Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 2, 2014

11

THE GOOD LIFE

Mountain Views-News Saturday, August 2, 2014 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

IS LIFE INSURANCE NEEDED IN RETIREMENT?


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … August Birthdays*

Bill Nelson, Karlene Englert, Juanita Fernandez, Jeanette Francis, Joseph Kiss, John Luke, 
Jacquie Pergola, Maury Whitaker, Pat Miranda, Phyllis Chapman, Jerry Burnett, Margaret 
Aroyan, Phyllis Burg, Beverly Clifton, Rosemary Morabito, Susan Poulsen, Dorothy 
Quentmeyer, Genevieve Stubbs, Miep Tulleners, Joy Barry, Ellie Baudino, Marcia Bent, 
Daryls Brechwald, Joan Spears, Ruth Torres, Jane Zamanzadeh and Harry Enmark.

 *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: “Attitudes are contagious. Are yours worth catching?”

 ~ Dennis and Wendy Mannering~

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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.

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. Canceled on August 5th and 12th.

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

Free Legal Consultation: Wednesday, August 27th 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 12:45pm. 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.

 

UPCOMING EXCURSIONS

Homeboy Industries and Home Girl Cafe (Los Angeles, CA)

Date: Thursday, August 21, 2014

Time: 8:45am to 2:30pm Meeting Location: Hart Park House Senior Center Cost: $12.00 (does 
not include lunch). Come venture out and take the Gold Line to Homeboy Industries. You will have 
the chance to see Homeboy’s Programs in-action, gain a better understanding of how the social 
enterprises work, and discover the sense of community that exists for the young men and women 
who come though their doors seeking to leave their gang involvements behind and find hope in 
their futures. Tour is followed by lunch at Home Girl Café, where they provide a wide selection

of choices to choose from. Participants are asked to bring additional money for souvenirs and 
lunch. Last Day to register is Monday, August 18th. Level of Walking: High. Please note: public 
transportation will be used for this trip including MTA buses and the Gold Line; TAP cards will be 
provided to you. If you have any concerns please contact the Senior Center. 

Gondola Getaway (Long Beach, CA) Date: Friday, September 19, 2014 

Time: 9:15am to 3:15pm Meeting Location: Hart Park House Senior Center Cost: $30.00 (does not 
include lunch) The Gondola Getaway brings old world charm and a thousand year old tradition 
to Long Beach. Authentic Venetian gondolas gently cruise the enchanting canals and waterways of 
Naples Island near the resort area of Belmont Shores in Long Beach. Join us for an hourlong cruise 
followed by lunch at one of the charming restaurants in Belmont Shores. Participants are asked to 
bring $20 for lunch. Level of Walking: Low

Excursion Refund Policy: Notification of the cancellation must be made at least 3 business days 
before the excursion. A refund will only be issued 1) for a medical excuse or 2) if the Department 
is able to fill the patrons spot from a waiting list. This refund will be issued in the form of a credit 
which will be applied to the patron’s account with the City, less a $10 cancellation fee. The credit 
will remain on your account for one year from the date issued and the credit may be used for any 
program or service offered by the Community Services Department.

1ST & 3RD WEDNESDAY Shown at the Hart Park House Senior Center 

AUGUST 6TH: LINCOLN (2012)

As the Civil War continues to rage, America’s president struggles with 
continuing carnage on the battlefield and as he fights with many inside his 
own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves. Rated PG-13. Start 
time: 1:00 pm (run time 150 minutes) Featuring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally 
Field, David Strathairn, Tommy Lee Jones.

AUGUST 20TH: PHILOMENA (2013)

A world-weary political journalist picks up the story of a woman’s search for her son, who was 
taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a convent. 
Rated PG-13, Start time: 1:00 pm (run time 98 minutes) Featuring: Judi Dench, Steve Coogan.

MARLEY & ME (2008) will also be shown on August 27th as part of the Dog Days

Dear Savvy Senior:

Is life insurance needed in retirement? I’m about 
to retire and have been thinking about dropping 
my policy to escape the premiums. Is this a good 
idea? Over Insured

 

Dear Over:

While many retirees choose to stop paying their 
life insurance premiums when they no longer 
have young families to take care of, there are 
a few reasons you may still want to keep your 
policy. Here are some different points to consider 
that can help you determine if you still need life 
insurance in retirement.

