Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, September 4, 2021

Mountain View News Saturday, September 4, 2021 12 Mountain View News Saturday, September 4, 2021 
OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder 

HALLELUJAH… SHE’S BAAAAACK 

I have learned that you don't miss something until it is gone. Unfortunately, sometimes, 
it's too late. 

Over six weeks ago, or was it nine months, I took my truck in for a regular checkup. 
I was going away for the week, so I thought I would drop the truck off and let them work on it when 
they had time, and then when I come back, it would be ready. 

I love it when a plan comes together? 

My family went up to Georgia for a family reunion. It was also a time to celebrate our 50th wed-ding 
anniversary. Time goes by when we're not really focused on what's happening. That's me to a T.
I took it in on Monday, then we left for our family reunion, and on Tuesday, the machine shop called 
me with some rather sad news. The engine in my truck was just about finished. So I had a choice of 
getting a new engine or buying another truck. 

The last idea wasn’t a good one for me. 

After some serious thought, I agreed to have a new engine put in the truck. After all, the cost would be 
a fraction of what getting another truck would be. 

I didn't know how much I liked my truck until it was gone for six weeks. 

During those six weeks, my wife and I shared her little van for our travels. We had to coordinate our 
schedule so we could be united. The scheduling was something like this. 

She would drive her van, and I would go along when we would go to church or some other func-tion 
that we had to be together. So that wasn't too bad.
Then, when she had to go somewhere, she would use her van. Sometimes she would drop me off at the 
church office and then go on her schedule and then come back and pick me up. That wasn't too bad. 
When she had nowhere to go, and I had somewhere to go, I would then be driving her little van. I did 
not know how little this van was until I started driving it.
When I'm on the passenger side it is not too bad. I can squeeze in and survive. But when I'm on the 
driver's side, that was a completely different story. 

Everything about her van was completely different from the things in my truck.
Driving that little van was a very challenging job. I did not know how hard it was for a real man to 
drive a sissy van. 

I could barely get in on the driver's side, get all buckled up and ready to go. Everything had to be 
changed, like the mirrors, the seat and the steering wheel.
If I thought getting into that little van was difficult, all I had to do was wait until I had to get out, and 
that was a completely different story. Several times I actually fell out because there is no real structure 
for a man my size. 

I am surprised I was not involved in some accident for those six weeks of driving that little van. If that 
would've happened, I probably wouldn't be able to get out of the van.
For the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, that little van is an ideal vehicle, and she drives it like the 
expert she is. 

I was getting a little nervous about my truck. It would only take three weeks to get the engine and have 
it installed and get everything fixed up to run. But, unfortunately, those three weeks graduated into six 
weeks. I was afraid I would never see that truck again. I didn't know how much I really liked that truck 
until I was driving this little sissy van. In the truck, I could be myself, but in that little van, I could not 
be myself, that's for sure. 

There's a lot of things I miss in life, but I don't realize how much I like something until it's gone. I didn’t 
know I liked my truck as much as I did. Then when it went to the mechanic's garage for six weeks, I 
realized how important that truck is to me. 

Then this past Tuesday, I got that telephone call I was impatiently waiting for. The truck was ready, and 
all I needed to do was come by and pick it up. But, of course, that meant I needed to pay the bill for the 
repairs. When I hung up the phone, I was really excited. 

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage looked at me and said, “Why are you so excited?”
I just looked at her and smiled.
“Oh,” she said with a grin, “your truck is ready.” 

My wife has said many things down the years, but this was the best thing she's ever said in all of our 
life together.
She drove me to get my truck, and as we were traveling, she looked at me and said, "You really missed 
your truck, didn't you?" 

I thought of a verse of Scripture along this line. “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things 
which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward” (2 John 1:8).
I really don’t appreciate what I have until I lose it. This is also true of people. We don’t realize how much 
a person means to us until they are gone. 

