Mountain Views News          Saturday, July 12, 2014

11

THE GOOD LIFE

 Mountain Views News Saturday, Jully 12, 2014 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … July Birthdays*

Nina Bartolai, Mary Lou Caldwell, Louise Neiby, Eunice Banis, Betty Hansen, Christine 
Durfort, Shahrzad Azrani, Jeanne Borgedahl, Janet Cox, Dorothy Montgomery, Bess 
Pancoska, Janet Swanson, Linda Thunes, Barbara Watson, Pat Alcorn, Karma Bell, Alice 
Clark, Dorothy Jerneycic, and Betty DosRemedios.

 *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: “Let freedom never perish in your hands.” ~ Joseph Addison

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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, from 11:00 to 11:45 am with Shannon. All ability levels are

encouraged and welcomed. Canceled for the month of July.

Hawaiian and Polynesian Dance Class: Every Tuesday morning from 10:00am to 11:00am. Join 
instructor Barbara Dempsey as she instructs you in the art of hula.

Bingo: Every Tuesday beginning at 1:00pm. Cards are only $0.25 each! Everyone is welcome to 
join. May be canceled if less than 5 people.

Free Blood Pressure Testing: Held 2nd Tuesday of the month from 11:00am to 12:00pm. No 
appointment is necessary.

Free Legal Consultation: Wednesday, July 23rd from 10:00am to Noon. Attorney Lem Makupson

is available for legal consultation. He specializes in Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Estates, and Injury. 
For an appointment call 626-355-7394.

Chair Yoga: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 to 11:45 am, except on the third Monday of the 
month when the balance class is held. A suggested donation of $5 at one of the classes is requested, 
but is not required.

Birthday Celebrations: Every second Thursday of the month the Hart Park House Senior Center 
celebrates birthdays of our patrons. The free birthday cake is provided by the Sierra Madre Civic 
Club.

Game Day: Every Thursday starting at 1:00pm. A regular group of seniors play poker. Other games

available for use. Free Strength Training Class: Every Friday from 12:45pm to 1:30pm with Lisa 
Brandley. The class utilizes light weights for low impact resistance training. All materials for the 
class are provided.

Senior Club: Every Saturday at the Hart Park House Senior Center. Brown bag lunch at 11:30 am. 
Club meeting at noon. Bingo 12:30-3:30 pm. Annual membership is only $10.00.

 

UPCOMING EXCURSIONS

California Science Center (Los Angeles, CA)

Date: Friday, July 18, 2014 • Time: 9:15am to 3:30 pm

Meeting Location: Hart Park House Senior Center

Cost: $25.00 (does not include lunch)

Experience the California Science Center’s feature exhibition, “Pompeii,” which offers a glimpse 
into the opulent lifestyle and tragic end of this ancient Roman society. Relive the volcano’s 
catastrophic eruption through an immersive multimedia experience. The trip also includes 
the National Geographic film “Forces of Nature” and which showcases the power of volcanoes, 
earthquakes, and severe storms on the 7-story IMAX screen. Participants are asked to bring 
additional money for souvenirs and lunch; two restaurants are available onsite. Last day to register 
is Thursday, July 10. Level of Walking: Moderate

1st & 3rd Wednesday

Shown at the Hart Park House Senior Center

July 2nd: Nine (2009)

Famous film director Guido Contini struggles to find harmony in his 
professional and personal lives as he engages in dramatic relationships with 
his wife, his mistress, his muse, his agent, and his mother. Rated PG-13, Start 
time: 1:00 pm (run time 118 minutes)

Featuring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, 
Sophia Loren, Kate Hudson, and Penelope Cruz

July 16th: Blue Jasmine (2013)

After everything in her life falls to pieces, including her marriage to wealthy businessman Hal, 
elegant New York socialite Jasmine moves into her sister Ginger’s modest apartment in San 
Francisco to try to pull herself back together again. Rated PG-13, Start time: 1:00 pm (run time 98 
minutes) Featuring: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, and Peter Sarsgaard

Dear Savvy Senior:

Can you recommend any advocacy organizations 
for seniors other than AARP? I cut up my AARP 
card a few years back when they supported 
Obamacare, and am now looking for another 
organization that better represents me.