 Dependents: Life insurance is designed to help 
protect your spouse and children from poverty 
in the case of your untimely death. But if your 
children are grown and are on their own, and you 
have sufficient financial resources to cover you 
and your spouse’s retirement costs, then there is 
little need to continue to have life insurance.

 But, if you had a child late in life or have a 
relative with special needs who is dependent on 
you for income, it makes sense to keep paying the 
premiums on your policy.

 You also need to make sure your spouse’s 
retirement income will not take a significant hit 
when you die. Check out the conditions of your 
pension or annuity (if you have them) to see 
if they stop paying when you die, and factor in 
your lost Social Security income too. If you find 
that your spouse will lose a significant portion of 
income upon your death, you may want to keep 
the policy to help make up the difference.

 Work: Will you need to take another job in 
retirement to earn income? Since life insurance 
helps replace lost income to your family when 
you die, you may want to keep your policy if 
your spouse or other family members are relying 
on that income. If, however, you have very little 
income from your retirement job, then there’s 
probably no need to continue with the policy.

 Estate taxes: Life insurance can also be a handy 
estate-planning tool. If, for example, you own a 
business that you want to keep in the family and 
you don’t have enough liquid assets to take care 
of the estate taxes, you can sometimes use a life 
insurance policy to help your heirs pay off Uncle 
Sam when you die.

 It’s a good idea to talk to a disinterested third 
party (not your insurance agent), like an estate 
planning expert or a fee-only financial planner to 
help you determine if your life insurance policy 
can help you with this.

 

Life Settlement Option

If you find that you don’t need your life insurance 
policy any longer, you may want to consider selling 
it in a “life settlement” transaction to a third party 
company for more than the cash surrender value 
would be, but less than its net death benefit. The 
best candidates are people over age 65 who own a 
policy with a face value of $250,000 or more.

 Once you sell your policy, however, the life 
settlement company becomes the new owner, 
pays the future premiums and collects the death 
benefit when you die.

 How much money you can expect to get with 
a life settlement will depend on your age, health 
and life expectancy, the type of insurance policy, 
the premium costs and the value of your policy. 
Most sellers generally get 12 to 25 percent of the 
death benefit.

 If you’re interested in this option, get quotes 
from several brokers or life settlement providers. 
Also, find out what fees you’ll be required to pay. 
To locate credible providers or brokers, the Life 
Insurance Settlement Association provides a 
referral service at lisa.org.

 

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

IF YOU GIVE A CAT A STEROID...

 It was summer, 1982. Reagan 
was President, the longest 
baseball game at Wrigley 
Field lasted 22 innings, and 
the lowest August temperature 
in Cleveland was a cool 38°F. But such was 
not the case in southern California. Rather 
than being remembered for this 
trivia, the summer of 1982 was 
remembered as a particularly 
bad flea season. However, the 
fleas didn’t bother me. I was six 
months away from being born, 
so I was well insulated.

 My grandma had gone to visit 
family in Michigan, and left 
my mom in charge of watching 
Boots, her cat. Being pregnant 
and having other distractions, 
Mom did not immediately realize 
that Gran’s house had become 
infested with fleas! They had 
taken up residence in the shag 
carpet (this was early 80’s, 
remember). One day when she 
went to feed Boots, Mom found 
him languishing on the carpet, his 
blood-drained body nearly dry to 
the bone. (Think Terry Thomas 
in “The Abominable Dr. Phibes.” 
You must see this dark comedy 
classic if you haven’t already!)

 She and Dad took quick 
action and brought Boots to a 
vet in Arcadia. He prescribed steroid treatments 
that were administered in a series of shots. 
Boots gradually recovered, and by the time 
Gran returned from her trip with a small kitten 
named Squeaky, he had regained his pre-drained 
plumpness. But unbeknownst to everyone, “The 
Madness of Boots” had begun.

 Squeaky was, as the name implies, a small, timid 
female cat. Boots took an instant overprotective 
attitude toward her, and was often subject to fits 
of jealous rage. Gran’s living room had a large 
floor-to-ceiling window that looked out over the 
quiet street she lived on. If Boots happened to see 
another cat outside he hurled himself against the 
window, practically frothing at the mouth. But, 
not being able to fight off his “competitor,” Boots 
lashed out at the closest living thing, which was 
typically Gran’s leg.

