Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, May 18, 2019

10

THE GOOD LIFE

Mountain Views-News Saturday, May 18, 2019 

TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills

thechefknows@yahoo.com

SENIOR HAPPENINGS


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …May Birthdays*

Beth Copti, Marilyn Diaz, Anne Schryver, Jo Ann Williams, Paul Hagan, Lenore Crilly 
Joann Serrato-Chi, Harriett Lyle, Jean Coleman, Birgitta Gerlinger, Donna Mathieson, 
Luciana Rosenzweig, Linda Wochnik, Marian Woodford, Debbie Sheridan, Joanne 
Anthony, Carole Axline, Kika Downey, Shirley Hall, Annie Scalzo, Janet Ten Eyck, Jane 
Thomas, Ray Burley.

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

HART PARK HOUSE MONTHLY PROGRAMS: 

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

Hawaiian & Polynesian Dance Class: Every Tuesday Morning from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 
Join the class with Instructor Barbara Dempsey as she leads you in the art of Hula!

Bingo Time: Every Tuesday beginning at 1:00 p.m. Cards are only $0.25 each! Everyone is welcome to play! Activity may 
be canceled if there are less than five people.

Free Blood Pressure Testing: 2nd Tuesdays Monthly from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary.

Brain Games: Every third Thursday of the month at 12:45-1:45pm Join us for Scattergories, a creative thinking game by 
naming objects within a set of categories; or Jenga, a block-building challenge that keeps you stacking and bal-ancing your 
tower. Everyone is welcome, and no experience is needed. A great way to strengthen your mind and make new friends... 
Games are facilitated by Senior Volunteers.

Free Legal Consultation: Wednesday, May 15th from 10:30 a.m. - Noon. Attorney Lem Makupson is available for legal 
consultation. Specializing in Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Estates and Injury. Please call the Hart Park House for an 
appointment, 626-355-5278 ext. 704.

Senior Club: Meets Saturdays, Weekly at Hart Park House Brown Bag Lunch, great company and bingo at 11:30 a.m.

Chair Yoga: Mondays & Wednesdays 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. with Paul Hagen. Classes include Yoga and balance exercises. All 
ability levels are encouraged and welcomed!

Birthday Celebration: Every 2nd Thursday Monthly at the Hart Park House. Share free birthday cake and ice cream 
kindly provided by the Senior Community Commission!

Game Day: Every Thursday Monthly 12:00 Noon come into the Hart Park House and join a lively poker game with 
friends!

Free Strength Training Class: Fridays 12:45 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. with Lisa Brandley.light weights, low impact resistance 
training and body conditioning. Class equipment provided.

Gentle Yoga for Active Seniors: Every Monday & Wednesday from 8:15 - 9:45 a.m. with Andrea Walsh at the Hart Park 
House. Classes include complete floor relaxation, standing and floor postures, balancing, and 

featuring extended meditations on the fourth Wednesdays of the month! 

Call (626)-355-5278 for more information.

Art with Kt - Wednesday, May 15th 1:00 - 2:00p.m.Watercolor florals, realistic and abstract techniques will be 
demonstrated. Reserve your spot today by calling 626-355-5278 x 704.

COMING SOON—TBD Grandparent to Grandparents: Please join a group of grandparents for an afternoon 
of learning, sharing and building community led by Community Services Commissioner Rowinsky. Call 355-
5278 for information.

May 15th “Mary Poppins Returns” PG 2hr 10 min. 

Decades after her original visit, the magical nanny returns to help the Banks siblings and 
Michael’s children through a difficult time.

 SENIOR EXCURSION

 

 California Strawberry Festival (Oxnard) 

 Date: Saturday, May 18, 2019 Time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 
Cost: $20.00 

 Level of Walking: High **Lunch will be on your own **Bring money for lunch and souvenirs

The California Strawberry Festival is among the top festivals in the nation with over 50 food booths, 
contests, rides and attractions, over 200 arts & crafts vendors, concerts, celebrity chef demonstrations 
and family fun! Direct from the field to the festival, strawberries are the main ingredients for 
festival fun. A variety of lip-smacking favorites include: strawberry na ch os, strawberry pizza, 
straw-berry funnel cake, strawberry chimichangas, chocolate dipped strawberries, deep-fried 
strawberries, berry kabobs, strawberry tamales, strawberry shortcake, straw-berry beer, margaritas, 
smoothies and even strawberry popcorn. 

 Want to get your groove on? Hot jamz, cool tunes, or just plain rockin’. We’ve got them all in a 
spectacular music lineup form some fantastic groups including bands back by your demand. It’s all 
happening throughout our 36th anniversary week-end. This year, we have not one, not two but three 
stages! That’s because last year we expanded the festival grounds by 50%. So now you have more elbow 
room to bob your head, tap your feet or dance your heart out. Close to 200 artists and craft-ers from 
across the nation showcase their original works with a festive array of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, 
children’s toys, accessories, photography, textiles, outdoor furniture, jewelry and more.

