Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 26, 2013

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THE GOOD LIFE

Mountain Views-News Saturday, October 26, 2013 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

REASSESSMENT TIME FOR MEDICARE PART D BENEFICIARIES

Dear Savvy Senior:

I have been enrolled in the same Medicare prescription 
drug plan for three years now, but my 
pharmacist told me I should look for a new plan 
during the open enrollment period that would fit 
my needs a little better. What’s the easiest way to 
do this? Need Help

 

Dear Need:

 Because all Medicare prescription drug plans can change their coverage and costs each calendar year, 
the only way to ensure you’re getting the best coverage at the lowest cost is to compare your Part D 
plan against the competition during Medicare’s open enrollment period (which is Oct. 15 – Dec. 7). 
Here are some tips and resources that can help you compare drug plans, and select one that better fits 
your needs.

 

Important: Don’t confuse Medicare open enrollment with the new health insurance marketplaces that 
have just opened under the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). They serve two totally different 
populations. Health insurance marketplaces are for people under age 65 who don’t have health insurance, 
while Medicare open enrollment is for Medicare beneficiaries who wish to review their current 
Medicare policies and make changes.

 

Open Enrollment Website

If you’re comfortable using a computer, you can easily compare Medicare’s drug plans yourself online. 
Just go to Medicare’s Plan Finder Tool at medicare.gov/find-a-plan, and type in your zip code or your 
personal information, enter in how you currently receive your Medicare coverage, select the drugs 
you take and their dosages, and choose the pharmacies you use. You’ll get a cost comparison breakdown 
for every plan available in your area so you can compare it to your current plan.

 

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.

 

It’s also important to keep in mind that when you’re 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. Look at the “estimated annual drug costs” that 
shows how much you can expect to pay over a year in total out-of-pocket costs – 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 the plans yourself, you 
can call Medicare at 800-633-4227 and a customer service representative will do it for you over the 
phone for free.

 

Another resource that you can call on for help is your State Health Insurance Assistance Program 
(SHIP), which provides free one-on-one Medicare counseling in person or over the phone. They also 
conduct seminars during the open enrollment period at various locations throughout each state. To 
find the contact information for your local SHIP visit shiptalk.org, or call the eldercare locator at 
800-677-1116.

 

Shrinking Donut Hole

You also need to know that Medicare’s “donut-hole” – the coverage gap in which you must pay out-
of-pocket for your drugs – continues to shrink. In 2013 and 2014, you will get a 52.5 percent discount 
on brand-name drugs, and the federal subsidy for generic medications will rise from 21 to 28 percent 
in 2014.

 

The 2013 coverage gap begins when your total drug cost exceeds $2,850 (that includes your share and 
the insurer’s share of the costs) and ends when combined spending is $6,455. After that, your Part D 
plan usually covers around 95 percent of your remaining drug costs for the year.

 

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.

 By Pat Birdsall

FYI: HALLOWEEN PARTY-SENIORS ONLY

 I just read a short article on Halloween parties for seniors with a genealogy twist thrown in the 
mix. I wish I had read it earlier when something could be planned in time for Halloween. Then I 
thought that the idea could be shaped to encompass any holiday, or no holiday at all! In a party 
setting, whatever the occasion or non-occasion, seniors could be encouraged to share memories 
of the “good old days.” Maybe several topics could be suggested: Holidays past, growing up in 
a non-technological world, military service, weekend fun, school days, etc., etc. The memories 
should be recorded, transcribed and perhaps even filmed for posterity. (Talk about dating oneself! 
Is “filmed” even a term used these days?) At any rate, I know the Sierra Madre Historical Society 
is doing a series of oral histories, but they can only be done at glacial speed because off availability 
of equipment and time constraints of the interviewers. I’m being a total Pollyanna perhaps, but I 
think oral histories on various topics can be accomplished in one fell swoop. All we need to have are 
volunteers to attend to the details and willing participants to party and reminisce. Oops, and one 
minor detail…a place to have the party. It used to be that anywhere people were gathered WAS a 
party but I think that’s one of those memories I have from the “good old days.” Time flies and some 
people don’t always have a “tomorrow’s another day. “Think about it.

.....................................................................................

HELPFUL HINT: Make a watering can for your indoor plants; another use for empty 
plastic milk jugs. Make sure the bottle is washed thoroughly, using any size, and then you will need a 
needle or a safety pin and matches or a lighter. Take the cap off and pierce the back side of it with the 
heated needle or safety pin as many times as you determine necessary for your watering needs. (You 
can always put more holes in the cap later).

......................................................................................

FOR YOUR FUNNY BONE - This was an actual letter from the Ann Landers 
column of yesteryear… My husband and I were newlyweds, getting ready to attend a Halloween 
party given by friends. I came home from work and asked my hubby to answer the door for the trick-
or-treaters while I took a bath. As I was running the water, I thought, “Wouldn’t fun to play a trick on 
him?” So, I put on my flapper raccoon coat, a mask, and without a stitch on under the coat, I sneaked 
around the house and rang the doorbell. When my husband answered, I threw open the coat and 
shouted, “Trick or Treat!” He was so stunned; he backed up, fell down the steps of the sunken living 
room, hit his head and knocked himself unconscious. I called the emergency phone number and had 
to explain what happened to the paramedics. My husband was taken to the hospital where they said 
had suffered a concussion. We never made it to the Halloween party and, of course, I had to let my 
friends know why. They thought it was hilarious. 

 My husband and I will celebrate our 40th anniversary soon. I still love Halloween, but have 
refrained from pulling any more startling surprises.

 ~ ~ ~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … October Birthdays

Janda Ferris, Darlene Traxler, Margit Johnson, Sole Krieg, Ann Tyler, Pat Birdsall,

George Maurer, Dick Anderson, Barbara Cline, Eva Poet, Mary Jane Baker, Dixie Coutant, 
Cathleen Cremins, Lillias Eubanks, Alma Mays, Adie Marshall,Darlene Crook, Susan 
Gallagher,Maggie Ellis, Gloria Giersbach, Elva Johnson, Ellen O’Leary, Jenny Piangenti, 

 Gail Ann Skiles, Anita Thompson, Linda Boehm and Angela Stella. 

* 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: ~There is a child in every one of us who is still a trick-or-treater looking 
for a brightly-lit front porch. Robert Brault

 ..................................................................

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. 

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: SALT THERAPY

Wednesday, October 23rd- 12:00 to 1:00 pm Hart Park House Senior Center

Listen to Reiki Master Kristen, as she explains the benefits of Salt Therapy. Discover the all-natural, 
drug free treatments that are offered at The Salt Therapy Studio such as salt therapy, massage therapy 
and Reiki. These forms of treatment are helpful with many conditions that affect the body including: 
Arthritis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Muscle Tension, Stress, Sinusitis, Sore 
Throat, Colds, cough and congestion.

 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:

JEOPARDY TAPING AT SONY STUDIOS - Sony Studios, Culver City, Ca.

Date: Wednesday, November 13, 2013 Time: 9:30 am to 3:30 pm

Meeting Location: Hart Park House Sr. Center Cost: $15.00 (does not include lunch)

Join us as we head to the Sony Studios in Culver City for the taping of Jeopardy!, America’s 
favorite quiz show. The show is a winner of a 2012 Peabody award and 30 Emmy awards, 
including the 2012 Emmy for Outstanding Game/Audience Participation. Participants will have the 
opportunity to see the tapping of three shows which takes approximately 2 hours. Following the 
tapings, at approximately 1:15 pm, participants will lunch together at the Overland Café just down 
the street from the studio. It is recommended to bring $10-15 for lunch. Tickets are selling quickly so 
come in today and purchase yours. Last day to register is November 5th.

Level of walking: Minimal

Friday, December 13, 2013. “Because it’s Christmas” 

Show at Candlelight Pavilion (Claremont, Ca.) $67.00 (Lunch included) 10:00 am- 4:00 pm

*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 (EXCEPT OCTOBER - see below) in Sierra Madre’s City Council Chambers, 232 W. Sierra 
Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. ~ Start time is 1:00pm ~ 


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

APPLE MONTH!

 Happy Apple Month! No, I’m not talking about your iPad, iPhone, or any other 
device you can’t live without. I’m talking about the apples that you eat, the apples 
that adorn kitchen counters in “Crate & Barrel” catalogs, and the ultra shiny red 
apples kids across the nation toss into the trash each day with their cafeteria lunch.

