Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 25, 2015

13

THE GOOD LIFE

Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 25, 2015

FYI - SENIORS - DON’T BE A TARGET

THE F.B.I. Common Fraud Schemes webpage provides tips on how you can protect you and your 
family from fraud. Senior Citizens especially should be aware of fraud schemes for the following 
reasons:

 Senior citizens are most likely to have a “nest egg,” to own their home, and/or to have excellent 
credit—all of which make them attractive to con artists.

People who grew up in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s were generally raised to be polite and trusting. 
Con artists exploit these traits, knowing that it is difficult or impossible for these individuals to say 
“no” or just hang up the telephone.

 Older Americans are less likely to report a fraud because they don’t know who to report it to, are 
too ashamed at having been scammed, or don’t know they have been scammed. Elderly victims may 
not report crimes, for example, because they are concerned that relatives may think the victims no 
longer have the mental capacity to take care of their own financial affairs.

When an elderly victim does report the crime, they often make poor witnesses. Con artists know the 
effects of age on memory, and they are counting on elderly victims not being able to supply enough 
detailed information to investigators. In addition, the victims’ realization that they have been 
swindled may take weeks—or more likely, months—after contact with the fraudster. This extended 
time frame makes it even more difficult to remember details from the events.

Senior citizens are more interested in and susceptible to products promising increased cognitive 
function, virility, physical conditioning, anti-cancer properties, and so on. In a country where new 
cures and vaccinations for old diseases have given every American hope for a long and fruitful life, 
it is not so unbelievable that the con artists’ products can do what they claim.

 For more information go to: http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/fraud/seniors

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HELPFUL HINT: Burned a pot of rice? Just place a piece of white bread on top of the 
rice for 5-10 minutes to draw out the burned flavor. Be careful not to scrape the burned pieces off 
of the bottom of the pan when serving the rice

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FOR YOUR FUNNY BONE 

“Now, Ms. Lyons,” said the doctor, “you say you have shooting pains in your neck, dizziness, and 
constant nausea. Just for the record, how old are you?” “Why, I’m going to be 39 on my next birthday,” 
the woman replied indignantly. “Hmmm,” muttered the doctor, “Got a slight loss of memory, too.”

 ~ ~ ~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … April Birthdays…

Howard Rubin, Mary Harley, Bette White, Dorothy White, Doris Behrens, Freda Bernard,

Beth Copti, Terri Cummings, Marilyn Diaz, Virginia Elliott, Elma Flores, Julia Gottesman, 
Betty Jo Gregg, Barbara Lampman, Betty Mackie, Elizabeth Rassmusen, Maria Reyes, 
Marian DeMars, Anne Schryver, Chrisine Bachwansky, Colleen McKernan, Sandy Swanson, 
Hattie Harris, Hank Landsberg, Ken Anhalt, Shannon Vandevelde

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

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

HAWAIIAN AND POLYNESIAN DANCE CLASS: Every Tuesday morning from 10am to 11am. 
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: 2nd Tuesday of the month from 11am to 12pm. No appt. 
is necessary.

BRAIN GAMES: Tuesday, March 17th, 11am -12pm, improve your memory and strengthen your 
brain. Activities facilitated by Swati Puri, Community Liaison for ComForcare Senior Services in 
Pasadena.

FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION: Wednesday, March 18 from 10:30am to Noon. Attorney Lem 
Makupson is available for legal consultation. He specializes in Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Estates, 
and Injury. Appointment are required by calling 626-355-7394.

CHAIR YOGA: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 to 11:45 am, except on the third Monday of 
the month. A suggested donation of $5 at one of the classes is requested, but is not required.

CASE MANAGEMENT: Meets the 2nd Thursday of the month. Case Management services are 
provided by the YWCA and provide assistance in a variety of areas. Appointments are required and 
can be scheduled by calling the HPH Office at 626-355-7394.

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.

TAX ASSISTANCE: Every Thursday February 5th through April 9th from 1:00pm-2:00pm. Don 
Brunner is available for income tax consultation. Appointments are required, call 626-355-7394.

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 11:30am. 
Club meeting at noon. Bingo 12:30-3:30pm. Annual Membership is only $10.00.

