Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 20, 2016

THE GOOD LIFE

11

Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 20, 2016 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

2016 TAX FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR RETIREES


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …February Birthdays*

Cathrine Adde, Hilda Pittman, Anne-Marie Stockdale, Ann Luke, Susan 
Henderson, Jan Reed, Peter Lippincott, Georgia Lippincott, Allie Attay, Ursula El-
Tawansy, Gladys Moser, Sylvia Lorhan, 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

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

ACTIVITIES: Unless listed differently, all activities are at the 
Hart Park House (Senior Center) 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre

 

 

 YWCA San Gabriel Valley - Intervale Senior Cafe 

Seniors 60 years of age and up can participate in the YWCA Intervale daily lunch program held 
at the Hart Park House Senior Center. Meals are served Monday through Friday at 12:00 pm 
and participants are encouraged to arrive by 11:45 am. Meals are a suggested donation of $3.00 
for seniors 60 and over or $5.00 for non-senior guests. Daily reservations are necessary, space is 
limited. Please reserve your lunch by calling 626-355-0256.

Tech Talk: Held on Monday, January 25th from 1:30-2:30pm. Learn how to use your new 
technology devises. Please reserve your space with the Hart Park House by calling 626-355-7394. 

 

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: Thursday, January 21st, 10:30am - 11:30am, improve your memory and strengthen 
your brain. Activities facilitated by Hugo, Community Liaison for New Wave Home care of 
Pasadena. 

 

Free Legal Consultation: Wednesday, January 27th 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. 

Balance Class: No Balance Class due to Martin Luther King Holiday. 

 

Chair Yoga: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 to 11:45 am. 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 at the Hart Park House. The free 
birthday cake is provided by the Sierra Madre Civic Club. 

 

Game Day: Every Thursday starting at 12:00pm. (Please note the time change.) 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. 

 

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. 

Dear Savvy Senior,

What is the IRS income tax filing requirements going 
to be for this tax season? Due to health problems I 
stopped working early last year, so I’m wondering if 
I need to file.

Unintended Retiree

Dear Unintended,

There are a number of factors that affect whether or 
not you need to file a federal income tax return this 
year including how much you earned last year (in 
2015), and the source of that income, as well as your 
age and filing status.

 Here’s a rundown of this tax season’s IRS filing 
requirements. For most people, this is pretty 
straightforward. If your 2015 gross income – which 
includes all taxable income, not counting your 
Social Security benefits, unless you are married and 
filing separately – was below the threshold for your 
age and filing status, you probably won’t have to file. 
But if it’s over, you will.

· Single: $10,300 ($11,850 if you’re 65 or older by Jan. 
1, 2016).

· Married filing jointly: $20,600 ($21,850 if you or 
your spouse is 65 or older; or $23,100 if you’re both 
over 65).

· Married filing separately: $4,000 at any age.

· Head of household: $13,250 ($14,800 if age 65 or 
older).

· Qualifying widow(er) with dependent child: 
$16,600 ($17,850 if age 65 or older).

 To get a detailed breakdown on federal filing 
requirements, along with information on taxable 
and nontaxable income, call the IRS at 800-829-
3676 and ask them to mail you a free copy of the 
“Tax Guide for Seniors” (publication 554), or see irs.
gov/pub/irs-pdf/p554.pdf. 

Special Requirements

 There are, however, some other financial 
situations that will require you to file a tax return, 
even if your gross income falls below the IRS filing 
requirement. For example, if you had earnings from 
self-employment in 2015 of $400 or more, or if you 
owe any special taxes to the IRS such as alternative 
minimum tax or IRA tax penalties, you’ll probably 
need to file. 

 To figure this out, the IRS offers an interactive 
tax assistant tool on their website that asks a series 
of questions that will help you determine if you’re 
required to file, or if you should file because you’re 
due a refund.

 You can access this tool at irs.gov/filing – click 
on “Do you need to file a return?” Or, you can get 
assistance over the phone by calling the IRS helpline 
at 800-829-1040. You can also get face-to-face 
help at a Taxpayer Assistance Center. See irs.gov/
localcontacts or call 800-829-1040 to locate a center 
near you.

Check Your State

 Even if you’re not required to file a federal tax 
return this year, don’t assume that you’re also 
excused from filing state income taxes. The rules 
for your state might be very different. Check with 
your state tax agency before concluding that you’re 
entirely in the clear. For links to state tax agencies 
see taxadmin.org/state-tax-agencies.

Tax Prep Assistance

If you find that you do need to file a tax return this 
year, you can get help through the Tax Counseling 
for the Elderly (or TCE) program. Sponsored by 
the IRS, TEC provides free tax preparation and 
counseling to middle and low-income taxpayers, age 
60 and older. Call 800-906-9887 or visit irs.treasury.
gov/freetaxprep to locate a service near you.

 Also check with AARP, a participant in the TCE 
program that provides free tax preparation at more 
than 5,000 sites nationwide. To locate an AARP 
Tax-Aide site call 888-227-7669 or visit aarp.org/
findtaxhelp. You don’t have to be an AARP member 
to use this service.

 

 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

THE FORKS AWAKEN! (EPISODE 2)

 Last week I shared about the 
fabulous time my parents and I 
had at “Healthy Taste of L.A.,” an 
annual vegan conference with many of the same doctors 
and health professionals featured in the film, “Forks 
Over Knives,” (hence the witty play on words “The Forks 
Awaken”). However, time and print space did not permit 
me to describe the event in its entirety, which is why I’ve 
added Episode 2. To quickly recap, I left you on the edge 
of your seats in breathless anticipation of Dr. Caldwell 
Esselstyn, author of bestselling Prevent and Reverse Heart 
Disease, and Dr. Michael Greger, creator of Nutritionfacts.
org, a wonderful free resource to help the average person 
navigate the sea of medical research regarding nutrition and 
health. And somewhere in there Dr. Esselstyn’s wife, Ann, 
and daughter, Jane, put on an informative, and hilarious, 
cooking demonstration!