 I can understand that most kids aren’t naturally inclined to bite into an apple, when there are pizzas, 
burgers, corn dogs, and tater tots to be had. Also, something about the skin on those school lunch 
apples make them seem overly tough and impenetrable. It’s as if the apples expected to be thrown 
out, and were preparing for impact.

 Somewhere, however, far from the grocery aisles, school lunches, and Starbuck’s counters are apples 
that actually taste good! (Honestly, what’s the turn around time for fruit at a place like Starbucks? You 
know people are there for the blueberry scones, triple chocolate brownies, and whatever other fatty 
pastries they pass off as “breakfast items.”) Yes, there is a place where apples taste like apples!

 Although I’ve lived in Southern California all 
my life, I’d never been to Oak Glen before. My 
parents and I didn’t know what to expect when we 
went there for the first time last week. So, when 
the narrow road became lined with parked cars, 
we figured we might as well leave the car and walk 
from that point.

 We continued uphill past little tents offering 
handmade soap, sage sachets, and raw honey. 
There were also burly men handing out baskets 
to young kids so they could pick apples with 
their families. We admired the lovely trees and 
wondered when we’d start seeing actual apples. 
Then it dawned on us that these were apple trees, 
but all the apples, save for the ones at the tippy-top 
had already been plucked.

 Well, that stinks. If that was all there was to 
Oak Glen, we would’ve been sorely disappointed. 
But I recalled their website featured stores (more 
substantial than tents), and at least two or three 
restaurants. We backtracked to the car and drove 
on.

 At last we found “the village” and were 
lucky enough to snag a spot near the shops and 
restaurants. Then it was time to find a place to eat. 
All the restaurants seemed equally crowded, so we 
put our names in at the closest cafe and settled in 
for a long, long wait. My Dad held our place while 
my Mom and I explored Law’s apple stand.

 Sampling apples at Law’s was sort of like wine 
tasting. There were many “exotic” varieties we never tasted before, like Arkansas Black, Spartan, and 
Mutsu. The men behind the counter described each of them, cutting slices for us to try. I almost 
expected them to say, “Here’s a full-bodied red with a smooth mouth feel and complex finish.” Like 
wine tasting, it was a little difficult to recall the differences after we’d sampled about six different 
apples. When you don’t remember your favorite four out of six apples, you might as well buy all six 
types just to cover your bases. After all, apple season comes only once a year!

 After an hour and a half of apple tasting and poking around in different shops, we were seated for 
lunch. By that time we had already memorized what we wanted, and then sat for another 45 minutes 
until the food arrived. Any other time, I might’ve been a bit annoyed at the slow service. But this 
place was PACKED! These little cafes get swamped for one month in the fall, and probably starve for 
business the rest of the year. Anyway, I think the food tasted all the better after waiting for it so long.

 We were about to leave when we spotted a sign for Peddler’s Pack, specializing in alpaca yarns 
and unique gifts. My Mom is a fiber nut (as in textiles, not dietary fiber). How could we pass up the 
opportunity to see alpacas? We followed the signs to an enclosure with about a dozen docile, big-eyed 
alpacas. “Aw! So cute!”

 Peddler’s Pack had lovely handmade clothing and jewelry, but my Mom decided on a bag of very 
soft wool. The proprietress told us that the particular bag my Mom chose was most likely from a 
single alpaca, whereas the other bags were composites of several different animals’ hair. Always the 
sentimentalist, my Mom asked if the owner knew which alpaca her wool was from. She fingered the 
“roving,” inspected its color, and then said it was either from Quid or Stan.

 “Quid or Stan!” my Mom said, “How nice! Are they outside?” I wondered if the lady would break 
into a fit of laughter at the lengths to which my Mom was taking this. But she just replied, “Yes, they’re 
both out there.” Before leaving, we looked again at the alpacas and speculated as to which ones might 
be Stan and Quid. Driving home, we could now say that we’ve been to Oak Glen, tasted apples we’d 
never heard of before, and bought some lovely alpaca roving. Whether it was from Stan, Quid, or a 
little of both, it all made for a great time!


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