Non-Resident Registration begins May 2nd and last day to register May 17th.

JUST ASK!!

Just ask or Houston we have a problem. I think there is a gentlemen’s 
agreement when you go out to eat, you know like unwritten rules. 

Know the difference between a busboy and the server

Never snap your fingers at the server

Respect the reservation time

Kids and cell phone are fine but as long as both are on mute

Don’t make the server split the check 10 ways

Don’t blame the server for the kitchens mistake

Don’t use the restaurant for your own personal supermarket

But there are two sides to every story, at least that is this writer’s 
opinion!! One of my favorite restaurants is Houston’s. It’s called a 
steakhouse but they do a great job with just about everything on the 
menu, their communication skills could use a tune up. Recently I 
was at the aforementioned Houston’s and planned for a 7 PM meal, I 
got there a bit early knowing that there would be a wait, see I am not 
sure if they take reservations or not, they have changed the policy a few times, checked in with the 
hostess and decided on a drink at the bar, well you also have to check in with the hostess for that as 
well, she granted me permission to stand at the bar, I noticed a couple leaving and thought here’s 
my chance, bartender said did you check in? She said hold on, and my second wish was granted, 
I got to sit at the bar, ordered a $15 martini, the drink was just about half full and never was asked 
how it was or offered my change from the $20 dollar bill, 30 minutes were up and our table was 
ready right on time. Here’s my unwritten rule in reverse, I ordered my steak medium done, and It 
came out charred (that’s Ok) and rare, at no time was I asked how is your steak was it cooked the 
way you ordered it? For that matter the martini at the bar , so they just assume that everything is 
going great, I know there a few holes in my story. I should have spoken up!!! Just Ask!!

Listen in on more restaurant stories this Sunday Morning at 8 AM on Go Country 105 


FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett


3 WARNING SIGNS OF A 
FINANCIAL SCAM

Nobody likes to admit they’ve fallen for a financial 
scam, but the fact is, it’s easier than ever to get caught 
up in one. This is especially true in today’s all-digital 
world, where practically every shred of data related 
to your personal and financial background can be 
found online. 

While no one is forcing you to use the Internet to 
manage your financial accounts, purchase goods and 
services, or communicate with the outside world, 
these days it’s nearly impossible to live your life 
without the web. This net-based existence can feel 
somewhat unnerving for those of us who came of 
age while the tech revolution was already underway, 
but for the elderly, who lived the vast majority of 
their lives offline, it can be absolutely overwhelming.
Given their lack of tech experience, coupled with the fact that many of them are undergoing varying 
levels of cognitive decline and sometimes live lonely, isolated lives, scammers view seniors as easy 
targets. And many of today’s con artists are so sophisticated, even the most intelligent and educated 
can be duped.

To protect your aging loved ones (and yourself) from such predators, it’s critical to know the 
warning signs of financial exploitation. The following are three big red flags to watch for: 
1. Unexpected requests
If a family member or friend contacts you out of the blue asking for money, especially via email or 
text, you should be wary. If the request comes from an unfamiliar email address or phone number, 
you should be extremely wary. While such requests aren’t totally unheard of, never send money 
unless you can verify the individual’s identity. 

A popular con, known as the Grandparent Scam, involves someone calling and pretending to be 
your grandchild. The “grandchild” explains he or she is in trouble and needs money immediately. 
The caller then asks you to wire the money or give it to a third party, usually someone posing as a 
lawyer or police officer.

No matter how urgent the caller may sound, you should always verify their identity. One of the easiest 
ways to do this is by having the person call you back on his or her phone. Or if the individual’s phone 
is dead or lost, you can ask them questions only the actual person would know the answer to, such as 
the name of their first pet. If they refuse, seem unusually aggressive, or act odd, do not send money.


2. Unsolicited money-making ventures
Whether through a savvy business deal or by winning the lottery, we all fantasize about striking it 
rich. And if you’re retired on a fixed income, this fantasy can be all-the-more alluring. Scammers 
know this and will use your dreams of easy money to trick you into investing in a too-good-to-be-
true venture that promises big bucks for little or no effort. 

There are endless variations on this popular con, from wealthy foreign nationals needing assistance 
transferring money to more legitimate-sounding business deals offering huge payoffs with no risk. 
These messages sometimes appear as if they were sent to you accidentally, making it feel like fortune 
has finally favored you—just like you always dreamed it would.

But in reality, strangers don’t just randomly offer other strangers incredible money-making 
opportunities. What kind of trustworthy business person would seek to partner with someone 
they’ve never met? And if it’s such a great investment, why not recruit someone they know or simply 
do it themselves? Indeed, any unsolicited money-making venture you receive online from a person 
you don’t know is almost certainly a scam. 

