Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 9, 2013

12

THE GOOD LIFE

 Mountain Views News Saturday, February 9, 2013 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

DO YOU NEED TO FILE A TAX RETURN THIS YEAR?

 
By Pat Birdsall

FYI: PROGRESS REPORT 

Pat Birdsall, who normally writes this section of the paper, underwent hip replacement surgery A 
few weeks ago. Pat has been progressing well from the surgery on one hand, but unfortunately, 
fractured her leg in a fall. This will set back her complete recovery a bit. It does appear, however, 
that there is a good chance she will be writing again next week. Pray for her. If you wish to send 
her greetings, email her at: pbird305@aol.com.

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HELPFUL HINT: After boiling Pasta or potatoes, cool the water and use it to water your 
houseplants. The water contains nutrients that your plants will love. 

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FOR YOUR FUNNY BONE 

A couple in their nineties are both having problems remembering things. Dur ing a checkup, the 
doctor tells them that they’re physically okay, but they might want to start writing things down to 
help them remember. 

Later that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair. ‘Want anything while I’m in 
the kitchen?’ he asks. 

 ‘Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?’

 ‘Sure.’

 ‘Don’t you think you should write it down so you can remember it? ‘she asks.

 ‘No, I can remember it.’

 ‘Well, I’d like some strawberries on top, too. Maybe you should write it down, so’s not to forget it?’ 

He says, ‘I can remember that. You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries.’

 ‘I’d also like whipped cream. I’m certain you’ll forget that, write it down?’ she asks.

 Irritated, he says, ‘I don’t need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream with strawberries and 
whipped cream - I got it, forgoodness sake!’ 

Then he toddles into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes, the old man returns from the kitchen and 
hands his wife a plate of bacon and eggs.She stares at the plate for a moment. ‘Where’s my toast ?’

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … February Birthdays…

 Anne-Marie Stockdale, Gordon Caldwell, Peter Lippincott, Georgia Lippincott, Janet 
Emery, Sharon Lefler, Lorraine Bush, Mary Beth Knox, Vickie Vernon, Hilda Pittman, 
Susan Henderson, Sylvia Lorhan Ann Luke, Janet O’Day, Ana Ptasinski, Jan Reed, Allie 
Atay, Ursula El-Tawansy, Winifred Swanson, Marian DeMars. *To add your name to this 
distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required.

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Quote of the Week: Kind words are the music of the world. - F. W. Faber

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

YMCA San Gabriel Valley Intervale Senior Café: Monday-Friday at 12:00 Noon

(Participants are urged to arrive no later than 11:45 A.M.) 

All seniors 60 and up can take part in the lunch program. There is a suggested donation of $2.00 
for those 60 and over and $3.75 for non-senior guests. Daily reservations are necessary as space is 
limited. Please call 24 hours in advance...626.355.0256

 

Free Blood Pressure Testing: On the 2nd Tuesday of the month 11:00 am-12:00 pm: A nurse from 
Methodist Hospital, Arcadia volunteers to do the readings. No appointment necessary.

 

Bingo: Every Tuesday afternoon from 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm Cards are only .25c each! 

Free Chair Yoga: Every Wednesday morning from 11:00 am-11:45 am Volunteer Teryl Willis offers 
this class that focuses on senior yoga techniques. It is geared toward gentle movements, breathing 
techniques and balance improvement. No reservations are necessary.

Free Legal Consultation: Pasadena attorney Geoffrey Chin volunteers on the 2nd Wednesday of the

month. He focuses on estate planning, trusts, wills, probate, conservatorships and business law. 
*Appointments are a must! Please call: 626.355.7394 to make yours* Conflicting court schedules can 

 occasionally cause cancellations.

Free Income Tax Assistance: Wednesdays through April 10th from 1pm to 2pm Don Brunner will 
provide is available to all seniors for income tax consultation. Appointments are required, call 626-
355-7394.

Birthday Celebrations: The 2nd Thursday of the month the Senior Center celebrates the birthdays of 
our patrons at 12:30 pm. Please join us for free cake and ice cream and “celebration.” (The cakes are 
provided due to a generous donation from the Sierra Madre Civic Club.)

Game Day: Every Thursday at 1:00pm. Poker is usually the game of choice, or should I say chance? 
Board games and other card games are also available. Outside, on the patio, a beautiful, one-of-a-kind 
chess table is anxious for players.

