Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 21, 2013

12

THE GOOD LIFE

 Mountain Views News Saturday, September 21, 2013 

MANY FLU SHOT OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO 

OLDER ADULTS THIS SEASON

Dear Savvy Senior:

I understand that there are a number of different flu vaccines being offered to adults this flu 
sea-son. What can you tell me about them?

Seeking Protection

Dear Seeking:

Depending on your age, health and personal preference, there are six different ways to get 
im-munized against influenza this year. 

 

Just as they do every year, the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 
a seasonal flu shot to almost everyone 
over the age of 6 months because it’s still the 
best protection against the flu. 

If you get a flu shot, you’re 60 percent less 
likely to get the flu. And if you do happen to 
get it, you’re likely to have a milder case if you’ve been inoculated. The flu puts more than 
200,000 people in the hospital each year and kills on average about 24,000. Here’s the rundown 
on the different vaccines that are available this flu season:

Standard flu shot: This tried-and-true shot that’s been around for more than 30 years protects 
against three strains of influenza, and is recommended for everyone 6 months and 
older. This year’s version protects against the two common Type A strains H1N1 and H3N2, 
and one strain of Type B influenza virus.

Quadrivalent vaccine: New this year, this vaccine that protects against four types of influenza 
– the same three strains as the regular flu shot, plus an additional B-strain virus that 
primarily af-fects kids. Available to everyone 6 months and older, the quadrivalent shot will 
be available in limited supply this year, therefore it’s primarily recommended for children. 

Fluzone High-Dose: Designed for seniors age 65 and older, this vaccine contains four times 
the amount of antigen – the part of the vaccine that prompts the body to make antibody – 
as a regu-lar flu shot does, which creates a stronger immune response for better protection. 
The manufac-turer, Sanofi Pasteur, says its research shows the shot to be 24 percent more 
effective in seniors.

Fluzone Intradermal: If you’re squeamish about needles, the intradermal shot is a nice option 
because it uses a tiny micro-needle to inject the vaccine just under the skin, rather than 
deeper in the muscle like standard flu shots. This year’s version will protect against three 
strains of influen-za, and is recommended to those ages 18 to 64.

FluBlok: Created for people who are allergic to eggs who have had to skip their yearly flu 
shot. FluBlok is the first egg-free flu vaccine developed through cell technology from three 
flu strains cultured in caterpillar cells. This shot, however, is only recommended to younger 
adults between the ages of 18 and 49. 

FluMist: This nasal spray vaccine protects against four strains of influenza, just like the 
quadriva-lent shot, but it’s only recommended for those between age 2 and 49. 

To locate a vaccination site that offers these options, ask your doctor or pharmacist, or check 
the online flu-shot locator at flushot.healthmap.org. Most chains like CVS, Walgreens, Safeway, 
Kmart, Walmart, Rite Aid and Kroger will offer the standard and high-dose shots, 
along with the flumist nasal spray. But because of limited supply, it may be a bit more difficult 
to locate the intradermal, quadrivalent or flublock vaccines.

You’ll also be happy to know that most health plans and Medicare will cover the cost of a flu 
shot. But if you’re not covered by insurance, you can expect to pay around $25 to $35 for a 
standard, intradermal or quadrivalent flu shot, or $50 to $60 for a shot of the high-dose or 
flublock.

For more information on the different flu vaccines, visit the Center for Disease Control and 
Pre-vention at cdc.gov/flu, or call 800-232-4636.

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.

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

 
By Pat Birdsall

FYI - CAN HIGH-TECH GROCERY CHAINS RETAIN OLD- FASHIONED VALUES?

 I read an article in the L. A. Times recently that mentioned that a local grocery chain is going high 
tech. The last time the industry made a step in the technology direction was in the 1970s with the 
introduction of bar code scanners, they said. Now, the stores have hidden infra-red cameras with body 
heat trackers to figure out how many customers are shopping at any given time. That way, management 
can know how many workers should be deployed to the cash registers to wait on customers. Whew! 
I’m with them to that point, but they lose me when it comes to the self-checkout lanes. I worked in 
banking at the time the ATM was introduced. Customers resisted using them for a very long time and 
now, they are used in lieu of bank tellers. I imagine working at a bank these days, would be akin to 
working in a mausoleum. It used to be a busy and dare I say a fun place to work. Obviously, machines 
replace people. 