3. Requests for personal information
Whenever someone unfamiliar asks you for personal information like a credit card number, 
Social Security number, or your mother’s maiden name, proceed with extreme caution. Ask 
them why they need this information. Request they verify their identity. Enquire about alternate 
methods of proceeding that do not require such private information. 

Reputable sources will respect your privacy and be more than willing to provide you with identity 
verification, or at least offer an alternate way for you to proceed without the need for such personal data. 
For example, if you receive an email request for your credit card number, look up the organization’s 
phone number using a source other than what they provide in the email, and ask if you can call and 
give your information over the phone instead. Protect your loved ones from all possible threats
By becoming familiar with how such deceptions work and knowing what to look for, you and your 
loved ones will be far less likely to be conned. At the same time, you should also do everything you 
can to safeguard your family’s finances from other threats that have nothing to do with fraud.

Without comprehensive estate planning, your family’s wealth and assets are in real danger of being 
seriously depleted or lost in the event of your death or incapacity. Meet with us to learn about the 
best planning strategies to put in place to ensure your loved ones will be taken care of no matter 
what happens. 

Dedicated to empowering your family, building your wealth and defining your legacy,

A local attorney and father, Marc Garlett is on a mission to help 
parents protect what they love most. His office is located at 55 
Auburn Avenue, Sierra Madre, CA 91024. 

Schedule an appointment to sit down and talk about ensuring a 
legacy of love and financial security for your family by calling 626.355.4000 or visit www.GarlettLaw.
com for more information.


MARY 
POPPINS 
RETURNS


ADAPTIVE GARDENING: TIPS AND 
TOOLS FOR OLDER GARDENERS 

Dear Savvy Senior:

Can you recommend some good tools and tips for 
senior gardeners? My 77-year-old mother loves to 
work in the garden but over the past few years has 
been plagued by injuries. Concerned Daughter

Dear Concerned:

Aches, pains and injuries are not uncommon 
among older gardeners. Because gardening is 
such a physical activity that often requires a lot 
of bending and stooping, squatting and kneeling, 
gripping and lifting, it can be extremely taxing on 
an aging body. 

 Back pain and knee injuries are most common 
among older gardeners, along with carpal tunnel 
syndrome and tennis elbow. To help keep your 
mom injury-free this summer, here are some tips 
and gardening equipment ideas that can make 
gardening a little easier. 

Warm Up

With gardening, good form is very important as 
well as not overdoing any one activity. A common 
problem is that gardeners often kneel or squat, 
putting extra pressure on their knees. Then, to 
spare their knees, they might stand and bend over 
for long stretches to weed, dig and plant, straining 
their back and spine. 

 To help your mom protect her body, she needs 
to warm up before beginning. Start by stretching, 
focusing on the legs and lower back. And keep 
changing positions and activities. Don’t spend 
hours weeding a flowerbed. After 15 minutes of 
weeding, she should stand up, stretch, and switch 
to another activity like pruning the bushes or just 
take a break. 

 It’s also important that she recognizes her physical 
limitations and doesn’t try to do too much 
all at once. And, when lifting heaver objects, she 
needs to remember to use her legs to preserve her 
back. She can do this by keeping the item close to 
her body and squatting to keep her back as vertical 
as possible. 

Laborsaving Tools

The right gardening equipment can help too. 
Kneeling pads can protect knees, and garden seats 
or stools are both back and knee savers. Lightweight 
garden carts can make hauling bags of 
mulch, dirt, plants or other heavy objects much 
easier. And long-handled gardening tools can help 
ease the strain on the back by keeping your mom 
in a standing upright position versus bent over. 
There are also ergonomic gardening tools with 
fatter handles and other design features that can 
make lawn and garden activities a little easier. 

Easier Watering

The chore of carrying water or handling a heavy, 
awkward hose can also be difficult for older gardeners. 
Some helpful options include lightweight 
fabric hoses instead of heavy rubber hoses; soaker 
or drip hoses that can be snaked throughout the 
garden; thin coil hoses that can be used on the patio 
or small areas; a hose caddy and reel for easier 
hose transport around the yard; and a self-winding 
hose chest that puts the hose up automatically. 
There are also a variety of ergonomic watering 
wands that are lightweight, easy to grip, and reach 
those hard to-get-to plants. 

 To find ergonomic gardening tools and the recommended 
watering aids, check with local retail 
stores that sell lawn and garden supplies or try 
online retailers like Gardeners.com or RadiusGarden.
com.

Container Gardening

If your mom’s backyard garden has become too 
much for her to handle, she should consider elevated 
garden beds or container gardening – using 
big pots, window boxes, hanging baskets, barrels 
or tub planters. This is a much easier way to garden 
because it eliminates much of the bend and 
strain of gardening but still gives her the pleasure 
of making things grow. Trellises are another nice 
option that would allow her to garden vertically 
instead of horizontally. 


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