 Last week I also neglected to mention the excellent work 
of John Tanner. When he nearly died of sudden cardiac 
arrest several years ago at age 52, he 
decided to use his second chance at 
life to help others avoid the untimely 
death which so nearly claimed him. 
He runs nusci.org, and “Little Green 
Forks,” a service in the Monrovia/
Arcadia/Pasadena area that provides 
information and free resources for 
those interested in pursuing a vegan 
life change. 

 Dr. Esselstyn presented much of 
the same message that he delivered 
in “Forks Over Knives.” That is to say, 
even the worst cardiac cases are often 
able to be rescued from the jaws of 
impending death by following a strict 
oil-free vegan diet. He showed images 
of coronary scans before and after 
beginning, not months, but weeks, 
of a plant-based diet, and the results were astounding! 
Shriveled, pinched arteries had transformed into wide, 
healthy ones. Even other medical professionals admit that 
there’s no pill or procedure able to deliver these results! And 
that’s the truly inspiring part of “Healthy Taste of L.A.” It’s 
easy to get depressed about the damage meat, dairy, and 
over-processed foods cause our bodies, and it’s true that we 
shouldn’t take these threats lightly. However, it blows your 
mind to see the body’s restorative capabilities when given 
common, everyday things like sweet potatoes, chard, and 
blueberries. It’s like Dorothy waking up to realize that all she 
ever needed was no farther than her own back yard! Truly 
we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God! The word, 
“miraculous,” comes to mind.

 Ann and Jane Esselstyn followed with a lively 
demonstration of sandwiches, salads, dressings, and 
sautéing mushrooms and onions without oil. This was 
surprising because typically people always say that you 
must have oil in order to sauté these vegetables. In Episode 
One I forgot to mention another surprising thing that 
Dr. Klaper told us --contrary to popular belief, breakfast 
is not the most important meal of the day! That is as 
ingrained in the American mind as the idea that “Milk 
does a body good,” (also not true!). Apparently the saying 
was originally developed by a bacon company early in the 
20th century. Even in public education we still practically 
tell parents the yearly state standardized testing results 
are dependant upon the students consuming a hearty 
breakfast.

 The final speaker was Dr. Michael Greger. And it’s good 
that they saved him for last because, despite the useful 
insights we’d learned from the other speakers, by that time 
of day we were all a bit tired and cranky. Yes, I’m sure that 
if Dr. Greger ever decides to leave medicine he will have 
a promising career in stand up-comedy waiting for him. 
That man is a riot! Not only did he time the cadence of his 
presentation to the perfect tempo, but he had a host of new 
jokes we hadn’t heard yet. 

 Unfortunately, just as I am not as articulate as Dr. Klaper 
in explaining metabolism, I am not as smooth or funny 
as Dr. Greger in joking about the relative potassium merit 
of different foods or the dangers of meat preparation. As 
it turns out, not only is breakfast not the most important 
meal of the day, but also bananas are not the best source of 
potassium! As it turns out, a vanilla cone from McDonald’s 
offers more potassium than a banana. That’s not to say 
that bananas are evil --just that you shouldn’t turn to 
them if you’re in an urgent need of 
potassium. Dr. Greger also spoke 
about poultry, particularly chicken, 
which my Dad lovingly refers to 
as “fecal fowl” because of the high 
amount of fecal material present on 
the birds due to the manner in which 
they are raised and slaughtered. 
“Do you know why there’s more 
bacteria on a kitchen sink than in 
a toilet bowl?” Dr. Greger posed to 
the audience. “Because people don’t 
rinse chicken in the toilet!” How can 
you not love his sense of humor!

 And so concluded my 
family’s first “Healthy Taste of L.A.” 
We had a great time and learned a lot, 
but it would be dishonest of me not to 
provide a qualifying statement about 
all that we learned regarding health and nutrition. Health is 
a wonderful thing and we should all strive to live the longest, 
healthiest life possible. But if we think that this life is all we 
have to consider, we are deceived. The Bible teaches that we 
should not fear those who can kill the body, but then have 
not power to harm us. Instead, we should fear (reverently 
respect) Him who is able to destroy both the body and the 
soul. This life is merely a shadow of the one to come. For the 
Christian who puts his hope in Jesus, he has the promise of 
eternal life with our Savior. But the Bible is clear about those 
who reject God’s only offer of salvation through His Son. 
Although it pains us to say that those who don’t accept the 
free gift of salvation through Jesus will be eternally separated 
from God in hell, that is the Gospel message. If you do not 
know Jesus today as your Lord and Savior, there is still time 
and opportunity for you to take advantage of His gift to you! 
You can pray to ask Jesus into your heart today, and have 
peace with God forever. In light of eternity, it doesn’t matter 
so much whether or not you follow a vegan diet and live to 
be 100 years old. What does matter is that you go home to 
be with Jesus. He wants you to be with Him more than you 
know!

 *You can pray this prayer if you want Jesus to come into 
your heart as your Lord and Savior. “Dear God, I know that 
I am a lost sinner and am in need of forgiveness. Thank You 
for sending Your Son to pay for my sins. I turn from my 
sin and accept You as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name 
I pray, Amen.”


626-355-5700245 West Sierra Madre BlvdSierra Madre, CA 91024www.TheKensingtonSierraMadre.comRCFE License198601953At first, Dad and I didn’tsee eye to eye about moving toThe Kensington, but sincehe did, we’re both thrilledLimited Senior Living Suites Still AvailableCall or Visit to Reserve Yours Today
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