Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 25, 2014

10

THE GOOD LIFE

Mountain Views-News Saturday, October 25, 2014 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

A GUIDE TO FINDING AFFORDABLE DENTAL CARE


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. Very special wishes to Artie Sanders 
who turns 80 this month!

 *To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth 
not required.

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

Quote of the Week: “Of all the seasons, autumn offers the most to man and requires the least 
of him.” ~ Hal Borlund

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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

Autry Museum & Route 66 Exhibit (Los Angeles)

 Date: Friday, November 14, 2014 Time: 9:30am-3:00pm

Meeting Location: Hart Park House Senior Center Cost: $10.00 (does not include lunch)

Don’t miss a visit to this historic museum and the once in a lifetime exhibit Route 66: The Road and

the Romance. The exhibit features more than 250 historical artifacts such as the oldest existing 
Route 66 shield alongside vintage gas pumps and neon art, John Steinbeck’s original handwritten 
manuscript for The Grapes of Wrath and Jack Kerouac’s typewriter scroll of On the Road, and a 
1960’s Chevrolet Corvette.

A one hour guided tour of the exhibit will be given followed by lunch on your own at the Autry 
Cafe and/or independent exploring of the vast collections of art and artifacts. The charter bus 
departs from the Hart Park House Senior Center at 9:30am and will return to Sierra Madre at 
3:00pm. Participants should bring money for lunch and souvenirs. Last day to register is Thursday, 
November 6th. Level of Walking: Medium

Dear Savvy Senior,

I had dental insurance through my work for many 
years but lost it when I retired. Where can retirees find 
affordable dental care?

Need a Dentist

Dear Need,

Finding affordable dental care can be challenging for 
seniors living on a tight budget. Most retirees lose 
their dental insurance after leaving the workplace, 
and original Medicare does not cover cleaning, 
fillings or dentures. While there’s no one solution to 
affordable dental care there are a number of options 
that can help cut your costs. Here’s where to look.

Medicare Advantage 

While original Medicare (Part A and B) and Medicare 
supplemental policies do not cover routine dental care, 
there are some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans 
that do. Many of these plans, which are sold through 
private insurance companies, cover dental care along 
with eye care, hearing and prescription drugs, in 
addition to all of your hospital and medical insurance. 
If you’re eligible for Medicare, see medicare.gov/find-
a-plan to look for Advantage plans in your area that 
covers dental care.

Dental Discounts

Another way you can reduce your dental care 
expenses is to join a dental discount network. How 
this works is you pay an annual membership fee – 
around $80 to $200 a year – in exchange for 10 to 60 
percent discounts on service and treatments from 
participating dentists. 

 To find a network, go to DentalPlans.com (or 
888-632-5353) where you can search for plans and 
participating dentists by zip code, as well as get a 
breakdown of the discounts offered. 

 Another option that’s currently available only in 
the southern California area is Brighter.com. They 
provide users free access to a network of dentists 
offering up to 50 percent discounts on all services.

Dental Schools

Dental school clinics offer savings opportunities 
too. All 65 accredited dental schools in the U.S. offer 
affordable care provided by dental students who are 
overseen by their professors. You can expect to pay 
about half of what a traditional dentist would charge 
and still receive excellent, well-supervised care.

 Another option is to check with local colleges that 
offer dental hygiene programs. For training purposes, 
many programs provide teeth cleanings by their 
students for a fraction of what you’d pay at a dentist’s 
office.

 To search for nearby dental schools or dental 
hygiene programs visit ada.org/dentalschools.

Veterans Benefits

If you’re a veteran enrolled in the VA health care 
program, or are a beneficiary of the Civilian Health 
and Medical Program (CHAMPVA), the VA is now 
offering a dental insurance program that gives you the 
option to buy dental insurance through Delta Dental 
and MetLife at a reduced cost.

 The VA also provides free dental care to vets who 
have dental problems resulting from service. To learn 
more about these options, visit va.gov/dental or call 
877-222-8387.

Low Income Options

If you’re low income, there are various programs and 
clinics that provide dental care at a reduced rate or 
for free. To look for options in your area contact your 
state dental director (see astdd.org), or your state or 
local dental society (ebusiness.ada.org/mystate.aspx).

 You may also be able to get discounted or free dental 
care at one of the federally funded HRSA health centers 
(findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov, 877-464-4772), or at a 
privately funded free clinic (nafcclinics.org).

 Also check with the Dental Lifeline Network 
(dentallifeline.org, 888-471-6334) which provides 
free dental care for low-income elderly and disabled; 
Remote Area Medical (ramusa.org) which offers free 
health, eye and dental care to people in select locations; 
and Indian Health Service (ihs.gov), which provides 
free dental care to American Indians and Alaska 
Natives who are members of a federally recognized 
Indian tribe.

 Also see toothwisdom.org, a website created by 
Oral Health America that will help you locate low-
cost dental care.

 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

MUCH ADO...

You gotta love Sierra Madre 
and its small town atmosphere. 
People know each other, or at least 
recognize each other, and little 
happens without acquaintances 
finding out about it. That being said, I hope I’m not 
in the Sierra Madre police blotter this week. Let me 
explain.

 It started innocently enough. I was visiting my 
parents when my mom asked me to do them a favor. 
Their neighbors a couple of doors down had gone out 
for the day and asked Mom and Dad to walk their 
dog (we’ll call her Sprinkles) 
once in the morning and then 
again in the afternoon. Would I 
mind hopping over and taking 
Sprinkles around the block? 
“Sure,” I said, confident of my dog 
walking abilities. So I took the key 
and went over. Something didn’t 
seem right as I entered. Sprinkles 
was eyeing me warily from 
the couch and barked a couple 
times. She seemed conflicted 
as to whether I was a friend or 
foe. Here was a “stranger” in 
her home, but when I picked up 
the leash she started licking my 
ankles. Then I heard it --ding--
ding--ding. Mom’s instructions 
hadn’t included anything about 
disabling the alarm system, so I 
hoped maybe it would just go off 
on its own.