 The object of all this new technology of course, is to attract the younger, hip and tech- savvy shopper. 
Seniors need not apply. I might be in the minority, but as a senior with compromised health to boot, 
I’m made to feel that I have to hurry with everything! Hurry to give the checker my cloth bags, hurry 
to unload my cart onto the conveyor belt, hurry with my club card and hurry to decide what method 
of payment I’m going to use. Just as long as I get out of the way in a proscribed time that is acceptable 
to management. I don’t want to hurry! Hurrying, in addition to being stressful, just makes the hardest 
part of the grocery shopping experience one step closer; that of driving home and unloading the car 
and putting the groceries away. Of course, the stop watch isn’t on then…that I’m aware of anyway. 

 latimes.com (9-8-13)

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HELPFUL HINT: Put an old shower curtain in the trunk of your car to line it while

 carting potentially messy plants, picnic coolers or wet beach gear.

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FOR YOUR FUNNY BONE - An accordion player driving home from a late night 
gig decided to pull over at a local store for coffee because he was very tired. While waiting to pay, he 
remembers that he locked his car doors but left the accordion in plain view on the back seat of his car! 
He rushes out only to realize that he is too late. The back window was smashed and somebody had 
already thrown in two more accordions.

 ~ ~ ~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … SeptemberBirthdays

Clem Bartolai, Ed Clare, Donna Anderson, Teresa Chaure, Cathy Gunther, Esther Macias, 
Sheila Pierce, Nancy Sue Shollenberger, Yvonne Osti, Patti O’Meara, Judie Cimino, Mary 
Steinberg, Geri Wright, Parvin Dabiri, Denise Reistetter, Nehama Warner, Verdella Johnson 
and Edwina Garcia.

* 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: Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math. Author Unknown

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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 Balance Class: Every 3rd Monday for 11:00 am to 11:45 am with Shannon Vandevelde. A 
variety of balance exercises are practiced; all ability levels are encouraged and welcomed. 

NEW!

Get fit, Have Fun with Zumba Gold

Zumba Gold is a low impact fitness class based on Latin and World Music. The upbeat music creates 
a fun atmosphere with easy to follow dance moves that will have you toning your body and improving 
your stamina and balance from your very first class. No dance experience is necessary and all fitness 
levels are welcome. Class is held Mondays from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.Next session begins in September. 
$30.00 class fee. For more information or to sign up call the Community Services Department at 
(626) 355-5278.

Free Blood Pressure Testing: Held Second Tuesday of the month from 11:00 am-12:00 pm: No 
appointment necessary.

 

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

Free Chair Yoga: New Hours: 11:00 to 11:45 Every Wednesday morning. Join Paul Hagen for this 
free class that focuses on senior yoga techniques. No reservation is 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.

Lunch and Learn: Emergency Preparedness

Wednesday, September 28- 12:00 to 1:00 pm Hart Park House Senior Center

Prepare yourself for fires, earthquakes and winter storms with this informative presentation. Learn how 
to make a family emergency plan and take home an emergency kit from our friends at the American 
Red Cross. Preparing for disasters before they strike enables people to respond more effectively when 
they do occur. If you would like to have lunch during the talk, please make a lunch reservation with 
the Senior Lunch Café at 626.355.0256 or bring your own.

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. 

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.

UPCOMING EXCURSIONS:

Save the Date! Oktoberfest (Big Bear, Ca.) Saturday, October 12, 2013

Time: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Meeting Location: Hart Park House Senior Center

Cost: $89.00 (Lunch included)

Join us for the biennial trip to Big Bear for Oktoberfest. Upon arrival the group will enjoy a narrated 
bus tour of Big Bear Lake, current issues facing their eco-environment and various stories and antics 
occurring at the Lake. A German style lunch including a variety of wursts, potato salad, sauerkraut, 
pretzesl and apple strudel will be served. During and after lunch enjoy German entertainment, learn 
traditional dances and peruse vendor booths. 

*Registering for Excursions can be done in person at the Hart Park House Senior Center and the 
Community Recreation Center or online at www.cityofsierramadre.com Cash, checks, and credit 
cards are accepted. Make checks payable “City of Sierra Madre”. Payment must be made at the time of 
reservation. CALL (626) 355-7394

 

Senior Movie Program: 

FREE movies are chosen by the seniors themselves and shown on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the 
month in Sierra Madre’s City Council Chambers, 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. ~ Start 
time is 1:00pm ~

 September 18th: The Magic of Belle Isle (2012)

Monty Wildhorn, an alcoholic of westerns, has lost his drive. His nephew pushes him to summer in 
quiet Belle Isle. He begrudgingly befriends a single mother and her three daughters who help him 
find the inspiration to write again. Rated PG, Start time 1:00 pm (run time is 109 minutes) Starring: 
Morgan Freeman and Virginia Madsen. Directed by Rob Reiner.


KATIE Tse.....................This and That

HAVE YOU BLUDGEONED YOUR CAR TODAY?

 I am very 
grateful for 
my Honda 
Civic. Before 
acquiring it, 
I was driving 
a Saturn that 
was essentially 
given to me by my mom (very 
thankful, Mom!). The Saturn was 
great in that it got me from point 
A to point B. Servicing it, however, 
became a hassle since “Saturns are 
no longer being manufactured.” 
So no one, except possibly some 
guy in Nebraska or other far away 
place, had parts. Sigh... My Saturn 
finally bit the dust after getting hit 
head on while traveling north on 
Michillinda. The accident was a bit 
traumatic, but at least it prompted 
our purchase of a new-used car.

 Although I’m very happy with 
my little Honda, some car owners 
are not so pleased with their cars. I 
speak of a recent video of an Italian 
marble dealer who bought a BMW 
that was plagued with problems 
--which BMW did not readily fix. 

After much run-around with the BMW bureaucrats, the owner and a friend took sledge hammers to 
the vehicle at the Frankfurt Auto Show to demonstrate their displeasure with the car company. The 
Yahoo video shows the two men taking hesitant swings at the car with brand new sledgehammers 
and axes. That’s all well and good, but they don’t have anything on disgruntled car owners from the 
1960’s and 70’s!

 My dad remembers a news story in which a Ford employee at the Torrance assembly plant saved for 
years in order to buy a Lincoln. His dream car, however, had problems which Ford failed to remedy. 
The owner’s frustration finally drove him (Ha, no pun intended!) to park his car on the expansive 
Ford lawn and plant a lemon tree in the driver’s seat. To finish it off, he hung up a sign on the car 
reading “Ernie Campos has a better idea!” This was a play on Ford’s slogan at time --”Ford has a 
better idea.” The fact that my dad remembers this man’s name so many years later proves the power 
of a good consumer protest.

 Another of my dad’s crazy car stories involved “The Idle Hour,” a bar on Colorado Blvd. located 
approximately where that gym is across from Cost Plus today. My dad and granddad had a shop 
nearby and witnessed an interesting variety of events regarding The Idle Hour. One story in particular 
stands out.

 Some time around lunch (The Idle Hour served food, too) a couple parked their snazzy convertible 
outside. Some time later, the woman in question emerged and went to pout in the passenger’s seat. 
After a few moments, the man joined her, but was apparently miffed about something that had gone 
on while they were in the bar. He proceeded to take a baseball bat from the back seat and smash it 
in every window, mirror, and light fixture. The car rebounded with every blow, and bits of glass flew 
everywhere, but the lady just sat there with an angry fixed stare. Eventually the man had his fill of 
destruction and tossed the bat into the back seat. As sort of a truce, they drove off together in the 
battered vehicle, never to be seen again at The Idle Hour.

 There’s no real moral to this story except that car companies (and all companies, for that matter) 
should take complaints seriously. And it’s probably never a good idea to take out relationship angst 
on your vehicle. Instead, be like Taylor Swift and write a whiny song about it. Just kidding! But 
seriously, don’t take it out on your car!


SIERRA MADRE FARMERS MARKET 

 

The Sierra Madre Farmer’s Market hours have changed to 3:00pm through 8:00pm 
every Wednesday. Vendors include Dry Dock which has fresh and wild caught 
fish, Rustic Loaf with artisan breads, Cutie Pie with fresh pies and much more!

 For those interested in being a vendor contact Melissa Farwell with Raw 

Inspirations at 818-591-8161 ext. 806.