LUNCH & LEARN PRESENTATION - Thursday, April 16th, 2015 beginning at 12:00pm

Tanya Mazzolini from The Kensington will give a talk about French artist Henri Matisee while 
demonstrating a project in his style of art. Matisee, known for his use of color and his fluid and 
original draughtsmanship. He was a draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but is known primarily 
as a painter. Matisse is commonly regarded along with Pablo Picasso and Marcel Dunchamp, as one 
of the three artists who helped to define the revolutionary developments in the plastic arts in the 
opening decades of the twentieth century. 

UNDERSTANDING MEDICARE’S ENROLLMENT RULES

SENIOR HAPPENINGS


Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you give me a rundown on Medicare’s 
enrollment choices and rules along with when and 
how to apply? I turn 65 next year and want to make 
sure I know what to do.

Almost Retired

Dear Almost,

The strict rules and timetables for Medicare 
enrollment can be confusing to many new retirees, 
so you’re wise to plan ahead. Here’s a simplified 
rundown of what to know.

 First a quick review. Remember that original 
Medicare has two parts: Part A, which provides 
hospital coverage and is free for most people, 
and Part B which covers doctor’s visits and other 
medical services, and costs $104.90 per month for 
most enrollees in 2015. 

When to Enroll

Everyone is eligible for Medicare at age 65, even 
if your full Social Security retirement age is 66 or 
later.

 You can enroll any time during the “initial 
enrollment period,” which is a seven-month 
period that includes the three months before, the 
month of, and the three months after your 65th 
birthday. It’s best to enroll three months before 
your birth month to ensure your coverage starts 
when you turn 65.

 If you happen to miss the seven-month sign-
up window for Medicare Part B, you’ll have to 
wait until the next “general enrollment period” 
which runs from Jan. 1 to March 31 with benefits 
beginning the following July 1. You’ll also incur a 
10 percent penalty for each year you wait beyond 
your initial enrollment period, which will be 
tacked on to your monthly Part B premium. You 
can sign up for premium-free Part A, at any time 
with no penalty.

Working Exceptions

Special rules apply if you’re eligible for Medicare 
and still on the job. If you have health insurance 
coverage through your employer or your spouse’s 
employer, and the company has 20 or more 
employees, you have a “special enrollment period” 
in which you can sign up. This means that you can 
delay enrolling in Medicare Part B, and are not 
subject to the 10 percent late-enrollment penalty 
as long as you sign up for within eight months of 
losing that coverage. 

Drug Coverage

 Be aware that original Medicare does not 
cover prescription medications, so if you don’t 
have credible drug coverage from an employer 
or union, you’ll need to buy a Part D drug plan 
from a private insurance company (see medicare.
gov/find-a-plan) during your initial enrollment 
if you want coverage. If you don’t, you’ll incur 
a premium penalty – 1 percent of the average 
national premium ($33.13 in 2015) for every month 
you don’t have coverage – if you enroll later. 

Supplemental Coverage

 If you choose original Medicare, it’s also a good 
idea to get a Medigap (Medicare supplemental) 
policy within six months after enrolling in Part B to 
help pay for things that aren’t covered by Medicare 
like copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. See 
Medicare.gov and click on “Supplements & Other 
Insurance” to shop and compare policies.

All-In-One Plans

 Instead of getting original Medicare, plus a 
stand-alone Part D drug plan and a Medigap 
policy, you could sign up for a Medicare Advantage 
plan (see medicare.gov/find-a-plan) that covers 
everything in one plan. These plans, which are 
also sold by insurance companies, are generally 
available through HMOs and PPOs and often 
have cheaper premiums, but their deductibles 
and co-pays are usually higher which makes them 
better suited for healthier retirees. 

How to Enroll

If you’re already receiving your Social Security 
benefits before 65, you will automatically be 
enrolled in Part A and Part B, and you’ll receive 
your Medicare card about three months before 
your 65th birthday. It will include instructions to 
return it if you have work coverage that qualifies 
you for late enrollment. If you’re not receiving 
Social Security, you’ll need to enroll either online 
at socialsecurity.gov/medicare, over the phone 
at 800-772-1213 or through your local Social 
Security office.