 As the dings grew into blaring sirens I returned 
the leash to its hook by the door. Sprinkles looked 
disappointed. I picked up their phone to call the police, 
but there was no dial tone. Not having my purse, cell 
phone, or anything except their key, I locked up the 
house and returned to my parents.

 Mom was juicing when I got back. “That was fast!” she 
remarked. “Well, not really,” I said, “I set off the alarm.” 
“You did what?” Dad asked. He’s an avid exerciser, 
and was in the middle of his routine at the time. “Yes, 
that’s that loud sound you’re hearing. Maybe if I call 
them they can cancel the alarm.” I tried both of their 
numbers, but was only able to leave a message. Then I 
called the cops.

 Let me tell you, the Sierra Madre police are on top 
of things! Not that I call different police stations and 
compare response times, but they answered immediately. 
However, the Post alarm system is apparently even 
faster. “I’m calling because I accidentally set off my 
neighbors’ security alarm,” I explained. “I just wanted 
to let you know so you wouldn’t have to send anyone 
out.” “What’s your address?” the lady asked. “Um, well, 
I live on [Highland], but I’m at my parents’ on [Grove].” 
“We already have a unit there.” Shoot! “Can you go 
out and talk to them?” “Sure...” I said. “What are you 
wearing?” she asked. “A yellow sweatshirt.” There was 
a pause. “And blue shorts.” Okay, please don’t literally 
shoot! “On my way.”

 There was not one, but two police SUVs parked at 
the corner. My neighbor across the street was talking 
to them as I trotted up. I waved and he smiled good-
naturedly, probably wondering why this silly lady was 
choosing this moment to say 
hi. I recognized Officer Ford 
from the neighborhood watch 
meeting I had attended shortly 
after my husband and I moved to 
[Highland]. By the time I finished 
explaining the situation Dad was 
walking over, buttoning up his 
shirt (remember, this interrupted 
his workout). Officer Ford 
radioed in to the station, “I’m 
here with the responsible party, 
the dog-walker.” “You’re that 
girl who jogs, right?” he asked. 
“Yes,” I said. “You don’t have any 
ID on you, do you?” “No, sorry.” 
“Okay, what about you?” he 
asked Dad. “John Hopkins, [727 
Grove]” Dad answered. “So you 
live here, too?” he asked me. “No, 
I’m at [23 Highland].” “That’s 
what I thought,” he replied, probably remembering 
the neighborhood watch meeting. “So, your name’s 
Hopkins?” he asked. “No, ‘C.’ Spelled ‘T-S-E.” Dad 
started chuckling, “You can read all about this in the 
paper! Look, Katie, now you have a story for this week. 
What paper is it again?” Dad asked. “Mountain Views 
News.” “Oh,” Officer Ford said, “I’ve seen it but I don’t 
read it all the time.” “It’s called ‘This & That.’ My editor 
named it.” I replied “So, I’ll look for Katie Tse then” he 
said. “Well, they have me as Katie Tse on my column, 
but in the list of contributors I’m ‘Katie Hopkins.’” He 
looked slightly weary of this conversation. “Just look 
for the cartoon rabbit” Dad said.

 And so that was my run-in with the law last weekend. 
Officer Ford, if you’re reading this, I promise to never 
break and enter into my neighbors’ house again without 
their provision of the pass code. To my neighbors on 
[Grove], my apologies to you and Sprinkles, I’m sure it 
would’ve been a great walk! 

 

LUNCH & LEARN PRESENTATION - ELDER ABUSE

Wednesday, October 29, 2014 • Begins at 12:00pm

Elder Abuse is a significant public problem. Each year, hundreds of thousands of adults over the age 
of 60 are abused, neglected, or financially exploited. Sam Gopinathan, CEO of Comforcare Senior 
Services, has considerable experience working with seniors who have been victims of elder abuse. In 
this session Sam will cover various aspects of elder abuse, but focus more specifically on financial abuse: 
How to identify abuse, how to seek help, and more importantly how to avoid it. 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, bring your own.


SENIOR CINEMA - 1st, 3rd & 5th Wednesdays - At the Hart Park House Senior Center 

October 29th – To Kill a Mocking Bird (1962)

Atticus Finch, a lawyer in the Depression-era South, defends a black man against an undeserved 
rape charge, and his kids against prejudice. Not Rated. Start time: 1:00 pm (run time 129 minutes) 
Featuring: Frank Overton, Robert Duvall, Gregory Peck


FREE FLU SHOT CLINIC NOVEMBER 5 

AT PASADENA SENIOR CENTER

Flu season is coming! The Pasadena Public Health 
Department will sponsor a free flu shot clinic 
Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the 
Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly St. 

 The clinic is open to the public. Everyone is 
invited to protect themselves, loved ones over 
6 months of age and caregivers by making an 
advance appointment at the Welcome Desk or 
calling 626-795-4331.

 Responsible for 200,000 hospitalizations and 
36,000 deaths nationwide each year, influenza 
(flu) is caused by a virus that affects the entire 
body and for some may cause pneumonia, 
dehydration and other serious complications, 
especially senior citizens, very young children 
and people with serious health conditions.

 Founded in 1959, the Pasadena Senior Center 
is an independent, nonprofit organization that 
offers recreational, educational, wellness and 
social services to people ages 50 and over in a 
friendly environment. Services are also provided 
for frail, low-income and homebound seniors. 


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