Dr. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, Ocala, FL 34472 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …September Birthdays* 

Clem Bartolai, Pat Hall, Donna Anderson, Teresa Chaure, Cathy Gunther, EstherMacias, Sheila Pierce, Nancy Sue Shollenberger, Patti O’Meara, Judie Cimino,
Mary Steinberg, Geri Wright, Parvin Dabiri, Denise Reistetter and NehamaWarner, Virginia Mullaney, Gwen Robertson.

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

THE HART PARK HOUSE SENIOR CENTER IS OPEN!!!! 

IN HOUSE LUNCH DINING SERVICE WILL NOT RESUME AT THIS TIME. 
ACCESS TO THE COMPUTER/CLASSROOM IS TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE. 

All Classes and programs will maintain a distance of 6 ft between participants. All equipment 
used will be sanitized after each use before it is stored. Each participant is responsible for providing 
their own water, masks and additionally needed supplies for each class. 

Please call the Community Services Department at 355-7394 with any questions or concerns. 


SENIOR CINEMA – 2ND AND 4TH WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH 

ANASTASIA, Wednesday 9/8 Could an amnesiac refugee named Anna Anderson truly be the Grand 
Duchess Anastasia, purported sole survivor of the execution of the Tsar Nicholas II and his family 
during the Bolshevik Revolution of 1918, and therefore the rightful heir to the Czar’s fortune? Backed 
by a group of White Russian exiles led by General Bounine, she faces her possible grandmother, the 
imperious Dowegar Empress Maria Feodorovna, and the fortune hunting Prince Paul. 

QUEEN BEES, Wednesday 9/22 

Helen is an independent widow who moves into the Pine Grove Senior Community and discovers 
it’s just like high school—full of cliques and flirtatious suitors. What she initially avoids leads her to 
exactly what she's been missing: new friendships and a chance at love with newcomer Dan. 

TEA AND TALK, SENIOR BOOK CLUB 2nd and 4th Wednesday, 9:00 am

Staff has launched a new book club series, Tea and Talk, which meets twice a month to discuss the 
fun, suspense, intrigue, love and so much more that each selection will have in store! 

FIBER FRIENDS Every Friday, 10-10:45 am 
Bring a lei, your flower skirt or just your desire to dance! Hula in the Park is back and waiting for 
you to join in on all the fun! Memorial Park Pavilion. 

TEA AT THREE WITH CHIEF BARTLETT AND THE SMFD 

Friday, October 8th, 3:00-5:00 pm

Stop by for some bingo, tea and conversations with Sierra Madre Fire Chief Bartlett and crew. Reserve 
your spot with Lawren. 

TISSUE PAPER HANGING ART 

Lawren is making a colorful and artistic piece to brighten up the Hart Park House! We will have 
fun with tissue paper, coffee filters and food coloring. All supplies will be provided for you and we 
will meet in the Hart Park House. Please wear clothes you don’t mind getting messy. To reserve 
your spot or ask questions please call Lawren Heinz at (626) 355-7394 or 
email at lheinz@cityofsierramadre.com. 

 PAINT AND SIP 

Wednesday, 9/22 and Wednesday, 9/29 5:30-7:30 pm—Hart Park House 

Have you wanted to join in on one of these fun and popular classes but didn't know where to go? 
Well look no further...Paint and Sip has come to the Hart Park House! Select one of the two choices 
available and enjoy this fun paint by number with a glass of red or chilled white wine. We will spread 
the fun over two days to ensure we are not rushed and have more time with our art and like minded 
friends. The cost is $10 per person, space is limited so make sure to reserve your spot with Lawren 
today! 

POKER DAY -Tuesday, 9/7, 1:00-3:00 pm—Hart Park House 

Interested in a game of Texas Hold’em or 5 Card Draw? Bring your best poker face and join us in a 
friendly bout of card savvy competition. If this doesn't suit your card playing desires then help introduce 
your fellow seniors to a new and exciting card game. Cards and poker chips will be provided. 

BINGO -Tuesday, 9/14, 1:00 pm—Hart Park House 

Hart Park House Senior Bingo is back by popular demand! Come on down to enjoy this time honored 
game with some old and new friends. We are trying a new spin on your BINGO fun so please 
bring your good luck charms and BINGO markers! 