 

 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

TRIVIAL PURSUITS & OTHER 

TRENDS IN EDUCATION

You may have noticed a story 
floating around the news lately 
about an assignment given to 
students in Singapore. Here it is 
if you haven’t seen it yet: “Albert 
and Bernard just became friends with Cheryl, and 
they want to know when her birthday is. Cheryl 
gives them a list of 10 possible dates: May 15, May 
16, May 19, June 17, June 18, July 14, July 16, August 
14, August 15, August 17. Cheryl then tells Albert 
and Bernard separately the month and the day 
of her birthday respectively. Albert says, ‘I don’t 
know when Cheryl’s birthday is, but I know that 
Bernard does not know, too.’ Bernard says, ‘At first 
I don’t know when Cheryl’s 
birthday is, but I know now.’ 
Albert responds, ‘Then I 
also know when Cheryl’s 
birthday is.’ So, the question 
asks, when is Cheryl’s 
birthday?”

 People have had different 
reactions to this. Some find 
it mentally stimulating, like 
a Sudoku puzzle on steroids. 
This group is further divided 
into the people who try to 
solve the problem straight, 
and those who take the 
“correct” answer and try 
to figure out the logic by 
working backwards. 

 My experience with the 
people who try to solve 
it straight is that they 
invariably come up with a 
different conclusion than what the authors claim 
to be the correct one. Sometimes they become 
defensive, arguing that if their answer is not 
correct, it is due to poor wording in the question. 
My husband and dad fall into this category. Bless 
their souls, they came up with their own answers 
and were convinced their logic and reasoning were 
flawless.

 Then there are the uber-snobs whose online posts 
typically read something like, “Well, the solution is 
clear to any student of theoretical astro-physics [or 
fill in the blank with any highfalutin’ science of your 
choosing]!” The anonymity of the internet brings 
out the worst in people, and the only difference 
between posts like these and expletive-laden rants 
are that the former are polished whereas the latter 
are crude. But the same critical spirit underlies 
both.

 When Dad first read the problem to Mom and I, 
I assumed it was yet another example of Common 
Core. It has all the earmarks of Common Core 
--unnecessary steps in a situation that will never 
occur in the real world outside the classroom. So 
my initial response was like all my responses to 
Common Core, “Who cares?” But to humor Dad, 
Mom and I attempted the problem. After some time 
Dad said, “I think I got it!” He left to go check the 
Daily Mail article from which he got the problem 
originally to see if he was right. While he was gone, 
Mom and I talked about the puzzle.

 “This Cheryl is kind of weird, posing this 
problem to people she just 
met” I said. “Yeah,” Mom 
responded, “It’s really 
kind of narcissistic of her. 
I mean, does she really 
expect Bernard and Albert 
to be that interested in her 
birthday?” “Seriously!” I 
said, “Why all the intrigue?” 
“Maybe Cheryl has some 
problems --like delusions 
of grandeur,” Mom added. 
“Hmm,” I replied, “I wonder 
if Albert and Bernard are 
really her ‘friends?’ Maybe 
she’s an inmate in some 
mental facility, and Bernard 
and Albert are the guys in 
white coats in charge of her.” 
“Ha!” Mom laughed, “They 
could just peek inside her 
file and find out when her 
birthday is. They’re just acting interested to placate 
her.”

 By now Dad had returned and was busy 
attempting to prove why his answer was right and 
the one Daily Mail published was incorrect. “Don’t 
worry, Dad, we figured it out!” “Really?” he asked. 
Although we laid out the watertight logic behind 
our conclusion, Dad pointed out that we still did not 
come up with the same answer as the authors of the 
problem. “But in Common Core it doesn’t matter 
what answer you come up with” I replied. “As long 
as you can give an argument for your reasoning. It’s 
as good as getting the problem right!”

 I’ll leave you with that to consider in closing. 
Next week, we’ll apply higher level criticism to the 
problem “2 + 2 = ?” Spoiler alert! It’s not what you 
think!


THE MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE 
(LOS ANGELES) 

Thursday, April 30, 2015 8:45am to 3:30pm 

Meeting Location: Hart Park House Senior Center Cost: $15 (Does not include lunch)

Opened in 1993, built at a cost of $50 million by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, named after Simon 
Wiesenthal, Holocaust Survivor. We’ll have a 3 hour docent-led tour of the Museum of Tolerance, a 
multimedia museum in Los Angeles designed to examine racism and prejudice around the world with 
a strong focus on the history of the Holocaust. Lunch will be on your own at Factor’s Deli, a landmark 
location for over 65 years. It’s a booth-lined Jewish delicatessen known for its matzo ball soup and 
corned beef on rye. Participants should bring money for lunch and souvenirs. Last day to register is 
April 22nd. Level of walking: Medium to high. For more information, please call the Hart Park House 
at 626-355-7394.

UPCOMING EXCURSIONS: