Mountain Views News          Saturday, June 30, 2012

12

THE GOOD LIFE

 Mountain Views-News Saturday June 30, 2012 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS


Savvy Senior

How to Search for Forgotten 
Money your Loved Ones 
Left Behind

Dear Savvy Senior,

I’ve heard that there are resources 
available that can help people look for lost or forgotten money left behind 
by their deceased relatives. When my mother and father passed away 
their financial affairs were in such a mess, I’m wondering if there was 
anything I overlooked. What can you tell me?

Searching Son

Dear Searching,

Lost or forgotten money is actually quite common in the U.S. In fact, 
according National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, 
nearly $33 billion in unclaimed assets is sitting in state treasuries and 
other agencies just waiting to be found. 

These unclaimed assets are from some 117 million accounts that are 
inactive or whose owners or their heirs cannot be located. Unclaimed 
assets can include things like lost or forgotten investments or bank 
accounts, Social Security payments, utility deposits, tax refunds, life 
insurance proceeds, stocks, un-cashed dividends and more. 

This typically happens because of a change of address (the owner 
moved), a name change (the owner got married or divorced), or the 
owner dies and the estate was unaware of the money or the heirs could 
not be located. By law, companies and financial institutions that can’t 
find the owner or their next of kin within two to five years must turn the 
property over to the state where it’s held indefinitely. 

Where to Search

It’s very possible that your deceased parents, or you, have some 
unclaimed assets out there and you don’t even know it. To start your 
quest, go to missingmoney.com or unclaimed.org, both of which contain 
records from most state unclaimed property programs. 

Check every state in which you or your parents have lived, worked or 
conducted business. Also search using maiden names and any previous 
names, as well as middle names and middle initials. Every state can tell 
you immediately if your parents or you have some unclaimed property, as 
well as how to go about collecting it. If you don’t have a computer, you 
can call the state treasurer’s office for assistance. 

Look Here Too

Beyond state treasuries, here are some other agencies you should check 
for lost loot, along with a few resources that can help you search. 

IRS: Each year thousands of refund checks totaling millions of dollars 

June Birthdays

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


JUNE ACTIVITIES

Senior Programs have returned to the Hart 
Park House enior Center, 222 W. Sierra 
Madre Blvd. in Memorial Park - Come by and 
see the changes!!

Meals-On-Wheels

Mondays: City Hall & Lunch Café 

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

Tuesdays: 

 FREE blood pressure checks by Methodist 
Hospital Nurse; 11 am to 12 noon.

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

Wednesdays:

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.

Thursdays:

1:00 to 3:30 pm: Game Day. Join us for 
Poker and more. Wii - 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. Please call for more 
information.

Fridays: Intervale Lunch Café; daily reservations 
needed 355-0256

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

Saturdays: 11:30 am: Senior Club brown 
bag lunch and BINGO at 12:30 pm. 


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

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


LUNCH & LEARN 

Join the Senior Community Commission

at the HART PARK HOUSE

 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 Library

AARP Safe Driving Class

The 55 Alive/Mature Driving class is taking place on 
June 26th & 27th starting at 9 am to 1 pm at the 
Community Recreation Center, 611 E. Sierra Madre 
Blvd., Sierra Madre. If you are interested in taking 
this class, please contact the Community Services 
Department at (626) 355-5278 to reserve your 
space. This class requires a minimum of 8 participants 
to run so pre-registration is required.

Most insurance companies honor this class certificate 
by discounting insurance rates. Class fee is $12 
for AARP members and $14 for non-members; collected 
by AARP the first day of class.

2012 EXCURSIONS

Friday, July 13th - Laguna Beach Pageant 
of the Masters. This annual trip will 
be leaving Sierra Madre at 4:30 pm and 
return around 11:30 pm. Tickets are limited 
to the first 40 registered participants 
and the cost per person is $55.

 Registration can be done either in person 
or online at www.cityofsierramadre.
com/onlineregistration