Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, October 12, 2019

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, October 12, 2019 


SENIOR HAPPENINGS


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …. October Birthdays

Janda Ferris, Darlene Traxler, Margit Johnson, Sole Krieg, George Maurer, Dick 
Anderson, Eva Poet, Mary Jane Baker, Dixie Coutant, Cathleen Cremins,Adie Marshall, 
Darlene Crook, Susan Gallagher, Maggie Ellis, Gloria Giersbach, Elva Johnson, Ellen 
O’Leary, Jenny Piangenti, Gail Ann Skiles, Anita Thompson, Linda Boehm and Angela 
Stella. 

 * 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. Will Resume in September 2019

Free Legal Consultation: Wednesday, August 14th 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.


OCTOBER EXCURSION 

THE NETHERCUTT COLLECTION (SYLMAR) 


October 17, 2019 $15.00 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

 Level of Walking: High Money for lunch and souvenirs is optional. 

 Lunch will be at Pit BBQ. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water

 The Nethercutt Collection features rare collectibles ranging from mechanical musical instruments 
and antique furniture to the true heart of the collection: over 250 American and European automobiles 
from 1898 to 1997. 

 Founder J.B. Nethercutt spent a lifetime establishing this collection of historic importance. Unique 
to automobile museums, each car on display is attentively serviced and maintained to remain as drivable 
as when the vehicle originally rolled off the showroom floor. On view are various Pebble Beach 
Concours d’ Elegance winners and cars once owned by movie stars, royalty and other personalities. 
Following a tour of the Collection enjoy an opportunity for a self-guided tour of the museum and steam 
locomotive. 

**Register Now** (626) 355-5278

Final Registration Date Tuesday, October 15, 2019


HOW SENIORS CAN GET HELP 
WITH CREDIT CARD AND 
MORTGAGE DEBT

Dear Savvy Senior:

My husband and I, who are both 66 years old, have 
fallen behind on our mortgage payments and have accumulated quite a bit of credit card debt over the 
past few years. Where can we get help?

Drowning in Debt

Dear Drowning:

Unfortunately, credit card and mortgage debt have become a growing problem for many older 
Americans who often face medical-related expenses on top of their mortgage and other growing 
costs. Here are some tips and services that can help.

Credit Card Counseling

 To help you get a handle on your credit card debt, a good place to turn is an accredited credit counseling 
agency. These are nonprofit agencies that offer free financial information and advice on how 
to handle financial problems.

 Depending on the significance of your credit card debt, they can help you sort out your finances 
and set you up in a debt management plan (DMP), which allows a counselor to negotiate with your 
creditors to lower your interest rates and eliminate any late fees and other penalties.

 The agency will then act as a consolidator, grouping your debts together into one payment that you 
would make, and distributes those funds to your creditors. Typically, the first counseling session is 
free, but a DMP comes with monthly fees of roughly $20 to $75 a month, depending on the state.

 To locate a credible agency in your area, use the National Foundation for Credit Counseling website 
at NFCC.org (800-388-2227), or the or the Financial Counseling Association of America FCAA.org 
(800-450-1794).

 But make sure that you don’t use a debt settlement company that claims to settle all your debt or 
cut it in half for a fee without counseling. Most of these companies use deceptive practices and will 
only leave you more in debt then you already are.

Mortgage Counseling

 If you have fallen behind on your mortgage payments, or if you have already received a letter or 
phone call about missed payments, you should contact your lender immediately to explain your 
situation and see if you can work out a payment plan. Be prepared to provide your financial information, 
such as your monthly income and expenses.

 You can also get help from a foreclosure prevention counselor. These are HUD-approved, trained 
counselors that will work with you, examine your financial situation, and offer guidance on how best 
to avoid default or foreclosure. They can also represent you in negotiations with your lender if you 
need them to.

 To find a government-approved housing counseling agency in your area, use the National Foundation 
for Credit Counseling or Financial Counseling Association of America websites or phone numbers 
previously listed. Or, for a larger selection of housing counseling options see the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development website at HUD.gov – click on “Resources” at the top of the page, 
then on “Foreclosure Avoidance Counseling,” or call 800-569-4287.

Financial Assistance

 You also need to make sure you’re not missing out on any financial assistance programs. The National 
Council on Aging’s website (BenefitsCheckUp.org) contains a database of more than 2,500 
federal, state and local programs that can help seniors with prescription drug costs, health care, 
food, utilities, and other basic needs. The site will help you locate programs that you may be eligible 
for and will show you how to apply.

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.

