Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, June 15, 2019

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Mountain View News Saturday, June 15, 2019 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …June 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.

ART WITH KT - Wednesday, June 12th 12:30 - 1:30p.m.

Join us for a participant favorite, glass etching! Using acid you will etch you will etch an image that you 
create into either a purple or pink bud vase. Reserve your spot today by calling 626-355-5278 x 704.

COMMUNITY HEARING SCREENING PROGRAM 

Wednesday, June 26 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Hearing loss affects 1 in 3 people over the age of 60. hearing problems can greatly affect people’s enjoyment 
of life and their ability to communicate with friends and family. Connect Hearing is proud to 
partner with local organizations for our Community Screening Program, to provide better hearing care 
for everyone in the community.

We provide FREE, quick and convenient hearing screenings on-site. Its quick, easy & convenient! Our 
trained hearing care professional will be on hand to explain the results and answer any questions.

Please call 355-5278 to reserve your spot.


HOW TO CHOOSE AND USE A 
HOME BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR 

Dear Savvy Senior:

I just found out I have stage 1 hypertension and my 
doctor recommended I get a home blood pressure 
monitor to keep an eye on it. Can you offer me 
any tips on choosing and using one? Hypertensive 
Helen 

Dear Helen:

It’s a smart idea! Everyone with elevated or high blood pressure – stage 1 (or 130/80) and higher 
– should consider getting a home blood pressure monitor. Home monitoring can help you keep 
tabs on your blood pressure in a comfortable setting. Plus, if you’re taking medication it will make 
certain it’s working, and alert you to a health problem if it arises. 

Home Monitors 

The best type of home blood pressure monitors to purchase are electric/battery powered automatic 
arm monitors, which are more reliable than wrist or fingertip monitors. With an automatic arm 
monitor, you simply wrap the cuff around your bicep and with the push of one button the cuff 
inflates and deflates automatically giving you your blood pressure reading on the display window 
in a matter of seconds. 

Many monitors today also come with additional features like irregular heartbeat detection; a risk 
category indicator that tells you whether your blood pressure is in the high range; a data-averaging 
function that allows you to take multiple readings and get an overall average; multiple user memory 
that allows two or more users to save their readings; and downloadable memory that lets you 
transmit your data to your computer or smartphone. 

You can find these monitors at pharmacies, medical supply stores or online, and you don’t need a 
prescription to buy one. Prices typically range between $40 and $100. 

In most cases, original Medicare will not cover a home blood pressure monitor, but if you have 
a Medicare Advantage plan or a private health insurance policy it’s worth checking into, because 
some plans may provide coverage.

Some of the best automatic arm monitors as recommended by Consumer Reports are the Omron 
10 Series BP786N ($75); Rite Aid Deluxe Automatic ($60); Omron Evolv BP7000 ($70); and A&D 
Medical UA767F ($45). 

How to Measure

After you buy a monitor, it’s a good idea to take it to your doctor’s office so they can check its 
accuracy and make sure you’re using it properly. Here are some additional steps to follow to ensure 
you get accurate readings at home.

• Relax: Don’t exercise, smoke or drink caffeinated drinks or alcohol for at least 30 minutes 
before measuring. Sit quietly for at least five minutes before you take a measurement and remain 
quiet during the test.
• Sit correctly: Sit with your back straight and supported (on a dining chair, rather than a 
sofa). Your feet should be flat on the floor and your legs should not be crossed. Your arm should be 
supported on a flat surface (such as a table) with the upper arm at heart level. Make sure the middle 
of the cuff is placed directly above the bend of the elbow. Check your monitor’s instructions for an 
illustration. 
• Put the cuff directly on your bare skin: Putting it over clothes can raise your systolic (upper) 
number by up to 40 mmHg.
• Measure at the same time every day: It’s important to take the readings at the same time 
each day, such as morning and evening. It doesn’t matter whether you do it before or after taking 
medication. Just be consistent.
• Go to the bathroom: A full bladder can rise your systolic pressure by 10 to 15 mmHg.
• Take multiple readings and record the results: Each time you measure, take two or three 
readings one minute apart and record the results by writing them down, or using an online tracker 
(see CCCtracker.com). 


For more information on high blood pressure numbers and how to accurately measure it at home, 
visit Heart.org/HBP. 

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.


UPCOMING SIERRA MADRE SENIOR EXCURSIONS

 July Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach) 

 August Boat Tour (Lake Arrowhead) 

 September LA County Fair 

 October Nethercutt Collection (Sylmar) 

 November Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary 

 December LA Zoo Light Show

Senior Cinema - 1st & 3rd Wednesday Beginning at 1:00 p.m.

June 5th “Black Panther” PG-13 2 hr. 14 min.

Prince T’Challa returns home to the reclusive, technology advanced African nation of Wakanda to 
serve as his country's new king. However, T’Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne from 
factions within his own country. When two foes try to destroy Wakanda, the hero known as “Black 
Panther” must team up with C.I.A. Agent Everett K. Ross and members of Dora Milaje, Wakandan 
special forces, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a World War.

June 19th “Oceans Eight” PG-13 1 hr 50 min.

Danny Ocean’s younger sister Debbie attempts to pull of the heist of the century at New York City’s 
star-studded annual Met Gala. Her first step is to assemble the perfect crew: Lou, Rose, Daphne Kluger, 
Nine Ball, Tammy, Amita and Constance.


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