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Mountain View News Saturday, November 1, 2025

FREE ASSISTED LIVING PLACEMENT SERVICE

 

 Discover the perfect assisted living community with 
Safe Path for Seniors. Our compassionate advisors 
specialize in assisting individuals with unique needs. 
Benefit from our extensive network and affordable 
options. Plus, we offer personalized tours to help you 
explore each community firsthand. 

Call (626) 999-6913 or visit www.safepathforseniors.
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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, 
Sue Quinn, Jill Girod, Jeanne Martin.* 

To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper 
at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required 


HOW LONG SHOULD YOU KEEP FOOD IN THE REFRIGERATOR?


Knowing how long foods stay fresh in the refrigerator is an important 
part of keeping your kitchen safe and reducing waste. 
Many people store items far longer than recommended, which 
can lead to foodborne illnesses or spoiled meals. Understanding 
basic time guide-lines can help households stay healthy while 
stretching their groceries further.

Most leftovers, whether homemade meals or restaurant takeout, 
should be eaten within three to four days. After this window, bacteria 
can begin to grow even if the food still smells fine. Soups, 
casseroles, pasta dishes, and cooked meats all fall into this category. 
It’s helpful to label containers with the date they were stored 
to keep track more easily.

Raw meats have shorter refrigerator lives. Raw poultry should 
only be kept for one to two days, while raw beef, pork, and lamb may last three to five days. Ground meats spoil 
faster than whole cuts, so they belong on the lower end of the range. Fish and seafood are even more delicate 
and should ideally be cooked within one to two days of purchase. If you don’t plan to use them quickly, freezing 
is the safer option.

Eggs last longer than many people realize. A carton of eggs can safely remain in the refrigerator for three to five 
weeks beyond the purchase date, as long as they stay refrigerated. Hard-boiled eggs, however, only last one week 
once cooked.

Dairy products vary, but most milk stays fresh about a week after opening, while yogurt is usually fine for one to 
two weeks. Cheese depends on type: hard cheeses can last up to a month, but soft cheeses spoil faster and should 
be eaten within one week after opening.

Keeping a clean refrigerator, using airtight storage, and freezing items when in doubt can help reduce waste and 
ensure safe eating. When food safety is concerned, when in doubt, throw it out.


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

BEST ONLINE WILL MAKERS

IT'S MY PAIN - I'LL USE IT IF I WANT TO

When I think I've turned a page to a new chapter in my life, I realize 
there is nothing new in life. I'm referring to pain. I cannot remember 
a time in my life when I didn't have some pain.

In the years of my naivety, I never imagined that when I got older, I would experience 
more pain. Nevertheless, pain has become my daily friend.

I thought I had gotten through all my pain and was beginning to relax for an entire 
week. The only pain I had was being a pain in the neck to someone around me.

It was on a Monday night, I was in bed sleeping, and just after midnight, I awoke, 
and my right wrist was in a lot of pain. I couldn't move it for fear of pain. I got up, 
took some Tylenol, and went back to bed. When I woke up in the morning, the pain 
was worse than before the Tylenol.

I really didn't know what happened because I couldn't remember hitting my wrist 
on anything during the night. The pain was real, but the source of the pain was 
unknown.

When I got up in the morning, I went into the kitchen and informed The Gracious 
Mistress of the Parsonage about the pain in my hand. She took great interest and 
wanted to do whatever she could to help me get rid of all that pain. Of course, the 
first thing she did was to give me Tylenol.

That did not work, and by late afternoon, the pain was worse than before. It was 
then that she decided I needed to go to the Urgent Care for some medical help.

Throughout the long years of our marital bliss, I have learned one great lesson: 
"Don't argue with The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage." So, she drove me down 
to the Urgent Care for treatment around 7:30 PM.

I went in, signed up, and then we waited only 90 minutes in the waiting room. During 
that time, the wrist was getting worse, and the pain was not letting up.

I always take The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage with me to any doctor visits I 
have, because she takes the doctor's words very literally. I, on the other hand, paraphrase 
what the doctor says, which, when I get home, doesn't make any sense at all.

Finally, we were ushered in to see the doctor. They did X-rays on my arm and some 
other surgical things that I was not quite sure of. Then, the doctor pulled out her 
needle and prepped my arm for a shot.

While preparing that shot, I noticed she was grinning. That made me realize that 
the shot was going to hurt like crazy. And boy, did it hurt, and I almost shouted in 
pain, which made her smile more.

The doctor diagnosed my situation and prescribed some medication, and then gave 
me an arm bracelet to help ease the pain in my arm.

We finally left Urgent Care about 10:30 and headed for home.

