Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, November 2, 2019

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, November 2, 2019 


SENIOR HAPPENINGS


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …. November Birthdays

Flo Mankin, Alberta Curran, Carmela Frontino, Kathy Wood, Lena Zate, Joe Pergola, 
Janice Kacer, Valerie Howard, “Mike” Ruggles, Joan Ruggles, Lois Stueck, Jean Wood, 
Shirley Yergeau, , Pat Krok, Irene Nakagawa, Anna Ross, Mary Steinberg, Mary Bowser, 
Susan Clifton, Mary Higgins, Kim Buchanan, Leigh Thach and Sue Quinn.

 * 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.


NOVEMBER EXCURSION 

NOVEMBER 15, 2019 (SANTA BARBARA) 10:15 A.M.-5:45 P.M.

The Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary is a 501 (C)(3) non-profit organization that is 
dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of unwanted, abused, and orphaned companion parrots. Our 

sanctuary is currently home to more than 60 large parrots, many of which have behavioral or medical 
conditions that prevent them from being adopted. With a lifespan of up to 80 years and the intelligence 
level of a 3 year old child, these birds require an enormous commitment that the average person finds 
difficult to fulfill. 

Following a self-guided tour of the facility our group will enjoy the W.O.W. (World of Wings) program 
where we can get up-close and personal with their flock of avian ambassadors. Discover a vast array 
of species in all their glorious shapes, colors and sized as we explore their geographical distribution. 
Learn about personality and behavioral traits attributed to different types 
of parrots; which ones talk, who is sweet and cuddly, and who is the most intelligent.

$25.00 ****Level of Walking: LOW Money for lunch and souvenirs is optional. 
Sierra Madre registration is 10/29-11/4. Non resident begins 11/5 online or in person. 


HOW TO CREATE AN 
ETHICAL WILL

Dear Savvy Senior: 

Can you write a column on ethical wills and how 
to make one? The attorney that made up my will 
recently suggested I write one as a tool to explain 
the intentions of my will, as well as express my thoughts and feelings, but I don’t know where to start. 
Interested Senior

Dear Interested:

An ethical will – also referred to as a legacy letter – can be a valuable complement to your legal 
will, as well as a wonderful gift to your family or other loved ones. Here’s what you should know 
along with some tips to help you make one.

Ethical Wills

Unlike a last will and testament, which tells your loved ones (and the legal world) what you want 
them to have, an ethical will (which is not a legal document) tells them what you want them to 
know. 

With an ethical will, you can share with your loved ones your feelings, wishes, regrets, gratitude 
and advice, as well as explain the elements in your legal will, give information about the money 
and possessions you’re passing on, and anything else you want to communicate. 

Usually no more than a few pages, the process of writing an ethical will can actually be quite 
satisfying. But be careful that you don’t contradict any aspects of your legal will or estate plan. 

And, if you’re having trouble with the writing, there are resources available to help you, or you 
can express yourself through an audio or video recording. 

Where to Start

To craft an ethical will, start by jotting down some notes about what’s really important to you and 
what you want your loved ones to know. Take your time and remember that you’re not trying to 
write for the Pulitzer Prize. This letter is a gift of yourself written for those you love. 

After you’ve gathered your thoughts you can start drafting your letter. You can also revise or 
rewrite it anytime you want. And for safekeeping, keep your ethical will with your other legal 
documents in a secure location but be sure your executor has access to it. A safe-deposit box or 
fireproof filing cabinet or safe in your home is a good choice. 

Get Help

If you need some help, there are numerous resources available like Celebrations of Life (CelebrationsofLife.
net), which offers how-to information and examples of ethical wills, along with a 
“Ethical Wills: Putting Your Values on Paper” book, and the Ethical Wills/Legacy Letters workbook 
that you can purchase for $16 and $10 respectively.

Another good resource is Personal Legacy Advisors (PersonalLegacyAdvisors.com), a company 
that offers ethical will writing classes and workshops, along with personalized services like coaching, 
editing, writing and/or audio or video recording your ethical will. Prices will vary depending 
on the services you choose. They also sell a do-it-yourself guidebook “The Wealth of Your Life: A 
Step-by-Step Guide for Creating Your Ethical Will,” by Susan Turnbull for $24.