Conservative Senior

 

Dear Conservative: 

There are actually a quite a few senior advocacy organizations out there promoting themselves as 
conservative alternatives to AARP.

While AARP, with a membership of almost 38 million, is by far the biggest and most powerful 
advocacy group for people age 50 and older, there are millions of older Americans that don’t like or 
agree with their stance on various issues. Many believe AARP leans to far to the left despite its stated 
nonpartisan nature.

For seniors that are anti-AARP, there are numerous conservative leaning groups that you can join 
that may better represent your views, and most of them offer discount benefits too. Here are several 
to look into.

The Seniors Coalition: Established in 1990, this nonprofit organization has around four million 
supporters. Their key issues are to protect Social Security benefits, save Medicare, repeal Obamacare, 
eliminate the death tax and reform the Social Security COLA system. Members also get access to 
deals on travel, shopping, car insurance and a discount healthcare program. Annual membership 
fees to join run $10 for one person per, or $13.50 per couple. To learn more visit Senior.org, or call 
202-261-3594.

60 Plus Association: Established in 1992, this nonprofit group that claims over 7.2 million supporters, 
believes in smaller government and lower taxes. Their top priorities include the fight to end the 
inheritance tax, and taking steps to help save social security for future generations. There’s no 
membership fee to join 60 Plus, but they do take donations for those who want to support their effort. 
They also don’t offer discounts to their members. 60plus.org, 703-807-2070.

American Seniors Association: Open to all ages, this for-profit group stands on what they call the 
five foundations of security for America’s seniors. These include rebuilding the national values 
respecting seniors, Social Security and Medicare reform, tax code reform, and control of government 
overspending. Fees to join run $15 per year, and members receive access to a variety of discounts on 
travel, health care, office supplies and more. AmericanSeniors.org, 800-951-0017.

Association of Mature American Citizens: With more than one million members, this for-profit 
organization was started in 2007 for people age 50 and older. Their mission is to help seniors fight 
high taxes, reduce excessive government involvement in our day-to-day lives, and preserve American 
values. They also offer member discounts on auto insurance, travel, vision, dental, prescription drugs, 
and much more. Membership fees run $16 per year, or less if you join for multiple years. Amac.us, 
888-262-2006.

The National Association of Conservative Seniors: Founded in 2012, this for-profit organization 
emphasizes two key missions. One is to provide members, age 60 and older, with services and benefits 
that include discounts on travel, quality of life opportunities, better insurance and financial programs 
at competitive prices, and savings on household goods, food, and fun. And the second is to uphold 
conservative values in the United States. 

Membership is free the first year, but costs $12 the second year. Or, for $5 per month you can become 
a “Gold Patriot” member and receive their “Click to Call” feature, which gives members direct 
connection to government officials. Naocs.us, 800-570-7769.

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. 


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

AIRBORNE

Summer’s here in all its sweaty, 
sticky glory! I love it! And 
summer just wouldn’t be 
summer without a vacation! 
Now, if you’re low key like me, a 
couple hours drive up or down 
the coast is all that’s needed 
to feel free from the daily 
grind. Others embark on elaborate galas touring 
European countries 
or islands of the South 
Pacific. But with this 
bombed economy, I 
think folks who planned 
to see the Venetian 
shores will have to 
downsize to the more 
economical shores of 
Venice Beach.

They say “getting there 
is half the fun” of 
vacations. And I must 
agree that I savor the 
bounding, sun-scorched 
hillsides dotted by 
gnarly oaks en route to 
Solvang, Paso Robles, 
or Cambria. But for 
most vacations, flying is 
required. Flying --some 
love it, some are annoyed by it, and others fear it 
more than dental surgery. My dad used to have to 
fly often, and he usually had a humorous complaint 
about his fellow passengers when he returned. On 
his most recent flight, there was a lady next to him 
who kept noisily straightening her newspaper 
the entire time. “I pretended to be asleep so she 
wouldn’t talk to me,” my dad said. We all laughed. 
But then Iasked, “Do you think perhaps that was 
her coping mechanism for not jumping out of her 
seat and screaming?”

You can probably tell which group of flyers I 
belong to. I could count the number of flights I’ve 
taken using my two hands and maybe one foot. 
I don’t remember being afraid as a child, but my 
understanding of flight was pretty rudimentary 
back then. Only as an adult did I develop a strong 
distaste, mixed with foreboding, about planes.