 It was around this time that 
Boots also developed small bony 
protrusions on his forehead, like 
little horns. Gran tried to keep 
his anger at bay, but it was not 
always possible. I was about 
four by this time, and Gran 
would often watch me while 
Mom was at work. It was on one 
of these days that Boots went 
into another violent fit, and sank 
his fangs deep into Gran’s ankle. 
With Gran down, I was left in his 
pathway. But seconds before he 
lunged at me, Gran dove between 
us and quickly pulled me into the 
safety of a closet.

 When Mom arrived that 
afternoon, she found “what 
looked like a crime scene!” The 
white carpet was streaked with 
bloody footprints leading toward 
the front door. She heard a 
muffled sound coming from the 
closet, “Mary! We’re in here!” 
By now Boots’ bloodlust had 
ended, and he was placidly munching Kibbles & 
Bits.

 The life and times of Boots ended a few years 
later when my mom and dad found him stiff 
behind the loveseat. We never learned what, 
exactly, caused his mania. Did his near brush 
with death push him over the edge? Had he been 
injected with some potent cocktail of hormones? 
Whatever was to blame, the lesson of the story is 
to be very careful if you give a cat a steroid... 


SENIOR 

CINEMA

LUNCH & LEARN PRESENTATION - PASADENA HERITAGE

Wednesday, August 27, 2014 • 12:00-1:00 pm

Take a look back into the history of the San Gabriel Valley and uncover the early beginnings of 
the cities of San Gabriel, Arcadia, San Marino, and Pasadena. Meet the Gabrielino Indians, the 
Indiana Colonists, and the investors who took part in the real estate boom of the turn of the century. 
Discover why the founders, developers and early settlers of the San Gabriel Valley made this area 
their home and why we appreciate, continue to appreciate and preserve it today. If you are interested 
in having lunch with the Senior Lunch Cafe during the presentation please call 626-355-0256 to 
make a reservation; otherwise, you may bring your own.

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER • AUGUST 25-29, 2014

Hot dog, it’s HOT out there! Escape the August heat and join us for a fun-filled week of activities!

• Monday, August 25th kicks off our “Cutest Dog Competition.” To enter the competition, either 
bring in a picture of your canine cutie with your name and phone number written on the back 
or email a copy to kschnurr@cityofsierramadre.com. All pictures will be displayed in the Senior 
Center and voting will take place throughout the week. Be sure to come in and cast your vote for 
who’s the cutest! The winner will be announced Friday, August 29th at the Hot Dog Dinner and 
will receive a prize.

• Tuesday, August 26th, 12:00pm– Satisfy your sweet tooth and come enjoy “dog treats” with 
lunch. You are welcome to either bring your own packed lunch or eat from the Senior Lunch Café. 
If you choose to eat from the Senior Lunch Café, please make a lunch reservation at 626-355-0256.

• Wednesday, August 27th, 1:00pm– Marley & Me, a heart-wrenching film about a mischievous 
Labrador, will be shown in the Senior Center at 1 pm. If you haven’t seen it already, it is a must see 
for all ages!

• Thursday, August 28th, 12:30pm– Two therapy dogs from Methodist Hospital will be visiting 
the Senior Center at 12:30pm to sit with anyone who would like a little extra love. 

• Friday, August 29th, 4:30-6:00pm – To cap off the Dogs Days of Summer, Gables of Monrovia 
will be catering a complimentary Hot Dog Dinner. Hot dogs will be served in addition to delicious 
side dishes. Other activities such as a prize raffle are planned to guarantee a fun time. R.S.V.P. to 
Kyle or Tracy at 626-355-7394. All reservations must be in by noon on August 25th.


TECH TALK: TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE

Mondays, August 11th and 25th 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.

EYE TESTINGS & READING GLASSES 

FOR ALL 

Tuesday, August 12th from 12:30-2:30pm Sierra 
Madre Rotary Club member Dr. Michael Budincich 
will be offering free eye testings and stock reading 
glasses to all interested individuals. 

 Dr. Budincich will be available Tuesday, August 
12th from 12:30pm to 2:30pm for consultations at the 
Hart Park House Senior Center. Each consultation 
will take approximately 5 min tes. While walk-ins 
are welcome, appointments are encouraged. Those 
who partake will receive a complimentary pair of 
stock reading glasses. To make an appointment, 
please call 626-355-7394.