You also need to know that many people choose to share their ethical will with their family and 
friends while they’re still living so they can enjoy their reactions, while others think it should be 
read after their death. It’s up to you. 

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.

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


IF EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY I SHOULD BE BARKING?

Lately, I have been getting behind 
in my work schedule. Just 
when I think I am caught up, I 
discover something I had forgotten 
about.

If only I could forget what I forgot, I would be happy. 
I am pretty close to being a master at the “O, I 
simply forgot about that” excuse.

Getting away with it among most people is fine. 
When it comes to the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, 
I have yet to get away with it even one time. 
Not only does she remember things I have forgotten, 
but also she remembers things I have never 
known. Of course, I do not challenge her memory, 
which would be a bad day for sure.

The past week was a week of scrambling trying to 
keep up with everything. I am still not sure I actually 
finished the week and my schedule. Nevertheless, 
I did my very best.

When I was in high school, I usually got away with 
the excuse, “My dog ate my homework.” At the time, 
if my dog had eaten all the homework I said he had 
eaten, he would be the size of an elephant.

It was not a very productive week in my viewpoint, 
and I guess I complained about it more than usual. 
If there is a PhD in complaining, I am a candidate. 
Simply call me Dr. Grumpy, because that appears to 
be my strong suit these days.

The mistake I made was complaining about all this 
to my wife. I do not know why I was doing that 
because I know better and understand that it will 
never get me anywhere. But out of frustration, I 
complained about how hard my week was. I might 
have gone on more than I should have.

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage finally had 
enough of that. She stopped me, looked at me with 
both hands on her hips and said, “Don’t you know 
that every dog has his day?”

I smiled good-heartedly and said, “Thank you for 
those words of encouragement.”

To be truthful, I do not know what that means. Is 
she suggesting that I am just a dog?

I could probably handle that I suppose. Just give me 
a treat every now and then and I will wag my tail 
and do not be alarmed if I start barking.

Or, was she suggesting that everybody has a good 
day every once in a while?

She smiled back at me and said, “Your good day is 
about to come your way.” Then she went back to her 
activities.

Sitting in my chair I carefully pondered this wife-
psychology that my wife is so proficient at, especially 
when it has to do with me.

Everybody has a different definition of what a “good 
day” really is. I must confess that my wife’s “good 
day” is not quite the same as mine.

Her definition of a good day is when she is able to 
do a lot of work and get it done on time.

My definition of a good day is when I have no work 
to do and have time to do nothing.

Never the twain shall meet.

I almost asked her to define for me her definition of 
a “good day.” But I knew that it would have no relevance 
whatsoever to me. And, if I got her to define 
that good day, I would be responsible to live that 
kind of a good day under her supervision, every day.

Oh, boy. That would end up in a lot of trouble for 
me, which would not be a “good day” by anybody’s 
definition.

I was tempted to say to my wife, “If every dog has 
a good day then I should be barking.” Everybody 
knows, especially my wife, the barking dog is chased 
out of the house.” For me, that would not be a good 
day.

As I get older, but no wiser, my definition of a good 
day has changed. When I was younger, a good day 
was when I was able to do a lot of good things for 
myself. Now, as I have gotten older, a good day is 
when I have less things to do. And the lesser, the 
gooder the day in my opinion.

Through the years, I have stumbled onto a secret. I 
will pass it along, but let us just keep it between us. 
It is something that has dramatically changed my 
days.

I have discovered that a “good day” is when I do less 
for myself and more for the other resident in our 
home. Of course, the less she knows I am doing for 
her, the gooder the day for me. It has taken me a 
long time to learn this, and I am still on the learning 
track.

The longer I keep this from her, the better it will be 
for me in the end.

Now I can identify my “good day” where before I 
had no idea.

In pondering this, I remembered something Jesus 
said. “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good 
measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and 
running over, shall men give into your bosom. For 
with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall 
be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38).

You may not hear me barking, but I am learning 
what a good day is and how to have it.

Dr. James L. Snyder, pastor of the Family of God 
Fellowship, lives with the Gracious Mistress of the 
Parsonage in Ocala, FL. Call him at 352-687-4240 
or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. The church website 
is www.whatafellowship.com.


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