Mountain Views News          Saturday, July 26, 2014

10

THE GOOD LIFE

Mountain Views-News Saturday, July 26, 2014 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

HOW TO FIND THE BEST REACHER GRABBER TOOL


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:

What kinds of reacher grabber tools can you 
recommend for seniors who need help picking 
things up off the ground. I bought a cheap one at 
Walmart a few months ago that doesn’t work very 
well for me, and would like to find one that does.

Need a Hand

Dear Need:

A good reacher grabber is a very handy tool for 
anyone with mobility issues. It works like an 
extension of your arm allowing you to reach 
down and pick things up off the ground without 
bending or stooping over. It can also help with 
reaching and grabbing things in high overhead 
places, as well as areas that are difficult to get to.

But with so many different reachers on the 
market today, finding a good one that works well 
for you is not always easy. Depending on your 
needs, here are some top options to consider.

Lightweight reacher: If you want a reacher 
primarily for picking up small lightweight items 
around the house, the “Aluminum Reacher with 
Magnetic Tip” by Duro-Med is multifunctional. 
Available in 32 and 26-inch lengths, it has a 
trigger-style handgrip with a serrated jaw that 
provides a secure grip when lifting objects. It 
also has a magnet built into the tip for picking 
up lightweight metal objects like a paperclip, and 
a small hook (or horn) that aids in retrieving 
things like clothes, shoes or keys. But, because of 
its lightweight design, it doesn’t work as well at 
retrieving heaver items like canned goods from 
shelves.

All-purpose reacher: For retrieving small and 
medium-sized items, the “Ettore Grip’n Grab” 
can handle most chores. Available in 16, 32 and 
50-inch lengths, it has a soft comfortable trigger 
handgrip and a rubberized jaw that’s strong 
enough to lift objects up to 5 pounds and up to 
4 inches wide, yet sensitive enough to pick up 
something as small as a dime. The jaw can also 
swivel 90 degrees to reach things in awkward 
spaces.

Ergonomic handle reachers: If you have hand 
or wrist arthritis that makes gripping difficult, 
the 31-inch “Medline Reacher” has a handgrip 
that lets you use all five fingers to close the jaw 
for better gripping power. Or, consider the new 
“HealthSmart GripLoc Sliding Reacher,” a 43-
inch two-handed reacher with a power slide 
handle that opens and closes the jaw (no hand 
squeezing required), and a twist lock that locks 
the jaw when it’s clinched to secure your item.

Folding reacher: For easier storage or travel, the 
32-inch “EZ Reacher Collapsible” has a slip-joint 
in the arm that allows it to fold in half. It also 
has stainless steel fingers with silicone suction 
cup tips that do a nice job of picking up large and 
small items; and a pistol grip with an optional 
safety lock that locks the jaw onto items without 
continuously squeezing the trigger.

Adjustable length reacher: If you need a reacher 
for various lengths, the “PikStik TelescoPik” has 
a lockable sliding shaft that adjusts from 30 to 44 
inches. It also has a trigger grip and a rotating 
rubberized jaw that can lift up to 5 pounds.

Outdoor reacher: For outdoor use, the 36-inch 
“Unger Nifty Nabber” is ideal for heavy-duty 
jobs. It has a rubber-coated jaw for a strong and 
reliable grip with a built-in magnet, an aluminum 
handle and can lift 20 pounds.

Where to Buy

You can buy reacher grabbers at many 
pharmacies, retail, medical equipment and home 
improvement stores. But, because it’s a specialty 
item, the selection is very limited. Your best bet is 
to buy one online at amazon.com, which sells all 
of the top reachers at prices ranging between $12 
and $40. Just type the product name in the search 
bar to find it.

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

THE SEAGULL WHO PLAYED “CHICKEN”

 How has your week been? 
I don’t know about you, 
but nothing particularly 
noteworthy or funny happened 
to me. But don’t think I’m 
complaining! I’ll take familiar and predictable 
any day! However, familiar and predictable don’t 
make for interesting writing. 
So, if you read my column last 
week, you’ll remember that 
when inspiration fails me, I can 
always rely on my mom’s friend, 
Florence, for ideas!

 Here’s a recap on Florence 
if you missed or forgot last 
week’s article. Not only is 
Florence a fabulous story 
teller, but she, herself, attracts 
funny situations. As moths are 
drawn to the light, so humorous 
people and situations gravitate 
toward Florence. She doesn’t 
even have to try to make things 
happen. If you hang around her 
long enough, you, too, will get 
involved in something worth 
retelling.

 Today’s story includes one of the many animals 
Florence and her family rescued near their home 
in rustic Montebello. (Yes, Montebello was rustic 
once.) Although they did not live near the ocean, 
a wayward seagull crash landed on their property. 
(It was probably pulled in by Florence’s inherent 
magnetism.) They nursed it back to health, but it 
was never seaworthy again. So, it became sort of a 
family pet. We’ll call him Dean (think James Dean 
in “Rebel Without a Cause”).

 Among his many personality quirks, Dean 
had the habit of standing at the back end of their 
long driveway, waiting for an oncoming car. As 
soon as one would come by, Dean took to the air 
and dive bombed right in 
front of the car’s path. He 
had gotten very good at 
timing this, and knew just 
when to pull away at the 
last moment. Nine times 
out of 10, the driver would 
loudly slam on his breaks. 
Perhaps it was the sound 
of the screeching breaks or 
the smell of burnt rubber. 
Whatever it was, Dean got a 
kick out of it. I’d like to think 
that it was the drivers’ good, 
animal-loving nature that 
kept Dean from becoming 
road kill, but for many of 
them it was more likely 
an automatic reaction to a 
large foreign body hurtling 
toward their windshield.

 I’m sure Florence’s family tried to break Dean 
of this nasty habit, but who’s ever heard of a trained 
seagull? Probably equally difficult was their 
explanation of the long, heavy tire marks in front 
of their driveway. 

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


PEACE OF MIND SEMINAR 

 The City of Arcadia Recreation & Community Services Department, in conjunction 
with Forest Lawn Memorial Parks and Mortuaries, is holding a free seminar for senior 
citizens on Friday, August 1, 2014 at 10:00am at the Arcadia Community Center located 
at 365 Campus Drive. 

 This presentation will discuss the importance of planning your final wishes to 
ensure your family from unnecessary emotional burden. Refreshments and door prize 
will be provided. For more information or to register, call Arcadia Senior Services at 
626.574.5130.