Before I went to bed, I had to take off the bracelet, and the Gracious Mistress of the 
Parsonage had to put some medication the doctor recommended to deal with the 
pain. I didn't have much sleep that night.

In the morning, I got up, and the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage had to examine 
my arm to see how it was. She then gave me more Tylenol to deal with the pain and 
helped put on my arm bracelet.

It was a busy day for The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. She had her regular 
duties and had little time to sit down and rest. But, she took time to stop what she 
was going and examine my arm. She would always ask, "How is your arm doing 
now?"

My constant reply was, "It's doing fine." Of course, she never believed me.

Since this was my pain, I decided to take advantage of it. I would get The Gracious 
Mistress of the Parsonage to bring me some coffee when I needed it, maybe a snack, 
and she would jump to the service.

But then a crazy thought entered my mind. Believe me, my mind is well accustomed 
to crazy thoughts.

Before she came in to give me the next Tylenol, I switched the arm bracelet from my 
right arm to my left arm to see if she would notice. I know, it's a very crazy thing to 
do, but then that is my MO.

She came in and said, "Let me see your arm."

I lifted up my left arm so she could look at it, and she examined it very carefully and 
then said, "It's starting to look better. I hope the pain is also going away." And then 
she went back to the kitchen to her work.

I chuckled quite a bit as I put the bracelet back on my right arm where it belongs. If 
I'm going to have pain, I'm going to use it for some pleasure on my part. I just hope 
I don't get caught.

As I was reading my Bible, I came across an interesting verse. “For I reckon that the 
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which 
shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). My physical pain is nothing compared to 
God’s grace in me each day.

Dr. James L. Snyder lives in Ocala, FL with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. Telephone 1-352-216-
3025, e-mail jamessnyder51@gmail.com, website www.jamessnyderministries.com

Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you recommend some good online resources 
for writing a simple will? I’m 70 and 
divorced and want to get my affairs organized, 
but I hate paying a high-priced attorney fee if 
I can do it myself. Don’t Have Much

Dear Don’t,

Having a last will and testament is an important document to have because it ensures that your money 
and property will be distributed to the people you want to receive it after your death. Currently, 
fewer than one-third of American adults have prepared a will.

If you die without a will, your estate will be settled in accordance with state law. Details vary by state, 
but assets typically are distributed using a hierarchy of survivors. Assets go first to a spouse, then to 
children, then your siblings, and so on.

You also need to be aware that certain accounts take precedence over a will. If you jointly own a home 
or a bank account, for example, the house, and the funds in the account, will go to the joint holder, 
even if your will directs otherwise. Similarly, retirement accounts and life insurance policies are distributed 
to the beneficiaries you designate, so it is important to keep them up to date too.

Online Will Makers

If you have a simple, straightforward estate and an uncomplicated family situation, writing your own 
will – with the help of a good online will making program – is a viable alternative to hiring an attorney 
and much cheaper. Like tax software, these online tools will guide you through a series of questions 
and will insert your answers into a will for you, and it usually takes less than 30 minutes from 
start to finish.

Some of the highest-rated do-it-yourself options include the Quicken WillMaker & Trust 2025 downloadable 
software (WillMaker.com) that starts at $109 and is valid in every state except Louisiana; 
Trust & Will (TrustandWill.com) which charges $199 for an individual will-based estate plan; and 
LegalZoom (LegalZoom.com), which offers will-based estate plans for $129 or $149 if you’d like assistance 
from an independent attorney.

Or, if that’s more than you’re able or willing to pay, two good options that will let you make your will 
for free are FreeWill.com or DoYourOwnWill.com.

When to Hire a Lawyer

If you have considerable financial assets or a complex family situation, like a blended family or a child 
with special needs, it would be smart for you to seek professional advice. An experienced lawyer can 
make sure you cover all your bases, which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you’re 
gone.

The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA.org) and the National Association of Estate 
Planners & Councils (NAEPC.org) websites are good resources that have directories to help you find 
someone in your area.

Costs will vary depending on your location and the complexity of your situation, but you can expect 
to pay somewhere between $200 and $1,000 to get your will made. To help you save, shop around and 
get price quotes from several different firms. And before you meet with an attorney, make a detailed 
list of your assets and accounts to help make your visit more efficient.

Where to Store it?

Once your will is written, the best place to keep it is either in a fireproof safe or file cabinet at home, 
in a safe deposit box in your bank or online. But make sure your executor knows where it is and has 
access to it. Or, if a professional prepares your will, keep the original document at your lawyer’s office. 
Also, be sure to update your will if your family or financial circumstances change, or if you move to 
another state.

Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, 
OK 73070.


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