Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 23, 2014

10

THE GOOD LIFE

Mountain Views-News Saturday, August 23, 2014 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

HOW TO GET SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS 

WHEN YOU’RE DISABLED


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: I distrust camels, and anyone else who can go a week without a drink.

 Joe E. Lewis

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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:

What do I need to do to get Social Security 
disability? I’m 57 years old and have some health 
issues that are keeping me from working, but I’ve 
heard it’s very difficult to get benefits.

Need Assistance

 

Dear Need:

 The process of getting Social Security disability 
benefits can be tricky and time-consuming, but 
you can help yourself by doing your homework 
and getting prepared.

 Last year, around 3 million people applied for 
Social Security disability benefits, but two-thirds 
of them were denied, because most applicants 
fail to prove that they’re disabled and can’t 
work. Here are some steps you can take that will 
improve your odds.

 

Get Informed

 The first thing you need to find out is if your 
health problem qualifies you for Social Security 
disability benefits.

 You generally will be eligible only if you have 
a health problem that is expected to prevent you 
from working in your current line of work (or 
any other line of work that you have been in over 
the past 15 years) for at least a year, or result in 
death.

 There is no such thing as a partial disability 
benefit. If you’re fit enough to work part-time, 
your application will be denied. You also need not 
apply if you still are working with the intention of 
quitting if your application is approved, because 
if you’re working your application will be denied.

Your skill set and age are factors too. Your 
application will be denied if your work history 
suggests that you have the skills to preform a less 
physically demanding job that your disability 
does not prevent you from doing.

 To help you determine if you are disabled, 
visit ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify5.htm and go 
through the five questions Social Security uses to 
determine disability.

 

How to Apply

 If you believe you have a claim, your next 
step is to gather up your personal, financial and 
medical information so you can be prepared and 
organized for the application process.

 You can apply either online at ssa.gov/
applyfordisability, or call 800-772-1213 to make 
an appointment to apply at your local Social 
Security office or to set up an appointment for 
someone to take your claim over the phone.

 The whole process lasts about an hour. If you 
schedule an appointment, a “Disability Starter 
Kit” that will help you get ready for your interview 
will be mailed to you. If you apply online, the kit 
is available at ssa.gov/disability.

 It takes three to five months from the 
initial application to receive either an award 
or denial of benefits. The only exception is if 
you have a chronic illness that qualifies you 
for a “compassionate allowance” (see ssa.gov/
compassionateallowances), which fast tracks 
cases within weeks.

 If Social Security denies your initial application, 
you can appeal the decision, and you’ll be happy 
to know that roughly half of all cases that go 
through a round or two of appeals end with 
benefits being awarded. But the bad news is 
with backlog of about 900,000 people currently 
waiting for a hearing it may take a year or longer 
for you to get one.

 

Get Help

 You can hire a representative to help you with 
your Social Security disability claim. By law, 
representatives can charge only 25 percent of 
past-due benefits up to a maximum of $6,000, if 
they win your case.

 It’s probably worth hiring someone at the start 
of the application process if your disability is 
something difficult to prove such as chronic pain. 
If, however, your disability is obvious, it might be 
worth initially working without a representative 
to avoid paying the fee. You can always hire a 
representative later if your initial application and 
first appeal are denied.

 

To find a representative, check with the 
National Association of Social Security 
Claimants’ Representatives (nosscr.org, 800-
431-2804) or National Association of Disability 
Representatives (nadr.org, 800-747-6131). Or, if 
you’re low-income, contact the Legal Services 
Corporation (lsc.gov/find-legal-aid) for free 
assistance.

 

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

JUNK --A CAUTIONARY TALE

“A place for everything, and 
everything in its place.” This 
is a familiar platitude along 
with other classics such 
as, “Cleanliness is next to 
godliness” and “Have nothing in your home that 
you do not know to be useful or believe to be 
beautiful.” And then there’s my personal favorite, 
“If there is righteousness in the heart, there will 
be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the 
character, there will be harmony in the house.” I 
wonder if the dusty pile of sneakers and flip flops 
in my closet implicates a questionable character, 
a disharmonious dwelling, or both? But it gets 
worse, “If there is harmony in the house, there 
will be order in the nation. If there is order in the 
nation, there will be peace in the world.” Shoot! 
Now I’ve got the responsibility for world peace on 
my guilty conscience!

 Although keeping 
ahead of my own junk is a 
challenge, I can only begin 
to imagine the physical 
and mental exhaustion of 
going through someone 
else’s stuff! This is the 
daunting feat my parents 
are dealing with at the 
moment. Before they 
retired, neither of them 
had the time or energy to 
sort through the things 
they had accumulated 
over the years. And when 
my grandparents passed, 
my parents inherited even 
more stuff. Some people prefer to keep their 
things out of sight and out of mind in storage, but 
that’s expensive! Therefore, my parents’ things 
occupied the living room for a while, and then 
spilled over into the back room. They finally 
condensed it all into a tightly packed area in the 
garage while the house was being remodeled. 

 When I say that they used the garage for storage, 
I don’t just mean that they stacked things up. Oh 
no! Every last cubic inch of available space was 
jam packed to the gills. This meant that some 
furniture was taken apart so that it would better 
fit into the limited space. When my husband and 
I moved into our house in February, my parents 
said we could have their old dining room table (to 
replace the TV trays we’re accustomed to eating 
off of). I suppose there’s something inherently 
disorderly and tacky about TV trays --that’s 
probably why we haven’t achieved world peace 
yet. Anyway, our table was trapped in “the core” 
of stuff for a long time. Every so often I’d catch a 
glimpse of a leg sticking out at an odd angle like 
an appendage in a Picasso painting. 

 At last their building project is done, and 
now they’re faced with deconstructing the core 
in the garage. Mind you the garage dates back 
to the 50’s. It vacillates between freezing in the 
winter and sweltering in the summer. So you 
can imagine my parents’ discomfort toting boxes 
around and dodging avalanches of “the sands 
of time” --literally! But any physical exertion 
pales in comparison to 
the difficulty of their 
decisions as to which of the 
things they should keep 
and which they should 
get rid of. One small box 
often holds a multitude 
of miscellaneous items 
from generations ago, all 
with a certain amount of 
sentimental value. 

 It doesn’t seem to 
help much whether or not 
there’s a logical reason to 
keep the stuff in question. 
The other day my mom 
asked me if I wanted my 
old bassinet or any of its 
blankets or other things. “Did you make any 
of them?” I asked. “Yes, a couple of blankets,” 
she said. “Okay, I’ll keep them.” “What are you 
going to do with them?” she asked. “I don’t know. 
I can’t get rid of them. You made them!” 

 Well, after many weeks and much deliberation, 
the clutter in the garage is starting to thin out. My 
dad’s work bench is almost visible, so hopefully 
he’ll be able to return to his ship model building 
before 2015. And my husband and I just recently 
brought home our very first proper dining table 
and chairs. Maybe world peace is within our 
grasp!

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.

CITY OF ARCADIAB“

PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP”

The City of Arcadia Recreation & Community Services 
Department – Senior ServicesbDivision in partnership 
with Neurosearch, Inc. of Pasadena provides the Parkinson’ 
Support Group for individuals with movement disorders, 
their family and friends willing to learning about this 
disease. The meeting dates are the third Friday of each 
month at 1:30pm, at the Arcadia Community Center, 365 
Campus Drive, Arcadia CA 91007.

Come out to receive important information from guest 
speakers and enjoy light refreshments served. Meeting dates 
are: Friday’s, August 15th, September 19th, October 17th 
and November 21st. For more information or to register, call 
Arcadia Senior Services at 626.574.5130.

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