Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, November 27, 2021

Mountain Views-News Saturday, November 27, 2021 

SENIOR ALERT: YOUR OLD CELLPHONE MAY NOT WORK IN 2022 

Dear Savvy Senior:
My 80-year-old father has an old flip phone he carries around with him for emergency purposes, but I’ve heard 
that these devices will soon be phased out. Is this true? If so, how can we know if his phone will be affected, and 
where can I find him a simple new one that he can operate. Searching Daughter 

Dear Searching: 

Yes, it’s true! If your dad’s mobile phone is more than 
a few years old, he will probably need to upgrade it in 
the very near future. Why? 
Because all of the major cell phone carriers – AT&T, 
Verizon and T-Mobile – are shutting down their old-er 
3G networks in 2022 to free up airwaves for 5G and oth-er 
advanced services. So, if your dad is using an old 3G 
phone, like millions of other older Americans, he’ll need to get a new device if he wants to make calls, text 
or reach 911. 

But you should also know that it’s not just older cellphones that will be obsolete. Older home security systems, 
medical devices and personal emergency response systems that still harness 3G will also be affected. 
Adding to the confusion, older 4G phones that don’t support modern cellular voice technologies, such as 
Voice Over LTE or HD Voice, are impacted, too. Those customers may need a software upgrade or a new 
phone. 

Here are the timelines for the 3G shutdowns: AT&T - Feb. 2022; T-Mobile - July 1, 2022; Verizon - Dec. 31, 
2022; Sprint (which is owned by T-Mobile) - March 31, 2022; and Sprint LTE - June 30, 2022. Other smaller 
carriers like Tracfone, Cricket, Boost and Straight Talk, will also be affected, because they rely on airwaves 
from the big three. 

Is Your Phone Affected? 

Cellphone carriers say they have been alerting customers who use older phones that services are ending, 
sending a combination of texts, letters, phone calls and emails. If you’re not sure about your dad’s phone, 
contact his carrier or check their website for a list of affected devices. 

Another way to see if your dad’s phone is 3G is to look up his international mobile equipment identity number 
which can be found by pressing *#06# on his keypad. Once you have it, go to www.imei.info and type 
it in the search bar to get the phone’s details. If his phone has a frequency of 900 megahertz (MHz) or 2100 
MHz, it’s 3G. You can also look for a “3G” icon at the top corner of his phone, but not all 3G phones have 
that icon. 

How to Upgrade 

If you find that you do need to upgrade your dad’s cellphone, carriers are offering discounts and special promotions 
on replacement devices. If you’re worried about your dad having to learn your way around a new 
device, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of modern new flip phones available that work on the 
next-generation networks. 

Or, if your dad decides that he would rather forge ahead without a phone than upgrade, then he will need to 
cancel the service. Most carriers will let you cancel your plan without any penalty. However, if he forgets to 
cancel his phone plan and doesn’t upgrade to a working device, the company won’t automatically stop charging 
him just because he isn’t able to access their network. 

How to Recycle

If your dad does have to replace his old cellphone, the best way to dispose of it is to recycle it. Large retailers, 
such as Best Buy, offer recycling programs for old electronics. Or you can search for local recycling programs 
on websites like Call2Recycle.org and Earth911.com. 

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. 


FAMILY MATTERS

 By Marc Garlett 

10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT LIVING WILLS 

When it comes to estate planning, you’ve most likely heard people mention a 
couple of different types of wills. The most common is a “last will and testament,” 
which is also known simply as a “will.” But you may have also heard 
people talk about what’s called a “living will.” 

Both terms describe important legal documents used in estate planning, but their purpose and the way in 
which they work is very different. Here we are going to discuss some of the most critical things you should 
know about living wills, and explain why having one is an essential part of every adult’s estate plan and how 
to get yours created or updated. 

1. What Is a Living Will?
A living will, often called an “advance healthcare directive,” is a legal document that tells your loved onesand doctors how you would want decisions related to your medical care handled in the event you becomeincapacitated and are unable to make such decisions yourself, particularly at the end of life. Specifically, aliving will outlines the procedures, medications, and treatments you would want—or would not want—toprolong your life if you become unable to discuss such matters with doctors yourself. 
2. Living Will vs Last Will & TestamentA last will and testament is used to ensure your assets are divided upon your death in the way you choose.
Note that your will only deals with your assets, and it only operates upon your death. In contrast, a livingwill is about you, not your assets, and operates in the event of your incapacity, not your death. 
3. What Is an Advance Directive and How Is It the Same or Different Than a Living Will?
An “advanced directive” or “advance healthcare directive” are both general terms that describe legal documents 
that are related to your healthcare needs. Typically, an advance healthcare directive will include aliving will (with instructions for how you want your medical care handled), and a medical power of attorney 
(naming the people you want making decisions for you, and giving them authority to talk with yourmedical team). 
4. Living Will vs Medical Power of AttorneyA medical power of attorney is the part of an advance healthcare directive that allows you to name a person, 
known as your “agent,” to make healthcare decisions for you if you’re incapacitated and unable to makethose decisions yourself. While medical power of attorney is an advance directive that names who can make 
healthcare decisions in the event of your incapacity, a living will explains how your medical care should behandled. 
5. Why Is a Living Will So Important?
A living will is a vital part of every adult's estate plan, as it can ensure your medical treatment is handledexactly the way you want in the event you become unable to communicate your needs and wishes yourself.
Additionally, a living will can prevent your family from undergoing needless stress and conflict during analready trying time. 
6. Even Young People Need a Living WillAlthough you may think that a living will is something that only the elderly or older people need, the factis, you can experience a serious accident or illness at any age, which would leave you incapacitated and unable 
to communicate your wishes for medical care. For this reason, all adults over age 18 should have botha living will and a medical power of attorney in place. 
7. Decisions and Scenarios Addressed in A Living WillA few of the most common types of decisions, treatments, and scenarios typically addressed in a living willinclude the following: tube feeding, resuscitation (CPR & DNR), Intubation & mechanical ventilation, painmanagement & palliative care, organ/tissue donation. 
8. Should You Do It Yourself with an Online Living Will?
While you’ll find a wide selection of generic living wills, medical power of attorney, and other advancedirective documents online, you may not want to trust these do-it-yourself solutions to adequately addresssuch critical decisions. When it comes to your medical treatment and end-of-life care, you have uniqueneeds and wishes that just can’t be anticipated by fill-in-the-blank documents. 
9. Communication is Vital 
Even if you have the most well-thought-out and professionally prepared living will around, it won’t beworth the paper it's printed on if nobody knows about it. Both living wills and medical power of attorney go 
into effect the second you sign them, so you should immediately inform your agent, your alternate agents,
your primary care physician, and any other medical specialists you’re seeing. 
10. Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late 
Your living will and medical power of attorney must be created well before you become incapacitated andunable to make your own decisions. You must be able to clearly express your wishes and consent for theseplanning documents to be valid, as even slight levels of dementia or confusion could get them thrown outof court. Not to mention, an unforeseen illness or injury could strike at any time, at any age, so don’t wait. 
A Comprehensive Plan for Incapacity

A living will and medical power of attorney are just two of the legal documents you need as part of your 
overall plan for incapacity. You will also likely need other estate planning tools, such as a durable financial 
power of attorney and a revocable living trust, to have a truly comprehensive incapacity plan. 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS 


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …November Birthdays* Flo Mankin, Alberta Curran, 
Carmela Frontino, Kathy Wood, Lena Zate, Joe Pergola, Janice Kacer, Valerie 
Howard, 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, Jill Girod, Pat Krok, Jeanne Martin. 

* To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required 
SENIOR ACTIVITIES IN SIERRA MADRE 

City Hall and the Hart Park House will be closed Thursday, November 11, 2021 in observance 
of Veterans Day and Wednesday, November 24– Friday, November 26, 2021 in 
observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. 

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. 

DOMINOES TRAIN GAME 
Wednesday, 11/17, 11:00 am— 12:30 pm Hart Park House The object of the game 
is for a player to play all the tiles from their hand onto one or more trains, emanating 
from a central hub or “station”. Call Lawren with questions that you may have. 
Led by volunteer Loni. 

PAINT PALS 
Tuesday, 11/16, 10:00 am—Hart Park House If you enjoy painting, sketching, water 
color, or making some other form of artistic creation please join our new program, 
PAINT PALS!!! Bring a project that you are working on to the HPH and 
enjoy some quality art time with other artists looking to paint with a new pal. 

TEA AND TALK SENIOR BOOK CLUB 
Wednesday, 11/10 & 11/23— 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 
Tuesday, 11/9 & 11/23—10:00 am If you enjoy knitting, crocheting, embroidery, 
needlepoint, bunka, huck, tatting or cross stitch then we have a group for you! 
Bring your current project, a nonalcoholic beverage, then sit and chat with like-
minded fiber friends. We meet in the Hart Park House 

CHAIR YOGA 
Every Monday and Wednesday, 10-10:45 am Please join us for some gentle stretching, 
yoga, balance exercise and overall relaxation with Paul. Classes are ongoing 
and held in the Memorial Park Covered Pavilion. 

HULA AND POLYNESIAN DANCE 

 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. 

