Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 28, 2015

B2

THE GOOD LIFE

Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 28, 2015

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … February Birthdays

Hilda Pittman, Anne-Marie Stockdale, Ann Luke, Susan Henderson, Jan Reed, Peter 
Lippincott, Georgia Lippincott, Allie Attay, Ursula El-Tawansy, Gladys Moser, Sylvia 
Lorhan, Jan O’Day, Ana Ptanski, Winifred Swanson , Marian DeMars, Vickie Vernon, 
Mary Beth Knox, Sharon Lefler, Gordon Caldwell. * To add your name to this 
distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required but you must 
be over 60.

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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.

LUNCH & LEARN PRESENTATION – HEART HEALTH

Wednesday, February 18th, 2015 beginning at 12:00 pm

February is American Heart Month, a time to show yourself the love. Learn about your risks for 
heart disease and stay “heart healthy” for yourself and your loved ones. 

 A representative from The Kensington will teach us about nutrition on how to eat a healthy diet 
and also activities that can help us maintain a healthy weight and lower cholesterol and blood 
pressure.

 If you would like to have lunch during the talk, please make a lunch reservation with the Senior 
Lunch Café at 626-355-0256 or you may bring your own.

SEASONAL FUN AT THE SENIOR CENTER

Valentine’s Day Craft: Give flowers on Valentine’s Day that won’t need water or trigger pollen 
allergies. Come and join us on Thursday, February 12th, in making tissue paper carnations. Craft 
making will begin at 11:00 am. All supplies will be provided.

HISTORIC RESIDENCE OF SAM MALOOF AND THE MALOOF 
DISCOVERY GARDENS (ALTA LOMA)

Date: Friday, February 27, 2014 Time: 9:30am - 3;30pm

Meeting Location: Hart Park House Senior Center Cost: $20 (Does not include lunch)

 Guided tour of the home of American woodworker Sam Maloof and furnished with his signature 
furniture. The house is also a showcase of 20th century studio craft and fine art. Following the tour, 
take a selfguided tour of the Maloof Discovery Garden and then visit the Museum shop stocked with 
crafts and Maloof publications. Please note there are 12 steps up to a mezzanine level in the historic 
home. Not able to accommodate wheelchairs in the historic home, but can accommodate walkers. 
Patrons are required to leave their handbags and other large belongings in a locked coat check room 
prior to touring the home. Lunch is scheduled for a restaurant 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

ESSENTIAL LEGAL DOCUMENTS ALL SENIORS 
SHOULD HAVE


Dear Savvy Senior,

What kinds of legal documents are suggested for end-of-
life plans? I would like to get my affairs in order before 
it’s too late. 

Getting Old

 Dear Getting,

Every adult – especially seniors – should have at least 
four essential legal documents to protect them and 
their family. These documents will make sure your 
wishes regarding your estate are legal and clear, and 
will help minimize any conflicts and confusion with 
your family and your health care providers if you 
become seriously illness or when you die. Here are the 
key documents you need, along with some tips to help 
you create them.

A Will: This document lets you spell out your 
wishes of how you’d like your property and assets 
distributed after you die, whether it’s to family, 
friends or a charity. It also allows you to designate an 
executor to ensure your wishes are carried out, and 
allows you to name guardians if you have minor or 
dependent children.

 In addition to a will, if you own real estate or have 
considerable assets, another option you may want to 
consider is a “revocable living trust.” This functions 
like a will but allows your estate to avoid the time 
and expense of probate (the public legal process that 
examines your estate after you die) and helps ensure 
your estate’s privacy.

Durable Power of Attorney: This allows you to 
designate someone you trust to make financial, tax 
and legal decisions on your behalf if you lose your 
decision-making capacity. 

Advanced Health Care Directive: This includes two 
documents that spell out your wishes regarding your 
end-of-life medical treatment. The two documents are 
a “living will” which tells your doctor what kind of 
care you want to receive if you become incapacitated, 
and a “health care power of attorney” which names a 
person you authorize to make medical decisions on 
your behalf if you become unable to.

 Do-It-Yourself

If you have a simple estate and an uncomplicated 
family situation, there are several good do-it-yourself 
guides that can help you create all these documents for 
very little money.

 For creating a will, a top resource is the Quicken 
WillMaker Plus 2015 software (available at nolo.com) 
that costs $50, works with Windows personal computers 
and is valid in every state except Louisiana. If you use a 
Mac, nolo.com offers an online will maker for $35.