 

Free Strength Training Class: Every Friday from 1:00 pm -1:45 pm. Conducted by long-time 
volunteer, Lisa Brandley. The class utilizes light weights for low-impact resistance training. Weights 
are provided by the Sierra Madre Senior Center. It’s a great way to stay in shape and to socialize with 
your peers. (Gossip included)

Senior Citizens Club: Every Saturday at the Hart Park House (Senior Center). Brown bag lunch at 
11:30am; Club meeting at Noon; Bingo 12:30- 3:30 pm. Only .25c per card… For more information 
call Pat at 626.355.7290.

NEW CLASS - Hawaiian & Polynesian Dance: Starting Feb 25th, this six week introductory course will 
teach hand, hip, and feet movements for one full dance. Classes will be held on Mondays from 1:00pm 
to 2:00pm for six weeks. Sarongs and leis will be provided. Class taught by Sierra Madre resident Cheryl 
Mason.

AARP DRIVER SAFETY COURSE This class focuses on learning current rules of the road,

defensive driving techniques, and how to operate your vehicle more safely in today’s increasingly 
challenging driving environment. You’ll also learn how you can manage and accommodate common 
age-related changes in vision, hearing and reaction time. Manystates including California offer 
discounts on auto insurance rates for those who complete this course..

EXCURSIONS:

Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise Date: Friday, February 22, 2013

Description: View actual costumes from movies released in 2012, including 2012 
Academy Award Winner for Best Costume, The Artist.

COMING UP: Whale Watching Trip - 2 hour boat ride (Long Beach, CA) Date: Saturday, March 2, 
2013 Time: 10:00am - 3:30pm Meeting Location: Community Recreation Center Cost: $31.00 (does 
not include lunch) Register by: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 Join the Community Services Department 
on its annual whale watching excursion. The 2013 excursion will visit the same whale watching 
Charter Company as 2012, which features a 2 hour cruise narrated by Aquarium of the Pacific staff 
and a boat that features indoor and outdoor seating. Participants can bring their own lunch to enjoy 
on the boat, or purchase snack items on-board. Bus leaves from the Community Recreation Center. 

Jeopardy Taping at the Sony Lot Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Description: Attend a taping of America’s favorite quiz show. Test your knowledge while host Alex 
Trebek challenges the contestants.

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SENIOR MOVIE PROGRAM: FREE movies are shown on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays 
of the month. The films, one contemporary and one vintage, are chosen by the seniors themselves. 
February’s selections are:

WE BOUGHT A ZOO (2011) February 6th Set in Southern California, a father moves his 
young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo. Adaptationof Benjamin 
Mee’s memoir about buying and saving a run-down zoo, complete with escaped tigers and a zoo crew 
of misfits. Featuring Matt Damon and Scarlet Johansson. Rated PG Start time: 1:00 pm (run time is 
126 minutes)

GOLDFINGER (1964) February 20th The third installment in the 007 series, which racked 
up an Oscar for Best Sound Effects, finds überspy James Bond trying to thwart antagonist Auric 
Goldfinger and his elaborate gambit to corner the gold market by contaminating Fort Knox.

Featuring Sean Connery as James Bond. Not Rated Start time: 1:00 pm (run time is 111 minutes)

All movies are shown in Sierra Madre’s City Council Chambers, 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 

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Dear Savvy Senior: My income dropped way off 
when I retired early last year, and I’m wondering if I 
fall into the so called “47 percent” of Americans who 
won’t have to pay and income taxes this year. What 
can you tell me? Curious Senior

Dear Curious:

The percentage of seniors, age 65 and older, who 
won’t have to pay income taxes this year, is actually around 56 percent according the Tax Policy 
Center. Here’s a breakdown of the 2012 filing requirements along with a few other tax tips to help 
you determine if you need to file.

IRS Requirements

Whether or not you’ll need to file a federal income tax return this year will depend on your filing 
status, your age, and your gross income. If your gross income falls below the IRS filing limits, you 
probably won’t have to file. Gross income includes all the income you receive that is not exempt 
from tax, not including Social Security benefits, unless you are married and filing separately. You 
probably don’t have to file this year if: 

• You are single and your 2012 gross income was less than $9,750 ($11,200 if you’re 65 or 
older).

• You are married filing jointly and your gross income was under $19,500. If you or your 
spouse is 65 or older, the limit increases to $20,650. And if you're both over 65, your income must 
be under $21,800 to not file.

• You are head of household and your gross income was below $12,500 ($13,950 if age 65 or 
older).

• You are married filing separately and your income was less than $3,800.

• You are a qualifying widow(er) with a dependent child and your gross income was less than 
$15,700 ($16,850 if age 65 or older).

Special Situations

Be aware that there are some special financial situations that require you to file a tax return, even if 
your gross income falls below the IRS filing requirement. For example, if you had net earnings from 
self-employment in 2012 of $400 or more, or if you owe any special taxes to the IRS such as alternative 
minimum tax or IRA tax penalties, you’ll probably need to file. 

To figure this out, the IRS offers a resource on their website called “Do I Need to File a Tax Return?” 
that asks a series of questions that will help you determine if you’re required to file, or if you should 
file because you’re due a refund. You can access this page at www.irs.gov/uac/Do-I-Need-to-File-a-
Tax-Return%3F, or you can get help over the phone by calling the IRS helpline at 800-829-1040.

Check Your State

Even if you’re not required to file a federal tax return this year, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re 
also excused from filing state income taxes. Check on that with your state tax agency before concluding 
you’re entirely in the clear. For links to state and local tax agencies see taxadmin.org – click 
on “Links.” 

Tax Aide

If you do need to file a tax return this year, you can get help through the Tax Counseling for the Elderly 
(or TCE) program. Sponsored by the IRS, TEC provides free tax preparation and counseling to 
middle and low income taxpayers, age 60 and older. Call 800-906-9887 to locate a service near you. 

Also check with AARP, a participant in the TCE program that provides free tax preparation at 
nearly 6,000 sites nationwide. To locate an AARP Tax-Aide site call 888-227-7669 or visit aarp.org/
findtaxhelp.

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.


TAKING BACK THE CONCESSION STAND!

 I rarely go to the movies. This is partly because I don’t watch much TV, 
and therefore don’t see many movie ads. But mostly it’s because I’m cheap. 
To me, a movie on the big screen is not all that different from a movie on 
my little screen at home. Granted, 
epic films like “Lawrence of Arabia” probably pack 
a bigger punch on a 60 foot screen than a 30 inch 
one. Other than that, I can wait until it comes out 
on DVD.

 Also, I would rather enjoy a film from the 
comfort of my couch and jammies than having to 
go to a movie theater at a time that probably isn’t 
convenient for me. And, is it just me, or are movie 
theaters one of the most frigid, air conditioned 
public places? If I’m catching a summer blockbuster 
in August, I really shouldn’t have to bring a pair of 
long pants and a trench coat to the theater!

 All that aside, I’m sure we can all agree that 
one of the movie theaters’ biggest rip-offs is the 
price of snacks and drinks. This topic came up 
during lunch at work the other day. After one of 
my coworkers with a large family left the break 
room, the boss remarked that taking a family to the 
cinema these days costs about as much as a deluxe 
spa treatment --something mutually exclusive with 
supporting a large family.

 This prompted an extensive conversation about 
the different schemes people use to avoid movie theaters’ outrageous prices. One of the 
interns told us how she escapes the high prices of tickets by going to out-of-the-way theaters 
in less trendy areas. Yes, a cut rate matinee might be worth the trip, but I wouldn’t chance an 
evening in the sketchy places she described after dark. Her experience illustrated the world 
of difference between the life of an intern and the life of our boss, who doubtless wouldn’t 
consider venturing into a dicey neighborhood just to save a buck.

 Then the food topic came up. A couple of ladies mentioned how their families go to 
the movies and buy an extra large vat --tub of popcorn (which comes with free refills). 
They then divided it up among several smaller boxes. Different family members were then 
sent one by one to refill the communal tub. We all chimed in with our personal tactics for 
sneaking in contraband foods and beverages. The primary goal is to have your hidden snack 
portable and quiet. For example, a bottle of soda is better than a can, because it doesn’t crack 
and hiss when opened. A pack of “Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups,” or a bag of “M&Ms” is better 
than a bag of chips or plastic wrapped candies because they don’t make as much noise when 
you open them.

 Of course, no matter how much you save on snacks at the movies, they’re still far ahead 
in their profit margin. Let’s remember that theaters first started serving popcorn because 
it was CHEAP! After everyone had their say about saving money at the movies, one of my 
soon-to-retire coworkers revealed the best gimmick of all. Her husband did the “extra large 
vat of popcorn with free refills” strategy, but then added a special twist. He refilled the tub 
on the way out of the theater. Nothing tastes better than buttery theater popcorn on the way 
home from the movies!