SENIOR CINEMA - 1st & 3rd Wednesday 1:00 pm

OCTOBER 16TH “DUMBO” 

A young elephant, whose oversized ears enable him to fly, helps save a 
struggling circus until it plans a new venture. Dumbo and his friends discover 
dark secrets through its shiny veneer. 


MEALS - ON - WHEELS PROGRAM

The Home Delivered Meals Program provides healthy meals to homebound Seniors 60 and above. Seven 
frozen meals, milk, bread and fruit are included and delivered once a week. $3 Donation per meal is 
suggested but remains completely anonymous and voluntary. Clients must be eligible and we invite you 
to contact YWCA Intervale Senior Services at 626-214-9467. SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT 
NOTICE SUGGESTED DONATION $3.00 1% LOW FAT MILK INCLUDED

OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder


I DIDN'T KNOW HOW YOUNG I REALLY WAS

I have heard it said that confession 
is good for the soul. I want 
to take that a step further and say 
confession is good for the body as 
well.

I don’t often think about how old I am, I’m too 
busy with other thoughts. Occasionally, something 
happens that reminds me I am not quite as 
old as I think I am. Do not get me wrong, it is a 
good experience for soul and body.

When I get up in the morning, I feel achy, not to 
mention grouchy because the Gracious Mistress of 
the Parsonage mentions that. I get up feeling old 
and dreary. I wallow in despair, thinking how old 
I really am and not knowing what to do with it.

Oh poor me, woe is me.

Something happened this past week that gave me 
a completely different view of how old I really am.

I had an appointment to go to the doctor to have 
my annual blood work done. Every year this doctor 
wants a sample of my blood for who knows 
why. He is obsessed with my blood and tries to get 
it every time he can. Being the good patient I am, I 
concede to his request.

I had an appointment across town to get the blood 
work done and got there well before my appointment. 
Therefore, I had to sit in the waiting room 
until my appointment time.

I usually take a book with me to read because I 
know that doctors, as educated as they are, do not 
seem to know how to tell time. So, instead of wasting 
that time, I take a book and get caught up on 
some reading I have to do. You cannot read too 
many books.

While I was quietly reading my book, all of a sudden, 
I heard a bang and the door flew open and 
in came a woman on a walker. I will not say she 
was an old woman, but youth was in her past as far 
back as you possibly could go.

When she came in, the whole atmosphere of that 
room changed and not in the positive. As soon as 
her head got through the door, you could see a grimace 
on her face to beat all grimaces. It scared me 
at first. I have never seen such a mean looking face.

Then she begins snarling. “Get out of my way. 
Where’s my doctor? I want to see him now.”

I was not in her way, but I certainly got further 
from her way as I possibly could. I am not sure 
how old she was but she had grouchy down to a 
fine-tuned art. I think all of us in the room were 
praying that the doctor would take her in right 
away.

Thankfully, our prayers were answered. She was 
escorted out and you could hear a deep sigh in that 
room. I do not think I would have wanted to be 
her doctor that day, at least.

I was finally settling down and back to my book 
when the door opened again. In walked an older 
gentleman, and I use the word gentleman very 
carefully, with a cane.

He rumbled up to the window to sign in and the 
lady politely asked who he was.

Looking at her with eyes that would have scared a 
tiger he said, “Who do you think I am?”

That is not all he said, but some words I would 
not want to repeat even in the dark. Obviously, he 
was old enough to know all the curse words in the 
dictionary. He mentioned some words that I had 
never heard before and I am quite sure they are not 
in the English dictionary.

He signed his name and then hobbled over to take 
a seat and then glanced at me and said, “What are 
you staring at?” Again, I cannot use all the words 
he used.

Believe me, when I say I was tempted to tell him 
what I was looking at. Then I noticed the cane in 
his right hand and decided to look the other way.

Until the nurse came to take him in to see the 
doctor, he was muttering under his breath and I 
did not want to hear what he was muttering. The 
meanness on his face gave me pause to think a 
little bit.

Casually, I looked around the room and saw 
most of the people were old and nobody looked 
very happy. When they walked up to sign in, they 
limped. When the nurse got him to take them back 
to see their doctor, they staggered and limped.

At the time, I did not know what to do. Then a 
smile began creeping across my face. I had to be 
careful that I did not laugh aloud. A wonderful 
thought danced in my mind.

Looking around very carefully I noticed one 
stunning fact. That fact was, I am not as old as I 
thought I was. When I got up that morning, I felt 
old and decrepit. Now I was around people that 
were really old. Compared to them, I was a babe in 
swaddling clothes.

I then remembered what David said. “They shall 
still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat 
and flourishing” (Psalm 92:14).

I am at the place now where I can begin to enjoy 
the fruit of my old age.


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