 Or, if you only need to create an advance directive 
you can do it for free at caringinfo.org (or call 800-
658-8898), where you can get state-specific forms with 
instructions. Or for only $5, an even better tool is the 
Five Wishes document (agingwithdignity.org, 888-
594-7437), which is valid in 42 states and will help you 
create a customized advance directive. 

Get Help

If, however, you want or need assistance or if you have 
a complicated financial situation, blended family or 
have considerable assets, you should hire an attorney. 
An experienced lawyer can make sure you cover all 
your bases – especially when writing a will or living 
trust – which can help avoid family confusion and 
squabbles after you’re gone.

 Costs will vary depending on where you reside, but 
you can expect to pay somewhere between $200 and 
$1,000 for a will, or $1,200 to $5,000 for a living trust.

 The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel 
(actec.org) and the National Academy of Elder Law 
Attorneys (naela.org) websites are good resources that 
have directories to help you find someone in your area.

 If money is tight, check with your state’s bar 
association (see findlegalhelp.org) to find low-cost 
legal help in your area. Or call the Eldercare Locater at 
800-677-1116 for a referral.

 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

VAMPIRES VS. ZOMBIES

“The Walking Dead” 
is back. While it’s 
not my favorite show, 
I must give it to them 
for garnering such a 
huge fan base. With 
so many competing 
zombie shows and 
movies, “The Walking Dead” continues 
to draw a faithful crowd around the 
boob tube each week. It seems like only 
yesterday that zombies were a thing of the 
past and vampires were all the rage.

 “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” 
“Underworld,” and “Twilight” were but a 
few of many vampire-themed productions. 
For a while it seemed like vampires were 
here to stay. But then zombies made a 
comeback and in doing so pushed vampires 
to the distant reaches of our memory. Why 
is that?

 I don’t pretend to know hoaw trends 
work, but I’ve come up with a rudimentary theory 
explaining the fall of vampires and rise of zombies. First 
lets “unpack” the differences between the two. Vampires 
(at least those in all the movies and shows I’ve mentioned) 
are intelligent, articulate, and look good in tight-fitting 
outfits. Zombies, on the other hand, are crude, clumsy, 
and unintelligible. Vampires have higher literacy rates 
and function within a sophisticated social hierarchy, 
whereas zombies are oblivious to everything other than 
the sight, sound, and smell of potential food sources. 

 Lets also look at humans’ methods of dealing with 
vampires in comparison to zombies. To kill a vampire, 
you need to read up on them, trap them somehow, and 
then drive a stake or silver bullet through their heart. 
I’m betraying my ignorance here --I actually don’t know 
the first thing about how characters dispose of vampires 
except in “Dracula.” If my fuzzy memory and spotty 
knowledge serve me well, I don’t think 
regular humans ever got close to killing 
vampires in “Buffy,” “Underworld,” or 
“Twilight.” I think the point of those stories 
was to get the viewer to fantasize about 
encountering such creatures. 

 Now let’s look at zombies. They’re 
disheveled and literally falling apart at the 
seams. Killing vampires requires skill and 
finesse. But taking out zombies is fairly 
brainless (Ha!) --just smash their heads. 
While vampires operate in organized 
circles and can trace their origins back for 
centuries, zombies are typically mindless 
products of nuclear fall out or viruses 
that have run amuck. Vampires have 
intellectual and seductive connotations, 
but zombies just make us think “It’s the end 
of the world!” And here’s where marketing 
comes into play.

 My theory is that the relative popularity 
of vampires vs. zombies is directly tied to 
the economy and general well being of the populace. Pre-
2008, people had jobs, bright futures, and felt confident. 
They could enjoy watching pale, svelte vampires engaging 
in all the intriguing things vampires do for hours at a 
time. Fast forward to the housing bust and all the other 
economic and social ills Americans have endured, and 
you’ll see why people prefer to cheer as humans mow their 
way through torrents of zombies as if they were overgrown 
grass. Killing zombies is reckless, thoughtless, and void of 
consequences --except that taking out a zombie obviously 
means he/she/it can’t take you out.

 In short, the rise in zombie popularity implies a 
decrease in the well-being and hope of the public at large. 
People have a lot of pent-up anger and are just waiting for 
the opportunity to take it all out on a mindless zombie. 
Unfortunately, many people ignore the line separating 
fantasy and reality. 


UPCOMING EXCURSIONS: