 W. California Blvd. #110, Pasadena, CA 91105CA Lic #0750065HealtH 
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