Even airports are a bit creepy. They’re like a somber 
version of Vegas, in that the interiors of the huge 
buildings all look alike, so it’s easy to get lost. The 
air seems to be pumped in, and it’s usually kept at 
a frigid 60 degrees. Everywhere you turn there are 
places to buy things. Weary travelers tend to have 
that glazed look similar to gamblers who camp out 
at slot machines and absently punch buttons for 
hours. And also like Vegas, parking at airports is 
a nightmare.

But whatever dislike I have for airports pales in 
comparison to my feelings about flight. I know 
I’m not alone here. All of us fearful flyers know 
how every hiccup of 
the plane causes us 
to grip the armrest 
with white knuckles, 
bracing for a plunge. 
Any expression less 
than a wide smile on 
the flight attendants’ 
faces indicates secret 
danger in the cockpit. 
The announcement to 
fasten your seatbelts is 
code for “We’re going 
down!”

Hollywood tries to 
glamorize flying with 
films like “Up in the 
Air.” Notice how they 
had to get George 
Clooney, (voted People 
Magazine’s “sexiest 
man alive” --twice), 
to make flying seem desirable. Even “Criminal 
Minds” makes the team’s frequent flights seem 
more like a visit to a spa instead of a plane. 
Whenever my husband and I watch a film that 
shows people flying we both call out, “It’s not that 
smooth!” “Look! His glass isn’t even shaking!”

I think one of my favorite authors, Zadie Smith, 
put it best in her novel, The Autograph Man. 
“At no point does anyone suggest that [the main 
character] and three hundred other strangers of 
unknown mental health status are trapped in a 
four-hundred- ton aircraft flying thirty thousand 
feet up in the air relying on equations of energy 
and velocity that no one aboard could sketch out 
in even their most basic form.”

So you can probably guess I won’t be sending 
any postcards from Italy or Tahiti. But if you’re 
flying to some exotic destination, I hope you have 
a fabulous time. Hey, you might even run into 
George Clooney at the airport!

SENIOR 

CINEMA


SEASONAL FUN AT THE SENIOR CENTER

Word Puzzle Competition • July 14-18, 2014

Come to the Senior Center during the week of July 14 to exercise your brain and enjoy the company 
of other puzzle enthusiasts! Try a different word puzzle everyday and enter for a chance to win a 
$20 gift card. Featured puzzles include word searches, crosswords, kriss kross, sudoku, and rebus 
puzzles. For each puzzle you complete, you will receive one raffle ticket. Puzzles may

be completed at home, but they must be returned to the Senior Center by Monday, July 21 at 11:00 
am to be considered for the drawing. Tickets will be drawn and winners announced on Monday, 
July 21 at 12:15 pm. Prizes include a $20 Domino’s gift card and two $20 Trader Joe’s gift cards.

 

LUNCH & LEARN PRESENTATION - SALT THERAPY

Wednesday, July 30, 2014 • 12:00 to 1:00 pm

This presentation was rescheduled from October 2013. 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 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 Cafe at 626-355-0256 or bring your own.

 

LET THE BRAIN GAMES BEGIN

Tuesday, July 22, 2014 • 11:00 am to Noon

Improve your memory and strengthen your brain with fun, hands-on activities. Each month brings 
new games and contests to facilitate brain stimulation. Be sure to bring your friends as you engage 
in friendly competition for prizes. Activities facilitated by Swati Puri, Community Liaison for 
ComForcare Senior Services in Pasadena. Questions? Contact the Senior Center at 626-355-7394.


Tech Talk: Technology Assistance

Mondays, July 14 and 28 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM

Tech-savvy youth from Sierra Madre Middle School will provide assistance with the operation 
of cell phones, tablets, and computers. Participants should bring the device with which they 
need assistance; computers are available at the Senior Center for general instruction. The class 
is free of charge, but registration is required. To register, or for questions regarding the program 
call 626.355.7394.

We’d like to hear from you! 

What’s on YOUR Mind?

Contact us at: editor@mtnviewsnews.com or www.facebook.com/
mountainviewsnews AND Twitter: #mtnviewsnews


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com