METRO MICRO— TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION 

Micro is Metro’s new on-demand rideshare service, offering trips within several zones in LA County. 
The new service is for short local trips and uses small vehicles (seating up to 10 passengers). Micro 
is part of Metro’s family of services and has been designed hand-in-hand with Metro’s NextGen Bus 
Plan. The service is meant to be a fast, safe and convenient option for quick trips around town, Monday-
Sunday, 5:30 am-9:30 pm. At this time, a promotional fare of $1 will run six months from the 
date of service launch. The $1 will not include a transfer to Metro bus and rail. Customers can pay using 
their TAP Card/account (stored value only) or with a credit card (no cash). Metro staff will return 
to the Board at the end of the six-moth introductory period to consider potential fare adjustments. 
Service hours of operation are: 
Monday—Sunday between 5:30 am-9:30 pm. 
Download the Metro Micro App: visit: 
book.metro-micro.netor 
call 323-GO-METRO (323) 446-3876 

LITTLE KNOWN SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAM HELPS SENIORS MANAGE THEIR MONEY 

Dear Savvy Senior:
Does Social Security offer any special help to beneficiaries 
who struggle managing their benefits? My aunt, 
who has no children, has dementia and struggles keeping 
up with her bills and other financial duties.
Inquiring Niece 


Dear Inquiring:
Yes, Social Security actually has a little-known program known as the “representative payee program” 
that helps beneficiaries who need help managing their Social Security benefit payments. Here’s what 
you should know. 

Representative Payee Program

Authorized by congress back in 1939, the Social Security representative payee program provides money 
management help to beneficiaries who are incapable of managing their Social Security income. 
Beneficiaries in need of this help are often seniors suffering from dementia, or minor children who 
are collecting Social Security survivors’ benefits. Currently more than 5 million Social Security beneficiaries 
have representative payees. 

Representative payees also handle benefits for nearly 3 million recipients of Supplemental Security 
Income (SSI), a Social Security administered benefit program for low-income people who are over 65, 
blind or disabled. 

Who Are Payees?

A representative payee is typically a relative or close friend of the beneficiary needing assistance, but 
Social Security can also name an organization or institution for the role – like a nursing homes or 
social-service agency. Some of duties of a representative payee include: 
Using the beneficiary’s Social Security or SSI payments to meet their essential needs, such as food, 
shelter, household bills and medical care. The money can also be used for personal needs like clothing 
and recreation.

 Keeping any remaining money from benefit payments in an interest-bearing bank account or savings 
bonds for the beneficiary’s future needs.
Keeping records of benefit payments received and how the money was spent or saved.
Reporting to Social Security any changes or events that could affect the beneficiary’s payments (for 
example, a move, marriage, divorce or death). Reporting any circumstances that affect the payee’s 
ability to serve in the role. 

As a representative payee, you cannot combine the beneficiary’s Social Security payments with your 
own money or use them for your own needs. The bank account into which benefits are deposited 
should be fully owned by the beneficiary, with the payee listed as financial agent. 

Some payees, generally those who do not live with the beneficiary, are required to submit annual 
reports to Social Security accounting for how benefits are used. For more information on the responsibilities 
and restrictions that come with the role, see the Social Security publication “A Guide for 
Representative Payees” at SSA.gov/pubs/EN-05-10076.pdf. 

How to Get Help

If you believe your aunt may need a representative payee, call Social Security at 800-772-1213 and 
make an appointment to discuss the matter at her local office. Applying to serve as a payee usually 
requires a face-to-face interview. 

Social Security may consider other evidence in deciding if a beneficiary needs a payee and selecting 
the person to fill the role, including doctors’ assessments and statements from relatives, friends and 
others in a position to give an informed opinion about the beneficiary’s situation. 

You should also know that if you become your aunt’s representative payee you cannot collect a fee for 
doing it. However, some organizations that serve in the role do receive fees, paid out of the beneficiary’s 
Social Security or SSI payments.
For more information on the program visit SSA.gov/payee. 

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. 

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