Please call Lawren Heinz with any Hart Park House Senior Center program questions 
or to reserve your spot in classes that have limit space. (626) 355-7394 or 
send an email to lheinz@cityofsierramadre.com 

MICRO METRO INFORMATION Service hours of operation are: Monday—
Sunday between 5:30 am-9:30 pm. Download the Metro Micro App, visit: book.
metro-micro.net or call 323-GO-METRO (323) 446-3876 


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder 

EATING HEALTHY IS FOR THE WEAK 

As a youngster, I often heard 
my father say things that 

It did not take long until he was back where he 
later turned out not to be on 

was before he went into the hospital. 
the true side of the table. So I guess that is a 
father's prerogative, and I probably have done 

Thinking about this, I had a dire option before 
the same thing many times. But I don’t want to 

me. 
research that aspect of my life right now. 

I could take things as my father did in a very 
One that he said quite often was, "Eating 

hap-hazardous way and not take my dietary 
healthy is for sissies." 

routine seriously. 

On the other hand, I could take my health and 
ing about, but I did know that good old mom 

At the time, I had no idea what he was talk-

my eating habits seriously. 
worked very hard to make sure he had healthy 
food to consume. So she did her job, but he did 

My first impression is to go along with my dad. 
not fare well with that. He always ate in the op-

After all, dads are never wrong, right? 
posite of healthy, and that just was the way he 
was. 

Not to criticize my father, who has been gone 
for over a decade, but he did not really take his 
Later in life, he had diabetes, high blood pres-

health seriously. He assumed it was just a given 
sure, clogged arteries and finally, several heart 

that he could eat whatever he wanted with no 
attacks. Then he died. 

consequences involved. 

As the situation is, the biggest obstacle in my 
whatsoever to do with his eating. They were 

According to him, these things had nothing 

decision concerning my health and eating habjust 
things that happened and he had no con-

its is the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. 
trol over them. 

For some reason, she has taken my diet quite 

seriously as though it was hers. 
No matter how sick he was at any given time, 
he always found it in himself to enjoy a dessert 

The quandary I am in is that she is the one who 
with lots of sugar in it. His favorite dessert was 

supervises the culinary activities in the house. 
the one he was eating at the time. 

I have been barred from the kitchen for years 
because of an incident that happened a few 
I had not remembered that for the longest 

years back, which I am not comfortable getting 
period until several weeks ago, when I had 

into right now. 
my first heart attack. Who knew I even had a 
heart! And, what did my heart have against me 

Being in a health-challenging situation right 
that it wanted to attack me? 

now, I do not have many choices. It's either eat 
what the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage 
My main artery was 90% clogged, and the 

has produced or starve. Starving is not the par-
doctors called it the "widow maker." That was 

ticular exercise that I enjoy. 
something relatively new to me. 

I must admit my wife is a marvelous cook and 
I spent about half a week in the hospital hav


makes very delicious meals, which I am asing 
a stent put in to help the main artery. The 

sured, are most healthy. From my point of view, 
nurses took more blood out of me than I knew 

if it does not have broccoli, then it is delicious. 
I had. Count Dracula would have been jealous. 

Her healthy array of desserts is mouthwatering. 
One nurse, I called Nurse Porcupine because 
she had more needles than a porcupine had 

Therefore, I can do my own thing and be in a 
quills. It took half a dozen attempts to find an 

lot of trouble or allow the Gracious Mistress of 
artery that had blood in it. Both my arms are 

the Parsonage to do her thing and be in charge 
black and blue and have the appropriate needle 

of the dietary activities in our home. 
marks in them. 

In pondering this quandary that I am in, I real-
My stay in the hospital was only three days, 

ized a wonderful verse in the Bible. "And also 
but felt like an eternity. Its experiences like that 

that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy 
make you appreciate your own home and bed 

the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God" 
and lazy chair. I was so happy to get home. 

(Ecclesiastes 3:13). 

Instead of getting all caught up in some ritumost 
of his time in the hospital during the last 

Then I again thought about my father. He spent 

alistic eating habits, I believe from God's per-
few years of his life. I am not quite sure how he 

spective he would want me to enjoy my life. 
made it through those experiences, but he did. 

But, of course, as I realize now, enjoying life 
Then I thought about his healthy diet remarks. 

means that I take care of my eating habits to 

the glory of God. 
According to him, a diet consisted of what he 
wanted at the time. All this cautious eating was 

Dr. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of 
God Fellowship, Ocala, FL 34483, where he lives 
with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. 

far beyond his modus operandi. 

Telephone 1-352-216-3025, e-mail jamessny-

I remember once he spent two weeks in a hos


der51@gmail.com. Website is www.jamessny


pital to have his arteries cleansed and purged, 

derministries.com. 

or whatever they call it, and when he came 

home, his idea was, "I'm healthy now so I can 
eat whatever I want to eat." 

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